The Best Romantic Hotels to Book in Sydney

In the leafy suburb of Surry Hills, this sophisticated hotel scores points for offering its guests walking tours of the area. The history is fascinating, as you’ll learn. Previously – in the dark depths of Sydney’s sinful days – things were insalubrious. Now the backstreets are known for upmarket bars, cafes and galleries. Back at the hotel, relax and recuperate. No room here is the same, with choices ranging from elegant and straightforward doubles to the Albion suite with its four-poster bed. Mindful touches include room iPads with programmed yoga and Pilate routines, soak-in bathtubs and a cash-free policy.

Admire the fabulously ornate, balconied facade of this Victorian-era property in Potts Point, close to Kings Cross – it’s the perfect introduction to a place rich in both heritage and modern design. You’ll find classy art deco touches throughout, with golden lamps and sumptuous marble fireplaces in the Victoria suites. All 20 rooms and suites are calming cocoons, washed in a colour palette of blues, greys and whites. Reception staff are ready and waiting to book you onto activities – anything from a harbour yacht cruise to a helicopter flight. If you’d rather keep your feet on hotel terra firma, head to the long bar, where you’ll be offered complimentary canapes from 5pm every day.

Nothing says romance like your own private balcony overlooking one of the most famous sights in the world: Sydney Harbour Bridge. That’s part of the deal at this five star find, where rooms of pale and interesting decor manage to be both simple and sumptuous. Enjoy that view at its twinkliest in the evening, following a dip in the heated indoor pool and spa. Inspired by its location, the hotel’s Q Dining restaurant presents a menu based on ‘where land meets sea’. There’s a sharing menu featuring the likes of spanner-crab rillette and slow-roasted lamb shoulder. There’s also a suite of valet services that includes grocery shopping and dry cleaning.

Once the State Theatre and Gowings department store, this hotel is packed with style and swagger, blending art deco and Italian flourishes with – curiously enough – Gothic tones. Super-central, near the Sydney Tower Eye, the hotel does sexy and chic to a T, with mood lighting, deep red furnishings and restaurants that hurtle you back to the 1920s. The Gilt Lounge has cushions that spell out the word love and cocktails that are potions of intricate beauty. Try the Liquid Gold, which includes peach and cinnamon bourbon blended with the hotel’s honey.

This characterful hotel is one of the main attractions in Cowper Wharf and staying here, you’re just a five-minute stroll from Sydney’s Botanic Gardens. The bedheads in each private room and loft suite feature spectacular prints of everything from goldfish to classic art. The quirkiness jumps to a new level in the rock and roll Ultraroo room, where you’ll have your own cocktail bar. As with other Ovolo hotels, the perks come thick and fast, including a free ‘loot bag’ packed with snacks and sweets, as well as a happy-hour cocktail on the house.

Such is the heritage of this five-star accommodation, it predates sights including the Opera House and Harbour Bridge – both a 10-minute stroll away. Built in 1887, on the foundations of the original Sydney Hospital, the structure functioned as a shopping mall and art gallery before becoming a hotel in 1989. Its history exudes from every pore, with the harbour view suite and its exposed brick wall the pick of the bunch. Other highlights here include Tayim restaurant, a historic sandstone cavern serving Middle Eastern cuisine, and Eric’s Bar, with its boutique wines, globally sourced.

The romance package on offer here is guaranteed to light the blue touch-paper for an intimate weekend with your loved one. The deal delivers a bottle of fizz, a box of chocolates, breakfast in bed and a 2pm late checkout. You can also sign up for a couples indulgence package at the Endota hotel spa. If you want to step out, you’re perfectly placed: in the CBD (Central Business District), near the historic quarter of The Rocks and Circular Quay. Dining and drinking is intergalactically good – how do 200 whiskies and a raft of local ales sound? They are yours in Grain bar. Meanwhile, the 1kg (2lb) Coorong Angus T-Bone is the signature dish at the Mode restaurant.

The rooftop facilities are the star of the show at this 155-room hotel in The Rocks. You’ll not only have access to a pool, hot tub, and reclining sun loungers, but the whole thing comes with an exclusive view of the Sydney Opera House. The hotel doubles as a gallery dedicated to Australian art, with aboriginal pieces hanging in corridors and rooms. An a la carte menu at the Dining Room restaurant offers a set lunch price for two or three courses, with treats including smoked beef tartare and wagyu tenderloin. Ready for bed? You won’t want for comfort whether you book a room or a suite: resplendent in tones of chocolate, cream and beige, they’re hidey-holes of plush carpets, designer lighting and tip-top technology.