The ultimate Sydney staycations: 5 hotels to book for world-class luxury

The golden age of the staycation needn’t be over now that pandemic lockdowns are. Here are some top picks for luxury holidays in your own backyard.

The golden age of the staycation needn’t be over now that pandemic lockdowns are.

You don’t need an exorbitant flight to Europe to get a taste of luxury in one of the best cities in the world.

You only need to think like a tourist, and know that not just any old hotel will do.
Here are some of Sydney’s finest venues to book a staycation at.

CROWN TOWERS – BARANGAROO

The next season of The White Lotus could be hosted at Australia’s first six-star hotel.

Sydney’s tallest building is undeniably the jewel in the Barangaroo crown, and you’ll feel the opulence from the lobby.

Staycationers Haley Evirgen and Will McLoughlin, at Crown Sydney Pool. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Beneath an enormous six-storey crystal chandelier, are sweeping white marble columns made from hand-picked Italian, Greek, Chinese, and Turkish stone.

There are 349 rooms, including 22 luxury villas, all with postcard views.

Each room is fitted with a custom-made tub, bespoke fittings from Apaiser and Hansgrohe, and Nero Marquina marble floors.

But the real showstopper is the fifth-floor infinity pool, where you can nab a day-bed or a private cabana to watch the sunset (cocktail in hand).

Other amenities include a gym, tennis court, a super-luxe spa (where you can experience quartz hot sand therapy, a 37-degree vitality pool, and La Prairie facials), as well as a sauna and Moroccan steam room.

Crown Towers, conveniently situated in the Sydney CBD with a sky desk looking out on Sydney Harbour. Picture: Richard Dobson

And for those perfect Instagram shots? A sky deck 83 floors above the iconic harbour.

There are a whopping 14 need-no-introduction restaurants to choose from (Nobu, Woodcut, and a’Mare are among our favourites), but Daily Telegraph in-house food critic The Mouth calls OnCore their first pick.

This comes with a special-occasions-only price tag starting at $A850 per night, but you’re paying for Sydney’s new gold standard of luxury.

THE OLD CLARE – CHIPPENDALE

The Old Clare Hotel in Chippendale, Sydney. Picture: Supplied

Swapping classic 5-star institutions for the best of the boutiques — The Old Clare is a phoenix of a venue.

A cutting-edge conversion by architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, unites The Clare Hotel pub and Carlton & United Breweries administration building in a heritage-modern hybrid.

Some rooms are slick, modern lofts, others occupy the former brewer’s HQ where the board of directors would meet to discuss, we can only assume beer.

The enormous C.U B suite ($2079 per night) is located there, complete with original timber panelling, parquetry floors, and the restored executive men’s washroom.

Meanwhile, design devotees flock to the Showroom suite ($679 per night), where the super king size bed is backed by an original timber bar from the brewery.

You’ll find yourself in the beating heart of the creative, foodie neighbourhood, with the grunge-glam Clare Bar downstairs serving all day, and a heated rooftop lap pool to soak in views of Jean Nouvel’s One Central Park towers.

THE LANGHAM – MILLERS POINT

The Langham hotel Roman-baths swimming pool. Picture: Supplied

If you prefer old-school luxury and timeless charm to modern minimalism, you’ll fall in love with the five-star Langham.

Charming suites have either a Juliette balcony or terrace, to make the most of spectacular sunsets across Sydney’s Western harbour.

The Spa remains one of Sydney’s best, home to its famous Roman bath house-style pool, and starry ceiling.

A lavish list of amenities, including Kitchens on Kent, an interactive world-class buffet (made up of nine live kitchens and chocolate foundation), and the Observatory Bar, possibly one of the city’s best hotel bars, will make it hard to leave.

But when you do, the location is hard to top — within easy walking distance to restaurants at Barangaroo, the CBD, and Circular Quay.

Prices per night vary, but start from about $540.

WILDLIFE RETREAT AT TARONGA – MOSMAN

The wildlife retreat at Taronga Zoo. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Take glamping up a notch with a luxury eco-retreat inside Sydney’s animal kingdom.

An overnight stay in one of the retreat’s 62 top-notch suites, will allow you to immerse yourself with in native wildlife without forgoing any creature comforts.

Watch tammar wallabies, red-necked pademelons, long-nosed potoroos, red kangaroos, short-beaked echidnas, and koalas, through glass-sliding balcony doors, all from your plush hotel bed.

Zoo keepers tell us there are new koala babies, too.

For wild nights: (L to R) Taronga guests Jo Parkin, Ryan Kendall, Susie Baker, Harry Vincent and Violetta Racz enjoy the zoo views. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The Animal View Rooms (one of four room types) overlook a private animal sanctuary, and start from $675 per night.

Meanwhile, The Treetop Suites will have you drinking bubbly in a tub with panoramic views of Sydney Harbour.

All guests are afforded a private guided tour to get up close and personal with the furry neighbours, and far from a zoo’s regular tuckshop fare, the on-site restaurant is two-hatted Me-Gal.

All proceeds go towards Taronga’s conservation projects, so you can sleep soundly knowing your night of extravagance will go towards preserving Australia’s unique wildlife.

ACE HOTEL – SURRY HILLS

The Ace Hotel lobby in Surry Hills, Sydney. Picture: Supplied

Ace Hotel Sydney is the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, and the hipster’s home away from home.

Housed within Surry Hill’s Tyne House brick factory on Wentworth Ave, it’s a prime location for foodie city-slickers.

Though they won’t need to travel farther than the hotel’s lobby bar, all-day diner, and rooftop restaurant Kiln, headed up by Mitch Orr, for world-class dining.

Guests of a recent Ksubi x P.E. Nation event hosted at Kiln couldn’t stop marvelling at how “New York” the inner-city view felt, and each course was demolished in lightning speed.

Expect natural textures and tones, custom-designed furniture, a striking ochre red off-form concrete staircase in the lobby, and signature Ace touches, like in-room turntables and acoustic guitars.

Medium rooms start at $339 per night.