The best places to stay in Sydney

You’d be hard-pressed to beat the level of luxury, or the views, at Crown Sydney.Credit: Crown Sydney

Does the notion of a stay in Sydney provoke a lust for lofty luxe, an urge to go urban grunge or end with the family begging for a beach retreat? Whatever your taste or budget, the harbour city has something to satisfy everyone, with a mind-boggling choice of styles, locations, amenities … and prices.

HILTON SYDNEY

Hilton Sydney just underwent a major $25 million renovation.Credit: Hilton

Perfect for: Splurging couples, business-trippers, shoppers
Australia’s first internationally-branded hotel never seems to lose its charm, and a $25 million renovation has slicked up the allure just three years off its 50th anniversary. Slap bang in the middle of Sydney’s best shopping with the QVB opposite, it also has the twin assets of Luke Mangan’s Glass Restaurant downstairs as well as the gorgeously atmospheric Marble Bar underground – a Sydneysider favourite. Rooms are smart, with great views over the city, and artworks bring a dash of élan.
From $335 a night. 488 George Street, Sydney. Phone: [phone]. See www.hiltonsydney.com.au

YHA SYDNEY HARBOUR

YHA Sydney Harbour: The budget-friendly accommodation also happens to feature one of the best harbour views.Credit: YHA Sydney Harbour

Perfect for: Budget travellers, social butterflies, cool hipsters
Bizarre? Definitely. But it’s also a happy fact that one of the best perches over Sydney Harbour with stunning views of the Opera House and bridge is occupied by a budget accommodation outfit. As well as the four-bed dorms, however, there are much more upmarket king room ensuites. But whatever you’re paying, you all still have the same access to the terrace and its views, the café, the kitchen and the games room.
From $68.35 a night. 110 Cumberland Street, Sydney. Phone: [phone]. See yha.com.au/hostels

MANLY PACIFIC

A pandemic upgrade has elevated Manly Pacific into a five-star stay.Credit: Manly Pacific

Perfect for: Cashed-up surfies, cocooning couples, hip holidaymakers
A $30 million COVID refurb turned this tired three-star beachside hotel into a glamorous five-star beauty with a rooftop pool and bar, sundeck and new lobby bar. It’s now awash in the ‘coastal luxe’ vibe with spacious rooms decked out in the sea blues, sand yellows and pine greens of the view to Manly beach and the harbour outside, with the coup de grace a 177sqm one-bedroom suite with a 100sqm terrace. Party anyone?
From $309 a night. 55 North Steyne, Manly. Phone: (O2) 9977 7666. See Manlypacific.com.au

ACE HOTEL SYDNEY

Australia’s first Ace-branded property doesn’t disappoint.Credit: Ace Hotel

Perfect for: Creatives, cool travellers, urban style gurus
Set in trendy Surry Hills, surrounded by great cafes, restaurants and boutiques, the Seattle-based Ace have set their first Australian hotel in a former brick factory, redesigned in a funky, warm, retro palette of moody mustards and moulded concrete. With lots of First Nations’ artworks, turntables for vinyl, big windows and the 18th-floor rooftop wood-fired restaurant Kiln, helmed by Mitch Orr, it’s so cool it almost hurts.
From $349 a night. 47-53 Wentworth Avenue, Surry Hills. Phone: [phone]. See Ace Hotel Sydney

MERITON SUITES WORLD TOWER

Expect spacious suites and views that soar over the city.Credit: Meriton

Perfect for: Business people, families, long-stayers
At 77 storeys tall, this tower of two and three-bedroom apartments soars over the city, guaranteeing some of the best views of Sydney you’ll ever see from the floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s plenty of space in the suites too, with two bathrooms in each, living and dining areas and full kitchens, as well as access to facilities like the level 61 indoor pool, gym and free Wi-Fi. On the doorstep of Chinatown, nothing is far away.
From $450 a night. 95 Liverpool Street, Sydney. Phone: [phone]. See meritonsuites.com.au

JONAH’S WHALE BEACH

Guests can soak in the beachy surrounds with a wine on the terrace or by the infinity pool.Credit: Jonah's

Perfect for: Honeymooners, romantic couples, splurging beach-lovers
If the vista over the beach and ocean doesn’t take your breath away, then the cliff-top infinity pool, the gorgeous, golden-hued rooms and the restaurant’s Italian-leaning food and wine offering certainly will leave you gasping. Only open from Thursday to Sunday nights, staying in one of the 11 rooms at this iconic dining spot is among Sydney’s top experiences – especially if you arrive in a seaplane from Rose Bay or a chauffeured Rolls Royce.
From $913 a night, bed and breakfast. 69 Bynya Road, Palm Beach. Phone: [phone]. See jonahs.com.au

THE OLD CLARE HOTEL

The Old Clare features all the charm of yesteryear with the style and comfort of today.Credit: The Old Clare

Perfect for: Hipsters, couples, foodies
What’s not to love about staying in an old pub, especially if it’s been zhooshed up within an inch of its life to preserve the heritage-listed charm of yesteryear but add all the style and comfort of today? The rooms are beautiful, the rooftop lap pool is fabulous and the two onsite bars pay tribute to its boozy past as the old HQ of the Carlton & United Breweries. Close to Spice Alley, you’ll never go hungry … or thirsty.
From $320. 1 Kensington Street, Chippendale. Phone: [phone]. See theoldclarehotel.com.au

THE JENSEN POTTS POINT

As budget accommodation goes, The Jensen is a goodie, offering modern facilities in a charming art deco building.Credit: The Jensen

Perfect for: Cost-conscious travellers, families, groups
Close to what used to be (pre-pandemic) backpacker central, this is friendly budget accommodation with a twist – well-designed rooms (albeit all with shared bathrooms) in an art deco building in a hip neighbourhood. Spaces are compact but comfy, there’s a communal room with a microwave and toaster, and there are weekly and monthly rates on offer to ‘Live Like a Local’. In one of Sydney’s most expensive locations, it’s a bargain.
From $101 a night. 71 Macleay Street, Potts Point. Phone: [phone]. See thejensenpottspoint.com

CROWN SYDNEY

Crown Towers Premier Harbour Bridge Suite Living RoomCredit: Crown Sydney

Perfect for: High rollers, business executives, Instagrammers
Kerr-ching! A stay in Sydney’s newest, tallest and most glamorous hotel doesn’t come cheap but the views are pretty priceless from the five-star hotel rooms in the $2.2 billion Barangaroo tower. It’s big on the wow factor with eight restaurants and bars, a lagoon-style pool, a gym and a fabulously chandeliered lobby, set in the city’s dining hotspot. Rooms are spacious and hi-tech, the baths have TVs and the toilets are an entertainment in themselves.
From $849 a night. 1 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo. Phone: [phone]. See crownhotels.com.au

WILDLIFE RETREAT AT TARONGA

Guests can get up close with native wildlife.Credit: Taronga Zoo

Perfect for: Thrill seekers, nature lovers, families
You can choose an animal view, a harbour vista, a bushland setting or a treetop suite at Taronga Zoo with the chance to come eye-to-eye with a koala in a tree with the bridge in the background, from the comfort of a well-sized room with plenty of seating. Not quite as thrilling as the zoo’s Roar and Snore experience in safari park-style tents, but much more tranquil and relaxing. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a Sydney harbourside treasure and meet the locals.
From $501 a night. Bradleys Head Road, Mosman. Phone: [phone]. See taronga.org.au

OVOLO WOOLLOOMOOLOO

Ovolo Woolloomooloo rooms pop with bright colours and stunning harbour and city views.Credit: Ovolo

Perfect for: Style mavens, sophisticates, couples
Breathe Sydney’s history with a stay on Woolloomooloo’s iconic Finger Wharf in a five-star boutique hotel that blends the old and the new with a fair dollop of flair. The world’s longest timbered-pile wharf that, from 1915, sent off wool and troops and welcomed new migrants, is today a stunning architectural reclamation and has rooms popping with bright colours and stunning harbour and city views. There’s also a free minibar, an indoor pool, gym, restaurant and bar.
From $350 a night. 6 Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo. Phone: [phone]. See ovolohotels.com/ovolo/woolloomooloo

THE URBAN NEWTOWN

A well-appointed stay in one of Sydney’s most vibrant and happening neighbourhoods.Credit: The Urban Newtown

Perfect for: Millennials, hipsters, old groovers
What happens when industrial chic meets urban grunge? Well, if the designers of this hotel – fashioned from the old RSL building – are to be believed, the result is a style they’ve branded ‘post-apocalyptic’. And while it’s far from the end of the world, it’s certainly fun, with graffiti in the central atrium, chains hanging down and bashed-up guitars. The contemporarily colourful studios all have a fridge, microwave and TV midst a vibe that’s hip, happening and endlessly fascinating.
From $220 a night. 52-60 Enmore Road, Newtown. Phone: [phone]. See theurbannewtown.com.au