The best luxury accommodation in Sydney

Capella Sydney

Location: CBD

Luxe factor: In 2025 Capella Sydney won a spot on the World’s Top 50 Hotels list, and with good reason. Originally built in 1912 to house the Department of Education, the stately sandstone building in the heart of the CBD was redesigned to become an urban oasis of 192 luxurious guest rooms.

Standout room: Capella’s four prestige suites aren’t just about knockout views from every window, multiple living spaces and luxurious baths – it’s about the service. There’s exclusive access to the wellness centre and ‘Living Room’ guest sanctuary, an evening turndown service and a 24-hour concierge.

Wining and dining: If you’re not taking advantage of the 24-hour in-room dining, you just need to head to the ground floor for a meal at Brasserie 1930 from the team behind Bentley. Order the signature whole roasted duck with dry-aged breast and duck sausage and take your time poring over the enormous wine list.

Price range: $$$

Capella Sydney

Langham Sydney

Location: CBD

Luxe factor: The beautiful rooms and views at Langham Sydney are dreamy in their own right, but a stay isn’t complete without a visit to The Day Spa by Chuan. Set aside a few hours for a bespoke wellness treatment, from massages and facials to IV therapy.

Standout room: The Observatory Suite isn’t a room but a luxurious home away from home, with an oversized drawing room and study, a grand dining room and spectacular views of Observatory Hill and the CBD skyline.

Wining and dining: Can’t get enough of those Sydney Harbour views? It’s a hop, skip and a jump to Cafe Sydney atop Customs House, where you can celebrate your Sydney stay with a bottle of Champagne and a decadent seafood platter of crab, Moreton Bay bugs, scampi and fresh oysters against a backdrop of that unbeatable view.

Price range: $

The Langham, Sydney - Credit: The Langham Sydney

Wildlife Retreat Taronga

Location: Taronga Zoo

Luxe factor: Taronga Zoo’s Wildlife Retreat is for animal-lovers. A stay in one of the beautifully appointed suites means two days to tour the famous zoo (with its famous Sydney views) at your leisure.

Standout room: Depends on your preference. For panoramic views over the Sydney Harbour, choose the spacious Treetop Suites. And for an up-close view of a lush habitat full of Australian native animals, choose the Animal View Room.

Wining and dining: Book a table with harbour views at the zoo’s onsite fine diner, Me-gal, to sample a menu that celebrates fresh, native ingredients and local produce. Or hop on the ferry to Circular Quay and have an unforgettable, multi-course degustation at exclusive eight-seat Korean restaurant, Matkim.

Price range: $$

Wildlife Retreat at Taronga, Mosman

The Eve

Location: Redfern

Luxe factor: Contemporary elegance graces every room at The Eve with lovely architecture that celebrates nature and draws on Sydney’s outdoor lifestyle. Many of the 102 rooms and suites have a balcony, and there’s a glittering pool surrounded by cabanas and generous umbrellas shading rows of sun loungers.

Standout room: The Sunset Suite is a sumptuous space with a sunny balcony for breakfasts in and a deep tub tucked in a moody alcove for evening soaks.

Wining and dining: The hotel is at the centre of Redfern’s Wunderlich Lane shopping and dining district that includes the celebrated Olympus Dining and its decadent Greek feasts, plus lively pan-Asian restaurant Island Radio. Or stay closer to home and order a mezcal margarita to accompany small plates celebrating a modern take on Mexican cuisine at Lottie on the rooftop.

Price range: $$

The EVE Hotel, Redfern - Credit: The EVE Hotel

W Sydney

Location: CBD

Luxe factor: The distinctive W Sydney rises up in the centre of Darling Harbour and has views for days. Book in the winter to get a birds’-eye view of light installations for Vivid, an international arts festival that draws millions of revellers.

Standout room: The Extreme Wow Suite, AKA the level 27 penthouse, has living and dining areas, a catwalk bar and a moody design that’s inspired by a submarine, the retired HMAS Onslow which is now on display not far from the W Sydney, at the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Wining and dining: The hotel is home to BTWN, a restaurant tucked between two expressways with a menu that respects provenance, sourcing ingredients from within NSW’s borders. That means Berkshire pork from Gooralie Farm in northern NSW, Murray cod from Griffith and oysters from up and down the coast.

Price range: $$$

W Sydney, Darling Harbour

Park Hyatt

Location: The Rocks

Luxe factor: Built from dramatic sandstone blocks and set out over the water, the Park Hyatt Sydney might have one of Sydney’s most coveted addresses. Each room has floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open onto private balconies, the rooftop pool has uninterrupted views of Sydney Harbour and for guests arriving by sea, there’s a glamorous private wharf.

Standout room: There are three elegant rooftop suites, including one which at 350sqm is the city’s largest hotel room. It offers a 360-degree panorama of the harbour and views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Wining and dining: If you’re after views, don’t leave the hotel – The Dining Room by James Viles gives you front row seats to one of the best views in the world. Come on the weekend for afternoon tea: pretty pastries, lovely teas and bubbles.

Price range: $$$$

Park Hyatt, The Rocks

Shangri-La

Location: The Rocks

Luxe factor: At street level, the Shangri-La's location is maybe no more remarkable than any other building on George Street, but then you head up the lifts and into one of the 565 guest rooms and you’ll see sweeping views of the city or the harbour.

Standout room: There are windows on every wall in the one-bedroom Presidential Suite. Order cocktails from room service and look out at the CBD or the Opera House from the sitting room or sink into the deep soaker tub in the marble bathroom.

Wining and dining: Blu Bar crowns the hotel on level 36, offering elaborate cocktails and small plates. The backdrop? More of that incredible view.

Price range: $

Shangri-La Sydney, The Rocks - Credit: Shangri-La Sydney

Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour

Location: Circular Quay

Luxe factor: The Pullman Quay Grand has the kind of gorgeous harbour and park views that can’t be avoided in Circular Quay, plus upmarket dining options and a glittering indoor pool, saunas and spa.

Standout room: Wake to views of the Harbour Bridge from the Deluxe Two-Bedroom Harbour View Suite, an apartment style space with separate living and dining, a fully kitted-out kitchen, laundry and private balcony.

Wining and dining: Head to Neptune’s Grotto from the team behind lauded New York grill, Clam Bar and Pellegrino 2000. Italian food, specifically from the Emilia-Romagna region, is the focus of this delicious menu. Arrive thirsty, the wine list is an expansive offering of mostly European varieties.

Price range: $$

Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, Circular Quay - Credit: Accor

Crown Sydney

Location: Barangaroo

Luxe factor: The glittering, curved silhouette of the Crown Towers Sydney is the tallest in Sydney, with 394 luxurious rooms. A premium booking comes with a private butler service that caters to your every wish.

Standout room: Set over two levels, the Crown Presidential Villa is a three-bedroom suite with water features, a heated infinity pool, a pool table, entertaining areas and panoramic views of Sydney Harbour and the North Shore beyond.

Wining and dining: Come for the sun-drenched pool and sumptuous rooms, stay for the bounty of drinking and dining options: A’Mare for trofie pesto prepared tableside; Woodcut for a dry-aged, bone-in sirloin cooked over woodfire; or Cirq for rooftop cocktails.

Price range: up to $$$$

Crown Sydney, Barangaroo

Kimpton Margo

Location: CBD

Luxe factor: Located in an elegant former government headquarters, the Kimpton Margot’s modern reimagining pays respect to the building’s Art Deco heritage. The lobby and guest rooms have soaring ceilings and are decked out with luxurious furnishings, touches of gold and original artwork, and there’s a rooftop bar for poolside drinks.

Standout room: The Hammond Suite is a sophisticated one-bedroom space with a plush king-sized bed, entertainment areas, a soaker tub and kitchen.

Wining and dining: Stay close to home for cocktails at one of the three hotel bars followed by modern Australian fare at Luke’s Kitchen. Or venture out. A few blocks down Pitt Street you’ll find the many eateries of Koreatown, including Dae Jang Kum’s outstanding Korean barbecue.

Price range: $$$

Kimpton Margot Sydney, Sydney - Credit: Kimpton Margot Sydney

Ace Hotel

Location: CBD

Luxe factor: The Ace Hotel is your pied-a-terre in Sydney: studio-loft cool, walking-distance from everything, with an excellent restaurant on site. The accommodation offers leafy urban views from every window. Order cocktails to sip on the lounge or get dressed and go out for a night on the town.

Standout room: The corner Loft Suite is the best room in the house with floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of Surry Hills and the city from both bedrooms. There are even special touches for music fans: an acoustic guitar and turntables with a vinyl collection.

Wining and dining: Perched on the level 18 rooftop, Kiln has a cracking menu that changes with the seasons and the chef’s expert whims. Native produce underpins the dishes, with lemon myrtle and samphire adding bright and briny touches to the kingfish tarts and Davidson plums balancing the kangaroo carpaccio. There’s plenty of excellent Australian and European wines on offer, including a selection of skin-contact options.

Price range: $$

Ace Hotel Sydney, Surry Hills - Credit: Anson Smart/Ace Hotel Sydney

Paramount House Hotel

Location: Surry Hills

Luxe factor: Located in the heart of Surry Hills in the beautifully restored former headquarters of Paramount Picture Studios, Paramount House Hotel is a lovely retreat just outside the CBD. A range of rooms feature handmade timber bathtubs and mini bars stocked with Ocello cheeses and local drinks.

Standout room: The Mack Daddy Suite spans four spaces: a bedroom, lounge, bathroom with a timber tub and a leafy outdoor terrace.

Wining and dining: Surry Hills is full of lovely dining options, from the homemade, comforting beef noodle soups at Ama to the fire-kissed menu at Nomad. But if you’d rather stay closer to home, AP Bakery on the roof offers an all-day menu of delicious baked goods, Paramount Coffee Project on the ground floor is a lovely spot for flat whites and garlicky bacon and egg rolls on milk buns, and Poly (sister restaurant to Chippendale’s Ester) serves dinner alongside a thoughtful list of low-intervention wines by small-scale producers.

Price range: $

Paramount House Hotel, Surry Hills - Credit: Tom Ross

The Old Clare

Location: Chippendale

Luxe factor: The Old Clare is located in two neighbouring heritage buildings whose exquisite renovations pay respect to the beautiful period features.

Standout room: Named for its former days as the Carlton & United Breweries’ boardroom, the C.U.B. suite is a decadent accommodation full of original features. There’s deep-toned original timber panelling, parquetry floors and a coffered ceiling decorating the rooms. Plus a dining room with an eight-seat table, living area, an anteroom with a wet bar and separate sleeping quarters.

Wining and dining: Everything is in walking distance from here: Decadent Asian-inspired pastries at Khanom House, fine dining at Chippendale’s Ester, or the many delights of Haymarket from cheap and cheerful hand-pulled noodles at Chinese Noodle Bar to the upmarket yum cha offering at XOPP.

Price range: $$

The Clare suite at The Old Clare Hotel - Credit: SONRAC Services Pty Ltd

Manly Pacific

Location: Manly

Luxe factor: The luxurious beachfront Manly Pacific has one of the prettiest pools in Sydney – aqua waters surrounded by striped sun loungers and views of the Pacific all the way to the horizon.

Standout room: Muted tones of grey, white and blue of the Infinity Suite complement the stunning views from the terrace: Norfolk pines and the sea beyond. No need to leave this room at all during your stay. There’s a fireplace, stone bathtub and a personal butler available on call.

Wining and dining: If you do want to leave, you needn’t go far. In the hotel’s elegant lobby there’s 55 North, an all-day eatery serving pastries and coffee at breakfast, a bar menu at lunch and dinner until late. Or book an Italian long lunch at Cibaria Trattoria.

Price range: $$$

Rooftop pool at the Manly Pacific Hotel: MGallery Collection - Credit: Manly Pacific Hotel Sydney

Grand National Hotel

Location: Paddington

Luxe factor: There are only 14 studios at the Grand National Hotel, each with a plush bed, heritage fireplace, marble bathroom and Aesop toiletries. Luxury is in every detail, from the nightly turn-down service to the complimentary breakfast at Saint Peter.

Standout room: The opulent, 45sqm Luxury Terrace Suite is this Paddington hotel’s crown jewel. Sunny treetop views of Paddington and the city beyond can be seen from the windows and the room features a marble bathroom with a deep bath.

Wining and dining: Josh and Julie Niland’s lauded fish restaurant, Saint Peter, is on the ground level. Order dishes that celebrate Josh’s pioneering sustainable fin-to-scale methodology of using the whole fish, plus all-Australian produce and wine.

Price range: $

The Grand National Hotel, Paddington - Credit: Christopher Pearce

Further afield

The Machinery Shed at Logan Brae

Location: Blue Mountains

Luxe factor: Time slows down at the Machinery Shed at Logan Brae, a misty, couples-only escape. This lovely studio-style accommodation is located on a working apple farm in Shipley, a township overlooking the lovely expanse of the Megalong Valley.

Standout room: The Machinery Shed’s vintage farm building has been reimagined to house a luxurious accommodation with a cosy wood stove, king-sized bed and sauna with a cold or hot immersion pool and an outdoor bath. On the terrace purple wisteria climbs the trellis above as you look over the breathtaking escarpment views.

Wining and dining: Drive 15 minutes into the valley for a multi-course tasting menu at Megalong Lot 101. The beautifully renovated dining room looks out over rolling hills bordered by sandstone cliffs, and much of the produce on the menu is grown a few metres from the beautiful dining room.

Price range: $

Logan Brae Retreats, Kanimbla - Credit: Logan Brae Retreats

Spicers Sangoma

Location: Blue Mountains

Luxe factor: There are just eight suites at the luxurious Spicers Sangoma retreat in the Blue Mountains, and each one will have you feeling like you’re the only couple in the world. The hotel is eco-certified and features a sauna, infinity lap pool and spa.

Standout room: The Escarpment Suite is like a treehouse retreat above the gumtrees. Spend your day lolling in bed or in front of the fireplace, soak in the tub (set next to floor-to-ceiling windows) or venture out of your room for a spa treatment.

Wining and dining: Stays at the hotel are all-inclusive, which means you’ll get to sample every exquisite dish on the menu at the celebrated Restaurant Amara.

Price range: $$$

Spicers Sangoma Retreat, Bowen Mountain - Credit: Spicers Sangoma Retreat

Key

$ = Under $1000 per night

$$ = Under $2000 per night

$$$ = Under $3000 per night

$$$$ = $3050+ per night