8 Best Hotels in Sydney, New South Wales

Formerly a wool-storage facility, this four-story hotel is an Accor MGallery property, which is a select portfolio of distinctive and individual hotels in Australia. Built in 1887 and converted into a hotel in 1989, the 59-room property has been stripped back to its foundations, exposing its original sandstone and brick. Everything is new from the carpets, beds, furniture, TVs, lighting, and bathrooms, however, it retains its historical character, and the bar (Eric's) and restaurant (Scarlett) are named after a pair of ill-fated lovers—a sailor and the madam of a brothel that stood next door to the hotel in the late 19th century. The new lobby resembles a library with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined with old tomes, historic photos grace the walls, and the cozy bar doubles as the check-in counter. Five room types range from heritage rooms to the top-floor harbor suite with glorious views of the Opera House. A lovely new inclusion is the courtyard terrace on the ground floor, filled with greenery and bathed in natural light.

This luxurious boutique hotel is the gem of inner Sydney. Tucked away in a street lined with stately apartments, and a mere 100 yards from the area's hip restaurants and cafés, this lovingly restored 1892 structure is reminiscent of a Queen Anne Victorian, with all of its nooks and crannies. Each room has a different shape and is furnished in muted autumn tones, with plush drapes, table lamps, fireplaces, king or queen beds, flat-screen TVs, and an array of interesting artwork. The Cloud Suite is the best room in the house, with a double Jacuzzi bath and a DVD. One of the king rooms has a big balcony overlooking the street, and one of the two family rooms has a small courtyard. If you don't want to hike up the stairs, request one of the several ground-floor rooms. A continental breakfast is included in the tariff and is served in a light-filled conservatory.

Live like a local at Coogee Beach, which is just as gorgeous as nearby Bondi, but without the crowds. Accommodations are considerably kinder on the hip pocket, too. This hotel is opposite the beach and has many rooms with balconies looking out to fabulous ocean views, so be sure to ask for one when you book. The rooms are bright and spacious and feature smart TVs so you can screen media from your own device if you don't like the range of on-demand movies available. There's a heated outdoor pool, on-site tennis court, and well-equipped gym as well as secure undercover parking (A$25 per day). The Oceans Dining & Drinks bar is a great place for a cocktail or casual meal—the views are spectacular—or if you fancy something a little more special try Bluesalt, the hotel's fine dining restaurant. There's free Wi-Fi in all the rooms for 20 minutes. While not quite as buzzy as Bondi, Coogee has a great selection of cafés and restaurants and they are all within a few minutes' stroll from the hotel. If you do want to head to Bondi it's only a short taxi drive away, or step out on the clifftop walking trail via Clovelly and Bronte Beach—it's a fantastic half-day walk.

This serviced-apartment hotel is one of Sydney's swankiest places to stay. Suites are contained in a gleaming 42-story tower (with just seven suites per floor) in central Sydney, just a few minutes' walk from Town Hall. Two amazing penthouses offer fantastic views over Darling Harbour just to the west. The design is ultra hip, from the 18-foot rainfall chandelier that dangles above you in the lobby to the 20-meter lap pool with a glass floor looking down into the Regent Place shopping precinct below. Daily breakfast in served in the The Mezzanine and room service, from an extensive menu, is served after 6:30 pm, but there is no on-site restaurant for other meals. Of the 201 rooms, the 146 suites have a kitchenette or fully equipped kitchen, and several eateries are located in Regent Square, just a short elevator ride away on the ground floor.

At this landmark hotel in downtown Sydney you enter a spacious, light-filled lobby displaying a stunning four-story sculpture. Among the five different room types are 31 relaxation rooms divided into three zones: relaxation space, spa bathroom, and work zone. Whirlpool baths, body-jet showers, and the latest electronic wizardry are just some of the features. The glass brassiere, run by well-known Sydney chef Luke Mangan, and trendy bar Zeta, designed by New Yorker Tony Chi, are hip places to eat and meet, but expect an expensive bar tab. The circa-1890 Marble Bar also attracts a crowd. The hotel is home to LivingWell, the largest hotel-based health club in Australia, offering group fitness, yoga, and Pilates classes, as well as a range of pampering treatments.

If your idea of heaven is sleeping above a pub that brews its own boutique beers (or ales, as they're rightly called), this is the place. The hotel, hewn from Sydney sandstone, has been a popular watering hole with Sydneysiders and visitors for decades. Built in the early 1840s, the building has been restored to its former grandeur. While the nine guest rooms and the first-floor Lord Nelson Brasserie restaurant have exposed sandstone walls, their fittings and design are very contemporary. Seven standard rooms have en suite bathrooms and cost A$20 a night; a smaller room with en suite bathroom is A$220 a night, while another room (costing A$) has a bathroom that's located a short walk across the hall. All rates include continental breakfast. The hotel is a stroll from the Harbour Bridge. The bar is always busy on Friday nights and most weekends as the craft beer is excellent.

This former wool warehouse has been turned into one of Sydney's most cutting-edge designer hotels. Just west of Darling Harbour, the building has been beautifully restored; all of the 90 rooms have tall windows and most have exposed brick feature walls and industrial looking touches. The lobby is a seven-story atrium with a collection of fun furniture—purple swivel chairs, blue armchairs, and a tree in the middle, with exposed ironbark beams overhead. The hotel is part of the Ovolo collection whose stock in trade is cool and funky interiors and free minibars in each room. They also offer complimentary drinks and nibbles to guests at 5 pm each evening. The hotel is a 10-minute walk to the attractions of the Darling Harbour and the city center.

Even though it's been around for a few decades, this hotel with its low-key facade is still a bit of a secret. It's in a great location (right in The Rocks and about a two-minute walk from Circular Quay), and the rooftop pool and terrace have spectacular views of the Opera House, bridge, and harbor. The eight-story hotel has a dramatic central atrium topped with a glass roof; the guest rooms open out onto passageways that overlook the reception desk, lobby bar, and restaurant several stories below.