Best hotels in Sydney- from private sunset terraces to amazing views

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The best hotels in Sydney, chosen by our experts, including luxury hotels, boutique hotels, budget hotels, and Sydney hotel deals. Read the reviews and book.

The Langham Sydney

The Langham Sydney
For old-world opulence, the Langham is the place to be. Friday afternoons are reserved for tea, scones and petit fours – a fixture of the hotel since 1865. With the charm and ruffled curtains of a bouqtiue hotel, but the class and glamour of an international institution, the Langham will have you feeling like a royal with its plush suites, panelled walls (for real) and sumptuous, velvet furnishings – and that’s before you set your sights on the Observatory Suite’s ornate, gilded fireplace.

Time Out tip: The otherworldly Roman bathhouse style indoor pool is waiting for you downstairs, so be sure to stop in for a splash.

Shangri-La Hotel Sydney

Shangri-La Hotel Sydney
The hotel was extensively renovated in 2015 with a fresh palette of gold and silver and specially commissioned carpets and artworks. A spectacular chandelier made of three brass rings hangs in the atrium of Horizon Club and can be seen from many points on the foreshore, fulfilling the architect’s original vision of the building as a ‘lighthouse’. The rooms evoke classic luxury with marble bathrooms and the largest windows of any of the city’s harbourfront hotels.

Time Out tip: Take a stroll through the beautiful waterfront Barangaroo Reserve just to the west of the hotel.

The InterContinental Sydney Double Bay

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There are 140 contemporary rooms and suites, a rooftop pool with cabanas, several restaurants, bars and retail spaces. In its previous iterations it hosted US presidents, our own Prime Ministers (Bob Hawke famously ran through the area in budgie smugglers), Princess Diana and, sadly, Michael Hutchence on the last night of his life. Now the InterContinental Sydney Double Bay is at its brilliant best after a huge renovation.

Time Out tip: Walk along New South Head Road to the Murray Rose Pool, a harbor beach and large swimming enclosure that’s ripe for a dip any time of year.

Park Hyatt Sydney

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 As one of the city’s finest luxury hotels, expect to wake up to breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour, the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. With direct access to the foreshore, you can step outside of the hotel lobby and be greeted with sights of the sun setting behind the Opera House on one side, and the gigantic pylons of the Harbour Bridge on the other – a treat for the eyeballs no matter the time of day.

Aside from its tourist-friendly location in The Rocks (home to some of Sydney’s oldest pubs) and nearby the iconic Quay at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Park Hyatt Sydney is a full service offering boasting room service, valet parking, a concierge, on-site restaurant, spa amenities, rooftop pool and more – all contained in a serene, contemporary setting. Service is impeccable and discreet, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a better spot for bacon and eggs, with a side of those famous white sails. Hot tip: be sure to leave some time to soak in your room’s generously sized bathtub. With Le Labo bath amenities and a well-stocked mini bar, it’s the perfect way to take in the best hotel views in Sydney.

7 Hickson Road, The Rocks, Sydney, hyatt.com

Little National  

Little National  

The newest CBD accommodation option, we love how Little National is light on extraneous details you don’t use, while offering a prime CBD location (above Wynyard Walk) that’s within minutes walk to Barangaroo and Martin Place. The compact, smartly designed rooms are a minimalist’s dream, and the well-appointed public areas are made for co-working and socialising with equal aplomb.

26 Clarence Street, Sydney, littlenationalhotel.com.au

Spicers Potts Point

Spicers Potts Point
Spicers Potts Point – impeccably styled, private and warm – is ideal for exploring both Sydney’s thriving culinary scene and its natural beauty. A botanical theme features throughout, from green and blue custom-made wallpaper by Finnish artist Reeta Ek to the cream and blue plush soft furnishings. Complimentary canapés and cocktail hour occurs nightly between 6pm-7pm, and the service is standout. Treat yourself to the Victoria Terrace Suite with its own veranda and views out to the city, a fireplace and an in-room turntable with a selection of records. Cloud-like king-sized beds confirm that these rooms are made for lie-ins and room service after big days out exploring. Sumptuous indeed.