Hotel options in Sydney might have been pretty limited once upon a time, but these days our hotel scene is absolutely thriving. If you’re looking for a boutique hotel in Sydney—a hotel with unique personal touches, a cool lobby bar, and thoughtfully designed interiors—you’ve come to the right place.
Among Sydney’s best boutique hotels are reimagined breweries, heritage-listed beauties, and Palm Springs-inspired oases. All of these boutique stays are close to some of Sydney’s best restaurants, bars, and shopping precincts too, which means you’re immediately in for a great time whether you’re staycationing or visiting. Keep scrolling for our favourite boutique hotels in Sydney.
Now Open: Hotel Morris
CBD
Once Australia’s tallest hotel, Hotel Morris has been reinvented for a new era, reopening its doors as of Wednesday 14 June. The breathtaking heritage-listed Inter-War Palazzo style building was designed by Virgil Dante Cizzio and the new Hotel Morris is a nod to this Italian heritage. Each of the 82 rooms features accents of the hotel’s signature ruby-red velvet as well as custom furniture, Calacatta and blue Roma marble, brass details, and bold amber onyx stone finishes.
Downstairs, Bar Morris is the hotel’s all-day diner and slick wine bar. Helmed by rising star chef Rosy Scatigna (ex-Shell House Dining Room), fill up on Italian-style blend of bread and focaccia called Panfocaccia, snacks like cheesy Nduja madeleine filled with guanciale, and larger plates like a juicy flank steak with “Café de Morris” butter. At Hotel Morris, you’re also in the hustle and bustle of Haymarket, close to Sydney’s iconic Chinatown, as well as the Capital Theatre, Central Station, and World Square.
Book your stay here.
Ace Hotel Sydney
Surry Hills
An impossibly cool party vibe, great food, and a stunning fit-out: Ace Hotel Sydney sure does live up to the boutique hotel brand’s reputation. Sydney is the 10th location for Ace and the first in Australia. Built into a former brickworks building on Wentworth Street in Surry Hills, rich design features (by Melbourne-based Flack Studio) play a huge part in the experience.
Most rooms are cosy, but sweeping ceilings, sleek fixtures, plush king-sized beds, and window seats built for lounging make up for the lack of space. If you are prepared to upgrade, the suites are where it’s at with sweeping views of the city, u-shaped lounge areas, free-standing tubs, and signature Ace touches like in-room Rega turntables and D’Angelico acoustic guitars. While Surry Hills’ best restaurants are at your doorstep, Ace Hotel’s rooftop restaurant Kiln is excellent, and the lobby bar is one of our favourite spots for a martini.
Book your stay here.
Oxford House
Paddington
You’ll find Oxford House (or, OH! for short) straddling Oxford Street in the heart of Paddington. It’s a primo location for some of Sydney’s best shopping, cafes, restaurants, and bars, as well as being close to the CBD and close enough to beaches like Bondi and Tamarama. That said, you may not want to leave Oxford House, thanks to its sunny courtyard pool, poolside bar, and all-day diner.
The Palm Springs-inspired hotel features 56 light and bright rooms and suites, each adorned with cool accessories like custom Double Rainbouu bathrobes (the Double Rainbouu boutique is across the street), Marc Newson crockery, Grown Alchemist hair care, and retro Marshall amp-inspired speakers. Larger suites have lounge areas and balconies too.
Book your stay here.
Paramount House Hotel
Surry Hills
Once the offices of Paramount Picture Studios and the home of Hollywood’s Golden Age in Sydney, these days Surry Hills’ spectacular Paramount building is home to the Paramount House Hotel. Enter via the bustling Paramount Coffee Project cafe to find one of 27 lush hotel suites. Designed by Melbourne-based Breathe Architecture, rooms are fitted out with accents of Japanese timber, poured concrete and silvery terrazzo, matched with muted emerald carpets, indoor plants, caramel leather couches, and French linen. We especially love rooms with sunny breakfast balconies and the huge square-shaped tub made of honey-coloured timber.
At your fingertips are the Paramount building’s other impressive tenants: a basement cinema and underground bar (Golden Age Cinema), chef Mat Lindsay’s wine bar (Poly), a rooftop gym and health club (Paramount Recreation Club), Sydney’s most beautiful co-working space (The Office Space), and some of our very best coffee (Paramount Coffee Project).
Book your stay here.
The Old Clare
Chippendale
Built into two heritage-listed buildings from the former Carlton United Brewery on Broadway, The Old Clare will charm the pants off any design-savvy travellers or staycationers. Some rooms are slick, modern lofts, others occupy the former brewer’s HQ where the board of directors would meet to discuss, well, we can only assume—beer.
In the Showroom Suite, your super king-size bed is backed by an original timber bar restored from the brewery building, while the enormous C.U.B Suite is located in the former boardroom, complete with original timber panelling, parquetry floors, and even the restored executive men’s washroom. Expect vintage designer furniture, high ceilings, beautiful bathtubs, and trendy amenities like Maison Balzac fragrances. There’s also a rooftop pool and bar and you’re smack-bang in the middle of one of Sydney’s best eat streets too.
Book your stay here.
Kimpton Margot
CBD
From West Hollywood to Amsterdam and Tulum, the Kimpton brand is loved around the world for its design kudos, locally-loved restaurants, and top-tier friendly service. Built into the former Sydney Water Board building on Pitt Street, Sydney’s Kimpton hotel is no exception to the rule. From the breathtaking lobby, complete with original crimson Scagliola pillars, fresh botanicals, plush velvet loungers, and a gin-inspired fragrance, to the stunning Art Deco rooms, and revival of Luke’s Kitchen restaurant from Sydney’s much-loved chef and restauranteur Luke Mangan—there is a lot to love.
Art takes centre stage at Kimpton Margot, with some 600 original pieces peppered throughout the nine levels and 172 spacious rooms. There are Lekker bikes to borrow in the lobby for city cruising; a nightly social hour in the pretty lobby includes complimentary cocktails, and wellness is incorporated into your stay through the hotel’s partnership with Egg of the Universe and complimentary video workouts and yoga mats and accessories available on demand. There’s also a rooftop pool, a private wine cellar available to book for events, and a pet-friendly policy too.
Book your stay here.
202 Elizabeth
Surry Hills
This 38-room, dog-friendly boutique hotel in the heart of Surry Hills is a stone’s throw from the neighbourhood’s restaurants, bars, and theatres. Fitted out in an eclectic modern style over six levels by interior designer Lisa Madigan, 202 Elizabeth is splashed with works by Australian artists and designers, including Ash Leslie, and Lean Timms. Furniture is by Sarah Ellison, Rachel Donath, and McMullin & Co, as well as curated vintage and one-off pieces—no two guestrooms are the same.
Room features include large balconies, rain showers and bathtubs, luxury robes, and a complimentary mini-bar, and the hotel also boasts a peaceful courtyard and open-air rooftop space overlooking Central Station. A Handpicked Wines tasting room, which will also be a coworking space for guests, is set to be launched in the coming months, too.
Book your stay here.
For even more great Sydney stays, check out:
Image credit: Steven Woodburn (Hotel Morris), Steven Woodburn (Hotel Morris), Ace Hotel, Oxford House, Paramount House Hotel, The Old Clare, Kimpton, 202 Elizabeth
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