01
Surry Hills (Wentworth Avenue) · From A$300
Ace's first Australian hotel, in a Surry Hills brick building
Kiln, the restaurant, is on the roof of the heritage building on Wentworth Avenue. Entry rooms sit at the accessible end of Sydney's design hotels.
On the recordMichelin One Key 2025 · Mr & Mrs Smith collection (2026 list round-up)
02
CBD (Pitt Street) · From A$300
The Art Deco Water Board headquarters, with a pool on the roof
Rooms pair raw concrete walls with leather-lined headboards and wardrobe doors. It opened on Pitt Street in 2022.
On the recordThe New Daily: seven best new hotels in Sydney (Dec 2023)
03
Surry Hills · From A$280
A gothic Surry Hills convent school with a rose quartz bar
Rooms have their own baths, and there is a 24-hour honour bar and a north-facing rooftop terrace.
On the recordThe Hotel Guru: best hotels in Surry Hills · Localiiz: Sydney's best design hotels
04
Potts Point · From A$220 · 80 rooms
Eighty rooms at the top of Potts Point's cafe strip
Some suites open onto private terraces with city views.
On the recordTime Out best boutique hotels / best cheap hotels in Sydney
05
Camperdown · From A$180
A Camperdown hotel where guests choose their room on arrival
Each room was designed by a different artist or studio. It bills itself as Sydney's first 'choose your own adventure' hotel.
On the recordLocaliiz: Sydney's best design hotels · The Hotel Guru listing
06
Millers Point · From A$280
A heritage Millers Point corner pub with rooms above the bar
Remodelled in 2015, it has a handful of rooms facing the harbour or Barangaroo Reserve. The CBD core is about 15 minutes' walk.
On the recordGrantourismo: best Sydney boutique hotels · Sitchu: best boutique hotels in Sydney
07
CBD (Pitt Street, Haymarket end) · From A$250 · 82 rooms
A 1920s Art Deco block at the Haymarket end of Pitt Street
Eighty-two individually furnished rooms sit above Bar Morris, an Italian-leaning bar at street level. It opened in 2024 as one of the city's more accessible heritage conversions.
On the recordAccor Handwritten Collection (official listing; editorial inclusion n/v)
08
Paddington (Oxford Street) · From A$250 · 55 rooms
A Palm Springs-style pool terrace on Paddington's Oxford Street
DJs play the tropical pool terrace at weekends. The 55 rooms are minimal and light-toned, and the restaurant serves modern Australian food.
On the recordHotel Management (trade press) opening coverage 2022 · The Hotel Guru listing · Destination NSW (sydney.com) listing