Five of the best… boutique hotels in Sydney
Luxurious: Park Hyatt Sydney
The 155-room Park Hyatt Sydney is one of the luxury brand’s finest hotels in the world thanks to its location adjacent to the Harbour Bridge and opposite the Opera House, views best seen from the rooftop heated pool or from the rooms that feature floor-to-ceiling glass doors and private balconies. Find a full restaurant menu in room service from the Dining Room and a quiet bar that serves up classic drinks and international wines by the glass. 7 Hickson Rd, The Rocks, NSW, 2000. +61 (0)2 9256 1234.
Hip digs: QT Sydney
Set in the former Gowings department store and adjacent to the State Theatre, at QT Sydney you’ll find 200 rooms and suites that have been individually designed and luxuriously furnished – including a sofa and walk-in shower – and mini-bars that come complete with an emergency bow tie. Also find spaQ, complete with an old-world barbershop, as well as the brasserie-styled Gowings Bar and Grill, cocktail den Glit and Parlour Lane Roasters on the ground floor. 49 Market St, Sydney, NSW, 2000. +61 (0)2 8262 0000.
New addition: the uber-cool Old Clare Hotel
The food at the Old Clare Hotel is led by Clayton Wells, formerly of Momofuku Seiobo, who offers a seasonally-changing five course menu at Automata, and star Brit chef Jason Atherton’s Kensington Street Social where it’s about shared plates and degustations loaded up with Aussie seafood and meats. In the designer boutique hotel, the bar, which serves up local craft beer, cocktails and New South Wales wines was formerly the old pub, while upstairs find lofts, showroom suites and our pick the Abercrombie Room, which comes complete with an oversized bath tub next to the bed. 1 Kensington St, Chippendale, NSW, 2008. +61 (0)2 8277 8277.
New look: The Langham, Sydney
The former Observatory Hotel had a major makeover to bring it up to a Langham standard recently, which involved a remodeling of the entire building from the restaurant and bar to the rooms, lobby areas and day spa, of which the latter needed little touching up. Score a terrace room, which has views of the Western end of the Harbour, and book the 4.5-hour Champagne and gold indulgence package at the day spa before a high tea in Palm Court. 89-113 Kent St, Sydney, NSW, 2000. +61 (0)2 9256 2222.
Harbour style: Ovolo Woolloomooloo Sydney
Hong Kong’s uber-cool Ovolo Hotels remodeled the rooms, lobby and bar at this popular Sydney hotel, bringing back to life one of the city’s favourite re-gentrified buildings on a pier. Here, all rooms overlook the water, and the ones you want to book are the rock and roll-themed Ultraroo split-level suites that come complete with a cocktail bar and stools, oversized couches, a 65-inch smart TV and separate powder room. 6 Cowper Wharf Rd, Woolloomooloo, NSW, 2011.+61 (0)2 9331 9000.