The Best City Break Hotels in Australia 

Located in one of Sydney’s most prestigious waterfront suburbs, InterContinental Double Bay is the epitome of seaside sophistication - Luxury Escapes

Short, sweet and nothing short of sophisticated – here are the best city break stays in Australia.  

From ultra-trendy ex-prison cells and newly renovated heritage department stores to Palm Springs-inspired Brisbane city oases, these are the city stays with extra flair.  

The Best City Break Hotels in Melbourne 

The Langham, Melbourne  

Sweeping marble staircases, ornate high ceilings and colossal crystal-laced chandeliers: The Langham enchants Melbourne’s Southbank Promenade with old-world charm. It’s also one of Melbourne’s top high tea hot spots, where tiered cake stands, delicate porcelain and picture-perfect pastries abound, accompanied by city views. 

While a stay here is prim and proper, you are perfectly positioned to experience everything Melbourne has to offer, from Flinders Lane’s fine diners to cobbled and colourful alleyways like Hosiers Lane.  

The Interlude  

Encounter the unexpected at this boutique 19-suite hotel in Melbourne’s north, located within the former Pentridge Prison’s heritage-listed bluestone walls. Every nook of this hotel includes super-sleek marble, velvet and leather furnishings that starkly contrast the original architecture (built over 170 years ago), making each stay a sentence worth serving.  

Wellness at The Interlude exists underground, where a dimly lit subterranean pool and state-of-the-art fitness centre await. However, the star of the show is produce-driven North&COMMON restaurant, winner of one Chef’s Hat at the Australian Good Food Guide Awards 2024.  

The Windsor 

Located in Melbourne’s leafy Paris End, this heritage-listed hotel boasts a 140-year history. The Victorian-era building exudes the grandeur of a palace – from The Grand Ballroom’s stained glass domes to The Grand Staircase that coils around a skylight – establishing itself as a landmark on the corner of Little Collins and Spring Streets. It has hosted a glittering roster of luminaries, including Sir Anthony Hopkins, Meryl Streep, and Muhammad Ali.  

Amid the charm of vintage bellboy trolleys, champagne high teas and regal embellishments, you’ll find forward-thinking eateries, such as Kudo, one of Melbourne’s very few totally gluten-free artisanal bakeries.  

Next Hotel Melbourne, Curio Collection by Hilton 

Another jewel in the Paris End’s prestigious crown, alongside Melbourne’s high-fashion boutiques and fine dining restaurants, Next Hotel was recognised by Tripadvisor in 2024 as the #4 Top Hotel in Australia.  

With floor-to-ceiling curtained walls, dark marbled floors and loft-style design, Next Hotel sprinkles some Manhattan magic over Melbourne. This extends to La Madonna Restaurant & Bar – a swanky, dimly lit and booth-lined space, showcasing the best of local suppliers.  

Crown Metropol  

Home to hatted restaurants, major events like the Brownlow Medal and one of the city’s most luxurious day spas – Crown Melbourne’s precinct has cemented itself as an institution. Crown Metropol is the urban-chic counterpart in Crown’s trifecta of luxury resorts, boasting one of Melbourne’s most recognisable infinity pools.  

A stay here places you in the heart of Southbank’s scene, where evenings slip by as you hop between bars, watch street performers and enjoy arcade entertainment.  

The Best City Break Hotels in Sydney   

The Star Grand Hotel

The Star Grand Hotel is a world of its own, where world-class dining, nightlight and entertainment venues rub shoulders. Every luxuriously appointed room provides a serene escape from the city’s energy, while opulence radiates from the Art Deco marble entrance to the rooftop pool, offering breathtaking views of Sydney’s unique skyline. While The Star’s dining precinct caters to any craving or celebration, the hatted Japanese omakase venue Sokyo stands out with exquisite sashimi and sushi prepared right in front of diners.   

QT Sydney  

Experience the allure of QT Sydney, an Art Deco masterpiece housed within two of the city’s most iconic landmarks – the State Theatre and the historic Gowing’s department store. The hotel’s decor is filled with playful nods to the past, including vintage suitcases, velvet finishes, retro televisions and art-filled elevators that change playlists to match occupants.  

Ace Hotel Sydney 

Making its Southern Hemisphere debut, the Ace Hotel Group presents a mid-century modern masterpiece brimming with style. Warm lantern lighting, burnt-orange marble and in-room turntables set the ambience of this hospitality hotspot, while weekly gigs from Sydney’s rising DJs draw in the city’s trendiest crowds. Head up to the eighth floor and discover Kiln – a hatted restaurant where open-flame cooking pays homage to the building’s pottery workshop roots. 

InterContinental Double Bay 

Located in one of Sydney’s most prestigious waterfront suburbs, InterContinental Double Bay is the epitome of seaside sophistication. Picture this: awaken with a rooftop swim above Double Bay, watching luxury yachts glide below, then savour your morning coffee in the sunny French Provincial courtyard.  

The fitness centre surpasses hotel norms. Fit Collective Double Bay operates as a full-scale gym, open 24/7 to hotel guests and members, offering personal training and small fitness classes, including rooftop yoga. 

The Best City Break Hotels in Gold Coast 

QT Gold Coast 

What do you get when QT’s signature artistic flair meets the Gold Coast’s golden sands? A retro-glam oceanview resort straight out of a classic Hollywood film. The showstopper is the resort’s Art Deco-inspired pool: palm-fringed, boldly striped and surrounded by blue-and-white cabanas.  

In true QT style, five top-tier onsite eateries await, but for the quintessential Gold Coast chill, look no further than The Spring. This poolside haven offers cabana packages for a day of effortless lounging, complete with sunscreen, tropical fruit platters, Moreton Bay Bug rolls, sparkling wine and express spaQ treatments.  

Imperial Hotel Gold Coast 

Once the home of the prestigious Palazzo Versace, Imperial welcomes a new era of five-star oceanfront glamour. Italian craftsmanship continues to reign supreme: high ceilings gleam with gold accents, Baroque-inspired fabrics drape the furniture and the marble checkerboard floors shimmer with opulence. 

While the Gold Coast’s pristine beaches call, the hotel revolves around a lagoon-style pool that doubles as a private man-made beach, giving you every reason not to leave this slice of paradise.  

The Langham Gold Coast

The Langham Gold Coast is sleek compared to its old-school Melbournian counterpart, but don’t fret, their iconic afternoon tea prevails. Step in and feel a wave of relaxation, with blonde wood, white marble and concrete finishes creating an airy sanctuary. The endless blue ocean stretches into view from nearly every angle – the best vantage point being the swim-up bar in the lagoon pool. 

The Best City Break Hotels in Brisbane  

The Calile 

The Calile serves a taste of Palm Springs to Brisbane’s hip James Street precinct, with pastel-pink interiors and a retro cabana-flanked turquoise pool.  

Embark on a taste journey across exquisite onsite restaurants and bars. Highlights include the dreamy Lobby Bar, with signature cocktails like The Apiarist (featuring honeycomb syrup from in-house bees, paired with spiced rum and gingerbread liqueur). 

The Star Grand, Brisbane 

The newest star to dazzle along the Brisbane River, this hotel is nestled in the multi-billion-dollar Queen’s Wharf precinct. With celebrity chef Luke Nguyen’s hawker-style Fat Noodle restaurant on one side, Brisbane’s largest ballroom on the other and three sprawling pools above on the Leisure Deck, every moment at The Star Grand is extravagant.  

While Brisbane’s wonders are at your doorstep, nights at The Star Grand Brisbane can be spent bar and restaurant hopping, rounded off by a visit to the show-stopping casino for late-night entertainment.  

The Best City Break Hotels in Hobart 

MACq01 Hotel  

At Hobart’s heart lies Macquarie Wharf: once a market, then a shipping shed and now the MAC01 Complex. With bars, restaurants and the MACq01 Hotel right on the water, the complex tells the maritime history of Tasmania’s capital. The hotel building stands apart from other high-end stays with a glasshouse-adjacent design that features natural wood panelling, sweeping windows and countless nods to its shed-like roots. 

The seafood at Old Wharf Restaurant reigns supreme, showcasing the best of the region, like Stanley octopus, Bruny Island oysters and hot smoked Tasmanian trout.  

Mövenpick Hotel Hobart

If you’re seeking a gateway to the best of Hobart, Mövenpick is the most central: in the heart of the CBD, while just a five-minute stroll to the harbour.  

Like all Mövenpick hotels around the globe, chocolate hour strikes every afternoon, but this Tasmanian branch takes it up a notch: Chocology, their take on high tea, pairs artisanal chocolate treats, affogato and sparkling wine in the swanky atmosphere of Tersoro Modern Italian Restaurant. Doesn’t get much sweeter than that.  

The Best City Break Hotels in Canberra 

Midnite Hotel, Autograph Collection 

Bringing cutting-edge design to the ‘Bush State’, Midnite Hotel is a monochrome, modern masterpiece. Designed by Fender Katsalidis, the architect behind Melbourne skyscraper Australia 108, this hotel features indoor gardens, a cascading waterfall and a midnight-hued 20-metre pool.  

Located in the up-and-coming inner-city neighbourhood of Braddon, the hotel is a launchpad for exploring nearby trendy eateries, microbreweries and boutique shops.  

The Best City Break Hotels in Perth 

COMO The Treasury  

Five-star luxury inhabits the walls of the converted 1875 State Building in the heart of Perth. Neighbouring some of the finest restaurants in Perth – many also located within the heritage building – COMO The Treasury boasts just 48 rooms and suites and a light-filled pool. 

COMO Shambhala The Treasury is one of Perth’s best spas, with a menu featuring curated, multi-step packages like the COMO Shambhala Sleep: a 60-minute massage, foot acupressure and gift of essential oils, all designed to enhance guests’ natural sleep patterns. 

Pan Pacific Perth  

A five-star stay at Pan Pacific Perth, across from Langley Park and the harbourside, is also a culinary adventure. A must-do experience is the ‘Journey Through Peru’ degustation menu from authentic Peruvian restaurant Uma, using Western Australian produce. Think Cone Bay barramundi with chalaca salsa and charr-grilled Fremantle octopus skewers.   

Más Vino Wine Bar is also worth a visit, where expert sommeliers guide you through local and international wine flights paired with premium charcuterie. Occasionally, the wine bar joins forces with Western Australian liquor brands to hold interactive masterclasses.  

The Best City Break Hotels in Darwin  

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Esplanade Darwin 

Darwin lives a double life: it’s both a capital city and an oasis of natural wonders. This hotel’s unbeatable location on the palm-fringed Esplanade lets you tap into both by foot. Retreat inland to Darwin Galleria, the city’s major shopping precinct, or towards the horizon for endless blue and possibilities.  

Besides its waterfront location, the pool is the hotel’s triumph: it’s at once a spa, water feature, lap pool and front-row seat to Darwin’s spectacular sunset.  

The Best City Break Hotels in Adelaide  

EOS By Skycity 

With curving contours in shimmering gold, EOS by Skycity was made to be captured at golden hour. Head to the Leisure Deck to enjoy the hotel’s magnificent pool, with panoramic views across River Torrens. It’s made a name for itself, now open to the public for DJ-fueled summertime soirees. 

Feature image: InterContinental Double Bay.

Sarah Wilkes

Written by Sarah Wilkes

Sarah believes words are best written short n' sweet, and whisky is best served sour. A lover of luxury, she collects fragrances at every destination as if they were stamps.
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