The 15 best hotels in Adelaide

This swish, five-star boutique hotel has become the preferred choice of visiting rock stars and celebrities since its 2015 inception, and it's not hard to see why: the place just oozes bespoke luxury. The 170 stylish rooms feature custom-made mattresses and Hunter Lab Range toiletries, while the much-lauded Mayflower restaurant and two bars serve up Wedgwood crockery and Riedel and Waterford marque crystal glassware. The hotel even smells luxurious - it has a specially-curated 'signature scent' inspired by Chanel perfume. Located in the centre of the CBD where shopping strip Rundle Mall meets bar and dining strip Hindley Street, and just a short walk from Adelaide's cultural boulevard North Terrace, it's perfectly situated for exploring the city on foot. That's if you ever want to leave. 

Time Out tip: Head to the Hennessy Rooftop Bar (named for the original architect of the 1930s heritage-listed building, not the cognac beloved by hip-hop stars) and try a Honey Trap cocktail – it's made with honey collected from the hotel's own rooftop hives of Ligurian bees. It’s one of the best rooftop bars in Adelaide and you’d be all out of luck if you don’t give it a suss.

Address: 45 King William Street, Adelaide
Price: Starting at $159 per night
Closest transport: Rundle Mall tram stop, and Adelaide Railway Station

Play and stay to your heart’s content at this boutique, Art Nouveau-inspired hotel in the heart of Adelaide’s arts, cultural and entertainment precinct. The Playford facade is a North Terrace icon, recognisable for its curving balconies, vine-etched frontage and a row of burgundy umbrellas that line the street. All rooms and suites were designed to be timeless, featuring plush bathrobes and slippers, luxury Appelles amenities, heated towel rails and a customisable pillow menu at your fingertips. Guest parking and 24-hour access to the health club, including a heated indoor pool, spa, sauna and gym, earn The Playford bonus points, as does its award-winning Luma Restaurant and Bar. Having undergone renovation in 2023, you can rest assured that The Playford is as fresh as can be and decked out with all the modcons for a more than pleasant stay.

Time Out tip: Start your morning with a creamy latte and a pastry from Luma Restaurant and Bar. The pastries are baked fresh daily using local South Australian ingredients and can be delivered straight to your door for the ultimate breakfast in bed.

Address: 120 North Terrace, Adelaide
Price: Starting at $173 per night
Closest transport: Adelaide Railway Station

When they tell you it’s a vibe, it really is. This recently opened hotel is the perfect launchpad for exploring the city’s major landmarks – Rundle Mall, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Central Market and Botanic Gardens – or for a staycation during Adelaide Fringe and WOMADelaide. The contemporary abodes are easy on the eyes with beige tones and timber decor, and natural light spills through each room’s floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing guests to gaze out towards the rolling Adelaide Hills or bright city lights below. Pack swimmers for a dip in the suspended outdoor pool (it’s an actual bridge linking two highrises), work up a sweat in the state-of-the-art gym and enjoy a delightful alfresco dinner on-site at Storehouse Flinders East, which is popular with locals and holiday-makers alike.

Time Out tip: Located just off Hutt Street, there are a plethora of eating and drinking houses along the main drag that demand a visit. Dine at the very cool and very new Latteria, pop across the road for a tipple at yesteryear Bar Torino, and take your morning coffee and croissant at the queue-worthy Mascavado Pâtisserie – one of the best to do it.

Address: 260 Flinders Street, Adelaide
Price: Starting at $146 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop V1 Hutt Street West Side (stop ID: 13391)

If you're looking for a true VIP experience after the footy or cricket, book a night at the Oval Hotel. Wrapping around the eastern façade of the iconic Adelaide Oval, this premium hotel really is in the heart of the action. Rooms here capture the beauty of the surrounding heritage-listed parklands, with natural textures and calming tones, plus custom-made ‘The Moment’ king beds, intuitive in-room technology, a premium minibar selection and the latest entertainment. Start your stay with a complimentary welcome drink in the lobby and keep the drinks flowing with a brew nearby at Adelaide’s home of craft beer – Malt Shovel Taphouse, or with a guided wine tasting at the hotel’s signature Bespoke Wine Bar and Kitchen. If staying in close proximity to your not-so-humble abode is high on your priority list, all while making the most of your stay, then RoofClimb Adelaide Oval is the ultimate experience for an all-in-one look across the city with a bonus hit of adrenaline. Or keep your feet firmly on the ground with an awe-inspiring gander around the neighbouring St Peter’s Cathedral.

Time Out tip: While it's easy enough to stick to the city centre, North Adelaide is worth checking out too. O'Connell Street is abuzz with eateries boasting everything from eccentric wine bars, namely Pastel, to 24/7 snackeries, queue Bakery On O'Connell.

Address: King William Road, North Adelaide
Price: Starting at $221 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 1 King William Road East Side (stop ID: 13179), and Festival Plaza tram stop

The perfect balance of playful and luxe, this boutique hotel near Adelaide Central Market is a love letter to the city’s many legendary festivals. Edgy wall art and colourful furniture brighten up the space and tessellated tile patterns nod to South Australia’s copper mining past. The 145 rooms are equally striking and full of personality, decorated with hand-selected posters from past Adelaide festivals and fitted with premium king beds, two-head rainfall showers and Smart TVs. How’s that for a bit of pizzazz? And while there’s no terrace pool for your leisurely pastime needs, Hotel Indigo is in fact topped with the highest rooftop bar in Adelaide – Merrymaker Rooftop Bar – sitting pretty at 16 storeys about the busy city streets. Here, you can relish hill- and city-scapes to behold, plus golden-hour gazing with something ice-cool in hand.

Time Out tip: Off to see a show? Don’t stress about squeezing in dinner and make a dedicated pre-theatre reservation at the hotel’s lobby floor, Italian restaurant, Market and Meander. The attentive waitstaff will ensure you're out the door with plenty of time to spare.

Address: 23-29 Market Street, Adelaide
Price: Starting at $239 per night
Closest transport: Victoria Square tram stop

When Sofitel Adelaide swung open its doors in 2021, it marked the first five-star hotel debut in South Australia in 30 years. The 32-storey French-inspired building blends Parisian luxury with local charm, featuring Fleur de lis carpets, bespoke vintage-inspired wallpaper and exquisite chandeliers (even above the heated pool). There are 251 luxurious guest rooms and suites to rest your feet up – from superior, deluxe, luxury and luxury club to prestige and opera – with a choice of city, coast or Adelaide Hills views. You’re only a short stroll to the CBD restaurants and the famed Peel Street small-bar precinct, but we suggest leaning into the French flair with a glass of sparkly at the ground floor Déjà Vu Champagne Bar or a foie gras and French caviar feast at Garçon Bleu on level nine. And in just a 30-second stroll out the lobby door, you can devour one of the best pizzas in Adelaide at beloved institution and clubstraunt, Sunny’s.

Time Out tip: Planning a night on the town? Or just in need of a little pampering? Sofitel Adelaide has you covered with in-room hair styling and make-up appointments available every day of the week from 5am to 7pm.

Address: 108 Currie Street, Adelaide
Price: Starting at $253 per night
Closest transport: Pirie Street tram stop, and Adelaide Railway Station

The grand-daddy of Adelaide luxury hotels for more than 30 years, the Hilton was starting to show its age in recent years until some seriously stylish upgrades brought it back to the attention of trendy travellers. Foodies flock to the hotel's signature Coal Cellar and Grill restaurant, which focuses on South Australian produce and features a glass-encased cellar with 500 wine labels, while the ground floor Collins Bar has become a local favourite for after-work cocktails. As one of the largest hotels in South Australia, it incorporates an outdoor heated swimming pool, full-size tennis court, fitness centre and grand ballroom, too. There’s something a little homely about the Hilton’s abodes – perhaps it’s the wood-cladding – but they’re definitely modern, spacious and bright enough to make you feel like you’re treating yourself. The King Superior Suite will more than suffice. Another factor that makes Hilton Adelaide one of the best hotels in town is its proximity to the renowned Adelaide Central Market – it’s one of the largest undercover fresh produce markets in the Southern Hemisphere.

Time Out tip: Opt for a room on the eastern side of the building for great views over Victoria Square and the city, and across the pretty Adelaide Hills.

Address: 233 Victoria Square, Adelaide
Price: Starting at $150 per night
Closest transport: Victoria Square tram stop

Eos or Ios? Located in the historic Railway Station building on the banks of the River Torrens, this impressive hotel will have you feeling like you’re on a Greek island holiday. Step aside, Santorini. Take in sweeping views of the river and beyond aside the award-winning heated outdoor pool and spa on the leisure deck, or unwind in the cedarwood dry heat sauna or eucalyptus wet steam room. Afterwards, indulge in time-honoured cocktails at Sôl Rooftop which is, again, one of the best of its kind in Adelaide at nine-storeys up in the sky with spectacular north-facing scenes. A bespoke mixologist is also on-call for those who’d prefer a cocktail in the comfort of their room or suite, which you can request via the in-room tablet. Speaking of, Eos’ stunning quarters are sure to impress with their minimalist, monochrome interiors with golden embellishments for a touch of class, along with floor-to-ceiling window panes that spill with sunshine and reflections of the River Torrens, and private balconies that’ll give you that high-end feeling.

Time Out tip: Ditch the gallery and instead explore SkyCity’s 900 curated artworks, which were commissioned by more than 40 South Australian photographers, painters, glass blowers, and sculptors.

Address: 1/1 Festival Drive, Adelaide
Price: Starting at $399 per night
Closest transport: Adelaide Railway Station

Just an hour's drive north of Adelaide is one of the world's top culinary destinations – the Barossa Valley, bursting with internationally renowned wineries and restaurants and boasting stunning vineyard-studded landscapes in every direction. Surrounded by lavender and vines, The Louise is the accommodation to match, and to boot, mind you. Step inside your private suite and it's not hard to see why: the 15 villas at this newly renovated stone lodge feature king beds with luxury linens, walk-in wardrobes, marbled ensuite bathrooms with two-person spa baths, gas log fireplaces and private terraces with their own outdoor rain showers. And it gets even better – the award-winning Appellation restaurant shares the same grounds as the accommodation. Here, dishes sway with the seasons and are paired with the Barossa's finest wines. You need not even leave The Louise for a fair dinkum Barossa experience. But exploring the region is obviously encouraged.

Time Out tip: Arrive in some serious style – The Louise is home to a helipad that links the locale to Adelaide Airport. You’ll be out in the sticks in just a jiffy.

Address: 375 Seppeltsfield Road, Marananga
Price: Starting at $805 per night
Closest transport: Private Car Service arranged by The Louise

Every weekend scores of eager Adelaide locals head to the base of Mt Lofty to attempt the heart-pumping two-kilometre hike to the summit. But an easier way to get an enviable Instagram selfie is to check yourself into historic Mt Lofty House, just 20 minutes from the city, where the breathtaking views from your luxuriously appointed suite will have your followers green with envy without you even breaking a sweat. Set amongst 22 acres of immaculately manicured gardens, this 1852 heritage-listed manor house offers a range of modern rooms and suites with king beds and fantastic views across the Piccadilly Valley, an outdoor swimming pool, billiards room, tennis court and day spa set in the home's original 19th-century stables. For a more intimate stay, four free-standing self-contained cottages offer total privacy for a perfect Hills retreat.

Time Out tip: Don't miss a chance to dine at award-winning Hardy's Verandah Restaurant. Opened in 2017, it’s easily one of Adelaide's most fine dining restaurants with a 175-year-old cellar and wine list boasting more than 1,300 labels.

Address: 1 Mawson Drive, Crafers
Price: Starting at $599 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 25 Summit Road East Side (stop ID: 14525)

Situated just metres from the trendy dining, bar-hopping and boutique shopping of Rundle Street, and overlooking tree-filled Botanic Gardens and East Terrace Parklands, this sleek 329-room hotel is a perfect base for city explorers and business travellers alike – and even more prime for Adelaide Fringe-goers at just a six-minute walk to the festival’s major hub, The Garden of Unearthly Delights. The super contemporary rooms range from standard to suite, some with balconies, and feature plush bedding, a pillow menu, and luxurious bathrooms with full-sized baths and walk-in showers. Your stay also grants you access to the high-tech gym, rooftop heated infinity pool and bar (often featured in fashion magazines), co-working area and 24-hour self-service laundry. The Crowne Plaza also holds title to the tallest building in Adelaide as of 2025, meaning that hillscape vistas to the east of the hotel are the most expansive and uninterrupted in town. 

Time Out tip: Swim high above the city and relax poolside while sipping cocktails at the hotel's bar and cocktail lounge, Luna10 – views are a given, and even locals head up to see the city in a different light.

Address: 27 Frome Street, Adelaide
Price: Starting at $167 per night
Closest transport: Botanic Gardens tram stop

Perched within the lush Adelaide Hills village of Stirling, just 20 minutes out of the city and surrounded by flourishing forests and vineyards is a little slice of East Asia that is as luxurious as it is unexpected. Choose from three individually designed villas – Yoko (modern Japanese), Zen (minimalist Thai) or Bali Villa (take a guess) – each is roomy and moody, complete with deluxe touches like designer Jag kitchens, solar underfloor heating and private outdoor courtyards and gardens. The abodes reflect the natural environs that are quite literally on the doorstep, with plenty of timber fittings along with lots of browns and beige tones which blend seamlessly outdoors through floor-to-ceiling glass walls. The free-standing bathtub and rain shower are ideal if you’re into bathing with flora views – Sticky Rice Villas are award-winning for a reason.

Time Out tip: Forget going out to eat – book a class in the lauded on-site cooking school and whip up your own gourmet fare. For a bit extra, a chef can otherwise come to your villa and show you how to use that top-of-the-range kitchen in a private cooking lesson.

Address: 96 Old Mount Barker Road, Stirling
Price: Starting at $279 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 34B Old Mt Barker Road South Side (stop ID: 14693)

Check in, then fully check out at Hotel Alba. This sophisticated resort-style hotel overlooks Adelaide's grassy South Parklands, with 99 light and airy guest rooms. Breathe in the fresh garden air from your very own private balcony, or step into Alba’s sun-soaked paradise for a bottomless lunch at Ela restaurant. Although ground-level, Hotel Alba’s outdoor heated pool is pretty mega and complete with striped umbrellas and palm trees for sun-safe relaxing to the maxin’ – it’s also one of Adelaide’s newest and coolest event spaces and frequently plays host to media launches with the city’s A-listers sure to show. Art Deco touches can be spotted throughout the hotel, like the golden room numbers which simply scream bygone Los Angeles. You’ll be feeling like you’re at the Hotel California, if you know what we mean. The rooms themselves are contemporary, but don’t go overboard with lavish decor or unnecessary clutter. They’re comfortable, equipt with the necessities, and are well away from disruptive nightlife noises.

Time Out tip: End your day with tapas and a tipple poolside at the Mediterranean-inspired Ela restaurant and bar. 

Address: 226 South Terrace, Adelaide
Price: Starting at $159 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop P1 Pulteney Street West Side (stop ID: 13583)

The leafy, village-like suburb of Walkerville isn't exactly a hotspot for Adelaide holidaymakers – it's too far to comfortably walk into the city, and it's not really near anything one would call a tourist attraction. But what this quirky boutique motel may lack in location, it makes up for in style and handy features, especially for longer stays. Part of the Art Series Hotel chain, its design is inspired by Pitjantjatjara artist Tommy Watson, whose colourful dreaming artworks brighten the hallways and rooms with vibrant pinks, blues and oranges. The 140 light and airy open-plan suites range from studio to two bedroom, and all feature a kitchenette, Foxtel and free wifi. There's also free parking, but if you don't have a ride don't worry – the hotel has a fleet of Smart Cars, scooters and Lekker bicycles for hire, the latter perfect for riding along the stunning River Torrens Linear Park that's just metres from the doorstep.

Time Out tip: Ask for a room on the southern side of the building for sweeping views of the Adelaide Hills, city and North Adelaide. The other side has views of the 25-metre lap pool which, although designed by Olympian Michael Klim, isn't quite as impressive.

Address: 33 Warwick Street, Walkerville
Price: Starting at $151 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 10 Walkerville Terrace North West Side (stop ID: 12773)