It’s been a huge 12 months or so for Australia’s hotel scene, with shiny new stays from the east coast to the west welcoming guests. And the expert wanderers at Travel + Leisure have been busy scoping out the world’s best new and renovated properties for their hotly anticipated 100 Best New Hotels of the Year list. From luxe city breaks to lower-budget properties, their round-up covers all styles and price points – and we're pleased to see that three excellent Australian hotels made the list, including two beauties right here in NSW. Let the daydreaming begin...
We called it – we knew The Eve Hotel Sydney would be one of the hottest Sydney hotel openings in years, and it of course made the list. This stunning urban property is from the folks at TFE Hotels, and it opened in Sydney's new Wunderlich Village lifestyle precinct in February this year. The Eve seamlessly blends the glamour and grunge that Redfern is known for, and features 102 boutique rooms, a rooftop deck with a 20-metre pool, lush greenery and a European-style lobby bar. Guests there are also be within walking distance of some of Sydney’s best new dining venues, including Olympus, a bustling Greek taverna, and Island Radio, a high-energy Southeast Asian eatery. We’re itching to check in!
But it was a hotel outside Sydney, up on the stunning Byron Bay coast, Basq House, that topped the list of best new hotels to open in Australia. I was lucky enough to stay here on my last trip to the boho beach town, and ended up naming it my favourite NSW stay of 2024. Designed to feel like a home away from home, the free-flowing property features plenty of communal spaces, including an eclectic lounge filled with board games, books, a bar, a fireplace, and a centrepiece magnesium pool inspired by the type you might find in a Moroccan riad. During my stay, I spent hours ‘basqing’ in the sun on comfy loungers by the pool, making the most of complimentary snacks from the self-service bar, and sinking into the plush bed in my light-filled room. Take me back!
Completing the line-up of Australian hotels on the best new openings list is the effortlessly cool Melbourne Place. There’s a lot to love about this 16-storey brick hotel – its artfully warm design, locally made contemporary artworks, signature woody black tea fragrance, Mediterranean-leaning rooftop bar, and 192 spacious rooms with complimentary mini bars. Our Time Out Melbourne Food Editor, Lauren Dinse, particularly loved Melbourne Place’s circular windows and mirrors, calling them “sunlit portals to the surrounding city life.” Sounds pretty dreamy to us!
Planning an international getaway? You can explore the full 100 Best New Hotels of the Year here.
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