Sydney landmark named Australia's best hotel - and no. 16 in the world

Tucked inside a heritage sandstone landmark just steps from Sydney Harbour sits Australia's finest stay - and one of the very best hotels on the planet.

Sydney's elegant Capella on Farrer Place has been named number 16 in the World's 50 Best Hotels and the best hotel in Oceania.

Capella Sydney, teaming old-world charm with cutting edge design, occupies an ornate Edwardian building a short stroll from Sydney Harbour and the Opera House.

Judges said Capella "speaks with a distinctly Aussie accent", from the textured timber floors and art from local makers.

They said the unpretentious service and the products used in the spa lean into the "unique scents of the Australian bush".

The praised the on-site dining, with the signature restaurant Brasserie 1930 serving local produce including oysters, fish, beef, poultry, vegetables and wine that "presents a portrait of excellent Australian dining".

Another eatery, the courtyard restaurant Aperture, was also named for its all-day dining and an Australian version of high tea with bush ingredients.

In 2025, Sydney Capella joined the prestigious World's 50 Best Hotels list for the first time, appearing at number 12.

An Explore review of the hotel in 2023 called the hotel's interior design "gobsmacking" and its service "faultless".

The best hotel in the world gong for 2026 went to Rosewood Hong Kong, followed by Capella Bangkok in second place and Four Seasons at Chao Phraya River in third.

The Calile Hotel in Brisbane took the number-83 spot in the World's 50 Best Hotels extended list, which ranks the extraordinary hotels placing 51-100.

This is the fourth year the Calile has received the remarkable recognition of being among the 100 best hotels in the world.

The Fortitude Valley resort boasts a subtropical design that embraces the local climate, offering a unique experience in its urban setting.

50 Best describes the five-star hotel as a "leafy oasis" embracing the "relaxed, barefoot Australian style of luxury".

Guests can cool down in open-air corridors, lush vertical gardens and rooms with breeze-catching balcony doors.

A signature pool deck flaunts a 30-metre pool lined with gold tiles spelling out the hotel's name, surrounded by sun loungers, pastel sage-green umbrellas and private dining cabanas available to book for cocktails.

The Calile Hotel general manager, Chris Kemlo, said the ranking reflects the "dedication and quiet consistency" of the hotel team and their "care for every guest, every day".

New Zealand's Huka Lodge in Taupo took the number-82 spot in the longlist.

The Calile ranked number 32 last year, down from 25 the previous year.

Last year's top three hotels were similar to this year's: Rosewood in Hong Kong, Four Seasons at Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, and Capella Bangkok.

The list is curated by The World's 50 Best Hotels Academy, a global panel of more than 800 independent experts.

This article was originally published on September 4, 2026 with the headline 'This lush Brisbane oasis just made the world's top 100 hotels list - again'