Circular Quay Sydney, Australia
Renovated
2022
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Heritage SocialOutside the door
The house
IHGRestored treasury flagship
Sandstone arcades from the 1851 Treasury meet contemporary glass, framing sunlit lounge corners where locals and travellers mingle over cocktails.
“No other harbor-side hotel has perspectives like the InterContinental with sweeping vistas … plus unparalleled aerial views over the Royal Botanic Garden.”
What it’s good at
Notable
A contemporary overhaul pairs original colonial sandstone with plush harbour-facing window lounges and biophilic atrium dining.
Notable
Incorporates Sydney's 1851 Treasury Building, preserving historic sandstone arcades and the Southern Hemisphere's oldest working lift.
Notable
Level thirty-two rooftop bar Aster and the sunlit Treasury atrium host cocktail hours and weekend crowds.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Forbes Recommended
Forbes Travel Guide
2026
Also in AFAR.
The rooms and suites all feature window seats; the views of the skyline are impressive, and those of the harbour even more so.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Positioned at the edge of the central business district, the address sits opposite the Royal Botanic Garden, moments from Circular Quay ferries.
The rooms
Designed with aquatic hues and marble finishes, guestrooms feature built-in window seats looking across the skyline, harbour waters, or the botanic gardens.
The water
Bring a swimsuit.
The pool and gym
High on level 31, an indoor heated pool looks across the harbour beside a fully equipped fitness studio.
Aster Bar
Glass doors on the thirty-second floor open onto wraparound terrace views across Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge.
This newly branded InterContinental property was for many years a stately Ritz-Carlton hotel; its renovated common areas pair old-fashioned decor (the brass-plated elevators are wonderfully retro) with contemporary flourishes.
At the table
Under 1851 heritage sandstone arches, The Treasury serves cocktails and small plates from a sunlit, palm-filled atrium.
How it began
Opened in 1985 on Australia's first vineyard site, the hotel integrates the 1851 treasury building, thoroughly updated in a 2022 restoration.
Good to know
Stay here
InterContinental Sydney
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Sydney
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.