Clare Bar

Set in an expanded 19th-century pub, this refined hotel is an 8-minute walk from Central Station light rail station and 1.8 km from Darling Harbour. Featuring vintage fixtures mixed with contemporary decor, the polished rooms offer free Wi-Fi, smart TVs and goose-down bedding; some include free-standing tubs. Loft-style rooms add sitting areas and marble bathrooms, while suites have living and dining rooms, plus anterooms with libraries. A high-end restaurant is set in a chic warehouse space, and there's also a minimalist European eatery. Bars are available in the lobby and by the heated rooftop pool, and a gym is open 24/7. Breakfast is extra.