This historic boutique’s 100 rooms and lofts have a posh, nautical style, with dark wood accents, deep blues and wood beams, as well as modern amenities. The hotel's hot spot, WaterBar, is an impressive cathedral-meets-warehouse lounge with an extensive food and cocktail menu, stylish seating, stunning high ceilings and an overall ultra-cool ambiance. Other high-end features include a large heated indoor lap pool with outdoor sun deck, a modern fitness center, and amazing views.

Everything about the 70 rooms in the chic Quest Potts Point hotel is luxurious but small, which helps . Bright, stylish rooms have mirrored surfaces to create the illusion of more space, cool striped chairs, and tiny, but very functional, kitchenettes. Bathrooms are floor-to-ceiling marble but aren't entirely private due to fogged glass doors. One perk here is the rooftop terrace, full of seating for taking in the views, and the location in the King's Cross area is great for experiencing the bohemian culture and nightlife of Sydney.

The style throughout this upscale, 80-room boutique is trendy and contemporary; the lobby has plush, electric blue seating, and rooms have clean-lined, retro-modern furniture, dramatic headboards, and crisp white bedding. Some suites -- such as the courtyard suite -- feature private terraces and great views of the city. Guests have free access to the big and bright Anytime Fitness gym, but there is no on-site restaurant or pool.

Medusa Hotel is a quirky, 18-room boutique hotel with artsy flair. It has the look and feel of a converted house, with a cozy fireplace in the lobby and a painting that depicts the property's namesake. Rooms have a contemporary look with bright accent walls, muted geometric patterns, and modern platform beds. Each room has a kitchenette that features a microwave, coffeemaker, and minibar, and flat-screen TVs are accompanied by DVD players and small stereo systems. All-white bathrooms are basic but functional and come stocked with Aveda bath products. The small outdoor courtyard has a slender, decorative pool, but guests get free access to a nearby swimming pool and gym.

Located in the lively Darlinghurst neighborhood near Woolloomooloo and Kings Cross, the Kirketon Hotel Sydney is a 40-room, art-inspired boutique hotel that fuses contemporary style with classic Parisian influences. The rooms have sophisticated decor, crisp white bedding, and up-to-date amenities and the speakeasy-styled cocktail bar, Eau de Vie, is a definite highlight -- it's one of the trendiest spots in the city.

The hotel partly resides in a building that dates back to the 1800s -- and is currently listed in the National Heritage Register --, and its classically elegant façade and interior design reflect this history. The property is grand, with spacious, bright rooms that are charming and homey. In addition to Georgian antiques, eight fireplaces and 550 crystal chandeliers, the hotel also contains one of Australia’s largest private collections of fine art. The acclaimed on-site restaurant offers beautiful views of Sydney Harbour, while the stylish bar has a wide selection of high teas, wine and cocktails.