The 16 best hotels in Adelaide

This swish, five-star boutique hotel has become the preferred choice of visiting rock stars and celebrities since opening in 2015, and it's not hard to see why: the place just oozes bespoke luxury. The 170 stylish rooms feature custom-made mattresses and Hunter Lab Range toiletries, while the much-lauded Mayflower restaurant and two bars serve up Wedgwood crockery and Riedel and Waterford marque crystal glassware. The hotel even smells luxurious - it has a specially-curated 'signature scent' inspired by Chanel perfume. Located in the centre of the CBD where shopping strip Rundle Mall meets bar and dining strip Hindley Street, and just a short walk from Adelaide's cultural boulevard North Terrace, it's perfectly situated for exploring the city on foot. That's if you ever want to leave.

Time Out tip: Head to the Hennessy Rooftop Bar (named for the original architect of the 1930s heritage-listed building, not the cognac beloved by hip-hop stars) and try a Honey Trap cocktail – it's made with honey collected from the hotel's own rooftop hives of Ligurian bees.

Play and stay to your heart’s content at this boutique, Art Nouveau-inspired hotel in the heart of Adelaide’s arts, cultural and entertainment precinct. The Playford facade is a North Terrace icon, recognisable for its curving balconies, vine-etched facades and a row of burgundy umbrellas that line the street. All rooms and suites were designed to ‘be timeless, featuring plush bathrobes and slippers, luxury Appelles amenities, heated towel rails and a customisable pillow menu at your fingertips. Guest parking and 24-hour access to the health club, including a heated indoor pool, spa, sauna and gym, earn The Playford bonus points, as does it’s award-winning Luma Restaurant and Bar.

Time Out tip: Start your morning with a creamy latte and a pastry from Luma Restaurant and Bar. The pastries are baked fresh daily using local South Australian ingredients and can be delivered straight to your door for the ultimate breakfast in bed.

The perfect balance of playful and luxe, this boutique hotel near Adelaide Central Market is a love letter to the city’s many legendary festivals. Edgy wall art and colourful furniture brighten up the space and tessellated tile patterns nod to South Australia’s copper mining past. The 145 rooms are equally striking and full of personality, decorated with hand-selected posters from past Adelaide festivals and fitted with premium king beds, two-head rainfall showers and Smart TVs. 

Time Out tip: Off to see a show? Don’t stress about squeezing in dinner and make a dedicated pre-theatre reservation at the hotel’s lobby floor, Italian restaurant, Market and Meander. The attentive waitstaff will ensure you're out the door with plenty of time to spare.

When Sofitel Adelaide swung open its doors in 2021, it marked the first five-star hotel debut in South Australia in 30 years. The 32-storey French-inspired building blends Parisian luxury with local charm, featuring Fleur de lis carpets, bespoke vintage-inspired wallpaper and exquisite chandeliers (even above the heated pool). There are 251 luxurious guest rooms and suites to rest your feet up – from superior, deluxe, luxury and luxury club to prestige and opera – with a choice of city, coast or Adelaide Hills views. You’re only a short stroll to the CBD and Peel Street restaurants, but we suggest leaning into the French flair with a glass of sparkly at the ground floor Déjà Vu Champagne Bar or a foie gras and French caviar feast at Garçon Bleu on level nine.

Time Out tip: Planning a night on the town? Or just in need of a little pampering? Sofitel Adelaide has you covered with in-room hair styling and make-up appointments available every day of the week from 5am to 7pm.

The grand-daddy of Adelaide luxury hotels for more than 30 years, the Hilton was starting to show its age in recent years until some seriously stylish upgrades brought it back to the attention of trendy travellers. Foodies flock to the hotel's signature Coal Cellar and Grill restaurant, which focuses on South Australian produce and features a glass-encased cellar with 500 wine labels, while the ground floor Collins Bar has become a local favourite for after-work cocktails. One of the largest hotels in South Australia, it incorporates an outdoor heated swimming pool, full-size tennis court, fitness centre and grand ballroom.

Time Out tip: Opt for a room on the eastern side of the building for great views over Victoria Square and the city, and across the pretty Adelaide Hills.

Eos or Ios? Located in the historic Railway Station building on the banks of the River Torrens, this impressive hotel will have you feeling like you’re on a Greek island holiday. Take in sweeping views of the river and beyond from the award-winning heated outdoor pool and spa on the leisure deck, or unwind in the cedarwood dry heat sauna or eucalyptus wet steam room. Afterwards, indulge in time-honoured cocktails at Sôl Rooftop, one of the city’s most spectacular rooftop bars. A bespoke mixologist is also on-call for those who’d prefer a cocktail in the comfort of their room or suite, which you can request via the in-room tablet. 

Time Out tip: Ditch the gallery and instead explore SkyCity’s 900 curated artworks, which were commissioned by more than 40 South Australian photographers, painters, glass blowers, and sculptors.

Just an hour's drive north of Adelaide is one of the world's top culinary destinations – the Barossa Valley, bursting with internationally renowned wineries and restaurants and boasting stunning vineyard-studded landscapes in every direction. Surrounded by lavender and vines, The Louise is the accommodation to match. Step inside your private suite and it's not hard to see why: the 15 villas at this newly renovated stone lodge feature king beds with luxury linens, walk-in robes, marbled ensuite bathrooms with two-person spa baths, gas log fireplaces and private terraces with their own outdoor rain showers.

Time Out tip: Definitely book a table at one of Australia's finest regional dining destinations, Appellation. Dishes sway with the seasons and are paired with the Barossa's finest wines.

Sitting in the pretty Adelaide Hills village of Stirling, just 20 minutes out of the city and surrounded by lush forests and vineyards is a little slice of East Asia that is as luxurious as it is unexpected. Choose from three individually designed villas – Yoko (modern Japanese), Zen (minimalist Thai) or Bali Villa (take a guess) – each is roomy and moody, complete with deluxe touches like designer Jag kitchens, solar underfloor heating and private outdoor courtyards and gardens.

Time Out tip: Forget going out to eat – book a class in the lauded on-site cooking school and whip up your own gourmet fare. For a bit extra, a chef can otherwise come to your villa and show you how to use that top-of-the-range kitchen in a private cooking lesson.

Check-in, then fully check out at Hotel Alba. This sophisticated resort-style hotel overlooks Adelaide's rolling South Parklands, with 99 light and airy guest rooms. Breathe in the fresh garden air from your very own private balcony, or step into Alba’s sun-soaked paradise for a bottomless lunch at Ela restaurant.

Time Out tip: End your day with tapas and a tipple poolside at the Mediterranean-inspired Ela restaurant and bar.

When they tell you it’s a vibe, it really is. This recently opened hotel is the perfect launchpad for exploring the city’s major landmarks – Rundle Mall, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Central Market and Botanic Gardens – or for a staycation during Adelaide Fringe and WOMADelaide. Natural light spills through each room’s floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing guests to gaze out towards the rolling Adelaide Hills or bright city lights below. Pack swimmers for a dip in the suspended outdoor pool, work up a sweat in the state-of-the-art gym and enjoy a delightful alfresco dinner at Storehouse Flinders East.

Time Out tip: It’s worth booking the Urban Retreat King Room for the deep, open-plan bath. Dim the lights, sprinkle in the complimentary bath salts and melt into the warm water, as you watch the sun go down over the Adelaide Hills.

If you're looking for a true VIP experience after the footy or cricket, book a night at the Oval Hotel. Wrapping around the eastern façade of the iconic Adelaide Oval, this premium hotel really is in the heart of the action. Rooms here capture the beauty of the surrounding heritage-listed parklands, with natural textures and calming tones, plus custom-made ‘The Moment’ king beds, intuitive in-room technology, a premium minibar selection and the latest entertainment. Start your stay with a complimentary welcome drink in the lobby and keep the drinks flowing with a brew at Adelaide’s home of craft beer – Malt Shovel Taphouse, or with a guided wine tasting at the hotel’s signature Bespoke Wine Bar and Kitchen. 

Time Out tip: Strap on a safety harness and make the breathtaking 50m climb to the top of the Adelaide Stadium, where you can take in stunning panoramic views of the city, from the Hills to the coast.

Every weekend scores of eager Adelaide locals head to the base of Mt Lofty to attempt the heart-pumping two-kilometre hike to the summit. But an easier way to get an enviable Instagram selfie is to check yourself into historic Mt Lofty House, just 20 minutes from the city, where the breathtaking views from your luxuriously appointed suite will have your followers green with envy without you even breaking a sweat. Set amongst 22 acres of immaculately manicured gardens, this 1852 heritage-listed manor house offers a range of modern rooms and suites with king beds and fantastic views across the Piccadilly Valley, an outdoor swimming pool, billiards room, tennis court and day spa set in the home's original 19th-century stables. For a more intimate stay, four free-standing self-contained cottages offer total privacy for a perfect Hills retreat.

Time Out tip: Don't miss a chance to dine at award-winning Hardy's Verandah Restaurant. Opened in 2017, it’s easily one of Adelaide's most fine dining restaurants with a 175-year-old cellar and wine list boasting more than 1,300 labels.

The leafy, village-like suburb of Walkerville isn't exactly a hotspot for Adelaide holidaymakers – it's too far to comfortably walk into the city, and it's not really near anything one would call a tourist attraction. But what this quirky boutique motel may lack in location, it makes up for in style and handy features, especially for longer stays. Part of the Art Series Hotel chain, its design is inspired by Pitjantjatjara artist Tommy Watson, whose colourful dreaming artworks brighten the hallways and rooms with vibrant pinks, blues and oranges. The 140 light and airy open-plan suites range from studio to two bedroom, and all feature a kitchenette, Foxtel and free wifi. There's also free parking, but if you don't have a ride don't worry – the hotel has a fleet of Smart Cars, scooters and Lekker bicycles for hire, the latter perfect for riding along the stunning River Torrens Linear Park that's just metres from the doorstep.

Time Out tip: Ask for a room on the southern side of the building for sweeping views of the Adelaide Hills, city and North Adelaide. The other side has views of the 25m lap pool which, although designed by Olympian Michael Klim, isn't quite as impressive.

The Adelaide Hills are all about good food, wine and tranquility amongst the trees - the third often discovered after indulging in the first two - and you'll find all three at this working winery set in some of the most stunning vineyards in South Australia. Located an hour out of the city in the tiny village of Macclesfield, surrounded by rolling, gum-studded countryside, Longview offers 12 elegant self-contained suites overlooking the winery's 22-year-old pinot noir vines, each with a kitchenette and outside deck. More deluxe is the stylishly renovated historic homestead, which can be rented as a three-bedroom residence sleeping up to 12 or split into two separate 'apartments', and the newly opened lodge that sleeps up to 8.

Time Out tip: Don't rush to leave your weekend getaway – stick around and enjoy lunch at Longview's cellar door. Tuck into share platters overloaded with house-cured meats, freshly baked focaccia, cheese with riesling jam and, of course, wine.

Situated just metres from the trendy dining, bar-hopping and boutique shopping of Rundle Street, and overlooking tree-filled Hindmarsh Square, this sleek 308 room hotel is a perfect base for city explorers or business travellers. The contemporary rooms range from standard to suite, some with balcony, and feature plush bedding, a pillow menu, and luxurious bathrooms with full-sized baths and walk-in showers. Your stay also grants you access to the high-tech gym, outdoor heated infinity pool and bar, co-working area and 24-hour self-service laundry.

Time Out tip: Swim high above the city and relax poolside while sipping cocktails at the hotel's bar and cocktail lounge, Luna10.

One of Adelaide's first pubs, this historic hotel located just 20 minutes from the CBD was transformed from a gritty-schnitty-and-pint local into a sophisticated boutique establishment. A rustic mix of old and new, the four deluxe and three standard rooms are all individually decorated with high ceilings and traditional features, like flocked wallpaper, chandeliers and leather Chesterfield bedheads. These details are accented by natural materials, such as reclaimed wood, iron, copper and exposed stone, to create a cosy atmosphere with a modern twist.

Time Out tip: Wine buffs will find their spiritual home in the hotel's dedicated wine room, featuring a 10,500 bottle collection of rare and classic drops from estates such as Petrus, Mouton Rothschild and Lafite.