The capital and pride of South Australia, Adelaide is a unique cosmopolitan city, renowned for its patronage of the arts, amazing cuisine, natural majesty, friendly residents, and laid-back pace. 

A cultural powerhouse and mainstay in lists of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide is home to some of the best museum and zoo exhibits, festivals, indigenous art collections, wineries, and scenic parklands in Australia, and is the gateway to Australia’s premier wine country.

Adelaide was once one of Australia’s best kept secrets – but not for long… Join us as we look at the best hotels in Adelaide.

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What is the best area to stay in Adelaide?

Visitors come to Adelaide for all kinds of holidays, but cultural enlightenment is the reason most frequently cited – and yes, that includes sampling the fine wine and produce that the region is known for!

A hotbed of cultural activity, there are numerous points of interest dotted around the city, with many of these highlights centred around downtown Adelaide, including:

  • Historic Adelaide Central Market
  • Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute
  • Adelaide Himeji Garden
  • Art Gallery of South Australia
  • Adelaide Oval sport arena
  • South Australian Museum
  • Adelaide Zoo.

While there are numerous stunning hotels in Adelaide’s city centre, one of the most impressive is the 5-star Mayfair Hotel. 

Set within an iconic Art Deco heritage-listed building, the Mayfair exudes luxe elegance throughout. Foodies and revellers are in for a treat, with the in-house Mayflower Restaurant championing sustainable local produce (including honey from the hotel’s own hives), while its rooftop bar, Hennessy, gives a unique view of the inner city, and the hotel’s underground bar, The Den, provides yet again, another unique experience. Highly recommended.

What are the best luxury hotels in Adelaide?

There are plenty of nice hotels in Adelaide, with several excellent 5-star luxury hotels located in the heart of the city centre, including:

While all of these properties are genuine 5-star experiences, travellers will be most keen to check out Mayfair Hotel (as previously mentioned), Eos by SkyCity, and Sofitel Adelaide first. 

Eos by SkyCity combines 5-star luxury comforts with contemporary design, jaw-dropping views, and modern, personalised hospitality, and is famed for its panoramic views of the city and scenic parklands surrounding the Karrawirri Parri (or River Torrens as it is commonly known outside of Adelaide). 

The recently built Sofitel Adelaide mixes old world charm with new world glamour – the hotel’s magnificent modern French restaurant Garçon Bleu taking centre stage on Adelaide’s vibrant culinary scene.

For 4-star luxury on a budget, we recommend checking out the Majestic M Suites, a stylish set of quality furnished apartment suites in North Adelaide, only a few minutes from the city centre.

LITTLE HOTELIER TOP TIP : Connect with niche online travel agents (OTAs). You may be listed on Booking.com and Expedia, but by connecting with additional niche OTAs, you could get far more bookings from your ideal type of guest.

What are the best hotels on a budget in Adelaide?

If you’re after a cheap place to stay in Adelaide, the boutique yet affordable, family-owned Lockleys Hotel is a great option. With its winning sports bar, on-site bottle shop, and specialty Australian cuisine restaurant, the property is only minutes away from both Adelaide Airport and the beach, and is worthy of consideration for travellers looking for a casual accommodation option, whether on a budget or not.

Within central Adelaide, budget-conscious travellers looking for a prime location should look at the wonderfully named Tequila Sunrise Hostel and nearby Adelaide Central YHA – both properties offer simple dorms in relaxed low-key hostel environments.

Finally, The Hotel Metropolitan is also excellent value for money, providing 3-star hospitality at a very reasonable price, and is located in the heart of downtown Adelaide, right across from Chinatown.

What are the best hotels with a view?

For picturesque views of Adelaide city itself, Adelaide Hills’ much-lauded Mount Lofty House and luxury adults-only Sequoia Lodge are worthy contenders. As an added bonus, the Adelaide Hills region is well and truly ‘wine country’ – guests won’t find a better way to enjoy the view than with a locally produced glass of Pinot Noir in hand!

Ocean lovers looking for a sea view will be delighted by Oaks Glenelg Plaza Pier Suites, which puts the beach quite literally on the doorstep. Boasting stunning ocean views, this award-winning hotel is a good starting point to explore Glenelg’s rich beachside community.

What are the best hotels for solo travellers?

With no shortage of incredible festivals, lively nightlife, culinary delights, and historical sights, Adelaide is the perfect destination for a solo trip. 

Every year Adelaide holds a number of world-class festivals, including the Adelaide Festival, WOMAdelaide, The Adelaide Fringe Festival, Cabaret Festival, and its annual Christmas pageant – the world’s largest Christmas parade!

With some very cool hotels in Adelaide, adventurous solo travellers are in for a treat. To make the most of your time in the city, our recommendation for solo travellers is to look for accommodation in downtown Adelaide, with the reasonably priced 4-star Majestic Roof Garden Hotel well placed to put guests in close proximity to the cultural sights and the always popular Rundle Mall.

LITTLE HOTELIER TOP TIP : Create quality video content showcasing your property. Gone are the days where potential guests could be won over with photos alone. People want to get a feel for the place first, with video content more likely to be shared amongst friends and family members. 

What are the best hotels for couples?

As the gateway to Australia’s premier wine country, Adelaide is a popular getaway destination, with many using the city as a base before setting out to explore the Pinot Noir wine country of Adelaide Hills and Shiraz wine country of Barbarossa Valley.

In Adelaide Hills, the award-winning Mount Lofty House (and its decadent fine dining venue Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant) should be high on the list, regularly featuring in travel publications as one of Australia’s very best romantic retreats. Nearby Sequoia Lodge is also recommended, and has an adults-only policy, meaning it is perfect for that hard-earned peace and quiet many travellers these days long for…

In Barbarossa Valley, to the northeast of Adelaide, The Louise carries the reputation of being one of the best boutique hotels in Australia, and is certainly sought after by visitors  looking to venture and stay a little further out of town.

In downtown Adelaide, the venerated 5-star Mayfair Hotel is our pick for a luxury inner-city couples retreat, while the 4-star The Franklin Hotel (which prominently showcases original works from local Adeladian artists) runs a close second.

What are the best hotels for families?

Whether it’s days at the beach or outings to the zoo, families visiting Adelaide are spoiled for choice with family-friendly enjoyment to be found all around the city.

An urban oasis and home to some of Australia’s most iconic animals and species from all over the world, Adelaide Zoo is one of the best family activities in a beautiful city packed full of fantastic things to do, and truly is world-class.

Within 20 minutes walking distance to Adelaide Zoo, there are a number of certified family-friendly hotels, including:

Where to stay to be close to the Adelaide Oval?

Travellers looking for the best place to stay near the Adelaide Oval stadium have a simple option – the one and only Oval Hotel. This premium boutique hotel is situated on the grounds of the celebrated Adelaide Oval, surrounded by grand parklands, and only minutes from the heart of Adelaide’s city centre. With a fantastic range of experiences available on-site, including RoofClimb and stadium tours, Oval Hotel is a celebrated destination hotel.

LITTLE HOTELIER TOP TIP : When creating visual content for your property, do so on a sunny day! Everywhere looks better with a blue sky in the background – a picture really does speak a thousand words. 

What are the best hotels by the airport?

If accessibility to Adelaide’s central city airport is a priority, travellers are in luck. Atura Adelaide Airport is a 4-star hotel situated by the airport drop-off and pick-up zone – you can’t get much closer than this! Atura comes with all the extras expected of a quality hotel, and is frequently reviewed well by solo travellers, couples, and families alike.

Further up the road (but still within easy reach of the airport), Parador Inn is a stylish motel which consistently draws in 5 star reviews from its guests, with many visitors complementing the homely warm hospitality of its owners.

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By Dean Elphick

Dean is the Senior Content Marketing Specialist of Little Hotelier, the all-in-one software solution purpose-built to make the lives of small accommodation providers easier. Dean has made writing and creating content his passion for the entirety of his professional life, which includes more than six years at Little Hotelier. Through content, Dean aims to provide education, inspiration, assistance, and, ultimately, value for small accommodation businesses looking to improve the way they run their operations (and live their life).