Manly is one of Sydney’s most popular beachfront suburbs. With a spectacular strip of sand overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Manly is one of the best places to stay if you want both the comforts of urban living and easy access to spectacular natural areas like Sydney Harbour National Park.
Manly and its beautiful beach are located to the northeast of Sydney’s city center, and you can arrive in style after a glorious ferry ride across the harbor from Circular Quay. Make your way from Manly Wharf to Manly Beach, where you’ll find a long esplanade overlooking one of east coast Australia’s most famous surfing spots.
Manly is also home to excellent snorkeling and dive sites, many of which are located off the smaller, more secluded beaches and coves of Sydney Harbour National Park. Dig into local history with a visit to (or a spooky ghost tour of) the North Head Quarantine Station, or rent a bike and cycle further north to places like South Curl Curl Beach or Narrabeen. If you’re planning a trip to Sydney, then keep reading as we explain where to stay in Manly Beach.
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The 12 Best Hotels in Manly Beach, Sydney, Australia
1. Manly Pacific Sydney MGallery Collection
One of the best hotels in Manly is the Manly Pacific Sydney MGallery Collection. This designer boutique hotel is perfectly positioned in a prime beachfront location, ensuring beautiful, sweeping vistas of the Pacific Ocean from your private, glass-fronted balcony.
This five-star hotel has a storied history in Manly Beach. Dating back to 1900, you’ll be staying in what was originally the “Hotel Pacific,” a classic art deco product of its day that witnessed Australia’s first surfers and the world’s first surfing championships. Of course, this boutique hotel has been seriously updated over the years, and today, you’ll love the light decor and natural timbers found in the luxury rooms.
Entry-level rooms here feature king-size beds, sumptuous linens, small balconies, 55-inch Chromecast television screens, Terrazzo-finished bathrooms, and luxury Ink & Water toiletries. If you’d love an oversized balcony with personal sun loungers, upgrade to an Ocean Terrace Room, or check into a Coastal Villa and enjoy the spacious comforts of a two-bedroom and two-bathroom suite.
Manly Pacific Sydney MGallery Collection features a fabulous rooftop pool, terrace, and lounge, where you can swim, sunbathe, and take in the views with a cold beer in hand. The hotel’s “Beach Club” is on hand to organize everything from surfing lessons to in-room Peloton bike rentals, while the gym and infrared sauna are available to guests throughout their stay.
This hotel is also home to Bistro Manly, where Executive Chef Ryan Dawson blurs traditional French culinary techniques with fresh Australian ingredients, including Steak Frites Angus, Byron Bay Pork Belly, and Muscovy Duck Breast. If you prefer sushi and ramen, then book a table at Tokyo Joe, or enjoy a quiet night in with the hotel’s extensive in-room dining menu!
2. Stay at Hotel Steyne
Hotel Steyne dates back to 1859, but despite its longevity, this is easily one of the coolest hotels in Manly Beach. You’ll love how the red brick facade, built by the Victorians over 150 years ago, has been masterfully preserved on the Manly Beach seafront.
The hotel’s entrance is more art deco than 1800s, infusing you with the spirit of the Roaring Twenties as you stroll purposefully into the lobby. The luxury rooms are far from dated, however, and having been thoroughly updated as recently as 2020, you’ll be staying in the newest rooms in Manly Beach, even if you’re in the oldest Manly Beach accommodation!
The 4.5-star-rated rooms at Stay at Hotel Steyne include fully stocked minibars, personal espresso machines, smart TVs, and phone docking stations for charging and music. Rooms are cozy, with cool decor that’s inspired by industrial-chic trends and driven by Aussie practicality.
Breakfast is served at Tropikana, where big breakfast burgers and savory pancake stacks are a great way to start the day. The hotel is home to one of Manly’s best rooftops, where you can take in beautiful views of the beach while ordering sharing platters of prawn, pork, and mushrooms for the table.
3. Q Station
A truly unique hotel in Manly is Q Station. Here you can stay in the midst of Sydney Harbour National Park, with all its natural beauty and intriguing human history. Q Station is located on North Head, which marks the entrance to Sydney’s impressive natural harbor.
Given this location, the headland became the site of Sydney’s Quarantine Station from 1828 until 1984. New arrivals emigrating to Australia by boat had to quarantine at the station, which is just south of Manly, and now the old cottages and cells have been transformed into a one-of-a-kind hotel.
Not only will you be staying within the protected realm of a national park, with access to Quarantine Beach and the cliffs and coast of the headland, but you’ll be staying in a heritage-laden hotel room that’s quite unlike anywhere else in Manly.
The Officers’ Cottages are where the quarantine officers and their families once lived, and there’s room for six people to stay across three spacious bedrooms, in addition to a large outdoor veranda and a fully equipped kitchenette. Heritage Harbourside Rooms offer blistering views of Sydney Harbour and historic decor, while the Q Room offers a more contemporary design to guests.
Hike the national park at your leisure, dig into the hotel’s history on the daily Quarantine Wanderer Tour, or rent snorkel gear or kayaks to explore the marine reserves of Quarantine Beach. Enjoy dinner at the Boilerhouse Kitchen & Bar, then brave an after-dark ghost tour to uncover the Quarantine Station’s spooky local legends!
4. The Sebel Sydney Manly Beach
The Sebel Sydney Manly Beach is one of the coolest hotels near Manly Beach. This four-star favorite is located at the southern end of Manly Beach, directly overlooking the white sands and crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean.
You’ll be staying in a modern beach hotel, with stylish suites and rooms arrayed across two high-rise towers offering glorious views of the seafront and the wider coast of New South Wales. While The Sebel Sydney Manly Beach is without a doubt modern in terms of its amenities, the hotel’s facade is wonderfully art-deco in appearance. The grounds are home to two outdoor swimming pools, while a sea swim awaits you just steps away.
Luxury rooms feature spacious balconies where you can take in the sea breeze, alongside king-size beds, flat-screen televisions, and workstations. Upgrade to a serviced suite, and you’ll have an even larger balcony and living space, as well as a small kitchenette where you can cook dinner.
Given the hotel’s position on Manly Beach’s esplanade, though, you’ll find there are some excellent restaurants just a short stroll away (so that kitchenette might not get the use you’re hoping for!). There’s even a restaurant and bar on the hotel’s ground floor, where you can enjoy an alfresco cocktail or beer as you watch the world go by.
5. Stoke Beach House
If you’re looking to embrace Manly Beach’s notoriously wild nightlife, or if you’re just missing a sense of community, then the Stoke Beach House is easily one of the coolest hotels in Manly Beach. Located on Raglan Street, just a five-minute walk from the seafront, you can take your pick from budget dorm beds or boutique private rooms.
Don’t rule out the shared rooms, because the “lush pod bunk” beds are surprisingly private, with full curtains to keep out the light and noise around you. You can even make friends on the shared balconies. The deluxe private rooms feature twin or king beds, and they’re perfect for a quiet night’s sleep, with delightfully modern decor that wouldn’t be out of place in a five-star hotel.
But really, the Stoke Beach House is best for social travelers looking for a home away from home. Every day, you can enjoy a complimentary breakfast with your fellow “housemates,” while four mornings a week, you can start the day with complimentary yoga classes.
The full list of perks is quite something, and you’ll get two hours of complimentary equipment rentals (including surfboards or bicycles), access to a communal kitchen and cinema room, and the option to join a full schedule of events that includes surf lessons, day trips, tours, and nights out in Manly.
6. Marine Parade
Marine Parade is one of the homiest hotels near Manly Beach. This collection of seafront studios and small apartments is located within rustic beach houses at the southern end of Manly Beach, where you’re within easy walking distance of Shelly Beach and Sydney Harbour National Park.
In fact, walk out the front door and you can jump straight into saltwater baths or take a walk along the coastal path. The cozy studio rooms feature wonderful sea views, small kitchenettes, and everything you could really need for a short stay in Manly, be it tea and coffee-making facilities or Wi-Fi.
The apartments are also cozy, with one bedroom and a pull-out couch if you don’t mind sharing the living space with friends or family. There’s a bathtub, kitchen facilities, and easy access to the seafront, making this a great choice for your stay in Manly Beach!
7. Manly Paradise Motel & Apartments
Aussie motels are perfect for road trippers and budget travelers who aren’t afraid of a little minimalism. In fact, the classic Aussie motel is a tried and tested feature of holiday destinations across the country, and Manly Beach is no exception.
Book a room at the Manly Paradise Motel & Apartments, and you’ll have everything you need for a comfortable beachfront stay just steps away from the ocean. The hotel’s signature “Luxury Motel Rooms” have all the trappings of a high-end hotel, just without the price tag, including sea views, flat-screen televisions, and mini kitchenettes (including a sandwich maker!).
Upgrade to a two or three-bedroom serviced apartment, and you’ll have a spacious terrace, lounge, and kitchen with all the facilities you need for a self-contained stay. As a motel, Manly Paradise Motel & Apartments also offers undercover parking for guests (again, perfect for when you’re road-tripping the east coast) and laundry facilities, all next to one of the best beaches in Australia!
8. Quest Manly
When it comes to Manly Beach accommodation, Quest Manly is guaranteed to be your luxury home away from home. This boutique hotel offers beautiful, fully serviced apartments with an unbeatable location next to Manly Wharf.
That means you can catch the fast ferry from Circular Quay to Manly, stroll onto the wharf, and check into your apartment within minutes of landing. The 53 rooms are split between studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, ensuring there’s something for everyone at Quest Manly.
Studios feature queen-size beds that are perfect for solo travelers or couples on a tighter budget. The open-plan design maximizes the space, and there’s enough room in the studio for a small yet fully equipped kitchenette, as well as work desks and an en suite bathroom. Light floods through from the patio windows, where you’ll have wonderful views of Manly from the balcony.
One-bedroom apartments are much more spacious, with a separate bedroom that includes a larger king-size bed. There’s more living space, a larger kitchen, laundry facilities, and a balcony. Of course, the two-bedroom apartments are even more spacious, with bedrooms that can be configured as either kings or twins and huge corner terraces that provide ample outdoor seating for a family. Oh, and there’s a sauna and gym at Quest Manly that guests are welcome to use during their stay!
9. Boardrider Backpackers and Budget Motel
If you’re in Manly Beach for the surf and socials, there’s no better Manly Beach accommodation than the Boardrider Backpackers and Budget Motel. This backpacker favorite might be spartan, but there’s a real sense of community among the travelers, backpackers, and surfers that you won’t find in a five-star hotel.
The four, six, or eight-bed shared dormitories are basic but comfortable, with lockers and a small shared balcony being a bonus. We recommend booking what we like to think of as boutique backpacker accommodation and opting instead for the hotel’s private rooms. They’re cozy, but surprisingly comfy, with tea and coffee-making facilities, small balconies, and either a shared or private bathroom.
Book a private room, and you can enjoy your own space while also getting involved with the social aspects of the Boardrider Backpackers and Budget Motel when you want to. There’s a free continental breakfast every morning, a common room with Netflix and table tennis, a communal kitchen, and laundry facilities.
The rooftop terrace has fantastic views of Manly Beach, and you can bring your own beers to rooftop parties. Snorkel equipment is lent out for free here, and you can check the events schedule to see what activities, tours, or surf lessons are being organized during your stay.
10. The Albert Mosman
Cross the Spit Bridge, leave the Northern Beaches of Sydney behind, and you can stay in luxury at The Albert Hotel in Mosman. It’s just a 15-minute drive from Manly Beach, where you’ll have the chance to stay in one of Sydney’s best boutique hotels.
The Albert Hotel is a four-star hotel that seamlessly blends the old and the new. This historic hotel dates back to 1886, when it was originally designed as a lavish stately home in what was then the Sydney countryside. Now Mosman has been absorbed by the endless expansion of Australia’s largest city, but the Albert Hotel has successfully saved a piece of the suburb’s early heritage for travelers to enjoy.
The hotel’s 26 boutique rooms are spread across the historic hallways of the original stately home and a modern wing that’s been added in more recent years. The older sections of the Albert Hotel feature preserved colonial-style verandas, while the new rooms are a masterful juxtaposition of sleek contemporary architecture.
Heritage rooms feature original fireplaces and freestanding bathtubs, while modern rooms have twin power showers. Both room types are luxurious, with custom-made beds and furnishings, Sydney brand Leif toiletries, and a fully stocked minibar and Nespresso machine. Start the day with a chef-cooked breakfast on the terrace and end it with a complimentary mocktail on the balcony!
11. Narrabeen Sands Hotel
Keep traveling north from Manly Beach, and you’ll encounter gorgeous coastal scenes as you make your way to Narrabeen. Located a 20-minute drive or a pleasant 45-minute cycle from Manly, this Sydney suburb is a great base if you’re looking to explore all of the Northern Beaches and not just Manly Beach.
One of the top hotels near Manly Beach, the Narrabeen Sands Hotel is perfectly poised on Ocean Street, where you’ll be staying on the beachfront itself. Narrabeen Beach is just steps away from the entrance, and if you wake early enough, you can watch a blistering sunrise over the Pacific Ocean from your private balcony.
The hotel may have stood here since 1907, but the four-star rooms are very much modern in character. All of the 47 suites, rooms, and apartments have balconies, spacious living areas, and comfortable queen or king-size beds. Refrigerators and coffee-making facilities come as standard, while the apartments have small kitchenettes where you can cook breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
You might not make the most of those cooking facilities, though, given that the Narrabeen Sands Hotel is also home to The Bistro, where you can enjoy Aussie pub classics and a cold beer. If you’re just after a drink with a view, then take a seat on The Terrace, while the Ocean Bar and the Lakeside Bar both serve up drinks and sports in equal measure.
12. Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel
You’ll find Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel on the other side of the harbor to Manly, where a second headland opposite North Head also marks the entrance to Sydney Harbour from the Pacific Ocean. Luckily, there’s a direct ferry from Watsons Bay to Manly Beach, making this boutique retreat a fantastic hotel in Manly for anyone looking to escape the crowds.
Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel offers four-star accommodation with beautiful views from its secluded position on the waterfront. As you’re best arriving and departing by boat, the nautical theme is strong here, and you’ll love how the 32 boutique rooms have been individually designed by Sibella Court, with marine memorabilia sourced from all over the world. Rooms feature king-size beds, spacious sofas, and private balconies, while the marble bathrooms are to die for.
Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel is, in many ways, simply a plush yacht club where you can also spend the night in luxury. Breakfast mimosas and smashed avo on toast are served at The Beach Club, where striped parasols keep the Sydney sun at bay while you gaze out over the harbor. Enjoy an Aperol Spritz, oysters, and burrata for lunch, then order a Spicy Nonna pizza, prawn linguine, pink snapper, or Watson’s seafood pie for dinner.
That completes our list of the 12 best Manly Beach hotels! Did we miss any cool hotels near Manly Beach? Comment below so we can add them to the list!
Where to Stay in Manly Beach
Manly Beach is located in the Sydney suburb of Manly, which is part of the wider “Northern Beaches” area found to the north of the CBD area. You can catch fast ferries here from Circular Quay, and given Manly’s small size, you can walk to most hotels straight from the wharf where you alight.
Manly Beach itself stretches for around 2 miles from North Head – which is the gateway to Sydney Harbour from the Pacific Ocean – to Manly Lagoon. Beyond this, the Northern Beaches continue, with many iconic strips of sand within easy reach of Manly, including Freshwater and Narrabeen.
Many of the best hotels in Manly are located along the esplanade that lines Manly Beach, with boutique hotels, budget motels, and backpacker hostels all offering unique places to stay. There’s even an old quarantine station you can stay in within Sydney Harbour National Park, while quirky boutique hotels in Mosman and Watsons Bay are just short ferry or water taxi rides away from Manly Beach.
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