20 Of The Best Hotels On The Gold Coast Right Now

Undoubtedly, one of the newest luxury hotels on the Gold Coast, the grand statement that is the Mondrian in Burleigh, is incredibly luxe. Overlooking the sea, this 208-room hotel is adorned with tasteful finishes like terracotta armchairs, red Sicilian marble benchtops and light oak finishings. 

While you're mere moments from Burleigh Heads' renowned dining scene, this high-end Gold Coast hotel is home to casual Italian dining-meets-daytime cocktail joint, LiTO and chic restaurant, Haven. 

The Langham is the tallest of the three eye-catching Jewel Towers in Surfers Paradise. Boasting 17 different types of elegant rooms and suites, direct beachfront access, panoramic ocean views and stunning Hinterland views, The Langham, Gold Coast and Jewel Residences offer a 5-star stay.

The luxury Gold Coast hotel is home to grand facilities, including one of the hotel’s star attractions, a huge lagoon-style beachfront pool with a swim-up pool bar and Chuan Spa, a 5,300-square-foot holistic wellness retreat set with indoor and outdoor pools. Plus, a world-class lineup of six dining and bar venues, including T’ang Court, a Michelin-starred restaurant. 

Find the gorgeous hotel that is The Darling at the front of The Star Gold Coast, 17 stories high in the sky, right in the heart of Broadbeach. "Get this—the deluxe suites have the choice of billiard rooms, a karaoke room or a private gym plus a butler," says Urban List Editor Isabel Croker, while setting the bar high on the next date night. As if you wouldn’t already be feeling pretty lucky to be staying here, there is a bridge adjoining the hotel to the casino.

The infinity pool is also worth a special mention because it juts out five metres from the side of the building and is 67 metres above the ground with spectacular views of the coastline. You won’t have to leave your perch in the sky with Nineteen at The Star, proving a delight to your senses, and most importantly, those taste buds.

A roundup of the Gold Coast’s best hotels must include the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort. This distinctive tropical oasis is set amongst six hectares of sparkling lagoons and lush gardens. The Gold Coast hotel oozes luxury—from the modern design to the opulent furnishings to the compelling art pieces, everything has been carefully selected to set the grandiose tone. Home to four award-winning restaurants and bars, we always struggle to choose where to dine, but the good news is, there's no wrong choice. 

Dorsett Gold Coast is Australia’s first Dorsett hotel, so when it opened its doors back in December 2021, it made a splash. Located within The Star, the stylish Dorsett boasts 313 chic hotel rooms all decked out with top-of-the-range appliances, sweeping coastline, ocean and hinterland views and king beds in every room. 

Bonus: a stay here means you’ll have exclusive access to Isoletto Pool Club, a heated 12-metre rooftop infinity pool, direct connection to The Star and all its venues and the hotel’s Level 19 Executive VIP Lounge. Book in at one of the Gold Coast’s best hotels and I can basically guarantee you’ll be back again…and again.

The good folks at Encore Broadbeach know what's up when it comes to stunning interiors, impressive facilities and damn good views. This boutique Gold Coast hotel homes around 40 units adorned with tasteful fitouts and bathrooms that literally overlook the Gold Coast hinterland. 

While this hotel is a little further back from the main drag, it's still reasonably close to the tram line, Broadbeach nightlife and the beach. It's our pick for one of the lesser-known Gold Coast hotels that seriously deliver on style.

One of the Gold Coast's newer accommodation experiences, qtQT is a one-of-a-kind stay experience—an open-air, rooftop urban oasis hidden in the heart of Surfers Paradise with six luxury cabins that are giving serious tropical sanctuary energy. Sounds mysterious? It is.

The intimate qtQT cabins each feature a private balcony, ultra-luxe amenities and can accommodate two guests, all set within a lush green oasis. QtQT sets itself leagues apart from other Gold Coast accommodation with its curated experiences—you're not just staying in a hotel, you're designing your dream stay. Your personal 'Curator of Sunshine' will help you design your perfect retreat, with bespoke activities including the likes of rooftop yoga, sushi making and whisky tasting at Yamagen, and an exclusive SpaQ package. 

The Island is an iconic Gold Coast resort with a vibrant, spacious and modern style that radiates luxury and relaxation, aka it feels like paradise. Immerse yourself in The Island experience and stay in one of the 98 luxurious boutique rooms and suites, each with stunning views across either the Surfers Paradise CBD or the Gold Coast Hinterland.

Originally, the first ever Surfers Paradise resort, constructed back in the 1970s, this unique stay plays to its heritage while delivering seriously fresh suites a block-and-a-half from the beach. Home to the Gold Coast’s biggest rooftop bar and sprawling alfresco patio, The Island Rooftop is bringing the cool back to the tourist precinct’s after-dark scene with DJs, a retro-styled cocktail bar, ample seating, nooks and one of the best Sunday sessions on the Coast. Stop looking for one of the Gold Coast’s best hotels, ‘cause you’ve found it right here.

If you’re going to holiday in Surfers, you might as well go big, and it doesn’t get much bigger than the iconic—and 230 metre high—Q1 Resort & Spa. Australia’s tallest residential tower boasts state-of-the-art, self-contained apartments, capturing breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, the sparkling lights of the city and the lush green of the hinterland.

Feeling adventurous? Conquer the Skypoint Observation Deck Climb, Australia’s highest external building climb, boasting 360-degree panoramic views from a staggering 270 metres above sea level.

If you’ve been answering ‘busy’ every time someone asks how you are, it might be time to book into Gwinganna Retreat for some R&R. Stays incorporate wonderful wellness ways of living like delicious organic produce, tips on how to reduce stress, movement, relaxation and how to enhance healthier ageing.

In a society of speed and instant gratification, we reckon nothing's more invigorating and rejuvenating than going slow. Activities range from yoga and Pilates to creative dance, hikes and boxing. When it comes time to rest your head, there are endless options, including luxurious villas, meditation suites and quaint houses. 

JW Marriott in Surfers Paradise undertook massive renovations in 2020—$35 million worth to be exact. So what does a $35 million refurbishment look like? Well, we’re talking a total refresh of the 223 rooms and suites, as well as the Marriott’s two original restaurants, the lobby lounge and bar and pool bar.

JW Marriott's signature teppanyaki restaurant, Misono, showcases Japanese-inspired dining experiences, including an intimate izakaya, tearoom, sushi bar and a Japanese whisky bar with a stunning outdoor terrace—we're happy to personally confirm that sipping Japanese whiskey while staring out into a Surfers Paradise sunset never gets old.

This quirky Queensland hotel smack bang in the middle of Surfers is the perfect place to rest your head in the Gold Coast's party playground. QT has everything you could possibly want, so you may not even step a foot outside. For starters, it homes some of the best dining on the Coast, including the modern Japanese eatery Yamagen, cocktail haven Stingray Lounge, and a cute café for your morning coffee fix. This is one Gold Coast hotel you won’t want a one-night stand with.

'Where beach meets the hinterland' is the Mercure's mantra, and it couldn't be more accurate. Nestled among a picturesque green-belt of golf courses in Carrara, the Mercure definitely takes things at a slower pace, while still only being a 10-minute drive from most Gold Coast hotspots. 

Just outside the Gold Coast and steps from Kingscliff Beach, Blue Water Motel is a stunning new-look boutique motel which we quickly fell in love with. Inspired by the laid-back, relaxed vibe of Kingscliff and with just a touch of retro cool, this 60's style boutique motel is a like-luxury stay, without the premium price tag.

According to Urban List Editor, Isabel Croker, "this re-imagined nostalgic motel is casual, cool, and is exactly where you want to be for your next family getaway, romantic trip, or honestly, any holiday. Once you venture inside, you'll feel the relaxing vibes wash over you, and you might just never want to leave."

Okay, okay, this is technically a motel, not a hotel, but La Costa Beachside Motel is one of our favourite spots to spend a night (or a few) on the Gold Coast. La Costa Motel has a retro, nostalgic feel, complete with a white picket fence and colourful deck chairs in the courtyard. 

Urban List Contributor Danielle Read is a big fan of the surrounds and recommends pairing your Spanish-inspired stay ('La Costa' translates to 'the coast') with Spanish etas. "Make the most of your stay with at least one long arvo of sips and bites at nearby Lucia Tapas. The Papas Bravas with hot tomato sauce and aioli, and the vego paella are my go-to faves to share with friends." And for drinks? "I'm guilty of ordering the Chai Chica with chai, soy milk, a splash of spiced rum and triple sec more times than I can count. It's topped with cinnamon sugar and is an elite drop. When in Tuegs, am I right?"

If the 'gram-worthy factor rates highly on your list of pros when looking for the best accommodation near the Gold Coast, then we've found the ultimate digs for you. Located on uber-cool Cooly beach, you can't miss this candy-pink hue hotel. The Pink Hotel boasts 17 stunning rooms, six of which are luxury suites, each with its own identity. They're a mix of rockstar and retro-chic with a subtle touch of Scandi. Expect bright pops of colour mixed with dusty jewel tones.

There’s fur throws, velvet rugs, custom neon-lit poetry by Coco Loberg and Smeg fridges stocked with Young Henry’s beers. When you’re ready to catch some of those gorgeous GC rays, head on upstairs to the rooftop where cabana beds await you, oh and some of the most incredible views of the coastline. Thirsty? Their rooftop bar, Santeria, will keep you refreshed with cocktails aplenty. Hungry? Head to dive bar Eddie's Grubhouse for burgs and wings. This is our top pick for the Gold Coast’s most Instagrammable hotel.

You couldn’t get any closer to the world-class surf break, Kirra Point, if you tried, making Iconic Kirra the perfect escape when you want to enjoy the serenity minus the Surfers Paradise crowds. Featuring ocean views from all apartment balconies, minimal yet spacious rooms, a heated pool with a mini lap pool, an on-site gym, and surrounded by cute cafes and ridiculously good restaurants, it’s the perfect place to book your next stay.

View the sunrise from your bed and soak up that salty sea breeze at one of the Gold Coast's best hotels.

Call us old-fashioned, but when we're looking for the best family-friendly hotel on the Gold Coast, we are also looking for the staff's assistance. "When I stayed at the InterContinental Hotel in Sanctuary Cove, waitresses literally insisted on holding my baby while I indulged in the buffet breakfast, so that is a massive tick in my books," says Urban List Editor Isabel Croker. 

Sure, you can opt for room service, but with four dining locales on-site, including the Lagoon Beach Club, which overlooks a dazzling lagoon beach pool, it's well worth venturing out. Get ready to check into the hotel of your dreams on the Northern end of the Gold Coast. 

Location, location, location is what Mantra Circle on Cavill is all about. Centrally located in the heart of Surfers Paradise, Mantra Circle on Cavill should be your go-to accommodation on the Gold Coast if you want to easily commute to all of the Gold Coast's top tourist attractions. The hotel itself is 69 storeys high and boasts a 12-seat theatrette, two lagoon-style pools, an indoor heated pool, a full gym and onsite parking. 

It has a golf course, a day spa and a mushroom that gushes with water and fills kiddos with glee. Need we say more? RACV Royal Pines Resort has built a serious rep for being a family-friendly accommodation on the Gold Coast for visitors and luxury-loving locals alike. 

The two-bedroom family studio sleeps an impressive five guests, includes a kitchenette and a lounge area. Along with Mediterranean dishes at Amici, modern Japanese eatery Arakawa and high tea locale Videre, located 21 storeys up, RACV Royal Pines Resort is a true gem of a stay.