13 of the best hotels in Byron Bay for your next beach getaway

Supplying holidaymakers with chic chills and dazzling pools, these are our top picks for stays in Byron Bay.

Any Byron Bay hotel is in hot competition with the wave-lapped sands and the town’s rhythmic energy that lures holidaymakers out of their accommodation. So hotels here have been ever-evolving to fringe stays with exceptional design and amenities that cocoon guests in laidback luxury.

From architecturally designed digs with magnetic rooftop bars to relaxed style at revamped retro hotels and a ranch experience in the hinterland, these are the best hotels in Byron Bay that offer more than just a place to rinse and rest between beach sessions.

1. Hotel Marvell

sun loungers by the pool at Hotel Marvell

Laze on the shaded sun lounges by the pool. (Image: Hotel Marvell)

When this new-build, five-star hotel opened in 2023 it was confirmation that Byron Bay’s desirability as an escape route was firmly intact. Designed by award-winning Byron architect, Harley Graham, Marvell is an edifice of cool complete with a rooftop pool and bar, both of which oblige for sundowner drinks, as well as the downstairs Byron Bay Oyster Bar and Seafood Restaurant. Rooms are elegantly styled with natural and textural touches, and the chic, curated common spaces invite lingering amid earthy tones and lush greenery.

Address: 4 Marvell Street, Byron Bay

2. Basq House

Dive into paradise.

A tranquil, riad-style sanctum in the heart of Byron. You’ll enter Basq House’s white-washed and open lobby through a discreet laneway entrance, finding yourself amid a deftly styled space with ’70s-era Californian bungalow vibes lifted with contemporary touches. A shimmering centrepiece pool entices with daybeds and rooms are vignettes of minimal cool with terracotta hues. There’s no restaurant onsite, but snacks and drinks are available by the pool for days spent lounging at its edge. When the mood strikes to venture out, Hotel Marvell’s rooftop bar and restaurant are right across the road and you’re just steps from the bongo beat of Byron’s heart.

Address: 4 Fletcher Lane, Byron Bay

3. Swell Hotel

Bed down at this coastal retreat.

This petite, 16-room boutique hotel is a laidback enclave of coastal style set just a gentle stroll down the street from Main Beach. It’s adults-only here, so you can be mostly assured Zen by the hotel pool or in the wellness space, which includes an infrared sauna and ice bath. To keep hitting those health highlights during your stay, Swell Hotel offers guests complimentary access to Byron’s Mahi Health Club. You can also sit and sink into the mineral pool onsite or recharge post-beach in your natural-toned, ’70s-leaning room.

Address: 11 Butler Street, Byron Bay

4. The Sunseeker

a couple relaxing in the pool at The Sunseeker, Byron Bay

Take a dip in the advanced mineral pool.

If you’re hunting those rays, then The Sunseeker welcomes you to catch them by its lushly hemmed pool. When it’s time to retreat to shadier spaces, enjoy a drink in the castaway-style pool bar. Accommodation in this ’80s-built revived surf motel takes the best elements of the era and finesses them with contemporary touches. Choose to stay in a beautifully hip room, a garden cabin or, if you’re a group, you might take over the residence. A coffee cart parked out-front supplies morning motivation, but otherwise, you’re a 10-minute walk into the south end of town.

Address: 100 Bangalow Road, Byron Bay

5. The Atlantic

the pool area at The Atlantic, Byron Bay

The Atlantic has an array of amenities including a stunning swimming pool.

The tropical, palm-fringed grounds of this white-hued escape are tricky to leave. A large, magnesium pool shaded by pandanus is part of the problem, but the neutral and natural rooms are also deeply captivating with their invitation to do hardly anything at all. Luckily the central location of The Atlantic makes flitting to the beach an easy thing, so you can be back quickly to lounge once more in these soothing surrounds.

Address: 13 Marvell Street, Byron Bay

6. Raes on Wategoes

the coastal white interior of Raes on Wategoes, Byron Bay

The Spanish-style interior exudes charm. (Image: Madeleine Johnson/Sean Fennessy)

While the brilliant-white facade is unmissable with its rambling, Spanish-style, mildly Moorish architecture, no doubt you’re already well aware of Raes on Wategos. That would be thanks to its preceding reputation as the go-to for the rich and famous in Byron’s most affluent enclave. With its Capri-style luxe, Raes makes a lot of bucket lists, as it should with its ultra-mod but timeless interiors and ocean-infused freshness. It’s all about confident luxury here, but if you can’t sprig for the digs, you can still enjoy the glow with dinner at Raes Dining room, a drink at the Cellar Bar or a treatment in the onsite spa.

Address: 6-8 Marine Parade, Byron Bay

7. Elements of Byron

private villas by the lake at Elements of Byron

The private villas are tucked away in a calming oasis. (Image: Elements of Byron)

Steps to the sand and with a lavish, lagoon-style pool strongly suggestive of day-long laziness, you can entirely cocoon away with a stay at Elements. With the unending soundtrack of waves, stylish tucked-away villas and an onsite restaurant and spa, the tug of town can quickly lose its appeal. Capitulate to utter relaxation and spend your stay treading a path from beach to pool to that deep bath.

Address: 144 Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay

8. Crystalbrook Byron

an aerial view of a woman swimming in the pool at Crystalbrook Byron

Dive into tranquillity at Crystalbrook Byron’s pool. (Image: Destination NSW)

Shaded within 45 acres of verdant rainforest, you’ll find Crystalbrook Byron toward the Suffolk Park end of town and a short hop to renowned Tallow Beach. Wander to your suite along the boardwalk canopied by endemic trees and listen to the melodic sounds of your lush garden surrounds as you unwind by the pool. The Eleme Spa offers a further portal to relaxation or more indulgent pursuits, so linger over cocktails at the Blue Pool Bar or Verandah and book dinner at Forest.

Address: 77-97 Broken Head Road, Byron Bay

9. The Bower

the classy white interior of The Bower cottage, Byron Bay

Head to The Bower for an elevated, rustic stay. (Image: Jessie Prince)

With the recent addition of an in-house spa, the polished lustre of The Bower is even more appealing. Soothingly monochromatic and softened with luxe linens and textural elements, you can choose to stay in a room for two, a five-bedroom cottage, or a lovely barn, among other options. A heated magnesium pool is an alluring shade of crystal blue and the adjacent bar adds further ways to refresh from 11am to 5pm. While the town is a 15-minute walk away and beaches a further 5 minutes, you can swing your leg over one of the complimentary bikes and get there much faster.

Address: 28 Bangalow Road, Byron Bay

10. Sun Ranch

This ultra-cool accommodation takes cues from Californian ranch houses of the ’70s. (Image: Supplied)

The hinterland sun rolls over the achingly cool, Californian-inspired Sun Ranch in Coopers Shoot, just a 15-minute drive to Byron. There’s a hefty recall of ’70s cowboy (and girl) design with heavy timbers, a sienna-rich colour palette, olive-green tiles and crazy paving, but somehow it comes together without evoking style clichés. Observe the undulations of the pastures beyond when you spend the day by the beautiful rock-walled pool, pull on your riding boots and go for a horse ride or gather friends together for a long, coal-cooked lunch at the Field House. There are six, two-bedroom barns, for adults-only pool suites and one private suite. Having a party? Book the entire ranch.

Address: 17 Byron Creek Road, Coopers Shoot

11. The Brunswick

an outdoor pool at The Brunswick, Byron Bay

The Brunswick is a dreamy escape next to the beach.

For beachside escapes that are a little more low-key than the hubbub of peak-Byron, head to Brunswick Heads, just 15 minutes north. Smaller, but equally chill with a river, creek, beach and little bays, this sunny spot also has great eateries and the iconic Hotel Brunswick, where you can enjoy live bands in the expansive beer garden. A walkable distance to it all is The Brunswick, a renewed, stylish but simple stay. Soft tones and Byron luxe is the mood board for the rooms, while the pool is a perfect place to open that long-neglected book. A plus for pooch-loving travellers is that small dogs are welcome to stay.

Address: 2-6 Old Pacific Highway, Brunswick Heads

12. The Sails Motel

the exterior of The Sails Motel, Byron Bay

The chic, old-school motel has been updated with modern features. (Image: Supplied)

A fancied-up old-school motel, The Sails has 22 comfortable and chic, marine-blue rooms that manage to be both affordable and somewhere you actually want to stay. The pool brings back sun-bleached nostalgia and the onsite restaurant and bar, St Maries, has a genuine vibe with locals descending for cocktails and pizza on sunny evenings.

Address: 26-28 Tweed Street, Brunswick Heads

13. 28 Degrees

curtains slightly open letting the light in at 28 Degrees guesthouse in Byron Bay

The chic rooms offer laidback luxury.

Here is a place where rest is not optional. A slow luxury retreat, 28 Degrees has seven rooms, no TV and no children. Its Marvell Street locale makes it close to all of Byron’s glittering assets, but here amid the quietly opulent guesthouse, there’s no cause to do anything but pause. Some villas have plunge pools, while rooms in the main house enjoy access to a lap pool. Before you arrive, you can organise a range of bookable experiences from in-room massages to champagne or cheese platters on arrival. There are also honeymoon, babymoon and aftermoon packages.
Address: 12 Marvell Street, Byron Bay

Discover the best luxury accommodation in Byron Bay.

We checked into the newly refurbished The Bower which features new rooms, a day spa and a bar.

Byron Bay is peppered with breezy stays that channel the laidback town’s coastal charm. The most recent accommodation to catch our attention is The Bower. While not a new kid on the block, this popular boutique hotel has just received a stylish upgrade to its New York chic meets beachy calm aesthetic. The makeover includes the addition of a sparkling new bar, a day spa and four new accommodations, elevating it just in time for summer. And it promises luxe meets relaxed vibes aplenty.

Here’s everything you need to know before booking a stay at this coastal retreat surrounded by lush sub-tropical gardens.

Location

an aerial view of the Main Beach, Byron Bay

The Bower is just a short stroll from Main Beach. (Image: Harrison Adams)

The Bower is centrally located within walking distance of Byron’s best restaurants, cafes and bars. The General Store Cafe, a popular cafe serving a delicious range of local goods from gourmet granola to cold-pressed juices, is located next door, and Pixie Italian, a sleek Italian trattoria serving modern Sicilian-style bites, is a five-minute walk away – the mafaldine with king prawns, cherry tomato, chilli pangrattato and bisque is a must!

A gentle 20-minute stroll down the road will have you at Main Beach, a popular spot for families as it’s patrolled every day of the year. Cape Byron Lighthouse is less than 10 minutes’ drive away and offers spectacular vantage points for spotting migrating whales. During my stay, I spotted too many whales to keep track of, dolphins and a sea turtle.

Book a relaxed weekend stay at The Bower. (Image: Harrison Adams)

The Bower also offers complimentary LEKKER bikes, and in my opinion, this is the best way to explore the region.

Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is the closest airport and is a half-hour drive away. Ubers are prevalent in the area, but The Bower also offers luxury transfers.

Style and character

the moody interior of The Bower Byron Bay

The new bar area is a sumptuous spot for a pre-dinner tipple. (Image: Leif Prenzlau)

Multiple creatives have contributed to The Bower’s style over time.

Originally co-owned and designed by Tahliah Lowry (Micalo) alongside architect John Burgess and interior designer Kate Sacks, The Bower mixes New York chic with breezy Byron Bay charm.

Architects Tanev Muir and Studio Plenty guided the recent renovation, enhancing the interiors and adding four new suites, a bar area and an upgraded reception space. They worked closely with local artisans such as Joinery by Morgan and Alexis Williams to craft custom joinery and furnishings. The result is spaces balanced with blackened oak wall panelling, silky lacquered surfaces and custom cabinetry, complemented by lighter accents and soft textures.

Stylist Kimberley Wiedermann of Accolade Design was also called upon in the makeover. Wiedermann sensitively built upon the existing monochromatic aesthetic over 18 months, while also styling the new spaces. “Building on The Bower’s signature monochromatic aesthetic, I introduced rich, earthy textures and tones, layering oversized furniture, artisan-crafted objects and bespoke pieces,” she explained.

Styling focused on rich textural elements such as linens, velvets, and vintage artworks in pared-back tones. Photographs by former synchronised swimmer turned photographer Francesca Owens, taken from the hotel’s swimming pool, are displayed throughout the accommodation, adding a personal touch that feels perfectly in tune with the coastal setting.

Facilities

the magnesium pool at The Bower Byron Bay

Soak in the magnesium pool. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

It’s hard to pull yourself away from the hotel’s biggest drawcard – the circle-shaped, heated magnesium pool. While away the afternoon, dipping into the water and lying in one of the cabanas or sun lounges.

From the beach club-style seating area, you can order a range of simple nibbles like Byron Bay Corn Chips with salsa and classic cocktails, local gins, beers and seltzers. The Bower also features a sumptuous new indoor/outdoor bar area that shares the same menu as the pool area and features velvet, and is perfect for pre-dinner tipples or relaxed afternoon drinks.

a woman enjoying a relaxing spa treatment at The Bower Byron Bay

Treat yourself at the day spa. (Image: Jessie Prince)

The on-site day spa offers a range of treatments, from facials to massages, using luxurious Mukti Organics products. I indulged in a 60-minute Power Facial and walked away with impossibly soft skin and a deep sense of calm.

Rooms

A generously sized suite with moody and sophisticated interior at The Bower. (Image: Harrison Adams)

The Bower offers a beautiful mix of stays, from romantic studios and luxe king rooms for two, to spacious cottages for families and groups. For relaxed weekends away, the light-filled Junior King Rooms, Junior King Plus and King Rooms sit right by the mineral pool and feature king beds, while the freestanding Studios feature moody interiors and stone baths for pure indulgence. The light-filled Barn, with its kitchenette, private courtyard, and glass-ceiling ensuite with an egg-shaped bath feels like your own private oasis.

For group stays, the reimagined century-old Cottage has five bedrooms – three with ensuites – and a private cedar mineral spa.

the white-washed cottage at The Bower Byron Bay

The breezy beach cottage fits your definition of a dream getaway. (Image: Harrison Adams)

Four new Upper King rooms have been added to the upper level of the property and can be booked from mid-September. Three feature spacious balconies with lush greenery, and all four rooms can be booked together as a private family space.

Every accommodation features luxury amenities by Hunter and Kevin Murphy, a dedicated parking spot directly out front, a Nespresso coffee machine, and a mini bar with gourmet snacks.

Does The Bower have access for guests with disabilities?

The Bower has two Junior King accessible rooms.

Details

Best for: Wellness seekers and small groups.

Address: 28 Bangalow Rd, Byron Bay

Room rate: From $300 per night