The best Adelaide accommodation for every budget

By Carla Grossetti
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Whether you’re looking for affordable accommodation or high-end luxury, here’s where to stay in Adelaide.

If you’re heading to Adelaide for work or pleasure, or planning a staycation, there is nothing like staying somewhere where you will find everything you need on your doorstep. From boutique heritage boltholes to newly refurbished hotels, from campsites and caravan parks to luxury accommodation and chic Airbnbs on the city’s fringes, here is a look at eight of the best places to stay in Adelaide.

Sequoia Luxury Lodge

Sequoia Luxury Lodge is nestled in the Adelaide Hills and it’s as exquisite as a glass of the Mount Lofty House Summit sparkling wine produced exclusively for guests from the grapes grown on the grounds where the vineyard sits. The $18 million luxury lodge comprises 14 luxury sustainably designed suites, an infinity pool and a day spa. Guests at Sequoia also have access to the three-hatted Hardy’s Veranda Restaurant at nearby Mount Lofty House, which is also located on the 12-hectare estate.

Sequoia Adelaide Hills

The doors to Sequoia have quietly opened in the Adelaide Hills.

Mayfair Hotel

One for Adelaide architecture fans, the Mayfair Hotel is set inside the old Colonial Mutual Building, which was transformed into a stylish five-star place to stay in 2015. Located on busy King William Street, the city’s main drag, the Mayfair offers 10 different styles of rooms with all the trappings you’d expect of a high-end hotel: espresso machines, Appelles amenities, fluffy bathrobes and slippers and a complimentary mini-bar. Take in the breathtaking views from the hotel’s Hennessy Rooftop Bar, named after the building’s architects: Hennessy, Hennessy & Co. and dine at the stylish The Den downstairs.

The Mayfair hotel

Heritage meets contemporary charm at The Mayfair.

The Playford

The Playford is located opposite the Adelaide Convention Centre and minutes from Adelaide’s major retail and restaurant zone, making it a popular choice for business travellers. From its gold-leaf walls to its sweeping grand staircase and bold curves, the MGallery by Sofitel hotel – once home to Adelaide newspaper, The News – has a warm Art Nouveau ambience. All up, the hotel in the heart of Adelaide’s cultural precinct offers 182 beautifully appointed guest rooms.

The Art Nouveau ambience.

The Art Nouveau ambience.

Adabco Boutique Hotel

Adabco Boutique Hotel was originally opened as Our Boys’ Institution in 1897, an accommodation provider that preceded the YMCA. Housed in a charming, heritage-listed building, there is a distinct playful style on show in the boutique hotel with hand-painted artworks and a palette of warm gold and claret reds tempered with original features that will transport you back to the original 19th-century Venetian Gothic-style building.  The hotel, located on a leafy street in Adelaide’s east, features spacious rooms, a communal kitchen and a relaxing lounge and dining area just a 10-minute walk to the city centre.

Adabco hotel

Adabco is housed in a charming, heritage-listed building.

Holiday Inn Express

The Holiday Inn Express Adelaide City Centre is located in the north-west quarter of Adelaide’s CBD and although it looks rather austere from the outside, the nine-level, 245-room hotel is all warmth and colour and fun inside with colourful rugs, bold artworks and impressive murals livening things up. The new hotel provides easy access to Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Convention Centre and Rundle Mall and offers guests a free Express Start Breakfast or Grab & Go option.

Holiday Inn Express

Warmth, colour and fun inside.

Fire Station Inn

As far as fire engine-obsessed kids are concerned, there’s no other accommodation in Adelaide that holds a candle to the Fire Station Inn. There’s nothing flash or subtle about the North Adelaide property, but that’s the whole point. The 4.5-star inn sleeps a maximum of four in a suite splashed with colour from a bright-red 1942 International Fire Truck, which takes pride of place in the Fire Engine Spa Suite. Housed in Adelaide’s first Fire Station (built circa 1866), the suite also includes fireman lights, a red fireman’s pole and memorabilia.

Fire Station Inn Adelaide

Housed in Adelaide’s first Fire Station (built circa 1866).

Discovery Holiday Parks Adelaide Beachfront

With West Lakes and Glenelg beaches nearby, there’s plenty to do at the Adelaide Beachfront holiday and caravan park. In addition to luxuries such as an en suite, hot showers and laundry facilities, a stay here also offers access to nearby West Lakes, Henley Beach and Glenelg, which are well worth including on your Adelaide itinerary. Suitable for tents, campervans, and caravans, the pet-friendly campground has a swimming pool, bouncing pool, activity room and kiosk.

Discovery Parks Adelaide Beachfront

Location, location, location.

Planning a trip to Adelaide? Read more tips and itineraries in our Adelaide travel guide.

Carla Grossetti avoided accruing a HECS debt by accepting a cadetship with News Corp. at the age of 18. After completing her cadetship at The Cairns Post Carla moved south to accept a position at The Canberra Times before heading off on a jaunt around Canada, the US, Mexico and Central America. During her career as a journalist, Carla has successfully combined her two loves – of writing and travel – and has more than two decades experience switch-footing between digital and print media. Carla’s CV also includes stints at delicious., The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, where she specialises in food and travel. Carla also based herself in the UK where she worked at Conde Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times’ Travel section before accepting a fulltime role as part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK. Carla and has been freelancing for Australian Traveller for more than a decade, where she works as both a writer and a sub editor.
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Pullman Adelaide: The perfect blend of business and leisure in the CBD

    By Quentin Long
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    This city stay offers modern comfort and sophisticated style.

    An unashamed business plus leisure hotel, the Pullman Adelaide is an unfussy Goldilocks hotel, not too luxe and not too beige and boring. Originally opened as a Crowne Plaza hotel, the property was rebadged and rejuvenated to fit the more premium Pullman label in 2017.

    In 2025, the hotel still holds its own as the safe Adelaide option with a surprising eatery delight. Here’s everything you need to know about staying at the Pullman Adelaide.

    Location

    the exterior of Pullman Adelaide at night

    Pullman Adelaide is in a prime location moments away from Rundle Mall.

    The Pullman Adelaide’s location is the best of both worlds. On Hindmarsh Square around the corner from Rundle Mall this is a neighbourhood of Adelaide CBD with enough pulse to make it interesting but not exhausting.

    During our Sunday night stay, the LOC Wine Bar and Restaurant next door drew a crowd for an upmarket Sunday evening meal while The Griffin on the other side of the Pullman served up a decent pub dinner.

    Younger and more enthusiastic revellers could have easily strolled to Rundle Mall or just across the square to one of the longest-running live gig and comedy clubs in the city, the Rhino Room.

    Adelaide Airport is a 15-minute drive away.

    Style and character

    a look inside the lobby at Pullman Adealaide

    Touches of brass and marble bring the luxe.

    This is a hotel where the lobby promises a lot and the rooms…. Not so much.

    The lobby is full of vibrant colours and fabrics. The houndstooth black and white armchairs contrast against burnt orange lounges, making for a great welcome.

    The newly refurbished PARC Brasserie & Bar exudes Belle Epoque Paris. A black marble bar top with gilt gold framed recessed alcoves with high shared table for execs slaving away on laptops is a space to be enjoyed.

    the Hindmarsh Lounge at Pullman Adelaide

    The Hindmarsh Club Lounge offers a tranquil haven for business travellers.

    Great small service touches add to the experience. The fresh popcorn served daily is a nod to the hotel being on the site of the former Academy Cinema.

    And drawing on the Pullman rail association, a bell is rung every night at 5pm to signal the beginning of Happy Hour.

    Facilities

    the pool at Pullman Adelaide

    The hotel features a 13.5-meter indoor lap pool, spa, and sauna.

    Pullman Adelaide is primarily a business hotel brand that can undo its top button on Friday evening for the ‘bleisure’ market (don’t blame me for that horrible word, I believe we have Expedia US to thank for that crime against English),

    So the standard business requirements are all dutifully served up and maintained.

    Gym? Tick. Executive club lounge? Tick. Pool? Tick. Sauna? Tick.  Peloton bikes? Tick. 24-hour front office? Tick? In-room dining? Tick. Laundry services? Tick.

    Rooms

    one of the rooms at Pullman Adelaide

    The rooms have everything you need for a cosy stay.

    There are six room types. Entry-level Superior Rooms are more spacious than comparative entry-level rooms for business hotels. Stepping over the Deluxe to the Premium Deluxe adds a balcony while suites are a battle in size, Junior weighs in at 35sqm while the Deluxe Suite has an oversized 72sqm, separate lounge and bedroom and wrap-around balcony. All suites come with club lounge access.

    As previously inferred, the rooms are a little… underwhelming.

    Great hardware in bedding, toiletries, desk and chairs.  All are highly functional and ultra-comfortable. Great for the road warrior who is in and out in a flash, but a little bland for those who like a little more character in their rooms.

    The bathroom follows suit; muted grey and dark floor tiles. Highly functional and spacious. Just a little lifeless.

    Food and drink

    the restaurant inside Pullman Adelaide

    The modern brasserie serves seasonal dishes focusing on South Australian produce.

    The PARC Brasserie & Restaurant is far more than a perfunctory tick-a-box-to-get-the-corporate-accounts eatery. The award-winning French brasserie serves up far more than staples but some classic Gaullic dishes like duck crépinnete, paté with cornichons or a petite courgette tart to start.

    Mediterranean and Euro favourites like paella, chicken Kiev and seafood linguine sit next to French classics like braised beef cheek or a 2-kilogram côte de boeuf and then the mandatory travelling exec steaks and fish.

    the bar counter at Parc Brasseries and Bar, Pullman Adelaide

    Pull up a seat at the PARC bar.

    It is an absolute pleasure to read a wine list in any Adelaide establishment and the PARC is no different with the added delight of perusing some French vin as well.

    The PARC Brasseries & Bar is a highlight.

    Does Pullman Adelaide have access for guests with disabilities?

    The Pullman Adelaide has 11 rooms for travellers with reduced mobility.

    Is Pullman Adelaide family-friendly?

    It is not family unfriendly with a pool, sauna and spa and there are 36 interconnecting rooms.

    Details

    Address: Pullman Adelaide, 16 Hindmarsh Sq Adelaide

    Best for: Extending business trips to a gorgeous Adelaide weekend stay.

    Cost: From $219

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