Spice’s Hot 100 hotels and venues is back for another year, and our readers have voted on the class of 2025.
Following a huge response to our survey of the most outstanding events spaces across Australia and New Zealand – including convention centres, stadiums, hotels, bars and restaurants – we present the joint-winners in each of the 20 categories.
Best business hotel
Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park
Sydney, NSW
@sheratongrandsydney
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
Sydney, NSW
@sofitelsydney
Adelaide Marriott Hotel
Adelaide, South Australia
@adelaidemarriott
The Westin Brisbane
Brisbane, Queensland
@westinbrisbane
Pullman Melbourne on the Park
Melbourne, Victoria
@pullmanonthepark
Best boutique hotel
The Interlude Hotel
Melbourne, Victoria
@the__interlude__
Emporium Hotels South Bank
Brisbane, Queensland
@emporiumhotels
Spicers Potts Point
Sydney, NSW
@spicerspottspoint
Swell Hotel Byron Bay
Byron Bay, NSW
@swellbyronbay
Mount Lofty House and Estate
Crafers, South Australia
@mountloftyhouse
Best convention centre hotel
Eos by SkyCity
Adelaide, South Australia
@eosbyskycity
Pan Pacific Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria
@panpacificmelbourne
Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour
Sydney, NSW
@sofiteldarlingharbour
Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
@novotelsunshinecoast
The Ritz-Carlton, Perth
Perth, Western Australia
@ritzcarltonperth
Best resort
Elements of Byron
Byron Bay, NSW
@elementsofbyron
JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa
Surfers Paradise, Queensland
@jwmarriottgoldcoastresort
Lizard Island Resort
Lizard Island, Queensland
@lizardisland
Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa
Broome, Western Australia
@cablebeachclub
RACV Cape Schanck Resort
Cape Schanck, Victoria
@racvcapeschanckresort
Best regional hotel
Kingfisher Bay Resort
Kingfisher Bay, Queensland
@kingfisherbayresort
Novotel Geelong
Geelong, Victoria
@novotelgeelong
Chateau Elan at The Vintage
Pokolbin, Hunter Valley, NSW
@chateauelanhuntervalley
Crystalbrook Kingsley
Newcastle, NSW
@crystalbrookkingsley
Samphire Rottnest
Rottnest Island, Western Australia
@samphirerottnest
Best regional conference venue
The William Inglis Hotel – Mgallery South West Sydney
Warwick Farm, NSW
@thewilliaminglismgallery
Pullman Magenta Shores Resort
Central Coast, NSW
@pullmanmagentashoresresort
The Ville Resort-Casino
Townsville, Queensland
@thevilletsv
Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
Hunter Valley, NSW
@rydgesresorthuntervalley
RACV Torquay Resort
Torquay, Victoria
@racvtorquayresort
Best MICE hotel in New Zealand
Sofitel Queenstown Hotel and Spa
Queenstown, New Zealand
@sofitelqueenstown
InterContinental Wellington
Wellington, New Zealand
@interconwlg
Cordis, Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand
@cordis_auckland
Rendezvous Heritage Hotel Queenstown
Queenstown, New Zealand
@rendezvous_heritage_queenstown
Crowne Plaza Queenstown
Queenstown, New Zealand
@crowneplazaqueenstown
Best venue or studio for virtual/hybrid events
Cliftons Event Solutions
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Auckland, Wellington
@cliftons
ICC Sydney
Sydney, NSW
@iccsyd
Sydney Masonic Centre
Sydney, NSW
@sydneymasoniccentre
Karstens Brisbane
Brisbane, Queensland
@karstens.venues
The Venue Alexandria
Sydney, NSW
@thevenuealexandria
Most sustainable hotel or venue
Adelaide Convention Centre
Adelaide, South Australia
@adelaidecc
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
Gold Coast, Queensland
@gccec
RAC Arena
Perth, Western Australia
@racarena
Royal International Convention Centre
Bowen Hills, Brisbane
@brisbaneshowgrounds
Melbourne Showgrounds
Melbourne, Victoria
@melbourneshowgrounds
Best wellness hotel or resort
Elysia Wellness Retreat
Pokolbin, Hunter Valley, NSW
@elysiawellnessretreat
Spicers Sangoma Retreat
Bowen Mountain, NSW
@spicerssangomaretreat
The Sanctuary Wellness Retreat
Loftus, NSW
@the_sanctuary_australia
Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat
Tallebudgera Valley, Queensland
@gwinganna
Indijup Spa Retreat
Yallingup, Western Australia
@injidupretreatandspa
Best venue for a product launch
The Calyx, Botanic Gardens of Sydney
Sydney, NSW
@botanicsydney
Number 10 – Events Food Wine
Sydney, NSW
@number_10_events
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (pictured, at top)
Sydney, NSW
@mca_australia
The Collider
Sydney, NSW
@thecollider_
The Calile Hotel
Brisbane, Queensland
@thecalilehotel
Best private dining venue
Akoya, The Langham, Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
@langhamgoldcoast
Percy
Sydney, NSW
@percysydneytapas
Maison Bâtard
Melbourne, Victoria
@maison_batard
Il Camino at Agostinis, East Hotel
Canberra, ACT
@easthotel
Wildflower
Perth, Western Australia
@wildflowerrestaurant
Best hotel bar
Exchange Lane (Adelaide Marriott Hotel)
Adelaide, South Australia
@exchangelanebar
Curious (W Melbourne)
Melbourne, Victoria
@curious_melbourne
Arches on Market (Swissôtel Sydney)
Sydney, NSW
@archesonmarket
Mary Mary (The Tasman)
Hobart, Tasmania
@marymarybar
Fleet Rooftop Bar (Vibe Hotel Melbourne)
Melbourne, Victoria
@fleetrooftopmelbourne
Best hotel restaurant
Penny Blue, Adelaide Marriott Hotel
Adelaide, South Australia
@pennybluerestaurant
Bistro Guillaume
Perth, Western Australia
@crownperth
Glass Brasserie
Sydney, NSW
@glassbrasserie
OnCore By Clare Smyth
Sydney, NSW
@oncorebyclaresmyth
Sydney Common
Sydney, NSW
@sydneycommon_
Best convention centre catering
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
Gold Coast, Queensland
@gccec
Darwin Convention Centre
Darwin, Northern Territory
@darwinconvention
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Brisbane, Queensland
@bcec_brisbane
ICC Sydney
Sydney, NSW
@iccsyd
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Melbourne, Victoria
@mcec
Best venue for a gala dinner
Hyatt Regency Sydney
Sydney, NSW
@hyattregencysydney
Doltone House
Sydney, NSW
@doltonehouse
Luna Park Sydney
Sydney, NSW
@lunaparksydney
Flames of the Forest
Port Douglas, Queensland
@flamesoftheforest
CENTREPIECE
Melbourne, Victoria
@centrepiecemelbourne
Best small venue in Australia (1-50 pax)
Four Hundred Bar & Kitchen
North Sydney, NSW
@fourhundred.syd
Storehouse Flinders East
Adelaide, South Australia
@storehouseflinderseast
QT Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria
@qtmelbourne
Niche Bar
Leederville, Western Australia
@nichecocktailbar
Room 1954
Melbourne, Victoria
@pullmanmelbourne
Best midsize venue in Australia (51-150 pax)
Centennial Homestead
Sydney, NSW
@thecentennialhomestead
The Marion
Canberra, ACT
@themarion.au
The Continental Sorrento
Sorrento, Victoria
@thecontinentalsorrento
Eureka 89
Melbourne, Victoria
@89_eureka
Montgomery Hall
Mount Claremont, Western Australia
@montgomery_hall
Best large venue in Australia (151-500 pax)
The Princess Theatre
Brisbane, Queensland
@theprincessbrisbane
Customs House
Brisbane, Queensland
@customshousebne
Mercure Melbourne Doncaster
Melbourne, Victoria
@mercuredoncaster
Royal Randwick
Sydney, NSW
@australianturfclub
Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
@hotelgrandchancellorlaunceston
Best mega venue in Australia (501-5000+ pax)
Accor Stadium
Sydney, NSW
@accorstadium
Sydney Showground
Sydney, NSW
@sydneyshowground
Optus Stadium
Perth, Western Australia
@optusstadium
The Fullerton Hotel Sydney
Sydney, NSW
@fullertonhotelsydney
Marvel Stadium
Melbourne, Victoria
@marvelstadium.au
