Medusa

• Located in the Darlinghurst, near restaurants and nightlife
• Rooms each have small kitchenettes that include a microwave, minibar, sink and coffeemaker
• Bathrooms feature high-end Aveda bath products
• Bedside Lindt chocolates and fresh croissants in the lobby
• Guests have free access to a nearby fitness center and pool
• Pet-friendly
• The Grand Room has a fireplace and pretty gilded ceilings

• No on-site pool or fitness center, but guests can swim or workout at nearby facilities for free
• Floors in some of the older bathrooms are worn
• No on-site restaurant, but nearby restaurants and cafes abound
• Fee for Wi-Fi, and guests are charged for using the computer in the business center

Medusa Hotel is a quirky, 18-room boutique hotel with artsy flair. It has the look and feel of a converted house, with a cozy fireplace in the lobby and a painting that depicts the property's namesake. Rooms are on the small side, but have a contemporary look with bright accent walls, muted geometric patterns, and modern platform beds. Each room has a kitchenette that features a microwave, coffeemaker, and minibar, and flat-screen TVs are accompanied by DVD players and small stereo systems. All-white bathrooms are basic but functional and come stocked with Aveda bath products. Amenities are few: no pool, fitness center or restaurant, and a one-computer business center. There is a small outdoor courtyard with a slender, decorative pool, however, and guests get free access to a nearby swimming pool and gym. The Darlinghurst location is within walking distance of the bars and clubs in Kings Cross and on Oxford Street.