Near the mischievous red light district of Kings Cross, this grand, three-levelled terrace mansion is home to one of the most elegant boutique hotels in Sydney, named after the beautiful, yet terrifying mythical snake-haired maiden. Look out for the circular print of Carravaggio’s Medusa, which hangs above the reception’s marble mantelpiece in her honour. There are 18 rooms – the best are the oversized Grand rooms, featuring lofty ceilings, disused marble fireplaces with dramatic feature walls, along with designer chaise longues, suede and wood-panelled headboards, and Aveda toiletries. To the rear, the rooms overlook a central courtyard replete with trickling feature fountain and bamboo plants. Medusa’s proximity to nightclubs, restaurants and Sydney’s gay district make it ideal for the in-and-out traveller, and the hotel is fitted out accordingly – breakfast is only available by request, the compendium lists an exhaustive summary of the area’s plentiful bars and restaurants and while there’s a DVD library in the main room, the televisions are quite small. Other things to note: wireless internet is available for $5 per day, some rooms have kitchenettes, the hotel is dog-friendly and smoking isn’t permitted – if you smoke, consider staying in the front Grand Room (which features a balcony) or one of the deluxe ground floor rooms, with courtyard access.

What is a boutique hotel?“