The Best Hotels in the World: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards
Now in its 36th iteration, our annual Readers’ Choice Awards continues to capture the travel experiences our readers love best, from the best hotels in the world to the top airlines, cruises, islands, and luggage. This year, you traveled farther and deeper; seeking out remote properties; sailing on smaller, more intimate ships; and prioritizing destinations you’ve been waiting years to visit. At least that’s what a staggering 526,518 of you told us in our annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey. Now, you can use the results to decide where you’re going next. Here are the best hotels in the world, as voted by our readers.
View the Reader's Choice Award winners for best resorts in the world here.
All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Courtesy The Ritz-Carlton, San Franciscohotel50. The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
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Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023For all-out luxury, the Ritz is among the best in the city. Its 1909 neoclassical building cuts an impressive figure on not-quite-the-top of Nob Hill—and thanks to a 2015 reno, everything still feels fresh—down to the down comforters. This is service done right, through and through, especially the 24-hour room service we'd happily order from. location not-quite-on-top of Nob Hill is a great one, and the building itself is gorgeous. If you're looking for a luxury hotel experience, the Ritz is among the best in the city.
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Four Seasonshotel49. Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023Tranquil and refined, the Four Seasons towers over Lake Michigan. The residential-style rooms make you feel like the most luxe of locals, as does the concierge, who are so skilled and accommodating that they may even be able to score those coveted Bears tickets. On floors 30 to 46, rooms have stellar skyline views and suites have doors that separate living from sleeping quarters, but even the smallest rooms have a residential feel with armchairs, matching ottomans, and circular dining tables. Dinner at Adorn is a must, and come summer, the hotel has a private 52-ft yacht experience for guests to experience the beauty of Lake Michigan and the buzz of the Chicago River by boat.
Courtesy Hotel d'Angleterre/Jack Hardyhotel48. Hotel d'Angleterre Geneva
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Set on the picturesque banks of Geneva's Lake Leman, every room in this c. 1872 family-run boutique hotel offers views of the lake or Jet d'Eau, Switzerland’s largest fountain. Its 39 guest rooms and six suites are decked out with plush fabrics, colorful furnishings, and pop art. Enjoy smoked salmon with caviar and foie gras at the hotel’s lakeside Windows restaurant, followed by a guided whiskey tasting—there are more than 50 kinds offered—by the fireplace at the cozy Leopard Bar Room. Remember to check out the tables, repurposed from vintage Louis Vuitton suitcases.
hotel47. Beau-Rivage Genève
Picture yourself halfway down the Quai du Mont-Blanc, on Lake Geneva’s rive droite, facing the water. On the far shore you can discern the leafy billionaires’ colony of Cologny and, in the background, the rippling silhouette of the Alps, including, on a clear day, Mont Blanc itself. Turn your back on all that and step inside this hotel; soaring, salmon-coloured columns rise from a mosaic-tiled floor; you feel yourself caught in a tractor beam of natural light, drawing you, or at least your gaze, ever upwards. So there you are, head tilted backwards, at the still centre of a glossy vortex of loveliness. Superb, ranging from the deeply traditional to the profoundly traditional; that said, there is modulation in mood and tone between individual rooms, depending on the size, situation and particular admixture of Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau and Art Deco design elements. The larger suites are stupendous. The smaller ones are stupendous too—plush, gilt-framed, wainscoted, typically with at least one or two pieces of furniture or objets d’art of a kind you would expect to find in a museum.
Pascal Pronnierhotel46. Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes
Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Opened in 1926 on the Croisette, this Art Deco landmark has been a star-studded favorite among film-festival-goers for decades, and it’s steeped in cinematic history: Two of its most exclusive suites, for example, are named for the French actress Michèle Morgan, who won best actress at the first Cannes Film Festival, and the 1963 film Mélodie en sous-sol, which featured scenes shot at the hotel. (If you’re not here to rub shoulders with the glitterati during the festival, you can plan your own screening in the hotel’s private projection room by borrowing a DVD from the concierge’s library.) Outside, you’ll find a perma-heated pool, lined with red umbrellas and towering palms, and a private beach, where you can sip Champagne as you watch the Mediterranean waters come alive with water skiers, paddleboarders, sailors, and wakeboarders.
Courtesy JW Marriott Nashvillehotel45. JW Marriott Nashville
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2022, 2023An ovular glass skyscraper jutting 33 stories into air, the JW Marriott Nashville is hard to miss. It was one of the city’s first true luxury hotels and quickly became one of its most recognizable buildings. You can't help but crane your neck upward, jaw open. Inside, the décor is sleek, crisp, and it oozes fanciness. The hotel has it all: a gym, a spa, original art, turn-down service with local touches, in-room blow-outs, and a first-class steakhouse. A 2023 renovation of the pool deck now features private cabanas with their own sound controls and poolside food and beverage service, with special amenities (sunglass cleaning, anyone?) every 90 minutes.
Dan Ham/Courtesy JW Marriott Houston Downtownhotel44. JW Marriott Houston Downtown
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2023Located in one of the buzziest business districts in Houston, the JW Marriott attracts an elite group of business travelers seeking top-notch service and amenities without the fuss that are sometimes associated with boutique hotels. Rooms are impressively sleek and spacious; amenities include free wifi, an iPad for ordering room service or book spa treatments, and Nespresso machines; and The Spa by JW offers an array of interesting treatments, including foot soaks, massages, and facials.
Courtesy Four Seasonshotel43. Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square
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Hot List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023This is a hotel for grownups that manages to be at once grandly historical and unshowy. Credit the muted palette of greiges and modern-leaning decor that cut the Neoclassical and Art Deco interiors down to size. The rooms, with a houndstooth-and-leather, men’s club vibe, and one-touch everything wired via a bedside iPad, feel a bit like James Bond’s lair, while the location, across from the Tower of London in the city’s untouristed financial district, is pretty damn perfect. And naturally, being a Four Seasons, the service is impeccable. A super nice, super modern spa with a lovely lap pool adds to the charm.
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Kurt Lischka/Courtesy The Pearl Hotelhotel42. The Pearl Hotel — Rosemary Beach, Florida
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023With black and white-striped awnings on the West Indies-inspired architecture, balconies overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, and a wooden bridge linking to the beach, The Pearl Hotel could be snatched straight out of our Emerald Coast beach town dreams. Rooms come with rainfall showerheads or soaking tubs, mini cheesecakes by the beds each night, and iPads with software for making quick reservations. The Florida hotel also has a dedicated strip of beach, dotted with complimentary beach chairs and oversized umbrellas. The two adults-only sloping pools are surrounded by decks with towel service and poolside dining. For those looking to get active, the hotel offers access to golf courses, tennis courts, bike and boat rentals, and access to a nearby fitness facility.
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Tommy Piconehotel40. Hassler Roma
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Gold List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023There may be no better piece of real estate in the Eternal City than the one occupied by this five-star historic gem: It sits directly at the top of the Spanish Steps, an inviting palace awaiting those who make the climb. Celebrating its 130th anniversary this year, the Hassler is owned and operated by the sixth generation of a Swiss hotel dynasty, and over the years, it has attracted decades of royalty—the real kind (Queen Noor of Jordan), the Hollywood variety (Audrey Hepburn), and both (Grace Kelly). Princess Diana once said that the bar here serves her favorite Bellini, though you’ll also want to try the signature Veruschka, made with pomegranate juice and sparkling Italian wine. For some of the best views of the city, head up to Imàgo, the Michelin-starred restaurant on the sixth floor, from which you can see a who’s who of Ancient, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural treasures.
Laure Joliethotel39. Kimpton Aertson Hotel — Nashville
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023Chic and trendy, the Kimpton Aerston is a breath of fresh air in Midtown's hotel scene, which for decades had been where Mom and Dad stayed for parents weekend, but not much else. For a boutique hotel near the in-demand Vanderbilt University campus, it's a steal. The on-site restaurant, Henley, is a draw for locals as well as guests, thanks to its attentive service, buttery-soft leather seats, extensive bourbon list, and thoughtful menu. Hotel walls are adorned with interesting contemporary art, but you’ll probably spend your time looking at the city views, which you can do from the open-air balcony off of your room.
Marianne Majerus/Le Bristol Parishotel38. Le Bristol Paris
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Yes, Le Bristol is grand—the polished marble, the Louis XVI armchairs, the boiserie-paneled walls—but it has never felt cold or stuffy. I tend to go for Paris Fashion Week, and any sense of froideur is eliminated with one stroke of Fa-raon, the fluffy white Burmese cat and unofficial hotel mascot (he’s since had a son and heir, called Socrate)—usually draped over the concierge’s desk. Le Bristol has had a stylish insouciance ever since it opened on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in 1925, and it held on to its gilded soul after a six-year facelift that was unveiled in 2018 by its owners, the Oetker Collection. Suites are about chandeliers, Pierre Frey fabrics, and a very pure devotion to comfort overlooking the wonderfully serene enclosed garden by Arabella Lennox-Boyd, with its geometric lawns, fountains, and osmanthus topiaries. Eric Fréchon’s macaroni with black truffle and duck foie gras at three-Michelin-starred Epicure is a thing of wonder, as is Café Antonia, where the fashion crowd all seem to order the green bean, artichoke, and hazelnut salad. The spa by La Prairie does possibly the best massage in Paris.
Courtesy Éclat Hotelshotel37. Hotel Éclat Beijing
Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Known for its iconic pyramid shape, Parkview Green FangCaoDi is one of the most eco-friendly towers in Beijing and the first mixed-use LEED Platinum building in mainland China. In addition to shops and galleries, the building houses this contemporary-art-filled boutique hotel, with an impressive collection of works by artists like Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, Fan Xiaoyan, and Gao Xiaowu and a series of themed suites that are artistic expressions in their own right: The Swiss Chalet Suite, designed by Monique McClintock, includes antler chandeliers, decorative cowbells, and a plush St. Bernard, while the Miami Suite is white-on-white-on-white with a baby grand piano. Take your pick and embrace the kitsch.
Courtesy Signiel Seoulhotel36. Signiel Seoul
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023Stretching from the 76th to the 101st floor of Lotte World Tower, the all-suite Signiel Seoul overlooks Seoul's sprawl and mountainous Bukhansan National Park—an unprecedented view in South Korea, given that the tower is nearly twice the height of any structure nearby. Services include helicopter transfers, academy-trained butlers, Rolls-Royce transfers, and the country’s largest champagne selection at Bar 81. The hotel enlisted French celebrity chef Yannick Alleno, best known for three-Michelin-starred Le 1947 restaurant at Cheval Blanc Courchevel hotel and Pavillon Ledoyen in Paris, to helm the food and beverage operation. And up on the 100th floor lies the Royal Suite—the most expensive hotel room in South Korea, from about $18,000 a night.
hotel35. Hotel Barrière Fouquet's New York
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2023The French hotel line known for its Paris and St. Barth’s properties has arrived in the U.S. by way of New York. At a cobblestoned intersection in the Tribeca North Historic District, an industrialist red brick facade gives way to eight floors of ethereal Art Deco interior design straight out of the South of France. Fouquet’s New York’s pastel-colored luxury includes three French dining options, an indulgent underground spa (complete with a sauna, hammam, and hydrotherapy pool), and a Cannes-inspired cinema space true to Tribeca’s popular annual film festival. The theater will host programming like screenings and film premieres, and will be reservable for corporate and artistic events. The street-level outpost of the famed Champs d’Elysee bistro, Fouquet’s restaurant is a destination in itself, with signature red and black bar mirroring its Paris (and Louvre Abu Dhabi) counterpart. A French lavender, mint green, and cream color scheme includes custom-made wallpapers with France-linked illustrations of New York City scenes like Lady Liberty, pizza-eating Central Park goers, and cartoon pigeons with croissants in their beaks.
Jason Deweyhotel34. The Whitley, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Atlanta Buckhead
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023Previously the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead, the Whitley is a short walk to the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the Center for Civil and Human Rights. Setting a mod-meets-glam tone in downtown Atlanta, this may be one of the best locations for a beautifully designed setting, with contemporary art hanging above lobby chairs and drum pendants encircling glittering chandeliers for a brighter, airier version of its former self—with the same great location and five-star service, it's a luxury high-rise hotel with pedigree to boot.
Heather Anne Thomas/Courtesy Blackberry Farmhotel33. Blackberry Farm — Walland, Tennessee
$$$ | Gold List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023Dating back to 1940, this luxury Relais & Châteaux hideaway in the misty foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains is, for all intents and purposes, a 4,200-acre sleepaway camp for food lovers, where you can take cooking demonstrations, tour the farmstead, plan whiskey and wine tastings, and even meet the Lagotto Romagnolo dogs who are bred onsite and help the team sniff out truffles. The pièce de résistance is the James Beard–winning restaurant, which occupies a turn-of-the-20th-century barn where foragers, butchers, bakers, cheesemakers, sommeliers, chefs, and more collaborate on so-called “Foothills Cuisine.” Southern hospitality has never felt so chic.
Courtesy Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaceshotel32. Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur — India
$$$ | Gold List 2019, 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023Umaid Bhawan is part of one of the world’s largest private residences, and still the occasional home of Jodhpur’s former royal family, so few hotels are as vast and unashamedly regal. Finished in 1943, the palace is a glorious blend of aesthetics: Partly inspired by Angkor Wat, its Rajasthani style was injected with notes of Art Deco by Polish artist–turned–interior designer Stefan Norblin, a famed illustrator in his home country who painted the striking frescoes as interpretations of Hindu mythology. But for all that its huge, pillared central dome can seem intimidating, as can those portraits of former maharajas, you'll feel at home here. That’s largely down to the warm staff in bright turbans, who make you feel entirely deserving of the Champagne breakfasts, raw-milk baths, and folk performances in the marble-columned pavilion. It isn’t, in the end, a place in which to be overawed—but to be embraced, and very happily spoiled.
Courtesy Conrad Washington, DChotel31. Conrad Washington, DC
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023Opened in 2019, the hotel is the flagship property for the Conrad brand, and Hilton’s first luxury offering in the nation’s capital. The overall ethos of the collection tends towards the unfussy and uncluttered, and this flagship is definitely right in line with that vibe. Interiors firm Rottet Studio has created 360 bright, airy rooms with streamlined, contemporary décor. Suites have extras like low-slung couches and fireplaces, and all rooms have marble bathrooms with double vanities, walk-in showers, and Byredo bath amenities. As one of the newer spots in town, the Conrad brings a modern sensibility to D.C's upscale hotel landscape, along with a convenient location, efficient service and destination dining from local favorite Ria Montes. Depending on the season, prices can be very reasonable, too.
Courtesy Preferred Hotels & Resortshotel30. Sagamore Pendry Baltimore
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023Years in the making, this is the first East Coast hotel for Pendry, the off-shoot brand from Montage. The hotel occupies the Recreation Pier, a landmark building in Fell’s Point, that was left empty for nearly two decades before reopening as the Pendry, thanks in part to a big investment from Under Armour’s Kevin Plank. While the “Rec Pier” serves as the frontispiece of the property—and houses the Andrew Carmellini Rec Pier Chop House restaurant and a small whiskey bar called The Cannon Room—the guest rooms are in the new-build addition on the old footprint of the pier, which gives the place a bolted-together feel but also supremely comfortable guest rooms that aren’t jig-sawed into a historic building. The Pendry is probably one of the best places to stay in Baltimore right now, and if you’re coming for nightlife and dining, this is the perfect place to be.
Courtesy The Dorchesterhotel29. The Dorchester, Dorchester Collection — London
$$$ | Gold List 2024 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Not to be outdone by arrivistes thudding onto the top-end scene, the Dorch has been shaking her tail feathers with the biggest refurb in three decades: public spaces supercharged, and two floors of new rooms and suites revealed. Penthouses and a rooftop remain under lock and key until later in 2024. The hotel where Elizabeth Taylor signed her Cleopatra contract in the bath remains out-and-out fabulous—but with a Pierre-Yves Rochon uplift. The Artists’ Bar sparkles with a mirrored ceiling, Lalique crystal pillars girdling the bar, and Liberace’s mirror-ball-clad baby grand. This is the spot for caviar, native oysters, and Petal Head cocktails (Stoli Elit vodka, kumquat, Aperol, and passion fruit) served from a trolley. A hoard of London-centric art glints on the walls: Ann Carrington’s Elizabeth II silhouette in mother-of-pearl buttons, Sue Arrowsmith’s delicate silver leaf with coral branches. Martin Brudnizki’s Vesper Bar invites intimacy with its smoked glass and scalloped armchairs, and the spa (best for Dr. Uliana Gout’s new medical-grade facials) is a pink girly haven. The Grill by Tom Booton, a fun slice of British culinary theater, has a fresh menu; don’t miss the squid bolognese à la Koffmann, given the tick of approval by Pierre Koffmann himself. The new suites have the palettes of an English garden, in leaf green, rose, and heather. If Hôtel Plaza Athénée is the American fantasy of Paris, then this Park Lane dame’s new rooms are the American fantasy of Britishness—one we are happy to buy into. From $1,136. —Lydia Bell
Christian Horan/Four Seasonshotel28. Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club — Surfside, Florida
$$$ | Gold List 2019, 2024 Hot List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023In the quiet residential enclave of Surfside, ensconced between the skin-revealing glitter of Miami Beach proper and the buttoned-up flash of Bal Harbour, the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club is a timeless and all-welcoming, new-fashioned take on old-school glamor. Opened in 2017, the hotel builds upon the illustrious circa 1931 beach club that hosted America’s most distinguished throughout the mid 20th century, including Gary Cooper, Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, and Elizabeth Taylor, for fashion-forward parties, beach soirees, and alcohol-fueled overnights—epic enough to enshrine The Surf Club into Florida cultural history (and merit a standalone Assouline coffee-table book). Today, the beachfront legend continues with the resurrection of The Surf Club to its full Mediterranean Revival architectural glory, now enveloped by a series of three, 12-story modernist glass-framed towers. In 72 of the 77 guest rooms and suites in the new towers, glass balconies give way to soothing interiors by famed Paris-based creator Joseph Dirand, delivering design studies in midcentury modern updated for the present day, underscored by juxtapositions of travertine–finished spaces, clean-lined-yet-curvaceous hybrid furnishings, and tastefully gilded accents. (A similar style prevails in the five lower-level Ocean Bungalows, which occupy architect Russell T. Pancoast’s beach cabanas of yore.) The restored historic building oozes vintage glam from all corners, down to the black marble check-in desk (where a fully stocked complimentary Champagne cart awaits upon arrival) and Lido Restaurant and Champagne Bar, the Club’s former ballroom thoughtfully transformed into a drop-dead gorgeous, local-frequented Italian hotspot. From $1,500. —Paul Rubio
Sir Albert Hotelhotel27. Sir Albert Hotel — Amsterdam, Netherlands
Readers' Choice Awards 2023Occupying an 1895 red-brick factory in Amsterdam’s stylish and formerly working-class De Pijp neighborhood, this member of Marriott’s Design Hotels continues to sparkle like the diamonds it once produced. Unlike many post-industrial revamps, there’s very little sign of the original factory here—and that’s a good thing. Interior designers Alon Baranowitz and Irene Kronenberg have upped the warmth factor with a palette that skews toward tobacco browns and burnt siennas, with textures like leather and cowhide and statement pieces from Dutch furniture-design superstars like Piet Hein Eek and Joy van Erven. Depending on the category you choose, your room might come with a freestanding Philippe Starck bathtub, a customizable pillow menu, signature robe and slippers, or even a “goody box” with locally sourced treats. Outside, muralist Adele Renault has covered the canalside wall of the building with a multi-story gray heron, a feathered Amsterdam resident who is showing up in increasing numbers in these waterways and can now often be found strolling through the nearby Albert Cuyp Market.
Courtesy InterContinental Hotels Group/Photo by George H. Longhotel26. InterContinental New Orleans, an IHG Hotel
$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2023Just two blocks from the French Quarter, this Intercontinenal also offers quick access to the New Orleans Arts District and abuts the city's Mardi Gras parade route. Located on the historic site of the former St. Charles Theater, the onsite pool and carnival-themed dining at Pete's Pub have brought the property firmly in the contemporary now. Rooms are spacious with coffee makers, pillow menus, and the option for premium balconies overlooking the neighborhood or courtyard below.
Windsor Court Hotelhotel25. Windsor Court Hotel — New Orleans
$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023There’s an immediate sense of exclusivity as you step into the hotel forecourt, secluded away as it is from the surrounding downtown. Stepping into the lobby, the huge oil paintings and floral arrangements deliver an elegant, almost regal ambience that stands out in this otherwise casual city. Local doyens of society in colorful hats and seersucker suits brush past you as they meet for the afternoon tea service at Le Salon just off the main lobby. The hotel is a singular experience in New Orleans, British high society brought to the Big Easy.
Courtesy Kasbah Tamadothotel24. Kasbah Tamadot — Asni, Morocco
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Sir Richard Branson’s property sits atop a bluff in the High Atlas Mountains, and so thrilling is the 45-minute drive from Marrakech—on a narrowing road which switchbacks into the clouds—that your arrival is both a disappointment and a relief. The 24-room Kasbah was once the property of an antiquarian and artist, and items from his collections decorate the rooms, most of which have their own terrace or patio but no television
Simon Devitt/Park Hyatthotel23. Park Hyatt Auckland
Readers' Choice Awards 2023The 2021-opened Park Hyatt Auckland looms like a glass palace beside Waitematā Harbor in Wynyard Quarter, the docklands precinct recently converted into the America's Cup home base. The 195 guest rooms are among the most generous in town, with slick interiors by Conran and Partners London punctuated by traditional Maori art. You could say that the new property is now duking it out with the Hotel Britomart (New Zealand’s first five Green Star Hotel), for the braggiing rights to international jet-set crowd.
Courtesy The Fullerton Hotel Sydneyhotel22. The Fullerton Hotel Sydney
Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Singapore’s Fullerton Hotel occupies a historic post office, so when the brand opened a Sydney outpost in 2019, they found a heritage landmark that proved a perfect fit: the 1874 General Post Office building, built in a Victorian Italian Renaissance style with a commanding clocktower and carvings of contemporary Sydneysiders at work. (Look for the postman delivering a letter to a flirty barmaid, a duo that has raised eyebrows for decades.) Guest rooms, which expand into the adjacent high-rise, are filled with luxe touches, like Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, Nespresso machines, and Balmain or Atkinsons toiletries. For a touch of true elegance, book the Heritage Long Suite, which occupies the former postmaster’s office and is decked out with rich crown molding, marble fireplaces, and his original writing desk from the 19th century.
Courtesy Hilton Hotels & Resortshotel21. Waldorf Astoria Chicago
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023You'll feel instantly transported to a French chateau upon arrival to this Gold Coast retreat with all of the comforts of a luxury hotel with a personalized, boutique feel. A sleek charm and upscale amenities (most of the rooms have fireplaces and terraces) evoke a fairytale kind of feel year-round. Dedicated service, alongside a notable spa, restaurant, and cocktail lounge, all draw an array of travelers checking in for an elevated escape, from families to couples seeking romantic retreat. For sunset views over Chicago neighborhoods, opt for a West-facing room, while those jonesing for Lake Michigan views will do well with a room facing North or East. And if you’re looking to experience the property in big ways, consider one of their six residential suites, each boasting a fireplace, marble bathroom, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Courtesy Kempinski Hotelshotel20. San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023You arrive to San Clemente the way you wish to—but don't always—arrive everywhere in Venice: by boat. The hotel is on its own island, and the site of the old buildings (a former hospital-turned-hotel) as you approach feels glamorous. Bonus: The private island feels immediately calm compared to the crush of central Venice where you catch the boat. This is a true resort: You could spend five days here and never leave. There are six restaurants and bars altogether, from poolside lunch spots to terraces serving afternoon spritzes (an absolute must, regardless of price tag). Food is decent Italian—you won't eat badly at all. For families it's perfect because the kids can actually run around.
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Courtesy The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotelhotel19. The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel — Boston
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Since 1851, the Charles Street Jail was an eyesore nudged between Massachusetts General Hospital, the Charles River, and the charming streets of Beacon Hill. In 2007, when it reopened as The Liberty boutique hotel, it became an overnight sensation. Today, the former jail is a best-case example of the magic that happens when old meets new. The design aesthetic is contemporary American with a gentle nod to the building's history (in the form of details like tally-mark embroidery on throw pillows). Most rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, and many have sweeping views of the river. It's located across from the Charles River Esplanade, making it ideally situated for jogging and walking; you can also arrange boat and kayak rentals at the front desk.
JOE AGDEPPA/W Dohahotel18. W Doha — Qatar
$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Walking into the W’s first Middle Eastern outpost is like entering a never-ending party: Chill music plays in the sleek lobby (even at 8 a.m.), and the handsome staff from Mexico, New Zealand, Tanzania, and Russia, among other countries, hand each arriving guest a mocktail. The hotel’s Sisley Paris Spa and restaurants (there's Papermoon Milan and Peruvian spot COYA) are attracting expats and locals eager for a more global experience. The 442 rooms are filled with curves: rounded frames for the desks and bed platforms, arabesques on walls and curtains, and circular chairs positioned to take in the seafront or the ever-rising skyline. Business travelers will appreciate the convenient location in the West Bay financial district, the attentive service, and the lap pool with resistance current.
The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMadhotel17. The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad
$$$ | Hot List 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2023During New York Fashion Week, this already-iconic hotel’s rooftop bar Nubeluz by José Andrés hosted a runway show for Bronx and Banco, complete with a downtown cool vibe and guest list to match—think actress Natasha Lyonne and rapper Coi Leray. Nubeluz (and The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad as a whole) was immediately cemented as an overnight New York City hot spot—just one example of how this legacy brand is reshaping its image. But how did a hotel conglomerate that is thought of as a bit stuffy create a hotel that is familiar to its existing clientele while becoming alluring to a new generation? The answers are found within the lobby which takes its inspiration and pays homage to its location in the floral district, the reservation-impossible Mediterranean restaurant Zaytinya (another José Andrés), view-laden rooms, and skin-tightening subterranean spa. Each space mixes current design trends, like hand-blown Randy Zieber floral petal-inspired chandeliers in the lobby and black Italian-marble walls, with the exceptional, discreet service that Ritz-Carlton is known for. We can’t imagine a more perfect place to shake things up than the capital of reinvention: New York.
Courtesy S Hotel Jamaicahotel16. S Hotel Jamaica — Montego Bay
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023At S Hotel you get the laid-back vibe of a stay in Jamaica with a bit of South Beach glitz—they even line the deck of their sleek pool with some of the island’s famous white sand. If that isn’t enough sand for your liking, the hotel also offers private access to idyllic Doctor’s Cave Beach and its gentle surf. Inside, the ocean view rooms are big enough to pass for apartments in some big cities. And they lay a minimalist black and white color scheme over a beachy aesthetic (think, lots of wicker furniture, including covering the bathtub) that will leave you feeling maximally relaxed. If it doesn’t, there’s always the Irie Baths and Spa, which has three underground plunge pools (hot, warm, and cold) that provide kinetic energy therapy and send you out feeling totally relaxed, in addition to the usual the massages and skin treatment options.
The Ingalls/Auberge Resortshotel15. The Vanderbilt, Auberge Resorts Collection — Newport, Rhode Island
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023The Vanderbilt is an elegant yet unpretentious snapshot of the Newport of yesterday and the Newport of today. Stepping into the lobby is like stepping into the foyer of this Gilded Age mansion during its heyday a hundred years ago. This meticulous resort recalls a time when Newport was the essential summer destination to see and be seen. Food and drink take center stage. For fine dining, The Gwynne serves contemporary twists on New England classics and utilizes Newport's freshest catch—the Spanish-style grilled octopus is not to be missed. The place is like a music video for Taylor Swift's Rhode Island ballad, “The Last Great American Dynasty.”
Courtesy La Mamouniahotel14. La Mamounia — Marrakech, Morocco
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023There’s a very particular effect exerted by La Mamounia, which seems to take hold the moment you head up the green tiled steps to this most bohemian of grandes dames. Upon seeing La Mamounia’s faded pink walls, Churchill was wont to ditch the suit and pick up his watercolor brushes; Paul McCartney wrote “Mamunia” (meaning “safe haven” in Arabic) during a 1973 stay; and Hitchcock, who filmed The Man Who Knew Too Much here, got his inspiration for The Birds from some overzealous finches on a jardin-facing balcony. La Mamounia was always a curious mash-up of Art Deco, Berber, and opulent Moorish, and the old place has had numerous facelifts over almost 100 years—from Jacques Majorelle’s bright stylings in 1946 to a theatrical noughties revamp by Jacques Garcia (Hotel Costes) and most recently a series of sly additions by Parisian futurists Jouin Manku, including a new cinema and teahouse. There are all the columns, foliage-filled courtyards, and mosaics of the most photogenic medina riad—except that there’s also the smoky Churchill speakeasy, an Asian-focused Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant with its sultry blacks and reds, and that legendary, vast square pool, around which I find the people-watching irresistible (bring dark sunglasses). There’s a reason that the actors and rock stars have kept coming; the fashionistas with kaftans and cigarettes. For all that it is woven into Marrakech like the knots in a Berber rug, La Mamounia has never, ever been boring.
Ron Blunt/Courtesy Hotel Crescent Courthotel13. Hotel Crescent Court — Dallas, Texas
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023This hotel has the ability to transport you to a relaxing oasis miles from the hustle and bustle of busy Dallas, despite being in the middle of Uptown. The spa and pool make it hard to beat and the sophisticated suites have incredible interior design and abundant natural light, via floor-to-ceiling windows. Food and drink are on point with the Dallas outpost of Nobu and stellar cocktails at Beau Nash. Its chic clientele helps the property maintain its reputation as an Uptown staple despite the plethora of new hotels that are opening all around it.
The Ritz-Carlton, Dohahotel12. The Ritz-Carlton, Doha
Readers' Choice Awards 2023Qatar might not immediately scream beach destination, but Ritz-Carlton has dreamed up a relaxing oasis in this on-the-rise Persian Gulf capital. There’s a lovely stretch of sand and a palm-lined freeform pool outside, but when it gets too scorching, come in for the sea-view gym with indoor tennis and squash courts and a spa with a luxury hammam where you can feel reborn after an Arabic clay and kese exfoliation. Of course, befitting the region, there’s also quite a bit of luxury on display: To wit, the property is home to the Middle East’s largest chandelier, a Viennese Baakowitz stunner with 2,000 individual crystals—one of a whopping 264 chandeliers across the property.
Courtesy Domaine des Etangshotel11. Domaine des Etangs, Auberge Resorts Collection — Massignac, France
$$ | Gold List 2020, 2024 Hot List 2016 Readers' Choice Awards 2021, 2022, 2023Domaine des Etangs proclaims itself to be in the business of “art de vivre” and, for once, the marketing blurb is on the money. The setting is the turrets of a 13th-century château reflected in a glassy lake, wrapped up in 2,500 acres of forest, ponds, and meadows—posing pastures for sleepy herds of Limousin cattle. Seven Isabelle Stanislas-designed suites unfold in the main building, with more in six far-scattered cottages and a farmhouse. Rooms are filled with modern and antique furniture, while the bones of the building—stone walls, eaves, gargoyles—sing out. Art is taken seriously throughout. There’s a peaceful minimalist gallery, La Laiterie, harboring an Yves Klein, and the estate hosts everything from Olafur Eliasson pieces to Hergé’s Tintin illustrations. Eating well starts with perfect crêpes and market fruits for breakfast, and restaurant Dyades’ locavore menu (noted in the Michelin guide) elevates the herbs, flowers, fruit, and vegetables of the kitchen garden. Children are catered for in a laissez-faire way, with a playground and zip wire, a tennis court floating on a lake, and a beamed attic filled with games. My highlights were rowing across the lake with a picnic after too much rosé and walking with groundsman Jean-François Magnan, who spent his boyhood wandering the rain-green pastures and orchid-filled copses. Since 1986, the Domaine has been owned by the Primat family, which oversaw its refurbishment. In 2023, the French countryside hotel entered the Auberge Resorts Collection, and it’s clear that its spirit, graciousness, and slow pace remain gratifyingly unchanged. From $485. —Lydia Bell
Courtesy Hilton/Nicholas James Fochtmanhotel10. LondonHouse Chicago, Curio Collection by Hilton
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023Set in a landmark building where the Magnificent Mile meets the Chicago River, LondonHouse embodies the definition of a luxury lifestyle hotel. The gold coffered ceiling of the ground floor lobby makes a stunning first impression, but the best rooms—the Vista rooms—are in a glass addition featuring floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river and the bridges that vault over it. Dark wood paneling and framed black-and-white photos lend a slightly masculine tone. There's a restaurant on the 21st floor, and a rooftop bar just one more story up—its crown jewel being the Cupola and its 360 degree views (a favorite property site for photos).
hotel9. The Peninsula Chicago
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2019, 2022 Hot List 2017 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023This high-rise hotel might be home to the city’s best-kept secret: a sprawling, 80-foot pool some 19 floors up, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a view you can’t peel your eyes from. You could easily spend all day there in unperturbed bliss—block off a whole day to alternate between spa treatments and dips in the pool. Fortunately, there’s plenty of relaxing to be done in the guest rooms, many of which are more spacious than a Chicago apartment. You know a hotel is at the top of its game when the towels are so plush they feel as though they were woven on-site and there are neatly labeled amenity drawers so you don’t have to pry each one open to find what you’re looking for. Peninsula hotels are known for their intuitive technology (in-room tablets let you control the lights, request housekeeping, and check your flight status). If you’re in need of a good night’s sleep, spend a night at a Peninsula hotel.
Martin Morrell/COMO Castello del Nerohotel8. COMO Castello del Nero — Barberino Tavarnelle, Italy
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2020, 2021, 2023Not your average Tuscan estate, this 12th-century castle wedged deep into the Chianti countryside 40 minutes south of Florence, is COMO’s first property in mainland Europe. And what a place: What used to be a flouncy Italianate hotel has been transformed into a thoroughly modern, city-sleek pad with brooding gray and putty-colored walls paired with eau-de-nil armchairs and the odd jade patio door. COMO’s highlights are its spas, of course, and this one doesn’t disappoint, with signature COMO Shambhala treatments, Guinot facials, and an outdoor pool in the summer season (when there’s also outdoor yoga, overlooking the rolling hills). At Michelin-starred restaurant La Torre, executive chef Giovanni Luca Di Pirro works his magic on local ingredients; pre-game with an oil or wine tasting in the medieval wine cellars.
Courtesy Shangri-Lahotel7. Shangri-La Paris — France
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023In 1891, Prince Roland Bonaparte—grand-nephew to Napoleon—chose a prime setting near the Seine River to build an opulent palace, complete with an elaborate carved façade, a vaulted ceiling emblazoned with zodiac symbols, and a dramatic "Stairway of Honor" made from brass and forged steel. The cultured prince hosted many a lively gathering at his palace—a tradition of hospitality that was revived in 2010, with the opening of the Shangri-La Paris. Following a meticulous restoration, the landmark features a dome-topped marble entryway, original wood floors, stained glass windows, and hand-carved mahogany panels—plus that famous staircase. It's not just pretty, either: A favorite destination dining spot for locals, the hotel houses Shang Palace, the first Chinese restaurant in France to receive a Michelin star, and La Bauhinia, which serves an elegant East-meets-West menu (including a popular afternoon tea) under the central glass cupola.
Courtesy The Peninsulahotel6. The Peninsula Hong Kong
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2021 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Let’s say you’re arriving by land and not by helicopter (though that’s an option, should you wish). The first thing you'll see is a colonial white facade attended by a fleet of Brewster green Rolls Royce Phantoms and pillbox-topped pageboys. Classical music from a live string quartet wafts throughout the space as you make your way to check-in. This unique blend of old-world Hong Kong, contemporary comforts, and world-class service make The Peninsula Hong Kong a standout, whether your mission is business or pleasure.
Brandon Barréhotel5. The Hazelton Hotel Toronto
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2022, 2023For discreet luxury that makes you feel like a member of a private club, few spots top The Hazelton. The leafy, boutique-lined streets of the upscale Yorkville neighborhood provide the natural backdrop for this plush boutique hotel, which is marked by a brick-and-white façade and rounded entrance. Stroll by the see-and-be-seen outdoor patio (a local favorite) and make your way inside, where you’ll find a contemporary lobby bedecked in polished metals, ostrich leather, and amber lighting. And thanks to their ample square footage (575 square feet and up) and nine-foot ceilings, the 62 rooms and 15 suites feel like apartments.
Courtesy of Marriotthotel4. The Union Station Nashville Yards, Autograph Collection
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2022, 2023Nashville's original train station is now a grandiose hotel with a live music series Riffs on the Rails, every other Thursday, featuring both local and national singers and songwriters. Union Station is one of the city's most recognizable buildings, and the hotel has a 65-foot vaulted lobby ceiling punctuated by centry-old stained glass. But the recent room renovation gives them a more contemporary feel than the common areas would lead you to believe.
Courtesy The Willard InterContinentalhotel3. InterContinental The Willard Washington D.C., an IHG Hotel
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023Two blocks from the White House and the National Mall, this historic hotel unveiled an $18 million restoration in 2018, exactly 200 years after its opening. The rooms, common areas, lobby, and Café du Parc all have new offerings (there's now a private dining room overlooking the lobby, as it did many, many years ago). The architecture blends Federal and Empire styles; the ornate lobby features dramatic marble columns, detailed tray ceilings representing each state in the country, lush plants, and intricate tile mosaics. It's no surprise that everyone from Abraham Lincoln to Martin Luther King, Jr., has rested their head here at some point—and that the hotel regularly sees people pop in off the street just to take a look.
Courtesy The Venetian Resort Las Vegashotel2. The Venetian Resort — Las Vegas
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Just walking into The Venetian lobby feels like taking a trip to the Bel Paese; it’s completely frescoed to its vaulted ceiling, and its centerpiece is a massive, gilded sphere held up by four golden women. After having passed a replica of Venice’s campanile and Rialto Bridge, arriving in this basilica-style registration area should feel totally cheesy—and yet, it is so over-the-top and grand, you can’t help but be impressed. The complex is enormous, with more than 7,000 rooms and three million square feet of retail and meeting space spread across the Venetian and Palazzo hotels. But perhaps the most memorable thing about the place is its huge array of restaurants, including Estiatorio Milos for incredible seafood (and the Strip’s best lunch deal), Mott 32 for excellent Chinese food, and new openings from superstars Tetsuya Wakuda (Wakuda) and Eyal Shani (HaSalon). Beyond dining, everything you need can be found inside The Venetian. The gym is actually a Canyon Ranch, where you can go on the climbing wall, get nutritional counseling, and even have your gait analyzed, while the spa is full of unexpected extras, such as acupuncture.
Jim Bartsch/The Colony Palms Hotelhotel1. Colony Palms Hotel — Palm Springs
$$ | Hot List 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023This luxuriously private adults-only hotel from celebrated celebrity designer Steve Hermann is in the heart of Palm Springs but has a more laid-back, exclusive vibe than its neighbors. (Think The Beverly Hills Hotel meets the desert.) Firepits and private nooks are sprinkled throughout the property, centered on a verdant, palm-tree-lined pool shimmering below the San Jacinto Mountains. Bold statement wallpapering, sky-high ceilings, and plenty of greenery are the through lines across the room categories, with suites offering private verandas with garden seating. Chef Michael Hung has upped the ante for poolside dining at The Colony Club, where you’ll find excellent spins on California Mediterranean cooking.