The Best Hotels in the World: 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards
The 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards survey is now open for voting! Head here to cast your ballot for your all-time favorite hotels, cruises, resorts, islands, and more.
Now in its 35th year, our annual Readers' Choice Awards continues to capture the travel experiences our readers love best, from hotels and airlines to cruises and islands. Plus: Odes to the properties that keep you coming back, meditations on beloved cities, and more.
The numbers prove what we already knew: Enthusiasm for travel has never been higher, as demonstrated by the nearly quarter of a million of you who filled out this year’s survey. From the top large U.S. city to the top international airline, this year’s list is a testament to the staying power of perennial favorites, through thick and thin—with some newcomers to consider. Here are the best hotels in the world, as voted by Traveler readers.
View the Reader's Choice Award winners for best resorts in the world here.
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Courtesy Shangri-La Bosphorushotel50. Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul — Turkey
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Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022Well-situated along the European side of the Bosphorus Strait, this Turkish outpost of this Hong Kong–based luxury brand occupies a former tobacco warehouse built in the 1930s. The rooms are done up in a sumptuous palette of grays and neutrals, with a whimsical treat on your bedside table: a copy of James Hilton's 1933 novel Lost Horizon, which introduced to the world the mythical paradise that gave the chain its name. The hotel's Cantonese restaurant, Shang Palace, sets the standard for Istanbul fine-dining, with chefs hand-pulling noodles table-side and preparing Peking duck that's served over two elaborate courses. And at CHI, The Spa, the Turkish bath experience is elevated with experiences like full body moisturization with milk and honey.
Courtesy The Marker Hotelhotel49. The Marker Hotel — Dublin, Ireland
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2021, 2022Dublin’s Docklands are known as the “Silicon Docks,” with the European headquarters of Facebook, Google, and Airbnb all taking up residence here. The Marker Hotel, a sleek geometric building in the middle of Grand Canal Square, is the district’s unofficial landmark. There’s a hip vibe throughout, from the light-filled lobby to the bedrooms bursting with pops of color. The moodily lit infinity pool is the best in the city, with a eucalyptus-scented steam room. Open seasonally, the rooftop bar has killer views of the city and as far out as the Dublin mountains. Guests have guaranteed access—and you're guaranteed to make friends with the bartenders.
KENSEET/Courtesy Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya Riverhotel48. Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River — Thailand
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Hot List 2021 Readers' Choice Awards 2021, 2022The plans for Four Seasons’ return to Bangkok (a prior location closed in 2015) predate the body blow that travel took during the pandemic, but the Jean-Michel Gathy–designed reincarnation on the banks of the Chao Phraya feels tailored to Bangkok residents anyway. For visitors who have already ticked off the city’s sightseeing hits, it offers serious staying-put appeal: a multitiered swimming pool with thick-cushioned loungers for all-day lingering; vast suites and bedrooms with deep soaking bathtubs; and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame knockout river views. The four restaurants are set for lazy lunches, while the bossa nova–humming BKK Social Club is helmed by Philip Bischoff, formerly of the glitzy bar Manhattan at the Regent Singapore. The contemporary art collection has an urban edge: Towering works depicting the curves of the Chao Phraya or the folds of a monk’s robe hang from the lobby’s marble walls, while a rotating exhibition puts the spotlight on local talent. Over the years, indie galleries and artsy boutiques have turned this corner of Bangkok into the city’s de facto design district, a transformation that is complete now that the Four Seasons is back.
Fusion Mediahotel47. The Drake Oak Brook, Autograph Collection — Illinois, U.S.
Readers' Choice Awards 2022Built in 1962 as an outpost of the celebrated Drake Hotel on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue, the Drake Oak Brook has always been such a trendsetter that it has attracted the likes of Frank Sinatra, Prince Charles, and Arnold Palmer deep into the Chicagoland ‘burbs over its six decades. There’s a masculine, mid-century edge to the newly renovated guest rooms, many of which feature herringbone oak-wood floors and well-stocked bar carts. The Colonial Room restaurant offers high tea in the afternoons and a menu of unmistakably retro dishes come dinnertime, from wedge salads to shrimp cocktail. And you could almost imagine Ol’ Blue Eyes himself slumping into one of the fireside leather chairs at the Polo Lounge and ordering a signature Drake Manhattan.
Courtesy Sofitel/Gillian Jacksonhotel46. Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square — U.S.
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2021, 2022It’s appropriate that this D.C. hotel does luxury with a slightly French twist: The Sofitel overlooks Lafayette Square, which takes its name from the French hero of the American Revolution, the Marquis de Lafayette, whom you might know from a little musical called Hamilton. Today, Gallic touches include the 1920s-inspired Paris Ballroom and the Opaline Bar & Brasserie, where you can rub elbows with power lunchers as you dine on cucumber mint vichyssoise, crispy duck confit, tarte flambée, and caramelized neufchâtel cheesecake. The Art Deco–tinged building dates back to 1925, and Armenian-American architect Mihran Mesrobian was responsible for many of the city’s grandest hotels of the day, including the Hay–Adams Hotel and the old Carlton Hotel, which is now the St. Regis. A 2014 design overhaul took inspiration from the 1960s renovations of the White House—just steps away—complete with grand columns, coffered ceilings, and brass inlay marble floors.
Richard Waite/Courtesy Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbonhotel45. Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon — Portugal
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022Those looking for a splashy way to do Lisbon will find it at the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. Located across from the Parque Eduardo VII, this mid-century gem boasts lavish interiors and impeccable service, making guests feel like they’re living in Portugal's Golden Age. Guest rooms are regal and distinguished with elegant handwoven tapestries by Portuguese artist José Sobral de Almada Negreiros. Eighteenth-century furniture and high-end white linens give it a feel of past-meets-present. It’s easy to indulge here, but don’t miss the health and wellness offerings, including an indoor lap pool and a rooftop running track.
Airelles Saint-Tropez, Pan Dei Palaishotel44. Airelles Saint-Tropez, Pain des Palais — France
Readers' Choice Awards 2022India-meets-Saint Tropez in this mustard townhouse, which confounds guests with its shuttered exterior concealing a dark-wooded Raj-era scene inside. The boutique hotel is built on a love story—where a 19th-century British general fell in love with an Indian princess, who later took her grief and rich colour palette to Saint Tropez. Old-world fans and four posters dressed in white linen curtains set an exotic tone, and while splashes of burnt orange, lime, and crimsons animate the rooms, the bass note is earthy and restrained. The theme spills out into a walled garden, where the pool (which could have been a Raj pond in a past life) is lined with white parasols and thick, cushioned loungers. Its central location in the old town (a seven-minute walk to the beach) is staggering given its overall feeling of serenity and calm.
Courtesy Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearlhotel43. Marsa Malaz Kempinski The Pearl Doha — Qatar
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2022Qatar’s game-changing, artificial Pearl Island complex welcomed its first hotel in 2014, and it’s a palatial pink pile that towers over the bay from its own islet. With its domes, columns, and archways, the building calls to mind a Venetian palazzo, and that’s very much by design; in fact, you’ll even find paintings of Italy’s Floating City in some guest rooms, alongside romantic detailing like steamer trunks and crystal chandeliers. At the Spa by Clarins, there’s a hammam for utter relaxation, and the wide array of restaurants here includes standouts like Al Sufra, which draws on the flavors of Lebanon, Cyprus, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. On the other end of the spectrum: a family-friendly retro American diner, complete with leather booths and a digital jukebox.
Courtesy Cape Cadogan Hotelhotel42. Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel — Cape Town, South Africa
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022This elegant 15-room Georgian-era townhouse is tucked away in a residential street in Gardens, a fashionable, upbeat neighborhood known for its restaurants, bars, and interior design shops. Table Mountain forms a majestic backdrop, Lion’s Head beckons. From the outside, Cape Cadogan looks like a beautiful private home complete with crisp white paintwork, black shutters, manicured garden, and pool terrace. Step inside and you enter a world of Bohemian chic. It won’t be easy to find a smart room in such a brilliant location, as slickly managed, luxurious, or private at this price anywhere else in Cape Town.
©2016 Andrea Behrendshotel41. Thompson Nashville — Tennessee, U.S.
$$ | Hot List 2017 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022For those wanting the ultimate boutique hotel experience, the Thompson is the hippest one in the already-cool Gulch neighborhood. Its thoughtful, understated décor is a draw, as is one of the best rooftop lounges in the city. Guitars are available for borrowing (and lessons, too!). But it is the service that sets the Thompson apart, both in the hotel and in the delicious downstairs Marsh House restaurant. This is where many celebrities stay when they come to town (including Michelle Obama), so staff can be counted on to be discreet. There’s an honor bar full of alcohol and snacks, but most notably, guests can purchase seven-inch vinyls from Third Man Records, Jack White’s Nashville-based label.
Jack Hardy/Nobu Hotel London Portman Squarehotel40. Nobu Hotel London Portman Square — U.K.
Readers' Choice Awards 2022After the rollicking success of their East London location, the team behind the celebrity-magnet sushi bar and hotel brand—including chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Robert De Niro—brought their signature Japanese-inspired minimalism to tony Marylebone, transforming an old business hotel into something at once familiar and brand new. On the familiar side, you’ll still find all of Matsuhisa’s classics at the restaurant, including miso black cod, rock shrimp tempura, and yellowtail sashimi with thinly sliced jalapeños. For something uniquely London, the hotel has also put together an afternoon tea ceremony, inspired by the East-meets-West artworks of Gavin Mitchell, with a menu that includes Canton Teas (in flavors like lychee-rose and genmaicha) and snacks like beef tataki sandos and miso caramel éclairs. Upstairs, guest rooms are slick and stylish, with leather headboards, yukata robes, heavy Japanese tea sets, and Grown Alchemist toiletries that smell good enough to eat.
Courtesy Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivolihotel39. Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivoli — Doha, Qatar
Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022Totaling 160 combined rooms and suites, this property is a collection of eight boutique hotels dotted around Doha’s Souq Waqif, the Qatari capital’s central marketplace where vendors hawk everything from spices and oud incense to gold and live falcons. While the most historic of the properties is the Bismillah, the city’s oldest hotel, which dates back to the 1950s, the entire boutique accommodation located in the heart of Qatar's historic Souq district is worth a stay. Housed in a carefully restored stone building, the hotel was designed to be at the crossroads between traditional Arabic hospitality and contemporary comfort. The exclusive property is just one part of the broader portfolio of Tivoli Hotels in Qatar, an internationally renowned hotel brand. It has various sister properties throughout the market neighborhood.
Inge Prinshotel38. One&Only Cape Town — South Africa
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022Cape Town’s only urban resort, One&Only has a prime Waterfront location next door to the Two Oceans Aquarium and is within strolling distance of the Water Shed, an indoor market filled with must-have local designer brands. Much more of a resort than a hotel, it has space in abundance and everything is dramatically scaled, including the reception lobby leading into Vista Bar and Lounge, the social heart of the hotel where cocktails, high tea, and light meals are served in great style. Triple-volume glass windows frame views of Table Mountain, and the air is infused with a distinctive woody room fragrance—something you remember instantly as a returning guest. The spa is a destination in its own right, situated on its own island, with 12 treatment rooms, private wet areas, and a yoga pavilion in the garden. Make use of the spa thermal suites, even if you don’t book a spa treatment. His-and-hers hydrotherapy facilities each have a vitality pool, aroma-steam room, sauna, ice fountain and experience showers.
Six Senseshotel37. Six Senses Kocataş Mansions, Istanbul — Turkey
Readers' Choice Awards 2022You can't go wrong with a Six Senses hotel, but the Istanbul offering, Kocatas Mansions, is really something special. The hotel is housed in two historic mansions overlooking the Bosphorus, and the spa can be found above the main property, on top of a hill (guests can access it via golf buggy). The result is a breathtaking view and an instantly calming environment that's particularly beautiful around sunset (if you can schedule your treatment to end at this time, you absolutely should). It goes without saying that a traditional Turkish hammam is the treatment to have, if you must settle for just one. Any nervousness you might have about being washed down by a total stranger will immediately vanish as the passionate, well-trained therapists scrub and moisturize you to perfection, leaving you feeling brand new. If you have time, try to squeeze in a manicure and pedicure—the treatment room is a visual wonder, and it's like no other mani/pedi experience you'll have had.
Courtesy The Westburyhotel36. The Westbury — Dublin, Ireland
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Gold List 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022From the second you walk into The Westbury in Dublin and up the grand, bifurcated staircase, it’s hard not to be impressed. Settle into one of The Gallery's plush armchairs for afternoon tea, grab a seat in The Sidecar for a perfect martini, or book a table at WILDE, an impeccable restaurant with a luxurious 1930s feel, for a full meal. Upstairs, the rooms and suites are light-filled and tranquil, with large bathtubs and Irish art; beds are dressed in crisp Lissadell linens and sumptuous Blanc d'Ivoire throws, and bathrooms have marble and heated floors. (If you're really looking to go all out, splurge on the Presidential Suite, a penthouse with its own bar and a huge bathroom—complete with a private sauna and steam room.) The Westbury is a classic city meeting place, and it's ideal for a special occasion—you’ll find guests celebrating big birthdays, anniversaries, and other milestones. In December, The Gallery is filled with folks taking a break from Christmas shopping on Grafton Street. This is unbridled Irish luxury at its finest, and the service is always exemplary.
Four Seasonshotel35. Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre — U.A.E.
Readers' Choice Awards 2022Set in the heart of the Middle East’s financial hub, this Four Seasons is an exceptionally urbane space, where the sophisticated suites include curvy cream couches, low-slung leather chairs, and sexy standalone bathtubs. The lively Mina Brasserie, by Egyptian-born chef Michael Mina, is a perfect spot for power lunches, with standout dishes like lobster pot pie and a show-stopping signature cocktail inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s masterpiece, made with Silvermoon tea, lemongrass, violet liqueur, edible gold, and a precious crescent moon sliced out of citrus zest. This being Dubai, you’re surrounded on all sides by skyscrapers: You can practically go on a starchitect tour from the comfort of the glass-walled rooftop pool, while the Luna Dubai lounge, also up on the roof, offers uninterrupted views of the half-mile-tall Burj Khalifa.
Courtesy COMOhotel34. COMO The Treasury, Perth — Australia
$$ | Gold List 2021 Hot List 2016 Readers' Choice Awards 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022A fitting emblem of the new Perth, The Treasury is part of the ambitious Cathedral Square development, a $580 million reinvention of a cluster of 19th-century state treasury and Anglican Diocese buildings on the edge of the Central Business District, which sat empty for more than 20 years before the COMO outpost moved in. Almost every detail in the hotel (which primarily occupies the top floors of three 140-year-old buildings) has been returned to its original state, from the reinstalled dormer windows to the roofline’s copper trim. Check out Wildflower, the hotel's glassed-in rooftop restaurant, for a taste of this pioneer city's thriving food scene, courtesy of executive chef Kim Brennan, and David Thompson’s Thai street-food joint, Long Chim, adjacent to the hotel.
Courtesy Marriotthotel33. Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto — Japan
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022Set in the Arashiyama district on the western side of Kyoto (an area frequented by Japanese nobles of years gone by), Suiran sits seamlessly on the jade waters of the Katsura river. The original buildings, which now house the restaurants and lobby, are constructed around beautifully manicured Japanese gardens, and sunlight-dappled pebble-stone pathways lead the way to the more modern low-rise buildings that house the rooms. Yukata-clad staff welcome you warmly with a hot towel and tea whilst discretely whisking your luggage off to your room, leaving you to enjoy the serene surroundings, bathed in light and soothed by the sounds of flowing water. Here, chaotic city life is a distant memory and the deliberate and un-rushed pace is the catalyst for achieving a state of repose.
hotel32. The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai — India
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022In the kinetic megalopolis of Mumbai, the striking Indo-Saracenic silhouette of the Taj Mahal Palace hotel is no less of a landmark than the neighboring Gateway of India. Built in 1903, the gray-and-white stone, red-domed wedding cake of a building stands over Mumbai’s harbor. When your taxi pulls up through the throngs of families and tourists who choke the roads in the area, you’re ceremoniously welcomed by doormen in traditional silk kurtas; you have that pinch me feeling of “Wow, I’m really staying here?” You’re in good company, as everyone from George Bernard Shaw to Barack Obama has spent the night here too. Because the Taj is such a landmark, there are tourists and locals who come and go from the hotel’s restaurants, shops, and bars, or take part in the daily Heritage Walks around the property. But some parts of the hotel are off-limits to non-guests, so you quickly leave the bustle of the lobby behind. The Taj has the best pool in Mumbai. Especially after a sweaty day of touring the city, returning to this gleaming blue oval—surrounded by pink and orange color-blocked chaises and a gin cart that makes the rounds—is just plain heavenly.
Courtesy Belmond Miraflores Parkhotel31. Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel, Lima — Peru
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022Always fashionable Miraflores (which translates to “look at the flowers” in Spanish) is synonymous with glamour in the Peruvian capital. The recently refurbished Belmond does the district proud with its stunning glass-enclosed rooftop pool overlooking the Pacific and the Zest Spa, which incorporates ingredients from the Peruvian Amazon. If your tastes skew more whimsical, there's also a turtle pond out front. The see-and-be-seen restaurant Tragaluz boasts a refreshing menu of ceviches and tiraditos, while the 11th-floor Observatory offers a stunning panorama of the ocean. And the garden-facing suites will remind you just how this bougainvillea-filled district got its name.
Courtesy Baur au Lachotel30. Baur au Lac — Zurich, Switzerland
$$$ | Gold List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022Opened in 1844 and operated by the same family ever since, this property has hosted the likes of Joan Miró and Plácido Domingo. Set in a garden near the Bahnhofstrasse shopping drag (Zurich's equivalent of Fifth Avenue), the hotel looks right onto Lake Zurich and the Alps—but that's not the only nice view. Inside, rooms tastefully mix Art Deco, Louis XVI, and Regency styles, and are individually decorated in neutral tones with red, purple, and teal accents—though, if you're lucky, you'll get a room with a balcony on the water. If you're keen to splurge more than you have, the Michelin-starred Pavillon is worth the indulgence.
Courtesy Leading Hotels of the Worldhotel29. Hotel Granduca Austin — Texas, U.S.
$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2022Hotel Granduca's innocuous stucco exterior belies serious magic: a European palazzo-inspired courtyard, stationed on the building's backside. Positioned on a high point overlooking south Austin's hilly terrain, this hotel feels worlds away from downtown-hipster Austin. Empty-nesters carefully study the European wine list in the Northern Italian-inspired restaurant, while business travelers go for nightcaps in the billiards parlor or cigars on the courtyard. Like the rest of the hotel, the rooms are designed to mimic an Italian villa; tiled floors, rich woods, and a library of books create a residential feel. Request a room on a higher floor, which have small Juliette balconies and views all the way to downtown.
Courtesy Marriotthotel28. JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America — Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S.
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022You wouldn’t think you’d find the lap of luxury deep in America’s heartland—and at the heels of the nation’s most massive mall complex, no less—but the 321-room, 21-suite JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America is all about proving people wrong. The hotel is luring fun-seeking families and business travelers alike with sleek, modern décor, state-of-the-art amenities, and superb service that read more big-city sophisticate than Midwestern stopover. Steel-gray rooms have dark wooden furniture and houndstooth-print pillows, along with marble bathrooms and LED screen TVs. And with second-floor skyway access to the Mall (right near the Nordstrom enrance, we might add), you can’t get much closer to having it all—between the mall’s shopping, food, movie theater, and amusement park and the hotel’s fitness center and swimming pool, you hardly have to leave the handful of surrounding square miles to fill your days.
hotel27. Mandarin Oriental, Geneva — Switzerland
Readers' Choice Awards 2022Geneva’s modernist Hotel du Rhône opened in 1950 and had the unique honor of being the first hotel to be built in Europe after World War II, coinciding with the arrival of the United Nations in this chic Swiss city. Exactly 50 years later, it joined the Mandarin Oriental family, and it still showcases the impeccable service that has made it a favorite for generations. The guest rooms are stylish but unfussy, with views out over the river, the garden, or the mountains beyond, and the dining options are totally unexpected. In place of some staid hotel brasseries, you’ll find the sunny Peruvian spot Yakumanka, headed up by Gastón Acurio’s former right-hand man Daniel Galvez Estrada, and this October, the property added Sachi, a new omakase restaurant by chef Mitsuru Tsukada.
Courtesy Babylonstorenhotel26. Babylonstoren — Franschoek Valley, South Africa
$$ | Gold List 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022What if you could actually visit the Garden of Eden? And what if it was surrounded by vineyards, historic Cape Dutch farm buildings, and a formal French-style potager garden, where you could pick your own strawberries and fragrant herbs? At Babylonstoren, in the Drakenstein Valley, 33 miles northeast of Cape Town, the mythical garden comes to life. Founded in 1690, the 590-acre compound is modeled on the farms that supplied the ships making their way around the Cape of Good Hope en route to India. The cottages and suites are minimalist but stylish. You won’t find a grand lobby or an obsequious concierge here, but the staff, most of whom are wearing T-shirts, aprons, or khakis, combine a genuine eagerness to help with a high level of knowledge about the farm and its long history. Stay long enough and eventually—after a visit to the on-site bakery, the winery, the cheesemaker, the butcher, and the farm-tank-style swimming pool—you may forget that you’re staying at a hotel.
Courtesy Four Seasonshotel25. Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur — Malaysia
Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022It’s only been open since late 2018, but the Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur is already a prominent feature on the skyline of Malaysia's bustling capital city, reaching nearly as high as the adjacent Petronas Twin Towers. Its location in the middle of the Golden Triangle neighborhood is certainly part of the appeal, with its jaw-dropping views and proximity to shopping malls and restaurants. True to the Four Seasons brand, the design here is contemporary and sleek: varying shades of gray walls and furniture, stories-high stretches of gold and glass in the lobby, and floor-to-ceiling windows in every one of the 209 guest rooms. Shared spaces—like the infinity pool and gym, both on the seventh floor—boast stellar views of the surrounding skyscrapers and KLCC Park, while the all-day restaurant is decked out in warm lighting and orchids.
Christian Horanhotel24. Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, Surfside, Florida — U.S.
$$$ | Gold List 2019 Hot List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022Over the years, guests here have included Elizabeth Taylor, Wallis Simpson, and the Shah of Iran. Winston Churchill used to rent two cabanas, one to paint in and one “for naps” (and drinks, as during Prohibition spirits were served illegally here). Set in Surfside at the less-developed northern end of Miami Beach, this hacienda-style hotel has been brilliantly extended by Richard Meier, whose 12-story glass towers seem to float above the terra cotta tiles of the original 1930s Mediterranean-style pantile roofs, and interiors by Joseph Dirand. The cabanas now house part of the charming spa, where even the brushed-brass key pads on the lockers are a thing of beauty, as well as a handful of Cabana Studio bedrooms, each a pale-but-interesting essay in contrasting textures: canvas, rattan, and travertine. Of course, the restaurants are as much of an attraction: The Surf Club by superchef Thomas Keller opened its doors in summer 2018, and Le Sirenuse Miami comes from the owners of its namesake hotel in Positano. Densely planted with exotic palms, the latter evokes a cultivated jungle, a setting that is almost as memorable as Antonio Mermolia’s deft cooking, where the attention to detail extends to dyeing the ice over which they serve oysters the bluish-green of an iceberg. Try the Kumamotos, flown in daily from Washington state and dressed in a zingy citronelle emulsion. "Spectacular" was the word the Miami Herald ran in a headline for the Surf Club in November 1959. And so it is, nearly 60 years on.
Courtesy The Calile Hotelhotel23. The Calile Hotel — Brisbane, Australia
$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2022Every so often a new hotel announces that a destination has arrived. The Calile does just that for Brisbane. Because this hotel—candy-colored but Brutalist, with no shortage of Aussie fun and cheek—is a poster child for the town’s evolution from mundane, if sunny, business capital to a tastemaking second city. Local star architects Richards+Spence gave the place three separate entrances to help truly integrate it into the buzzy James Street precinct, a once-industrial wasteland that now has more than 130 bars and restaurants. Each entrance inevitably leads to a designer’s playground of textures, styles, and colors. The vaulted lobby is cool and airy with honey-hued travertine walls and roughly hewn stone floors, softened by mid-century-modern furniture. Upstairs, the private pool deck has mint-colored cabanas and a flush of tropical plants to create a sophisticated hideaway for beautiful people in small swimsuits and large straw hats. In the snazzy guest rooms, there’s an ice-cream-parlor palette, offset with smooth concrete ceilings, that feels completely right in this sun-drenched beachside city. All have some form of balcony or terrace for air and views; those architects knew better than to rid guests of the blazing sun and bluer-than-blue Queensland sky.
Courtesy Hotel Jerome/INGALLShotel22. Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection — Aspen, Colorado, U.S.
$$$ | Gold List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022Ever since its 2012 renovation, historic Hotel Jerome in downtown Aspen has swapped frumpy brocade lounges for cow print chairs and leather accents, turning the 19th-century classic into a popular après-ski spot (like a mellower Ace Hotel with portraits of frontiersmen on its walls). Luxury suites are bigger than some Manhattan apartments, outfitted with oversized everything: king bed, leather sleeper sofa, extra-large desk, extra-large bath. Dining options offer something for all occasions: The jaunty J-Bar at the front of the hotel is where Hunter S. Thompson's liver used to go for regular workouts. Now, locals and visitors settle into its low-back leather chairs for cocktails and short rib tacos. The Living Room, ostensibly a lobby bar, offers a more low-key alternative to J-Bar; it's perfect for a glass of wine in front of the fire, or curled up in an oversized, plump, high-backed chair that feels made for clandestine conversations. Prospect is an upscale American bistro with a Sunday brunch to plan around.
Adam Gibsonhotel21. The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart — Tasmania, Australia
$$ | Hot List 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2022Repurposed from two bordering-on-derelict buildings with a gleaming new-build addition, The Tasman has cemented Hobart as an up-and-coming travel destination. Thanks to its heritage origins, the hotel rewards exploration: Open a door and you might discover a deserted staircase that wasn’t “re-invented” at all, with its original green-tinted glass brick windows and Art Deco pendant lights. Artifacts from excavation, such as pipes, perfume bottles, combs, and marbles, are displayed at the bar, Mary Mary, and exclusive wines and rare spirits will soon be stored in the old coal chute. Chef Massimo Mele, who was born in Tasmania and raised in Naples, serves up a local take on nostalgic Italian cooking at Peppina, where skylights allow olive trees to grow indoors.
Courtesy The Luxury Collectionhotel20. The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok — Thailand
Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022Flanked by embassies on tree-lined Wireless Road, this member of the Luxury Collection cuts a relaxing figure in a mega-city known for its go-go-go energy. Take, for instance, the free-form rooftop pool which is shaded by native trees and blossoming plants and is the perfect spot to cool off from Thailand’s no-joke humidity. Among its eight bars and restaurants are spots dedicated to modern French cooking, Japanese kaiseki, classic Cantonese, and regional Thai; at the House of Smooth Curry, the set dinner menu includes such dishes as spicy river prawn salad, wok-fried chayote, and deep-fried grouper in sweet and sour tamarind sauce. The hotel was built on the grounds of the former Kandhavas Palace, so it’s only natural that guest rooms incorporate subtle nods to Thai royal motifs.
Don Riddlehotel19. Four Seasons Hotel Houston — Texas, U.S.
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2022Walking into the Four Seasons is like stepping into an exclusive club that has been around for ages. The interior—all marble and mahogany—manages to straddle the line between Texas traditional and contemporary. The newly renovated gym is open 24 hours a day, and the hotel is kid-friendly to the umpteenth degree, with activities like mommy-and-me yoga, movies by the pool, and pizza-making class. The hotel occupies a prime central location downtown, just steps from the convention center, which means it gets its fair of share of business travelers, and for good reason: With its stellar staff, amenities, and accommodations, the Four Seasons is second to none in the The Bayou City.
Martin Harvey/Courtesy The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipurhotel18. The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur — India
$$$ | Gold List 2019, 2020, 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022Rising like a great gilded cake from the western shores of Lake Pichola, magnificent Udaivilas is just the spot to wash up after a dusty Rajasthan road trip. This particular pleasure palace is a relatively recent arrival, but, like the 18th-century mansions it overlooks, it was built to showcase the craftsmanship of the Rajput era: marble-carved lotus ponds; glittering thikri mosaics; delicate miniatures painted on pale gold walls hand-plastered with lime, crushed marble, egg white, and tamarind. The spectacular Candle Room contains a dome set with thousands of pieces of mirrored glass. Udaipur’s busy market streets are only a few miles away, but Udaivilas has the luxury of space: 30 acres of what used to be the Maharana of Mewar’s hunting estate, with bird-filled grounds and views of the pretty lake and its floating mansions. All this grandeur could feel cold and overwhelming if it weren’t for the excellent staff. Guests are greeted off the motor boat by doormen with great twirling mustaches, and within minutes everyone knows your name. Small, personal interventions include gifts of a metal-wrought tea light or beaded bag, say, left in your room alongside a handwritten note. In the most romantic city in India, this is the most spectacular place to stay.
hotel17. Mandarin Oriental, Taipei — Taiwan
$$$ | Hot List 2015 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022Grand and glitzy, the 256-room Mandarin Oriental Taipei easily became the most luxurious hotel in the city when it opened in 2014. It's all about decadent accents (acres of marble and silk) and a stunning art collection that includes both antiques and contemporary pieces by the likes of Chinese ink painter Wei Zhu. And then there's the impressive lineup of dining options, which range from Italian (Bencotto) to international (Café Un Deux Trois, which has an enormous rhinoceros head as its dramatic centerpiece) to Chinese (the Michelin-starred Ya Ge). Don't miss afternoon tea in the Jade Lounge, which is a hit with locals.
The Leelahotel16. The Leela Palace New Delhi — India
$$$ | Gold List 2019, 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022The gilded furniture, the twinkling chandeliers, the silver tchotchkes—they overwhelm the senses. But what is truly golden about this hotel is the thoughtful, old-school hospitality, like transfers straight from the baggage carousel (save your judgments until after you have battled crowds at Delhi’s airport); the fact that they will leave the rooftop pool open for you should you need to get in some laps after hours; and the easy vegetarian hits on Megu’s menu, like a delicate cured-tofu sashimi that’s to die for and a heavenly chocolate mousse with fresh raspberries. This winter a garden-side izakaya is set to open. Call it an attempt to attract a younger audience, but the Library Bar will curate a range of music—traditional Sufi to EDM—and turn itself into a gin-focused cocktail bar. Ten years on and under new management, The Leela’s glitter game is still strong.
hotel15. Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness — Peru
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2022Peruvian chain Aranwa’s first hotel is a dreamy Andean wonderland spread over a canal- and lake-filled compound beside the Vilcanota River, far from the clusters of resorts in the Sacred Valley. One hundred fifteen spacious rooms are sprinkled about the property, in the carefully restored 18th-century hacienda, the resort’s centerpiece, and several more modern buildings with minimalist decor. When taking a day off from Machu Picchu or valley tours, you’ll find loads to do at the Aranwa: Stroll the orchid-filled glass pyramid, browse the art gallery or library, shop for alpaca scarves, soak in the infinity pool, watch a film in the private cinema, or take a treatment in the 25,000-square-foot spa. Personable staff are on hand to give lifts around the property in a fleet of eco-carts, or to entice an alpaca or peacock to pose for a photo op. Locally sourced ingredients are the norm here, and much of the fruit and herbs in the gourmet restaurant Pukawi are grown right in the resort’s hummingbird-filled gardens.
Courtesy Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaceshotel14. Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur — India
$$$ | Gold List 2019, 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022Umaid Bhawan is part of one of the world’s largest private residences, and still the occasional home of Jodhpur’s former royal family, so few hotels are as vast and unashamedly regal. Finished in 1943, the palace is a glorious blend of aesthetics: Partly inspired by Angkor Wat, its Rajasthani style was injected with notes of Art Deco by Polish artist–turned–interior designer Stefan Norblin, a famed illustrator in his home country who painted the striking frescoes as interpretations of Hindu mythology. But for all that its huge, pillared central dome can seem intimidating, as can those portraits of former maharajas, you'll feel at home here. That’s largely down to the warm staff in bright turbans, who make you feel entirely deserving of the Champagne breakfasts, raw-milk baths, and folk performances in the marble-columned pavilion. It isn’t, in the end, a place in which to be overawed—but to be embraced, and very happily spoiled.
Courtesy Maybourne Hotel Grouphotel13. The Connaught — London, U.K.
$$$ | Gold List 2020, 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022Some places just have magic in their bones: the whiff of a vast Cire Trudon candle in the lobby; the gleam of 200-year-old oak banisters; or the hum from a perfectly low-lit bar, where a martini trolley is being wheeled from table to table. The Connaught is a place where the original lifts still creak elegantly, rain patters on the roof, and solid walls make it feel like, whatever troubles befall the world, all will be well within. The setting is just right, too: spotless Mount Street, with its mustard-bright awnings, high heels click-clacking on the pavement, and line of shiny black taxis with yellow lights winking. Removed from the traffic but pin-sharp in the heart of Mayfair’s thrills, it is first and foremost a cocooning retreat, enveloping and deeply comfortable. But there’s also a buzz in spaces such as the new Red Room, a sly speakeasy hidden beyond a velvet-curtained doorway, and a sense that things are happening in some nook somewhere. For all that it does elevated Michelin dining, there’s also a corner to dive into for a late-night hamburger and frites. Bathrooms are wall-to-wall marble; some beds, such as the carved four-poster in the Prince’s Lodge, are so high off the ground they need steps to climb into. Everything is immaculate, spoiling, and just so damn smart.
Courtesy W Bogotahotel12. W Bogota — Colombia
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022Colombia has been rising through the ranks in terms of destinations in the past decade—and you can always trust W Hotels to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with the hottest trends. Opened in late 2014, W Bogota is situated right in the heart of the capital city's upscale Usaquen neighborhood, putting guests next to embassies, restaurants, and boutiques. You can expect colorful, modern decor in all 168 guest rooms—especially in the Extreme Wow Suite, which includes a king-size bed with floral canopy, an avant-garde (and purple!) circular sofa, and 180-degree views of the city's skyline. Grab brunch or dinner at the Martin Kitchen before kicking back with a drink and live music at the W Lounge. Then it's back to your room to detox before repeating it all the next day.
Rosewood Villa Magnahotel11. Rosewood Villa Magna — Madrid, Spain
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2022The Rosewood Villa Magna Madrid's formally dressed bellmen and luxury cars out front give off a little whiff of what’s to come: white walls with gold accents, silk lamp covers, and fabric wall coverings. Extra touches include a pillow menu, bedside reading lights, Nespresso machines, and complimentary shoeshine. The two suites on the top floor draw celebs and diplomats aplenty. Set on Madrid’s famous Paseo de la Castellana, this hotel has immediate cachet, and its spa draws plenty of attention. If you are in search for an address to impress, this is it.
Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Rochotel10. Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc — Antibes, France
$$$ | Gold List 2019, 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022An emblem of hyphenated hotel-world majesty, of sun-struck Riviera grandeur, of dreams of open-top two-seaters and swaying palms and broken banks at casinos and Champagne corks a-popping. Draw up to what F. Scott Fitzgerald called the “flushed façade” of this magical hotel, where Tender is the Night begins, and it’s hard not to feel you’ve arrived. Built by the proprietor of Le Figaro when it was the world’s biggest-selling newspaper, it opened as a grand hotel in 1870, and is now part of Germany’s Oetker Collection. During World War I, it became a Red Cross hospital where the nurses, the general manager noted, liked to cool off in the sea between shifts. Perhaps, he thought, there’d be potential for a summer season, come peacetime—so he had a huge heated saltwater pool blasted out of the headland. Swanky, chintzy and swagged in ormolu, bedrooms are comfortable but old-fashioned, as are the pale marble bathrooms. Rather it’s the views, the atmosphere, the vases overflowing with roses from the garden that make it so special.
Courtesy Rosewood Hotelshotel9. Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel — Paris, France
$$$ | Gold List 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023 Hot List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022Like the Ritz, Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel is a case study in how to stay relevant in the 21st century. But while the Ritz carried on in the same splendid fashion as always, the Crillon blasted off in search of something new. The result is a fascinating postmodern triumph. In the end, the refurb took four years and the hotel reopened in 2017 under the Rosewood brand. The best of what was the best of the Crillon has been thoughtfully preserved, while the best of what is new (the bar, the barbershop, L’Ecrin restaurant, and the stupendous suites by Karl Lagerfeld) is gobsmacking in its boldness and daring. After a day out on the town, relax in the Les Ambassadeurs lounge, which draws see-and-be-seen Parisians with live music and a selection of over 100 Champagnes, or in the new spa, with its indoor heated pool and treatments inspired by the beauty secrets of French grandmothers and great-grandmothers. The Crillon has long been a sentimental favorite among the French. It's a splurge, but fans of French history and style or hotel junkies with a running list of global icons to check in to won't be disappointed.
Dan Ham/Courtesy JW Marriott Austinhotel8. JW Marriott Austin — Texas, U.S.
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022This downtown Austin hotspot gets votes for good reason: There’s its prime location, of course, just minutes from the Blanton Museum of Art, Lady Bird Lake, and several hundred music venues—but what’s inside is also worth celebrating. Guest rooms are spacious and well-appointed, with dark, elegant wood furniture and super-comfortable, Revive beds; and the rooftop pool bar offers an Instagram-worthy view of the city. For a taste of Lone Star State–sized excess, make a reservation at Dean's Italian Steakhouse, and pair your Texas Wagyu tomahawk ribeye with a twice-baked “Billionaire's Potato,” topped with tallegio and fontina cheeses and shaved truffles.
SLS Dubaihotel7. SLS Dubai — U.A.E.
Readers' Choice Awards 2022When you enter this defiantly cool luxury property in the heart of downtown Dubai, you’re greeted with a wall-sized stained-glass window emblazoned with the phrase “Fortune Favours the Bold.” They take that motto very seriously here, with a design scheme that takes big swings: Think a bust of a chimpanzee in military regalia on your nightstand or oversized rubber ducky statues. The crown jewels are the twin infinity pools that sit atop the 75-story tower, which rank among the tallest in the world and offer jaw-dropping views out toward the Burj Khalifa and beyond. The SLS’s Italian eatery Fi’lia (which means “daughter”) is the first female-led restaurant in the region, with a menu broken down into three sections—Nonna (traditional dishes), Mamma (twists on classics), and Figlia (contemporary creations)—and it earned its first Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2022.
Joe Chua Agdeppahotel6. W Doha — Qatar
$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022Walking 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.
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Four Seasons Hotel Dohahotel5. Four Seasons Hotel Doha — Qatar
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022Located in the mixed-use West Bay complex, this Moorish-designed hotel showcases local white stone, latticework domes, geometric patterns, arches, columns, and palms galore, and the lobby is often bursting to colorful life with gorgeous floral arrangements. Rooms are clean, white, and neutral. Try the French- and Lebanese-inspired grand buffet at Elements, or cigars and single malts at the Library Lounge. Get a mineral body wrap at the spa, followed by snacks on the spa terrace.
Courtesy Raffles Istanbulhotel4. Raffles Istanbul — Turkey
$$$ | Hot List 2015 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022Though it’s a sleek, modern hotel with impeccable high-tech hardware in its 185 rooms, Raffles’ address in Istanbul still channels the city’s Byzantine charm and mystery. Chalk it up to the gorgeous views from almost every room and lush Turkish textiles, handicrafts (like pierced metal-and-glass similar to those found in the Blue Mosque), and dramatic framed photos of the city's most famous sites. Set in the central Besiktas neighborhood on the European side, the Raffles puts guests right on top of an array of shopping and dining options, and you can see the Bosphorus from many of the rooms. Istanbul is the city where Europe meets Asia, and the hotel’s dining choice reflect that. Isokoyo serves a creative pan-Asian menu (from Chinese dumplings to pickled and fermented Korean dishes), Rocca Brasserie has shareable plates and homemade pastas, and the lobby Lavinia Lounge presents afternoon tea surrounded by mirrored mosaics and oversized sculptures. There are also outposts of Raffles classics—like the Long Bar and patisserie—and a sixth floor lounge for drinks and bites around the pool and expansive views at both day and night.
Courtesy The Driskillhotel3. The Driskill — Austin, Texas, U.S.
$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022There is no more authentically Texan hotel than this 1880s-era grand dame near downtown Austin. Beyond its iconic limestone-and-brick facade, the Driskill is freshly modernized, with light, bright guest rooms, though the decor pays tribute to the hotel's place in Texas history; for example, the headboard of the iron bed features Texas stars and the letter "D," reminiscent of a cattle branding iron. (Mr. Driskill was a cattle baron.) With its cowhide bar stools, well-worn leather couches, and nightly jazz pianists, the hotel bar is dark and cozy. Locals are on a first-name basis with the bartenders who have been pouring cocktails there for more than 30 years. Check out the Civil War–era pistols that have been repurposed into lamps. And don't skip the bar snacks: house-made beef jerky and truffle popcorn in particular. Room service is available 24/7—and you'll want to use it. The hotel is famous for its 1886 Chocolate Cake, named for the year the hotel was built. It costs $8 per slice, and is worth every penny.
Courtesy Sofitelhotel2. Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena — Colombia
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022This former 17th-century convent mixes elements of its past (exposed wood ceilings, beautiful arched walkways) with modernity in a very graceful way. Set within strolling distance of the Palace of the Inquisition and about a seven-minute walk to the beach, it's a super-sized hacienda, complete with a courtyard toucan. Rooms are either contemporary or colonial-style; the newer ones offer views of the pool or the Caribbean, while colonial suites have antique furniture and overlook the Old Town or interior gardens. To play at being pious, check out Restaurant 1621, once the Clarist nuns’ dining room, that now serves French-inflected cuisine.
V. Mati/Courtesy Cheval Blanc St-Tropezhotel1. Cheval Blanc St-Tropez — France
$$$ | Gold List 2020 Hot List 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022There are good reasons why, in the first half of the 20th century, the French Riviera in general and St. Tropez in particular became the stuff of legend. This is one of them. When it opened in 1936, La Résidence de la Pinède, as it was then known, was an elegant, uncomplicated maison by the sea, a short distance from the town center. When it reopened in 2019, having been acquired by LVMH, it had been transformed into Cheval Blanc St-Tropez. Though outwardly still the same elegant, uncomplicated maison by the sea, things had actually changed beyond recognition. The new interiors by Jean-Michel Wilmotte manage to be at once soothing and startling, with Provençal art everywhere you look. A 20th-century classic has turned into a 21st-century one, with no loss of charm. Cheval Blanc makes for an intriguing contrast with its sister property on St. Tropez’s main square, White 1921 (another LVMH gem), as well as with much-loved Hôtel Byblos, and it holds its own in spite of competition from the likes of Michel Reybier’s La Réserve Ramatuelle and Jocelyne Sibuet’s effortlessly stylish Villa Marie.