How to Spend a Weekend at Three Hotels From Our 2023 Hot List

Presented by Capital One

With these three Hot List 2023 hotel winners, there is as much to do beyond their doors as there is behind them—from sampling world class wines to catching a concert in an outdoor amphitheater. Here, how to turn an overnight into a proper stay, complete with planning tips in Denver, Healdsburg, and New York City.

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.

Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad

Towering above New York City’s NoMad neighborhood, is a sleek 250-room Ritz-Carlton that has taken a sharp left turn from the expected. Everything from the design by an all-star team made up of Rafael Viñoly Architects, Rockwell Group, and Martin Brudnizki, and the José Andrés restaurants and bars (including the Mediterranean-inspired Zaytinya on street level) to the subterranean spa offering modern touches like multi-sensory meditation pods, proclaim to the world that this property doesn’t quite match its Ritz-Carlton siblings—in the coolest way possible. Step into the lobby to find the same attentive service that is foundational to the brand, but styled for a new generation of loyalists. Like, for example, the stunning hand-blown light fixtures and plush green-velvet sofas where guests, think chic entrepreneurial types, relax while chatting with friends or sipping coffee while catching up on emails before heading out for the day. To look and feel right at home, pack your designer sneakers, good jeans and a pair of aviator sunglasses–but remember to throw in something a bit smarter, the hotel’s rooftop “it” spot Nubeluz has a cocktails-appropriate dress code.

It’s hard to peel away from the hotel when guest rooms come with epic city views, Diptyque bath products and comfy, cloud-like beds. But outside is a neighborhood that is fast changing. Options like the design-forward Maison Ten level up NoMad’s shopping scene, while some of the city’s most exciting restaurants are taking root nearby, like chef Markus Glocker's Austrian-influenced Koloman, Stretch, a just-opened pizza spot from chef and molecular gastronomist Wylie Dufresne, and Olle, a new Korean hotspot from the team behind the much-loved restaurants Atomix and Atoboy. With a location smack in the middle of Manhattan, it means almost every neighborhood you’ll want to explore is just a quick subway ride or, if you’re not in a hurry, a doable-walk away from your hotel. —Scott Bay

The Madrona, Healdsburg, California

In recent years, Sonoma and Napa Valley have welcomed splashy, sprawling resorts from a handful of global hospitality brands. So the debut of The Madrona, a 24-room hotel that feels more like your own private wine country getaway, is exciting news for travelers who prefer a more intimate, homegrown stay. Originally built in 1881 as a private residence, the property was recently renovated by San Francisco-based designer Jay Jeffers. Throughout the gabled mansion you’ll find original furnishings, antiques, and period fireplaces as well as contemporary art curated by San Francisco gallerist Lisa Dolby Chadwick. 

The vibe feels like an exclusive social club with guests sipping spritzes by the saltwater pool and local winemakers debating the hotel’s robust spirits collection at the downstairs bar. Michelin-starred chef Jesse Mallgren uses the estate garden as his muse and dishes such as heirloom tomatoes with miso creme fraiche and dry-aged duck with chard, farro, and roasted vegetables have already earned a loyal local following. The plugged-in staff make guests feel like locals, unlocking reservations to the area’s top tasting rooms and tables. Perched on a hill surrounded by vineyards, the Madrona feels away from it all but is just one mile from downtown Healdsburg. The dress code is wine country casual (stylish jeans, a flowy sundress, and flats) so you can ride the hotel’s complimentary Van Moof electric bikes to downtown tasting rooms including Marine Layer, Banshee, and M.C. Harris Gallery. Must-try restaurants include veggie-centric Little Saint, the Matheson, Michelin-starred SingleThread, and Barndiva. —Jen Murphy

Thompson Denver 

For decades, Colorado’s picturesque mountain towns have stolen the spotlight from the state’s capital city. When Thompson, Hyatt’s hip lifestyle brand, opened a sexy new hotel in Denver, it legitimized the Mile High City’s cool factor. And Michelin-decorated chef Ludo Lefebvre’s decision to open his first restaurant outside

 of Los Angeles within the hotel, is a testament to the city’s vibrant dining scene. The hotel’s mid-century modern design is infused with subtle nods to the state’s alpine and Western heritage. In the lobby, guests are welcomed by a soaring marble fireplace worthy of an Aspen chalet, and the 216 rooms and suites feature saddle leather headboards. At Chez Maggy, Lefebvre infuses Rocky Mountain ingredients into French brasserie classics (think bison tartare) and a stellar French wine selection complements a list of Colorado’s famed craft brews. 

Located in the heart of the LoDo (short for Lower Downtown) neighborhood, Thompson Denver is walking distance from the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art, Coors Field baseball stadium, the historic Dairy Block, and some of the city’s hottest restaurants, including Italian spot Tavernetta, seafood-centric Stoic & Genuine, Mediterranean-inspired Rioja, and wine bar Sunday Vinyl. Music fans should visit the hotel’s sixth-floor listening lounge curated by Denver-based turntable company Victrola and catch a show at legendary concert venue Red Rocks, located a quick 15 miles from the hotel. The world class hiking trails of Rocky Mountain National Park are an easy day trip, so don’t forget to pack your hiking boots, sunglasses, merino wool base layers, and a lightweight packs-down-to-nothing puffy jacket. —JM

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