When it comes to luxurious accommodations and unforgettable hospitality experiences, the world is filled with exceptional hotels that cater to the discerning traveler. In this article, we have carefully curated a list of the 15 best hotels in the world that are currently taking the world by storm.
From opulent resorts nestled in exotic destinations to boutique hotels in bustling cities, these properties have set new standards of excellence in the realm of hospitality. Join us as we explore these remarkable hotels, each offering a unique blend of luxury, comfort, and unparalleled service, making them the epitome of extraordinary travel experiences.
1. La Mamounia
- Location: Marrakech, Morroco
La Mamounia has a unique effect on its visitors, which takes hold as soon as you make your way up the green-tiled steps. It was here that Churchill, inspired by the faded pink walls of La Mamounia, began painting with watercolors that Paul McCartney wrote his Arabic song “Mamunia,” and that Alfred Hitchcock while filming The Man Who Knew Too Much here, was inspired to write the screenplay for The Birds after observing some overzealous finches on a Jardin-facing balcony.
It’s been almost 100 years since La Mamounia was last completely reimagined by Parisian avant-gardist Jouin Manku, who added a cinema and a teahouse to the Art Deco and Berber influences that have always permeated the property. The most recent iteration of the hotel was completed in the mid-19s and features Jacques Majorelle’s bright colors and dramatic lighting.
With its Churchill speakeasy (where you can sip on bourbon), an Asian-focused Jean-George Vongerichten restaurant, and that legendary, vast square pool around which I find the people-watching irresistible. I’m a big fan of the people-watching here (bring dark sunglasses).
The kaftans and cigarettes of the fashionistas are a big part of why celebrities and rock stars keep coming. No matter how thoroughly it has been woven into the fabric of Marrakech, La Mamounia has never been dull.
2. Waldorf Astoria
- Location: Shanghai, China
This hotel pays homage to Shanghai’s opulent European past by occupying two buildings: the beautifully restored 1911 Shanghai Club, which houses 20 suites, and the newly constructed tower, which houses 252 rooms and suites.
Waldorf Astoria Club’s 110-foot-long bar overlooks the Bund, and the colonial-style suites (poster beds, walk-in closets, claw-foot tubs) are just some of the hotel’s luxurious amenities. This hotel is one of the best hotels in the world and comes with Modern amenities, such as a bathroom with a TV embedded in the mirror and a Japanese-style toilet that has water jets, which are included in the neoclassical design of the rooms (matching silk bedcovers, pale-green linen wallpaper, and carpets with swirling flower patterns).
3. Raffles Istanbul
- Location: Istanbul
In spite of the fact that Raffles’ Istanbul location is a sleek, modern hotel with impeccable high-tech hardware, the hotel still has the city’s Byzantine charm and mystery. Beautiful views, Turkish textiles, and handiwork (like the pierced metal and glass similar to the ones in the Blue Mosque), plus dramatic, oversized photos of Turkey’s most famous landmarks.
The Raffles is located in the heart of the Besiktas neighborhood on the European side of Istanbul, where guests can easily access a wide variety of shopping and dining establishments, as well as the Bosphorus.
4. Relais Borgo San Pietro
- Location: Palazzetto, Italy
The combination of escapism and reconnection that I found here last autumn was the perfect antidote to living in a locked-down Brooklyn with a newborn. The destination isn’t hidden from guests like it is at other resorts.
On the sturdier side of Tuscany, this 300-acre estate in Chiusdino is a microcosm of the region.
In the fields of lavender and marigold, which you’ve seen on long walks through farmland and forest, you’ll find ingredients for the facial oils at the spa. This is not to say that Relais Borgo Santo Pietro lacks intelligence.
Everything about the world’s best hotel screams Italian class: the meticulously tended gardens and landscaped pool; the attentive staff who show up with a Spritz and silver plate of truffled chips just because they think you need them (as I did); and the Trattoria sull’Albero, with its massive oak tree rising in the middle.
If you visit Borgo during the harvesting season, you can pick and stomp on grapes in the rolling vineyards.
Between two rapids, there is an eight-foot-deep pond. On the property, but open to a small community of about 30 people in a nearby village.
As pilgrims made their way to the nearby abbey of San Galgano in the Middle Ages, they walked along a tall canopied wall near the vegetable gardens. As a solo traveler, I was able to explore the Tuscan countryside without ever having to return through the great wide entrance gates.
5. Badrutt’s Palace
- Location: St. Moritz, Switzerland
If you’re looking for a luxury hotel in St. Moritz, Badrutt’s Palace is the place to stay. Celebrities and royalty alike have been flocking to the Alpine hideaway since it first opened in 1896, including Alfred Hitchcock, who spent his honeymoon there.
Even an elephant once made an appearance there. After an exhausting day of skiing, guests can relax in the hotel’s luxurious suites and rooms, which feature a fireplace, flat-screen TV, and a king-sized bed (hot water bottles are tucked under the sheets each night).
Eleven restaurants are available, and the Polo Bar, a popular hangout for locals, is the place to go for late-night drinks. The New Year’s Eve parties, rumor has it, are legendary.
6. Hotel SP34
- Location: Copenhagen
It’s a three-townhouse complex in the Latin Quarter with 118 guest rooms. When it comes to having fun, you don’t even need to leave Hotel SP34 because there is so much to keep you entertained.
The hotel’s rooms range from cozy singles to spacious doubles to skylight penthouse suites, all with a Scandinavian flair.
Additionally, the hotel’s lobby bar hosts frequent Port tasting events, while the hotel’s rooftop terrace doubles as a movie screening room and hosts free concerts and DJ sets on Friday nights.
7. Baur au Lac
- Location: Zurich
Baur au Lac , which opened in 1844 and has been run by the same family ever since and has hosted the likes of Plรกcido Domingo and Joan Mirรณ. The hotel is situated in a garden near the Bahnhofstrasse (Zurich’s Fifth Avenue) shopping district, which overlooks Lake Zurich and the Alps.
The Rooms in this hotel are singly decorated in neutral colors with red, purple, and teal accents and mix Art Deco, Louis XVI, and Regency styles; however, if you’re lucky, you’ll get a room with a balcony overlooking the water.
Even if you’re on a tight budget, the Michelin-starred Pavillon is well worth splurging on, which is why this magnificent hotel still stands tall as one of the best hotels in the world.
8. The Gwen
- Location: Michigan Avenue Chicago
For the Chicago Marriott Luxury Collection Hotel, the name “Gwen” pays homage to pioneering female sculptor Gwen Lux, who was born and raised in Chicago during the early twentieth century.
The Gwen, located on the city’s famous Royal Mile and in the historic McGraw-Hill building with its 1928 architecture completely preserved, does just that. Taupe- and gold-hued Art Deco interiors exude ancient elegance and chic modernity simultaneously.
During warm weather, the roof-top restaurant and bar, Upstairs at the Gwen is a great place to mingle with people who aren’t staying at the hotel for business.
9. Waldorf Astoria
- Location: Beijing
Located in the Wangfujing neighborhood, the Waldorf Astoria Beijing is a 2014 addition to the city’s luxury hotel scene. It looks like one of Beijing’s temple palaces from the outside, but once you step inside, you’ll find pure hospitality.
Instead of a glitzy, busy lobby, the concierge desk is located in a room with high, gray walls painted with flowers, and as you walk down the halls to your room, you’re greeted by more striking artwork. Each of the hotel’s 171 rooms features soothing teal and tangerine hues, as well as stunning city views.
10. W Doha
- Location: Qatar
With the opening of the W’s first Middle Eastern location being one of the world’s best hotels, it’s like entering an endless party. Relaxing music is playing in the lobby at 8 a.m., and staff from Mexico, New Zealand, Tanzania, and Russia are on hand to serve each guest a cocktail upon their arrival. With its Sisley Paris Spa and restaurants like Paper Moon Milan and Peruvian spot COYA, the W Doha hotel is a popular choice for visitors from around the world.
Curves abound in the 442 rooms, including rounded desk and bed platforms, circular chairs positioned, and arabesques on walls and curtains to take in the seafront or the skyline of starchiest skyscrapers. The West Bay financial district location, the responsive service, and the lap pool with a resistance current will be appreciated by business travelers.
11. The Landmark Mandarin Oriental
- Location: Hong Kong
The Mandarin Oriental’s little sister is easily overlooked in the Landmark Mall. The MO Bar, a street-level restaurant and bar, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as a variety of beverages, throughout the day.
All types of travelers, from health-conscious to fashion-forward, will appreciate the hotel’s contemporary design and attention to fine details, which include a 25,000-square-foot spa with a gym and an indoor heated pool. To top it all off, you’ll be able to shop and work right outside your door.
12. The Ritz-Carlton
- Location: Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Abu Dhabi’s Ritz-Carlton, Grand Canal, is a shining example of Middle Eastern opulence and grandeur. For example, the 1,356-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Suite boasts a four-poster bed, a powder room, a full tiles bathroom with a soaking tub, a color therapeutic shower, separate living/dining areas, a kitchen, and two terraces that overlook the Grand Canal.
You’ll find a private beach at the Bedouin spa; 16 treatment rooms; plunge pools; saunas; as well as a plethora of luxurious treatments. For children aged four to twelve, the Ritz Kids program is open daily to families. The hotel shuttle runs every 30 minutes for those who want to visit the mosque and learn more about the cultural landmark.
13. Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivoli
- Location: Doha, Qatar
A round-up of Eight boutique hotels, totaling 160 rooms and suites, are scattered throughout Doha’s Souq Waqif, the city’s central marketplace, where vendors sell everything from gold and live falcons to spices and oud incense.
Historic properties include the Bismillah, which was the city’s first hotel and now houses two private residences with balconies overlooking the street. The spa’s hammam and swimming pool are great ways for guests to cool off in the desert heat.
14. The Dolder Grand
Location: Zurich, Switerzerland
Dolder Grand‘s collection includes works by Salvador Dali, Takashi Murakami, and Andy Warhol, so it’s no wonder you’d think you’d stumbled into a fine art museum when you entered. The hotel’s 43,000-square-foot spa and acclaimed chef Heiko Neider’s eight-course tasting menu aren’t the only reasons to stay in this world’s best hotel; in the warmer months, guests can sip liquors under crisp white umbrellas on the outdoor wide-angle terrace while taking in the stunning views of the Alps.
15. 21c Museum Hotel Kansas City
- Location: Missouri
The nine 21c Museum Hotels (and counting) constitute North America’s only multi-venue museum solely dedicated to contemporary art. President Harry S. Truman was such a frequent diner at the 1888 Savoy Hotel and Grill in Kansas City that his favorite booth has been designated as such.
However, guests are not required to leave their bedrooms to enjoy the hotel’s gallery’s exhibits, as each room features Laura Lee Brown’s penguin and Antarctic landscape photos. Four-foot-tall recycled-plastic penguins are displayed in various locations throughout the 21c chain in keeping with the chilly atmosphere. A ceramic replica of the K.C. ones can be purchased in the gift shop if you fall in love with them.
Best Hotels In The World Right Now
In the realm of luxury travel, these 15 best hotels in the world have proven themselves to be exceptional in every aspect. From their stunning locations to their impeccable service and world-class amenities, these hotels offer an unparalleled experience to their guests.
So, as you plan your next trip, consider indulging yourself in the splendor and opulence of these remarkable hotels that truly represent the epitome of luxury and hospitality.
