1
London
The Connaught
“Three Michelin stars in the dining room, the world's best bar in the lobby. What is left to argue about?”
The list
Ranked 1 — 50
All fifty entries link to a full editorial case explaining why the hotel earns its specific rank.
2
New York
Aman New York
“The most private square footage in Manhattan. If silence is a luxury, Aman has cornered the market.”
3
St Tropez
Cheval Blanc St-Tropez
“LVMH's St-Tropez flagship — 30 suites, three Michelin stars at La Vague d'Or, Dior Spa, and the most refined hotel in the village. Closes November–April.”
4
Madrid
Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid
“César Ritz's 1910 Belle Époque palace, restored to within an inch of its origin and held to the Mandarin Oriental standard. Three Michelin Keys, two Michelin stars at Deessa, the Golden Triangle of Art outside the door.”
5
Bangkok
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
“Open since 1876 on the Chao Phraya River. Author's Lounge has hosted Conrad, Maugham, Coward. Eight restaurants under the property, two with Michelin stars. The legendary Asian hotel.”
6
Tokyo
Bulgari Hotel Tokyo
“Bulgari's 2023 Tokyo opening — Antonio Citterio interiors on floors 40-45 of the Yaesu Tower. Niwa restaurant has one Michelin star. The Italian-Japanese fusion executed without compromise.”
7
London
The Dorchester
“Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester has held three Michelin stars longer than many restaurants have existed. The hotel earns that association.”
8
Tokyo
Mandarin Oriental Tokyo
“On the top 9 floors of the Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower — 178 rooms, three Michelin-starred restaurants under one roof, and the most decorated dining hotel in Tokyo.”
9
Florence
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze
“Two Renaissance palaces, the largest private garden in central Florence, an outdoor pool surrounded by frescoed loggias, and Vito Mollica's Michelin-starred Atrium Bar & Restaurant. The city's most complete luxury proposition.”
10
Hong Kong
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
“On Victoria Harbour — 399 rooms, three Michelin-starred Lung King Heen (the world's first three-star Chinese restaurant), and another three-star at Caprice.”
11
Amalfi Coast
Le Sirenuse
“La Sponda's Michelin-starred tables are set by candlelight on a terrace above the sea. The hotel has been run by the same family since 1951 and shows no sign of losing the argument.”
12
London
Claridge's
“London's most storied address. The chandeliers, the chevron floors, the unbroken sense of occasion — it simply is what other hotels aspire to be.”
13
Singapore
Four Seasons Hotel Singapore
“In Orchard — 254 rooms in a traditional Four Seasons setting, with two pools, one Michelin-starred Jiang-Nan Chun, and the brand's residential standard.”
14
Maldives
Cheval Blanc Randheli
“LVMH's Maldives flagship — 45 villas across five private islands in Noonu Atoll, designed by Jean-Michel Gathy. The most refined Maldivian luxury under the Cheval Blanc standard.”
15
Miami
Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club
“Richard Meier's white modernism, draped over a 1930 Russell Pancoast clubhouse. Two Michelin Keys earned, not bought.”
16
Venice
Aman Venice
“A 16th-century Palazzo Papadopoli on the Grand Canal with frescoed salons by Tiepolo. Twenty-four suites. The most discreet luxury address in Venice — and arguably in Italy.”
17
Tokyo
Aman Tokyo
“Kerry Hill's Tokyo flagship — 33rd-floor lobby with panoramic views, 84 suite-only rooms, and a six-storey atrium that has reset the standard for urban Aman properties.”
18
Jackson Hole
Amangani
“40 suites on a ridge above the valley with the full sweep of the Tetons visible from every window. The most dramatic setting of any Aman in North America.”
19
Kyoto
Aman Kyoto
“Twenty-six suites and two villas across 32 acres of secret garden at the foot of Hidari Daimonji. The most secluded city Aman in the world — discovered through unmarked gates.”
20
Vail
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail
“Forbes Five-Star, Vail Village address, ski concierge that delivers warm boots to your chair. The Rockies' most polished hotel, and it shows.”
21
Washington Dc
Mandarin Oriental Washington DC
“The Potomac River view from the upper floors and the Forbes Five-Star spa. Washington's most underrated luxury property.”
22
Barcelona
Mandarin Oriental Barcelona
“Passeig de Gràcia's most refined address. Two Michelin stars and Patricia Urquiola interiors — the combination is unreasonably good.”
23
Atlanta
Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta
“Midtown's most reliable luxury. Forbes Five-Star service for two decades running, and rooms that overlook the High Museum and Piedmont Park.”
24
Orlando
Four Seasons Resort Orlando
“The only Forbes Five-Star resort inside Walt Disney World. Extra Magic Hours, a five-acre water park, and the rare adult pool that justifies the word retreat.”
25
Prague
Four Seasons Hotel Prague
“Four restored buildings — Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical, modern — woven together on the Vltava riverbank. The only Prague hotel with a Forbes Five-Star rating, a Castle-view restaurant on the upper floor, and the Charles Bridge a hundr”
26
27
Dallas
Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek
“Dallas's only Forbes Five-Star hotel and the address that defines old Texas money. The bar still closes deals it has been closing for forty years.”
28
Santa Barbara
Rosewood Miramar Beach
“Caruso's Montecito masterpiece — the only Forbes five-star resort directly on the sand in Santa Barbara, and unembarrassed about it.”
29
30
Beijing
Aman at Summer Palace, Beijing
“Beside the imperial Summer Palace gates — 51 rooms in restored century-old buildings, the most cultural Beijing luxury.”
31
32
Shanghai
Amanyangyun
“On 30 hectares — 24 villas and 26 antique houses preserved from Jiangxi Province, Aman's most ambitious China project.”
33
Bhutan
Amankora
“Five lodges across Bhutan's western and central valleys — Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey, Bumthang. The most refined journey across the Himalayan kingdom.”
34
Dominican Republic
Sublime Samaná
“Adults-only on Samaná Peninsula — 31 villas with humpback whale-watching access January-March.”
35
Turks And Caicos
Amanyara
“Aman's Turks & Caicos property on West Caicos — 38 pavilions and 16 villas in a protected nature reserve, the most secluded Caribbean luxury.”
36
Marrakech
Amanjena
“Aman's Marrakech property — 39 pavilions and pools surrounded by olive groves with the Atlas Mountains in the distance. Aman tradition meets Moroccan setting.”
37
Phuket
Amanpuri
“Aman's first property — opened 1988 on Pansea Beach with 40 pavilions and 30 villas. The brand's first hotel, the original luxury Asia, and still arguably the most refined.”
38
39
Luang Prabang
Amantaka
“24 suites in a former French hospital — the Aman that defines Luang Prabang luxury.”
40
Sri Lanka
Amangalla
“Aman's Galle Fort property — 28 suites in the restored 17th-century New Oriental Hotel within the UNESCO Galle Fort. Colonial-era refinement at the most refined Aman standard.”
41
42
Bodrum
Amanruya
“Aman's Bodrum property — 36 cottages in Demirbükü, the most refined Turkish luxury.”
43
Rome
Bulgari Hotel Roma
“Italy's most jewel-like hotel. Niko Romito's three-Michelin-star restaurant and an indoor pool that makes you forget the Forum is outside.”
44
Hong Kong
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
“The world's highest hotel — floors 102–118 of the ICC tower, with Tosca and Tin Lung Heen restaurants both holding Michelin stars.”
45
Kyoto
The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
“On the Kamogawa river facing the Higashiyama mountains — 134 rooms, the Mizuki kaiseki restaurant with one Michelin star, and the only urban Ritz-Carlton with onsen tradition.”
46
St Barts
Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France
“LVMH's St Barts flagship — 40 rooms on Flamands Beach, the most refined Cheval Blanc in the Caribbean, with Spa Cheval Blanc and La Case de l'Isle.”
47
Napa Valley
Auberge du Soleil
“The Rutherford hillside terrace at sunset, with the valley below and a Michelin-starred menu. California's most consistently romantic hotel address.”
48
49
Tuscany
Castello del Nero, A COMO Hotel
“A 12th-century castle in Chianti, transformed by COMO with a Shambhala spa and Michelin-starred La Torre. Fifty rooms across the castle and farm buildings. Tuscany's wellness benchmark.”
50
Hong Kong
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
“Mandarin Oriental's flagship since 1963 — Pierre Gagnaire's two-Michelin-star Pierre, the Krug Room, the Captain's Bar. The most decorated dining hotel in Asia.”