Some hotels carry their history as the central asset. Choosing one means choosing a particular era of grandeur.
European grand hotels
The Ritz Paris
Founded 1898. Place Vendôme. Hemingway, Coco Chanel, Princess Diana. Restored 2016.
Hotel de Crillon Paris
Founded 1758. Place de la Concorde. Marie Antoinette took piano lessons here. Restored by Rosewood 2017.
The Savoy London
Founded 1889. Strand. Inventor of British luxury hospitality. Restored 2010.
Claridge's London
Founded 1812. Mayfair. Royal favourite. Continuously refined.
Hotel Imperial Vienna
Founded 1873. Habsburg residence converted to hotel.
Hotel Cipriani Venice
Founded 1958. Giudecca Island. Older property restored to legendary status.
Hotel Negresco Nice
Founded 1913. Belle Époque French Riviera.
American grand hotels
The Plaza NYC
Founded 1907. Fifth Avenue. The American grand hotel.
Waldorf Astoria NYC
Original 1893, current Park Avenue 1931. Restored 2024.
Hotel del Coronado San Diego
Founded 1888. Pacific seaside grand hotel.
Beverly Hills Hotel
Founded 1912. Pink Palace. Hollywood golden age.
The Greenbrier West Virginia
Founded 1778. American resort hotel tradition.
Asian grand hotels
Raffles Singapore
Founded 1887. Restored repeatedly.
Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong
Founded 1963. Modernist Asian luxury.
Peninsula Hong Kong
Founded 1928. Asian grand hotel tradition.
Imperial Hotel Tokyo
Founded 1890. Frank Lloyd Wright wing demolished.
What "historic" delivers
The architecture you cannot replicate. The patina of decades. The room numbers with stories. The plaque in the lobby noting which dignitary signed the guest book.
What it doesn't deliver: modern hotel-tech infrastructure (sometimes), modern bathroom design (always more compact), modern soundproofing (variable).
Five rules
- Confirm restoration status — pre-restoration historic hotels can disappoint
- Suite over standard room — historic hotels are better in suite category
- Read the history before arrival — adds to the trip
- Concierge tours of the public spaces — most have them
- Tip generously — staff often long-tenured
For more, see the architecture pillar.