World's 50 Best Hotels 2023

Passalacqua is a hotel in Moltrasio on Lake Como.

Rosewood Hong Kong is a hotel on Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Four Seasons Bangkok is a hotel on Charoen Krung Road beside the Chao Phraya River.

Book The Upper House if you want a calm, design-led Hong Kong base with unusually large rooms and strong upgrade upside. It is less compelling for travelers who need a pool or full spa, but the Admiralty location, 117-key scale, 730 sq ft entry rooms, and 2026 luxury-hotel recognition make the splurge easier to defend.

Aman Tokyo is a hotel in Otemachi Tower whose design draws on Japanese traditions.

La Mamounia is a hotel and spa in Marrakech with rooms, suites, riads, restaurants, and bars.

Soneva Fushi is an island resort in the Maldives' Baa Atoll.

One&Only Mandarina is a resort in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico.

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze is a hotel on Borgo Pinti in Florence.

Choose Mandarin Oriental Bangkok if the point of the stay is heritage atmosphere, polished service confidence, and a Bang Rak base rather than simply a room between outings. Its Michelin 3 Keys, Forbes 5-Star recognition, and La Liste 99.5-point 2026 score support the splurge, but value depends on using the hotel’s public spaces and setting, not just sleeping there. Peak Bangkok dates need early planning.

Capella Bangkok is a hotel on Charoen Krung Road in Bangkok.

The Calile is the Brisbane hotel to prioritise when pool time, wellness, design, and James Street access are part of the value equation. Its recognition, including Michelin 1 Key and La Liste Top Hotels 2026 at 93.5 points, supports the splurge, but it makes less sense if the stay is mainly a CBD sleepover.

Chablé Yucatán is a hotel in Chocholá, Yucatán.

Aman Venice is a hotel at Palazzo Papadopoli in Venice.

Claridge's is a hotel on Brook Street in Mayfair, London.

Raffles Hotel Singapore is a hotel on Beach Road in Singapore.

NIHI Sumba is a resort on Sumba island in Indonesia.

Hotel Esencia is a hotel in Xpu Há, Quintana Roo.

Le Sirenuse is a hotel on Via Cristoforo Colombo in Positano, Italy.

Pale-stone courtyards and a village-style resort layout make Borgo Egnazia the Savelletri choice when the hotel is the main event. Book it for a high-comfort Puglia stay with serious recognition, including Michelin 2 Keys and a World's 50 Best Hotels placement; compare smaller masserie if you plan to spend most days off property.

The Connaught is a hotel on Carlos Place in Mayfair, London.

Royal Mansour is a hotel in Marrakech, Morocco.

Four Seasons Hotel Madrid is a hotel on Calle de Sevilla in central Madrid.

Aman New York is a hotel on Fifth Avenue in New York City.

The Maybourne Riviera is the right Roquebrune-Cap-Martin choice when the hotel itself is central to the trip: quiet, recognition-heavy, and better suited to slow Riviera pacing than a quick Monaco crash pad. Book early, especially for peak demand periods, and compare against central Monte-Carlo hotels if convenience matters more than retreat feel.

Rosewood São Paulo is the luxury pick to prioritize when rates are close and third-party recognition matters. Book it for a high-confidence São Paulo stay with strong award signals and meaningful upgrade-program potential, not for bargain pricing. Value is strongest when a benefits-backed rate adds breakfast, credit, late checkout, or upgrade priority.

Capella Singapore is a hotel on The Knolls on Sentosa Island.

Le Bristol Paris is a hotel on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris.

Park Hyatt Kyoto is the splurge pick for first-time visitors who want Higashiyama on the doorstep and a calmer luxury base between temple walks. Its awards profile is strong, including Michelin 1 Key and World's 50 Best Hotels recognition, but the value case depends on using the east-side location rather than treating it as a generic Kyoto hotel.

La Réserve Paris is a hotel and spa near the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

Gleneagles is a resort in Auchterarder, Scotland.

Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc is a hotel in Cap d'Antibes, France.

Cheval Blanc Paris is a hotel on Quai du Louvre in central Paris.

Four Seasons Astir Palace is a hotel in Vouliagmeni on the Athens Riviera.

Soneva Jani is worth prioritizing if the goal is a destination resort in Noonu Atoll rather than a base for moving around. The external recognition is strong enough to justify serious consideration, especially for first-time Maldives travelers comparing it with Cheval Blanc Randheli or Velaa Private Island.

Book The Newt in Somerset for a celebration stay where the estate, dining, and countryside setting are meant to carry the whole trip. It is less convincing as a simple overnight near Castle Cary, so compare Bruton inns if flexibility or value matters more than a full country-house experience.

Amangalla is worth prioritising if this is a first Galle stay and the fort location matters more than beach-resort facilities. The draw is a composed heritage-luxury base in the historic core, backed by Michelin 1 Key recognition and other hotel awards. Choose a coastal alternative if the trip is built around sand, surf, or family downtime.

Book Hoshinoya Tokyo if the stay should feel like an urban ryokan rather than a conventional luxury tower. The rooftop onsen, tatami guest floors, floor lounges, and cultural programming justify the high price for wellness-focused travelers, especially first-timers who want Japanese ritual without leaving central Tokyo.

Potato Head Suites & Studios is worth shortlisting for a Seminyak celebration or date-focused Bali stay where Petitenget access is the main advantage. The 2026 La Liste Top Hotels score and Virtuoso Luxury Hotel Partner status add useful validation, but the decision comes down to fit: choose it for social, design-led Seminyak energy rather than a quiet resort escape.

Eden Rock is one of St Barths' most distinctive properties; individually designed rooms, an enviable position above St Jean Bay, and staff known for attentive, personal service. It suits special occasion travellers who want character over amenity lists. Peak season availability is tight; book suites several months ahead.

The Siam is a hotel in Bangkok's Dusit district.

Badrutt's Palace is a hotel on Via Serlas in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Atlantis The Royal is a beach resort on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.

The Oberoi Amarvilas is the Agra splurge to book when the hotel experience is part of the occasion, not just a base for the Taj Mahal. Its awards profile is unusually strong, including Michelin 2 Keys and major global hotel-list recognition. For a quick, budget-led stopover, hotel dasaprakash udupi brindavan is the more practical cross-shop.

NoMad London is worth booking when the Covent Garden address is central to the trip: theatre, date nights, anniversaries, and polished West End weekends. It is less compelling as a value play, so compare AMANO Covent Garden for a leaner neighborhood stay or One Aldwych for another high-end central option.

Book The Savoy for a formal London occasion where arrival, address, and grand-hotel atmosphere matter. It is a stronger choice for celebrations and polished business stays than for travellers chasing apartment-style privacy or a lower-key design hotel. Recent recognition, including Michelin 3 Keys and Forbes 5-Star, supports the splurge case.

Equinox Hotel New York is worth booking if wellness, sleep quality, and a polished Hudson Yards base matter more than a destination restaurant. It suits business travel, recovery-focused weekends, and sleek special occasions; choose a more character-led peer if the trip is built around neighborhood atmosphere or dining.

Six Senses Ibiza is worth booking for a wellness-led celebration in quieter northern Ibiza, especially if the hotel itself is central to the trip. It is less convincing as a base for nightlife, cross-island dining, or business-heavy travel, where location convenience matters more than spa and pool time.

Hôtel de Crillon is a hotel overlooking Place de la Concorde in Paris.