2025 Forbes Five-Star Awards: 388 Hotels and Restaurants

Twenty-Eight Atlantic is the strongest-credentialed fine-dining option on Cape Cod, holding a Five-Star rating and La Liste recognition (77 points, 2026) inside Wequassett Resort on Pleasant Bay. Chef James Hackney's seafood-forward menu; day-boat scallops, butter-braised lobster, Atlantic halibut; makes it a clear choice for a special-occasion dinner. Business casual dress is required at dinner; breakfast skews notably more relaxed.

Book Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge if you want a luxury City base with strong external recognition and Four Seasons service consistency. It is a better fit for business travellers, couples, and families who value reliability over West End convenience; compare Mayfair options if shopping, theatre, or late-night dining drive the trip.

The Okura Tokyo is a hotel in Toranomon, Tokyo.

The Dolder Grand is a hotel on Kurhausstrasse in Zürich.

The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas is the right call when you want Uptown convenience, polished service, and luxury credentials with fewer surprises. It is better for business trips, anniversaries, and repeat Dallas stays than for travelers chasing a scene-first hotel or a lower nightly rate.

Iniala Harbour House is a hotel on St. Barbara Bastion in Valletta.

The Restaurant at JUSTIN is a restaurant on Chimney Rock Road in Paso Robles.

LUX* Belle Mare is worth shortlisting if you want a polished Belle Mare resort with serious luxury recognition and enough scale for a full stay. Choose the room tier based on space and daily comfort rather than status; couples can often stay practical, while families and longer stays should pay more only when the layout improves the trip.

Wequassett Resort and Golf Club is worth prioritizing for a polished Cape Cod resort stay, especially if loyalty-style benefits, upgrade potential, and on-property depth matter. It is harder to justify as a simple sleep base, but strong hotel recognition and a full-service format make it a serious choice for couples, families, and repeat Cape travelers.

Mandarin Grill + Bar at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong is a sourcing-led European grill with genuine room conviction; champagne trolley, white dinner jacket service, and three consecutive years on the OAD Asia list. At $$$$ per head and with a strict dress code, it is the right call for a formal special occasion in Central, though 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana offers more Michelin hardware at the same price.

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

Alinea is Grant Achatz's modernist restaurant in Chicago.

The Inn at Little Washington is a restaurant and inn in Washington, Virginia.

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

Armani Hotel Dubai is worth booking if the Burj Khalifa address is central to the trip and the budget allows for a luxury Downtown stay. Suite-level spend makes sense only when added view, space, or in-room downtime changes the experience; otherwise, compare nearby Downtown hotels before paying the premium.

Four Seasons Hotel Doha is the right call when the brief is formal luxury, Corniche access, and dependable service rather than apartment-style space or a trendier social scene. Booking can be difficult, so plan ahead for business weeks and peak Doha travel periods. Choose room upgrades only when the view, extra space, or in-room time will genuinely matter.

A strong Doha pick if you want Mandarin Oriental service in a central Msheireb address rather than a resort-style escape. The case is strongest for first-timers, business travelers, and couples who want easy movement around the city, backed by Michelin 1 Key, Forbes 5-Star, and La Liste Top Hotels recognition.

Rosewood Villa Magna is a hotel on Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid.

Mandarin Oriental Boston is a hotel on Boylston Street in Boston's Back Bay.

The Chanler at Cliff Walk is a splurge Newport hotel for travelers who want the room and coastal setting to drive the trip. It suits couples and return visitors better than packed first-timers. Book it for a quieter, occasion-led stay; cross-shop downtown hotels if access, nightlife, or value matter more.

The Beverly Hills Hotel is a hotel on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills.

JK Place Roma is a hotel on Via di Monte d'Oro in Rome.

Choose The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh when the trip calls for formal luxury, strong service credentials, and Marriott Bonvoy value rather than a boutique stay. Its awards profile is unusually strong for the city, but the rate needs to make sense after loyalty benefits, location needs, and event-week demand.

Montage Los Cabos is a resort on the Tourist Corridor in Cabo San Lucas.

Mizumi is a restaurant at Wynn Palace in Macau.

Skylofts at MGM COTAI is the Macau choice for travelers who want suite-level space to shape the stay, not just a luxury room to return to at night. It is strongest for repeat visitors, families, and business travelers who will use the extra privacy; value seekers should compare standard luxury options in Cotai before committing.

Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa is worth booking for a polished Seven Mile Beach stay with strong luxury-hotel credentials and a less formal feel than The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Standard rooms make sense for beach-first couples; suites are easier to justify for families, longer stays, or travelers who plan to spend real downtime on property.

Park Hyatt New York is worth prioritizing for a polished Midtown luxury stay, especially if Hyatt loyalty benefits or points improve the rate. Cross-shop The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park for a more classic park-facing splurge, or 1 Hotel Central Park if design character matters more than loyalty strategy.

SW Steakhouse is a restaurant at Wynn Palace in Macau.

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.

Book Bvlgari Hotel Shanghai for a polished luxury stay where recognition and service confidence matter more than nightlife energy or heritage theater. It is strongest for celebrations, family trips with older children, and business-linked stays, while The Peninsula Shanghai and Fairmont Peace Hotel are better if the main goal is classic Shanghai atmosphere.

The Cloister is the Sea Island pick when the hotel itself needs to carry the trip: polished resort rhythm, strong external recognition, and a location that suits guests planning to stay close. Cross-shop The Lodge at Sea Island for a more focused lodge feel, or The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island if a branded beach resort outside Sea Island fits better.

Book Four Seasons Hotel Boston if you want a calm, full-service luxury base by Boston Common and will use the wellness amenities enough to justify the splurge. Cross-shop The Newbury Boston for a more design-forward stay, Revere Hotel Boston Common for lower spend nearby, and Boston Harbor Hotel if the waterfront matters more than the park-side location.

Jean Georges at Three on the Bund is Shanghai's most decorated French fine-dining address, holding a Michelin Plate, Black Pearl 1 Diamond, and AAA 5 Diamond in 2025. Jacket required, reservations recommended via OpenTable. The multi-course tasting menus are the format to target, with Easy booking difficulty making this one of the more accessible restaurants at the ¥¥¥¥ tier.

Book Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum for a high-budget celebration stay where service consistency, resort polish, and upgrade strategy matter. It is a stronger fit for milestone trips than quick stopovers, especially if preferred-partner benefits can improve the value equation.

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

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is a strong choice for travellers who want a calm, high-confidence North Male Atoll resort rather than a value-led beach escape. Cross-shop Patina for a more lifestyle feel, One&Only Reethi Rah for classic grand-resort scale, and Taj Coral Reef if rate discipline matters more than luxury polish.

Royal Mansour is a hotel in Marrakech, Morocco.

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

Book Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town when family comfort, polished service, and room to decompress matter more than boutique intimacy. It is a strong Cape Town splurge for multi-generation trips and return visits, especially if fixed dates make availability the bigger issue than comparison shopping.

Il Pellicano is a hotel in Porto Ercole, Tuscany.

Jade Dragon is a Cantonese restaurant at City of Dreams Macau.

Book Chatham Bars Inn for a polished Chatham celebration when coastal setting, service credentials, and resort scale matter more than shaving the room rate. It is a stronger fit for anniversaries, family milestones, and executive retreats than for a simple beach crash pad, with better value odds outside the hardest summer dates.

Book Acqualina Resort and Residences on the Beach if the trip is about a polished beachfront resort stay in Sunny Isles rather than a South Beach scene. It is strongest for couples and families prioritizing service, spa time, and a self-contained beach schedule; food-first travelers should pair it with a wider Miami dining plan.

Hurawalhi Island Resort is a strong Lhaviyani Atoll choice for couples and retreat-style business travel when the priority is proven quality over brand spectacle. Forbes 5-Star and La Liste recognition support the value case, but the island setting makes it better for planned stays than quick, meeting-heavy trips.

A calm Marble Arch hotel for travellers who want polished service and a quieter west London base. The Prince Akatoki London is strongest for couples, solo stays, and business trips where location and hotel recognition matter more than a scene-led lobby or destination dining.

Should you stay at Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane? Yes, if the trip calls for a polished Park Lane base with serious luxury credentials: Michelin 3 Keys, Forbes 5-Star status, and La Liste Top Hotels recognition. It is better for celebrations, business stays, and low-friction London weekends than for travelers chasing boutique character or value-first pricing.

Katikies Santorini is worth shortlisting when the trip is built around Oia, caldera time, and a room category you will actually use. Its recognition profile is strong, including a MICHELIN Guide Hotels 1 Key and La Liste Top Hotels 2026 score, but value depends on whether the stay is hotel-led rather than island-hopping.

La Casa de la Playa is a hotel in Mexico's Riviera Maya near Playa del Carmen.

A formal London luxury-hotel choice for travelers who want polish, privacy, and a serious base for central appointments. Michelin 2 Keys, La Liste Top Hotels recognition, Forbes ratings, and Virtuoso status give it strong trust signals; book it when certainty matters more than a relaxed, design-forward mood.

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

Zi Yat Heen is a restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Macao on the Cotai Strip.

Brown's Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel is a hotel on Albemarle Street in Mayfair, London.

Book Nüwa Manila at City of Dreams if you want a more polished luxury stay inside Manila's Entertainment City resort cluster and can make direct-booking benefits work in your favor. It is less compelling as a lowest-rate play; cross-shop nearby resort hotels if upgrades, room handling, and hotel recognition are not central to the trip.

Book One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos Resort if the trip calls for a polished, romantic luxury stay in the Tourist Corridor rather than a casual beach hotel. The price case is strongest for couples and occasion travel, backed by Michelin 2 Keys, Forbes 5-Star status, and La Liste Top Hotels recognition. Plan early; this is not the easy fallback option in peak season.

Atelier Crenn is Dominique Crenn's modern French restaurant in San Francisco.

A strong choice for travelers who want polished luxury in Ubud's Sayan area rather than a central town base. The awards profile is the main confidence signal: Michelin 1 Key, Forbes 5-Star, Virtuoso partner status, and a 96-point La Liste hotel score make it a safer splurge for business-linked retreats and high-comfort leisure stays.

Royal Palm Beachcomber Luxury is a resort on Royal Road in Grand Baie, Mauritius.

The Huaiyang Garden is a restaurant at The Londoner Macao.

A Michelin Plate restaurant at €€ pricing, L'Envol delivers precise farm-to-table cooking, a flexible three-to-eight course menu structure, and a sommelier-led cellar of 800-plus labels. Booking is easier than its credential set suggests. The best time to visit is late spring through early summer, when Provence's seasonal produce drives the kitchen at its peak.

A strong JBR choice for travelers who want a polished Dubai beach stay with a service-first hotel feel. Book it for anniversaries, family trips, and business-leisure stays where reliability matters; cross-shop livelier nearby hotels if nightlife is the priority.

The Peninsula Chicago is a hotel on East Superior Street in Chicago.

BLESS Hotel Ibiza is worth shortlisting for a special-occasion stay when recognized luxury credentials and upgrade strategy matter. Michelin 1 Key, Forbes 5-Star, La Liste, Virtuoso, and Leading Hotels of the World signals make the value case stronger than a generic beach-hotel splurge. Cross-shop ME Ibiza, W Ibiza, and Aguas de Ibiza Grand Luxe Hotel if scene, location, or business convenience matters more.

SingleThread is a restaurant in Healdsburg, California.

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

Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo is a hotel on Casino Square in Monaco.

Among Pudong luxury hotels, Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai is the practical pick for a first work trip: strong brand discipline, Lujiazui positioning, and a serious recognition stack that includes Michelin 1 Key, Forbes 5-Star, and La Liste Top Hotels. It is more compelling for meetings and privacy than for travelers who want a Puxi street-life base.

Bvlgari Resort and Residences Dubai is a resort on Jumeirah Bay Island in Dubai.

Mandapa is a Ritz-Carlton Reserve hotel in Ubud, Bali.

The Setai is a hotel on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach.

Per Se is a Thomas Keller restaurant at Columbus Circle in New York City.

Against Grand Baie peers, LUX* Grand Baie is the stronger pick for a polished, contemporary resort stay with serious luxury recognition. Book it if facilities, design, and northern-coast access matter more than boutique quiet; cross-shop Royal Palm Beachcomber Luxury for a more formal luxury mood or La Maison 20 Degrés Sud for a smaller-scale stay.

A strong Abu Dhabi choice for travelers who want polished city luxury on Al Maryah Island rather than a full beach-resort stay. The draw is convenience, service consistency, and wellness support around a business or short leisure schedule; choose Saadiyat peers instead if pool-and-beach days are the point of the trip.

Palace Hotel Tokyo is a hotel in Marunouchi, Tokyo.

Dolphin Island is the right call for travelers who want Fiji in private-island mode, with seclusion taking priority over a long amenities list. Its 2026 Forbes 5-Star and Virtuoso Luxury Hotel Partner recognition support the splurge case, but compare larger peers if dining variety, spa depth, or family programming matter more than privacy.

A strong choice if the Bosphorus setting and palace atmosphere are central to the trip, not just nice extras. The room rate is easiest to justify for special occasions, view-led stays, families using the pool and spa, or travelers who want a heritage hotel with serious recognition, including Forbes 5-Star and La Liste Top Hotels 2026 placement.

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

Fairmont Pacific Rim is worth booking when the rate is close to Vancouver's other luxury hotels and the waterfront setting matters. The smart move is to pay for view, space, and practical comfort rather than prestige alone; if the premium is steep, compare Fairmont Waterfront, AZUR Legacy Collection Hotel, EXchange Hotel Vancouver - An Executive Hotel, and Loden Hotel first.

The Brando is a private-island resort in French Polynesia.

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

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.

The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, London is a strong choice for repeat London visitors who want a polished Chelsea base rather than a first-time sightseeing hub. Its value is strongest when booked through a channel that can unlock luxury-hotel benefits, especially given the hotel's 2025 and 2026 recognition. Availability can be difficult, so plan early.

The splurge choice on the Hoi An coast, Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An is worth booking for a celebration stay where service consistency matters more than shaving the rate. Choose it for honeymoons, anniversaries, and family trips that need a polished resort base; compare alternatives if most days will be spent outside the hotel.

Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection is the Cabo pick for travelers who want a polished resort stay in the Tourist Corridor rather than a downtown base. Its Michelin 2 Keys and Forbes 5-Star recognition make the splurge easier to defend, especially for families or multigenerational groups planning to use the resort heavily.

Raffles at Galaxy Macau is the right call if you want a luxury resort base inside Galaxy Macau, with wellness and pool time built into the value equation. Cross-shop Banyan Tree Macau for a spa-first stay, The Ritz-Carlton, Macau for classic luxury, and Galaxy Hotel Macau or Hotel Okura Macau if convenience matters more than a higher-touch hotel experience.

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

Book The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi for a polished Saadiyat beach stay with a major luxury-hotel framework behind it. It makes more sense for resort-focused couples and families than for business-heavy trips, where Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island is the cleaner alternative.

Le Cirque Las Vegas was the Bellagio's flagship French dining room: a formal, occasion-ready address with a 3,200-bottle wine cellar, La Liste recognition (80pts, 2026), and kitchen signatures including potato-crusted sea bass and wagyu strip loin. At $66+ per head for dinner, it delivers structured French service that most Strip restaurants cannot match. Book one to three weeks ahead.

The St. Regis San Francisco is a strong pick for travelers who want a polished downtown luxury stay with serious hotel-guide recognition and a business-friendly SoMa location. Book it for consistency, service tone, and Marriott International alignment; compare alternatives if nightlife, heritage atmosphere, or lower rates matter more than a formal luxury base.

Pick Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection if the point of Cabo is pool, beach, wellness, and extra space rather than town access. It is a splurge, but Michelin 2 Keys, Forbes 5-Star recognition, and La Liste Top Hotels scoring make the luxury positioning credible.

The Chedi Andermatt is a hotel on Gotthardstrasse in Andermatt.

For a formal London stay near Victoria and Buckingham Palace, The Goring is a strong pick when reliability and recognition matter more than trend-led design. Check Virtuoso-linked booking value before committing; if suite-style space or points strategy matters more, cross-shop the Taj options nearby.

Altira Macau is the sharper pick for travelers who want a quieter Taipa luxury base rather than a large Cotai resort. Its 2026 Forbes 5-Star recognition and 96-point La Liste Top Hotels score support the quality case, but the address works better for couples and repeat visitors than for groups chasing maximum on-property scale.

Adare Manor is a hotel in Adare, County Limerick.

Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon is the polished, celebration-friendly pick among Lisbon's larger luxury hotels, especially for travelers who value service depth and a composed atmosphere over a small boutique feel. It is a stronger fit for special occasions, business stays, and family trips than for travelers who only need a central base between sightseeing plans.

Velaa Private Island is the Noonu Atoll choice for a high-control luxury stay: private, service-led, and built for celebrations where logistics need to feel handled. Cross-shop Cheval Blanc Randheli for a more formal luxury style and Soneva Jani for a more playful resort rhythm. Booking is hard, so it suits planned milestone trips better than flexible stopovers.

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