2026 Forbes 4-Star Award Winners — Page 9

Choose Six Senses Kaplankaya if the trip is built around wellness, sea, a destination-resort rhythm rather than Bodrum nightlife or city convenience. Its Michelin 1 Key, Forbes 4-Star, Virtuoso, World Travel Awards, Mr & Mrs Smith recognition make it the serious luxury pick near Akbük, but the value is strongest when you plan to stay on property.

Jumeirah Guangzhou is a strong Tianhe choice for a polished special-occasion or business stay, with Forbes 4-Star and Star Wine List recognition in 2026. Book ahead rather than treating it as a last-minute option, compare the total package carefully if upgrades, breakfast, or flexible terms matter.

Amangiri is a resort on Kayenta Road in Canyon Point, Utah.

Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection is a strong Imerovigli choice for a special-occasion Santorini stay where design, privacy, luxury-hotel polish matter. It is less compelling as a value-first base, but recent Forbes, La Liste, Virtuoso, Travel + Leisure recognition make it a lower-risk splurge than many view-led cliff hotels.

A safer Doha luxury choice for travelers who value resort scale, Marriott International benefits, externally recognized hotel standards over a flashier new-build stay. It is strongest for repeat visitors, families, loyalty-minded guests who can turn status benefits into real value; compare newer peers if design drama is the priority.

Four Seasons Denver is the safer luxury choice in downtown Denver when service certainty matters and the rate gap over nearby hotels is reasonable. Its Michelin 1 Key, La Liste, AAA 5 Diamond, Forbes recognition make it easier to justify for business, celebration, or arts-district stays, but value-focused travelers should compare dates carefully against nearby boutique and lifestyle options.

Amanera is the Playa Grande splurge to book when privacy, quiet, occasion-level hotel polish matter more than resort bustle. It is strongest for couples, retreats, families who want calm rather than heavy programming, with recognition from Michelin Keys, La Liste, Forbes, Virtuoso, Mr & Mrs Smith supporting the high-end positioning.

A dependable city-centre luxury hotel for travellers who want a calmer, more traditional Kuala Lumpur stay. Choose it for business, anniversaries, or a polished weekend where consistency matters; cross-shop EQ Kuala Lumpur or Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur if wellness facilities and location trade-offs are the deciding factors.

Waldorf Astoria Berlin is a City West luxury pick that makes sense when the rate premium buys you polished service, a formal setting, Hilton-backed predictability. Its 2026 La Liste, Forbes 4-Star, Virtuoso recognition support the splurge, but value depends heavily on timing. Compare nearby peers before paying a large premium.

1919 Restaurant at the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel earns its Opinionated About Dining (2025) recognition with farm-to-table Modern American cooking, a 725-selection wine list overseen by sommelier Luis Dos Santos Simoes, an Atlantic-facing setting that few San Juan dining rooms match. Cuisine pricing sits at $$; accessible for the category; though the wine program reaches deep into premium territory. Book for a special occasion or a serious wine dinner; request counter seating for the most engaged experience.

MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa is the Sonoma pick when wellness and property time justify the spend. Its Preferred Hotels L.V.X., Forbes 4-Star, Virtuoso recognition give it stronger luxury credentials than simpler inns, but value depends on using the spa and slower hotel rhythm rather than treating it as a place to sleep.

Book Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor for a quiet, high-service northern Mallorca retreat, not for a town-centered island base. Suite-level space is easier to justify if the resort is the main event; standard rooms make more sense for shorter stays with days spent out.

Il San Pietro di Positano is a hotel on Via Laurito in Positano.

Choose Hyatt Regency Manila City of Dreams if the priority is a polished Entertainment City base with a Forbes 4-Star 2026 signal and a more practical value case than Nüwa Manila at City of Dreams. It is strongest for first-time Manila visitors who want City of Dreams access without making the room itself the whole splurge.

Four Seasons Hotel Austin is the dependable luxury choice for downtown Austin, especially if service consistency, lake access, upgrade strategy matter more than a scene-driven stay. It is a stronger fit for business travelers, couples, families than for guests chasing the city's newest design hotel energy.

Choose The Fearrington House Inn for a quiet Pittsboro special-occasion stay where service and atmosphere matter more than city access. Its Forbes 4-Star, Relais Chateaux, MICHELIN Guide hotel recognition make it a stronger celebration pick than a standard regional base, but travelers focused on Durham or Chapel Hill convenience should compare nearby city hotels first.

One&Only Kéa Island is a strong fit for families and couples who want a polished island resort base rather than a town-centered Greek hotel. The value is in the contained bay setting, third-party recognition, lower-friction stay; travelers chasing nightlife or a restaurant-heavy itinerary should cross-shop the Athens Riviera instead.

Four Seasons Hotel Beijing is the safer luxury pick for first-time visitors who want a calm Chaoyang base, polished service expectations, benefit-driven value. Book it when loyalty perks or Virtuoso-style extras improve the rate; cross-shop Bvlgari Hotel Beijing or The Opposite House if design and social energy matter more.

Vila Vita Parc is a resort in Porches in Portugal's Algarve region.

La Mar by Gastón Acurio brings Peruvian cooking; ceviches, tiraditos, Nikkei influences; to Atlantis The Royal on Palm Jumeirah. Book at least three weeks out; weeknight tables are easier to secure and considerably quieter.

A strong Marassi pick for travelers who want a polished resort base with pool, spa, quieter leisure time at the center of the stay. Choose it over beach-first North Coast hotels if wellness and property comfort matter more than direct sand access; cross-shop carefully if dining or beachfront energy is the main reason for the trip.

Park Hyatt Marrakech is a safer choice for first-timers who want a resort-style base in Al Maaden rather than a medina riad. The suite upgrade works for families, business travelers, or longer stays, but standard rooms make more sense for sightseeing-heavy trips where the hotel is mainly a base.

Cheval Blanc Courchevel is a hotel on Rue du Jardin Alpin in Courchevel.

Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco is a strong fit for business travelers and luxury guests who want a polished downtown base rather than a character-heavy stay. Choose it for service consistency, central positioning, a calm corporate-luxury feel; cross-shop The St. Regis San Francisco for a sharper cultural setting or Axiom Hotel for a lower-cost stay.

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.

Yaamava' Resort & Casino is the Inland Empire pick when you want a full-scale casino resort rather than a quiet boutique stay. The case is strongest for couples, friend groups, business travelers who value on-site dining, nightlife, wellness facilities in one place, backed by AAA 5 Diamond, Forbes 4-Star, Star Wine List recognition.

La Chine holds a Black Pearl 1 Diamond (2025) and occupies one of the most visually dramatic dining rooms in Macau, inside The Parisian Macao's Eiffel Tower structure. It's a strong pick for occasion dining where setting matters, booking is relatively easy by Macau fine dining standards. Compare against Jade Dragon or Chef Tam's Seasons if Michelin-recognized Cantonese precision is the priority.

Four Seasons Hotel Tunis is the practical luxury pick in Gammarth if you want a coastal base with major-brand consistency, resort facilities, recognized hotel credentials. It is worth the premium for families, couples, business travelers who will use the full property; less compelling if you mainly need a room near central Tunis.

Geronimo is Santa Fe's most credentialed dinner reservation; Forbes Four-Star, AAA Four Diamond. Set inside a 1756 adobe landmark on Canyon Road, Chef Sllin Cruz's seasonally changing Global Eclectic menu earns its $$$+ price point. Book well ahead; this is one of the city's hardest tables to secure.

The Inn & Club at Harbour Town is the Hilton Head pick for travelers who want a quieter, Harbour Town-centered stay rather than a Savannah city-hotel base. Its Forbes 4-Star and Preferred Hotels L.V.X. recognition support the luxury positioning, but the room-category decision should come down to how much time will be spent on property versus out around the island.

L'Ermitage Beverly Hills is a hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

Fairmont The Palm is the right Palm Jumeirah pick for travelers who want a full-service resort with a credible service signal, not a small quiet hotel. Booking can be hard, so plan early for peak Dubai dates. Choose it for family trips, beach access, staff support across the stay rather than nightlife or a boutique mood.

The Dining Room on SeaDream II is not standard cruise dining; it is a candlelit, all-inclusive restaurant experience with a flexible kitchen and from over 1,500 guests. Book the off-menu pizza 24 hours ahead, note dietary preferences before boarding, dress yacht casual. Access requires booking passage on SeaDream II out of Miami.

A strong choice for a special-occasion Siem Reap stay when privacy, resort space, polished dining matter more than city-center convenience. The 2026 Forbes 4-Star and Star Wine List recognition make the food-and-drink side more credible than a standard resort add-on, but travelers focused on late nights in town should compare central options first.

The Ritz London is a hotel on Piccadilly in Mayfair, London.

The flagship restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain earns its Four-Star standing through a well-designed room with saguaro-framed mountain views, a Friday sommelier-led wine experience, a Sunday brunch built around the resort's own citrus grove. Chef Christian Dyson's Southwestern dinner menu holds up, though the strongest case for booking is the brunch format or a Friday arrival. Reservations are easy to secure.

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is the smarter pick for repeat Maldives travelers who want a quieter, design-led island stay in Gaafu Alifu Atoll. Its 2026 La Liste, Forbes, Mr & Mrs Smith, Virtuoso, MICHELIN Guide hotel recognition make it a lower-risk luxury choice, but the remote setting and hard booking profile mean it suits planners more than last-minute convenience seekers.

A strong Prague choice if Malá Strana is the right base for the trip. Augustine, A Luxury Collection Hotel suits special occasions, family stays, business travel that benefits from a quieter luxury setting, with Michelin 1 Key, Forbes 4-Star, Virtuoso, La Liste, Star Wine List recognition supporting the case.

Hotel Metropole, Monte-Carlo is a hotel on Avenue de la Madone in Monaco.

Conrad Osaka is a hotel in Nakanoshima, Osaka.

Summer Senses Luxury Resort is worth shortlisting for a polished Paros celebration stay, especially if pool time and room comfort matter. The upgrade question is key: suite-level makes sense when the room is part of the occasion, while standard works better for travellers spending most days off property.

St Julien Hotel & Spa is the safer Boulder pick for business travel, celebrations, polished downtown stays. Its Walnut Street location, spa positioning, recent recognition from Preferred Hotels L.V.X., Forbes, the MICHELIN Guide make it easier to justify when atmosphere and consistency matter more than chasing the lowest rate.

A strong Reforma choice for travelers who want a polished luxury base in Mexico City rather than a boutique neighborhood stay. Book it for special occasions, business trips, first visits where location and brand consistency matter; choose the room category that adds meaningful space, outlook, or access benefits rather than paying extra without a clear stay upgrade.

Heckfield Place is the right call for a quiet, high-polish countryside stay where the hotel is central to the trip, especially for senior business travel, retreats, or a slower weekend. It is less compelling as a simple overnight base; compare Malmaison Reading or Aviator Hotel if convenience and cost matter more.

The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal is the business-travel luxury pick when service consistency, central positioning, formal hotel recognition matter. Choose it for client-facing or executive stays; compare Four Seasons Hotel Montreal for a more social feel and Hotel Le Germain Montreal when value matters more than classic luxury cues.

Against Istanbul peers, The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul is the safer luxury choice when wellness access, brand consistency, a polished full-service stay matter more than boutique personality. It is strongest for first-timers, couples, families, business travelers who want a dependable base with Forbes, Virtuoso, MICHELIN Guide hotel recognition.

Toqué is Montreal's most credentialed fine-dining address: a Michelin Plate, Les Grandes Tables du Monde recognition, La Liste placement back a tasting menu built entirely around Quebec's seasonal larder. Book at least two weeks out for dinner. At the $$$$ price point, it is the right call for a special occasion if a composed, ingredient-driven tasting experience is what you are after.

Jin Xuan, on the 53rd floor of the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong, earns its booking on the strength of its Lujiazui skyline view and five-star service infrastructure. Weekend brunch is the format where setting and occasion value align most clearly. For technically sharper Chinese cooking at a similar tier, Xin Rong Ji is a stronger choice; but Jin Xuan delivers an experience neither replicates.

The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale works for a polished beach celebration where brand consistency and low-friction dining matter. It is less compelling as a restaurant-only draw, so food-focused travelers should pair the stay with separate reservations from Fort Lauderdale's restaurant scene.

The Merrion is a hotel on Merrion Street Upper in Dublin.

Book InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa if the resort setting is the reason for the trip. Its Motu Piti Aau location suits couples and repeat Bora Bora visitors who want a quieter, self-contained stay, backed by La Liste Top Hotels, Forbes 4-Star, Virtuoso recognition. Cross-shop Four Seasons, St. Regis, Conrad if service style or resort scale matters more.

A strong choice for travelers who want a polished downtown Toronto stay with lower risk and strong recognition signals, including Forbes 4-Star status and MICHELIN Guide hotel selection. Book it when the Wellington Street West location saves time around meetings, theatre, sports, or a special occasion; look elsewhere if the priority is a more casual neighborhood feel.

Casa Velas is the Puerto Vallarta pick for travelers who want a calmer Marina Vallarta base with recognized hospitality credentials, not a large resort complex. Book it for atmosphere, adult-leaning downtime, a more composed stay; cross-shop larger Nayarit options if the group wants more resort scale.

Terre Blanche is a resort in Tourrettes, Provence.

Book Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City if the hotel itself matters: wellness time, calm common spaces, reliable luxury are the point here. It is a stronger fit for first-timers and families than for travelers who only need a bed between restaurant reservations.

Book Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui for a high-privacy, special-occasion stay where the hillside setting and resort polish are the point. Choose Bophut alternatives instead if walkability, value, or easy off-property dining matter more than seclusion.

Book this for a resort-style Abu Dhabi stay with strong external validation, not for a quick city stop. The Khor Al Maqta setting makes the hotel feel more retreat-like than many central options, while Forbes, Virtuoso, MICHELIN Guide hotel recognition add confidence for a higher-stakes trip.

A strong Nago choice for special-occasion Okinawa trips where polished resort service matters. The Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa is better for couples and families who plan to use the property than for travelers treating the room as a crash pad; Michelin 1 Key, Forbes 4-Star, La Liste recognition support the premium positioning.

Hotel Granduca Houston is the quieter Uptown luxury choice for anniversaries, business stays, guests who want polish without a large-hotel scene. Cross-shop The Post Oak for a bigger statement stay, The Houstonian for resort-style amenities, The St. Regis for a more classic luxury profile.

Saint James Paris is a hotel on Place du Chancelier Adenauer in Paris.

JW Marriott Hotel Changsha is the safer luxury choice in Changsha for families, Marriott loyalists, business travelers who want predictable service over a scene-led stay. Its Forbes 4-Star recognition for 2026 gives it a useful quality signal, but design-focused guests should compare Park Hyatt Changsha and Niccolo Changsha before booking.

The Palazzo at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas is a strong pick for a polished Strip celebration stay where space, service, on-property convenience matter. It is less suited to travelers chasing a quiet boutique mood, but the Forbes 4-Star and MICHELIN hotel selection signals make it a safer luxury choice than a standard mega-resort booking.

A smart Cairo pick when Heliopolis access, airport-side logistics, Hilton loyalty value matter more than Nile views. The Forbes 4-Star recognition gives it a credible luxury signal, but location should drive the decision: choose it for eastern Cairo convenience, not for a downtown-first itinerary.

Crown Towers Perth is the right Perth luxury pick for families and travellers who want resort-scale convenience over boutique intimacy. It is harder to justify for a short, city-centre-heavy stay, where COMO The Treasury, The Ritz-Carlton, Perth, or InterContinental Perth City Centre may fit better.

Book Nayara Springs for an adults-focused Arenal celebration where privacy, room quality, resort calm matter more than a packed activity schedule. It is easier to justify for anniversaries or couples' trips than for travelers who plan to spend most days off property.

Park Hyatt Zurich is a strong pick for travelers who want a polished, calm luxury base rather than a historic grand-hotel stay. Suite-level is easiest to justify for celebrations or business trips where the room will be used beyond sleeping; otherwise, compare Baur au Lac, Storchen Zürich, or Widder Hotel before paying the premium.

Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff, Johannesburg is the stronger choice for a celebration stay or polished business base where privacy, service consistency, a resort-like feel matter. It is harder to secure than many city alternatives, so compare rates early, especially if loyalty points or Rosebank walkability would make Park Hyatt Johannesburg, 54 on Bath, or Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank a better fit.

Palacio Nazarenas is the Cusco splurge to chase for a high-comfort family or celebration stay, backed by MICHELIN Key, Forbes, La Liste, World's 50 Best Hotels recognition. Book early, especially around peak Peru travel windows; if value or a smaller boutique mood matters more, compare Inkaterra La Casona or Antigua Casona San Blas first.

Book Palácio Tangará for a São Paulo stay where the hotel itself needs to carry the occasion: family celebration, anniversary, or a quieter luxury break. It is less convenient for fast business travel than Faria Lima or Itaim options, but its Michelin Keys, Forbes, La Liste, Star Wine List, Virtuoso recognition make it a strong splurge when comfort and calm matter.

The Inn at Spanish Bay works when the trip is centered on Pebble Beach rather than downtown Monterey. The value case improves if the room category adds meaningful setting or comfort; otherwise, keep the spend for dining, golf, spa time, or a longer stay. Cross-shop Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa for easier Monterey access and Casa Palmero for a more intimate Pebble Beach stay.

Atelier Playa Mujeres is the better fit when a Cancún stay needs polished resort time, external luxury credentials, a quieter Costa Mujeres base. It is less convenient for scattered city meetings, so book it for planned-ahead business travel, recovery days, or a resort-based off-site rather than a high-mobility itinerary.

A practical Diplomatic Quarter pick for travelers who value location, calm, service consistency over spectacle. Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter is strongest for business trips, embassy-adjacent plans, repeat Riyadh stays; cross-shop The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh or The St. Regis Riyadh if the trip calls for a more ceremonial luxury-hotel experience.

A Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Italian restaurant inside Encore at Wynn Las Vegas, Sinatra earns its ranking through consistently attentive service and a focused Italian menu that outperforms the celebrity-namesake format. Ranked #438 in North America by Opinionated About Dining in 2025, it is one of the harder dinner reservations to secure on the Strip; book well ahead, request a garden-view table, dress business casual.

The only Kobe Beef Federation-certified restaurant in Massachusetts, Rare Steakhouse sits inside Encore Boston Harbor and delivers certified A5 Wagyu alongside attentive resort-level service. It is the right call for a special occasion dinner at the casino complex. Arrive by luxury yacht from the Boston waterfront and budget for a resort steakhouse price point.

Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto is worth shortlisting for a luxury Arashiyama stay, especially if the setting is part of the point. Its Michelin 1 Key, La Liste 92.5-point hotel score, Forbes 4-Star recognition support the quality case, but the on-site dining should be treated as a stay amenity rather than the main reason to book.

Book The Prince Park Tower Tokyo if Tokyo Tower proximity and a calmer Minato base matter more than lobby scene or fashion-hotel energy. Suite-level works for view-led stays with real in-room time; otherwise, standard categories are the more sensible play, especially during tight Tokyo travel periods.

Book Villa Igiea if Palermo is a celebration trip and the hotel needs to carry real weight. It is better suited to guests who value space, polish, a quieter grand-hotel setting than travelers who want to be in the center of every old-town stop. Cross-shop central boutique stays if walking convenience matters more than the hotel experience.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo is a hotel on Via Statale in Tremezzina, Lake Como.

A strong central London choice if suite-style space and a calmer Westminster base matter more than a destination restaurant. The 2026 La Liste Top Hotels score, Forbes 4-Star status, Virtuoso partnership support its luxury positioning, but the smarter play is to treat it as a polished private base and plan major dining separately.

Four Seasons Resort Whistler is the luxury pick for travellers who want resort polish, upgrade potential, a calmer Blackcomb base rather than a village-core stay. It is easier to justify when direct-booking benefits or advisor-style perks improve the total value; compare it with Fairmont Chateau Whistler for classic resort scale and Sundial Boutique Hotel for central convenience.

Book Rosewood Phnom Penh if you want a polished first stay in the capital with high-floor views, strong service, serious hotel facilities, enough dining on-site to avoid extra planning. The $$$$ rate makes more sense when direct-booking or eligible luxury-travel benefits add value, especially breakfast, credits, upgrades, or late checkout.

The Okura Heritage Wing Tokyo is worth booking when a return Tokyo trip calls for quiet, suite-level polish in Toranomon rather than a louder lifestyle-hotel stay. Forbes 4-Star and Star Wine List recognition give it credible luxury signals, but the value case is strongest for guests who will use the hotel as a calm base, not just a place to sleep.

Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection is the Calistoga pick for a polished Napa Valley resort stay, especially for anniversaries or return trips where the room and spa time matter. It is harder to justify if the hotel is only a base for tastings; in that case, Indian Springs Calistoga or Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa may be the better value.

JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes is worth choosing when the hotel is part of the Orlando plan, not just a place to sleep between parks. It is more resort-minded than Rosen Centre Hotel or Rosen Plaza Hotel, less formal than The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, strongest for celebrations, family trips, or business stays that benefit from a calmer Grande Lakes base.

Eclipse at Half Moon is the Montego Bay choice for travelers who want a polished resort base with strong service confidence, not the cheapest beach stay. Its Forbes 4-Star recognition supports the splurge case, but value improves most when direct booking or advisor benefits add meaningful extras. Cross-shop S Hotel Montego Bay for a simpler city-beach stay and Round Hill Hotel and Villas for more privacy.

Cucina at Harbour City delivers one of Tsim Sha Tsui's strongest harbour views alongside chic Italian-leaning dining and attentive service. It is an easy booking and a reliable choice for occasions where setting and atmosphere carry real weight. If tasting menu depth is your priority, look at Amber or Ta Vie instead; but for a harbour-view dinner that impresses without complication, Cucina delivers.

A strong Midtown pick for families and repeat New York visitors who want polish, central access, a calmer base over boutique-hotel energy. The recognition profile is serious, including AAA 5 Diamond, Forbes 4-Star, MICHELIN Guide hotel selection, Virtuoso partnership, Star Wine List recognition, a 93.5-point La Liste Top Hotels score, but the real reason to book is practical comfort on Fifth Avenue.

Signiel Seoul is a hotel on Olympic-ro in Seoul's Songpa district.

Casa del Mar is the more formal Santa Monica oceanfront pick for travelers who want the hotel, dining, wine program to carry a celebration or business stay. Michelin 1 Key, Forbes 4-Star, Virtuoso, Preferred Hotels, Star Wine List recognition make it stronger than a simple beach-address choice, though value-focused travelers should compare nearby alternatives first.

Choose The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai if the priority is dependable five-star service in Jing’an with strong business-travel practicality. Its La Liste Top Hotels 2026 score, Forbes 4-Star recognition, Virtuoso partner status make it a safer brand-backed pick than smaller independents, though design-focused travelers may prefer a more boutique option.

Don Manuel's is the flagship dining room of the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, it earns its position with a serious nine-course Travesía tasting menu, a 1,050-selection wine list, a guest chef program that includes Val Cantú and Mitsuharu Tsumura. Food pricing sits at $$ for a standard two-course meal. Book for a special occasion or a tasting-menu evening with Pacific views.

Book The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, D.C. if the trip calls for a quieter luxury base with strong Georgetown atmosphere. It is better for celebrations and privacy than for travelers who want a large downtown hotel scene, it is worth cross-shopping against Rosewood Washington, D.C. and Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C. before peak dates.