2026 Forbes 5-Star Award Winners — Page 2

Boston Harbor Hotel is worth booking when the Rowes Wharf address is central to the trip: waterfront setting, polished luxury, a stay that feels more leisure-forward than a standard downtown base. Compare prices against The Langham Boston and InterContinental Boston if location is flexible, book early because availability is marked hard.

The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain is a resort in Marana, Arizona.

Rosewood Mayakoba is a beachfront resort in Mexico's Riviera Maya.

The Ocean Room is a five-star steakhouse inside The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, ranked on La Liste two years running and helmed by Chef Felix Frias. Book a window table facing the Atlantic, order the farm-sourced filet aged 21 days, arrive early for the three-course Dining at Dusk menu. Easier to secure than the quality level suggests.

The Huaiyang Garden is a restaurant at The Londoner Macao.

Zuicho is a Japanese counter restaurant at THE KARL LAGERFELD within the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Grand Lisboa Palace in Macau. With a Star Wine List award (2026) and a service model built around direct kitchen-to-diner engagement, it is the most credentialled Japanese dining option in Macau for a special occasion. Book well in advance; this is a hard reservation.

La Mer at the Halekulani holds a 79-point La Liste ranking and a 3-Star World's Best Wine Lists accreditation; the most credentialed formal dining room in Honolulu by verified measures. It is the right book for a special occasion or serious wine evening. Booking is easier than the credentials suggest.

Gaddi's is a French restaurant at The Peninsula Hong Kong.

Book Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre if the Olaya address and polished international-luxury setup matter more than chasing value. The 2026 La Liste 98-point score and Forbes 5-Star recognition make it a strong choice for business-heavy stays, but hard booking difficulty means it rewards early planning.

Choose The Oberoi Beach Resort, Mauritius when service polish matters more than resort buzz. Its Michelin 2 Keys, Forbes 5-Star status, La Liste Top Hotels score, Virtuoso partnership, villa recognition support a serious luxury positioning, especially for couples, milestone trips, travelers who want a quieter Pointe aux Piments base.

Book Four Seasons Resort at Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica if you want Guanacaste luxury with the fewest logistical tradeoffs. It is the safer full-service choice over Andaz for a more formal resort stay, while Nekajui and Waldorf Astoria are the stronger cross-shops if newer-hotel energy matters more than established Four Seasons consistency.

A polished Central hotel for repeat Hong Kong visitors who want calm, convenience, high-end recognition rather than harbourfront scale. Forbes 5-Star, La Liste Top Hotels 2026 at 98 points, Virtuoso Luxury Hotel Partner status make it a low-risk luxury pick if the itinerary is concentrated on Hong Kong Island.

Velaa Private Island is the Noonu Atoll choice for a high-control luxury stay: private, service-led, 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.

Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is the Red Sea splurge for travelers who want privacy, formal luxury recognition, an island-led stay rather than a practical business base. It is strongest for short restorative trips or executive retreats, less convincing when daily logistics and value efficiency matter more than seclusion.

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.

The Point is the Adirondack splurge for travelers who want the hotel, dining, lake setting to define the trip. Its 2026 recognition from Forbes, La Liste, Condé Nast, Relais & Châteaux supports the premium positioning, but value depends on using the property as a full retreat rather than a simple Saranac Lake base.

Choose The Berkeley if you want a polished Knightsbridge base with serious luxury credentials and less formality than London's grandest hotel addresses. Michelin 2 Keys, Forbes 5-Star recognition, a 98-point La Liste Hotels score make it a strong celebration or business-travel pick when location and smooth stay flow matter.

The Capitol Hotel Tokyu is worth shortlisting for a polished, calm Tokyo stay in Nagatachō, especially for business travel, anniversaries, or a first night where service reliability matters. Its recent Michelin, Forbes, Preferred Hotels, La Liste recognition makes it easier to justify over simpler Akasaka options, but compare dates carefully around peak Tokyo seasons.

Benu is a San Francisco restaurant serving a fixed menu each evening.

Should you book The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou? Yes for a formal Tianhe business stay where brand consistency, client-ready polish, 2026 recognition matter. Cross-shop Rosewood Guangzhou or Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou if you want a more design-led or softer leisure feel, compare Conrad Guangzhou closely if the rate gap is large.

Encore Tower Suites is worth booking if the goal is a quieter, more controlled luxury stay on the north Strip with access to the Wynn/Encore resort ecosystem. Booking is hard, so plan ahead; value-seekers should compare it against Wynn Tower Suites, The Palazzo, ARIA Sky Suites before committing.

A strong choice for a quieter Beijing celebration or family stay, especially if Qianmen's historic setting matters more than a large business-hotel setup. The 2025 MICHELIN Guide Hotels 2 Keys and boutique-hotel awards give it real luxury credibility, but travelers who need scale, meeting convenience, or a grand-hotel rhythm should cross-shop Beijing's larger peers.

The Shilla Seoul is a hotel on Dongho-ro in Seoul's Jung District.

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

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

Lautrec at Nemacolin is the resort’s Forbes Five-Star French fine-dining room in Farmington, PA. Official pages still describe a June 2026 relaunch period, so confirm the current public-reservation schedule directly with Nemacolin.

Yacht Club at The Boca Raton is worth targeting for a polished Boca Raton stay where service confidence, family comfort, special-occasion reliability matter. Book early: demand is positioned as hard, this is a stronger fit for families or business travelers who want the resort ecosystem than for travelers chasing the lowest rate.

Nizuc Resort & Spa is the Cancún pick for travelers who want a quieter luxury base at the southern end of the Zona Hotelera. The awards profile is strong, including Forbes 5-Star, AAA 5 Diamond, La Liste Top Hotels 2026, MICHELIN Guide hotel selection, but the smart move is booking outside the heaviest winter and holiday demand when possible.

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.

Sandy Lane Hotel is a resort in Holetown, Barbados.

A strong Knightsbridge choice for travellers who will use the location and service infrastructure, not just the room. Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park, London makes the clearest sense for high-touch stays near Hyde Park; compare it with The Berkeley or Bvlgari Hotel London if design mood or spa-led privacy matters more.

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, 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.

The St. Regis Macao is a strong repeat-trip choice on the Cotai Strip, especially if suite-level space matters more than resort spectacle. It is better for couples, business travelers, return visitors who want polished luxury inside Macau's main hotel-and-entertainment district, with Michelin 1 Key and Forbes 5-Star recognition supporting the splurge.

A Michelin-starred Cantonese room on the 11th floor of Altira Macau, Ying is the strongest case for formal dim sum on Taipa Island. La Liste-rated and Forbes Five-Star certified, it combines technical precision at lunch with a 5,000-bottle wine programme that most Cantonese restaurants in Macau cannot match. Book two to three weeks ahead minimum; weekend lunch fills fast.

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.

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, family trips that need a polished resort base; compare alternatives if most days will be spent outside the hotel.

Jean-Georges is Jean-Georges Vongerichten's restaurant at One Central Park West in New York City.

Sushi Mizumi at Wynn Palace is Macau's most credible address for high-end Japanese counter dining, run by a dedicated team of sushi masters linked to Mizumi. Book it for a special occasion or business dinner when precision and setting matter. Weeknight slots are accessible; give yourself two weeks for weekend reservations.

Book THE KARL LAGERFELD if the hotel needs to carry a Macau celebration through design, recognition, sense of occasion. It is a weaker fit for travelers focused mainly on loyalty mechanics or easy availability, so compare nearby Cotai peers before locking dates.

Wynn Palace is the Macau pick for a polished Cotai special-occasion stay, especially if spa, pool, resort time are part of the plan. Its 2026 Forbes 5-Star recognition and 98.5-point La Liste Top Hotels score support the premium, but value is strongest when guests use the full property rather than treating it as a sleep-only base.

Alinea is Grant Achatz's modernist restaurant in Chicago.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is a resort on Hawaii's Kona-Kohala Coast.

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, a self-contained beach schedule; food-first travelers should pair it with a wider Miami dining plan.

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

One&Only Le Saint Géran is worth booking if the trip is built around a polished east-coast Mauritius resort, with pool, spa, beach time, service assurance carrying the value. It is less compelling for travelers chasing budget control or a busy local base; compare Constance Prince Maurice for a nearby luxury alternative and SALT of Palmar for a lighter, more personality-led stay.

Should you book Sky Tower at Solaire Resort Entertainment City? Yes, if you want a luxury integrated-resort base in Manila's Entertainment City rather than a compact business-district hotel. Its Forbes 5-Star 2026 recognition and MICHELIN Guide hotel selection for 2025 make it a serious choice, especially for travelers prioritizing scale, resort facilities, proximity to Parañaque/Pasay plans.

Wynn Macau is the right call for a polished, central Macau hotel stay where service, scale, upgrade potential matter more than a quiet boutique feel. It is a stronger fit for business trips, repeat Macau visitors, guests comparing full-package value rather than chasing the lowest nightly rate.

Book Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong when Central access, major hotel recognition, a polished business-travel setup matter more than finding a lower-rate stay. It is strongest for client-facing trips, celebrations, fixed-date stays where service confidence is worth paying for; compare Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong for heritage character and 99 Bonham or One96 for a more residence-style option.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is a restaurant at Atlantis The Royal in Dubai.

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

Book Portrait Firenze for a polished Florence celebration stay where location and luxury recognition matter more than deal-hunting. It suits couples, milestone trips, business travelers who want a central riverfront base with Forbes 5-Star, Virtuoso, Leading Hotels of the World, La Liste Top Hotels credentials behind it.

The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes is a resort on Central Florida Parkway in Orlando.

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

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

Chef Tam's Seasons is a restaurant by chef Tam Kwok Fung at Wynn Palace in Macau.

The Lodge at Sea Island is the better Sea Island pick when the trip calls for a quieter, more club-like stay rather than a large resort rhythm. Its 2026 La Liste Top Hotels score, Forbes 5-Star recognition, AAA 5 Diamond status, Virtuoso partnership make it a serious special-occasion option, but room category matters: upgrade only if private downtime is central to the trip.

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

Banyan Tree Macau is worth booking for a calmer Cotai stay with serious luxury credentials: Michelin 1 Key in 2025, Forbes 5-Star in 2026, La Liste Top Hotels 2026 at 94 points. Choose it over larger nearby resorts when atmosphere and downtime matter more than maximum lobby energy or group convenience.

Four Seasons Hotel Baku is the safer luxury choice in Baku for travelers who want brand polish, a central Neftçilər Prospekti address, less risk around service consistency. Its Michelin 2 Keys, La Liste Top Hotels 2026 score, Forbes 5-Star recognition make it a stronger splurge than smaller boutique options if atmosphere and reliability matter more than local character.

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.

Robuchon au Dôme is a French restaurant at Grand Lisboa in Macau.

The Maybourne Beverly Hills is a hotel in central Beverly Hills, California.

Waku Ghin is a Japanese restaurant at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

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

A strong Dubai Marina choice for celebrations, couples, business stays where polished service and waterfront access matter more than a full beach-resort setup. Forbes 5-Star recognition in 2026 gives it credibility, but compare rates against JBR and Mina Seyahi peers before committing, especially in peak season.

Mandarin Oriental Tokyo is the polished business-travel choice in Nihonbashi: expensive, highly credentialed, built for travelers who need reliability more than boutique edge. Cross-shop Aman Tokyo for a quieter luxury statement, K5 for design value, Hoshinoya Tokyo for a more ryokan-influenced city stay.

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, La Liste Top Hotels recognition. It is better for celebrations, business stays, low-friction London weekends than for travelers chasing boutique character or value-first pricing.

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus is the right splurge when a Bosphorus waterfront setting, palace architecture, spa time, polished celebration logistics matter more than being in the quickest city-center position. Its Michelin 1 Key, Forbes 5-Star, La Liste Top Hotels score, Virtuoso status support the premium, but shoulder-season booking is the smarter value play.

JOALI Maldives is the Raa Atoll pick for a high-budget celebration or family trip where villa privacy and resort polish matter more than value. Its awards profile is strong, including Forbes 5-Star 2026 and La Liste Top Hotels 2026 at 97 points, but families should book for calm, space, a luxury island rhythm rather than nonstop entertainment.

The Okura Tokyo is a hotel in Toranomon, Tokyo.

Capella Hanoi is a hotel in Hanoi's French Quarter.

Should families book Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai? Yes, if the priority is a polished Jumeirah beach resort for a celebration stay rather than a city-base hotel. Its strongest case is family-friendly luxury with serious recognition, including Michelin 1 Key, Forbes 5-Star, La Liste 97 points, Virtuoso partner status.

Four Seasons Hotel, Macau is the safer luxury pick on Cotai for travelers who want calm, polish, reliable service over mega-resort spectacle. Its Michelin 1 Key and Forbes 5-Star recognition make it a strong choice for celebrations, business travel, guests who value a composed base in Macau.

Book Palazzo Versace Macau if design-led luxury is the point of the trip and the rate makes sense against Cotai peers. Michelin 2 Keys and Forbes 5-Star recognition support the splurge, but booking difficulty means flexible dates and early planning matter.

Grand Lisboa Palace Macau is the safer luxury-resort choice for travelers who want scale, polish, family-friendly convenience in Macau. Michelin 2 Keys, Forbes 5-Star recognition, a La Liste Top Hotels 2026 score of 98.5pts make it credible against the city's high-end peers, though design-focused guests should also compare Palazzo Versace Macau and THE KARL LAGERFELD.

Book Andronis Luxury Suites if the room itself is a major part of the Santorini trip, especially for a couples' stay in Oia. Its 2025 MICHELIN Guide hotel selection makes it a credible choice in the luxury set, but the value depends on using the suite space, not just sleeping there.

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

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

Ritz Paris is a hotel on Place Vendôme in Paris.

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, business-linked stays, while The Peninsula Shanghai and Fairmont Peace Hotel are better if the main goal is classic Shanghai atmosphere.

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, practical comfort rather than prestige alone; if the premium is steep, compare Fairmont Waterfront, AZUR Legacy Collection Hotel, EXchange Hotel Vancouver - An Executive Hotel, Loden Hotel first.

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

Patina Maldives, Fari Islands is worth booking if the priority is a design-led North Male Atoll resort with serious luxury-hotel recognition. The case is strongest for couples and leisure travelers who want the property itself to carry the trip; food-focused travelers should compare nearby resort ecosystems before committing.

Book this hotel if a central Toronto address and polished luxury service matter more than boutique character. It is strongest for first-time visitors and business travelers who want University Avenue convenience, with Michelin 1 Key and Forbes 5-Star recognition supporting the premium positioning.

A formal Bund luxury choice for first-time Shanghai visitors, business travelers, occasion stays where service consistency matters. Suite-level works for longer trips, hosting, or work-heavy itineraries; for short stays, a standard room is the cleaner value play if availability lines up.

Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace is Las Vegas's most formally structured French tasting experience, scoring 95 points on La Liste in both 2025 and 2026 and holding a top-3 Star Wine List ranking. Booking is easier than the reputation suggests; 2 to 3 weeks out for weekends. Plan your entire evening around it: no shows, no rush.

Ocean-facing scale is the hook here: Grand Velas Los Cabos is the safer splurge for travelers who want a polished, full-resort stay rather than a small boutique base. It makes the strongest case for special occasions and family trips where ease, on-property dining, spa time, a high-service setting matter more than constant off-site exploring.

María Dolores is the strongest dining option inside Atelier Playa Mujeres, with a wine list recognised by the 2026 Star Wine List award; rare for the Riviera Maya. Book through the hotel concierge as soon as your stay is confirmed. If you are not a resort guest, Le Chique in Puerto Morelos is the more accessible fine dining alternative in Quintana Roo.

BLESS Hotel Madrid is a strong Salamanca pick for travellers who want a polished, design-led luxury base rather than a large resort-style hotel. It works especially well for couples, business travellers, families with older children, but parents needing confirmed family-room layouts or kid-focused facilities should verify details before committing.

Trump Turnberry is worth booking when the trip is built around a polished Ayrshire coastal resort rather than a flexible town base. The 2026 Forbes 5-Star and La Liste 94.5-point recognition support the splurge, but the location makes it a plan-ahead stay. Cross-shop if value, informality, or easier access to nearby venues matters more.