The inaugural ranking of the world’s best hotels celebrates best-in-class hotels from 35 destinations across six continents.

50 of the best

The inaugural ranking of the world’s best hotels celebrates best-in-class hotels from 35 destinations across six continents.

23 September 2023

The list of The World’s 50 Best Hotels has been announced at a gala awards ceremony in London, and it includes industry-defining hotels from 35 different locations across six continents.
This long-awaited list is 50 Best’s first foray into the travel space, and its first new global ranking since the launch of The World’s 50 Best Bars in 2009.
For the announcements, travel proponents gathered from all corners of the globe to celebrate their achievements at the announcement of The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2023.
Hosted at the historic Guildhall, the unveiling highlights outstanding hotel experiences across the world that will shape the aspirations of consumers, travellers and hoteliers.
Passalacqua, the luxury boutique hotel on the shores of Lake Como, which opened in June 2022, takes the top spot on The World’s 50 Best Hotels list.
Located in an 18th-century villa with spectacular terraced gardens running down to the water, the De Santis family has created an exquisite 24-room property with the feel of a private home.

Passalacqua on Lake Como, Italy, takes top spot on The World’s 50 Best Hotels list.

Passalacqua is an exquisite 24-room property with the feel of a private home. (Pic: © Ruben Ortiz.)

The Bellini suite, complete with piano, Passalacqua.

Passalacqua is a showcase of the finest Italian craftsmanship in a sumptuous riot of ornate Baroque elegance.

Rosewood Hong Kong boasts interiors that are masterful work of Taiwanese-born designer Tony Chi.

Set on the banks of the River of Kings, Four Seasons Bangkok is the big, bold and buzzy new kid on block.

The brainchild of hotshot Asian designer André Fu, The Upper House, Hong Kong, is a visual story of creativity and architectural glory.

Aman Tokyo boasts an epic sweep of iconic Tokyo views.

Since its 1929 opening, La Mamounia has won a loyal following for its ultra-luxe interiors and best-in-class hospitality.

The flagship of the Soneva group, Soneva Fushi is a purveyor of the no news, no shoes brand of hospitality.

One&Only Mandarina is an 88-acre resort and a trendsetter on Mexico’s Pacific shoreline.

Housed within Florence’s largest private garden, Four Seasons Firenze is an oasis of Italian tranquil luxury.

In the No.2 spot is the towering Rosewood Hong Kong, set in the city’s Victoria Dockside arts and design district with stunning views over the harbour.
Tim Brooke-Webb, Managing Director for The World’s 50 Best Hotels, comments: “Huge congratulations to Passalacqua for the achievement of making it to No.1, just two years after opening.
“It’s a true testament to the vision of the De Santis family, who has created this sublime sanctuary for guests with painstaking devotion to design detail, exquisite hospitality and distinctive magic, which has clearly made a lasting impression on our Academy of expert voters.
“After seeing the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry, it’s been especially fulfilling to see so many hoteliers from around the world gather in London to celebrate each other’s achievements under one roof for the first-ever awards ceremony of The World’s 50 Best Hotels,” he continues.
“Our heartfelt congratulations go out to each and every hotel on the list, and we hope this list inspires travel-lovers to book somewhere truly spectacular for their next trip.”
The inaugural ranking of The World’s 50 Best Hotels reveals that 21 of the winning properties are based in Europe.
London solidifies its reputation as a global travel hub, boasting four hotels on the list: Claridge’s (No.16), The Connaught (No.22), NoMad London (No.46) and The Savoy (No.47), while two other UK properties were also winners. Gleneagles in Scotland (No.32) – recipient of the Art of Hospitality Award announced in August – and The Newt in Bruton, Somerset (No.37), which was awarded the Carlo Alberto Best Boutique Hotel Award.
This award is given to the hotel that places highest on the list that fits all the criteria of a boutique property. The 50 Best defines a boutique hotel as having fewer than 50 rooms and not being part of a large chain or group, showcasing personalised service and idiosyncratic features unique to its destination.
The continent of Asia is home to 18 of The World’s 50 Best Hotels, including four properties that sit at the top end of the list – Rosewood Hong Kong (No.2), Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River (No.3), The Upper House in Hong Kong (No.4) and Aman Tokyo (No.5). Placed highest on the list and within 20 metres of a beach, Soneva Fushi (No.7), in the Maldives, is also named the Lost Explorer Best Beach Hotel.
Singita Lodges in the Kruger National Park in South Africa, the smallest property on the list with just 18 rooms, takes the No.15 spot, as well as the Flor de Caña Eco Hotel Award. Known for their environmentally conscious hospitality, the lodges are located within 33,000 acres of pristine wilderness where a unique wildlife population thrives across four distinct ecological zones, offering travellers an exciting and luxurious way of experiencing African wildlife, without disturbing the environment.

Fitness giant Equinox opened its New York City hotel offshoot in July 2019 to create the ultimate temple to health and wellbeing.

Inspired by the hotel boom of America’s Gilded Age, The Savoy, London has been a synonym for luxury since it first opened its doors in 1889.

NoMad London is all about contemporary sleek hospitality paired with tasteful art and design elements of the New York Jazz Age.

For travellers heading to see India’s most important tourist attraction, the Taj Mahal, there is no better place to stay than The Oberoi Amarvilas.

Atlantis The Royal, Dubai, boasts nearly 800 rooms, 17 restaurants and bars and over 90 swimming pools.

Dating back to 1896, Badrutt’s Palace in St. Moritz is a fairytale-turreted hotel wonderland.

Eden Rock, St. Barths, has long been lauded as one of the area’s flagship hotels.

Desa Potato Head is dedicated to sustainability as the first group in Asian hospitality to go carbon neutral.

Conceived as 14 contemporary ryokans (Japanese-style inns), Hoshinoya Tokyo is located in the heart of the Japanese capital.

Sitting atop Galle’s hilltops in a 17th-century UNESCO-listed fort, Amangalla’s location has a storied 300-year history of hospitality.

The Newt, Bruton, is a country hotel with unforgettable rural escapes for its guests.

Soneva Jani in the Maldives is slick and serene, encouraging guests to get the sand between their toes and unwind totally.

Four Seasons Astir Palace, Athens, has welcomed Greek royalty, Hollywood glitterati and elite jetsetters since the 1960s.

Cheval Blanc, Paris, offers Art Deco-inspired rooms and suites and views of both the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame.

Hotel du Cap, Eden Roc, is a glittering, chateau-style hotel perched on basalt rocks above the deep blue sea.

Founded in 1924 within Scotland’s Southern Highlands, Gleneagles has a reputation for beautiful surrounds and is the ultimate country retreat.

When La Réserve opened in 2015, it redefined Parisian luxury with its unique character and colour.

Tasteful, contemporary Japanese design defines the philosophy at Park Hyatt Kyoto.

Le Bristol, Paris, is a landmark hotel opened in 1925 and a regular haunt of the world’s cultural elite.

Set in a sprawling 30-acre lush estate, Capella Singapore feels like a tropical fairytale.

Rosewood São Paulo was also named The Best Hotel in South America 2023.

The Maybourne Riviera Roquebrune-Cap-Martin is a 300-metre-high villa with views across the glittering Côte d’Azur.

Within the Beaux-Arts Crown Building, Aman New York is known for its ultra-luxurious accommodation.

Four Seasons Madrid is a beacon of modern hospitality.

Royal Mansour is an oasis-like enclave of grandeur that marries Moroccan design heritage with the international modern luxury.

The Connaught, London, provides second-to-none service at this Mayfair institution.

Opened in 2009, Borgo Egnazia created a make-believe Mediterranean wonderland with all the contemporary luxuries.

Situated on the hilltops of the technicolour hotspot of Positano, Le Sirenuse opened in 1951 and has attained icon status.

Hotel Esencia, Tulum, is one of Riviera Maya’s most private and intimate stays.

Nihi Sumba, Sumba Island, is a 27-villa resort located in eastern Indonesia is a surfer's paradise.

There is no hotel in Singapore more iconic than the Grand Dame of them all, Raffles.

Since it opened in 1812, Claridge’s has been the home of classic English eccentricity, playing host to British high society.

Singita’s twin properties within South Africa’s breathtaking Kruger National Park offer sun-baked luxury, guided by a firm sustainable philosophy.

Aman Venice is characterised by seductive opulence and slick understatement, accented by Italian aristocratic touches and mesmerising ceiling artwork.

Chablé Yucatán offers a state-of-the-art, wellness-first escape with a magnificent spa and understated luxury.

The only Australian property to make the list, The Calile, Brisbane specialises in laid-back, tropical luxury.

Capella Bangkok lives and breathes local heritage.

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok boasts 393 rooms and the same impeccable service it has been known for over 150 years.

At number 50, overlooking the iconic Place de la Concorde, Hôtel de Crillon is a Parisian palace suffused with sophistication and glamour.

Six Senses Ibiza came in at number 49, praised for its blend of wellbeing, sustainability and impeccable design.

As with its other global awards, the 50 Best worked closely with The Sustainable Restaurant Association on the Flor de Caña Eco Hotel Award, which invited all hotels on the list to submit an application outlining their sustainability initiatives and credentials for rigorous review.
Singita Lodges is one of three hotels on the African continent to make the ranking, alongside La Mamounia (No.6) and Royal Mansour (No.23), both in Marrakech.
The Nikka Best New Hotel Award is awarded to Capella Bangkok (No.11), with sweeping riverfront views of the Thai capital, which opened in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Nikka Best New Hotel Award goes to the highest-ranked hotel on the list that opened within the two-year voting window (May 2021 to May 2023).
Sonu Shivdasani OBE, co-founder and CEO of Soneva and founder and former CEO of Six Senses Resorts & Spas, was voted by the Academy as the winner of the SevenRooms Icon Award, celebrating his achievements in the hotel industry over the last 28 years, including the creation of two of the most renowned hotel brands globally.
The evening also celebrated those honoured with pre-announced special awards, including The Lodge at Blue Sky, the remote lodge in the picturesque Wasatch Mountain Range in Utah which was named the Lavazza One To Watch earlier in the month.
Gleneagles (No.32) in Scotland was announced on 22 August as the winner of the Art of Hospitality Award, which celebrates a hotel’s outstanding service and attention to detail.
The launch of The World’s 50 Best Hotels is another step in 50 Best’s journey towards becoming the ultimate global reference point for the very best hospitality experiences across the world, encompassing restaurants, bars and now hotels.

How the 50 Best voting works

The list is created from the votes of The World’s 50 Best Hotels Academy, which comprises 580 international well-travelled experts within the hotel and travel industry, with a 50/50 gender balance.

The Academy is split into nine regions across the world, where each region is headed up by an Academy Chair. A minimum of 25 percent of the panel will be renewed each year.

All voters, aside from the Academy Chairs, remain anonymous to eliminate the possibility of lobbying. At the point of voting, they are simply required to list the seven best hotels they have stayed in over the past 24 months in order of preference.

Voting is carried out individually and strictly confidentially on a secure site and the results remain confidential until after the list announcement.

theworlds50best.com/hotels