Results
Sibenik, Croatia
D-Resort Šibenik occupies the Mandalina waterfront with a concrete-and-timber design that makes a considered architectural argument for 21st-century Dalmatian hospitality. Where Šibenik's UNESCO-listed old town offers medieval stone, the resort answers with sweeping contemporary lines that mirror the marina curve below. It sits in a small tier of Croatian coastal properties where design ambition, not room count, sets the competitive register.
Olafsfjördur, Iceland
A reimagined 15th-century sheep farm on Iceland's Troll Peninsula, Eleven Deplar Farm operates at the intersection of remote wilderness and considered design. Named to Condé Nast Traveler's 2023 Gold List, the 13-room lodge sits in the Fljót Valley with two helipads, geothermal pool facilities, and exclusive access to Atlantic salmon rivers. Nightly rates start at $3,739, with a three-night minimum stay.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
On Avenida Atlântica, where Copacabana's pavement meets the Atlantic, Emiliano Rio occupies one of Rio's most legible addresses. The Arthur Casas-designed building fuses 1950s architectural references with contemporary materials, producing a hotel whose guest rooms look directly over the beach. Two dining formats, an infinity pool rooftop, and an extensive spa round out a property that reads as resort and city hotel simultaneously.
Macau, Macau
Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects and recognised by La Liste's Top Hotels 2026 with 91.5 points, Epic Tower at Studio City Macau adds 338 all-suite accommodations to Cotai's most architecturally ambitious resort complex. Entry suites begin at 720 square feet, with the full amenity stack running from an indoor waterpark and surf simulator to a Himalayan salt sauna and afternoon tea in the Lobby Cafe.
Hinterthiersee, Austria
Sitting at 97.5 points on the La Liste 2026 index and named both Global Winner for Luxury Wellbeing and Continent Winner for Luxury Holistic Retreat, Ayurveda Resort Sonnhof occupies a specific and well-credentialed position in Austria's alpine wellness circuit. Located in Hinterthiersee in the Tyrolean foothills, the property draws those seeking Ayurvedic programming in a setting shaped by mountain terrain rather than spa-hotel convention.
San Casciano dei Bagni, Italy
A 17th-century Medicean Villa in the Siena Hills, Fonteverde sits above San Casciano dei Bagni's natural hot springs and operates as one of Tuscany's most architecturally coherent thermal retreats. With 63 rooms refurbished in 2020 and membership in the Leading Hotels of the World, it positions itself in Italy's upper tier of spa-led rural hospitality.
San Francisco, United States
Two blocks from Union Square and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco positions itself at the centre of the city's commercial and cultural district. With 277 generously sized guest rooms, a Star Wine List-recognised restaurant, and direct access to 100,000 square feet of Equinox Sports Club facilities, it represents the full-service end of San Francisco's luxury hotel tier.
Marrakech, Morocco
Positioned on the edge of Hivernage, Marrakesh's most prestigious residential quarter, Four Seasons Resort Marrakech sits a ten-minute drive from the medina and scores 90 points on the La Liste Top Hotels 2026 ranking. The 139-room property delivers the brand's characteristic breadth of facilities, from a 15-treatment-room spa to a dedicated cultural centre hosting Moroccan craft workshops, all within grounds designed in medina architectural style.
Siena, Italy
Siena's first five-star hotel in the city centre occupies a restored 17th-century palace steps from Piazza del Campo, with 51 rooms framed by original frescoes, vaulted ceilings, and a wine cellar carved into medieval limestone. A Leading Hotels of the World member since 2025, it positions itself at the upper tier of Tuscan urban hospitality, where architecture and location do the primary work.
Seoul, South Korea
Grand Hyatt Seoul holds a distinctive position in the Yongsan District, recognised by La Liste 2026 as a Global Winner for Luxury Destination Hotel and a Regional Winner for Luxury Scenic View Hotel, scoring 92.5 points. Positioned along the slopes of Namsan, the property operates at the intersection of city access and refined outlook, drawing both international travellers and Seoul's conference circuit in equal measure.
Macau, Macau
Rising 40 floors above the Cotai Strip, Grand Suites at Four Seasons Hotel Macao occupies a distinct tier within Macau's luxury accommodation market. Recognised with a Forbes Five-Star rating (2025) and 93 points from La Liste Top Hotels (2026), the property delivers the Four Seasons standard in a format scaled for extended stays and high-end leisure. Its address on the Cotai Strip places it at the centre of Macau's integrated resort corridor.
San Sebastián, Spain
Hotel Arima & Spa sits at the edge of the Miramón Forest on San Sebastián's southern fringe, where a low-rise structure appears to merge with the surrounding treeline. The property operates under a 'live green, love green' philosophy, making it a reference point among Basque Country hotels where ecological positioning has moved from gesture to architectural commitment. It occupies a distinct tier from the city-centre grand dames of the Parte Vieja and La Concha waterfront.
Rome, Italy
Hotel De' Ricci on Via della Barchetta occupies a quiet corner of Rome's historic centre with an unusual emphasis on wine: the cellar is staffed entirely by professional sommeliers and holds one of the city's more serious private collections. For travellers who want a small, wine-anchored property within walking distance of Campo de' Fiori and Piazza Navona, it sits in a distinct niche among Rome's boutique offerings.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
One of Dubrovnik's most storied addresses, Hotel Excelsior sits on the Adriatic coastline just east of the Old Town walls, carrying a guest history that spans European royalty and Hollywood's upper tier. After a significant renovation, it now pairs that accumulated prestige with a considered approach to wellness, comfort, and the particular rhythm of the Dalmatian coast.
Helsinki, Finland
Hotel Haven sits on Unioninkatu in Helsinki's South Harbour district, a 137-room boutique property that took the World Travel Awards 2025 title for Finland's Leading Boutique Hotel. The address places guests within reach of the city's design quarter, waterfront market, and Senate Square, with the kind of scale that allows attentive service without the anonymity of a full city hotel.
Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives
Hurawalhi Island Resort occupies a private island in Lhaviyani Atoll, operating adults-only across a spread of standalone villas and a dining program that includes 5.8 Undersea Restaurant, certified as the world's largest all-glass undersea dining room.
Geneva, Switzerland
Positioned between the United Nations square and Lake Geneva, InterContinental Geneva has anchored the city's diplomatic quarter since 1964. The 18-story property earned 95 points on La Liste's 2026 Top Hotels ranking and houses 333 rooms redesigned with a modern Japanese aesthetic, a cigar lounge, Spa Cinq Mondes, and panoramic sightlines to Mont Blanc. It occupies a distinct tier among Geneva's luxury hotels: international in scale, historically embedded in the city's institutional fabric.
Oban, United Kingdom
On a private island off Scotland's Argyll coast, Isle of Eriska Hotel and Spa occupies a Victorian country house that has operated as a hotel since 1884. The combination of island seclusion, a full spa, and dining built around locally sourced Scottish produce places it in a narrow tier of British rural retreats where the setting is as deliberate as the hospitality.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Part of the vast Madinat Jumeirah complex on Dubai's Jumeira Street, Mina Al Salam translates literally as 'harbor of peace' and earns 91 points in the 2026 La Liste Top Hotels ranking. Its private beach, multi-venue Friday brunch circuit, Talise Spa, and direct access to Souk Madinat Jumeirah position it as a self-contained resort address for families and leisure travelers with high logistical expectations.
Imerovigli, Greece
Katikies Chromata occupies the caldera ridge at Imerovigli, Santorini's quietest and highest-set village, where the crater view is uninterrupted and the pace is deliberately slower than Oia or Fira. A member of Leading Hotels of the World since 2025, the property sits in the tier of Cycladic cliff hotels defined by spatial restraint, direct caldera access, and service calibrated to a small, attentive guest count. For travellers who measure a Santorini stay by proximity to the view and quality of presence, this address warrants attention.
Lech am Arlberg, Austria
Kristiania Lech is a 15-room family-run hotel in Lech am Arlberg offering an all-inclusive gastronomy programme with no fixed menu, no set hours, and no dining room constraints. Guests at this intimate Alpine property request what they want, when they want it, from vegan plates to traditional Austrian cooking, all included in the room rate alongside a private spa suite and a suite of personal butler services.
San Antonio de Areco, Argentina
A working estancia 110 km from Buenos Aires, La Bamba de Areco sits at Ruta 31 Km 7.5 amid century-old plane trees and colonial architecture built around a central courtyard. Rates from US$650 per night cover rooms and suites across three buildings, table d'hôtes dining in a regional tradition, and access to polo grounds and gaucho culture. Recognised by La Liste Top Hotels 2026 with a score of 90.5 points.
Canggu, Indonesia
A boutique property in Pererenan, close enough to Echo Beach to register the swell at night, La Reserve 1785 channels the spirit of its storied 1930s French owner through considered interiors and a spa program that rewards longer stays. It occupies a quieter stretch of the Canggu corridor, sitting apart from the louder surf-and-brunch circuit while remaining walkable to it.
Luang Prabang, Laos
La Résidence Phou Vao holds a 92.5-point score from La Liste's 2026 Top Hotels ranking, placing it among a small tier of formally recognised luxury properties in Luang Prabang. Set on Phu Vao Road above the UNESCO-protected old city, the hotel appeals to travellers who want proximity to Luang Prabang's temples and river confluence without the density of the peninsula itself. Plan well ahead, particularly for dry-season travel between November and February.
Ibiza, Spain
Three 16th-century buildings perched inside Ibiza's UNESCO-listed Dalt Vila have been converted into a boutique hotel that rewards the climb through the old town's narrow, winding streets. La Torre del Canónigo sits at the upper reaches of the walled city, where fortress walls meet Balearic light and the views down over the harbour are among the more arresting on the island.
Lake Placid, United States
The only hotel situated directly on the shores of Lake Placid, Lake Placid Lodge occupies a 30-room Arts and Crafts property rebuilt after a 2005 fire, with hand-hewn timber construction, lakeside cabins, and farm-to-table dining at Artisans restaurant. Rates from $807 per night place it at the summit of the Adirondack lodging tier, attracting guests who want wilderness access without sacrificing architectural substance or service depth.
Costigliole d'Asti, Italy
A Small Luxury Hotels of the World member set among the Monferrato hills of southern Piedmont, Le Marne Relais occupies a restored rural property in Costigliole d'Asti, a commune better known for Barbera and Moscato production than international hotel traffic. The property sits in the quieter tier of Italian countryside hospitality, where the surrounding wine country does most of the heavy lifting for the guest experience.
Zakynthos, Greece
A Leading Hotels of the World member in Tragaki, Lesante Blu positions itself in the quieter, design-conscious tier of Zakynthos luxury.
Ios, Greece
Liostasi Hotel sits above the Cycladic hillside of Ios, where a recent renovation has sharpened a design-led identity that earned the SLH Dreamiest Design Award in 2018. The property runs as a boutique operation with a spa, pool, and sea views that position it firmly in the smaller, atmosphere-first tier of Aegean accommodation. For travellers choosing between scale and character, Ios makes that decision direct.
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Named Cook Islands' Leading Boutique Hotel at the 2025 World Travel Awards, Little Polynesian Resort occupies a beachfront position on Rarotonga's south coast at Titikaveka. The property operates in a bungalow and studio format with low guest density and direct lagoon access, placing it at the quieter, more spatially considered end of the island's accommodation market.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah sits within Riyadh's landmark Al Faisaliah Tower on King Fahad Road, earning MICHELIN Selected recognition in 2025. The property places itself in the upper tier of Olaya's business-district hotels, where address, service calibre, and architectural identity carry as much weight as room specification. Advance reservations are advisable for peak business travel periods.
Savelletri di Fasano, Italy
A 15th-century fortified tower converted into a Leading Hotels of the World property, Masseria San Domenico sits among century-old olive groves within 700 metres of the Adriatic coast. The 40-room adults-oriented resort anchors its dining programme in Apulian produce grown on surrounding land, and houses one of southern Italy's more medically rigorous thalassotherapy spas.
Mykonos, Greece
A Relais & Châteaux member positioned on the hills above Mykonos Town, Myconian Korali combines Aegean panoramas with a serious fine dining program at Boas restaurant and a thalassotherapy spa drawing on seawater-based treatments. Rates from US$303 per night place it in the upper tier of boutique island hotels, within walking distance of Little Venice and the harbour.
Mykonos, Greece
A five-star property at Tourlos Marina, 1.1 miles from Mykonos Town, Mykonos Riviera Hotel & Spa occupies a tiered Cycladic footprint across seven acres of cliff-facing terrain. Two infinity pool areas, an Oqua Spa with Roman Hammam, and three restaurants serving Greek cuisine sit alongside accommodation that starts at 420 square feet and scales to an eight-bedroom villa with private pool.
Martano, Italy
A restored masseria in the Salento countryside of southern Italy, Naturalis Bio Resort & Spa occupies an ancient farming hamlet where the fields are still worked organically. Lavender, rosemary, lemon and thyme grow across the estate, shaping both the scent of the air and the character of the stay. For travellers seeking slower, land-rooted hospitality in Puglia's lesser-visited interior, this is a considered choice.
Macau, Macau
Nüwa Macau sits within City of Dreams on the Cotai Strip, scoring 90.5 points in the La Liste Top Hotels 2026 rankings. The hotel's 23-foot lobby ceilings, embroidered wall coverings, and Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star recognition position it among Cotai's most formally rated properties. Jade Dragon restaurant and year-round heated outdoor pool give the property strong credentials for milestone stays.
Málaga, Spain
A converted 18th-century palace on Calle Granada places Palacio Solecio among Málaga's most architecturally grounded addresses, where original stonework and period proportions set the physical terms of the stay. The hotel occupies a stretch of the Old Town that connects the historic centre to the cultural corridor running toward the Picasso Museum, making it a practical base for the city's denser northern district as much as a stay defined by its building's own history.
Bucine, Italy
A hilltop palazzo in the Valdambra valley of Tuscany, Palazzo Tiglio operates in the tradition of small converted noble residences that prize architectural character over branded polish. Recognized by Star Wine List (2026), the property sits in San Pancrazio, a hamlet within the Bucine commune, where the agricultural quietude of Arezzo province defines the pace of a stay.
Rome, Italy
Positioned steps from the Colosseum on Via del Colosseo, Palm Suite occupies an 18th-century Roman palazzo and takes a deliberately theatrical approach to hospitality. Each suite carries its own character — a tiger statue here, a golden palm-shaped lamp there — set against among the more historically loaded addresses in the city. For travellers who want proximity to antiquity without sacrificing personality, it sits in a distinct niche.
Marrakech, Morocco
Opened in July 2024 at Al Maaden in the Atlas Mountain foothills, Park Hyatt Marrakech occupies a different tier from the medina's riad-style properties, trading narrow alleyways for open estate grounds, a golf course adjacency, and Atlas views. Its Star Wine List recognition (2026) signals a drinks program that punches above typical resort level for Marrakech.
Petit St. Vincent, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Petit St. Vincent occupies its own private island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with 22 cottages distributed across 115 acres of Caribbean terrain. The resort operates as a deliberate disconnection from digital life, with no internet, phones, or television in the rooms. Among privately-held island resorts in the southern Grenadines, it sits at the quieter, more self-contained end of the luxury spectrum.
Elounda, Greece
Positioned between the fishing village of Plaka and the port of Elounda on Crete's northeastern coast, Phaea Blue is a small-scale SLH-member property with direct beach access and unobstructed views of Spinalonga Island. The accommodation runs from bungalows and suites to a three-bedroom private villa, with a design language drawn from Greek art, natural materials, and local craft traditions. It occupies a quieter register of Aegean luxury than the larger resort complexes in the area.
Aljezur, Portugal
Set within Costa Vicentina Natural Park on Portugal's Alentejo coast, Praia do Canal Nature Retreat occupies a working herdade where Atlantic light and protected wilderness define the experience. An outdoor infinity pool faces the ocean, evenings bring skies largely free of light pollution, and the surrounding park keeps development at a deliberate distance. This is one of the western Algarve's more committed arguments for slowing down.
Chambord, France
Relais de Chambord occupies a position that few Loire Valley hotels can match: fifty metres from the Château de Chambord, with the famous rooftop skyline of turrets and spires visible from the property across the gentle Le Cosson river. It is the closest accommodation to one of France's most architecturally significant royal residences, placing guests inside the estate grounds rather than at a distance from them.
Quattro Castella, Italy
A meticulously restored 19th-century borgo on a 320-acre eco-estate in the Emilian hills, Relais Roncolo 1888 sits at the intersection of Emilia's Food Valley and Motor Valley. Twenty rooms and suites occupy former aristocratic residences, with on-site experiences ranging from balsamic tastings to truffle hunting. The surrounding countryside connects directly to Modena, Parma, and Maranello.
Milan, Italy
Positioned on Piazza Fontana in Milan's historic centre, Rosa Grand Milano is a 327-room property within the Starhotels Collezione portfolio, placing it steps from the Duomo and the city's core commercial and cultural districts. The address situates guests inside the dense fabric of central Milan rather than at its edges, making the hotel a practical base for both business and leisure at the upper end of the city's mid-to-large hotel tier.
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
A 34-room alpine retreat in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Rosapetra SPA Resort sits just minutes from the town centre with direct views across the Ampezzo Dolomites. Fir wood, stone, and refined fabrics define the interiors, while a full spa facility with pool, saunas, Turkish bath, and massage zone anchors the wellness offer. For travellers who prioritise landscape access and considered comfort over resort scale, it occupies a distinct position in the Cortina market.
Ambleside, United Kingdom
A Regency-era country house in Ambleside, Rothay Manor sits within the Lake District's most rewarding walking and landscape territory. The property's dining programme draws on Cumbrian produce and seasonal rhythms in a setting that balances formal heritage with the informality the fells demand. For those touring the region's better hotels, it offers a considered alternative to the area's more spa-forward properties.
Bangkok, Thailand
Positioned on the Chao Phraya riverbank in Bangkok's Bang Rak district, the Hotel operates across two distinct wings — the 25-story Wing and the smaller, balcony-forward Krungthep Wing — with 802 rooms in total. Rated 92 points on La Liste's 2026 Top Hotels list, it offers river cruises, CHI spa facilities, and Horizon Club benefits that place it among Bangkok's established riverside properties.
Bangkok, Thailand
Positioned within Sindhorn Village on the northern edge of Lumphini Park, this 274-room Kempinski property took Tatler Asia's Best City Hotel award in 2025 and the World Travel Awards title for Thailand's Leading Luxury Hotel the same year. Its Pathumwan address places it within walking distance of the Ploenchit corridor while remaining genuinely separate from the commercial density of Sukhumvit.
Paris, France
Positioned between the Marais and the Seine on Rue Agrippa d'Aubigné, SO/Paris brings a fashion-and-art sensibility to the 4th arrondissement. Its 162 rooms occupy floors seven through fourteen, with panoramic rooftop views across Notre-Dame and Bastille. The 2025 World Travel Awards named it France's Leading Lifestyle Hotel, and Gault & Millau awarded it five notable points the same year.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
On the Eastern Crescent of Palm Jumeirah, Sofitel Dubai The Palm translates a French Polynesian design sensibility into one of Dubai's more retreat-oriented beachfront addresses. Scored 94 points in the La Liste Top Hotels 2026 ranking, the property is built around six pools, a nearly 27,000-square-foot spa, and villa-scale accommodation that positions it closer to a private island compound than a conventional hotel.
Munich, Germany
Occupying Munich's former Bavarian Royal Post Office on Bayerstraße, Sofitel Munich Bayerpost layers a neoclassical sandstone façade built between 1896 and 1900 over a thoroughly contemporary interior of glass, chrome, and French-inflected design. The hotel holds a Regional Winner award for Luxury City Business Hotel and sits a short S-Bahn ride from the main station, which is directly adjacent. With 57 design-centric suites, a grotto-like spa pool, and three distinct food and drink outlets, it draws a repeat clientele that values location above almost everything else.
Toronto, Canada
SoHo Hotel Toronto occupies a converted loft building at 318 Wellington St W, placing 145 rooms inside the Entertainment District's most walkable block for restaurants, live venues, and the financial core. The property sits in a mid-tier between boutique independents and the city's major luxury flags, offering loft-scale proportions that standard hotel construction rarely replicates.
Urubamba, Peru
Sol y Luna has operated in the Sacred Valley of the Incas since 1996, occupying a bungalow-style lodge at 2,700 metres above Urubamba. Rates from US$605 per night reflect a property built around organic farm-to-table cooking, garden biodiversity, and locally sourced architecture. The kitchen is led by executive chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, recognised on the San Pellegrino global list of top chefs.
Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
Sublime Samana Hotel & Residences sits on Bahía de Coson, one of the Samaná Peninsula's least-developed stretches of coastline, where a collection of casitas and suites faces directly onto a sandy beach flanked by green mountains and turquoise water. The property operates at the quieter, design-conscious end of Dominican luxury, pairing beach-club amenities with the kind of seclusion that all-inclusive resorts on the north coast cannot replicate.
Aguas Calientes, Peru
The first five-star hotel to open in Aguas Calientes, Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel sits on the banks of the Vilcanota River with direct access to Machu Picchu Archaeological Park. Its 62 rooms draw on Andean cosmology through a redesign framed around the Chakana cross, while a program of shaman-led site tours, Pachamanca cooking, and Rainforest Alliance-certified conservation work distinguishes it within Peru's high-altitude luxury tier. La Liste awarded it 93 points in 2026.
Dungun, Malaysia
Tanjong Jara Resort sits on Terengganu's east coast, its timber pavilions and pitched rooflines drawn from 17th-century Malay palace architecture. The South China Sea frames one side; primary jungle presses in from the other. For travellers willing to make the journey to Dungun, the resort offers a distinctly Malaysian alternative to the region's more internationally branded luxury properties.
Palm Beach, United States
A Leading Hotels of the World member occupying a 1920s Spanish Colonial compound on Australian Avenue, The Brazilian Court Hotel offers 80 rooms around two tropical courtyards and a secluded pool. Café Boulud, Daniel Boulud's outpost inside the hotel, anchors the dining program. The property sits in the quieter residential tier of Palm Beach luxury, distinct from the oceanfront resort model.
AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Fewer than a dozen luxury retreats in Saudi Arabia hold both La Liste and World Travel Awards recognition simultaneously, and The Chedi Hegra is one of them. Set against the sandstone formations of ancient Hegra — Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site — it operates as a low-footprint, high-access base for among the more archaeologically significant addresses in the region. La Liste scored it 95 points in 2026.
Halkidiki, Greece
A Leading Hotels of the World member positioned on the Sithonia peninsula of Halkidiki, The Danai occupies a narrow tier of Greek coastal hospitality where private-beach access and formal service standards coexist with genuine Aegean surroundings. For travellers calibrating between peninsula seclusion and peninsula-wide access to Halkidiki's three prongs, it belongs in the first shortlist.
Rome, Italy
A five-star boutique hotel on Via del Corso, The First Roma Dolce occupies a restored 19th-century building by Giuseppe Valadier within easy reach of the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza del Popolo. With only 23 rooms, it operates in the intimate end of Rome's luxury hotel market, offering a complimentary shuttle link to its sister property, The First Arte.
London, United Kingdom
A 53-room boutique hotel on Vandon Street, SW1, The Guardsman occupies a quiet address in Westminster that places it closer to Buckingham Palace and St James's Park than most of its London peers. Its compact scale and discreet location make it a considered choice for travellers who prefer neighbourhood calm over lobby spectacle. Plan ahead: rooms at this size of property move quickly.
Gurugram Gurgaon, India
The Leela Ambience Gurugram occupies a commanding position on National Highway 8, bringing the group's signature palatial register to Gurugram's corporate corridor. With 322 rooms across hotel and residences, it operates at the larger end of Delhi-NCR luxury, placing it in direct conversation with the city's most substantial business-and-leisure properties. For travellers connecting through the NCR on extended schedules, the scale and Leela lineage carry weight.
London, United Kingdom
A Georgian-fronted boutique hotel on the edge of Fitzrovia and Soho, The London EDITION occupies a building with a century of social history behind it. The 173 rooms and suites take design cues from private yacht interiors, while Berners Tavern and the Punch Room give the property two of central London's more distinctive food and drink destinations.
Atenas, Costa Rica
Set atop a crystal quartz mountain above Atenas, The Retreat Costa Rica occupies a purpose-built wellness compound where open-air architecture, rainforest terrain, and a garden-to-table food philosophy converge. Signature programs span Ayurveda, yoga, and holistic spa treatments at the on-site Vida Mía healing spa. For travellers prioritising restorative immersion over resort amenities, the elevation — literal and conceptual — is the point.
Dallas, United States
At the foot of Dallas's Uptown neighborhood, The Ritz-Carlton occupies a regency-style building that earned 92 points in the 2026 La Liste Top Hotels ranking.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Set inside Dubai's DIFC business district and attached to the art-filled Gate Village, The Ritz-Carlton DIFC earns a 94-point rating from La Liste's 2026 Top Hotels ranking. Four distinct dining venues, a 13-room spa, and a ten-storey cascading waterfall make this one of the district's more architecturally considered luxury addresses, positioned a ten-minute drive from Downtown Dubai.
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Two meticulously restored Victorian townhouses on Edinburgh's West Coates form The Roseate Edinburgh, a boutique property that sits at the composed, character-led end of the city's independent hotel market. The approach balances period architecture with a relaxed residential atmosphere, positioning it as an alternative to the grander chain-affiliated addresses on Princes Street and in the New Town.
Sanya, China
Positioned along Hainan Island's Haitang Bay, The Sanya EDITION scored 91.5 points on the La Liste Top Hotels 2026 ranking, placing it among China's more seriously rated coastal properties. A private seawater ocean, a two-storey spa, a rooftop Sky Bar, and a collaboration with Beijing's Ullens Center for Contemporary Art give the resort a range rarely found in a single coastal address.
Port Antonio, Jamaica
Thirteen private villas occupy a quiet stretch of Port Antonio's coast, where the Caribbean meets dense jungle. The Trident positions itself at the intimate, design-conscious end of Jamaican hospitality — far removed from the resort corridors of Montego Bay or Negril. For travellers prioritising seclusion and direct access to one of the island's least-commercialised coastlines, it represents a distinct alternative.
London, United Kingdom
Occupying a converted Edwardian underground station on Knightsbridge's main strip, The Wellesley is one of London's smaller luxury addresses — rated 93 points by La Liste in 2026 and holding Forbes 4-Star status. Its art deco interiors and boutique scale place it firmly in the independent-spirit tier of SW1, closer to character-led properties than to the grand-palace category.
Lisbon, Portugal
Operating from Avenida da Liberdade since 1933, Tivoli Avenida Liberdade holds a distinct position among Lisbon's central luxury hotels: a Leading Hotels of the World member with a boulevard address that places guests at the axis of the city's most concentrated stretch of high-end retail and diplomatic institutions. The Cervejaria Liberdade draws from over 800 km of Portuguese coastline for its fish and seafood programme.
Madrid, Spain
On Calle de Hermosilla in the Salamanca district, TÓTEM Madrid occupies a position between heritage and contemporary design. Parquet floors and wooden panelling carry a sense of accumulated history, while the room programme and public spaces read as firmly modern. For travellers who want a design-led base inside one of Madrid's most composed residential and retail neighbourhoods, TÓTEM is a considered option.
Bangkok, Thailand
Occupying the upper floors of the State Tower on Bangkok's Silom Road, Tower Club at lebua is an all-suite hotel that holds three 2025 World Travel Awards, including Asia's Leading Luxury All-Suite Hotel and World's Leading Luxury Suites Hotel. Its position in the Bangkok luxury market targets guests who prioritize suite-only inventory and altitude over the river-facing intimacy that defines properties like Capella or Mandarin Oriental.
Turnberry, United Kingdom
Trump Turnberry occupies 800 acres of Ayrshire coastline in a grade-listed Edwardian pile that opened in 1906 and scored 94.5 points on the La Liste Top Hotels ranking for 2026. The Ailsa Links hosted four British Opens, including the celebrated 1977 Nicklaus-Watson duel, and the 1906 restaurant sources produce daily from the adjacent Downhill Farm. It is a serious resort property, not a country house hotel with golf bolted on.
Sabi Sands, South Africa
Ulusaba Private Game Reserve occupies 13,500 hectares of the western Sabi Sand, bordering Kruger National Park. Owned by Sir Richard Branson, the reserve operates two architecturally distinct lodges: Rock Lodge, set high on a koppie with tribal-inspired interiors, and Safari Lodge, built among treetops along a dry riverbed. Together they place guests inside one of South Africa's most accessible Big Five territories without surrendering five-star comfort.
Reggello, Italy
A sixteenth-century manor estate thirty minutes south of Florence, Viesca Toscana offers villa stays, private pools, and wellness programming across grounds that once served as the Ferragamo family's summer retreat. The accommodation spans a historic manor house, five private villas, and seventeen suites, all furnished with antiques and pieces by local artisans. For those seeking Tuscan countryside immersion at a measured remove from the city, the estate positions itself firmly in the small-property, high-service tier.
Stresa, Italy
A Leading Hotels of the World member occupying a restored aristocratic villa above Lake Maggiore, Villa & Palazzo Aminta offers 66 individually decorated rooms and suites alongside two distinct restaurants, a spa, and private dock access to the Borromeo Islands. The property sits within a botanical park where azaleas and camellias frame uninterrupted views across the Borromeo Gulf, making it one of Stresa's most composed lakeside addresses.
Guanajuato, Mexico
On Guanajuato's Paseo de la Presa boulevard, Villa Maria Cristina occupies a cluster of restored 19th-century neoclassical mansions and a Belgian-style maison, connected by patios, galleries, and terraces that read like a private neighbourhood. A Relais & Châteaux member since its 2005 opening, the property has grown to 38 suites and one villa, with two restaurants, a 300-square-metre spa, and direct views of La Bufa Hill.
