“The World’s 50 Best” has historically published rankings of the world’s best restaurants and the world’s best bars, and the rankings have always been highly respected by people.
In 2023, the organization started publishing annual rankings of the world’s best hotels. While I don’t usually put too much weight into these kinds of rankings, it’s still always interesting to take a look, and the latest list has just been published.
In this post:
“The World’s 50 Best Hotels” list for 2025
“The World’s 50 Best Hotels” list has just been released for 2025, so here’s the full list:
- Rosewood Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, Thailand
- Capella Bangkok, Thailand
- Passalacqua Lake Como, Italy
- Raffles Singapore, Singapore
- Atlantis The Royal Dubai, UAE
- Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailand
- Chablé Yucatán Chocholá, Mexico
- Four Seasons Florence, Italy
- Upper House Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Copacabana Palace Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Capella Sydney, Australia
- Royal Mansour Marrakech, Morocco
- Mandarin Oriental Qianmen Beijing, China
- Bulgari Tokyo, Japan
- Claridge’s London, United Kingdom
- Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens, Greece
- Desa Potato Head Bali, Indonesia
- Le Bristol Paris, France
- Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab Dubai, UAE
- Cheval Blanc Paris, France
- Bulgari Rome, Italy
- Hôtel de Crillon Paris, France
- Rosewood São Paulo, Brazil
- Aman Tokyo, Japan
- Hotel Il Pellicano Porto Ercole, Italy
- Hôtel du Couvent Nice, France
- Soneva Fushi, Maldives
- The Connaught London, United Kingdom
- La Mamounia Marrakech, Morocco
- Raffles London at The OWO, United Kingdom
- The Emory London, United Kingdom
- Maroma Riviera Maya, Mexico
- The Calile Brisbane, Australia
- The Lana Dubai, UAE
- Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, Monaco
- Janu Tokyo, Japan
- The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai, India
- One&Only Mandarina Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
- Singita Kruger National Park, South Africa
- Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Hotel Bel-Air Los Angeles, United States
- The Mark New York, United States
- Las Ventanas al Paraíso Los Cabos, Mexico
- The Tokyo EDITION Toranomon, Japan
- Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto, Japan
- Estelle Manor Witney, United Kingdom
- Grand Park Hotel Rovinj, Croatia
- Hotel Sacher Vienna, Austria
- Mandapa Bali, Indonesia
It’s interesting to note the top ranked hotel in each continent:
- In Asia it’s Rosewood Hong Kong (#1)
- In Europe it’s Passalacqua (#4)
- In North America it’s Chablé Yucatan Chocholá (#8)
- In South America it’s Copacabana Palace Rio de Janeiro (#11)
- In Oceania it’s Capella Sydney (#12)
- In Africa it’s Royal Mansour Marrakech (#13)
It really shows you how Asia and Europe are spoiled with amazing hotels, as the regions have a vast majority of the top properties.
How the top hotel rankings are decided on
Whenever you see a list like this, one logical question is what methodology is used to award these rankings. There’s no perfect way to go about ranking things, but I have to give the organization credit for at least putting a lot of thought into how it goes about this, and being transparent.
Long story short, this list is created by The World’s 50 Best Hotels Academy, which “comprises more than 800 members, each selected for their expert opinion of the international hotel scene, with a 50/50 gender balance.” The panel consists 40% of travel journalists, 30% of hoteliers, and 30% of seasoned luxury travelers. A minimum of 25% of the panel is renewed every year.
The globe is divided into 13 geographical regions, and each region has a chairperson appointed for their knowledge of their section of the hotel world. These chairs select a voting panel, consisting of hoteliers, journalists, and experienced luxury travelers.
Each member has seven votes, and needs to list the top seven hotels they have stayed at in the past two years, in order of preference. They must have spent at least one night at each property, and press trips, complimentary room nights, and those achieved through loyalty schemes, are valid for consideration. Each voter can only list up to three hotels within the same hotel group.
When it comes to choosing which properties they like most, this is super open-ended. There’s no criteria, so they can vote for whatever hotel they deem worthy.
My take on the world’s top hotel rankings
I always enjoy these kinds of lists, though I don’t put too much weight on them. Personally I view this more as a list of 50 great hotels, rather than a ranked list of the world’s 50 best hotels. To state the obvious, comparing Passalacqua to Atlantis The Royal to Singita is just something that can’t reasonably be done, because they’re such different experiences.
I do find it strange that the top three hotels are all city properties, since at least personally, I enjoy an amazing resort a lot more than an incredible city hotel.
There’s no denying that the people ranking these hotels have stayed at a lot of great properties over the years, though:
- They’re limited to ranking hotels they’ve stayed at within the past two years, and ultimately there are only so many properties you can stay at over that time
- I think some hotels make big pushes with inviting “travel journalists” partly to get onto lists like this, so you’ll find that hotels often put a lot of effort into media outreach when they hope to be ranked in this way
- As you’d expect, a lot more people will be invited to stay at a luxury hotel with hundreds of rooms, vs. a small safari lodge with half a dozen rooms
In many ways, I appreciate just how random this list is, and how so many of these hotels can’t be compared. You have everything from the 24-room Passalacqua, to the 795-room Atlantis The Royal. At the same time, you can’t help but laugh a little about the results. Like, we’re going to claim at that the Tokyo EDITION Toranomon is a better property than Les Airelles Courchevel?
I’ve gotta be honest, the thing I really don’t like about these lists is the extent to which they drive up rates at the top properties. People love to show off and feel like they’ve stayed at the “it” place, so of course everyone wants to visit “the best hotel in the world.” It almost has a White Lotus-esque impact.
There’s no denying that ranking on these kinds of lists is great for business, but it’s less good when it comes to affordable rates and availability at these hotels.
Bottom line
“The World’s 50 Best Hotels” list has been published for 2025. It’s always fun to look at to get a sense of what hotels are good, but I wouldn’t trust the relative rankings too much, given how the rankings are decided on. Anyway, Rosewood Hong Kong is now the world’s top hotel, followed by Four Seasons Bangkok, followed by Capella Bangkok.
What do you make of this new list of the best hotels in the world?
I knew two people who worked at the aman. Can’t stop laughing
One i spent 30 nights in hotels with in one year
Yea no not good customer service
Upper house could be
I knew someone who went to work there from the lower house conrad . I loved her there
Otherwise i never stayed at any of these
This is very subjective. Everyone has a different idea of what type of hotel they prefer. Further, lists like this are not neutral and are full of biases
I must thank the naysayers for confirming that the opinions which they have expressed herein, have been true to form …. totally worthless. As their opinions on this subject matter is so suspect, one has to question their ability to be trusted on aviation matters too, yes?
Desa potato head? Please.
Some rankings matter although most are corrupt and biased with fake reviews, or advertiser/sponsored bias. Forbes (former Mobil) are still the most prestigious awards and the only "official" star ratings but even it has become suspect in recent years with some questionable 5 star recipients. TripAdvisor, Yelp and Google are worthless, Telegraph and Michelin are better but still not the gold standard the Mobil ratings used to be.
I do believe that one’s view of the best is partially a function of your age! What I consider the best differs greatly from that of someone in their 30’s.
How can Capella Bangkok be No3 when the honest US blogger Flip Flop Traveller ranks the breakfast 3/10 in overall rank 132nd place of 149th of total and category " A Letdown but Mostly Edible". :-)
Out of all the amazing hotels in the world, I find it hilarious that #2 and #3 of this list are literally (and I mean literally) located right next to one another!
From my restaurant and bar experience following their guide, I've generally liked the places they choose, but given how many there are, who make it is kinda random. It's definitely more reliable than checking a TripAdvisor or Google Maps rating.
This is not as absurd as many of the "top hotels" lists I've tend to be. Most of the hotels here deserve mention when discussing top hotels.
But what did seem absurd what the #1 hotel in New York City. The Mark? The newly renovated Surrey, just around the corner from the Mark, easily bests that hotel. But would either qualify as the best hotel in NYC? Puzzled...
Cool article! These rankings definitely raise the bar (literally) but they’re not the whole story. I’ll still check reviews, pics, and what I want out of a stay.
Surely, what the naysayers are posting is that their opinion is absolutely useless to other readers, yes?
Perhaps, what the naysayers are really saying in their posts is that they could never afford to stay in any one of the listed hotels, therefore, they are going to trash the options of those who can, yes?
Apparently, what the naysayers are posting is their jealous condemnation of something of which they know absolutely nothing,...
Surely, what the naysayers are posting is that their opinion is absolutely useless to other readers, yes?
Perhaps, what the naysayers are really saying in their posts is that they could never afford to stay in any one of the listed hotels, therefore, they are going to trash the options of those who can, yes?
Apparently, what the naysayers are posting is their jealous condemnation of something of which they know absolutely nothing, yes?
One should pity the naysayers, yes?
Is that a question?
A question is a sentence which ends with a question mark (?), yes?
You're suggesting that those who think this list (and others like it) are irrelevant are, much more succinctly put, poor, and guilty of sour grapes, yes?
I *have* stayed at and typically *do* stay at some of these properties on a regular basis. A friend is the travel editor of a major magazine and would be the first to say that the task is far too subjective. And, the industry is plagued with pay-to-play rankings. A quick glance reveals one ownership group well represented.
Our resident list quoter is rather quiet about this.
I'm sure there are some mighty fine properties on this list, but I do take these rankings with a good pinch of salt.
Yes, they matter because believe in ratings.
Motel 6 in Enid OK gets my vote.
Peninsula Beverly Hills f king rocks, it should be on there
EDITION hotels all bl w
Worthless rating. Always has been. They are bribed and don't pay out of pocket.
"They must have spent at least one night at each property, and press trips, complimentary room nights, and those achieved through loyalty schemes, are valid for consideration."
Lots of these places are disappointing at best. Capella BKK is a joke for the money.
Potato Head... i mean nice enough after 15 complaints each stay.
People love lists. Which is why everyone does them. The reality is that they rarely deliver any sort of reality as to rankings in that it is an apples and oranges comparison.
To make it worse there is little critical thinking left....especially in America. Many of these hotels, sure, I would call exceptional. Most actually. But the top 50? The Sacher is one example. It's an interesting historical property with very nice service and...
People love lists. Which is why everyone does them. The reality is that they rarely deliver any sort of reality as to rankings in that it is an apples and oranges comparison.
To make it worse there is little critical thinking left....especially in America. Many of these hotels, sure, I would call exceptional. Most actually. But the top 50? The Sacher is one example. It's an interesting historical property with very nice service and a bit of a landmark. But it is hardly in the Top 50 in the world. One could even argue that from a complete experience it is no better than Rosewood Wien.
Copacabana Palace? It's hard to place that as first in Brazil, let alone in the Top 50. Fasano for me is far superior. Tokyo Edition? How?
It's like they wanted to check off the boxes of certain brands, emphasis on "historical" properties, and be sure to cover all markets. Such as two in the U.S......Aman, never stayed there so can't say, but The Mark? Nice hotel but hardly memorable as one of the Top 50 in the world.
The reality is that if you were effectively choosing the Top 50 Hotels in the world they would be almost entirely in Europe and Asia. But, of course, they can't do that. In the end consumers will believe this list and as the writer states it's great for the properties as they now become a destination in themselves for Instagram bragging rights. "Here I am at one of the Top 50 Hotels in The World."
I cannot believe Mandapa: A Ritz-Carlton Reserve is on this list. MANDAPA IS A DUMP. Even thinking about that place makes my stomach churn.
I guess these matter as much as the SkyTrax rankings do.
Does Tokyo Edition even make Top 50 points hotels?? This list is inferring it’s the #1 points hotel (I think?). Absolutely bonkers.
Hotel du Couvent is part of the Luxury collection but your point still stands.
Raffles is part of Accor.
“Potato Head” pmsl
Just like you! "I don’t usually put too much weight into these kinds of rankings (no one, I love to make my rankings by myself)."
But I agree, Copacabana Palace Rio is amazing but super expensive!
It amazes me no Hyatt's are in the list.
I know a lot of them worldwide but for me no one beats Marina Bay Sands Singapore.
Copacabana Palace is one of the most disappointing hotels I've ever stayed at. Definitely does not belong on this list.
"Definitely does not belong on the list." I'm not saying it necessarily belongs on the Top 50 list, but this is why it's highly subjective. You had a disappointing stay, meanwhile Nelson above had a great stay and my client who just left said it was one of his favorite hotel stays ever. They absolutely pampered him and went above and beyond in every way. He would probably argue it definitely belongs on the list....
"Definitely does not belong on the list." I'm not saying it necessarily belongs on the Top 50 list, but this is why it's highly subjective. You had a disappointing stay, meanwhile Nelson above had a great stay and my client who just left said it was one of his favorite hotel stays ever. They absolutely pampered him and went above and beyond in every way. He would probably argue it definitely belongs on the list. All of this is why I don't really look at these lists or put any weight behind them. I've loved some restaurants and bars on their lists and couldn't believe others were on it...
@ pstm91;
Fully agree! I don't say Copacabana Palace is my favorite but everytime I go to Rio (about monthly) I look for no other and have never ever had any issue or complication with them.
You should consider trying/putting your guests in the Fasano on Ipanema. Far superior to the outdated Copacabana Palace.
On another note regarding Brazil... I think it's wild to say that the Rosewood Sao Paulo is ranked higher than Palacio Tangara. Even though I haven't stayed at the Rosewood, Palacio Tangara seems to be in a league of its own, based on my experience of staying there as well as having looked and stayed at other luxury properties in SP (city).
Like Ben pointed out, I think it's more of a question of which...
On another note regarding Brazil... I think it's wild to say that the Rosewood Sao Paulo is ranked higher than Palacio Tangara. Even though I haven't stayed at the Rosewood, Palacio Tangara seems to be in a league of its own, based on my experience of staying there as well as having looked and stayed at other luxury properties in SP (city).
Like Ben pointed out, I think it's more of a question of which hotels are actively trying the most to get to / remain in the list (i.e. are inviting the most eligible panel members).
I donno; feels more like a list of whoever paid the most to whoever created this list.
That's because it is.
The restaurant list is famously bad and just a sign of who paid to get on.
Sorry Ben, but it is not even close to respected, it's a laughing stock - I'm going to assume this hotel list is about the same.