If you’re looking to pamper yourself with some luxury on your next vacation, then look no further than the latest list of the world’s best hotels, as revealed by the highly respected 50 Best brand.
Renowned Ranking Now in Its Third Year
Based in the UK and owned by William Reed, the brand is best known for its annual 50 Best Restaurants lists, which it has been releasing for over two decades to become one of the world’s leading authorities on high-end gastronomy, with other lists dedicated to the world’s best bars, vineyards, and more.
The annual World’s 50 Best Hotels list began in 2023, and its third edition was released last month. The judges make their decisions based on their overall experience during their stay, giving the rankings a sense of credibility compared to other global lists that often focus on particular aspects, such as sustainability or architecture.
The company is also completely independent, meaning no hotel has paid to be included, ensuring total impartiality.
So, let’s take a look at some of the hotels included in this year’s rankings.
Rosewood Hong Kong Takes Top Spot
With more than three dozen hotels across 23 countries, Rosewood is renowned for its chain of high-end luxury hotels and resorts. However, its Hong Kong location stands out from the rest, as highlighted by its number one position in the World’s 50 Best Hotels, having just missed out with second and third place in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Located in a city known for its ultra-luxurious hospitality, Rosewood Hong Kong must be doing something right to be regarded above all else. This huge hotel is extremely modern, having opened in 2019, and absolutely huge.
Housing over 400 rooms, with the smallest being a fairly sizeable 53 square meters, it has quickly gained a reputation for being a prime example of Asian minimalism and sophistication.
Its key features include no less than 11 restaurants and bars, a multi-level wellness facility, and a 6th-floor outdoor infinity pool with stunning views over Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong skyline.
Asian Hotels Dominate
As well as Rosewood Hong Kong taking top spot, a further 19 Asian hotels are included in the World’s 50 Best Hotels in 2025, making Asia the most represented continent on the list.
In fact, four Asian hotels make up the top five, with two recently opened spots in the Thai capital coming in second and third – Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River and Capella Bangkok – while the Singapore institution, the Raffles Hotel, took fifth spot.
Another three Asian hotels came in the top ten, making it seven overall, with Dubai’s The Atlantis Royal in sixth place, the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok in seventh, and the Upper House Hong Kong in tenth.
Japan is also well represented with five hotels in the top 50, including four in Tokyo and one in Kyoto, with its highest-ranked hotel being the Bulgari Tokyo in 15th place. Two paradisiacal locations in Bali also made the list, while China’s sole representative is the Mandarin Oriental Qianmen in Beijing.
Other notable mentions include the world-famous Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai and the Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, which, being the only hotel on this list from a country renowned for its plethora of luxurious waterside resorts and popular with honeymooners the world over, must surely be pretty special.
Europe Also Well Represented
While Asia has 20 hotels in the top 50, Europe’s not far behind with 17 inclusions, including five in the UK and four each from France and Italy.
The highest rated European hotel is the Passalacqua on the shores of Lake Como, renowned for its historical opulence and stunning setting overlooking Italy’s most famous lake.
The Four Seasons in Florence is Europe’s other top ten entry, coming in 9th place, while two of Europe’s greatest draws – London and Paris – have four and three hotels in the top 50, respectively.
Naturally, Europe’s top hotels are defined by their historic charm and elegance, although a few modern hotels have also made the cut – the Four Seasons Astir Palace in Athens and the Grand Park Hotel Rovinj in Croatia both opened in 2019, while The Emory in London first opened its doors last year.
North American Hotels Less Represented
North America is less represented than Asia and Europe, with just six hotels in the top 50 – four in Mexico and two in the United States.
The only one to make the top ten – the Chable Yucatan in Chochola, Mexico – was noted for its serenity, being in the heart of the Yucatan jungle outside an otherwise fairly nondescript town, and its state-of-the-art wellness program that includes a wide range of traditional Mayan treatments.
Two other resorts in the Yucatan Peninsula made the cut, the Maroma and the One&Only Mandarina – both in the Riviera Maya – while Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos rounds off Mexico’s inclusions.
The only US hotels to make the cut were the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles and The Mark in New York City, in 42nd and 43rd place, respectively.
What about the rest of the world?
South America, Africa, and Oceania are the least represented continents in the list, with just two to three inclusions each, albeit with some notably high-placed hotels.
The regal Copacabana Palace, sitting in front of Rio de Janeiro’s world-famous beach of the same name, was South America’s highest entry in 11th place, while the elegant Capella Sydney – the famed hotel chain’s first and only location in Oceania – came in 12th.
Meanwhile, Africa’s highest entry is the Royal Mansour in Marrakech, which is noted for unmistakably Moroccan style and grandeur. The La Mamounia in Marrakech also made the top 50, while Africa’s only other entry is the Singita – Kruger National Park in South Africa, a luxurious haven for safari lovers.
Full list
- Rosewood Hong Kong
- Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, Thailand
- Capella Bangkok, Thailand
- Passalacqua, Lake Como, Italy
- Raffles Singapore
- Atlantis The Royal, Dubai, UAE
- Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailand
- Chable Yucatan, Chochola, Mexico
- Four Seasons Firenze, Florence, Italy
- Upper House 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, UK
- 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 Roma, Rome, Italy
- Hotel de Crillon, Paris, France
- Rosewood Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Aman Tokyo, Japan
- Hotel Il Pellicano, Porto Ercole, Italy
- Hotel du Convent, Nice, France
- Soneva Fushi, Maldives
- The Connaught, London, UK
- La Mamounia, Marrakech, Morocco
- Raffles London at The OWO, UK
- The Emory, London, UK
- Maroma, Riviera Maya, Mexico
- The Calile, Brisbane, Australia
- The Lana, Dubai, UAE
- Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo, Monaco
- Janu Tokyo, Japan
- The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, India
- One&Only Mandarina, Riviera Maya, Mexico
- Singita – Kruger National Park, South Africa
- Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong
- Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles, US
- The Mark, New York, US
- Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Los Cabos, Mexico
- The Tokyo Edition Toranomon, Japan
- Hotel The Mitsui, Kyoto, Japan
- Estelle Manor, Witney, UK
- Grand Park Hotel Rovinj, Croatia
- Hotel Sacher Vienna, Austria
- Mandapa, Bali, Indonesia
