10 Best Hotels in the World, Ranked

The world’s best hotels have officially been named, and for the first time the top prize belongs to Hong Kong. Rosewood Hong Kong has been crowned the number one hotel on the planet at The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025, edging out a cluster of Asian heavyweights to take the title. Two Australian properties also feature, with Sydney’s Capella landing at 12 and Brisbane’s The Calile at 34.

Compiled by a voting panel of hundreds of independent hotel and travel experts, the ranking spans riverside city towers, historic grande dames and remote island retreats. Below you will find the full top 10, the complete list of all 50 winners, the Australian hotels flying the flag, and a look back at how the 2024 top 10 stacked up.

World’s Best Hotels

Now in its third edition, The World’s 50 Best Hotels list was revealed at a ceremony at London’s Old Billingsgate on 30 October 2025. Rosewood Hong Kong claimed the number one spot, with Asian hotels dominating the upper reaches of the ranking and Bangkok alone placing three properties inside the top 10. Here are the hotels that made the top 10, followed by the full list of 50 and the Australian standouts.

1. Rosewood, Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s Rosewood has been named the best hotel in the world for 2025, climbing two places from last year to claim the top prize. Opened in 2019 as the flagship of the Rosewood group, the 65-storey tower on Victoria Dockside holds 413 rooms, multiple dining venues and the celebrated DarkSide bar, and the judging panel rated it the finest stay anywhere on the planet.

Rosewood scored heavily for its interior, designed by the Taiwanese-born artisan Tony Chi, whose understated, modern style runs through the property alongside works by Damien Hirst and Henry Moore. It is a study in contemporary luxury that feels considered rather than ostentatious.

In terms of dining, Rosewood is home to 11 restaurants, from Holt’s Café, the hotel’s refined take on Hong Kong’s cha chaan tengs, to the Italian-inspired Bluhouse. The drinks list is just as serious, led by DarkSide, a regular on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, and the speakeasy XX.

• Located in: Victoria Dockside
• Address: 18 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
• Rooms: 413
• Starting Rate: USD$650
• Dining: Bluhouse and The Dining Room
• Drinking: DarkSide
• At the Hotel: Swimming pool, spa/wellness centre, fitness centre, family friendly

2. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River

New to the top 10 and straight in at number two, the Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River is a low-rise riverside retreat designed by architect Jean-Michel Gathy. Rather than a tower, it spreads across gardens, courtyards and a multi-tiered pool deck on the banks of the River of Kings, with 299 rooms and suites finished in muted, modern elegance.

Dining is a major draw. The Michelin-starred Cantonese flagship Yu Ting Yuan, led by chef Tommy Cheung, sits alongside Riva Del Fiume, which serves modern Italian plates beside the water. After dark, BKK Social Club has become one of Asia’s most awarded bars, all timeless glamour and a back bar laden with rare spirits.

• Address: 300/1 Charoen Krung Road, Sathon, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
• Rooms: 299
• Starting Rate: USD$450
• Dining: Yu Ting Yuan
• Drinking: BKK Social Club
• At the Hotel: Swimming pools, spa/wellness centre, fitness centre, riverside gardens

3. Capella, Bangkok

Last year’s number one, Capella Bangkok slips to third in 2025 but remains the epitome of modern riverside luxury. A calming oasis on the Chao Phraya River in the Charoenkrung district, the property holds 101 rooms of pure serenity, with linen pressed within an inch of its life and Japanese-inspired interiors throughout.

Capella is also home to a series of riverside villas with private gardens, plunge pools and sala lounges. It scored highly with the judges for its Capella Culturists, a dedicated team of local guides who organise everything from a guided shopping spree to a private meditation session with the head monk of a 250-year-old temple.

The food is a highlight too. Capella’s signature restaurant, Côte, was described by the panel as an elegantly casual Mediterranean masterpiece. Overseen by chef Mauro Colagreco, it serves vibrant, seasonal cooking on a riverside terrace.

• Located in: Four Seasons Private Residences Bangkok
• Address: 300, 2 Charoen Krung Road, Yan Nawa, Sathon, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
• Rooms: 101
• Starting Rate: USD$600
• Dining: Côte by Mauro Colagreco and Phra Nakhon
• Drinking: Stella
• At the Hotel: Swimming pool(s), spa/wellness centre, fitness centre, pet friendly, family friendly

4. Passalacqua, Lake Como

Italy’s Passalacqua, on the shores of Lake Como, holds firm in the top five at number four. The 18th-century villa houses just 24 rooms set within terraced gardens, and has welcomed the composer Vincenzo Bellini, Pope Innocent XI and a roll-call of famous guests over the centuries.

From the private grounds in Moltrasio you have an unimpeded view of the lake, with almost every room copping a similarly exquisite panorama across the three-building estate. Inside, you will find original frescoes, ceiling carvings, Murano chandeliers and Il Bronzetto light fittings.

Passalacqua takes a more relaxed approach to dining than some of its rivals, opting for an open kitchen design that lets guests wander in and chat with chef Viviana Varese. Simply remarkable.

• Address: Via Besana, 59, 22010 Moltrasio CO, Italy
• Rooms: 24
• Starting Rate: USD$1,300
• Dining: The Garden Terrace
• Drinking: Bar Terrace
• At the Hotel: Spa/wellness centre, fitness centre, family friendly

5. Raffles, Singapore

Singapore’s grande dame, Raffles, rises to number five. The property has served as one of Asia’s best-loved hotels for well over a century, and the judges noted that age has done nothing to dim its magic.

From the moment you arrive at the grand, white, neo-Renaissance building, you know you are in for something special. Whether you wander the lush gardens, swim at the rooftop pool or indulge at the Raffles Spa, rest is the order of the day. When it is time to eat, there is north Indian fare at Tiffin Room, fire cooking at Butcher’s Block and contemporary Chinese at Yi by Jereme Leung.

The hotel’s greatest asset may be the Raffles Butlers, whose intuitive style of service has been copied by hotel chains the world over.

• Address: 1 Beach Rd, Singapore 189673
• Rooms: 115
• Starting Rate: USD$2,000
• Dining: La Dame de Pic
• Drinking: Long Bar
• At the Hotel: Swimming pool(s), spa/wellness centre, fitness centre, family friendly

6. Atlantis The Royal, Dubai

Dubai’s ode to scale, Atlantis The Royal, jumps to number six. With 795 rooms, 17 restaurants and bars, a 32,300 square foot wellness space and more than 90 swimming pools, it throws everything and the kitchen sink at its guests, and somehow it works. Man of Many writer John Guanzon called it the most ultra-luxury experiential resort in the world when he visited.

The resort sits on the crescent of Palm Island, about 1km from its sister property Atlantis The Palm. A lucky 44 guests find themselves in suites and penthouses with their own glass-sided swimming pools, so you can swim in the sky. Throw in dining from Nobu, Heston Blumenthal, José Andrés and Gastón Acurio and there is almost no reason to leave.

• Address: Palm Jumeirah, Crescent Rd, The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Rooms: 795
• Starting Rate: USD$460
• Dining: Dinner by Heston Blumenthal and Jaleo by José Andrés, among others
• Drinking: Cloud 22
• At the Hotel: Over 90 swimming pools, Skyblaze fountain, beach club, aquarium

7. Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

Bangkok’s third entry in the top 10, the Mandarin Oriental is the city’s historic grande dame, welcoming guests on the banks of the Chao Phraya since 1876. Suites named after literary guests such as W. Somerset Maugham and Joseph Conrad nod to its past, while a 24-hour butler team and famously attentive service keep it firmly in the present.

The riverside hotel is a dining destination in its own right. Le Normandie by Alain Roux holds two Michelin stars for its classical French cooking, Kinu by Takagi serves refined Japanese kaiseki, and The Bamboo Bar has been pouring cocktails to a soundtrack of live jazz since the 1950s.

• Address: 48 Oriental Ave, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
• Rooms: 331
• Starting Rate: USD$757
• Dining: Le Normandie by Alain Roux and Kinu by Takagi
• Drinking: The Bamboo Bar
• At the Hotel: Swimming pool(s), spa/wellness centre, fitness centre, family friendly

8. Chablé Yucatán, Chocholá

The highest-placed hotel in the Americas, Chablé Yucatán sits on a restored hacienda about 25 minutes from Mérida in south-east Mexico. Its 40 villas, many with private pools and outdoor showers, are scattered through tropical gardens on a property built around a sacred cenote, the natural sinkhole that anchors the resort’s spa.

Wellness rooted in Mayan tradition is the draw, from temazcal steam rituals to treatments beside the cenote. Dining centres on Ixi’im, overseen by Jorge Vallejo of Mexico City’s acclaimed Quintonil, which also holds one of the world’s largest tequila collections.

• Address: Tablaje 642, Chocholá, 97816 Yucatán, Mexico
• Rooms: 40 villas
• Starting Rate: USD$770
• Dining: Ixi’im and Ki’ol
• Drinking: Ixi’im Bar
• At the Hotel: Cenote spa, swimming pools, golf, fitness centre, family friendly

9. Four Seasons Firenze, Florence

Set in a restored 15th-century Medici palazzo, Four Seasons Firenze wraps around the Giardino della Gherardesca, the largest private garden in Florence. The 116 rooms and suites are split between two historic buildings, with frescoed ceilings, a private chapel and cool, pared-back interiors.

The Michelin-starred Il Palagio is the culinary centrepiece, serving contemporary Tuscan cooking, while the spa’s signature treatment uses Chianti-based oils. A garden pool, complimentary bikes and a shuttle into the city centre round out the stay.

• Address: Borgo Pinti, 99, 50121 Florence, Italy
• Rooms: 116
• Starting Rate: USD$1,000
• Dining: Il Palagio
• Drinking: Atrium Bar
• At the Hotel: Largest private garden in Florence, swimming pool, spa/wellness centre, fitness centre, family friendly

10. The Upper House, Hong Kong

Rounding out the top 10, Hong Kong’s The Upper House is a 117-room sanctuary above Admiralty’s Pacific Place. Designed by André Fu and described as a temple of Zen high above the city, it is a calm, art-filled counterpoint to the streets below.

Fu has filled the hotel with more than 400 pieces of art, from abstract ceramics and marble sculptures to a 40-metre metal installation inspired by water. The rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows that play beautifully against the soft, curving window sofas and warm lighting, and the whole property is geared towards the discerning business traveller, starting with a seamless paperless check-in.

• Located in: Pacific Place
• Address: 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong
• Rooms: 117
• Starting Rate: USD$650
• Dining: Salisterra
• At the Hotel: Swimming pool, fitness centre, family friendly

The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 (Full List)

1. Rosewood, Hong Kong
2. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River
3. Capella, Bangkok
4. Passalacqua, Lake Como
5. Raffles, Singapore
6. Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
7. Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
8. Chablé Yucatán, Chocholá
9. Four Seasons Firenze, Florence
10. The Upper House, Hong Kong
11. Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro
12. Capella, Sydney
13. Royal Mansour, Marrakech
14. Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing
15. Bulgari, Tokyo
16. Claridge’s, London
17. Four Seasons Astir Palace, Athens
18. Desa Potato Head, Bali
19. Le Bristol, Paris
20. Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, Dubai
21. Cheval Blanc, Paris
22. Bulgari, Rome
23. Hôtel de Crillon, Paris
24. Rosewood, São Paulo
25. Aman, Tokyo
26. Hotel Il Pellicano, Porto Ercole
27. Hôtel du Couvent, Nice
28. Soneva Fushi, Maldives
29. The Connaught, London
30. La Mamounia, Marrakech
31. Raffles London at The OWO
32. The Emory, London
33. Maroma, Riviera Maya
34. The Calile, Brisbane
35. The Lana, Dubai
36. Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, Monaco
37. Janu Tokyo, Tokyo
38. The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
39. One&Only Mandarina, Riviera Nayarit
40. Singita, Kruger National Park
41. Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
42. Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles
43. The Mark, New York
44. Las Ventanas al Paraíso, Los Cabos
45. The Tokyo Edition Toranomon, Tokyo
46. Hotel The Mitsui, Kyoto
47. Estelle Manor, Witney
48. Grand Park Hotel Rovinj, Rovinj
49. Hotel Sacher, Vienna
50. Mandapa, Bali

Australian Hotels on the World’s Stage

Two Australian properties earned a place among the world’s 50 best in 2025: Capella Sydney at number 12 and Brisbane’s The Calile at number 34. Hobart’s The Tasman, which made the cut in 2024, dropped off this year’s list.

Capella Sydney

Australia’s highest-ranked hotel at number 12, Capella Sydney occupies an ornate Edwardian sandstone building from 1915, a short walk from the Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay. The heritage shell has been transformed into 192 rooms and suites that pair grand proportions with warm, contemporary interiors and locally commissioned art.

The food and drink lean hard into local produce, from native oysters and Australian wines at Brasserie 1930 to cocktails built on Davidson plum and aniseed myrtle at McRae Bar. Downstairs, the Auriga Spa and a 20-metre indoor pool make a strong case for never leaving.

• Address: 24 Loftus St, Sydney NSW 2000
• Rooms: 192
• Dining: Brasserie 1930
• Drinking: McRae Bar
• At the Hotel: Auriga Spa, 20-metre indoor pool, fitness centre, sauna, steam room

The Calile, Brisbane

Holding firm at number 34, The Calile is the centrepiece of Brisbane’s buzzing James Street precinct. It fuses tropical elements with a laid-back, sun-soaked style of Australian luxury, all pastel peach, rose and pistachio tones.

The big draw, according to the judges, is the botanical pool deck, where sun lounges and seven bookable cabanas overlook a 30-metre pool. It is a daring aesthetic that has helped drive a new style of Australian luxury, and earned The Calile a place on the global stage two years running.

• Address: 48 James St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
• Rooms: 175
• Starting Rate: USD$330
• Dining: Hellenika
• Drinking: Lobby Bar
• At the Hotel: Swimming pool(s), spa/wellness centre, fitness centre, family friendly

Previous Winners: The 2024 Top 10

For a sense of how quickly the list moves, here is the top 10 from the 2024 edition of The World’s 50 Best Hotels, when Bangkok’s Capella took the crown.

1. Capella, Bangkok
2. Passalacqua, Lake Como
3. Rosewood, Hong Kong
4. Cheval Blanc, Paris
5. The Upper House, Hong Kong
6. Raffles, Singapore
7. Aman, Tokyo
8. Soneva Fushi, Maldives
9. Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
10. Nihi Sumba, Sumba Island

Methodology

The World’s 50 Best Hotels list is created by The World’s 50 Best Hotels Academy and published by William Reed, which also publishes The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and The World’s 50 Best Bars. The annual ranking is judged by an influential group of independent leaders in the travel and luxury hotel industry, overseen by a panel of Academy Chairs.

Each voter lists the seven best hotels they have stayed in over the past 18 months in order of preference. There are no set criteria, though voters are subject to strict rules, and venues do not pay to enter or to be considered. The shortlist is open to everything from the best-known large resorts to small boutique stays.

Hotel Trends

If the 2025 ranking tells us anything, it is that the centre of gravity in luxury hospitality has shifted firmly towards Asia. Four of the top five hotels are in Asia, and Bangkok alone placed three properties inside the top 10, a feat no other city came close to matching.

Asia Leads the Way

Hong Kong took the number one spot for the first time through Rosewood, while Thailand confirmed its status as the region’s luxury powerhouse. Tokyo, Singapore and Bali all featured strongly, underlining how much of the new wave of design-led, service-obsessed hotels is being built in the east.

Wellness and Heritage

Two themes ran through the winners. The first is wellness, with properties like Chablé Yucatán and Aman building entire experiences around spas, nature and ritual. The second is heritage reinvented, as grande dames such as Raffles, the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok and Capella Sydney prove that history, carefully restored, still beats brand-new for many travellers.

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