Discover the world’s best luxury and boutique hotels: The 60 Greatest Hotels of All Time (part 1)
Ready to travel in the most luxurious way possible? Get ready to get swept away as we take you on a journey to uncover the 60 best luxury and boutique hotels in the world. These famous locations are more than just places to stay; they are true wonderlands filled with life-changing experiences, perfect service, and gorgeous settings that will take your breath away. These top-rated hotels range from luxurious urban retreats to secret tropical havens, and they are the height of luxury.
So come along with us on this exciting journey, whether you're looking for ideas for your next vacation or just want to enjoy the luxury of some of the most amazing accommodations on earth. Visit Lulu's Luxury Lifestyle and Travel for even more insider information and carefully chosen content on all things relating to hotels and travel.
The 60 Greatest Hotels of All Time
Lime Wood
New Forest, Hampshire, England
The 33-room Lime Wood Hotel, a quiet 5-star getaway in the New Forest National Park on England's south coast, is the top boutique hotel in the UK. Lime Wood, a traditional rural retreat 90 minutes from London, embraces its woodland surroundings, creating a natural, cosy, peaceful country house feeling. The rooms are large and expensive, providing areas for relaxing in addition to sleeping. The atmosphere comes next. Lime Wood was one of the first in the arrival of modern British country house hotels that lack the formality of their ancestors while maintaining the same level of luxury. The entire environment is designed to promote relaxation. This beautiful, extremely expensive New Forest retreat is all about attention to detail. As you enter the bathroom from your softly luxurious bedroom, the floor lights turn on.
The wood doors are solid, the paint finishes are rich and the stylised sitting rooms, one of which has a pool table, merge into one another, blending pale lemon into lilac into sage green and each with an open fire. Hartnett Holder & Co., a divine partnership between the most grounded of celebrity chefs, Angela Hartnett, and Luke Holder of Lime Wood, is also based in Lime Wood. Their sharing plates and woodland foods, which have an Italian flavour, are served in a plush dining area that is both stylish and relaxed. Today, that's how we want to live, and Lime Wood has nailed the vibe. Its location in the middle of 145 square miles of historical heath and woodland only serves to emphasise its status as the pinnacle of upscale rural luxury.
Rates start from £470 per night
Ett Hem
Stockholm, Sweden
Since entering the Stockholm hospitality market, luxury hotel Ett Hem has earned a reputation as the city's finest hotel option. And a few years after its debut, it is still regarded as one of Scandinavia's most talked-about premium boutique hotels. Ett Hem is a 12-suite boutique hotel housed in a grand 1910s Swedish mansion in a posh neighbourhood of the nation's capital that attracts both diplomats and the city's wealthy. The hotel's creative owner, Jeanette Mix, has carefully built the ideal home away from home from the ground up. Additionally, the name "Ett Hem," which is Swedish for "at home," says it all. There are many locations to relax, eat, or do both. The food is outstanding; the chefs, many of whom are ex-chefs from Michelin-starred establishments, conjure up regional, seasonal dishes on demand (beef tartare kimchi was a favourite) in front of visitors at the kitchen table. A charming conservatory, a terraced garden, and a Swedish sauna are also included. Each bedroom is opulent and distinctive, with a large free-standing tub here and an old wood stove with ceramic tiles there.
Rates start from £387 per night
Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Place
Budapest, Hungary
On February 15, 2023, Forbes Travel Guide, the sole global ranking system for upscale inns, eateries, and spas, released the results of its most recent Star Awards. In addition to receiving the Four Star award for its Spa, which is also exclusive to the Hungarian market, Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest also got the exquisite classification of Five Star rating, making it the only hotel in Hungary to receive the highest grade. According to General Manager Thibaut Drege of the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, receiving the unique distinction of a Forbes Travel Guide Five Star rating for the seventh consecutive year is a wonderful honour. "This award honours the Gresham Palace teams' extraordinary commitment to providing unique experiences and seamless services to all visitors. My sincere gratitude and praise to the entire crew. The Budapest landmark, which is Art Nouveau in style, captures the glitz and style of Budapest's Golden Age. The hotel is a real beauty on one of Europe's most picturesque rivers, with 160 opulent guest rooms, 19 spacious suites, and magnificent, opulent event facilities. The staff at the Four Seasons Hotel Budapest is honoured to be listed on this Star rating list by Forbes Travel Guide, which is recognised as the global authority on true Five Star service. According to Hermann Elger, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide, "Four Seasons' accomplishments in this year's Forbes Travel Guide awards once again demonstrate the company's long-standing commitment to exemplary service."
Rates start from £371 per night
Dar Kawa
Marrakech, Morocco
Dar Kawa has just four rooms in the oldest house in the Marrakech Medina. Meticulously designed by Belgian designer Valérie Barkowski this luxury riad is a secret gem amidst over 1500 riads now on offer in Marrakech. Hidden away down a maze of alleyways it’s not easy to find, but that’s part of its beauty. An oasis of tranquillity, Dar Kawa has everything you could wish for, apart from a pool; delicious food prepared by chef Saïda who has been here for more than 20 years, a sunny roof terrace, a treatment room and a team of charming staff. Great for a mid-week escape or take over the riad for a celebration with friends and family for a few days.
The Gritti Palace
Venice, Italy
"Everything needs to change if we want everything to stay as it is." Tancredi makes this statement in the renowned aristocracy-in-fade tale Il Gattopardo. It can be a famous Venetian grande dame's moto. The recent £36.5 million top-to-bottom restoration of The Gritti Palace was intended to make everything seem the same, just more opulently fashionable. One illustration is the way Murano artists removed, repaired, or replaced every brilliant teardrop pendant of every historic chandelier before polishing it. The 82 rooms, with their antique furnishings and luxurious Rubelli silk fabrics recently refreshed by designer Chuck Chewning without sacrificing any romance, are where the renovation is most visibly felt. With a view of the Grand Canal, a front-row seat to the Santa Maria della Salute church and the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, and proximity to St. Mark's Square via vaporetto in just 5 minutes, the location is already excellent. The five-star hotel was rebuilt in 2013 to maintain its historic charm and is housed in a palace from the fifteenth century. This old hotel has maintained its charm while providing all the conveniences and modern amenities for modern travellers. Welcoming GM In terms of customer service, Paolo Lorenzoni is amongst the best in the nation. The personnel, dressed in excellent vintage attire, serves as an example to a city that sometimes struggles with poor customer service. One of the great Venetian pleasures has to be a waterside breakfast on the terrace overlooking the glittering Grand Canal; it blows a Bellini in Harry's Bar out of the water.
Rates start from £1,262 per night
Belmond Hotel Splendido
Portofino, Italy
On the Ligurian Riviera, Portofino is a picturesque fishing community where old churches and wooden boats coexist with superyachts and shiny Pucci and Gucci outposts. The unquestionably magnificent Belmond Hotel Splendido, perched high on a hillside with a lovely wistaria-covered façade, tiered gardens with an infinity pool, and an enduring impression that this really is one of the great hotels of Italy, rules over this touristy setting. It all began when Rex Harrison purchased a villa nearby in the 1950s. Despite the fact that this old Benedictine abbey is now covered in pictures of its numerous famous visitors, there is little stuffiness. Everything here revolves around a leisurely meal on the expansive patio with its lemon trees and views of Portofino Bay, while the friendly, long-tenured staff in café-crème jackets serve up delectable dishes like baked sea bream and ravioli with walnut sauce. Five storeys hold 67 beautiful rooms and suites. The majority of the rooms and suites at Splendido have balconies with views of the ocean, which are ideal for opening the shutters on a sunny morning and feeling in love with life. Here at Belmond Hotel Splendido La Dolce Vita reigns supreme.
Rates start from £332 per night
Casa Angelina
Praiano, Amalfi Coast, Italy
It will come as no surprise that Casa Angelina is on the list of one of the greatest hotels of all time. It’s not grand, it’s not swanky, rather it’s small, private, personal and about 10 minutes from the centre of Positano in the charming village of Praiano, high on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. As close to perfection as you can get in my eyes, this contemporary boutique hotel is a flash of white against the blue sea of the Amalfi Coast. Pristine rooms are small, but perfectly formed with fluffy pillows, piles of towels and a choice of designer body products. Towels are changed at least twice a day and as if by magic your bed never sees a crease such is the service at Casa Angelina. All guest rooms overlook the sea (either with a front sea view or just a lateral/partial sea view) and most of them have balconies/terraces. All pieces of furniture including headboards, bedside tables and desks were designed by Architect Marco De Luca and made by local artisans in Sorrento. Also, the floor ceramic tiles were designed for Casa Angelina and made by Daria Scuotto in Vietri Sul Mare (here on the Amalfi Coast) who is the last ceramic artist in the area. Staff weave their magic unobtrusively, and their attention to detail is second to none (my favourite coffee was presented to me on my day of departure at 7 am in the morning). The views from the small pool are exceptional and the terrace is an ideal spot to watch the sunset. There’s a lift down to the beach for those less abled but if you’re after some exercise then take some time to wander down and admire the views on the way.
Food, glorious food! Any hotel described as pretty perfect has to deliver on the food as well as the service and the rooms and Casa Angelina does exactly that! Whether you’re enjoying a light lunch at the poolside or a tantalising menu at the glorious rooftop restaurant Un Piano Nel Cielo with breathtaking sea views of the Amalfi Coast, every meal at Casa Angelina is extraordinary.
Cotton House Hotel
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
The Cotton House Hotel is housed in a historic structure that was constructed in the 19th century as a private residence and later served as the Cotton Textile Foundation's corporate headquarters. The structure, which once served as a gathering place for the city's prominent textile industry leaders, has been brilliantly renovated by Lazaro Rosa-Violán, probably Barcelona's most well-known interior designer. Rosa-Violan is renowned for his ability to perfectly combine old-world expertise with modern design. He may have produced his best work to date with Cotton House Hotel. Business travellers are rarely drawn to Cotton House; instead, it mostly draws tourists. Although Barcelona is a generally extremely laid-back city and few venues demand guests to dress up even in the evening, the dress code is casual during the day and more formal at night.
There are 83 rooms in the Cotton House Hotel, five of which are large suites. The Cotton Hotel offers relaxed, brightly lit rooms. King-size mattresses and rather large bathrooms with a shower and a bathtub are features of the accommodations. A beautiful terrace adds the finishing touches, where you may sip your morning cafe cortado like a real Barcelonan. Even some of the top-storey accommodations have a bit of peek sea views. The comfortable beds and clean, fresh linens provide a restful night's sleep. The late-night snacking menu, which includes anything from sandwiches to filling complete dinners, is also available 24/7. Room service is offered to start with breakfast and continue through dinner.
Rates start from £295 per night
Ballyfyn
County Laois, Ireland
In 2020, Ireland went into lockdown, forcing Ballyfin Demesne to close its doors. The hotel ultimately decided to temporarily close in the hopes of reopening in June 2021 after going through numerous closures and reopenings as a result of local regulations. While they wait for tourism to begin, hotel employees have discovered new ways to stay active and pursue their passions. Sam Moody, the executive chef at the establishment, resorted to his passion for foraging and intends to share his knowledge with visitors when Ballyfin reopens. The excellent dinners at Ballyfin will include products from the estate's sizeable old kitchen gardens in addition to Sam's hand-foraged dishes. Over many years, people in Ireland have collected edible plants in search of berries, seaweed, mushrooms, and herbs. The practise was mostly forgotten during the Great Famine, but it is currently making a comeback in Ireland thanks to Nordic cuisine and eateries like Noma whose menus are built around foraged produce. Sam Moody's foraging programme will introduce visitors to Irish food and history while they look for foraged items, infuse dishes with richer flavours, and urge chefs and home cooks to look for their own foraged ingredients in order to resuscitate this long-lost sustainable tradition. At the base of Ireland's Slieve Bloom Mountains, on 614 acres, sits the five-star luxury country house hotel known as Ballyfin. The ancient home, which has long been regarded as one of the nation's most opulent Regency mansions, reopened in May 2011 following a comprehensive eight-year restoration. The property has a 28-acre lake, old woods, follies, and grottoes, as well as 21 individually designed rooms, opulent interiors furnished with Irish art and antiques, and rolling private gardens. Ballyfin offers a charming escape from the modern world, enveloping visitors in old-world elegance, romance, seclusion, and tranquilly. It is ideal for couples, families, and groups of friends.
Rates start from £700 per night