Europe Dominates World’s 50 Best Hotels For 2023

Passalacqua in Lake Como, Italy has been named the World’s Best Hotel 2023 by the same authoritative body behind The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and The World’s 50 Best Bars.

The 24-room boutique hotel, located in the famously expensive commune of Moltrasio, has only been open for around two years but has already laid claim to such an ambitious accolade. That puts it ahead of storied properties like London’s The Connaught (#22) and The Savoy (#47), Le Bistrol in Paris (#29) and Four Seasons Firenze in Florence (#9).

Almost half of the 50 hotels are based in Europe, while 18 are in Asia and the rest are in the Americas. Only one is located in Australia: Brisbane’s The Calile, putting up an impressive performance at #12.

Yet it seems Asia is home to the best hotels in the world, on average. Four of the top five properties are all based in Asia, with runner-up Rosewood Hong Kong leading the charge, ahead of Bangkok’s Four Seasons at #3, Hong Kong’s The Upper House at #4, and Aman Tokyo at #5.

Impressively, Dubai’s Atlantis the Royal managed to crack the top 50 despite only opening earlier this year. That is, the hotel that hosted the most extravagant ribbon-cutting of all time with a private concert from Beyonce, a Tequila launch from Kendall Jenner, and a hell of a lot of fireworks. We were one of the few Australian publications at the grand opening which you can read about in our recap article.

Interestingly, none of New York’s grand dame hotels like The Plaza or The Pierre made the inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels list. Although Aman New York clocked in at #25, becoming the highest-rated North American hotel on the list.

World’s 50 Best Hotels For 2023

1. Passalacqua, Moltrasio
2. Rosewood, Hong Kong (Reviewed)
3. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River
4. The Upper House, Hong Kong
5. Aman, Tokyo
6. La Mamounia Marrakech
7. Soneva Fushi Maldives
8. One&Only Mandarina Puerto Vallarta
9. Four Seasons Firenze Florence
10. Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
11. Capella, Bangkok
12. The Calile, Brisbane
13. Chablé Yucatán,Chocholá
14. Aman, Venice
15. Singita Lodges, Kruger National Park
16. Claridge’s, London
17. Raffles, Singapore
18. Nihi Sumba, Wanokaka (Reviewed)
19. Hotel Esencia, Tulum
20. Le Sirenuse, Positano
21. Borgo Egnazia,Savelletri
22. The Connaught, London
23. Royal Mansour, Marrakech
24. Four Seasons, Madrid
25. Aman, New York
26. The Maybourne Riviera,Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
27. Rosewood, São Paulo
28. Capella, Singapore
29. Le Bristol, Paris
30. Park Hyatt, Kyoto
31. La Réserve, Paris
32. Gleneagles, St Andrews, Scotland
33. Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes
34. Cheval Blanc, Paris
35. Four Seasons Astir Palace, Athens
36. Soneva Jani, Maldives
37. The Newt, Bruton
38. Amangalla, Galle
39. Hoshinoya, Tokyo
40. Desa Potato Head, Seminyak
41. Eden Rock, St. Barths
42. The Siam, Bangkok
43. Badrutt’s Palace, St. Moritz
44. Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
45. The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra
46. NoMad, London
47. The Savoy, London
48. Equinox, New York
49. Six Senses Ibiza, Portinatx
50. Hôtel de Crillon, Paris