The world’s best luxury and boutique hotels: The 60 Greatest Hotels of All Time (part 4)
Part 4 of the world's 60 best luxury and boutique hotels. If you’re a hotel lover or love to tear hotel features out of magazines you’ll love reading about these luxury and boutique hotels. The world is big, time is short so why not add some of these gorgeous places to stay to your bucket list? Whether you're looking for ideas for your next holiday or want to enjoy the luxury of some of the most amazing hotels on Earth. Visit Lulu's Luxury Lifestyle and Travel for even more insider information, travel tips, travel essentials and carefully chosen content on all things relating to hotels, lifestyle brands and travel. The world's top 60 hotels offer a level of luxury and indulgence that is unrivalled. These hotels represent the pinnacle of luxury travel with breathtaking locations, faultless service, and unique experiences. We sincerely hope that our guide has motivated you to find your next ideal getaway and take advantage of all that the world has to offer. Have fun planning your next adventure now and learn about the most gorgeous lodgings, cabanas, luxury hotels and boutique hotels on earth.
The 60 Greatest Hotels of All Time
Inkaterra La Casona
Cuzco, Peru
Inkaterra La Casona, Peru
The conquering Spanish chose Cuzco, the Incas' imperial capital, as the best site for their most opulent palaces, churches, and villas. The San Blas neighbourhood's La Casona, which is situated on a lovely plaza, is regarded to be the city's oldest colonial structure and formerly served as Simón Bolvar's temporary residence. It was meticulously repaired before becoming Peru's first Relais & Châteaux hotel in 2009, but it still has the atmosphere of a conquistador's private home. Old World darkwood furnishings, antiques, and faded paintings blend beautifully with the earthy tones of Andean textiles and exposed rock. Eleven luxurious and roomy suites with private dining areas, stone fireplaces, heated oak floors, and marble bathrooms all enjoy views of the plaza or interior courtyards. Diego de Almagro took the largest Plaza Suite, Number Two. The hotel's on-site restaurant offers quinoa pancakes and cocoa tea for breakfast as well as Peruvian fusion dishes for lunch and supper, such as braised guinea pig and tempura Andean trout. There is an ecclesiastical calm at the tiny Yacu spa. The staff are unassuming, exceedingly kind, and speak perfect English. Many of Cuzco's greatest restaurants, the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, and other popular attractions are right on your doorstep.
Rates start from £290 per night
Amangiri
Utah, United States
The nearly secret location of Amangiri at Canyon Point, just a short distance from the renowned Lake Powell and the imperceptible border between Arizona and Utah, is difficult to locate in this harsh desert environment. The original layout was motivated by the untamed Utah environment and the peculiar Entrada sandstone. Visitors come to this resort to unwind by the pool, which bends around a rock formation, or to rejuvenate in the 25,000-square-foot Aman spa, which offers sweeping views of the desert and treatments with Navajo themes. With a glass of chilled Californian white and a plate of fish tacos, executive chef Jacob Anaya interprets the local new American cuisine. Meals are served on a private deck. With views of the untamed environment from the bath or bed, each of the 34 rooms and suites extends like an eagle's wing from the main building. The secluded terrace in southern Utah has a fireplace, comfortable chairs, and a wide folding window that can be entirely opened. This is the ideal location to take in the starry skies. Prices aren’t for the faint-hearted!
Rates start from £3,884 per night
Fogo Island Inn
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Fogo Island Inn, Canada
Fogo Island Inn appears most spectacular around dusk, when the windows sparkle through the sub-Arctic gloom, making it appear as though Planet Hip has paid a visit. The secluded fishing hamlet that surrounds the Fogo Island Inn, which is perched on a rocky island shoreline off Newfoundland on Canada's Atlantic seaboard, serves as its source of inspiration. Its oblong appearance may resemble a bohemian slice of London or New York, but it’s actually based on the clapboard homes on Fogo Island. Meanwhile, the island's minimalist décor is handcrafted by renowned North American and European designers, who in turn drew inspiration from regional customs. Every one of the 29 apartments has an ocean view and a woodburning stove, and chef Murray McDonald uses foraged berries, greens and 'wild things from the North Atlantic' to create Newfoundland dishes. Even though it sits on stilts, the inn is not remote. Zita Cobb, a local woman-made-good, pioneered a novel form of social entrepreneurship in which all revenues are donated to the neighbourhood. A once in a lifetime trip.
Rates start from £1,720 per night
Crosby Street Hotel
New York, United States
Crosby Street Hotel, New York
This red-brick façade of Crosby Street Hotel, New York and its blue-lit exterior promises a glitzy boutique hotel in the centre of opulently fashionable SoHo, but on a quiet cobblestone street. However, inside, there is nothing but lavish elegance: high ceilings, furniture made of dark wood, subtle shades of grey, mauve, red, and white, and wall hangings of modern art. The popular afternoon teas, such as steak and stilton Cornish pasties and spiced gingerbread English trifle, as well as the floral-patterned wallpaper and decorative sofas of the modern, airy interiors created by designer Kit Kemp, all reflect the English influence in the Firmdale group's one and only hotel in the United States. The second-floor Meadow Suite also features its own terrace garden. The 86 rooms all have floor-to-ceiling warehouse windows, with the highest levels offering breathtaking views of Lower Manhattan. The expansive Crosby Bar downstairs transitions from offering English breakfasts and those teas to cocktails and dinner, some of which feature ingredients from chef Anthony Paris's rooftop garden and urban chicken coop on the 12th level. The upscale, cutting-edge 99-seat theatre, which hosts Sunday-night film clubs and film festival screenings, is another attraction.
Rates start from £641 per night
Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
There is considerable pressure to live up to its location when your hotel is in Rio's most upscale neighbourhood where the sweet sands of Ipanema and Arpoador meet. Fortunately, the chance to provide some much-needed zing to a drab Rio hotel scene came to São Paulo's master of opulent hospitality, Rogério Fasano. Today, everyone congregates at the Fasano Hotel to take in the energising sunrises and sunsets, get prime viewing spots for the craziest funfair blocos and watch the action on the most stunning urban beach on earth. Inside, Gaetano Pesce's sensuous, spotlit La Mamma chairs break up the opulent shadows of Philippe Starck's corridors, while designer accents in the suites are practically rendered unnecessary by the impeccable views. The hotel's rooftop bar, Fasano al Mare, run by award-winning chef Paolo Lavezzini, is so popular that locals of Paulista book rooms for entire weekends only to savour the moreish caipirinhas there.
Rates start from £362 per night
Belle Mont Farm
St Kitts
Belle Mont Farm, St Kitts
Belle Mont Farm, located 1,000 feet above sea level in the northern St. Kitts highlands covered in rainforest, just celebrated its first anniversary. It aims to revolutionise the sustainable luxury industry. It was built and staffed by islanders and designed by the flamboyant Trinidadian businessman Val Kempadoo. Situated on a 400-acre organic farm, it offers inspiring views of the adjoining island of St. Eustatius. The 84 wooden guesthouses created by renowned architect Bill Bensley feature a regal four-poster bed, a private plunge pool, and an outdoor bath. Mountain hikes and golf (on a cutting-edge organic course) are among the available activities, but The Kitchen restaurant's innovative menu is the main attraction. Here, French chef Christophe Letard is rethinking how to use native crops like sorrel, christophene, and guava while also imparting his inventive cooking techniques to Kittitians. As a result, a feast of farm-to-table delights is served, including a wonderful tropical breakfast in the nursery gardens and a Sunday brunch with unlimited Bollinger.
Rates start from £326 per night
Shutters on the Beach
Santa Monica, Los Angeles, United States
Shutters on the Beach, Los Angeles
In this hotel, every celebration might be had with the same drink in hand—a dirty martini with no vermouth. Unlike so many Californian hotels, the renowned Santa Monica hotel greets guests with an old-fashioned level of service that never verges on over-familiarity. In front of the collection of Hockney, Lichtenstein, and Jasper Johns artworks that line the walls of the living room, a ridiculously attractive, preppie young valet assists guests in exiting their cars and carries their bags up to one of the 186 guest rooms. Some guests might find the view unimpressive unless they reserve one of the hotel's 33 ocean-view suites. Interior designer Michael S. Smith, who also decorated the White home, has compensated for this by transforming even the smallest space into a miniature beach home, complete with oak floors and hand-stitched Indian blankets. The nicest view, in any event, is available to everyone and may be enjoyed from the bar balcony while enjoying brunch, lunch, or tea from the hotel's 1 Pico restaurant (the handmade corned beef with biscuits and gravy is out-of-this-world).
Rates start from £600 per night
The Ranch at Rock Creek
Montana, United States
The Ranch at Rock Creek
James Manley, an investment banker, viewed 500 ranches before he discovered one that met his criteria. To ensure privacy, a valley is present. He could ski on a mountain, so there. In the vicinity, there is "a cool Western town": examined. Although there are elk, moose, deer, less hazardous bears, and wolves, he didn't want grizzlies, rattlesnakes, or cougars. It was necessary for the altitude to not be too high to create mountain sickness. He also desired a river that was loaded with fish. In the end, he chose 6,800 acres of the Anaconda-Pintler wilderness, repaired its 19th-century structures, and constructed a granite lodge, a few long cabins (the most charming are Bluebird and Eagle's Perch), and a line of riverbank tents. The real draw, however, is in the activities; all of the riding, shooting, fishing, archery, mountain biking, and in the winter, skiing, skating, snowmobiling, sledging, and sleigh rides are included, as are three meals per day and drinks, even in the Silver Dollar Saloon, where you sit on swivelling saddles at a bar encrusted with genuine silver dollars. Nowhere is more conducive to channelling your inner Jesse James.
All-inclusive rates start from £2,305 per night
Alila Villas Uluwatu
Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia
It's nearly hard for visitors who arrive here for the first time to resist pulling out their iPhones and trying to capture the stunning modernist architecture and Indian Ocean vistas of the hotel. The Alila Uluwatu resort is perched on a cliff on Bali's tranquil Bukit Peninsula and is composed entirely of straight lines, brilliant whites, iridescent blues, and black lava rocks. Depending on demands for quiet, discreet, or luxurious service, butlers can either bestow attention or flit around like genies, leaving chocolates on the table or geranium face masks by the bathtub. Villas are beautiful and relaxing places with private pools. Yoga classes in the morning are energising, as are laps in the 164-foot infinity pool that hangs over the cliff. Warm coconut oil massages at the spa place clients in a state that is somewhere between sleep and ecstasy. The fact that this is the first hotel in Bali to obtain the highest level of certification for environmentally sustainable design adds to the positive feeling.
Rates start from £639 per night
Qasr Al Sarab
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Qasr Al Sarab, Abu Dhabi
This ambitious property (imagine building a five-star hotel's foundations in the sand, and the logistics of water and electricity) leaves visitors with a real sense of the romance of Arabia thanks in no small part to its location on the edge of the Empty Quarter, a 250,000 sq mile expanse of dramatic desert. This is also accomplished through the exquisite individual villas, which command soul-stirring views, as well as the hotel's main structure, which is magnificently lit at night. From the mirage-like fortress-like building, one can observe the solitude and silence, dramatic sunsets, and starry, starry nights. There are many options for activities, a full-service Anantara spa, and five outstanding restaurants.
Rates start from £289 per night
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru
Maldives
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru
The size of this secluded Maldivian island resort in the Baa Atoll is the first thing you notice because it’s exceptional in that it offers approximately two million square feet of exotic tranquilly. At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru there is plenty of space for the broad, palm-lined promenade that leads to the hotel's core and, beyond it, to huge cycle routes that are encircled by old gardenia and lantern trees. The coral-fronted villas offer plenty of area for solitude and have classic open-air rooms, a 39-foot pool, and a private boardwalk to the sugar-soft beach. Additionally, there is the renowned three-acre spa, a top-notch medical facility with an Ayurvedic retreat offering up to three-week holistic programmes. This Four Seasons resort's sustainable activities, which are all overseen by a team of marine biologists, include a well-established turtle conservation programme, a coral-reef regeneration plan (4,500 coral frames to date), and a ground-breaking manta ray study project. You may complete the picture of exquisite hospitality in one of the most appealing settings in the world by adding an exceptional service philosophy directed by general manager Armando Kraenzlin's Zen-like tranquilly.
Rates start from £1,389 per night
Royal Mansour Marrakech
Marrakech, Morocco
Royal Mansour, Marrakech
This luxury hotel in Marrakech is not frequented by guests looking for a buzz or a scene. Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco, had it constructed as a palace of peace, a garden oasis, and a display of Moroccan workmanship. Intricately carved domed ceilings, walls covered in zellij tiles, beautiful stucco decoration, and lovely, cosy mud-walled riads with fireplaces, distinctive bedrooms, and roof terraces for sundowners are just a few of the structures' stunning features. There is the nicest hotel boutique in Marrakech, a glam cigar club, a cocktail bar, a cathedral-sized white spa, and a hammam where guests may steam. For those who do want to see other people. Alternatively, there is delectable food to eat, including French and Moroccan fare prepared by Yannick Alléno, a Michelin-starred chef from Paris, and a beautiful breakfast served outside next to lemon trees, complete with thick orange juice, flaky French pastries, and sweet Moroccan figs and honey. This is where you learn how monarchs once lived, if you ever wanted to know.
Rates start from £1,164 per night
Burj Al Arab Jumeirah
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Of course, the list of the best 60 greatest hotels of all time wouldn’t be complete without including Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, whether it’s your cup of tea or not! Have you ever desired an oligarchic lifestyle? The Burj Al Arab is not a subtle hotel and nor is it for the faint-hearted when it comes to the interior design. Its name, which translates to "Tower of the Arabs," is as brash as its 1,053-foot-tall sail-shaped building, which is still the third-tallest hotel in the world at only 15 years old. The 202 rooms inside are all duplex suites; the smallest is 1,819 square feet. A show-stopper is the atrium's 590-foot height. This dazzling hotel stands out for its exceptional service in addition to its opulent rooms, which feature thick, heavy doors, marble floors, winding staircases, personal offices with iMacs, and wine bearing the Burj Al Arab logo. These rooms also feature one-of-a-kind panoramic views of Dubai. The staff-to-suite ratio is eight to one, and each level has a desk with two butlers who are on duty around the clock. They will greet you by name and lead you down the corridors and into the gold-plated elevators. There are nine bars and restaurants, and there are three sizeable but quite distinct buffets to choose from for breakfast. Additionally, you experience fantastic and thrilling detachment from reality at all times.
Rates start from £962 per night
&Beyond Mnemba Island
Mnemba Island, Tanzania
Mnemba Island, Tanzania
One for the romantics and honeymooners. This little island, which most people refer to as Zanzibar and is located a mile off the northeast coast of Unguja, can be circled in under 15 minutes. You begin to feel proprietary after the first lap, a lovely promenade around a casuarina forest that sticks out like a tuft of untamed hair on powder-soft dunes, but staff assure you that this is a common feeling. The 10 big bandas, which are abandoned shacks with sandy walkways to the beach and striated blue horizons and are hidden in the dappled forest shade, are all open to the breeze and sounds of the ocean. The luxury in this setting feels decadent, yet, laidback and barefoot as does the privacy – the only visitors are the delicately boned suni antelopes and, at sundown, a barefoot butler who brings cocktails and lanterns to light the walkway. The luxury consists of a large raised bedroom with steps leading down into a lounge-cum-dining room with plush sofas. While you sink your toes into the sand, delicious dinners are served, and snorkelling amongst gem-like fish is just a few strokes away. Mnemba is advertised as the ideal honeymoon destination, but in my opinion, it's even better for lovers looking to rekindle a blazing spark. This island has a potent aphrodisiac effect.
Rates start from £620 per night
Singita Sasakwa
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
There are many safari camps that are just as romantic and located in as wildlife-rich areas as this one. Sasakwa, though, isn't a camp. It’s the most opulent boutique bush hotel on the African continent, a luxurious outpost in Tanzania designed in the colonial style for those who wish to experience wildlife without sacrificing even a little bit of comfort. The rooms are tiny villas with plunge pools and opulent modern décor designed by Cécile & Boyd, a South African design duo. Orange-yolked eggs benedict, Norwegian smoked salmon, and mango crème brûlée are just a few of the delectable dishes that are served in silver-draped dining rooms, lamp-lit verandhas, or under trees. There are spa rooms, tennis courts, infinity pools, and, for skilled riders, magnificent horses on which to gallop beside giraffe or mix with tens of thousands of wildebeest as they snort and munch when visitors don't feel like going on safari with knowledgeable guides. Another option is to relax in one of the 98 guests-only planters' chairs with feather cushions while admiring the stunning Serengeti views in a 350,000-hectare private reserve.
Rates start from £1,915 per night
Ellerman House
Cape Town, South Africa
Ellerman House, South Africa
Ellerman House is situated in what is arguably the most breathtaking part of Cape Town, a city that is not short on vistas, perched high above the Atlantic in a 1.5-acre tiered garden cut out of the Bantry Bay cliffs. Ellerman House is also the most private hotel in the city, a secluded retreat with the kind of quiet atmosphere that suits the many frequent visitors who treat it as their home in Cape Town. There are only 13 rooms and suites that share the expansive grounds, and outsiders are only welcome by prior arrangement or guest invitation. Every wall in this establishment is a monument to Paul Harris, the proprietor of Urbane, who is also one of the most renowned South African art collectors. Along with the 24-hour guest pantry (stuffed with delicious home-baked savoury and sweet treats), opulent rooms, Cape Riviera views, and astute service, Harris's enormous wine collection, which is displayed in an inventive 'wine gallery' and is often referred to as a work of art in and of itself, is part of what makes this house stand out.
Rates start from £613 per night
North Island Seychelles
Seychelles
North Island, Seychelles
It's no accident that Hollywood decided to use North as the actual Tracy Island from Thunderbirds for the movie. A mix of royalty, billionaires, celebrities, and other dignitaries travel by helicopter from Mahé to stay in one of just 11 completely exclusive villas. Because of their size, 10 of them are designated as Presidential, while the largest is simply referred to as Villa North Island. With lavish natural materials and vast amounts of polished driftwood furniture and doors, North redefines beach chic. In addition to choosing their own attire, guests can place any orders with the chef. This is more than just a posh hotel and spa next to a beach with fine sand the colour of spun sugar. It offers some of the best trekking, fishing, kiteboarding, and diving in the Seychelles. As proof of the owners' promise to turn it into a Noah's Ark, nesting turtles frequently come ashore, and the long west beach is home to flying foxes, fairy terns, whimbrels, and crab plovers.
Rates start from £5,007 per night