Hotel Awards 2025: the world's 30 best hotels

From Australia to Uganda,we reveal the world’s most exciting hotel openings. The result is a list of winners and runners-up that’s as varied as it Is unparalleled — whether you want to eat the freshest produce at an upscale farm stay, find designer digs in the city or tune out on a jungle retreat in the mountains.

Anantara Ubud Bali resort outside pool surrounded by jungle
We searched the planet for the world’s best hotels. Here are our picks.
Photograph by Anantara Ubud Resort
ByNational Geographic Traveller (UK)
October 1, 2025
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).

From bold design and clever use of architecture to incredible locations and a dedication to serving the finest local food, the Hotel Awards 2025 celebrates the best new and renovated places to stay across the world. Discover a cool designer pad in Mexico; a retro-hip motel along Route 66; a 19th-century building commissioned by a queen and reinvented as a boutique hotel in Stockholm; a remote retreat on the Sardinian coast; a farm-turned-food-retreat in Dorset, England — and plenty more besides.

Revamped hotel

These old favourites have been given a fresh lease of life after extensive renovations.

The arched interior of a moody, jazzy bar with velvet chairs and antique lamps.
From a belle époque facade to a Jazz age restaurant and bar, W Prague is full of surprises.
Photograph by W Prague

Winner: W Prague, Czech Republic
The Grand Hotel Evropa has always had something of Wes Anderson about it. Its revamp as a W Hotel honours its heritage while adding the vibrant modern touches for which the brand is renowned. The hotel has retained its classic, belle époque facade, with mint green wrought-iron balconies and fire-engine-red bay windows. The playfulness of the refurbishment really becomes apparent in the lobby. Here, original decorative features, like filigree copper lamps, sit among contemporary additions that pay tribute to the past, such as brushed gold tabletops and jewel-like mosaic walls.

Things get wackier in the rooms and suites, which feature bubble-like wall artwork, peacock-print chaises longues and, in the larger suites, marble-topped bars. The Minus One cocktail bar continues this psychedelic mid-century motif, while everything gets more trad again at Bisou, a sumptuous French restaurant whose dark wood, marble and gold drip with the wasted elegance of the Jazz Age. From 6,664 CZK (£237).

The tall and imposing exteriors of a wide, stone and window-decked facade of a downtown New York hotel.
A view onto a pair of luxuriously wide elevator doors in tall room with scalloped and painted ceiling, centred by a multi-tiered chandelier.
As one of New York City's few hotels that don't need an introduction, the Waldorf Astoria has returned to its nearly unparalleled art deco luxury after an eight-year-long restoration.
Photographs by Waldorf Astoria New York

Runner-up: Waldorf Astoria, US
After eight years and a $2 billion (nearly £1.5 million) budget, the grand dame of New York is once again open for business. The hotel has been restored to its former art deco glory, from the black marble columns and Persian carpets to Cole Porter’s grand piano, sitting pretty in the lobby. The rooms and suites are a picture of classic luxury, and are some of the largest in Manhattan. From $1,338 (£989).

The interiors of a modern, urban hotel bedroom with wooden walls and a hammock stretched in front of the floor-length windows.
The newly refurbished Jungle room features a hammock with fitting views onto Berlin's Zoological Garden.
Photography by Stephan Lemke

Runner-up: 25Hours hotel Bikini Berlin, Germany
This fun-focused hotel, which overlooks the Berlin Zoological Garden, is fresh from an eighth-month refurbishment. New additions include retro-styled Nomad Day Bar, good for co-working by day and cocktails by night. Every room has been spruced up, with new lighting and refreshed bathrooms, but the large Urban and Jungle rooms have seen the biggest changes. The most striking are the circular ‘conversation pits’ and reading nooks embedded in each. From €200 (£173).

Wellness haven

Taking care of yourself has never been easier than at these innovative retreats, offering ancient rituals and local therapies.

A floating hotel pool set into thick jungle trees with the simple concrete and pillared hotel exterior to one side.
Dipping into the floating pool at Anantara Ubud Bali Resort is like diving directly into the bordering jungle scape.
Photograph by Anantara Ubud Resort

Winner: Anantara Ubud Bali Resort, Ubud, Bali
This mountain-top hideaway offers a bucolic slice of Bali. A big part of the appeal is its edge-of-the-world setting, perched high above the Ayung River Valley and peering down on a quilt of lush, unspoiled terrain. The 85 rooms, suites and villas come with sultry jungle views; days unfurl languidly from these cocoons, accompanied by birdsong and mist threading through the treetops. Interiors lean towards earthy and soothing: wood, stone and marble, with handsome Javanese carvings dotted here and there. The secluded villas are enormous, with private infinity pools seeming to levitate above the leafy canopy.

So far, so Zen, but it’s in the spa that the real magic happens. Therapies are rooted in Eastern traditions, from massages incorporating Japanese shiatsu to siraman, a Javanese pre-wedding ritual involving a flower-filled ceremonial bath. For those looking to deep-dive into ancient healing, the resort arranges visits to sacred springs or the home of a village high priest for energy purification. From £292, B&B.

The exteriors of a classic, old English stone building featuring a sundeck and restaurant terrace across multiple levels.
The interiors of a decadent yet simple bathroom with a free-standing bath tub, romantic metal side table with flowers and a sun-shaped mirror.
Nestled into the North Yorkshire Moors, Saltmoore offers an English wellness experience from ground to suite.
Photograph by Eva Lili (Top) (Left) and Photograph by Saltmoore (Bottom) (Right)

Runner-up: Saltmoore, England
Offering a very British spin on wellness, Saltmoore is set amid the natural drama of the North Yorkshire Moors. The 72-room retreat draws on the restorative power of the landscape, encouraging wild swims and bracing beach walks. Guests reset with nourishing bowls of bone broth at the cafe and sea-salt scrubs in the spa. Rooms come in all shapes and sizes, from snugs hidden in the eaves to suites with four-posters. From £280, B&B.

Runner-up: Grand Hotel Belvedere, Switzerland
Following a lavish makeover, this century-old stalwart has become one of the Alps’ top wellness hide-outs. Highlights include a Japanese-inspired spa, mineral-rich pools — enjoyed with views of the Jungfrau peaks — and a treatment programme using Alpine plants. The hotel offers a number of retreats, too, covering meditation, nature hikes and yoga. The 90 guest rooms and suites are equally soothing, with minimalist furnishings in shades that echo the forested slopes. From £269, B&B.

Remote escape

Head to the wilds and away from the crowds for three hotels that are certainly worth the journey.

An elevated view onto a rectangular pool surrounded by thick bushes and featuring sunning chairs.
Should guests ever desire a more than questionable break from the beach, a private pool can be used for relaxation instead.
Photograph by Mattia Aquila
A symmetrical shot of two round tables with chairs on a stone floor, accentuated by a painting in the middle.
Designed by local artisans, Le Dune Piscinas is an ode to Sardinia's Costa Verde.
Photograph by Mattia Aquila

Winner: Hotel Le Dune Piscinas, Italy
Shaped by wind and waves, the sand dunes rippling along Sardinia’s Costa Verde are among Europe’s tallest, towering up to nearly 200ft. It’s a scene ripe for an escape act. And Le Dune is a five-star fantasy escape — out on its desert-like lonesome between the ochre sands, turquoise-blue sea and fragrant macchia (shrubland) of Sardinia’s southwest coast. Here, luxury is having the space and silence to tune into nature’s rhythms — the fiery sunsets, the starriest of night skies.

Architects Antonio Gardoni and Luca Platto have revived the bones of a 19th-century mining warehouse, restoring flagstone floors, stone walls and heavy oak beams. Local artisans transformed 28 light-drenched rooms and suites into an ode to the island, blending minimalist design with Orosei marble, traditional Sardinian motifs, bespoke fabrics and a palette of calming colours echoing the coastal surrounds. Throw in beachfront dinners of boat-fresh seafood, a ‘silent’ open-air cinema and activities such as private yoga lessons on the beach and Sardinian wine-tasting, and this is one very special retreat indeed. From €272 (£236), B&B.

Runner-up: Heyscape Denmark, Australia
Distant waves crashing on granite rocks and wind rustling through karri trees lull guests to sleep at Heyscape Denmark, a collection of three off-grid cabins scattered over the hills of a regenerative cattle farm. Located five hours south of Perth, and bordered by William Bay National Park, this is a place to escape the world, wandering along forest trails to take a dip in quiet coves or opting for a soak in the outdoor bathtub. From A$520 (£253), breakfast hamper included.

The view from a bungalow room onto a pair of deck chairs looking out into a tropical garden followed by the ocean.
Peace, quiet and jungle hikes for entertainment are all features of a stay at the remote Voaara island.
Photograph by Mark Williams

Runner-up: Voaara, Madagascar
Voaara, a remote island off a remote island, is a place that’s far from neighbours but close to nature, accessed by boat or 4WD transfer from the tiny airport on Sainte Marie. The legwork pays off the moment guests drop their bags at one of the seven beachfront bungalows or sprawling villa overlooking the Indian Ocean. Activities range from PADI dives to jungle hikes, or simply soaking up the tropical island vibes from a hammock, castaway-style. From €1,195 (£1,036).

Food hero

Tuck into farm-to-table dishes and hyper-local produce at hotels that champion gastronomic greatness.

The bedside of a stripped-back, wooden-clad bedroom with a bare four-poster bed.
After entering the natural rhythms of a working regenerative farm, guests are able to relax in their barn of farmhouse bedrooms.
Photograph by Jon Tonks
Close-up of a small but deep plate with folded strips of filled pastry in a dark broth, topped with broad beans and cripsy sage.
Chef Elly Wentworth creates a new menu at The Refectory every day, relying on the harvest of surrounding fields and the kitchen garden.
Photograph by Jon Tonks

Winner: Fowlescombe Farm, Devon, England
The idea of ‘all-inclusive’ is turned on its head at Fowlescombe Farm. Every meal is taken care of, of course, along with a daily programme of activities. But, unlike a traditional hotel, this is a place that invites guests into the rhythms of life on a working regenerative farm. It’s an ideal escape for those keen to muck in and learn firsthand where their food really comes from.

Each stay is tailored to guests’ individual interests. Mornings might begin by gathering freshly laid eggs from the coop, followed by a yoga session in the greenhouse. Later, guests could choose to forage along the hedgerows for cooking ingredients, knead dough with the chefs or feed the livestock with the farmer. Evenings are for reaping the harvest: chef Elly Wentworth, who writes the menu by hand daily, prepares a feast based on what’s grown in the fields and kitchen garden or has been pulled from the sea. When it’s time to turn in, there are 10 appealing suites spread across restored stone barns and a Victorian farmhouse, each with views over orchards or grass meadows and showcasing local materials such as oak, wool and stone. From £415, B&B.

An angled close-up onto a table set with a pair of wooden bento boxes, featuring samosas and other elevated Sri Lankan delicacies, as tea is served on the side.
Surrounded by tea plantations, expect impeccable food pairings with every locally harvested and brewed sip.
Photograph by Uga Resorts
An antique yet airy dining room with one long table and floor-length doors leading into the gardens.
Uga Halloowella's dining room features quirky antiques with a heritage charm.
Photograph by Uga Resorts

Runner-up: Uga Halloowella, Sri Lanka
Once owned by a British First World War fighter pilot, this early 20th-century bungalow folded among the tea plantations of Sri Lanka’s highlands is now a retreat that celebrates the natural bounty of its surroundings. Sip freshly plucked and brewed tea on a plantation tour, then return to the heritage dining room to enjoy the farm-to-table menu, with dishes such as Negombo pork curry drawing on local ingredients and regional flavours. Guests sleep it off in one of the six charming, antique-filled suites. From US$813 (£600).

A view onto one half of a cozy hotel room with the bed up to a wall, a modern chair and a rustic feel.
The Henson Inn's interiors are a masterclass in modern American country chic, from its bedrooms to its renowned fine-dining restaurant Matilda.
Photograph by The Henson
Close-up of a wide plate of a vibrant tomato salad, dressed in a herby sauce and oil and topped with leaves and edible flowers.
Matilda is run by star chefs Jeremiah Stone and Fabián von Hauske Valtierra serving up playful plates of locally sourced produce.
Photograph by The Henson

Runner-up: The Henson, US
The Henson is a relaxed, food-focused retreat in New York State, far removed from the thump and hustle of the Big Apple. A boutique inn with 16 eminently comfortable rooms, this Catskills bolthole is home to the stellar fine-dining restaurant Matilda. Here, renowned chefs Jeremiah Stone and Fabián von Hauske Valtierra (famed for Manhattan’s Michelin-starred Contra) cook up a playful, elevated local menu, best enjoyed after a bracing country hike or an afternoon spent in The Henson’s cosy, sun-filled library. From $274 (£203), B&B.

Budget break

A stylish stay doesn’t have to break the bank — as these three good-value hotels illustrate.

The warm interiors of a modern hotel working lounge with stripped back lights and eucalyptus wood furniture.
The interiors of a warm hotel room with cleanly designed eucalyptus furniture, tall windows and a woollen armchair.
Despite being set in one of Paris' most storied neighbourhoods, Élysée Montmartre Hotel compliments the rustic chic of its surroundings with modern interiors, predominantly decked in custom-made eucalyptus wood furniture.
Photographs by Policronica

Winner: Élysée Montmartre Hotel, France
You get plenty of bang for your buck in this most unorthodox and beguiling of Parisian boltholes. The 16-room hotel is enviably located between two Montmartre cultural titans: the century-old avant-garde theatre Trianon and the storied concert venue whose name it takes — Élysée Montmartre — graced by everyone from Björk to Bowie.

Yet the hotel’s creators have eschewed the obvious aesthetic homage to these in favour of a virtuoso display of what might be termed ‘lumberjack chic’. There are 9,149sq ft of space and seemingly 9,148 of these are adorned with eucalyptus wood: everything from the custom-designed furniture to the lamps, door handles, sculpted ceilings — even the frame of the giant screen in the cinema room. The result is a cohesive and calming sanctuary, with a cream and blonde-wood palette that sucks in the natural light. Four of the rooms are duplexes, some with rooftop views; there’s a stylish coffee lounge in the lobby; and Sacré-Cœur is around the corner. From €137 (£119).

A voyeuristic view through a rounded opening onto a warm and cosily-designed living room area.
Puro's warm and inviting rooms are owed to some of the biggest names in Danish and Nordic design.
Photograph by Pion Studio

Runner-up: PURO Warsaw Old Town, Poland
The billion-zloty look by prestige Danish designers GamFratesi is the first clue that PURO isn’t your typical budget stay. High-wattage Nordic names such as Louis Poulsen and Carl Hansen are behind the handcrafted furnishings, and yet double rooms still ring in at less than €100, sauna time included. While the grown-up sophisticated look of the interiors is pure 2025, prices are from 2005. From €98 (£85).

The interiors of a motor lodge lobby with modern sofas and a metal-frame armchair, a selection of trendy magazines and a native American tapestry on the wall.
A busy outdoor scene of a typical road-side motel with a kidney bean-shaped pool.
The remodeled Arizona motor lodge that houses Trailborn Grand Canyon combines the retro cool of a typical Route 66 stay with new-age Americana features.
Photographs by Trailborn Hotels & Resorts

Runner-up: Trailborn Grand Canyon, US
In time for the Route 66 2026 centennial, one of its old Arizona motor lodges has been taken over and brought back to life as a value hangout for a new wave of road-trippers. An hour’s drive from the Grand Canyon, the hotel has gone big on a outdoorsy Americana theme, with neon signage, a wood-panelled steakhouse, s’mores by the firepit and live country music in the Camp Hall saloon. Each of the 96 guest rooms come with fun local art, walk-in showers and retro furnishings. From $150 (£110).

Romantic bolthole

Cosy up at this crop of atmospheric hideaways for a charming break in stylish, secluded surroundings.

A close-up of a simple yet elegant hotel bed with a rattan hedboard.
An intimately dark and wooden bar with a round glass stand in the centre of the room.
Staying at the Palacete Severo is like entering an aristocratic life in the early 20th Century. Picture endless roaming of its luxurious halls and rooms before ending the day in one of its two bistros.
Photographs by Rupert Eden

Winner: Palacete Severo, Portugal
Housed in the former mansion of 20th-century architect, engineer and archaeologist Ricardo Severo, this sumptuous boutique hotel in Porto will have you feeling like an aristocratic polymath, luxuriating in your private home — albeit one with a heated swimming pool and a restaurant with a highly acclaimed chef.

The romance begins before you even step inside. The walls of the 1904 palacete (mini-mansion), painted a lovely lemon-curd yellow, rise above a stand of chestnut trees, reflected in the outdoor pool; its balconies are carved in latticed wood, its windows ornamented with vibrant shards of stained glass. Inside, it’s just as impressive, with rooms decorated in a tasteful, timeless style — wicker bedheads, wooden shutters and racing green armchairs — and retaining period features such as ornate coving and stucco on the ceilings. The owners also run a contemporary art gallery in Paris, and works from their collection adorn the walls. Chef Tiago Bonito helms the superb Éon Restaurant, taking you on a trip through the cuisine of Portugal’s country and coast with dishes such as sea urchin with violet prawns and seaweed. From €387 (£282), B&B.

A symmetrical wide shot facing a rustic and quintessentially British bed with aged wooden beams accentuating the low ceiling.
Romantically aged yet charmingly cozy, the Swan Inn hosts guests upstairs with a welcoming pub in the local community's heart downstairs.
Photograph by Dean Hearne

Runner-up: Swan Inn at Fittleworth, England
It’s hard to imagine a cosier place to hole up on a romantic break than the Swan, a 14th-century West Sussex coaching inn lovingly updated to the standards of country-hotel luxury. The building’s age is enshrined in the rooms’ charmingly wonky wooden ceiling beams, while wall panelling and freestanding bathtubs lend a farmhouse atmosphere. The downstairs pub remains the heart of the local community, serving exquisite locally sourced food beside the crackling fireplace. From £170, B&B.

A look around the corner into an intimate stone room with Moroccan lamps, arched doorways and inviting bean bag chairs.
Guests at La Fiermontina Ocean house in traditional stone houses with charming Moroccan interior design.
Photograph by Mr Tripper

Runner-up: La Fiermontina Ocean, Morocco
The main hotel is a striking modernist villa perched over a perfect Atlantic beach. But La Fiermontina’s secret weapon is its four cottages in a nearby hamlet, perfect for a romantic getaway. The traditional stone houses have their original decorative wood trim, accessorised with Berber rugs and poufs. Local concierges are on hand to arrange any activity you might think of, but guests are largely left alone to enjoy cocktails by the fire or sunsets on the terrace with views over the valley. From 3,179 MAD (£260), B&B.

Designer den

Uber-modern styling is at the heart of these three desirable addresses.

A deep-set hotel pool into a stone floor and cornered by the symmetrically cubed stone facade of the hotel building.
Hotel Humano hotel inside corridor
Taking inspiration from Oaxaca's established surf status, Hotel Humano proves its stellar design zen from its soothing pool to the sun-flooded rooftop bar.
Photographs by Edmund Sumner

Winner: Hotel Humano, Mexico
The epitome of barefoot luxury, Hotel Humano is the latest design triumph from Mexican boutique hotel heavyweights Grupo Habita. A surf-inspired sanctuary, it’s a stone’s throw from the waves of Puerto Escondido, a relaxed town in the state of Oaxaca that’s becoming a fixture on the world surf circuit.

The modernist property takes its design inspiration from the laid-back rhythm of the ocean. Each of the 39 rooms is designed with a fluid, open-plan layout, with freestanding walls and intricate wooden doors sliding open to reveal a lush tropical courtyard and palm-flanked pool. Local artisans have used local materials such as tropical wood, clay tiles and handcrafted textiles in the furnishings, while the colour palette of burgundy, burnt orange and neutrals, coupled with pale brickwork and exposed concrete, takes on a special warmth under the Mexican sun.

The property’s star turn — along with a bistro serving Oaxacan cuisine — is its rooftop Sunset Bar. The gorgeous west-facing terrace offers front-row seats to the outrageous oranges and reds of a Pacific ocean sunset, washed down with fiery local craft cocktails. From $220 (£163).

A wide, traditionally Japanese room with paper slide doors and simple wooden furniture.
Yoruya stuns with the luxury of minimalistic Japanese design, housed in a 110-year-old former kimono merchant's residence.
Photograph by Yoshiro Masuda

Runner-up: Yoruya, Japan
Less is always more at Yoruya, a clean, simple slice of Japanese luxury in the scenic southwest city of Kurashiki. Situated in a 110-year-old former kimono merchant’s residence, this serene property is magnificently minimalist: all high ceilings, white walls and black oak furniture. The entire property flows beautifully around a central, white-walled garden, while each of the 13 rooms is a light-filled paean to calm and tranquillity. From Y75,686 (£379), B&B.

A moody shot taken from a hotel corridor through the open door of a hotel bedroom, showcasing a brick wall feature and bed.
Features of the original brick building now housing Hyde Melbourne Place have been left untouched.
Photograph by Anson Smart

Runner-up: Hyde Melbourne Place, Australia
A microcosm of local art and design, Hyde Melbourne Place takes up a 16-storey red-brick building in Central Business District. Circular motifs and warm native woods are a feature of the 191 rooms, each drenched in earthy tones. Social spaces befit the buzzy location, with a fashion show playing on loop in reception, and some of the city’s most celebrated chefs overseeing rooftop restaurant and bar Cleo and basement supper club Mr Mills. From A$278 (£135).

Clever conversion

Live like a king or a maharaja in heritage buildings that have been reborn as unique hotels.

A wide shot of a luxurious dining room with a buffet bar in the centre and velvet benches.
A building with royal roots, the Stockholm Stadshotell retained its 19th-century glory.
Photograph by Eric Olsson

Winner: Stockholm Stadshotell, Sweden
Commissioned by Queen Josefina to honour her deceased husband King Oscar I, the first incarnation of this grand 19th-century building was as a charitable home for elderly women fallen on hard times. There’s little need for charity now — after a four-year renovation, the Södermalm landmark has burst on to Stockhom’s hotel scene in one of its most exciting openings in years.

Meticulous care has been taken with the architectural bones of the 1875 original, restored and reimagined to glorious effect. Chief among these is the former chapel, its vaulted ceiling, in-set columns and tall arched windows creating an elegant space in which to enjoy the local, seasonal produce offered by Matsalen restaurant. Elsewhere, the hotel’s designers have taken inspiration from the Arts and Crafts movement of the 1870s, with a focus on handmade pieces sourced from Europe’s finest artisanal makers — from the wooden cabinets and bespoke linens in the bedrooms right down to the ceramic key fobs. No two of the 32 rooms and suites are alike, taking into account the quirks of the building’s layout, but all are regally serene places that Queen Josefina herself would be happy to sleep in. From SEK 3,150 (£248).

Runner-up: Ran Baas, The Palace, India
This snow-white wonder in Patiala’s 18th-century royal palace complex, Qila Mubarak, takes you back to the age of India’s last maharajas. Conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah reenvisioned these lodgings as Punjab’s first luxury hotel, enlisting local artisans to work their magic with inlaid marble, murals, multi-foil arches, silk and damask. Whether you’re floating in the courtyard pool, breakfasting in the art gallery, dining on rich mutton curries in the restaurant or watching the sun set over fortress domes, you won’t know where to lay your eyes first. From INR 38,000 (£319), B&B.

A wide shot of a cozy hotel bedroom with a beamed ceiling, a wonkily-curved stone wall pilar and wooden floors.
Anna & Bel is one of Philadelphia's most sought-after boutique stays that takes pride in showcasing its historic and quirky features.
Photograph by Goldenberg Photography

Runner-up: Anna & Bel, US
Formerly an asylum for ‘indigent widows and single women’, this imposing 18th-century red-brick property has metamorphosed into one of Philadelphia’s most stylish boutique hotels. Located in hip Fishtown, its design showcases historic elements like the tall sash windows, oak staircase and marble floors, while breathing new life into the space with elegant furnishings and local artwork. Chief among the additions is a tree-lined outdoor courtyard with a heated pool and a darkly intimate cocktail lounge. From $300 (£223).

Eco retreat

Take a low-impact break at innovative hotels that aim to have a positive effect on the environment.

An airy, light-flooded concrete floor and wall hotel bar with a curved counter and an organ-tiered reishi mushroom artwork hung from the ceiling
The first carbon-positive hotel of America, Populus is as considered as the reishi mushroom artwork hung in the hotel's Pasque Bar.
Photograph by Yoshihiro Makino

Winner: Populus Denver, US
‘America’s first carbon-positive hotel’ is an ambitious flex even in a super-green city like Denver. But Populus — Latin for a genus of tree, which includes the aspens native to Colorado — has delivered on the promise. Its biophilic architecture, designed by eco legend Jeanne Gang to resemble a copse of knotty aspens, employs sustainable wood from regenerative farms, and uses carbon credits and renewable energy to offset embodied carbon. Smart thermostats keep energy use low, an on-site biodigester composts every leftover and a tree is planted in the Grand Mesa for every night booked. What irony that the building rose from the footprint of Colorado’s first petrol station.

That’s not to say Populus sacrifices on experience. Rooms have ‘hammock’ window seats inside those gaping openings, and are swathed in tactile fabrics and reclaimed woods to warm up the concrete shell. The downy white towels and cruelty-free toiletries feel luxurious. In the common areas, guests can discover leafy nooks as if wandering through a meadow. And on the rooftop organic restaurant, they’ll find a terrace plantscape overlooking the city and mountains. From $156 (£115).

A wide shot of an airy hotel lobby with a circular reception accentuated with a ceiling-covering donut-shaped artwork made of individual wood panels.
Finnish wood takes centre stage in Solo Sokos Hotel Pier 4 lobby and beyond.
Photograph by Solo Sokos Hotel Pier 4

Runner-up: Solo Sokos 4 Helsinki, Finland
The fascinating timber structure and showpiece atrium exude mood-altering light and warmth — and that’s before you factor in its energy efficiency. Self-powered, breathable and designed to absorb carbon, waterfront Pier 4 looks and smells like a luxury treehouse, all natural Finnish wood and towering windows. The restaurant sources 80% of its food locally, as does the pizza window on the green roof, a lively spot for sundowners with winding wildflower gardens. From €159 (£138).

A wide infinity pool enclosed by low-rise boxy stone buildings that blend seamlessly into the cliffside.
Tella Thera's saltwater infinity pool is perfect for feeling the breeze rising up the cliffside from Crete's Bay of Kissamos.
Photograph by Christos Drazos

Runner-up: Tella Thera, Greece
With its terraces of adobe-walled suites tumbling down the cliffside, its roof gardens verdant with palms and herb beds and its saltwater infinity pools gazing out towards the Bay of Kissamos on Crete’s northwest coast, this boutique pad is all about blending in with its surroundings. The luxurious rooms are stocked with locally sourced and built furniture, while the building’s semi-subterranean design and individual roof gardens are designed to maximise efficiency and reduce waste and electricity. From €343 (£297), B&B.

One-of-a-kind

Some hotels defy categorisation — these three properties excel in their field, offering an unforgettable stay.

A cozy bedroom in an Ugandan bungalow, with a free-standing four-poster bed and mosquito net.
Kibale Lodge holds only eight wood-and-papyrus rooms, each offering impeccable comfort and views onto the indigenous flora outside.
Photograph by Volcanoes Safaris

Winner: Kibale Lodge, Uganda
Preparation and construction took nearly five years — but Kibale has been a quarter of a century in the making. That’s how long Volcanoes Safaris has been honing its unique brand of gorilla and chimpanzee ecotourism in Uganda and Rwanda — and it’s distilled all its hard-won experience into this, its fifth lodge. The setting is dazzling: a 150-acre site centred on a rocky outcrop with views across emerald hills and crater lakes to the distant Rwenzori Mountains. On to this, African artisans have grafted the most exclusive of havens: just eight wood-and-papyrus bandas (thatched rooms) surrounded by newly planted indigenous flora.

Guests enjoy butler service and complimentary spa treatments, yet no one’s locking themselves away. The faunal treasures of Kibale Forest, the self-styled primate capital of the world, are just a 30-minute 4WD ride away, and the opportunity to track, and assist in the habituation of, some of the 13 species takes a stay to the next level. A proportion of the nightly rate is channelled to Volcanoes Safaris’ community and conservation initiatives. Trips from US$990 (£736) per person.

The simple stone facade of an imposing building with an accordionesque sculpture covering the left-hand corner.
A close-up of a coupette with a fizzy drink and a miniature postcard with a painting on the front attached to the glass rim.
A unique blend between hotel and museum, MACAM houses both curious guests and some of the most boundary-pushing art.
Photographs by Fernando Guerra

Runner-up: MACAM Hotel, Portugal
This 18th-century palace on the bank of Lisbon’s River Tagus showcases a vast private collection of modern art — and since spring 2025 visitors can stay over, in Portugal’s first museum hotel. The 64 rooms are spread over the palace and a new wing, and many come with views over the sculpture garden. The domed former chapel, slathered with frescoes, serves as an atmospheric cocktail lounge, and breakfast is taken in the glassy annex. A 1960s-inspired extension hosts special exhibitions — guests get exclusive access, naturally. From €290 (£252), B&B.

A wide shot of a comfortable leather sofa in front of a warmly tiled wall, decorated with books, art and lamps.
Brach Madrid's design, owed to Philippe Starck, takes inspiration from the city's pre-war charm and aesthetic in warm, welcoming tones.
Photograph by Guillaume de Laubier

Runner-up: Brach Madrid, Spain
The building is majestic enough: a seven-storey, belvedere-topped edifice on Gran Vía dating from 1922. But it’s the design, orchestrated by Philippe Starck, that elevates this 57-room hotel. The curio-packed interiors make you nostalgic for a pre-war Madrid you never experienced. There’s a convivial flow to the patisserie/cocktail bar/restaurant on the ground floor, and rooms share their idiosyncratic aesthetic, with warm tones and plenty of art. From €417 (£361), B&B.

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Published in the November 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).

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