This Hong Kong Hotel Was Named the Best in the World for 2025

Photo Credit: Rosewood Hong Kong

From Hong Kong’s glittering skyline to the storied shores of Lake Como, the world’s finest hotels gathered under one roof last night as The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 were revealed in London. The annual ranking — now in its third year — has quickly become the ultimate benchmark for luxury hospitality, a snapshot of how travel is evolving and where true excellence now resides. And if this year’s list proved anything, it’s that experience has overtaken extravagance as the new currency of global travel.

Photo Credit: Rosewood Hong Kong

Crowning the 2025 list is Rosewood Hong Kong, a hotel that feels less like a property and more like a vertical private estate suspended above Victoria Harbour. Its win marks a shift toward hotels that pair local identity with quiet sophistication—where design, gastronomy, and emotion work in perfect symmetry. Owned by Rosewood Hotel Group CEO Sonia Cheng, the property has become emblematic of the city’s confident renaissance: private, modern, and steeped in Hong Kong’s creative pulse.

Photo Credit: Rosewood Hong Kong

The top five reveal a geographic — and philosophical — balance. Aman Venice (No. 2) continues to define Italian grandeur with its frescoed salons and canal-side serenity; Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River (No. 3) blends Thai warmth with sleek design by Jean-Michel Gathy; The Upper House Hong Kong (No. 4) remains the understated icon that redefined Asian minimalism; and Passalacqua, on the shores of Lake Como, rounds out the top five as the most romantic address in Europe. Collectively, these hotels reflect a movement away from flash toward feeling. They’re not just places to stay—they’re living works of art.

Photo Credit: Raffles London at The OWO

In regard to overall trends, Asia dominates once again, claiming 18 of the top 50 spots and five in the top ten. Beyond Hong Kong and Bangkok, Aman Tokyo (No. 6) and The Temple House Chengdu (No. 10) demonstrate how architectural restraint can amplify emotion, while newcomers such as The Capella Hanoi (No. 13) and Raffles Singapore (No. 15) underscore the region’s unmatched ability to merge heritage with innovation. What’s most striking is the variety: sleek urban towers, island sanctuaries, jungle hideaways. From One & Only Desaru Coast in Malaysia to Nihi Sumba in Indonesia, the Asian portfolio reads like a map of modern wanderlust — one that prizes authenticity, storytelling, and a deep respect for place.

Photo Credit: Passalacqua

Europe is holding its own, too. The continent remains the heartbeat of timeless hospitality. Italy leads the continent with six properties, from Aman Venice and Passalacqua to Belmond Hotel Cipriani (No. 18), proving that la dolce vita endures but now wears a subtler face. France, too, dazzles—Cheval Blanc Paris (No. 8) and La Réserve Paris Hotel and Spa (No. 22) offer a masterclass in haute-hôtellerie, while Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc (No. 31) retains its mythic glamour.

Photo Credit: Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

In London, Claridge’s (No. 21) and The Connaught (No. 24) reaffirm that British service—equal parts polish and intuition—still reigns supreme. Yet the continent’s most exciting story lies in its reinvention of the countryside.
The Newt in Somerset (No. 27), Airelles Château de Versailles (No. 30), and Portugal’s Six Senses Douro Valley (No. 33) prove that rural luxury, once niche, is now the pinnacle of mindful escape.

Photo Credit: Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River

The Americas captured 12 spots on this year’s list, with Mexico continuing to set the pace. One & Only Mandarina (No. 14) and Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo (No. 25) represent a new generation of eco-chic coastal retreats—sustainable yet seductive. In the U.S., Aman New York (No. 9) remains the country’s highest-ranked property, a temple of tranquility above Fifth Avenue where even the bustle feels hushed. Elsewhere, The Little Nell in Aspen (No. 40) and The Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur (No. 42) showcase America’s renewed love affair with nature-driven luxury.

Photo Credit: Aman Tokyo

South America also earned its spotlight. Hotel Cisne in Buenos Aires and Rosewood São Paulo joined the ranking, signaling the region’s growing influence in the global travel conversation.

Photo Credit: Raffles Singapore

Meanwhile, Africa’s representation grows richer each year. Kenya’s Angama Mara (No. 23) continues to set the gold standard for safari chic—an experience defined as much by community as by view. South Africa’s Ellerman House (No. 38) brings art, wine, and ocean panoramas into one seamless expression of Cape Town culture.

Photo Credit: Four Seasons Firenze

In the Middle East, The Royal Mansour Marrakech (No. 7) anchors the region’s presence with its blend of Moroccan majesty and quiet modernity, while Dubai’s Bulgari Resort Dubai (No. 11) and Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa (No. 29) show two sides of the Emirates—urban refinement and desert serenity.

Photo Credit: Cheval Blanc

Latin America’s ascent continues, powered by hotels that pair design innovation with soulful hospitality.
Casa Polanco Mexico City (No. 26) and Rosewood São Paulo (No. 32) embody a regional confidence—beautiful, rooted, and world-class. Peru’s Explora Valle Sagrado (No. 36) and Costa Rica’s Kasiiya Papagayo (No. 48) champion sustainability without compromise, offering wilderness with comfort and conscience.

Photo Credit: Chable Yucatan

What ties these fifty names together isn’t just luxury — it’s intentionality. Sustainability, sense of place, and emotional resonance are now the holy trinity of modern hospitality. Even at the ultra-luxury level, travelers crave connection over excess. Design has softened; service feels more intuitive; experiences are curated rather than choreographed.

Photo Credit: Capella Bangkok

Technology has also quietly reshaped the guest journey. Hotels like The Upper House and Aman Tokyo continue to redefine seamlessness, blending human touch with invisible innovation. Meanwhile, wellness — once an amenity — has become architecture itself: SHA Wellness Clinic Mexico (No. 46) and Lanserhof Sylt (No. 34) demonstrate that longevity and luxury now coexist beautifully.

Photo Credit: Bulgari Tokyo

But let’s go beyond the list. While rankings inevitably spark debate, the deeper takeaway from the 2025 list is that great hospitality is no longer about geography — it’s about generosity. A boutique estate on the shores of Como can deliver the same transformative experience as a skyscraper in Hong Kong or a safari camp in Kenya. Each property reflects a different expression of humanity, a reminder that travel’s true luxury lies not in perfection, but in presence.

Photo Credit: Atlantis The Royal

As Rosewood Hong Kong celebrates its win, and the world’s best gather to toast another year of exceptional service, one truth rings clear: The best hotels don’t just host us—they change how we see the world.

Photo Credit: Upper House Hong Kong