Great American City Hotels
The great single hotels outside New York, where an American city has one or two addresses genuinely worth the word luxury: The Beverly Hills Hotel, Hotel Bel-Air and The Peninsula Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, Fairmont San Francisco and The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, The Ritz-Carlton Chicago and The Langham Chicago, Faena Miami and The Setai Miami, and Four Seasons Washington DC and The Hay-Adams. New York gets its own list because the supply there dwarfs every other American city. Everywhere else, one strong hotel or two carries the whole market, and we judge them on the room, the restaurant's own reputation, and whether the service matches a big-city rate.
- 1
A modernist Georgetown landmark on Pennsylvania Avenue with views of the C&O Canal, home to Bourbon Steak and expanded suites after a $20 million renovation that redefined the property for contemporary luxury travel.
- 2
A 435-room luxury hotel occupying the upper floors of Water Tower Place, Chicago's iconic 1976 modernist tower, with Gold Coast views and upscale dining led by the Italian steakhouse Torali.
- 3
A 1909 Neoclassical landmark on Nob Hill overlooking the bay, the San Francisco Ritz-Carlton occupies a restored former bank and insurance headquarters building with a 1,960-square-foot Presidential Suite and modern fine dining.
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A Beaux-Arts landmark atop Nob Hill rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake, home to the Tonga Room's floating bandstand and one of San Francisco's essential cocktail bars.
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A 1901 Beaux-Arts building at Pennsylvania Avenue steps from the White House, with over 200 years of continuous hotel history on the site and restoration completed in 1986 after a two-decade closure.
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A 1929 French Renaissance castle-inspired property on Sunset Boulevard with 63 rooms and bungalows, favored by Hollywood's creative class for its private cottages and storied old Hollywood atmosphere.
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A modernist glass tower on the Chicago River that occupies floors 2 through 14 of Mies van der Rohe's final skyscraper. The 316-room hotel delivers pristine architecture, river views, and a Michelin-recognized restaurant in one of Chicago's most recognizable buildings.
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A 1928 Italian Renaissance-style hotel on Lafayette Square with unobstructed views of the White House, named for two 19th-century residents and offering fine dining and membership in Leading Hotels of the World.
- 9
A legendary Sunset Boulevard palace since 1912, known for its pink facade, secluded bungalows, and the power-broker Polo Lounge. Where Old Hollywood met the modern film industry.
- 10
An art-soaked oceanfront resort that was originally the Saxony Hotel, now reimagined as a glamorous destination with bold design, multiple restaurants, and a 3-meter gold-plated Damien Hirst mammoth sculpture anchoring the property on Collins Avenue.
- 11
A secluded 1946 Los Angeles landmark set within 12 acres of private gardens in the exclusive Bel-Air neighborhood, featuring 103 rooms, a swan lake, and Wolfgang Puck's restaurant.
- 12
A sophisticated oceanfront property anchored by a meticulously restored 1937 Art Deco building designed by Henry Hohauser and expanded with a modern tower. The hotel blends Asian-inspired design with Miami Beach Art Deco heritage, offering 171 suites across multiple room categories and Asian-focused dining.