The List of World’s best hotel has been published and Africa hosts two of the hotels on the list of the world’s top 50 hotels.
On number 28 is Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel (Cape Town, South Africa) while number 31 is La Mamounia (Marrakech, Morocco).
Capella Bangkok ranks number 1 on the list. It opened in 2020, in the first year of a global pandemic that had the hospitality industry on its knees.
However, just four years later, this sanctuary overlooking the Chao Phraya River has taken the top spot in the second edition of the World’s 50 Best Hotels list, which was announced at an awards ceremony in London on Tuesday night.
Last year’s winner, the 24-key Italian property Passalacqua, overlooking Lake Como, was in second place this year.
The $3,000-a-night Cheval Blanc in Paris jumped up the list this year to fourth place and the City of Light was also represented by the stately Hôtel de Crillon at No. 15 and Le Bristol at No. 40.
Host city London also had a good showing, with established classics Claridge’s and The Connaught at No. 11 and No. 46 respectively and Raffles London at The OWO (No. 13) taking the Lavazza Highest New Entry Award.
Dubai behemoth Atlantis The Royal shot up to ninth position this year, scooping the Highest Climber Award, and the lower-key The Lana, at No. 23, was another success story from the emirate.
Mexican wellness escape Chablé Yucatán, built around a sacred Mayan pool, placed at No. 16 and was named Best Hotel in North America.
The Calile, a stylish and airy urban resort in the lively James Street area of Brisbane, Australia, was named Best Hotel in Oceania, ranking at No. 25. Last year it was the sole Aussie representative, but in 2024 it was joined by the Tasman in Hobart at No. 49.
The two highest African entries were both from Marrakech: La Mamounia at No. 31 and Royal Mansour at No. 38.
The World’s 50 Best Hotels
1. Capella Bangkok
2. Passalacqua (Moltrasio, Italy)
3. Rosewood Hong Kong
4. Cheval Blanc Paris
5. The Upper House (Hong Kong)
6. Raffles Singapore
7. Aman Tokyo
8. Soneva Fushi (Maldives)
9. Atlantis The Royal (Dubai)
10. Nihi Sumba (Wanokaka, Indonesia)
11. Claridge’s (London)
12. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
13. Raffles London at The OWO
14. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River
15. Hôtel de Crillon (Paris)
16. Chablé Yucatán (Chocholá, Mexico)
17. Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc (Antibes, France)
18. Maroma, A Belmond Hotel (Riviera Maya, Mexico)
19. Four Seasons Firenze (Florence, Italy)
20. Borgo Santandrea (Amalfi, Italy)
21. Desa Potato Head (Seminyak, Bali)
22. Bulgari Tokyo
23. The Lana (Dubai)
24. Rosewood São Paulo (São Paulo, Brazil)
25. The Calile (Brisbane, Australia)
26. The Siam (Bangkok)
27. Park Hyatt Kyoto (Kyoto, Japan)
28. Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel (Cape Town, South Africa)
29, One&Only Mandarina (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)
30. The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (New York)
31. La Mamounia (Marrakech, Morocco)
32. Four Seasons Madrid
33. Capella Singapore
34. Four Seasons at the Surf Club (Surfside, Miami)
35. Hotel Bel-Air (Los Angeles)
36. Eden Rock (St. Barths)
37. Aman New York
38. Royal Mansour (Marrakech)
39. Amangalla (Sri Lanka)
40. Le Bristol Paris
41. Gleneagles (Auchterarder, Scotland)
42. Castello di Reschio (Umbria, Italy)
43. Suján Jawai (Rajasthan, India)
44. Singita Lodges (Kruger National Park, South Africa)
45. Six Senses Zighy Bay (Oman)
46. The Connaught (London)
47. The Brando (French Polynesia)
48. Hotel Esencia (Tulum, Mexico)
49. The Tasman (Hobart, Australia)
50. Kokomo Private Island (Fiji)
