TOP 10s: Urban Retreats

Aman Hotels might have come from Japan, so well does the generally super-understated, minimalist look of its guestrooms match the ethos of the culture. It took a while for the company to arrive here, but when Aman Tokyo debuted in...

At a Glance The glam factor is high at the Cipriani, which dates back to 1958, when Harry’s Bar founder Giuseppe Cipriani opened this hotel on the tip of Giudecca Island, subsequently welcoming such luminaries as Sophia Loren and Yves...

The Connaught, Claridge’s, The Berkeley—these three sister hotels from the Maybourne Hotel Group have been the talk of the town ever since their society debuts in the late 19th century. Between the three, it’s a close competition, and depending on...

At a Glance Hotel Eden set the standard for excellence in Roman hospitality when it opened in 1889 and became this ancient capital’s first hotel to have an elevator, electricity and running water. Then, it serviced elites on the European...

At a Glance Searching for an unequivocally Roman hotel with inimitable style and a prime location? Look no further than Rocco Forte’s 120-room Hotel de Russie. Located just off the Piazza de Popolo and near the Spanish steps, the Hotel...

At a Glance For anyone who has ever fantasized about waking up in that quintessentially Parisian apartment, La Réserve’s 40 rooms and suites are that dream come true. Located in the mostly residential 8th arrondissement, the hotel occupies a Haussmann...

The 1920s and 30s, Shanghai’s golden era, come to life at the Peninsula, an art-filled cocoon that’s centrally located but feels apart from the city’s bustle. Many of the Art Deco details of the building, originally part of the British...

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto’s centrally located riverside property manages to meld contemporary design with traditional Japanese elements. The hotel’s architecture was inspired by traditional Meiji homes and its textiles are from a 12th-generation atelier known for creating Japan’s finest kimonos. The...

At a Glance If your Netflix queue includes The Crown or Bridgerton, the Lanesborough is the London location for you. Steps from Hyde Park, this former mansion, now an Oetker Collection property, brings the pastels, pomp and circumstance of the...

Space and serenity are two words that don’t often come to mind when describing Hong Kong, but they are both at the heart of what makes The Upper House special. Occupying the top 11 floors of a gleaming glass tower...