USD
From Private Islands to The Plaza: The World’s Most Iconic Hotels
Written by Ruby Staley
More than just a place to stay, these fabled establishments promise unparalleled experiences and a glimpse into grandeur.
Often steeped in history, legend and luxury, hotels often achieve ‘icon status’ thanks to prolific guest lists, Hollywood appearances, ground-breaking architecture or simply as being the setting for gossip shared around the water cooler. No matter how a hotel makes it onto the icon list however, these hotels have one thing in common: a global reputation for the outstanding. Discover some of the world’s most iconic stays here, from private islands in the Whitsundays to grand Parisian dames, and find out why these legendary hotels have made a name for themselves in all the right ways.
Iconic Hotels in Australia
Intercontinental Hayman Island Resort, Hayman Island
Welcome to your very own private island resort: InterContinental Hayman Island Resort, where the tall palms sway, the margaritas flow and the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef is just on the horizon. The island, originally purchased in 1947 by aviation pioneer Reginald Ansett, was intended as a winter resort destination and across its near 80-year history has seen multiple refurbishments, renovations and even a cyclone. It’s place among Australia’s most iconic hotels has never wavered though. Now, this Whitsundays treasure cements its status even more with world-class amenities, stellar dining options and water adventures of all sorts, from private catamaran cruises to some of the most vivid snorkelling discoveries in all the country.
Bannisters Pavilion, Shoalhaven
Celebrated British chef Rick Stein has only two restaurants in Australia: one is at Bannisters Pavilion. (The other is Bannisters Port Stephens further north on the NSW coast). The restaurant is one of the only of Stein’s outposts, excluding his diners in the UK, where diners can feast on his signature seafood dishes while looking out across the ocean where some of the ingredients have been sourced. Making a reservation for lunch or dinner is a must for guests who, while awaiting their seating, can take advantage of the hotel’s other facilities: a sunbed-fringed rooftop swimming pool, close proximity to Mollymook beach and rooms that channel a cool, laidback coastal aesthetic.
Hydro Majestic, Blue Mountains
The heritage Hydro Majestic is a palatial Art Deco sprawl located in NSW’s Blue Mountains. Founded in 1901 as a wellness retreat (a pioneering idea for its time), it was soon host to the likes of Dame Nellie Melba and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The façade of this stately pile accounts for much of the hotel’s stellar first impression, but the award-winning Wintergarden restaurant, offering fancy afternoon teas and a refined dinner menu, plus a Shanghai-inspired tearoom, also help in setting this stay apart. Guests being treated to views of the lush Megalong Valley is the cherry on top.
Iconic Hotels in Bali
The Mulia, Nusa Dua
The Mulia is synonymous with Bali luxury. As one of Travel+Leisure’s top hotels in the world, The Mulia is a modern icon that takes beachfront opulence to new heights as it stretches along a one-kilometre length of Nusa Dua beachfront. The statue-lined Oasi Pool is arguably one of the most photographed in Asia; it’s also the longest infinity pool by the beach in Bali. There are enough dining options to please the fussiest foodie, including Table8, an acclaimed Chinese outlet named by TripAdvisor as in the top 1% of restaurants worldwide, an artisan patisserie and designer cake-maker perfect for your sweetest of desires.
Grand Hyatt Bali, Nusa Dua
Located on a sought-after shoreline in Bali, the Grand Hyatt Bali is one of the island’s most iconic family resorts. Watery wonders abound here: there are five swimming pools to splash and frolic about in, an ocean-themed kids’ club, and even a 50-metre waterslide. For the adults, expect balmy nights sipping tropical fizz at the beachfront Salsa Bar, playing rounds of billiards at the lively Lila Cita Tavern and savouring Nampu’s fresh sushi and cooked teppanyaki style.
Iconic Hotels in Thailand
The Shore at Katathani, Phuket
This bestseller is a Luxury Escapes icon, the dream location for couples with a soft spot for beachfront luxury and villas with private swimming pools. Checking into The Shore at Katathani promises the allure of doing as much or as little as you like. Laze on your villa’s secluded terrace, stroll along the resort’s Ocean Walk, do laps of the white-sand beach, and work your way through the menus at the two restaurants. Beyond the resort’s boundaries, the buzz of Patong is only 20 minutes’ away by car.
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok has all the fixings – plus more – expected of this internationally-renowned hotel brand. This magnificent hotel has a history worth of a novella (it’s one of Mandarin Oriental’s oldest outposts). Its bones have been sitting pretty along the Chao Praya River since 1863 and it broke ground as the first luxury hotel in Thailand. It was also the first hotel with electric lights, plus it had Bangkok’s first hotel bar. The Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok has gone on to welcome enough writers to fill a library (think W. Somerset Maugham and John Le Carré) as well as Tsar Nicolas II of Russia, Princess Diana and Mick Jagger.
Iconic Hotels in Maldives
One&Only Reethi Rah, Male
The Maldives as a luxury destination needs little introduction, and neither does One&Only Reethi Rah. With past guests reportedly including the likes of Victoria and David Beckham, Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe (although the resort staff will never officially spill the beans), it’s this celeb-approved clout that has catapulted One&Only Reethi Rah into the ranks of one of the Maldives’ most renowned stays. Set on a private island only a short boat ride away from Male, this dreamy resort does overwater indulgence best, spanning eight restaurants, bars and lounges, including a swim-up bar. Between cocktails, explore 12 different beaches, snorkel with hawksbill turtles, or relax in Maldivian bliss with an upgrade to an overwater villa.
Iconic Hotels in UK
Claridge’s, London
When in London, this Mayfair institution is the place to rest your head. Favourited by celebrities past and present – from Audrey Hepburn to Leonardo DiCaprio, heads of state and royalty – its art deco interiors have housed some of history’s most accomplished. Claridge’s signature suites are some of the city’s most stylish (and spacious), having been designed by a revolving door of creatives and couturiers from Diane von Furstenberg to Rémi Tessier. For an afternoon tea experience worthy of folklore, head to The Foyer & Reading Room.
Iconic Hotels in Singapore
Raffles Singapore, Singapore
Think Singapore and Raffles Singapore immediately springs to mind. A living relic of the golden age of travel, its famous white exterior has long welcomed royalty, Hollywood greats and literary legends. Named after the father of modern Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles, the hotel epitomises the city’s love of grandeur and invites guests into its immaculate halls to relive Singapore’s glamorous past. Indulge in French cuisine at La Dame de Pic, helmed by Michelin-starred chef Anne-Sophie Pic, and walk in the footsteps of illustrious scribes like Ernest Hemingway and Joseph Conrad at the Writers Bar to play your part in the Raffles legend.
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Where Raffles is a symbol of Singapore’s history, Marina Bay Sands is a beacon of its modernity. Designed by architect Moshe Safdie, the three distinctive towers of the hotel have become an instantly recognisable icon of the Singapore skyline, featured in movies, TV shows, postcards and more. The 150-metre-long infinity pool, positioned 57 levels above the city, could be one of the most photographed pools in the world. Its onsite dining and shopping offering is legendary: think 80 restaurants and bars and 270 boutiques offering everything from CHANEL to Armani.
Iconic Hotels in USA
The Beverly Hills Hotel, California
As the epitome of glamour in Tinsel Town, the walls of the iconic pink The Beverly Hills Hotel must have a story or three to tell. A playground for the Hollywood elite since 1912, this is where LA’s finest come to be seen and equally, not be seen (guests have included Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy, Elizabeth Burton and Richard Taylor). From its instantly recognisable cabana-lined pool, to the grand lobby and legendary bungalows (where an A-list love affair or two have played out), the influence of Hollywood is felt everywhere. Add to that a curated art collection, eateries including the fabled Polo Lounge and a spa inspired by Californian flora and fauna and you’ve got an A-list escape indeed.
The Plaza, New York
Central Park, Fifth Avenue and Times Square: The Plaza is among the Big Apple’s most renowned landmarks. A staple for royalty, socialites and Hollywood films throughout history, F. Scott Fitzgerald once said that “nothing unimportant ever happens at The Plaza”. From its Gatsby-esque interiors – think stained glass ceilings, velvety seating and marble pillars flecked with shining gold – to the specialty afternoon tea at Palm Court and the finest tipples poured at The Champagne Bar, The Plaza remains an icon for a reason.
Iconic Hotels in Morocco
La Mamounia, Marrakech
With a century of elegance under its belt, La Mamounia is no stranger to accolades – it’s been named the best hotel in Morocco by publications including Condé Nast Traveler. This masterpiece of a hotel was once Winston Churchill’s winter respite of choice and it continues to welcome significant guests to its historic halls, as it has done since 1923. This uniquely designed hotel, with its distinctive chandelier (‘the jewel of the grand dame’), is where traditional Zellij tiles and Berber-style tapestries collide, along with art deco furniture, signature fragrances, acclaimed restaurants and multiple wellbeing offerings.
Iconic Hotels in France
Ritz Paris, Paris
There can’t be many people in the world who haven’t heard of the legendary Ritz Paris. The array of artists and celebrities that have walked its hallowed halls since first opening in 1898 is a roll call of icons, from royalty like Princess Diana, to fashion icons like Coco Chanel and avant-garde creators like Ernest Hemingway. Beyond its majestic façade, Parisian sensibilities – from style to taste – permeate every corner of this grand palace. The magic of midnight in Paris can be found at Bar Hemingway, while the Michelin-starred Espadon restaurant is the pinnacle of French gastronomic elegance.
Iconic Hotels in India
The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai, Maharashtra
With a legacy of more than 120 years as India’s inaugural luxury hotel, The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai is more than just prolific architecture and rich history. Overlooking the Gateway of India and the Arabian Sea, this harbourside haven is known for hosting illustrious guests, royalty and political figures alongside lovers of high-end luxury. Enjoy a tipple at Mumbai’s first licensed lounge bar, treat your palate to traditional Indian recipes at the Michelin-starred Quilon, and indulge in high tea fit for a maharaja during your stay.
Iconic Hotels in UAE
Burj Al Arab, Dubai
Widely regarded as one of the most luxurious hotels in the world, Burj Al Arab is a name synonymous with glamour. Located on its own man-made island, the sail-like structure commands the Dubai skyline, as the pinnacle of the city’s cosmopolitan boom. Its regal interiors are mind-blowing: think more than 30 different types of marble, 1,790sqm of 24-carat gold leaf, gold columns and thousands of Swarovski crystals. Add to that the world’s largest fleet of Rolls Royces, a rooftop helipad and a Michelin-starred restaurant, and you’ve got the ultimate high-rollers’ playground.
Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
Some hotels generate such buzz they become an instant icon. It may be one of the newer additions to Dubai’s glimmering skyline, but Atlantis The Royal certainly arrived with a splash (the grand opening was a glittering spectacle headed up by Beyoncé, no less). With directional architecture rising from the Palm Jumeirah, this cutting-edge hotel ups the ante with a 90-metre sky pool, 17 dining outlets, a sprawling 5,000sqm wellness centre, and a lobby boasting three aquariums, including the world’s largest jellyfish tank.
Iconic Hotels in Canada
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Alberta
A heritage icon at the edge of the UNESO World Heritage-listed Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is like something out of a fairytale. From its humble beginnings as a rail chalet and post for outdoor adventurers in 1890, it became a beacon of alpine luxury for the Hollywood elite, welcoming the likes of Alfred Hitchcock and Marilyn Monroe. Located in the very wilderness between glacier-fed lakes, snow-capped mountains and the ski slopes of the Rockies, the hotel is a destination in itself – with some of the most incredible views of Banff National Park possible and options for hiking, kayaking and exploring come warmer months.
Iconic Hotels in Monaco
Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, Monaco
The grand Belle Époque-style Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo is one of Monaco’s most legendary places to spend a night, where, since the early 1900s, a roster of glamorous guests have wined and dined beneath the Gustave Eiffel-designed glass dome of the winter garden. It’s not hard to see how it continues to attract the crème de la crème, with its strip of private Mediterranean beach, Michelin-starred restaurant by Yannick Alléno (be sure to book well in advance: as one of the world’s most esteemed chefs, he has an incredible 16 Michelin stars to his name across his global restaurants), and 6,500sqm wellness centre, Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out The World’s Most Opulent Overwater Villas.
