Best Luxury Hotels in USA

Make the Fairmont your base during your time in Pensylvania. The skyscraper building is close to the Cultural Quarter. It accommodates 185 bedrooms (one bedroom suites and the Fairmont Room are accessible), with floor-to-ceiling windows maximising its elevated outlook and four-fixture bathrooms as standard. For the most premium experience, book out the Presidential Suite on the 23rd floor; this has both north and south-facing aspects, can be set with up to four bedrooms and caters for dinner parties with as many as 20 guests. There’s a health club and spa onsite, as well as a Starbucks and second floor restaurant.

Found where the Historic District meets Eastern Wharf, Thompson Savannah’s interior has been inspired by southern living. Dallas-based Studio 11 Design were responsible for the decor including 193 guestrooms and suites, all accommodated in a specially commissioned tower by Smallwood architects, providing east-facing views of the river, the coastal islands and the Atlantic Ocean. Its public area includes the Fleeting restaurant serving dishes crafted from seasonal produce; the rooftop Bar Julian; a second-floor pool (accessed via the lobby) and a poolside lounge, the Sunroom.

If you prefer a more suburban setting, choose this Autograph Collection hotel, named after its district (Oakland). It may be a little further away from the city’s nucleus, but is the briefest of strolls from neighbourhood bars, restaurants, the Cathedral of Learning and Heinz Memorial Chapel. A maritime blue colour scheme prevails throughout, with elements of monochrome in bathrooms and public spaces. 167 bedrooms have blackout drapes, laptop-friendly workspaces and eco-friendly practices (such as LED bulbs, recycling and environmentally-friendly cleaning products). Spirits & Tales is the hotel’s restaurant and there’s an in-house library.

This design-forward property is part of an international pet-friendly collection, yet offers plenty of nods to local culture in its decor. 248 guest rooms include statement pieces, such as oversized tufted Kelly green headboards, bedside chandeliers encased in golden birdcages and ceramic penguin desk lamps, plus Atelier Bloem Bath products and Frette linens. The Commoner is the Kimpton Monaco’s industrial-chic US-tavern-style eatery and the Biergarten is its seasonal rooftop haunt. There’s a fitness centre, loaner bikes for guest use and Mini Me Milk Fridges for nursing mums available on request.

Walking distance to Stanford and the station, and a short ride from the airport, this eight-storey hotel offers California-cool bedrooms with Italian linens and balconies, proffering views over the Santa Cruz mountains. Its construction includes the local redwood, with nature-themed interiors and suitably mod cons such as an onsite media lab. Nobu of course is internationally renowned for its contemporary Japanese cuisine, incorporating subtle South American flavours. And here you can devour its signature dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s a boutique property with a more intimate feel, but guests can access the health club next door.

Occupying 16 acres, this 2009 build (renovated in 2020), has a more resort feel, with sprawling grounds incorporating courtyard gardens, a chic pool terrace and low-rise accommodation. It has 121 bedrooms and a Forbes Five Star rating. Guest amenities include a Sense Spa, an Alex Chases Salon and meeting rooms including a glittering 2,800-square-foot ballroom. Madera is the hotel’s signature restaurant, with a wood-burning kitchen cooking up Bay Area favourites and private dining areas. Additionally, there’s The Library & Bar for cocktails and light bites and The Pool Bar & Grill for snacks, sandwiches and smoothies.

With just 23 one and two-bedroom suites, The Clement offers a more intimate experience, but with resort benefits; most notably a gorgeous rooftop deck with a lap pool (seductively underlit after dark), a hot tub, cabanas and an open fire, overlooking the downtown. It’s all been arranged with impeccable taste; there are paintings by the likes of Emil Lukas, Frette robes, Nespresso machines and organic ODE bath products. Guests have access to a cosy living room with a stone fireplace, a business centre and a fitness room — and don’t worry if you forget your sunscreen, it’s complimentary here.

Spa lovers will find they’re never far from a quality wellness resort in Phoenix. And one such, is the JW Marriott Desert Ridge, Arizona’s largest hotel. It has 950 guestrooms, including 81 suites, and occupies 316 acres of the Sonoran Desert, on the perimeter with Scottsdale. The AAA Four-Diamond and Forbes Recommended award-winning property has superb views of the McDowell Mountains. Its many amenities include five restaurants and a lounge, large meeting spaces, a spa, tennis courts, a lake with inbuilt fountains and bridges over, a golf course and five freeform, lap and river-style outdoor pools.

The lakefront setting of the AC by Marriott make this a good one for those wanting a room with a serene view. Many of the bedrooms are pet-friendly (up to two furry friends are permitted per bedroom) and have balconies to enjoy some alfresco time away from the throng. A daily US-style breakfast is served at AC Kitchen, with AC Lounge catering for evening meals in the form of tapas, and cocktails. The rooftop pool has the best views of all and you can look out onto the downtown skyline during your workout in the fitness centre.

Stay at the heart of the action, in this central hotel. Part of the Hyatt Regency Group, it has a modern design, with neutrally decorated interiors accented by bolder touches. 693 guestrooms are spread across 24 floors, each with iPod docking stations, 55-inch flat-screen televisions and coffee makers. Outside, you’ll find a swimming pool, spa tub and sundeck on the Hyatt’s third floor. Plus there’s a 24-hour gym, with cardio and weight-training equipment, complimentary bottled water, and towels. But its crown jewel is The Compass Restaurant, Arizona’s only revolving dining room (floors 22 and 23 house the mechanical equipment to ensure it keeps moving).

Taking inspiration from nearby Mexico, this hotel features plazas with fountains, colonial–style terracotta-coloured architecture, casita suites and restaurants including La Hacienda and Toro, by chef Richard Sandoval. Its 65 landscaped acres accommodates two 18-hole championship golf courses (one of which hosts an annual PGA tournament), six pools with waterslides, a man-made beach and an innovative spa. 750 bedrooms boast benefits such as private terraces and wet bars, and, as the resort is so large, you can get a lift to and from the public areas on one of the Fairmont’s golf buggies.

Formerly the Cottonwood Suites, this property has been operating as the Andaz Resort (part of the Hyatt Group) since 2014. Its 185 bungalows and suites sit within 23 acres of land in the shadow of Camelback Mountain. The design here blends a midcentury vibe, with a modern arty feel. Onsite are three pools, one of which is within the Palo Verde Spa & Apothecary, where guests can also indulge in treatments — indoors or out. Areas of the grounds are strung with twinkling lights, planted with giant cacti and punctuated with glowing uber-modern outdoor fires. Guests at the Andaz dine beside the open kitchen in a funky restaurant.