Best Luxury Hotels in USA

Around the corner from The Hay-Adams is the very grown-up Sofitel. It utilises a moodier decor palette than many of its local competitors, with darker hues, black and white vintage French posters and velvet upholstery. The hotel has a restaurant – Opaline Bar & Brasserie with an outdoor seating area and a fitness centre. 237 guest rooms take on a fairly minimalist style, with theatrical colours (lots of black and red), modern artworks and conveniences like blackout curtains and king-sized beds.

The Southwest Waterfront has seen more than its fair share of regeneration over recent years and it’s here that the Mandarin Oriental is found. As is customary in the brand’s properties, you’ll find plenty of Asian influences, reflecting the hotel chain’s heritage. This extends to the spa menu, the dining offer, artwork and decorative touches. Tea can be taken in the Empress Lounge and the Muse restaurant serves American favourites like cheeseburgers, along with sushi and Hong Kong specialities. After a hard day’s sightseeing, you can chill out in the Zen relaxation room and swim some laps in the 50ft heated indoor pool.

Found in the Foggy Bottom district, Washington’s Ritz-Carlton combines modern furnishings with period features. It has DC’s largest ballroom and an unusual cocktail and food pairing menu, available in the Quadrant Bar & Lounge. Those seeking a fuller meal can dine in the Westend Bistro, where breakfast is also served. Those travelling with children will appreciate the Ritz Kids Program, designed to make your little ones feel extra special (interconnecting rooms are also available). Upgrade to a Club Level suite for extra space, a work/dining space, free access to the Equinox Gym and entry to a Club Lounge.

Those seeking views of the city’s most famous landmarks should stay at the Hay-Adams. Its proximity to the political epicentre has afforded it visitors such as the Obama family, who made an extended stay just before taking residence at the White House. Family owned and dating back to the 1920s, it has a great bar (Off the Record with satirically themed cocktails), the Lafayette restaurant (named after the square onto which the hotel backs), a fitness centre and free bicycle use for guests. Kids and pets are well catered for too, with activities and treats.

Stay in Georgetown in the timeless surroundings and elegance of the Four Seasons Hotel. It boasts one of the top spas and fitness centres in the city. It’s rated 4-star by Forbes, with a saltwater lap pool and three-storeys of wellness facilities, where age-defying facials and healing massages are offered. The 222 bedroom property is also home to a destination restaurant, the Michelin starred Bourbon Steak, with an adjacent lounge and additional wine bar. It received a multi-million dollar contemporary facelift in 2016 under the direction of designer Pierre-Yves Rochon and has over 1500 works of art to peruse.

Previously known as The Carlton Hotel, this prestigious residence in the heart of the Downtown was opened by President Coolidge in 1926 and has been welcoming heads of state ever since. It’s just a few blocks from the White House, with an exterior reflecting the Gilded Age glamour, with Palladian windows and a grand entrance. Inside, guests are surrounded by lush fabrics, chandeliers, fires and classic old world DC furnishings. The hotel has its very own cocktail, the Capitol Mary and champagne is opened nightly by the head sommelier by sword, during the sabering ceremony and toast. It also has a lavishly presented restaurant, a house car and is pet-friendly.

Found in the Montecito area of the city, this is a five-star hotel situated right on the beach — a rarity in Santa Barbara. Guests can arrive in the Rosewood’s chauffeur-driven open-top Rolls Royce — it has a personal touch, as indeed does the entire experience of staying here. The hotel looks more like a lavish New England home than a hotel and the service adds to this vibe. Both adults-only groups and families are catered for, with pools for each. There are outdoor hot tubs, a kids club, beach butlers, ball courts, shuffleboard games, two boutiques (including Gwyneth Paltrow’s goop) and a Sense Spa using local ingredients. Dining options include the popular Malibu Farm.

Run for the hills and you’ll find this Forbes Five-Star luxury hotel up there. It has 92 rooms, including private bungalows. The heated infinity-edged saltwater swimming pool is the ultimate in serenity, with stunning Pacific views (take a look through the hotel’s terrace-based telescope to spot whales and dolphins). An indoor-outdoor restaurant uses fruit, herbs and veg grown in the on-site kitchen garden, cheese made from the resident cow and home-brewed beer and coffee, as well as locally-sourced Santa Barbara delicacies. El Encanto also has a spa, is child and pet friendly and boasts artworks from creators such as Damien Hirst.

Holiday in 78-acres of Pacific side resort, at the Ritz-Carlton’s Santa Barbara address. The hotel has two beaches, three infinity-edge pools, a 42,000-sq-ft spa and five places to eat and drink; Angel Oak serves aged and prime steak cuts and has the deepest cellar in the city, ‘O’ Bar + Kitchen features Latin style sharing plates and market specials, while The Bistro (the hotel’s third main restaurant) focusses on sustainable seafood, with a terrace overlooking the adjacent ocean. Rooms come with sea or garden views and upgraded versions have their own patios complete with fires, private luxury poolside cabanas and two bedrooms.

Go downtown to what was once a W property. Le Meridien now caters for a more mature market, with rooms modelled on mid-century Parisian style. Indeed this ‘grown-up’ arty feel extends throughout the building, with rooms dressed in calming, moody tones, accompanied by hints of retro design. Grab a book and order a whisky as you recline in the sophisticated lounge, or swim a few laps in the chic rooftop pool. Breakfast is served in Marche, with coffee brewed in Longitude 90. There are no options on-site for dinner, but with a plethora of restaurants close by, you needn’t stray far to find some excellent local food.

Housed in a skyscraper (the hotel begins on the 11th floor), this is the place for views. At Loews, you can work out while looking at the Mississippi. The hotel also boasts a superb spa with an indoor saltwater pool. Its interior design moves between arty/funky and traditional elegance, while its food offering comes from the esteemed Brennan family restauranteurs, at Cafe Adelaide, serving New Orlean classic dishes. And if you fancy experiencing private dining, book a place at the Chef’s Table with wine pairings. Weekends bring live jazz in the bar, or guests fancying a flutter can pop across the road to Harrah’s Casino.

While NOPSI is found smack bang in the centre of the Business District, it’s as popular with leisure travellers as those visiting for work. The art deco era building was originally intended as a public services office, and while there are nods to this heritage among the hotel’s artefacts, these days it’s an undeniably glamorous spot. From a minimal modern rooftop pool terrace to an opulent vaulted lobby, NOPSI provides lashings of luxe. The hotel’s dining room, Public Service, pays homage to the property’s former life, while its casual eatery, Above the Grid, is beside the small pool. And there’s a super gin bar, Undercurrent.