The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad $$$

Readers’ Choice Awards 2023, 2024, Hot List 2023, Gold List 2025
Two years ago, the Ritz-Carlton made a bold statement about its direction when it opened its new Manhattan headquarters at the intersection of West 28th Street and Broadway. Located around 30 blocks north of the (splendidly) prim and proper Central Park, the property is a far cry from being dowdy and modern. For starters, the elegant 50-story building was meant to maximize the light and views of the downtown area, which is why there is glass everywhere. The sun-drenched interiors are striking and textural, with the monochrome lobby’s concierge workstations composed of granite that nearly looks like zebra print. The Bazaar from José Andrés, a great Spanish-Japanese fusion restaurant upstairs with its plush upholstery, coffee-and-plum palette, and scenery-chewing jamón Ibéerico centerpiece (Andrés’s group also designed the complimentary menu in the very worth-it club level), is accessible from a leafy, book-lined bar just off it. Rooftop bar Highlights of Nubeluz, a jewel-toned wallpaper paradise, include the feathery Schumacher number that adorns each booth and the elevator vestibule’s pleated emerald cloth. My apartment on the 36th floor, which is wrapped in blond wood from floor to ceiling, has a deep, deep cocoa crushed velvet sofa with sweeping views of Manhattan, including the World Trade Center. All of this style would be irrelevant, though, if the service wasn’t exceptional. It really is. From check-in to check-out, there is no sign that the staff has eyes for anybody other than you, even though reservations are usually completely booked. starting at $895. —Charlie Hobbs

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Charleston’s Zero George Hotel
Thanks to the Zero George Hotel

South Carolina’s Zero George

In 2018, 2020, and 2025, the Gold List Awards given by Readers’ Choice in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2024
With their warm brick, statuesque façades, airy column-studded verandas, and flickering lamps, the five exquisitely restored 1804 mansions and carriage homes at the intersection of George Street and East Bay appear to be just another charming block in Charleston. However, when Lynn Easton and Dean Porter Andrews, seasoned hospitality professionals, chose this location to introduce their custom brand of Lowcountry luxury in 2013, they knew better. The hotel’s secret maze of immaculately kept gardens, crushed oystershell walkways, and serene fountains that unite five different medieval residences into a haven visitors love to call home in the Holy City is what makes it so special. starting at $349. —Allston McCrady

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The motel called The Colony

Florida’s The Colony Hotel

$ | 2025 Gold List Awards for Readers’ Choice in 2022, 2023, and 2024
Entering the Colony Hotel is like entering a scene from a Wes Anderson movie or a fable; it’s a charming blend of the modern and the vintage. Inside its pink stucco walls, the glitzy yet relaxed Palm Beach of bygone eras replaces reality. The hotel’s guest rooms and villas have been restored over the years since Andrew and Sarah Wetenhall bought it in 2016, revitalizing the historic establishment while preserving its distinctive tropical eclecticism. If you can ever escape its fantastical charms, it’s the ideal starting point for exploring the island, situated directly between the beach and Worth Avenue’s stores. starting at $499. —Hannah Towey

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Hotel San Ysidro Ranch

Calif.’s San Ysidro Ranch

$$$ | 2025 Gold List Awards for Readers’ Choice in 2017, 2021, 2022, and 2023
Going to Santa Barbara and staying away from the coast may seem like a mistake, but as soon as you turn inland along San Ysidro Road, you understand that the purpose of your vacation is to the ranch, not Santa Barbara. Despite being dispersed over 550 acres, the 38 cottages—each with its own distinct design, furnishings, and views—form a ring inside the property. There are a number of gardens and a rectangular pool with a view of the canyon at the heart of the resort. Museum-caliber artwork, antiques from the world travels of billionaire owner Ty Warner, and handcrafted wallpaper (even on the shower ceilings) are some of the carefully chosen items you’ll find throughout. However, San Ysidro Ranch isn’t your average hotel, as seen by its history of hosting famous visitors like John Huston, who completed writing the screenplay for The African Queen on the grounds, and Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy, who honeymooned here. Additionally, the ranch maintains its reputation as a haven for celebrities, as current A-listers choose this secret location to really hide out and get away—something you should do too. starting at $2,495. —Broads, Samantha

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The Blackberry Farm Hotel/Heather Anne Thomas

Tennessee’s Blackberry Farm

$$$ | 2018 Gold List 2025 Awards given by Readers’ Choice in 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023, and 2024
The tales you’ve heard about the gorgeous timber-frame barn imported from Pennsylvania, the fluffy Italian truffle dogs, the well-kept hiking trails, and the bridle routes that lead to the peaceful Great Smoky Mountains forests are all real. The covered bridge, the dollhouse-like white church, and the spacious cottages with porches perfect for relaxing on while sipping whiskey and munching on pimento cheese are just a few of the subtle features that make this place in eastern Tennessee feel like a little piece of paradise. However, the Southern friendliness is what really elevates Blackberry. Every employee, from the waitresses to the adventure guides, brings their love to work every day, and by the time you leave, you’ll agree. starting at $1,145. —Jesse Ashlock