Every year, Travel + Leisure asks for readers’ opinions on various travel related subjects. Those opinions are then used to create “Best” lists to guide readers when planning a trip. One of those categories is Best City Hotels, and this year’s top winners did not disappoint.
Readers were asked to choose their favorite city hotels based on certain characteristics, some of which are location, amenities, facilities, and overall value. Here are the top winners, according to this Travel + Leisure article.
The Lowell, New York City
Located in the heart of Manhattan on the Upper East Side, The Lowell has easy access to the posh shops of Fifth Avenue, the major fashion houses of Madison Avenue, and the calming retreat to nature that is Central Park. This is one of the main reasons the hotel is so popular with travelers. Of course, the luxury the hotel provides doesn’t hurt either. Established in 1927, The Lowell has a timeless elegance and grace that is perfectly reflected in its gold, cream, and white color scheme. The Lowell is small for a New York hotel, with just 74 rooms and suites across 17 floors, but many visitors preferred the cozy atmosphere this creates. The hotel even boasts wood-burning fireplaces, which are pretty rare in New York, landscaped terraces overlooking the city, and afternoon tea in the Pembroke Room.
The Loutrel, Charleston, South Carolina
The Loutrel, named for the famous landscape architect Loutrel Briggs, is a 50-room contemporary boutique hotel with a prime location just outside of the residential historic district of Charleston. The hotel just opened in November of 2021 but has already made quite an impression on travelers. Paying homage to Briggs, who designed about 100 private gardens in the area starting in the 1920s, the hotel outfits every corner with greenery and flower arrangements. Rooms are clean and minimalist with floor to ceiling windows. The rooftop terrace is the crown jewel of the hotel, and guests can expect to be wowed by the views of the historic French Quarter any time of day or night.
Pendry Chicago, Chicago
Located in the 1929 Art Deco Carbide and Carbon Building, Pendry Chicago is a contemporary boutique hotel that offers luxury comforts and impressive city views. The rooms are elegantly decorated in black and white, an aesthetic that is fitting for the time period it honors. Customer service is the hotel’s specialty and concierges famously keep on top of guests’ needs through texting. The hotel also houses many popular restaurants and bars, such as the French restaurant Venteux (French for “windy”), the cocktail bar Bar Pendry, and the rooftop bar Chateau Carbide.
Riggs Washington D.C., Washington, D.C.
The Riggs Washington D.C. is a city hotel located in the building that used to house The Riggs National Bank. It is one of the last remaining Romanesque Revival buildings in the area, and the architecture makes quite a statement. Regular roomsfeature statement wallpaper and upholstered headboards designed by the firm Voutsa. There are also four suitesinspired by four First Ladies that each have fun and unique details. The hotel has guests covered for food and drink with Cafe Riggs, a restaurant that’s open all day, and Silver Lyan, a bar housed in what used to be the bank’s vault. The hotel also has a prime location in the Penn Quarter-Chinatown area, making shopping, dining, and museum visiting very accessible.
These fine city hotels offer the best in luxurious accommodations, delicious food and cocktails, and guest services sure to make anyone feel spoiled. They also have prime locations with killer views. According to Travel + Leisure readers, travelers should not miss an opportunity to check these hotels out for themselves.
For more travel-related news and information, click here.
