FORBES Guide introduces ‘Hotel Icons List’ – world’s most legendary five star hotels

In an era when luxury hotels open and close like umbrellas, longevity in the hospitality world seems almost impossible. Yet scattered across the globe, dressed in their finest holiday splendor each December, just as they have for generations, stand remarkable exceptions—hotels that have not merely survived but thrived for more than a century, their chandeliers casting the same warm glow over new millennium celebrations as they did over Gilded Age galas.

To celebrate this category of enduring excellence, Forbes Travel Guide introduces the Hotel Icons List, a new honor bestowed on 23 legendary hotels. To be selected for the 2025 list, honorees must have a history of more than 100 years, continuous operation under the same name and a distinguished Five-Star rating.

HÔTEL DE PARIS MONTE-CARLO

Long before Monte Carlo became a playground for royals and the royally rich, it was merely a neighborhood of Monaco covered in olive and lemon trees. To help lure luxury travelers to the area, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo was built in 1864 and the famed Casino de Monte-Carlo opened next door 16 years later. But rather than remain rooted in its Calacatta marble-covered past, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo dazzles with a contemporary flair (including extraordinary restaurants from chefs Alain Ducasse and Cedric Grolet and innovative spa treatments) that still attracts heads of state, celebrities and posh pleasure seekers from around the world.

WALDORF ASTORIA AMSTERDAM

Located in six adjoining 17th- and 18th-century palaces along the Herengracht Canal, Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam is one of the most prestigious addresses in the capital of the Netherlands. The property channels centuries of history and high-end elegance through rooms, suites and lofts outfitted with crown molding, period furnishings and timeless views. A world-class spa and celebrated restaurants help tell a story that’s been written for more than 375 years.

BROWN’S HOTEL, A ROCCO FORTE HOTEL, LONDON

Brown’s is London’s oldest hotel, yet it exudes a 21st-century sophistication thanks to management by Rocco Forte Hotels. Here, rooms that were once slept in by literary luminaries such as Mark Twain, Agatha Christie and Stephen King (he wrote the outline for Misery there) have been renovated with smart TVs, colorful textures and a contemporary British design aesthetic. But if guests have the urge to be transported to Rudyard Kipling’s time, an afternoon tea in the wood-paneled Drawing Room will feel just so right.

PARK HOTEL VITZNAU, SWITZERLAND

A renovated former castle that overlooks Lake Lucerne, Park Hotel Vitznau is the kind of property that harkens back to a time when parasols and felt top hats were commonplace. But instead of stone walls and stunning gardens being the biggest draws anymore, the hotel impresses with 48 well-equipped suites and residences, six wine cellars divided by region and one spectacular spa with a heated indoor-outdoor infinity pool overlooking the mountains.

CHATHAM BARS INN, CAPE COD

A Cape Cod institution, Chatham Bars Inn was a pioneer when it opened in 1914. It had an onsite farm long before farm-to-table cuisine became a restaurant trend, soundproofed accommodations and private bathrooms featuring fresh and saltwater baths. The family-owned hotel’s amenities and prized 25-acre waterfront location drew prominent guests such as Henry Ford, William Rockefeller Jr. and Princess Juliana of the Netherlands (who stayed there in the summer during her World War II exile).

MANDARIN ORIENTAL, BANGKOK

This Bangkok beauty was a trailblazer when it opened in 1876. The former Oriental hotel lent its name to the now-powerhouse Mandarin Oriental brand. Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok was also Thailand’s first luxury hotel and the first property in the country with electric lighting and a hotel bar (which was featured on FTG’s 2025 best hotel bars list). To commemorate its 150^th birthday next year, the hotel will hold an 18-month celebration with culinary journeys, wellness events and other activities throughout the property.

CLARIDGE’S, LONDON

There’s a reason the words “Claridge’s” and “elegance” have been synonymous since its 1856 opening. Everything about the Mayfair property flaunts luxuriousness and refinement. From the décor that screams Art Deco glamour to a dining-and-drinking scene that whispers timeless charm, Claridge’s talks directly to the traveler who appreciates the finer things. All the while, the hotel’s impeccable service speaks to anyone with a request—no matter how minute or massive.

OCEAN HOUSE, RHODE ISLAND

When wealthy New Englanders needed somewhere to “summer” in the late 19th century, many found their way to this Rhode Island resort. Though time took its toll on the original Victorian structure, a new building was erected in 2004 that had a similar exterior and the same interior character. Today, 69 rooms and suites are adorned with custom wood furnishings and coastal-cool hues, a spa provides Five-Star pampering and Five-Star Coast restaurant offers the same spectacular waterfront views that first drew vacationers more than 150 years ago.

HÔTEL DE CRILLON, A ROSEWOOD HOTEL, PARIS

King Louis XV commissioned this Paris landmark in 1758. The count of Crillon’s family later used the former royal palace as a residence before it was transformed into a hotel in 1909. Now a Rosewood property, Hôtel de Crillon still radiates grandeur, from the 18th-century Neoclassical façade and architecture to the guest rooms’ high ceilings and gold accents. But there are plenty of modern touches, including signature suites designed by the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld

RITZ PARIS

After its 1898 opening, Ritz Paris quickly became the place to see and be seen. The Ritz dazzled with ingenuity (it was the first hotel in the world with electricity on every floor and private bathrooms in the rooms), elegance (it features grand staircases, exquisite carpets and gold swan faucets) and indulgences (like the famed Bar Hemingway and Ritz Bar). The hotel remains a sought-after reservation for its 142 individualized rooms, Four-Star spa and sumptuous setting.

THE GORING, LONDON

Four generations have run The Goring, making it the only London luxury hotel that’s owned and operated by the namesake family who built it. The closest hotel to Buckingham Palace, the 69-room property is favored among royals and politicians, with every reigning monarch and prime minister visiting since its 1910 opening—Kate Middleton even stayed there the night before her 2011 wedding to Prince William. Though it’s in the heart of Central London, the Goring feels like an English countryside manor with the largest hotel garden and a complimentary daily in-room cocktail hour for suite guests.

BADRUTT’S PALACE HOTEL, ST. MORITZ, SWITZERLAND

Five generations of the Badrutt family have ensured this St. Moritz resort’s central goal remains intact: keeping the dream of a classic Swiss Alps vacation alive while welcoming new explorers to the region. They have been able to successfully do this for the past 130 years by melding classic touches (airy rooms overlooking a scenic village) and contemporary amenities (La Coupole—Matsuhisa is a chef Nobu production) with a snow-speckled landscape straight from a fairytale.

WEEKAPAUG INN, RHODE ISLAND

Rhode Island-born Frederick Buffum and his wife, Phebe, opened this small inn in 1899. The property remains intimate, with just 33 accommodations. On the picturesque Atlantic Coast, surrounded by a salt pond and overlooking a barrier beach, the hotel has always been a nature haven with an on-staff naturalist leading beach walks, boating excursions, bird watching and more. Weekapaug Inn guests also have access to amenities at sister property Ocean House.

MANDARIN ORIENTAL RITZ, MADRID

After experiencing Ritz hotels in Paris and London, King Alfonso XIII wanted one in Madrid and enlisted the help of their visionary hotelier, César Ritz, to build Spain’s first luxury hotel in 1910. Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid steeped in history, with the Royal Suite still inside the first-floor turret (so royals wouldn’t have to climb stairs before elevators were popularized). And Deessa restaurant has a hidden private dining room called Condesa Maslov, the alias of Dutch spy Margaretha Geertruida MacLeod (aka Mata Hari), when she stayed at the hotel.

THE BALMORAL, A ROCCO FORTE HOTEL, EDINBURGH

With its turrets, bows and balconies, The Balmoral looks like it was a royal castle in a past life. In reality, the structure was once a railway hotel. Now, instead of merely being a stop for train riders, this Rocco Forte property is adorned with sweeping staircases and bold chandeliers is where Edinburgh visitors happily get off to enjoy Victorian-era elegance, a serene spa and an astonishing whisky collection spanning more than 500 types.

THE SAVOY, LONDON

Considered London’s most famous hotel, The Savoy has a past filled with historic moments (it was Britain’s first public building completely lit by electricity), celebrity appearances and royal family gatherings. Those wanting to experience the Edwardian and Art Deco ambience today can do so with a stay in thoughtfully restored rooms and suites, dinner in the intimate Restaurant 1890 or drinks at the American Bar, the longest-surviving cocktail bar in the city, which opened in 1893.

RAFFLES HOTEL SINGAPORE

What began as a 10-room hotel in 1887 expanded two years later to the neo-Renaissance structure we now know today. (Raffles Hotel Singapore had one other major renovation in 2019.) Over the past century, the property has hosted Hollywood royalty (including Charlie Chaplin and Ava Gardner) and been the backdrop for box-office smashes (Crazy Rich Asians). But even if you aren’t a famous actor, the 24-hour Raffles butler service ensures that every guest is treated like an A-lister.

CARLTON CANNES, A REGENT HOTEL

While Carlton Cannes is known for hosting stars during the Cannes Film Festival and having a starring role in Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief, the hotel has an origin story worthy of its own movie. The Grand Duke Michael of Russia, the tsar’s grandson, moved to Cannes in 1909 to be with his forbidden love, a commoner. He felt the French Riviera beach town didn’t have luxurious spaces for the receptions he intended to host, so he financed the Carlton, which opened in 1913.

WEQUASSETT RESORT AND GOLF CLUB, CAPE COD

Cape Cod’s Wequassett marked its centennial this year by unveiling a $12 million renovation of its charming 113 guest rooms, villas and cottages, giving them a modern coastal aesthetic. Elsewhere at the seasonal beachfront hotel, guests can enjoy three tennis courts, three pickleball courts, two outdoor heated pools, six restaurants and bars, a water sports center, access to the Cape Cod National Golf Club and Twenty-Eight Atlantic, the area’s only Five-Star restaurant.

MANDARIN ORIENTAL, HYDE PARK, LONDON

Resting comfortably between fashionable Knightsbridge and leafy Hyde Park, this one-time Victorian Gentleman’s Club was converted to a hotel in 1902 following a major fire. After numerous sales over the years, Mandarin Oriental purchased the property in 1996, starting a transformation to the stately address of today. But it wasn’t until 2016 that the hotel underwent its most extensive renovation ever, restoring rooms, restaurants and other public areas to their former grandeur.

THE ST. REGIS NEW YORK

If you ever wondered what it was like to attend one of socialite John Jacob Astor IV’s lavish soirees at the turn of the 20th century, a visit to this midtown Manhattan treasureoffers a few clues. With original brass embellishments, marble staircases and butlers in tails, the property feels like it’s frozen in time. But renovated suites outfitted with a modern eye and creative cocktails at the King Cole Bar are all the proof that’s needed to know the St. Regis New York has its feet firmly set in the present, too.

THE BROADMOOR, COLORADO SPRINGS

When The Broadmoor opened in 1918, rooms cost $10 to $12 per night and came with three meals, John D. Rockefeller was the first celebrity guest and the 35-by-80-foot indoor swimming pool was the largest in the West. The Rocky Mountain resort has grown significantly over the years, adding two golf courses, a fly-fishing camp and much more. It’s also the longest-running Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel, earning the top honor for 65 consecutive years.

HOTEL DE LA VILLE, A ROCCO FORTE HOTEL, ROME

Sitting atop the Spanish Steps, Hotel de la Ville claims a coveted location in Rome, especially from its rooftop bar, where guests can sip cocktails while enjoying sweeping skyline views. The 18th-century palazzo offers other gems, including a peaceful, hidden courtyard filled with greenery and a hotel design inspired by the 18th-century Grand Tour, when English and German nobility collected art during their cultural journeys to European cities.

Ritz Paris

Follow Us

Search

Browse