A GREAT HOTEL can define an entire trip. So each year, AFAR’s team of experts selects the world’s best new and renovated arrivals, whether it’s an Edwardian landmark in central London, a high-design hideaway in Marrakech, or a canvas-walled luxury camp set against the Utah desert’s sweeping rock formations.
The 31 hotels we chose all opened in 2023 and were personally visited by our global network of seasoned editors, writers, and travel advisors. We vetted each of the properties for their noteworthy locations, stand-out design, exemplary service, and remarkable guest experiences. In addition, we paid attention to the work they’re doing to tread lightly on the environment and to meaningfully engage with the communities around them.
Above all, the variety of lodgings on our list mirrors the thoughtful, eclectic, and wide-ranging ways travelers are exploring the world now. Read on to find inspiration for your next adventure.
Shinta Mani Mustang, a Bensley Collection
NEPAL
The Shinta Mani Mustang brings Nepal’s luxury circuit to new heights. Sitting at 9,200 feet on a rocky mountainside in northern Nepal’s Jomsom town, the original 2017 hotel structure (by Nepalese architect Prabal Shumsher Thapa) recently received a beautiful makeover by award-winning designer Bill Bensley. Now the 29 suites come furnished with custom-designed cashmere throws and Tibetan antiques; the restaurant serves fine-dining riffs on Himalayan staples such as noodle soup and momo (dumplings); and at the glass-walled spa, guests can schedule consultations with a traditional healer. Most notably, the lodge is a base camp for expeditions around Mustang, a Himalayan kingdom that only fully opened to international tourists in 1992. Day trips include drives to ancient mud villages, tours to Buddhist and Hindu sites, and hikes to glacier lakes that end with picnic lunches. From $1,800/night for two people. —Chris Schalkx
Raffles London at The OWO
ENGLAND
The much anticipated Raffles London at The OWO (pronounced “oh-whoa”—aka Old War Office) opened in September 2023 after an eight-year overhaul under the guidance of 37 heritage consultants. This Edwardian baroque landmark has seen a lot of history: Winston Churchill presided here; T.E. Lawrence, or Lawrence of Arabia, worked here; and MI5 and MI6 conducted operations from its halls (perhaps the reason the building appears in five James Bond films). The 120 guest rooms and suites are fashioned from former offices and state rooms and detailed with original oak paneling, marble, and a collection of bath products with a fragrance created just for the hotel. And thanks to several bars and restaurants—including three by Argentina-born superstar chef Mauro Colagreco—the OWO promises to turn the sleepy-at-night Whitehall area into a happening dining and drinking hub. From $1,264/night. —Anya von Bremzen
