The US Michelin Guide introduces a new hotel ranking system with keys, offering trusted evaluations of exceptional accommodations across states like California, New York, Colorado and Washington DC.
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Introduction to Michelin Guide’s New Hotel Ranking System
The Michelin Guide, long revered for its meticulous restaurant ratings, has introduced a pioneering hotel ranking system in the United States for 2024, employing “keys” as symbols of hospitality excellence. This system awards hotels one, two, or three key emblems to denote the quality of architecture, service, and overall guest experience, paralleling the famed Michelin star system for restaurants. The introduction of keys aims to offer travelers a reliable guide to identifying exceptional accommodations across the US, ensuring a memorable and premium stay.
The inception of this system signifies Michelin’s commitment to extending its influence within the hospitality sector, promoting transparency and excellence. By adopting a similar approach to its restaurant ratings, Michelin provides a familiar framework for discerning travelers seeking luxury and unparalleled service. In a future post, I will cover Tablet Hotels also part of a partnership from Michelin Guides.
By considering a comprehensive set of criteria, Michelin Guide Hotels offer a detailed evaluation of hotels distinguishing those that provide exceptional hospitality. This holistic approach ensures that only the most deserving hotels are recognized, helping travelers make informed decisions when selecting their accommodations.
Michelin Key Award Winners for 2024
In 2024, a total of 124 US properties were distinguished with Michelin Keys, with 11 hotels achieving the highest rating of Three Keys for providing an “extraordinary stay”. Notable among these are Aman New York and Casa Cipriani in New York City, which are celebrated for their extraordinary comfort, service, style, and elegance. California emerged as a hotspot for Michelin Key hotels, boasting prestigious properties such as Post Ranch Inn and The Georgian in Santa Monica, showcasing the state’s commitment to outstanding hospitality. Another standout is 1 Hotels which is highly regarded in the industry and owner of a best-selling scent that fills the hotel.
Here’s the entire list with links for hotels we have reviewed (source: Afar):
Michelin’s three-key U.S. hotels
- The Beverly Hills Hotel, Dorchester Collection, California
- Post Ranch Inn, California
- SingleThread Inn, California
- Hotel Bel-Air, Dorchester Collection, California
- Auberge du Soleil, Auberge Resorts Collection, California
- Meadowood Napa Valley, California
- Canyon Ranch Woodside, California
- Crosby Street Hotel, Firmdale Hotels, New York
- The Whitby Hotel, Firmdale Hotels, New York
- Aman New York, New York
- Casa Cipriani New York, New York
Michelin’s two-key U.S. hotels
- L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, California
- The Maybourne Beverly Hills, California
- The Peninsula Beverly Hills, California
- Ventana Big Sur, an Alila Resort, California
- Bernardus Lodge & Spa, California
- The Stavrand, California
- Montage Healdsburg, California
- The Madrona, California
- Montage Laguna Beach, California
- Rosewood Miramar Beach, California
- Milliken Creek Inn & Spa, California
- Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero, California
- The Battery, California
- Cavallo Point Lodge, California
- Pendry West Hollywood, California
- Chateau Marmont, California
- North Block, California
- Bardessono, California
- Rosewood Washington, D.C.
- The Jefferson, Washington, D.C.
- Mayfair House Hotel & Garden, Florida
- The Setai Miami Beach, Florida
- Faena Hotel Miami Beach, Florida
- Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club, Florida
- Pendry Chicago, Illinois
- The Langham, Chicago, Illinois
- The Peninsula Chicago, Illinois
- The Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York
- The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel, New York
- The Mark Hotel, New York
- Hotel Barrière Fouquet’s New York, New York
- Nine Orchard, New York
- Pendry Manhattan West, New York
Michelin’s one-key U.S. hotels
- Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley, California
- Harbor House Inn, California
- Downtown LA Proper Hotel, California
- Soho Warehouse DTLA, California
- The Aster, California
- The Paramour Estate, California
- The Prospect Hollywood, California
- Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection, California
- Pendry Newport Beach, California
- Dive Palm Springs, California
- Holiday House Palm Springs, California
- La Serena Villas, California
- Sparrows Lodge, California
- Rancho Caymus Inn, California
- 1 Hotel San Francisco, California
- Hotel Drisco, California
- Hotel San Luis Obispo, California
- San Luis Creek Lodge, California
- El Encanto, a Belmond Hotel, Santa Barbara, California
- Casa Del Mar, California
- Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, California
- Santa Monica Proper Hotel, California
- Shutters on the Beach, California
- The Georgian, California
- The Sea Ranch Lodge, California
- Chamberlain West Hollywood, California
- Hotel 850 SVB, California
- Palihouse West Hollywood, California
- Soho House Holloway, California
- Sunset Tower Hotel, California
- The Charlie, California
- Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection, Colorado
- The Little Nell, Colorado
- Mollie Aspen, Colorado
- Clayton Hotel & Members Club, Colorado
- Four Seasons Denver, Colorado
- The Crawford Hotel, Colorado
- Sonnenalp Hotel, Colorado
- Four Seasons Vail, Colorado
- Eaton DC, Washington, D.C.
- Pendry Washington DC – The Wharf, Washington, D.C.
- Riggs Washington DC, Washington, D.C.
- The Dupont Circle Hotel, Washington, D.C.
- The Hay-Adams Hotel, Washington, D.C.
- Mandarin Oriental Miami, Florida
- Mr. C Miami – Coconut Grove, Florida
- 1 Hotel South Beach, Florida
- Esmé Miami Beach, Florida
- Hotel Greystone – Adults Only, Florida
- The Betsy – South Beach, Florida
- Ette Hotel, Florida
- Lake Nona Wave Hotel, Florida
- The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, Florida
- Palihouse Hyde Park Village, Florida
- The Tampa Edition, Florida
- Stonehurst Place Atlanta, Georgia
- The Candler Hotel Atlanta, Georgia
- Hotel Clermont, Georgia
- Chicago Athletic Association, Illinois
- Nobu Hotel Chicago, Illinois
- The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois
- Viceroy Chicago, Illinois
- Waldorf Astoria Chicago, Illinois
- 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, New York
- Ace Hotel Brooklyn, New York
- Wythe Hotel, New York
- 1 Hotel Central Park, New York
- Baccarat Hotel & Residences, New York
- Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, New York
- Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, New York
- The Beekman – a Thompson Hotel, New York
- The Bowery Hotel, New York
- The Greenwich Hotel, New York
- The Hotel Chelsea, New York
- The Lowell, New York
- The Ludlow Hotel, New York
- The Mercer, New York
- The Peninsula New York, New York
- The Wall Street Hotel, New York
- Warren Street Hotel, New York
Comparison with World’s 50 Best Hotels
Prior to Michelin’s ranking, the World’s 50 Best Hotels had recognized only two US hotels, Equinox and Aman New York, both of which now feature prominently in Michelin’s list. This comparison illustrates Michelin’s broader scope of recognition for US hotels, offering a more extensive selection of premium accommodations than the prior limited selection by World’s 50 Best. The alignment between the two lists highlights the consistent quality and excellence of these establishments on a global scale.
Conclusion
I’ll be looking forward to how the Michelin Guide expands into the hotel space both for rating and partner hotels. Several on the list have been targets for me in the past so I’m interested in trying some of these out as opportunities present themselves. That said, like the Michelin Guide for restaurants, the market is limited to a few big cities (exception, Colorado resorts) and I think that’s a miss.
What do you think? How many have you visited? Are there any that you’re now adding to your list?
A US hotel offering hospitality… Now that’s funny!
A lot of these hotels are getting keys on brand only. Or legend status that is questionable today. Or perhaps via connections.
Alila Ventana as an example. Have they actually stayed there? Sure, beautiful spot. The rooms though have wall mounted air conditioners and the furnishings are like from the 90’s. The restaurant service is lackluster as well. I never get the hype for this overpriced hotel other than location. Honestly, the Alila Napa is better overall in my opinion.
Waldorf Chicago? It’s hardly deserving with its meh rooms and basic service. Not awful, but not deserving of this status. How are they on the list on not the Park Hyatt which has been beautifully renovated and has much better overall offerings.
Nobu Hotels? Other than the “Ryokan” in Malibu most are just boisterous lifestyle properties riding on the name, like Virgin. And an Ace property in this list, huh? Very surprising. Proper as well tend to be very crowded scene properties with decent rooms but certainly not in the luxury category. Nice, sure, but not at the highest scale from my experience.
And I’m really surprised at the lack of any Texas Hotels contrasted with the propensity of California properties.
1 Hotels is interesting. I have yet to stay at “one” given the lack of a viable rewards program. Though have been tempted. Only because the Pan Pacific, my regular haunt in Seattle, will become a 1 Hotel on January 1.
Peninsula in Chicago should be three keys. I find it to be the best urban property in America overall. As close to a “perfect” hotel you could ever ask for. Including value.
I’m sure everyone can critique this list to the bone. And no ranking system is perfect. With that people should approach them like the restaurants, which in my experience are a bit all over the place as well.
Michelin Guide rating on anything are worthless beyond Europe. Here in the states tourist boards are paying Michelin to put out the guide. That is why Florida and California have such large statewide guides. Michelin has lost all credibility in recent years the way it blithely gives away stars here and all over Asia.
@Beepity … +1 .
My greatest use for Michelin guides was for driving tours in Europe.
The restaurant rankings are nice in their own way, but I don’t chase restaurants based on public guide rankings.
I used to chase hotels based on public guide rankings and that is why I have been to more of these ones than just the loyalty program participants on there. But over the years I started to increasingly care about hotel pointe programs my interest in chasing hotels based on sheeshy lists dried up.
It’s sad Disney World doesn’t operate hotels with the exacting standards demanded by Michelin.
In a rapidly changing world of travel, information is quickly dated. (Today a one star restaurant is now closed) Certainly there are some icons that (probably) will maintain standards but everything else is a crapshoot. And I find hotel selection is a very personal decision. We all have our quirks.
@Maryland … +1 . My favourite was the Goldener Hirsch in Salzburg , Austria , when owned by the late Count . The late Count’s Christmas gathering for the guests was filled with good cheer and good wishes .
The Equinox? One of the best hotels in the world? Lol…