The Best Hotels and Resorts in Asia: The Gold List 2026
It’s time again for us to tell you about the hotels (and cruises) we really, really love right now. Our 32nd annual Gold List collects our editors’ current favorite places to stay and ships to sail (all vetted by our team of contributors and editors around the globe). They’re memorable for many reasons: service that made us feel like Hollywood stars; architecture that transported us to 1920s London or 18th-century Lake Como; and meals in Vietnam, in Australia, and at sea that we know will inspire Proustian responses. What do all of these experiences have in common? We’ll be carrying them with us for years to come. To paraphrase the old saying: New friends are silver, but old friends are gold.
See the full Gold List here.
Alexander StephanhotelThe Happy House — Nepal
Gold List 2026The Happy House, a historic family home in a Nepalese Himalayan valley east of Mount Everest, was given its name by Sir Edmund Hillary, who used to stay here. The moniker sums up the spirit perfectly, of a guesthouse best booked in its entirety for a group of friends or family. The region, considered the cradle of Buddhist-Sherpa culture, feels like a very long way from the news cycle (but it’s only a 40-minute flight from Kathmandu to the tiny Phaplu airstrip). Highlights include a significant (and very beautiful) monastery, Chiwong, at the head of the valley, with a community of monks closely connected to generations of the Lama family, who are the owners of the Happy House. Hence the deep access, with activities including hikes on pilgrim paths that wind through pine forests, or camping on ridgelines with spectacular views of Everest. Every detail is handmade and elegant: the finest Mongolian cashmere, hand-beaten silver water cups, walls covered in murals by Buddhist thangka painters. But the lifeblood of the house will always be the kitchen, presided over by the most gifted of chefs, Mingma Sherpa—not just because of his extraordinarily delicate palette, or his foraging knowledge (you’ll eat flowers, ferns, and mushrooms as well as vegetables grown in the gardens), but Mingma’s magnetic laughter, which rolls out of the kitchen morning til night. The Happy House is Mingma’s domain, and everyone who has ever been here will tell you the same. From $600. —Sophy Roberts
Cape WeligamahotelCape Weligama — Sri Lanka
$$ | Gold List 2026 
Hot List 2015 
Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024Perched on a clifftop in the Southern Riviera of Sri Lanka, Cape Weligama is fresh from a makeover. There’s a shiny new beach club, a new kids’ club, and eight additional interconnecting family suites beside the family pool. Meanwhile, grown-ups will love the infinity pool that sweeps around the headland. The all-day menu at The Atlas keeps everyone happy (try the salt crusted barramundi fillet) or treat yourself to Tableau, a live cooking experience held on the cliff’s edge. The revamped bar, The Society, serves up inspired tipples within candlelit nooks. When it’s time for bed, retire to one of the 39 gargantuan terra-cotta-tiled suites and villas, which feature marine-inspired interiors. Wake up to a floating breakfast in your pool and a choice of numerous activities, from herbal massages in the Balinese spa to whale watching. From $667. —Harriet Compston
Rishul BangarhotelSamode Palace — India
$$ | Gold List 2026Stepping into Samode, 45 kilometres from Jaipur airport in India, feels like entering a half-remembered epic. First the cobbled street of an old village, then four domed gateways, and suddenly, a palace with the Aravalli mountains rising behind it. Each doorway frames the one across from it, creating a hypnotic progression through centuries. Outside it may be the 21st century, but at Samode you are in the era of Rajputana royalty, and that mood carries through everything: the service, the cuisine, the architecture, the decor. What began as a 16th-century fort evolved over generations into a palace. The family still runs it today, and their touch is palpable, from the warm welcome by staff who anticipate needs before they are spoken. Like in all great palaces, intrigue lingers in its details: hidden alcoves, scalloped arches, carved parapets, frescoes of a faded Durga on her tiger, a centuries-old miniature of Radha, and ceilings painted in indigo and rose. The Sheesh Mahal dazzles most dramatically, where 250-year-old Belgian glass mosaics glimmer across vaulted ceilings. The palace has its enchantments, but the kitchens are where the alchemy really happens, recipes tested over centuries: lamb in gently spiced curry, locally grown greens, wines from a cellar stocked with improbable vintages. There are two restaurants at the palace, but the true joy is in its movable feasts—a dinner in the Durbar Hall, lunch at the Sheesh Mahal, a tea in the garden, or supper on the pool deck under the stars. Everything here feels unstaged, unfiltered, and regally authentic. Just as it should be. From $340. —Shunali Khullar Shroff
Courtesy of Nay Palad HideawayhotelNay Palad Hideaway — Philippines
$$$ | Gold List 2026When former Bayern-Munich footballer Bobby Dekeyser conjured this beach retreat on the silver sands of the Philippines’ Siargao island back in 2012, he started with a list of things he didn’t like about resorts: lengthy check-in procedures, constant bill signing, and early alarms to avoid missing breakfast. The result, Nay Palad Hideaway, skips all of that. There are no bills to sign (stays are all-inclusive), no menus to peruse, and if you want to pop behind the bar to fix yourself a calamansi G&T, no one’s going to stop you. Super-typhoon Odette temporarily shuttered this barefoot dream in 2021, but after two years of rebuilding the resort and the surrounding communities, Nay Palad looks better than ever. For the refreshed villas, pool, and restaurant complex, designers doubled down on the whimsical, Mad Hatter tea-party-on-the-beach vibe with intricate wood carvings, bird’s-nest-like lounge nooks, and pointy roofs thatched with nipa palm leaves. In between, gardens frothing with frangipani and bougainvillea conceal hidey-holes where staff are happy to serve lunch or dinner whenever you want. But that free-wheeling attitude reaches far beyond the resort’s gates: Feel like having lunch in the palm fields? Ask the staff to stock the pastel-hued jeepney with a picnic basket, or take out the boat to a quiet beach on one of the outlying islets for a bonfire night. Anything else? Just ask. This is the kind of can-do, no-fuss hideaway you’ve always dreamed of. From $890. —Chris Schalkx
Buahan BalihotelBuahan, A Banyan Tree Escape — Indonesia
$$$ | Gold List 2026 Hot List 2023 Readers' Choice Awards 2025In the three years since Buahan, the hotelier’s first property billed as a Banyan Tree Escape, opened , it has proved itself a true original: cicada alarm calls, baths illuminated by fireflies, volcanic views from bed. The location in Taro village, an area where 100-feet-tall coconut palms, mango, tamarind, and papaya trees, oversized cashew and cacao nuts, streaming vanilla vines, and honey-dripping beehives intermingle, is thought by locals to be the literal center of the universe. Stone stairs lead to a four-room spa for Balinese massages, a sacred waterfall for energy-cleansing blessings, and 16 open-air pool villas (bales) built without walls or doors. From $728. —Lee Cobaj
Courtesy Cempedak IslandhotelCempedak Island — Indonesia
$$$ | Gold List 2026 Hot List 2018Much of what has always made this 42-acre private island so special remains unchanged: cooled-by-the-breeze villas—sinuous bamboo topped by alang-alang thatch—atop woodland ridges or fringed by shell-and-rock-strewn sands and the South China Sea, thick forest where monitor lizards and hornbills roam. Dreamed up by hotelier Andrew Dixon with strict sustainability principles, this adults-only getaway serves unrivaled castaway allure. All-bamboo villas have bohemian appeal, swooping architecture, four-poster beds, and droplet-shaped pools, while elevated walkways lead to a restaurant where low-waste Indonesian fare is served. From Balinese massages to water sports and behind-the-scenes eco tours, activities envelop guests into island life while treading lightly on the land. New wellness retreats and murder-mystery weekends offer fresh draw, while Dixon remains an environmental advocate, currently speaking out against a proposed industrial park on a nearby, undeveloped island. From $370. —Ianthe Butt
ITC HotelshotelWelcomhotel By ITC Hotels, Pine N Peak, Pahalgam — India
$ | Gold List 2026A herd of sheep blocks your car that has so far been gliding down the smooth road in Lidder Valley. The fast-flowing river is your constant companion along the turns and bends, ensuring you know the valley is named after it. The two-and-a-half-hour drive from Srinagar to Pahalgam unspools like a primer on Kashmir's greatest hits: mountains so green you’d think someone turned up the saturation; wild horses grazing in meadows; tiny hamlets of wooden homes with carved windows and pitched roofs; and roadside fruit stands with apples piled high. The road winds upward through a pine forest until you reach a hotel that looks like it has quietly grown out of the hillside: the chalet-style Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Pine N Peak. Inside, it feels like Kashmir reinterpreted, with its vaulted ceilings, textured walnut-wood doors, and chesterfield sofas upholstered in local fabrics. The kitchen does justice to Kashmir's culinary grammar across three dining venues that offer a plethora of multicuisine dishes. For guests who want wellness indoors, there is a spa with a range of therapies and a well-equipped fitness center. However, the real sense of well-being is in the outdoors, whether it’s an early-morning stroll through the gardens that spill into the forest, soundtracked by the rushing river below; an afternoon walk on the forest trails or through nearby villages that ends with a picnic by the Lidder; or an evening back at the property relaxing by a crackling fire. From $310. —Shunal Khullar Shroff
Island Shangri-La, Hong KonghotelIsland Shangri-La, Hong Kong
$$$ | Gold List 2026 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024, 2025Ask my seven-year-old his favorite hotel, and he’ll tell you it’s the Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong, home to an entire family floor with a toy train chugging through the hallway and suites with secret slides and spaceship beds straight out of Howl’s Moving Castle. These OTT accommodations are part of a top-to-toe revamp of the 30-year-old grande dame that blends its old-world opulence with a modern edge. Other fresh touches include the reimagined Shangri-La Suite, a maze of glossy marble and hand-painted walls; a botanical-heavy spa; and modern Hokkien-style diner Ming Pavilion. Luckily the classics remain unchanged: Service is still unparalleled, and chichi Cantonese mainstay Summer Palace continues to dole out the shrimp dumplings that have earned it a loyal following. From $520. —Chris Schalkx
hotelThe Oberoi, Mumbai
$$$ | Gold List 2026 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024, 2025Perched on the tip of South Mumbai, the 237-key Oberoi Mumbai overlooks the glittering lights of the curved bay that forms the Queen’s Necklace. The stark modernist building with its soaring atrium was among the first hotels built by legendary hotelier Biki Oberoi in 1986, setting new standards in design and service for luxury hospitality in India and becoming a defining part of the Mumbai skyline. In the four decades since, the property has remained a grand doyenne of hospitality, even as the city around it has churned and reshaped itself. Walk into the lobby and the first thing that greets you is an ever-smiling member of the staff. The changing colors of the sky and the ever-shifting sea are framed as the perfect artwork in the ocean-view suites, the residences, and at the Art Deco–inspired Eau Bar, one of the best sundowner spots in the city with views of the Arabian Sea. From $245. —Diya Kohli
Christopher CyperthotelThe Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
$$$ | Gold List 2026 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024When you arrive at The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, you leave behind the chaotic energy of a tourist-filled city and enter a luxe sanctuary. The landmark hotel was the first big international luxury brand to open in the ancient city, in 2014, and its star power shines as bright today. Situated in a peaceful site overlooking the Kamogawa River, the hotel is a layered contemporary expression of ancient Kyoto. Here high luxury harmonizes with low-key Kyoto discretion. It’s a place where off-duty Hollywood celebs sip tea or cocktails alongside generations-old Kyoto families. In the guest rooms, you’ll find cherry blossom carpets, intricate woodwork, calligraphic artworks, and large bathrooms. Dining options span the globe: Japanese fare at Mizuki, dishes inspired by the country’s 72 micro-seasons at Chef’s Table by Katsuhito Inoue, and Italian specialties at laid-back La Locanda. And for those suffering from Kyoto-temple fatigue? Recovery is nonnegotiable in the moodily lit wellness spaces—whether swimming laps in the basement pool or drifting off with a green tea massage in the spa. From $1,116. —Danielle Demetriou
Frederik Wissink for Zannier HotelshotelZannier Hotels Bãi San Hô — Vietnam
$$ | Gold List 2026 Hot List 2021Why does that extended family of 15, ranging in ages from 7 to 70, seem totally at home at this beachfront hotel restaurant overlooking the South China Sea—the adults languidly sipping their rosé while the kids come and go, playing in the waves and then dashing back to the table? In part because they’ve been here for three weeks. Zannier Bãi San Hô, located in the south-central Vietnamese province of Dak Lak and set on 240 acres of verdant hills and ancient rice paddies—and with a mile-long sandy beach—is the type of place guests come back to again and again, staying a little longer each year. The 73 freestanding villas are inspired by traditional styles, such as simple wood fisherman’s homes on stilts or traditional bamboo-clad houses of the Ede and Cham tribes. Interiors spotlight natural materials: rattan furniture, jute lampshades, and gorgeous linen and silk textiles in earthy shades. The food at all four of the dining options is excellent, with the breakfast spread at the all-day Nhà ở being being truly impressive. While a day trip to see Cham architectural ruins is a should-do, there isn’t the pressure to pack your days with programming beyond maybe a game of tennis, a spa treatment, or a morning yoga session before hitting the beach. Long live less is more! From $420. —Rebecca Misner
Hajra AhmadhotelSUJÁN Sher Bagh — India
$$$ | Gold List 2026 Hot List 2022While travelers come here hoping to see a tiger during the day, it's at nightfall when Sher Bagh truly shines. Hundreds of lanterns are dotted along the walkways and hung from the trees; the soundscape is a powerful chorus of insects and frogs singing their evening tunes. Located on the edge of India’s famous Ranthambore National Park, Sher Bagh is the most illustrious of the Suján properties, owned by conservation-minded hoteliers Jaisal and Anjali Singh. The camp comprises stone, wood, and canvas-tented pavilions set under peepal trees, with rooms strewn with campaign-style furniture and vintage objects; in the bathrooms lie deep copper tubs. It's 1920s glamour set amid the wild. From $1,349. —Mary Holland
Robert ReckhotelCapella Singapore
$$$ | Gold List 2026 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024A hilltop haven on Sentosa Island a 10-minute drive from Singapore’s city center, Capella Singapore retains as much tropical magnetism today as it did when it opened in 2009. The hotel is housed in former British Royal Artillery barracks that were built in the 1800s, and today it has a vibe that’s part colonnaded, verandaed pomp, part modern architectural flair. Its terra-cotta-roofed heritage buildings rub up against a futuristic Foster+Partners infinity-sign-shaped wing, while André Fu–designed suites and villas are done in forest palettes with midcentury modern touches. Not to be missed: the jungly lipstick-palm- and frangipani-lined paths where hornbills honk; and Cassia’s ever-polished fine dining. But it’s the unfailingly thoughtful and elegant hospitality here that makes stays exceptional, from “Capella Culturists,” who can arrange riotously fun mah-jongg sessions, to staff who materialize poolside, proffering welcome beat-the-heat bucket hats and icy mango smoothies. From $935. —Ianthe Butt
Kiattipong Panchee/Chiva SomhotelChiva-Som — Thailand
$$ | Gold List 2026 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025This is the grande dame of Asian spas, a quiet beachfront oasis with plenty of soul in the buzzing seaside town of Hua Hin, Thailand. Founded by Boonchu Rojanastien and still run by his son Krip and grandson Win, Chiva Som was an early pioneer of the concept of 360-degree wellness that emphasizes both mental and physical health. At this property, management extends this ethos to the staff as well the guests. In return, the 85-strong army of outstanding naturopaths, therapists, fitness instructors, and physiotherapists—many of whom have been at the resort for more than 10 years—are personally invested in the overall experience at Chiva Som, and their excellent skills show in the quality of therapy. The hard product is nothing to scoff at either: Its public areas and 54 bedrooms got a glow-up in 2020 by the late Ed Tuttle, creator of Aman’s much-copied minimalism. It turned 30 years old in 2025 and remains one of the world’s most well-respected wellness sanctuaries. From $985. —Susan D’Arcy
Courtesy The Nautilus MaldiveshotelThe Nautilus Maldives
$$$ | Gold List 2021, 2026 Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025The Maldives, a collection of sand-rimmed islets in the Indian Ocean, is the long-haul beach destination Americans need to start paying more attention to. Especially with its bevy of hot new hotel openings, like The Nautilus, which swung open its doors in February 2019. The property kept things “traditional,” which means one thing when it comes to Maldivian resorts: private bungalows. The 26 houses—some of which sit just off of the beach, while others stretch over the water—all come with private pools, a separate living quarter, and personal butler service. The resort specializes in bespoke vacations, meaning you get to craft your stay to look exactly as you dreamed it: Champagne in bed? Breakfast aboard a luxury yacht? An impromptu swim with manta rays? It's all possible here. From $11,475. —Noo Saro-Wiwa
Courtesy Raya Heritage, Chiang Mai, ThailandhotelRaya Heritage — Thailand
Gold List 2021, 2026Teak pillars and Lanna roof trims are the norm in Northern Thailand, but Raya Heritage in Chiang Mai city plays a different game. Designer Vichada “Dao” Sitakalin built this riverside retreat filled with crafts—ceramics, basketry, hand-dyed indigo textiles—sourced from village artisans and embedded in the decor of every cream-colored suite. There’s a boutique selling the same pieces, a tea lounge serving local brews, and a restaurant, Khu Khao, that draws on regional influences with dishes such as Burmese mohinga and Yunnanese rice salad. Add a riverfront pool and herb-heavy spa treatments, and you’ve got Chiang Mai’s most rooted—and gorgeous—stay. From $521. —Chris Schalkx
Courtesy Peninsula ManilahotelThe Peninsula Manila
$$$ | Gold List 2026 Readers' Choice Awards 2017I feel like The Peninsula Manila belongs to my family. No, I’m not a scion of the Kadoories, founders of the first Peninsula hotel, opened in Hong Kong in 1928. No, my parents had no part in the 1976 creation of the second-ever Peninsula, this double-winged Brutalist beauty built on the corner of Ayala and Makati Avenues in Manila. But after countless stays in its serene rooms, afternoon teas in its resplendent lobby, parties in the glamorous Rigodon Ballroom—my own parents’ wedding, among them—yes, I truly feel it is ours. But it’s also everyone’s. Almost every Manileño I know has a story to tell about Manila Pen, as we call it. At this historic place, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, we Filipinos have danced, feasted, mourned, and even instigated political coups. (In 2007 an armored military vehicle stormed the lobby. Bullet holes in the wall behind the check-in desk are now framed by an artistic copper sculpture.) Travelers are welcome too, of course, and should take advantage of the central location and superb concierges, who can organize cultural tours, shopping trips, and chauffeured airport transfers. I did as much during my most recent stay. I had lunch in the lobby, decked out to the nines for the holidays, and recalled my late mother, who took me there for my first shot of espresso when I was a teen, and to break the news of her cancer diagnosis over afternoon tea years later. I watched families take photos with the quintuple-height Christmas tree, before and after kissing and hugging loved ones. Then I ran into my cousins and friends, and so did the kissing and hugging too. The Peninsula Manila belongs to everyone, I know that. Perhaps what I feel is that I belong only to Manila Pen. From $287. —Matt Ortile
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
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