One of the best ways to immerse yourself in history is to literally sleep in it. Afar’s latest installment of Hotels We Love focuses on hotels around the world that offer guests a living piece of a place’s history, in addition to guaranteeing a good night’s sleep. From a ranch with log cabins and a repurposed seminary building to an 18th-century château, this selection of the world’s top 16 historic hotels will take you back in time.
The Beverly Hills Hotel
- Neighborhood: Beverly Crest, Beverly Hills
- Why we love it: Old-school Hollywood glamour
- Loyalty program: Dorchester Collection Diamond Club
- From $955
- Book now
When the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel first opened for business in 1912, Beverly Hills was a suburb of Los Angeles, and the hotel provided a place for people to stay when looking at parcels of land to live on in the area. But as the city of Beverly Hills developed, the hotel—nicknamed the Pink Palace—became a perennial favorite among the Hollywood set ranging from Golden Age stars like Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe to modern day celebrities like the Kardashians, Saweetie, and Mark Wahlberg. Today the hotel is run by the global luxury hotel group Dorchester Collection, and the famous cursive sign, whose font was created by architect Paul Revere Williams, one of the few Black architects at the time in L.A., still greets guests upon arrival. See our full list of top hotels in Los Angeles.—Mae Hamilton
The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel
- Neighborhood: Upper East Side
- Why we love it: An enduring NYC icon with sought-after nightlife
- From $1,495
- Book now
This Upper East Side legend opened its doors in 1930 and, since then, has offered big-city accommodations to a legion of luminaries, from John F. Kennedy and Ingrid Bergman to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The hotel‘s famed restaurant Café Carlyle is where much of the action—and long-standing history—exists, having consistently hosted top talent like Woody Allen, Alan Cumming, and Rita Wilson since opening in 1955.
The property’s famed Bemelmans Bar is another favorite, especially for nightly live jazz, masterful cocktails, and, during the holidays, a Madeline tea (inspired by Madeline author Ludwig Bemelmans, who was commissioned in 1947 for the bar’s iconic large-scale murals). More R&R is available at the hotel’s Sisley-Paris Spa, an urban retreat offering an array of decadent facial and body treatments. Once back in their rooms, often with postcard-worthy views of Central Park, guests can luxuriate in the interiors designed by Alexandra Champalimaud, many with art deco flourishes, deep soaking tubs, and wall murals depicting city life. Read our full list of top hotels in New York City.
Chable Yucatán
- Location: Yucatán, Mexico
- Why we love it: A wellness focused retreat on a former sisal plantation in the Yucatan
- From $791
- Loyalty program: Leaders Club (Leading Hotels of the World)
- Book now
Set deep in the Yucatan jungle, Chablé is built around a 17th-century sisal plantation. While most of the glass-fronted suites are new additions, the bones of the historic buildings, such as crumbling stone archways and a beautifully restored hacienda, are scattered around the property. There’s no better place to enjoy a margarita than on the terrace of this historic building, where fans whiz above. The spa is also tied to history and is centered around a cenote, a sinkhole surrounded by rocks that was used by the Mayans. Today, guests can opt for treatments facilitated by Mayan healers and wellness masters using traditional techniques and native plants such as chaya.
Château de Théoule
- Location: Théoule-sur-Mer, France
- Why we love it: A 17th-century soap factory turned luxury hotel with an alluring French Riviera location
- From $936
- Book now
From the outside, you might think Château de Théoule is a castle because of the building’s castle-like turrets (it’s not). But that doesn’t make it any less historic—set in a former soap factory dating back to the 1600s, the property, which has undergone many iterations, was recently turned into a hotel with marine-inspired rooms in shades of turquoise and pearl, overlooking the Bay of Cannes. Set along the ocean on the French Riviera, a short ride from hot spots such as St. Paul de Vence and Cannes, the property’s location is also spot on.
Copacabana Palace, a Belmond Hotel
- Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Why we love it: An enduring legend next to Copacabana Beach
- Loyalty program: Belmond Bellini Club
- From $590
- Book now
Set directly across from Rio de Janeiro’s famed Copacabana Beach, wedged between Ipanema Beach and Sugarloaf Mountain, the Copacabana Palace, a Belmond Hotel, has been drawing guests with its unparalleled location, superlative service, and legendary Carnival parties since 1923. The building itself is a marvel: a gleaming white art deco structure with 243 guest rooms, designed by French architect Joseph Gire. Over the years, it’s welcomed such high-profile guests as Brigitte Bardot, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nat King Cole. And 100 years later, this beachfront legend still exudes glamour: Beach-facing rooms have French doors opening onto balconies, and a picturesque turquoise pool is fringed with sun beds.
Domaine de Primard
- Location: Guainville, France
- Why we love it: A small château hotel in the French countryside.
- Loyalty program: Always Be Expected (Relais & Châteaux)
- From $288
- Book now
Upon seeing this 18th-century château, set on a 100-acre estate with both wild and manicured gardens, you may wonder why Catherine Deneuve ever sold it. (The story goes that it was simply too big.) Now owned by a French couple (founders of Domaine De Fontanille, which has numerous hotels), the property has been carefully restored with 39 guest rooms; some have duck egg blue paneled walls and French windows. The couple also added contemporary elements: a Susanne Kaufman spa set in a barn and a one-Michelin star restaurant, Les Chemins, which serves seasonal veggie-forward plates in a glass-encased room overlooking the garden. Read Afar’s full list of hotels that are much less expensive than you think.
Galle Face Hotel, Sri Lanka
- Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Why we love it: A colonnaded icon in Colombo
- From $90
- Book now
In 2015, the Galle Face Hotel, located on the island’s west coast, underwent a complete restoration of its North Wing, which included 72 rooms and suites and prominent public spaces, such as the Sea Spray restaurant, and a new L’Occitane spa. Learn more about the property’s history with new Heritage Tours, which take guests on a guided stroll through the hotel’s on-site museum—from Prince Philip’s first personal car to a cannonball that hit the hotel in 1845. The tour also includes behind-the-scene looks at spaces unavailable to the public—such as the office where Arthur C. Clarke finished 3001: The Final Odyssey.—Nicoletta Richardson
Gleneagles
- Location: Auchterarder, Scotland
- Why we love it: A Scottish resort worthy of royalty
- Loyalty program: Leaders Club (Leading Hotels of the World)
- From $541
- Book now
If you were to imagine a quintessential Scottish country hotel, Gleneagles would probably be it. Set in a stately building that dates back to 1923 on a handsome estate, Gleneagles is a playground for adults. There’s a golf course, shooting range, spa, and a host of restaurants where you can enjoy everything from scones and Earl Grey tea to whisky and smoked salmon. Inside, the interior is all wood paneling, fireplaces, velvet tuffets, and tartan—the kinds of things you’d expect Kate and Will to approve of. Oh, wait: they have.
Imperial Hotel
- Location: Tokyo, Japan
- Why we love it: A storied hotel with serious architectural pedigree
- Loyalty program: Leaders Club (Leading Hotels of the World)
- From $343
- Book now
With a history that dates back to 1883, the Imperial Hotel in Ginza is a Tokyo landmark, having hosted such prominent guests as Winston Churchill and Harold Wilson. First designed by Yuzuru Watanabe, the hotel was redesigned by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1923 after a devastating fire the year before. In 1968, the main lobby was dismantled and reconstructed in a different prefecture of the city. Today, the Imperial is a gleaming 659-room hotel, but elements of the original hotel still exist, notably in the Old Imperial bar decorated with murals and terra-cotta tiles from the Lloyd Wright design.
La Mamounia
- Location: Marrakech, Morocco
- Why we love it: A century-old hotel with historic details and gorgeous grounds
- Loyalty program: Leaders Club (Leading Hotels of the World)
- From $600
- Book now
Having first opened its doors in 1923, La Mamounia has been hosting A-list guests (from Charlie Chaplin and Francis Ford Coppola to Nelson Mandela) for more than 100 years. The property began in the 18th century as an orchard gifted by Sultan Mohammed Ben Abdallah to his son. Eventually it became a hotel designed by French architects Henri Prost and Antoine Marchisio. The 209-room hotel has undergone numerous new iterations and design overhauls; most recently it was given a refresh by Jouin and Manku, who installed a magnificent chandelier to celebrate 100 years. Despite numerous renovations, parts of the historic interior remain unchanged: Berber rugs, art deco furniture, sculpted plaster archways, hand-cut mosaic tiles, and marble floors abound.
Lone Mountain Ranch
- Location: Big Sky, Montana
- Why we love it: a 1930s ranch with charming Americana vibes
- From $509
- Book now
The 1930s Lone Mountain Ranch is composed of 25 log cabins on an old mountainside ranch in Montana. This is Americana at its best: While the cabins were renovated in 2016, they still feel old-timey with wood-burning fireplaces, record players, and enormous beds with wooden frames. Dining experiences here are a highlight: Some start with sleigh rides taking guests to the hotel’s remote rustic cabin for pot pie and live music. At the main Horn & Cantle Restaurant, where diners enjoy soups and salads, there are moose heads and leather chairs galore. Upstairs is an unlikely new addition: Auric Room, a sleek members-only supper club serving caviar and champagne.
Peninsula Hong Kong
- Location: Hong Kong
- Why we love it: The city’s undisputed grande dame with some of the city’s best service
- From $590
- Book now
Opened in 1928 by Asia’s oldest hotel brand, the Peninsula Hong Kong is one of the city’s most historic properties. It’s located on the Kowloon Peninsula, just across Victoria Harbour from Hong Kong Island. Originally designed as a luxurious accommodation for passengers traveling on the adjacent Kowloon–Canton railway, the Peninsula Hong Kong has long been a gathering spot for the elite, socialite, and tycoon, where distinguished guests crossed the harbor to socialize, enjoy afternoon tea, and partake in tea dances at the iconic lobby. Over the past 96 years, the Peninsula Hong Kong has been a magnet for international celebrities and dignitaries.
In 1994, a 30-story tower nearly doubled its accommodations, as well as adding shops, a spa, and fitness center, an aviation lounge, twin rooftop helipads, and Felix—the hotel’s 28th-floor fine-dining restaurant, designed by Philippe Starck. All guest rooms and suites were renovated in 2013 with creamy colors, polished wood, and leather. New high-tech extras include a bedside control panel allowing guests to adjust the room’s light, sound, and temperature without getting out from under the covers. Today, the hotel is sleek and modern, but historic relics evoke the glory days that established the Peninsula Hong Kong as the “grande dame of the Far East.”
Portrait Milano
- Location: Milan, Italy
- Why we love it: One of the world’s oldest seminaries is now a luxury hotel by the Ferragamo Group
- Loyalty program: Leaders Club (Leading Hotels of the World)
- From $1,160
- Book now
Wander through the entrance of Portrait Milano in the heart of the city and you’ll be surprised to stumble upon a huge old piazza that once belonged to one of the oldest seminaries in the world. Today it houses the 73-room hotel, which belongs to the Ferragamo Group. Historic details are everywhere, from the columns in the square to arched ceilings and the dramatic sculptural entrance. In contrast, the rooms are all contemporary classic Italian design with oversize marble baths, glossy wood paneling, and splashes of red and green. Read Afar’s full review of the Portrait Milano.
Raffles Hotel Singapore
- Neighborhood: Beach Road
- Why we love it: A reborn iconic hotel that you could spend an entire weekend in
- Loyalty program: Accor Live Limitless
- From $1,060
- Book now
The resplendent Raffles Hotel reopened in late 2019 to great fanfare after two years of restoration. Originally built in 1887 as a 10-room hotel, it now features 115 suites with oriental carpets and teak floors to complement four-poster beds and colorful Peranakan-tiled bathrooms. An in-room tablet controls everything from the mood lighting to calling your butler for a glass of bubbly. All have a private veranda to enjoy balmy evenings outside.
The building was declared a national monument in 1987, so the facade has changed little, but the hotel’s food and drink concepts have been revamped with a focus on marquee restaurant collaborations with the likes of Jereme Leung (yi) and Hawaiian-born Jordan Keao (Butcher’s Block). Not forgetting Singapore’s rich food culture, the hotel offers a self-guided Raffles Singapore Hawker Food Trail video hosted by hawker champion and Makansutra founder KF Seetoh. Raffles also offers an exclusive private tour of the Intan, a home museum filled with more than 1,500 objects from Peranakan culture.
The famous Singapore Sling continues to be a draw at the evocative 1920s Malayan-style Long Bar and its peanut shell–covered floor. The iconic drink now has sustainable twist: The hotel plants one native tree in the Kalimantan or Sumatran rainforest for every 25 Singapore Slings ordered. Read our full list of top hotels in Singapore.—Charlene Fang
Ritz Paris
- Location: Paris, France
- Why we love it: The most famous hotel in the City of Light only got better with age
- Loyalty program: Leaders Club (Leading Hotels of the World)
- From $2,290
- Book now
Following an extensive renovation that took more than three years, the iconic 1898 Ritz Paris reopened in June 2016 with all the charm and patina that such notable guests as Coco Chanel and F. Scott Fitzgerald came to know well. Architect Thierry W. Despont has updated the interiors with 21st-century touches such as retractable roofs and heated floors, while preserving the original empire style and fine wood paneling. Longtime guests will feel at home in the original L’Espadon restaurant and Bar Hemingway, while the famous École Ritz Escoffier offers a state-of-the-art culinary program that will help gourmands unlock the secrets of French cooking.—Nicoletta Richardson
The Watergate Hotel, Washington, D.C.
- Location: Washington, D.C.
- Why we love it: The site of some juicy U.S. history—with a sexy rooftop bar
- Loyalty program: I Prefer (Prefered Hotels & Resorts)
- From $279
- Book now
Reopened in May 2016 after a multi-million-dollar renovation, the Watergate Hotel is embracing its historic role in the Nixon scandal and preserving the 336-room hotel’s original midcentury look. Guests can try French American cuisine at the Kingbird and sip on top-notch whiskey at the Next Whisky Bar. Don’t miss the rooftop lounge, Top of the Gate, which offers 360-degree views of the Capitol, the Washington Monument, and the Potomac River.—Nicoletta Richardson
This story originally published in April 2016. It was refreshed with new reporting in December 2024.
