The Top 10 Europe City Hotels in 2018

By Siobhan Reid
July 10, 2018
Credit: Courtesy of La Réserve Paris Hotel, Spa & Apartments
Europe’s city hotels are among the oldest in the world, and they continue to set the gold standard for service. But the Continent is also home to some of the most cutting-edge, design-forward properties we’ve seen open in years. This year’s list of our readers’ favorite hotels includes both, proving that whichever you prefer — old-school or new — you can’t go wrong.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities.

Related: The 2018 World's Best Awards

The oldest hotel on the list? Le Meurice (No. 3), which opened in its current location on the Rue de Rivoli in 1835. Period details shine throughout, from the lavish tapestries and carpets to the antique mirrors and crystal chandeliers. “Its location and service and history are appealing,” said one fan. “Was most recently given a room overlooking the Tuileries. J’aime beaucoup.”

Seventy-eight years after Le Meurice opened, Le Negresco started welcoming guests along the Promenade des Anglais, in Nice. “Le Negresco is pure elegance,” wrote one fan of the 1913 landmark, while another added: “Beautiful old hotel.” The Hotel Maria Cristina opened in San Sebastián, Spain, in 1912. With its gilded halls and antique-filled rooms, the grand Belle Époque property (now managed by Luxury Collection) harks back to a bygone era. “What a gem!” said one fan. “We felt like we had stepped back in time to an age of grace and elegance. Exquisite attention to detail.”

When the modern J.K. Place opened in Rome in 2013, it was instantly hailed as a classic. The interiors by Michele Bönan artfully mix jewel tones with plush fabrics and antiques to create an effortlessly timeless design. “Love the linen sheets and cashmere throws on the beds!” wrote a respondent. The Aman Venice, in the Palazzo Papadopoli, similarly blends Old World with New, with its Tiepolo frescoes and spa offering purifying rituals.

But who took home the No. 1 spot this year? For that, we must return to Paris. Read on to find out.
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10. Le Negresco, Nice, France

Credit: Courtesy of Le Negresco

Score: 93.68

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9. J.K. Place Roma, Rome

Credit: Courtesy of J.K. Place Roma

Score: 93.75

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8. The Goring, London

Credit: Courtesy of The Goring

Score: 94.06

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7. Le Bristol, Paris

Credit: Courtesy of Le Bristol

Score: 94.15

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6. Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Sebastián, Spain

Credit: Courtesy of Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Score: 94.18

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5. The Lanesborough, London

Credit: Courtesy of The Lanesborough

Score: 94.40

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4. Aman, Venice

Credit: Courtesy of Aman

Score: 94.64

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3. Le Meurice, Paris

Credit: Courtesy of Le Meurice

3. Le Meurice, Paris

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2. The Peninsula, Paris

Credit: Courtesy of The Peninsula Paris

Score: 96.00

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1. La Réserve Paris — Hotel & Spa

Credit: Courtesy of La Réserve Paris Hotel, Spa & Apartments

Score: 96.44

Set in a mansion that once belonged to Napoleon III’s half-brother, the Duc de Morny, La Réserve is the picture of Parisian elegance. Said one reader about the lavish boutique hotel: “This is a home away from home in one of the world’s most romantic cities.” Hotelier Michel Reybier tapped acclaimed interior designer Jacques Garcia to overhaul the rooms and common areas, which are sumptuous with velvet drapery, silk-damask walls, gold-leaf embellishments, and herringbone-parquet floors. And despite its enviable address a block from the presidential palace, the property feels totally tucked-away — a testament to its intimate scale (there are 26 suites and 14 rooms), discreet service, and resort-like amenities, from the 50-foot pool and full-service spa to the sun-drenched outdoor patio.

See all of our readers' favorite hotels, airlines, cruise lines, and more in the World's Best Awards for 2018.

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By Siobhan Reid