World’s Best City Hotels in the Continental U.S. in 2016

Courtesy of the Spectator Hotel

Some of the very best cities on the planet can be found in the continental United States — so is it any wonder that some of the most exciting hotels are found in the lower 48?

Take the Old 77 Hotel & Chandlery in Louisiana, for example. One of the coolest new hotels in the country debuted at the No. 7 spot this year in the No. 7 city in the world: New Orleans. The Old 77 has two galleries promoting local artists and a French-Caribbean restaurant (conch croquettes share the menu with black drum fish with beurre blanc and caviar). Inside the 167 rooms, guests will find custom vintage-inspired writing desks and exposed-brick walls.

The best hotels in American cities are those that introduce you to your destination the moment you drop your bags.

New York City hotels, including the recently reopened Knickerbocker in Times Square and the Greenwich Hotel, immerse guests in the Big Apple experience. You’ll find everything from 24/7 bartenders mixing bedside Old-Fashioneds (at the Knick) to a hotelier who doubles as an unofficial mayor of New York (Robert De Niro, who grew up near the Greenwich Hotel).

When visiting the Windy City, could you ask for a better view of the Chicago River and downtown skyline than from a room at the Langham Chicago, which all boast floor-to-ceiling windows? And on a frosty Boston night, where else would you want to bed down than at the XV Beacon, where every one of its 63 rooms is outfitted with cashmere throws and a gas fireplace?

How did these 15 U.S. city hotels become World’s Best darlings? In our annual World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to score their travel experiences, evaluating everything from hotels and cities to islands,cruise lines, and spas. Hotels were rated on their rooms and facilities, location, service, food and drink, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations.

Read on for the full list.

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No. 15: French Quarter Inn, Charleston, South Carolina

Courtesy of French Quarter Inn

Score: 93.89

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No. 14: Mokara Hotel & Spa, San Antonio, Texas

Courtesy of Mokara Hotel and Spa

Score: 93.89

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No. 13: Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

Diego Delso

Score: 94.03

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No. 12: The Hay-Adams, Washington, D.C.

Courtesy of The Hay-Adams

Score: 94.03

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No. 11: Rosewood (formerly the Capella; Washington, D.C.

Courtesy of Rosewood

Score: 94.04

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No. 10: Hotel Vintage, Seattle, Washington

David Lewis Phelps

Score: 94.12

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No. 9: The Alfond Inn, Winter Park (Orlando Area; Florida

Courtesy of the Alfond Inn

Score: 94.12

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No. 8: The Langham, Chicago

Courtesy of the Langham

Score: 94.21

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No. 7: The Old 77 Hotel & Chandlery, New Orleans

Courtesy of the Old No. 77 Hotel and Chandlery

Score: 94.26

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No. 6: River Inn of Harbor Town, Memphis, Tennessee

Courtesy of River Inn of Harbor Town

Score: 94.71

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No. 5: The Knickerbocker, New York City

Courtesy of the Knickerbocker

Score: 94.75

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No. 4: Greenwich Hotel, New York City

Courtesy of the Greenwich Hotel

Score: 94.76

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No. 3: The Surrey, New York City

Courtesy of the Surrey

Score: 95.37

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No. 2: XV Beacon, Boston

Courtesy of XV Beacon

Score: 96.27

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No. 1: The Spectator Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina

Courtesy of the Spectator Hotel

Score: 97.78

“Probably the most elegant boutique hotel I’ve ever been to,” said Jane Keenan, a T+L reader who thought the Spectator Hotel was “perfect in every way.” The relatively new addition to Charleston (which was crowned the No. 1 city in the world this year) has glam details like hand-painted wallpaper, mirrored ceilings, and a taxidermied white peacock in the lounge. Every room is assigned a personal butler, who can do everything from shine your shoes to book you a seat at the hottest table in town. Request a room with a private patio, where you can relax with a 1920s-inspired cocktail.

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The Best City Hotels in the Continental U.S. in 2016

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No. 15: French Quarter Inn, Charleston, South Carolina

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No. 14: Mokara Hotel & Spa, San Antonio, Texas

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No. 13: Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

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No. 12: The Hay-Adams, Washington, D.C.

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No. 11: Rosewood (formerly the Capella; Washington, D.C.

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No. 10: Hotel Vintage, Seattle, Washington

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No. 9: The Alfond Inn, Winter Park (Orlando Area; Florida

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No. 8: The Langham, Chicago

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No. 7: The Old 77 Hotel & Chandlery, New Orleans

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No. 6: River Inn of Harbor Town, Memphis, Tennessee

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No. 5: The Knickerbocker, New York City

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No. 4: Greenwich Hotel, New York City

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No. 3: The Surrey, New York City

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No. 2: XV Beacon, Boston

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No. 1: The Spectator Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina

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