The absolute best hotels in Asia right now

The granddaddy of Kowloon looms 65 storeys above Victoria Harbour. Its ultra-elegant 413 rooms and suites combine Hong Kong art, tea and views with understated British patterns and furniture—a nod to its colonisation of the islands. Trust us, it’s worth booking a room with access to its rooftop Manor Club for free-flow alcohol, all-day snacks and unobstructed views of the city’s daily 8pm light show. The Rosewood’s restaurants and bars, including The Legacy House, CHAAT and DarkSide, are some of the city’s best.

The moustachioed Sikh doormen at Raffles Singapore have been ushering guests into its marble lobby since 1887. For well over 100 years, royalty, A-listers, authors and dignitaries have been checking into its plush suites—with the hotel’s signature Singapore Sling in hand. Since its radical facelift in 2019, this historic property’s 115 suites have never looked better. Polished teak, all-marble bathrooms, iPad-controlled everything, and a butler on call 24/7 make you feel like you’re one of its regular VIPs.

This capital city hotel may as well be the lovechild of Liberace and Pavarotti. Glitz, glam and opera personify every space of this Bill Bensley-designed escape. Hand-painted murals, towering statues of naked men, tasselled lamps, OTT patterns and an all-mirrored pool leave the eyes doing double takes. But this whimsical 47-key hotel is the city’s most luxurious, with Michelin-star Japanese in the basement and a killer Old Fashioned at its The Hudson Rooms rooftop bar.

Perched on the Chao Phraya River, this five-star oasis by the water goes all-in on the H2O theme with relaxing water features, multiple pools and floor-to-ceiling river views. The Four Seasons 299 rooms and suites are shockingly chic with light timber, cream colours, blooming orchids and Thai silk. Make a reservation for BKK Social Club, ranked the #1 bar in Thailand by Asia’s 50 Best Bars.

Located in Seoul’s swish Gangnam neighbourhood, this Marriott group property is an Art Deco stunner. With 254 rooms spread throughout a skyscraper, views are primo, but interiors are just as drool-worthy. Soft curved furniture, gem-shaped lighting and emerald green velvet decorate the rooms. And in true South Korean style they come with a steam closet. Before you head out for some barbecue, saddle up to the bar at 1914 Lounge & Bar for a cocktail paired with eye-popping views of the sparkling city.

One of just six hotels from the in-the-know Zannier group, its Cambodia outpost is a 20-minute drive from Angkor Wat. In keeping with the brand’s ethos, cultural authenticity is numero uno here. Set amongst rice paddies and coconut trees, guests sleep in one of 45 stilted villas inspired by Khmer homes and furnished with local antiques, rustic wood floors and thatched roofs. Spend sunrise at Angkor Wat, and sunset at the hotel’s 100-year-old farmhouse enjoying sundowners and cigars

This is, hands down, Taipei’s swankiest address. Next-level service paired with exquisitely soft interiors in its 303 rooms and suites. Blinged-out marble bathrooms, flower-embroidered walls, twinkling chandeliers and plush beds are worth the nightly price tag. And if you really want to go all out, try the dim sum lunch at Michelin-starred Ya Ge or an English afternoon tea at The Jade Lounge.