The Best Hotels in the U.S.: 2020 Readers' Choice Awards
For our 33rd annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey—yes, more than three decades—voters weighed in on their favorite hotels in the United States. Though many of you may not need a passport to visit them, they'll still take you worlds away. These getaways—voted the 10 best hotels in the U.S.—all have something to brag about. The impressive number of 2020 results was especially exciting for us, in a year when travel was mostly paused; and we remain ever curious about where you've been and what you loved, not to mention, what you've continued to dream about long after you've returned home. Here are the 10 U.S. hotels you loved most this year.
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Courtesy Hu. HotelhotelHu. Hotel
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Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2020Formerly known as the Madison Hotel, this downtown Memphis space was reopened in 2018 under Aparium Hotel Group, undergoing a major rebranding and renovation in the process. The Hu. Hotel—named after Hugh “Hu” Brinkley, a prominent Memphis citizen and grandson of one of the city's founders—is a perfect blend of old and new. The old: the Beaux Arts façade, photos of Soulsville in each room, mini bars stocked with local favorites. The new: interiors by Brooklyn-based HOME Studios Interior Designs, a coffee shop bar that doubles as the hotel's check-in desk. Not to be upstaged by the picture-perfect decor, the rooftop bar offers some of the city's best views of the Mississippi River.
- Courtesy The Arthotel
The Art Hotel Denver, Curio Collection by Hilton
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Forget a tired valet pull-through: At this boutique hotel in Denver’s thriving Cultural District, your first impression is a Leo Villareal–designed light installation. Keep walking and the art continues, including pieces by stars like Ed Ruscha and Kiki Smith. Artwork isn’t just a design flourish here—it’s the main objective of the hotel itself. If that's not enough, you're also steps away from the Denver Art Museum and the Clyfford Still Museum. You'll find serious culture connoisseurs and business travelers looking for something different staying in its 165 rooms, which sport a minimalist design and—surprise!—even more artwork.
- Courtesy 21c Museum Hotelshotel
21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023We've long been fans of the 21c Museum Hotels—chic properties that double as contemporary art museums. And the Cincinnati outpost, which opened its doors in late 2012, is one of the best the brand has to offer. The property sits in the 100-year-old former Metropole Hotel in downtown Cincinnati, and the 21c architects and designers made sure to integrate many of the building's original features, including the lobby's mosaic tile floors, the sweeping staircase leading to the ballroom, and gorgeous terra cotta that lines the exterior. The 156-room hotel boasts a rooftop bar and spa, along with the Metropole restaurant, led by executive chef Michael Paley—plus 8,000 square feet of exhibition and event space (artwork rotates regularly). Rooms are minimal and sleek, but have pops of artwork on the walls, lest you forget where you are for a moment.
- Courtesy of Rosewood Washington D.C./AVABLU/Ryan Forbeshotel
Rosewood Washington, D.C.
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2020When Rosewood opened right on Georgetown’s C&O Canal in 2013, it quickly became one of the hottest places to stay in the city. The tony space offers a truly intimate feel—there are just 49 rooms and suites and six townhouses—that'll make you feel as though you're staying at the well-appointed home of a friend. You’re greeted by a personal assistant in the wood- and marble-clad lobby before being escorted to a spacious, elegant room. Each have hints of Art Deco influence, and lots of luxurious little touches: complimentary non-alcoholic beverages in the minibar, freshly cut flowers, and Diptyque toiletries waiting for you beside a dramatic marble bathtub.
- Anthony Tahlier/Courtesy Virgin Hotels Chicagohotel
Virgin Hotels Chicago
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Virgin Hotels' Chicago outpost is all about contrasts: It's buzzy in public and serene in private, and cheeky accents and a cherry-red color scheme contrast with the stately old bank building it calls home. At once clubby and retreat-like, there are loads of dining and drinking options: the ground-level Italian scratch kitchen Miss Ricky's, the rooftop bar and lounge, Cerise, which has great views of the city from its seasonal patio, the coffee shop, Two Zero Three, perfect for grabbing a flaky pastry or caffeinated beverage, and Upstairs, the hotel’s swanky speakeasy which is open on select nights for curated events and entertainment. Their rooms, affectionately referred to as chambers, included so many small and charming surprises: a wool-upholstered wall with pockets for things like the TV remote, the cherry-red Smeg fridge, yoga mat, and minibar selections that, thankfully, don't come with exorbitant price tags. Pet-friendly rooms, meanwhile, come with a porcelain dog stationed in the hallway at the front door.
- Adrian Gaut/Courtesy Freehand Los Angeleshotel
Freehand Los Angeles
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Hot List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Every hotel prizes its design, but Freehand's affordable hostel space in collaboration with Roman & Williams takes the category to a new level. Have a drink under soaring ceilings in the 1930s tiled bar as you sit in Craftsman-inspired furniture, or take dinner in the restaurant where mosaics of owls line the floor (the building used to house the Owl Drug Store). And of course, as at other Freehands, there's an outpost of the James Beard Award-nominated Broken Shaker bar. You won't really believe you're in a hostel until you see the bunk-bed rooms—which are better designed and more comfortable than a number of private suites we've stayed in.
- Courtesy The Willard InterContinentalhotel
InterContinental The Willard Washington D.C., an IHG Hotel
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023Two blocks from the White House and the National Mall, this historic hotel unveiled an $18 million restoration in 2018, exactly 200 years after its opening. The rooms, common areas, lobby, and Café du Parc all have new offerings (there's now a private dining room overlooking the lobby, as it did many, many years ago). The architecture blends Federal and Empire styles; the ornate lobby features dramatic marble columns, detailed tray ceilings representing each state in the country, lush plants, and intricate tile mosaics. It's no surprise that everyone from Abraham Lincoln to Martin Luther King, Jr., has rested their head here at some point—and that the hotel regularly sees people pop in off the street just to take a look.
- Courtesy XV Beaconhotel
XV Beacon
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Gold List 2018, 2024 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Located in Beacon Hill just steps from the Massachusetts State House and the bustling financial district, XV Beacon (say “Fifteen Beacon” if you’re talking about it) is a transportive paradise of serenity and relaxation. The vibe is sexy—lots of dark-stained woods, crimson accents, and antique furniture—but the ethos is entirely Boston. With only seven guest rooms per floor, XV Beacon has a distinctly residential feel, and rooms are spacious but still intimate. The fact that each one comes with a personal fireplace speaks to the level of luxury and coziness here. Every detail feels special, from the Frette linens and the one-of-a-kind commissioned artworks to the cashmere throws and the pillow menu. And there’s no better way to unwind after a day of meetings or hiking the Freedom Trail than with a soak in the white-marble tub, a feature of some rooms. Looking for food and drink? Mooo.... (three O’s, four periods) on the first floor takes the best parts of steakhouses (grass-fed beef, a killer dessert list, a solid brunch) and distills them into something that works for a boutique hotel of this scale. Not too keen on getting dressed up for dinner? Don't worry; the entire menu can be delivered directly to your door. And with only 63 rooms, the hotel offers a degree of attention and service you generally don’t find at Boston’s larger hotels. Staff is used to making check-in and check-out seamless and offering personal touches throughout the stay. Every detail of the experience feels tailor-made to this hotel, right down to the custom fragrance that welcomes you the moment you step into the lobby. From $495. —Todd Plummer
- Courtesy Faena Hotel Miami Beachhotel
Faena Hotel Miami Beach
$$$ | Gold List 2018 Hot List 2016 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023There’s a bit of an Alice in Wonderland vibe to the Faena, and it carries through into the rooms—particularly with the smaller accents and pieces of furniture you’ll find yourself “discovering” as your stay progresses. Los Fuegos, Argentine super-chef Francis Mallmann’s open-fire asado, delivers on the food and drink front; and outside, the hotel makes the most of its 100,000 square feet of private white-sand beach. Also, if you find yourself asking, "Did I just see a golden woolly mammoth skeleton in a glass cage?" the answer is yes—you can thank artist Damien Hirst for that one.
- Courtesy Olema Househotel
Olema House Point Reyes
$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2021Set on four acres on the outskirts of the Point Reyes National Seashore, an hour north of San Francisco, Olema House Point Reyes offers a restful stay on the scenic West Marin Coast, complete with views of Olema Creek, the Inverness Ridge, and Mt. Wittenberg. The 24 rooms, which include two cottages, all tout heated floors, down comforters and pillows, and Americana decor. If you eat at the hotel (and you should), the local, seasonal menu at Due West pulls from the bounty of nearby ranches, farms, and the bay, with ingredients like Tomales Bay oysters, house-cured pork belly, and summer squash. The complimentary breakfast includes fresh pastries, fruit, and charcuterie.