PHOTO:COURTESY OF THE PENINSULA
Thirty countries and five continents are represented in our readers’ 100 favorite hotels as voted in our annual "World’s Best Awards" survey for 2023.
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The Full List
1. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet: Istanbul, Turkey
PHOTO:KEREM UZEL
After a two-year renovation by London firm Goddard Littlefair, the most luxurious hotel in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district is also the best hotel in the world, according to T+L readers. One survey respondent described the location as “the most beautiful spot in the Old City,” just steps from Sultanahmet Square — home to sites like the Blue Mosque and the German Fountain. The 65 rooms and suites at this Four Seasons come with neutral tones, rich wood, and leather accents, with some incorporating Ottoman-inspired art or colorful Turkish rugs and other textiles. Also with the redesign came new and varied dining options: Avlu, a modern Anatolian restaurant in a pavilion in the courtyard garden, designed to evoke an Ottoman tent; the all-day mezze spot Lingo Lingo; Süreyya, a rooftop lounge with Turkish wines and Hagia Sofia views; and the hotel’s own patisserie, La Pistache, with both French pastries and Turkish sweets. No stay is complete without a steam and scrub at the Kurna Spa’s traditional hammam.