The Michelin Guide, long known for defining the world’s best dining, has officially turned its gaze to where we sleep. At an awards ceremony in Paris this week, international director Gwendal Poullennec unveiled the first-ever Global Michelin Keys Selection, honoring hotels that “excel in design, architecture, service and personality.”
The Keys are the hospitality world’s equivalent of Michelin Stars—a top-tier travel distinction signaling places that don’t just host guests but immerse them. The Three-Key tier marks “an extraordinary stay” with peak comfort and elegance; Two Keys signal “an exceptional stay”; and One Key represents “a very special stay.”
This first global list includes 2,457 hotels across nearly 100 countries, with 317 properties in the U.S., from coastal retreats to mountain inns. Thirty-seven U.S. hotels earned Keys for the first time, while others retained their 2024 recognition. Each spot reflects a distinct sense of place, whether it’s a Hudson Valley hideaway like the new One-Key Six Bells Countryside Inn, or California’s Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, where the ocean practically seeps into the room.
Among America’s highest-rated, four hotels earned Two Keys this year. These are properties that redefine what “exceptional” means:
The Inn at Little Washington, Virginia
Just an hour from D.C., this storied inn offers a theatrical escape in a small Virginia town. Designed by a London stage designer, its main building and nearby cottages radiate personality and charm. While the on-site Three-Star restaurant draws global acclaim, the accommodations themselves are a masterclass in immersive storytelling.
Warren Street Hotel, New York
In Tribeca, British designer Kit Kemp’s 2024 debut gets an upgrade. The Warren Street Hotel now shines with Two Keys for its vivid mix of pattern, art and light — a bold, joyful blend where floor-to-ceiling windows frame the Hudson River and Lower Manhattan like living art.
Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center
Occupying the top floors of the state’s tallest tower, this sky-high sanctuary delivers signature Four Seasons service and cinematic city views from its 57th-floor infinity pool.
Four Seasons Hotel Nashville
Sleek yet soulful, Nashville’s Four Seasons mirrors the curve of an acoustic guitar. Guests can unwind by the seventh-floor pool or book a private in-suite performance by a local musician in a poetic nod to the city’s rhythm.
Find the full list of this year's new recipients here.