Michelin releases first-ever best United States hotel ratings

April 25, 2024

Hoteliers had better sleep with one eye open.

The restless restaurant gurus at Michelin have decided to cast their famously critical eyes on the world’s most luxurious hotels, establishing a key rating system for the first time — and just 124 snooze shops around the world managed to snag a slot on the tiremaker’s debut list for the US, released Wednesday.

Out of that already elite group, 11 pampering palaces — sticking to the mix of American destinations where Michelin publishes a restaurant guide — were considered worthy of the coveted “3 Keys” award, with four of the properties found right here in the Big Apple.

Aman, Casa Cipriani, Crosby Street Hotel and the Whitby Hotel were named the best in New York.

The 83-suite Aman brings the elite retreat brand — better known for remote resorts around the world — into the heart of Midtown, where guests are invited to leave the city behind and disappear into the spacious hotel spa, relax on the garden terrace or canoodle in a speakeasy-style, underground club.

And while a 1906 ferry terminal at the foot of the FDR Drive might not seem like the most exclusive spot, the 47-room and suite Casa Cipriani has wowed some of the pickiest celebrity travelers since its debut with stunning river views and an onsite supper club.

In Soho, nestled between Spring and Prince, London’s can’t-fail Firmdale Hotels knocked it out of the park with the Crosby Street Hotel — its first stateside effort — delivering one of the Big Apple’s finest stays on one of its most charming streets.

And proving the Crosby Street was no one-hit wonder, Firmdale Hotels swept into Midtown with the Whitby Hotel to remind the giant palaces that predominate in the neighborhood that scale and luxury are two different things.

Michelin has been recommending hotels for years, however the key system is new.

“With this new distinction, the Michelin Guide has opened up a brand-new chapter in the service it provides for travelers, which has been its lifeblood for the past 124 years,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director, in a statement.

“Steadfast in our field-based approach, the Michelin Guide inspectors drew up this unprecedented list to share their best hotel experiences in the US. Every establishment awarded one, two or three Michelin Keys is a gem sculpted by talented professionals,” he added.

The first key awards — for France, naturellement — were announced April 8. The US awards were announced at a ceremony in Manhattan Wednesday.

“Over the last four years, our selection team of passionate, independent experts vetted, scrutinized, and ultimately determined more than 5,000 remarkable hotels for inclusion in our collection,” an earlier statement read.

“Each has been selected for its remarkable quality. Out of these thousands of hotels, those offering the most outstanding stays will be awarded the special Michelin Key distinction.”

So what do the Michelin keys mean?

“Just like the famous Stars that indicate the best culinary experiences in the Michelin Guide restaurant selection, the Michelin Keys reveal accommodations in the Guide’s hotel selection that offer the most outstanding stays. They are a new benchmark for travelers, qualifying each hotel experience in broader terms than simple amenities,” the publisher stated.

A One-Key Michelin hotel is described as a “very special stay.”

“This is a true gem with its own character and personality. It may break the mould, offer something different or simply be one of the best of its type. Service always goes the extra mile and provides significantly more than similarly priced establishments,” the experts said.

For one level up, a Two Key is “an exceptional stay.”

“Somewhere truly unique and exceptional in every way, where a memorable experience is always guaranteed. A hotel of character, personality and charm that’s operated with obvious pride and considerable care. Eye-catching design or architecture, and a real sense of the locale make this an exceptional place to stay,” the pros explained.

Three Key is the cream of the crop, described as “an extraordinary stay.”

“It’s all about astonishment and indulgence here – this is the ultimate in comfort and service, style and elegance. It is one of the world’s most remarkable and extraordinary hotels and a destination in itself for that trip of a lifetime. All the elements of truly great hospitality are here to ensure any stay will live long in the memory and hearts.”