The 27 Best Hotel Lobbies in the World
There may be no greater indicator of a hotel’s quality than its lobby. But what separates forgettable ones from the best hotel lobbies in the world? It is, after all, the first thing patrons see upon arrival. And while it’s a cliché to say you can only make a first impression once, it’s also true. So when it comes to designing an inviting, beautifully laid-out hotel lobby, a lot goes into the planning. A great lobby offers not only eye-catching design but also spots for travelers to relax after a long day of sightseeing—or, in the age of remote work, to get down to business. And, of course, a lobby is meant to welcome guests and give a preview of the experience to come during their stay. These 27 lobbies are perfectly fitting for their hotel. Which is to say, they are truly spectacular. From soaring spaces designed by famed architects such as Zaha Hadid to living-room-like spaces pretty enough to draw you from the comforts of your room, these hotel lobbies are worth checking in for.
Photo: Courtesy of Mina Seyahi1/27W Dubai – Mina Seyahi (UAE)
A luxury adult-only hotel, the lobby at W Dubai – Mina Seyahi somehow captures the dynamic spirit of the city. Designed by Stickman Tribe, the lobby (and nearby bar) selected motifs reminiscent of local folklore. The lounge, for example, is cloaked in a chandelier resembling a flying carpet, while the snake charmer reception draws in travelers with a curved wall and snakeskin mosaic path. Once travelers are settled into the W-Dubai – Mina Seyahi's tastefully designed den, they won't want to leave.
Photo: Courtesy of the Bowery Hotel2/27Bowery Hotel (New York City)
The old-world charm of this downtown hotel’s lobby is reminiscent of a Wes Anderson film, with its worn-in Persian rugs, taxidermy, plush velvet armchairs, and uniformed bellhops.
Photo: Courtesy of Country Club Lima3/27Country Club Lima (Lima, Peru)
The opulent style of Country Club Lima is on full display upon entering the hotel, with its chandeliers, Spanish tiles, brass fixtures, and marble floors. The lobby bar, Bar Ingles, was a favorite of Hemingway’s and arguably makes the best pisco sour in Lima.
Photo: Courtesy of Ritz Carlton Tokyo4/27Ritz Carlton Tokyo (Japan)
The Ritz Carlton Tokyo boasts one of the best views of the city from its grand lobby—being located on the 45th floor may have something to do with that. The lobby features live performers throughout the day, and the bar is a must-visit destination for cocktail lovers.
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Photo: Courtesy of the Mandarin Oriental5/27Mandarin Oriental (Bangkok, Thailand)
The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok’s recently renovated lobby—featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Chao Phraya River—maintains the hotel’s historic “temple bell” chandeliers and guard elephants while updating with a modern design and lush greenery. At night, the space is illuminated with dramatic lighting to highlight the updated space.
Photo: Courtesy of the Mandarin Oriental6/27Mandarin Oriental (Hong Kong)
Although the people-watching at this Hong Kong mainstay is top class, you may be too distracted by the lobby itself to notice a movie star passing by. With the glittering chandelier columns reflecting out onto white marble floors, and gold paintings set in black and gold marble walls that give off a “Champagne bubble” effect, you’ll feel like you’ve wandered onto a movie set of your own.
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Photo: Courtesy of Claridge's7/27Claridge's (London)
Perhaps the perfect setting for afternoon tea in London, the lobby at Claridge's is as classic as it gets. Black-and-white checkerboard floors, a fireplace, and plush chairs all set the stage, while a pianist fills the room with music from the grand piano.
Photo: Courtesy of the Principe di Savoia8/27Principe di Savoia (Milan, Italy)
Encompassing the romantic nature of the city itself, every inch of the lobby inside Principe di Savoia is filled with tiny details and flourishes. Oil paintings line the wood-paneled walls, and Italian marble runs the length of the space. Even the elevators here are filled with marble and gold accents.
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Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Eden9/27Hotel Eden (Rome, Italy)
The library theme of the Hotel Eden’s lobby makes the perfect space for tucking yourself away from the crowds of Rome, and you won’t even have to put down your book to get a drink—a trolley makes its way around the space, where bartenders will craft cocktails tableside. If you’re feeling adventurous, the lobby also features a secret bar, hidden behind a mirrored door.
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Photo: Courtesy of Plaza Athénée/Niall Clutton10/27Plaza Athénée (Paris)
The gorgeous lobby inside the Plaza Athénée in Paris—which is as classically French as it gets—sits alongside the hotel's outdoor courtyard. The ivy-filled outdoor space is perfect for al fresco dining and during the winter months, the space is transformed into an ice skating rink.
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Photo: Courtesy of Corinthia Hotel11/27Corinthia Hotel (London)
Punctuated with a massive Baccarat chandelier and grand piano, the lobby of London’s Corinthia Hotel is English decadence at its finest. Of course, afternoon tea includes glasses of champagne in Baccarat flutes to accompany the tower of pastries in front of you.
Photo: Courtesy of Raffles12/27Raffles (Singapore)
Currently undergoing a renovation and scheduled to reopen in mid-2019, the famed Raffles Singapore not only includes the historic Long Bar—the birthplace of the Singapore Sling—but also the lush and tranquil palm court. Adding to the serenity of the court, the private space is only accessible to hotel guests.
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Photo: Courtesy of Aman Tokyo13/27Aman Tokyo (Japan)
Located atop the Otemachi tower in Tokyo, the Aman has sweeping views of the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows lining the lobby. Water flows throughout the space, which is designed to resemble a Japanese garden. Meanwhile, a musician dressed in a kimono plays softly to finish off the Zenlike ambiance.
Photo: Courtesy of the Four Seasons14/27Four Seasons (Paris)
Steps away from the Champs-Elysées, flowers dominate the lobby of this grand hotel to give off a relaxing, out-of-the-way vibe. Ornate French details and sculptures—along with a giant chandelier—round out the decor.
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Photo: Courtesy of Hyatt Regency15/27Hyatt Regency (Cleveland, Ohio)
Located in a landmarked arcade buidling in downtown Clevland, the Hyatt Regency’s breathtaking lobby gives a spectacular view of the entire building, while the glass ceiling fills the space with natural light.
Photo: Courtesy of Fontainebleau16/27Fontainebleau (Miami Beach, Florida)
The lobby of this Miami Beach hot spot is a great place to spot a celebrity during the day, but at night turns into the place to be a celebrity yourself. The elegance of the lobby during the day gives way to a clubby vibe at night, illuminated by blue lights and soundtracked by leading DJs.
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Photo: Courtesy of The St. Regis17/27The St. Regis (Shenzhen, China)
You’ll be above it all the lobby of the St. Regis in Shenzhen, literally. The hotel takes up floors 75 to 100 of the tallest building in Shenzhen, with the lobby situated on the 96th floor. The lobby features a large atrium that looks down the entire length of the hotel. The lobby bar offers views of Shenzhen and the lush surroundings through giant windows.
Photo: Courtesy of Four Seasons18/27Four Seasons (Guangzhou, China)
The expansive lobby of the Four Seasons in Guangzhou—located 70 floors up the Guangzhou International Finance Centre building—is filled with art and features twin spiral staircases that wind around each other looking down the entire 30 floors of the hotel and the vast, sunlit atrium.
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Photo: Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental19/27Mandarin Oriental (Barcelona, Spain)
You’ll cross a raised walkway from the hotel’s entrance to enter this minimalist lobby flooded with natural light and a relaxed atmosphere. The lobby looks down below into the hotel’s restaurant, similarly decorated in a Scandinavian style.
Photo: Courtesy of Ritz Carlton20/27Ritz Carlton (Astana, Kazakhstan)
As soon as you enter the Astana—Ritz Carlton’s first hotel in Kazakhstan—you’re immediately greeted by a grand staircase that overlooks the entire marble-filled lobby. A large chandelier hovers over a fireplace situated in the center of the room, and floor-to-ceiling works of art hang throughout.
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Photo: Courtesy of Fairmont21/27Fairmont (San Francisco, California)
A favorite of U.S. presidents, the Fairmont San Fransisco’s ornate lobby certainly plays the part of a West Coast White House, with gilded walls, large marble columns, and leather chairs throughout. The decor might be considered stuffy if it weren’t broken up by large plants throughout, giving it a California vibe.
Photo: Nikolas Koenig22/27Faena Hotel Miami Beach (Miami)
Nicknamed the Cathedral, the lobby of Faena Hotel Miami Beach screams decadence and glamor. Rows of gilded columns line the double-height space and frame the view of Damien Hirst’s Gone But Not Forgotten, a sculpture of a gold wooly mammoth skeleton. Richly detailed floor-to-ceiling murals by Argentine Juan Gatti occupy the lobby’s walls and add to the opulent atmosphere.
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Photo: Isaac Ichou, Royal Mansour23/27Royal Mansour Marrakech (Morocco)
It took over 1,500 local artisans to build the Royal Mansour Marrakech, and the craftsmanship is on full display in the beautiful courtyard lobby. Mosaic floors surround a central fountain, and the seating areas are the perfect spot to soak up the Moroccan sun before you head to your private riad.
Photo: Courtesy of Raffles Hotels and Resorts24/27Le Royal Monceau – Raffles (Paris)
Designer Phillipe Stark put a contemporary spin on classic Parisian luxury in the lobby of Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris. Visitors enter beneath the hotel’s iconic red awning and are greeted by elegant dark wood-paneled walls. The lobby’s most stunning feature is the staircase, where mirrored walls reflect a sea of crystal chandeliers.
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Photo: Virgile Simon Bertrand25/27Morpheus Hotel (Macau)
Stepping into City of Dreams’ Morpheus Hotel in Macau is like entering an architectural wonderland. Designed by the late Zaha Hadid, the hotel features the architect’s signature bold, futuristic style. The cathedral-like lobby is set in an over 131-foot-tall atrium with 12 glass elevators and a faceted marble reception area.
Photo: Carmel Brantley26/27The Colony Hotel (Palm Beach, Florida)
It’s not surprising that the lobby at the Colony Hotel in Palm Beach is known as “the living room.” The welcoming space, which was designed by Mimi McMakin of Kemble Interiors, feels like home, with its comfortable seating areas and cheery decor. The star of the lobby is a hand-painted DeGournay mural featuring nods to the area and the hotel’s rich history.
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Photo: Courtesy of Badrutt's Palace27/27Badrutt's Palace (St. Moritz, Switzerland)
Le Grand Hall, the lobby of Badrutt’s Palace in St. Moritz, Switzerland, is as beautiful as its views of the mountains and lake outside. Long known as the spot to see and be seen in the ski destination, Le Grand Hall is often called “the living room of St. Moritz” and features beautifully carved wood paneling and elegant seating areas where you can take in the views and people-watch.
