A prestigious guide published by Condé Nast has named the very best hotels across Europe.
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Condé Nast Johansens, which was first launched more than 40 years ago, has unveiled its Annual Awards for Excellence 2027, naming the top properties across categories such as design, resorts, waterfront and city hotels.
The awards are based on reports of local experts, who visit every property included annually, as well as guest reviews on the website and reader votes.
On the continent, there are separate winners for the UK and Ireland, and for Europe and the Mediterranean, with 44 winners in total.
Obviously, we won’t be running through all of the winning properties (which you can find on Condé Nast Johansens), but we have selected a few of the most interesting categories.
Joining the likes of Forbes, Esquire and the Michelin Guide, Johansens weighed in on the debate around the best new hotel in Europe, selecting Andaz Lisbon in Portugal and Aethos London Shoreditch in the UK.
For the former, the guide praised its location just steps away from Lisbon’s top sights, as well as its design, which has a “funky, retro sensibility and respect for the building’s architecture”.
As for the latter, the Shoreditch property has a “strong sense of place” and a superb gym and wellness area that is open 24/7.
If you’re into interiors, The Lince Santa Clara Historic Hotel in Portugal’s Vila do Conde should be among your top choices along with Virgin Hotels Edinburgh.
A 14th-century Santa Clara Monastery was transformed into The Lince, with a minimalist aesthetic to put the spotlight on the original architecture.
Having been named the best new hotel in the UK last year, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh took home the best design award thanks to its elegant yet quirky interiors.
If you’re thinking about booking your next city break, look no further than Palacio Gran Vía, A Royal Hideaway Hotel in Granada and the Middle Eight in London, which were named the best city hotels.
Another historic building, Palacio Gran Vía is set within the former headquarters of the Rodríguez-Acosta bank and found opposite Granada’s cathedral, while Middle Eight is in Covent Garden, close to many popular tourist spots like Leicester Square, The British Museum and the Thames.
For those who prefer to stay exclusively within the confines of their hotel, the best resorts were named as Tenerife’s Bahía del Duque and Mount Juliet Estate in Ireland’s Kilkenny.
At Bahía del Duque, you’ll find 63,000 square metres of tropical gardens to wander around, 10 restaurants to dine at (including one with a Michelin star), two beaches, six swimming pools and a huge spa with an outdoor thalassotherapy circuit.
Mount Juliet Estate, meanwhile, boasts everything from an 18-hole golf course to a 12-seat cinema.