MOST READ TRAVEL
The 2020 Legend Awards are meant to serve as inspiration for future travel—when it is safe to do so. Learn more about this year's awards on our methodology page.
City skylines, wilderness vistas, or waterfront views? As a traveler, which view do you instinctively gravitate toward? Our answer would have to be: d) all of the above. A suite, pool, or rooftop restaurant with a view is one of the most exciting parts of a hotel. And it’s not just because the hotel is guaranteeing you one incredible Instagram post. It’s because the hotel is giving you the opportunity to wake up in full view of your chosen destination on each morning of your trip. Whether you roll over and gaze out at the city skyline from your plush hotel bed, take in the astounding coastline from the terrace while sipping your morning coffee, or are met with one of the best views in the world when teeing off at 7 a.m., you won’t be able to get enough of these hotel vistas.
Here are the 2020 Legend Awards honorees for best hotel views:
Panoramic Suite, Le Bristol Paris
Establishing shots of Paris filmed for Midnight in Paris were taken from this suite—that’s how good the view is. The Panoramic Suite of Le Bristol Paris offers guests views of Montmartre and Sacre Coeur out one magnificent bay window, and the Opera Garnier and chic first and second arrondissement through another.
The Skyline Corner Suite, Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center
The Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center is the tallest building in Philadelphia. The Skyline Corner Suite boasts floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room, bedroom, and even bathroom, revealing unobstructed views of Center City.
The Silo Hotel, Cape Town
Boasting an edgy rooftop pool open only to hotel guests, and al fresco dining at their tempura and oyster bar, visiting The Silo Hotel roof, directly on the V&A Waterfront, is a must while in Cape Town. With views of the water and Table Mountain, The Silo’s rooftop is one of the best places for a South African sundowner.
The Cape, a Thompson Hotel, Cabo San Lucas
The Cape, a Thompson Hotel is home to the only rooftop lounge in Cabo. From the sixth-floor lounge, guests can see the Sea of Cortez and Cabo’s iconic El Arco—and El Arco is visible from every room on the property.
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, California
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay offers unparalleled views of Northern California’s rugged coastline from nearly every corner of this hotel. While we love the view from the fire pit-lined Ocean Terrace, The Ritz-Carlton Suite, and their sustainable seafood restaurant Navio, our favorite view is the one from Ocean Course, the hotels’ 18-hole golf course designed by Arthur Hills. Every single hole on the course has a full view of the Pacific Ocean’s crashing waves.
Manhattan Sky Suite, Park Hyatt New York
The three-bedroom Manhattan Sky Suite at the Park Hyatt New York offers a 360-degree view of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline. From the foyer and living room nooks that make guests feel as though they’re suspended over Central Park, to the marble bathroom flanked by tub-to-ceiling windows revealing Manhattan high-rises, each room offers truly breathtaking views.
The Royal Suite, d’Angleterre Copenhagen
The Royal Suite at the d’Angleterre is a second-time Legend Award honoree, thanks to the stunning master bedroom, private dining room, and expansive balcony. From the balcony, you have one of the best views of center Copenhagen, looking out onto the historic Kongens Nytorv Square and beyond to the picturesque canal-lining facades of Nyhavn.
Le Bua Bangkok at State Tower
The roof of Le Bua Bangkok at State Tower is home to one of the world’s highest rooftop bars: Riverview Rooftop Bar. With the best rooftop views of the glitzy Bangkok skyline, we’ll never be able to decide whether the view is best at sunrise, sunset, or after dark.
The Dominick Hotel, New York City
There is no shortage of incredible views from The Dominick Hotel in SoHo. With floor-to-ceiling windows utilized throughout the hotel’s design, a terrace pool, and 42nd, 43rd, and 44th-floor penthouses, it’s hard to choose a favorite view here. We recommend the SoHi Collection suites and penthouses for the views of the Hudson River and iconic buildings like One World Trade and the Empire State Building.
Dune Pavillion, Longitude 131, Australia
Located in Australia’s Red Center, Longitude 131° offers guests luxury accommodation and easy access to the Outback's most iconic views. The hotel’s Dune Pavillion, a two-bedroom suite, is the only accommodation to offer views of both Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas).
La Bastide de Gordes, France
La Bastide de Gordes is a charming chateau in the Luberon Valley of Provence. Set on a hilltop, guests can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding Luberon mountain range from the hotel’s open-air rooftop terrace.
Casa Angelina, Italy
A 39-room retreat on the Amalfi Coast, Casa Angelina is perched on a cliff, overlooking the glimmering Mediterranean Sea. The views are exceptional from the Seascape Bar and Sundeck Pool, but we’re most taken by the water-and-mountain scenery visible from the intimate, glass-lined rooftop terrace.
Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Quebec
The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is one of the most iconic hotels in North America, its majestic turrets and imposing grandeur photographed, perhaps, more than any other hotel in the world. Many of the 610 guest rooms and suites—we’re partial to The Roosevelt Suite—overlook the fortified cobblestone streets of Old Québec and the legendary St. Lawrence River.
Mount Mulligan Lodge, Australia
Mount Mulligan Lodge, the all-inclusive Queensland hotel, curates a luxury experience in the middle of the Australian wilderness. Their Outback Pavilion offers sublime views of Mount Mulligan and the Outback beyond.
