The two fabulous hotels in Asia that made it to La Liste's World's Best Hotels 2025 list
Your hotel can make or break your vacation. And for some travellers, the hotel is the whole vacation. Whether you're looking for a sanctuary to come back to after a whole day exploring the city or a destination accommodation with all the luxuries you could ask for, there's an answer in Asia. For the extra guarantee of a good time, you can turn to La Liste's latest list of the finest hotels in the world.
La Liste, best known for its rankings of gastronomic experiences worldwide, has now ventured into the hospitality sector. Using a proprietary algorithm, it has aggregated and analysed data from over 400 international sources, comprising thousands of reviews, professional evaluations, and guest feedback to produce a list of the World's Best Hotels. A total of 10 hotels across the globe were honoured this year – and just two exceptional properties from Asia have been recognised.
One of the Asian laureates is Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. This grand dame opened its doors almost 150 years ago, boasting 331 luxurious rooms and 11 restaurants and bars (including the Michelin-starred French table d'hôte at Le Normandie, reopening in the latter half of 2025). It's situated on picturesque grounds by the Chao Phraya river – we love taking afternoon tea on the terrace to soak in the riverside atmosphere.
The Peninsula Shanghai is the only other Asian hotel on the 'World's Best Hotels' list. La Liste highlights it as an "architectural tour de force" – and we can't help but agree. The Peninsula Shanghai does heritage glamour right, nailing even the small details: old-fashioned dials above the lifts, plush patterned carpets, and quality antique reproduction furniture. Facilities abound: think upscale designer boutiques in the hotel arcade, five dining options, a spa and fitness centre, and a spacious sun terrace. We recommend booking the deluxe room for river or garden views.
Despite not making it into the final list of top hotels, a couple of standout properties in Asia were recognised with La Liste special awards. Ulaman Eco Luxury Resort in Bali bagged the Style & Design Hotel Award; The Datai Langkawi in Malaysia and Shinta Mani Wild in Cambodia earned the Ethical & Sustainable Hotel Award, while 21 Carpenter in Singapore was awarded the Discovery Gem Hotel Award.
Check out all the amazing hotels recognised in La Liste's Best Hotels in 2025 list here.
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