Opened in 1951 as the city’s first five-star hotel, the building, designed by modernist architect Rogério de Azevedo, stands out for its blend of refinement, artistic elements, and heritage features, including a stained-glass staircase, a floral-motif atrium, and a wooden elevator.

The property, which comprises 85 rooms and suites, has undergone various restoration and modernisation projects over the past decade under different hotel groups and design studios.

The overall assessment behind the list placed Ashford Castle, a 13th-century fortress in western Ireland, at the top of the global rankings. Other international highlights include The Phoenicia Malta (ranked ninth), noted for its infinity pool overlooking Valletta’s historic fortifications, as well as palaces in India and Italy and nature-focused retreats in Iceland and Costa Rica.

Journalists, editors, and industry experts determined the hotel selection and rankings through an analysis conducted at Time Out magazine’s invitation.