logo image

Condé Nast Traveller Wellness & Spa Awards 2023 Winners

This year’s Condé Nast Traveller Wellness & Spa Guide, the first since before the pandemic, was launched on 31 st January at London’s luxurious Lanesborough Hotel in front of an audience of health and wellness experts, property owners and spa enthusiasts from across the globe. Featuring only the world’s very best spa retreats, boot camps, medical clinics, yoga retreats and detox & weight loss programmes, here’s a look at some of the night's big winners:

The award-winning retreats featured above are only a few of the luxurious holidays on offer,  you can see more award-winning destinations in our Conde Nast Traveller offers page.

  • Wellness Tips
  • Men's Health
  • Wellness Recipes
  • Conde Nast Reviews
  • Tatler Reviews
  • Medical Spas
  • Women's health
  • Weight Loss
  • Health and Fitness
  • Yoga & Pilates
  • Holistic healing

Sign up for our newsletter

feefo rating

  • Destinations
  • Wellness Experts
  • Healing Partners
  • Online Payments
  • Job Opportunities
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Travel Insurance
  • © 2024 Healing Holidays, All rights reserved.

Opening Hours (UK Time) Monday to Friday: 9:00am - 5:30pm Saturday: 10:00am - 2:00pm 020 7843 3597

Email us an enquiry

Would you like us to call you? call me back

« back

Leave your name and number and we'll call you back as soon as possible.

To celebrate the launch of the, Conde Nast 2020 Spa Guide

we are giving you £100 discount off your next wellness break with Healing Holidays

 logo

Contact header

Reserve a room, brand header.

  • Explore Holistic escapes
  • CHIVA-SOM HUA HIN
  • ZULAL WELLNESS RESORT BY CHIVA-SOM
  • Wellness Philosophy
  • Sustainability

Chiva-Som Tranquality Pond

We have long been one of the world’s leading wellness destinations. Our passion and dedication to improving the lifestyle of our guests has led to numerous awards and recognition over the years.

'Best Destination Spas in the World' in Condé Nast Traveler 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards

Chiva-Som Honoured at Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2022

Chiva-Som has been honoured with one of the industry’s most sought-after accolades, having been voted the winner of the ‘Best Destination Spas in the World’ category in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards. 

Recent Awards

Gold in the Wellness & Spa Retreat category Thailand Tourism Awards 2023

Medical Wellness Retreat (Global) The GlobalSpa Awards 2023

#2 - Travel + Leisure Readers' 5 Favorite International Destination Spas for 2023 Travel + Leisure "World’s Best Awards" survey 2023

Winner #1 – 'Best Destination Spa in the World' Condé Nast Traveler 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards

'Fighting Fit’ Tatler Spa Awards 2022

'Thailand's Best Wellness Retreat 2022' World Spa Awards 

'The Best Hotels of the Year' Falstaff Hotel Guide 2022

'Diamond Class' Thailand’s Best Wellness Care Awards

‘Most Environmentally Friendly & Sustainable Company’ Bangkok Post Readers’ Choice Awards 2021

Winner #1 – 'Top Destination Spa Resort in the World' Condé Nast Traveler’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards

'Thailand's Best Wellness Retreat' and 'Asia's Best Wellness Retreat' World Spa Awards 2021

'Gold Award' - Wellness Retreat Segment Thailand Tourism Gold Awards 2021

‘Best Destination Spa’ Condé Nast Traveller Spa Awards 2020 (UK)

'Wellness Program of the Year’ Destination Deluxe Awards 2020

‘International Hotels: Best Wellness Retreat’ Travel + Leisure India’s Best Awards 2020 (India)

‘Asia's Best Wellness Retreat 2020’ World Spa Awards (UK)

‘Thailand's Best Wellness Retreat 2020' World Spa Awards (UK)

One of the ‘50 Sustainability & Climate Leaders 2020’ Bloomberg L.P.

‘Certificate of Merit’ Sustainable Business Awards 2019 (Thailand)

‘Best Coastal Operation’ Travel Daily 2019 Travel & Tourism Sustainability Awards (Australia)

‘Best Spa’ Traveller’s World 2019 (Germany)

‘Top ranked Asian Spa in Top 20 Destination Spas’ Conde Nast Traveler The Readers’ Travel Awards 2018 (UK)

‘Top 5 Favourite Destination Spa’ Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Travel Awards 2018 (India)

‘Thailand’s Best Wellness Retreat 2018’ World Spa Awards (UK)

‘#13 of Top 25 in Asia, Best 100 Spa List’ Condé Nast Traveler (China)

'#4 of Top 5 Favourite Destination Spas' Condé Nast Traveller Reader’s Travel Awards 2017 (India)

'Otherways Association Management & Consulting Awards 2017' Green Era for Sustainability Award

'Asia’s Best Wellness Retreat 2017' ‘Thailand’s Best Wellness Retreat 2017’ World Spa Awards

'Medi Spa of the year' Asia Spa Awards 2017

'#23 of Top 50 The Best Resorts in the World' Condé Nast Traveler’s 2017 Readers’ Choice Award (US)

'Outstanding Wellness Spa Destination in Thailand' Asian Lifestyle Tourism Awards 2017

'Top 6 of the Best Overseas Luxury Health and Wellness Property 2017 (1st Runner up)' Luxury Travel Award (Australia)

'Best Global Wellness Resort of the Year' Spa China Awards 2017 (China)

'Top 5 of the Top 20 Destination spas, the number 1 Destination spa in Asia' Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers Travel Awards 2017 (UK)

'Best in Travel 2017 – Hot 25 Spa hotels' Smart Travel Asia

'41 of 100 World famous holiday hotels (weltbesten Ferienhotels)' ‘BILANZ Hotel-Ranking 2017’ (Switzerland)

'#7 of Top 10 International Destination Spa' Travel & Leisure World’s Best Reader’s Choice Awards

'The special award' Spa Star Awards (Germany)

'22 of the World’s Best Luxury Honeymoon Destinations' ‘FlightNetwork’s’ (Canadian Travel Agency)

'Top 3 wellness retreats worldwide (runner up)' Traveller’s World Magazine (Germany)

'World’s 100 Greatest Hotels – Luxury resort' FlightNetwork’s’ (Canadian Travel Agency)

'The Best Overseas Hotel (Top 10)' Voyage Magazine’s 2016 Best Value Awards (China)

Now Travel Asia Awards 2016 2016 Asia’s Top Wellness Spa (Top 5)

'Best for Beauty and Anti-Aging' 'Best for Medical Services' 'Best for Men' 'Best for Mind & Spirit' 'Best for Nutrition & Healthy Cuisine' 'Best weight loss Program' Spafinder Wellness Travel Awards 2016 (Top 10)

‘Green Era For Sustainability Award’ Otherways Association Management & Consulting Awards 2016 (France)

‘Asia’s Best Wellness Retreat 2016’ ‘Thailand’s Best Wellness Retreat 2016’ World Spa Awards 2016 (UK)

'The World’s Best Destination Spa' Condé Nast Traveller magazine (UK edition) Readers’ Travel Awards 2016

'Listed 20th among the Top 25 Spa Hotel & Resorts in Asia' Best in Travel Poll 2016 by SmartTravelAsia.com

'Voted among the Top 10 Spa in Thailand, Voted by Chinese Tourists' 2016 People’s Choice Awards Thailand by TAT

'Best Wellness Resort' Celebrated Living – Annual Platinum List Awards 2016 (US)

'Best Luxury Wellness Resort, Thailand 2016' Global Brands Award 2016 (UK)

'International Winners' 'Best International Small Hotel' 'Best International Spa Hotel' 'National and Regional Winners' 'Best Resort Hotel Thailand' 'Best Small Hotel Thailand' 'Best Spa Hotel Thailand' 'Best Small Hotel Asia Pacific' 'Best Spa Hotel Asia Pacific' International Hotel Awards 2016-2017 (UK)

'Best Wellness Spa + Health Management resorts around the World' Conde Nast Traveller China Reader’s Choice Awards 2016

'Winner of Intel-AIM Corporate Responsibility Award' Asia Forum on Corporate Social Responsbility 2015

Discover Chiva-Som

  • Work with us
  • Partner with us
  • Chiva-Som Academy
  • Chiva-Som Boutique

The Details

  • Privacy Policy
  • Regulations

Chiva-Som Voted Winner #1 – 'Best Destination Spa in the World'

Chiva-som news.

conde nast traveller spa awards

Inside Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards

For 35 years, Condé Nast Traveler has captured the travel experiences their readers love best with the annual Readers’ Choice Awards . If you needed any more proof that travel is back in a major way, nearly a quarter of a million people voted in this year’s survey!

We spoke with CNT Articles Director Lale Arikoglu about the importance of the awards, where travelers may head next year and why everyone was trying to live the Stanley Tucci-life.

Tell us a little about why the Readers’ Choice Awards — now in its 35th year — is an essential feature for Condé Nast Traveler.

The Readers’ Choice Awards is the time of the year when we most effectively connect our audience of travelers with the travel industry. From choosing their favorite hotels, resorts, and cruise lines, to voting for the best cities in the world or responding to our Your Year in Travel survey , our readers’ voices have an enormous impact on what happens in the world of travel over the course of the following year.

Were there any themes/throughlines captured in this year’s selection of winners?

The results reflected our Instagram feeds: 2022 was the year of the big European trip—everyone wanted to be Stanley Tucci and have the perfect Italian vacation! Outside of that, we saw a lot of love from voters toward Japan and New Zealand, two countries we know most of our audience hasn’t been able to visit the past couple of years thanks to the pandemic. That tells us where we think travelers are headed in 2023, which we expect to be the year of the ambitious, long-haul, big-ticket trip.

Were there any winners that surprised you?

It was a lovely surprise to see how many hotels that opened during the pandemic, either in 2020 or 2021, appeared in the results: The Rosewood Villa Magna , just one property in a wave of exciting new hotels additions to Madrid, topped the Spain list, and The Tasman , a Luxury Collection Hotel, which opened last December in Hobart, Tasmania, took the number one spot for Australia & New Zealand. It shows that people have been back out in the world and discovering all manner of great hotels.

A total of 244,000 voters completed the entire Readers’ Choice Awards Survey. Were you surprised by the response? And do you think it was because this year people were really ready to embrace travel again?

The number of voters (nearly a quarter of a million!) is absolute proof that people are not only ready to embrace travel again, but are already out there exploring. During the pandemic, when our voters were stuck at home or close to home, our voting numbers dropped––not surprisingly. To see them return to 2019 levels proves how much travel has bounced back.

How have you seen the awards evolve during your time?

We’re always making incremental changes to the Readers’ Choice Awards to reflect the needs—and interests—of travelers. We introduced a new Expedition Cruises category for the first time in 2022, a nod to the growing popularity of itineraries that take travelers to some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places, like Antarctica or the Galápagos. In addition, while the RCAs was born as a print product almost 35 years ago, it has now grown into a robust digital franchise. This year we made the broader online experience—which includes expanded winners’ lists and a bevy of complementary editorial content—much more navigable, thanks to a brand new hub introduced by the product and engineering teams. And most importantly, it’s vastly easier to book the hotels, resorts, cruises, and spas our readers have selected. So go find out what won, then choose your own adventure!

conde nast traveller spa awards

Conde Nast names East Tennessee resort among best in the world: 'Southern hospitality never felt so chic'

The awards just keep coming for Blackberry Farm  in Walland.

The East Tennessee destination for luxury relaxation and fine dining has just been named one of the best hotels in the world. That's according to Conde Nast Traveler magazine's 2023 Readers Choice Awards, recognition that comes on the heels of earning a spot this spring on the Food & Wine Global Tastemakers list of the Best Hotels for Food in the U.S.

The Conde Nast Traveler awards were the result of votes from 526,518 readers to name the top 50 lodgings, which include such legendary picks as the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, the Ritz-Carlton in New York and La Mamounia in Marrakech. Blackberry Farm comes in at No. 33 after last making the list in 2021.

What makes Blackberry Farm so special?

"Dating back to 1940, this luxury Relais & Châteaux hideaway in the misty foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains is, for all intents and purposes, a 4,200-acre sleepaway camp for food lovers, where you can take cooking demonstrations, tour the farmstead, plan whiskey and wine tastings, and even meet the Lagotto Romagnolo dogs who are bred onsite and help the team sniff out truffles," the magazine noted. "The pièce de résistance is the James Beard–winning restaurant, which occupies a turn-of-the-20th-century barn where foragers, butchers, bakers, cheesemakers, sommeliers, chefs, and more collaborate on so-called 'Foothills Cuisine.' Southern hospitality has never felt so chic."

Transformed into a six-room country inn in the mid-1970s, Blackberry Farm has expanded to offer six different accommodations ranging from two-room cottages to five-bedroom houses with nightly rates starting at $1,045. Rates include dinner on the day of arrival through lunch on the day of departure with meals served in The Barn, a turn-of-the-19th-century outbuilding, or at the newly opened The Dogwood.

Blackberry Farm also features a brewery, spa and wellness offerings and a farm that produces fresh ingredients for its chefs, as well as its own collections of home, lifestyle and other items for sale.

What other Tennessee hotels made Food & Wine Global Tastemaker list?

Nashville got quite a bit of hotel love.

The Union Station Nashville Yards , Nashville's original train station, broke the top five by coming in at No. 4 on the list. "Union Station is one of the city's most recognizable buildings, and the hotel has a 65-foot vaulted lobby ceiling punctuated by century-old stained glass," the magazine noted.

The JW Marriott Nashville, one of the city’s first true luxury hotels, was ranked No. 45. "The hotel has it all: a gym, a spa, original art, turn-down service with local touches, in-room blow-outs, and a first-class steakhouse," the magazine wrote. The chic and trendy Kimpton Aerston, meanwhile, was ranked No. 39 and was called "a breath of fresh air in Midtown's hotel scene."

Liz Kellar is a Tennessee Connect reporter. Email  [email protected] .

Support strong local journalism by subscribing at  knoxnews.com/subscribe . 

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Conde Nast names East Tennessee resort among best in the world: 'Southern hospitality never felt so chic'

Blackberry Farm Executive Chef Peter Glander at the Farmstead at Blackberry Farm in 2008.

Vote now… Virgin Voyages is nominated for Condé Nast’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards.

All three of our beloved lady ships are nominated and we’re hoping for your help to crown them the conde nast queens of the sea.

When we decided to get into the luxury cruise business it was because of our passion for what cruising should look like — and we’re thrilled that you gave us a chance to show your clients what we could do! We take great pride in every aspect of what we do at Virgin Voyages and that starts with you, your belief in recommending us to your travelers and three of our breathtaking lady ships. 

From the 20+ eateries featuring Michelin star chef-curated menus, iconic entertainment from professionals who dare to think outside the box of what typical cruise entertainment has always been, a groundbreaking no-kids policy for the sake of self-care, top-of-the-line staff that values vibes as much as we know you do, and ever-evolving itineraries to accommodate our Sailor’s goals of seeing the world. Everything we do, we do with you at the top of our minds. So, first and foremost THANK YOU, our iconic First Mates for bringing your travelers to us and who we would most definitely be permanent landlubbers without. 

Last year we won our fair share of awards, from Condé Nast Traveler’s Best New Cruise in the World to Cruise Critic’s Best Overall Cruise Line, Best Cabins, Best Dining, Best Service, and Best Value-For Money – none of this is to brag, but to thank you for all the wonderful things you’ve already done for us, from sending your travelers on our lady ships to your own personal votes. We hope that by proving what an experience on Virgin Voyages will be like with the awards we’ve accrued, it will make your lives a little easier when explaining to your travelers why Virgin Voyages is the way to go.  

If your Sailors had an amazing time aboard one of our Lady Ships, from their red hammock-adorned balcony to a once-in-a-lifetime prix fixe menu at The Test Kitchen we’re asking you and your Sailors to let their favorite lady ship reign supreme! All three of our Lady Ships, Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady are nominated under the “Cruise Ships” category. Click this link to the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards Survey to cast your vote for one of our gals today, or before voting ends on June 30, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET, and once again, THANK YOU!

  • Destinations
  • Hotels & Homestays
  • Food & Drink
  • People & Culture
  • Mindful Travel
  • Readers' Travel Awards
  • Escape to Rajasthan
  • READERS TRAVEL AWARDS
  • #LOVEGREATBRITAIN
  • TAJ SAFARIS
  • BOUTIQUE HOTELS
  • CNT TOP RESTAURANT AWARDS
  • DESTINATION WEDDING GUIDE
  • DON’T TRAVEL WITHOUT IT
  • #UNDISCOVERAUSTRALIA
  • ESSENTIALLY RAJASTHAN

The best new hotels in India: 2024 Hot List

By Condé Nast Traveller

Mementos by ITC Hotels Ekaaya Udaipur is one of the best new hotels in India

It’s inevitable: Every spring when we pull together the Hot List, our annual collection of the world’s best new hotels, a staffer remarks that this latest iteration has got to be the best one ever. But this year’s Hot List, our 28th edition, might really be the best one ever. This year's best new hotels in India include a beautiful safari camp, a Gangtok hotel with stunning Kanchenjunga views and a vibrant 10-bedroom garden retreat in the Himalayas. Here are the best new hotels in India.

Click here for the best new hotels in the world: Hot List 2024

Image may contain Pool Water Swimming Pool Outdoors Aerial View and Person

JW Marriott Goa

Just off a busy corner packed with bars and beachwear shops in Goa’s Vagator is a little oasis of green and calm, perfectly suited for your next holiday. A spanking new 151-key property, done up with muted wooden panelling, intricate glassware chandeliers, water fountains and mother-of-pearl detailing, JW Marriott Goa quietly announces its location via its understated design. Located along a blue-green coastline and minutes away from Chapora Fort and Vagator beach, the hotel offers up idyllic backdrops for those family albums. The hotel offers a range of plush suite options and comfy rooms with attached balconies and all the latest mod cons, including free-standing tubs to soak in. Families can check into the adjoining suites, which allow guests to swim across via the private plunge pool that connects the rooms from the outside. Treat yourself to holistic treatments at Spa by JW, which features Turkish and Moroccan hammams. If you’re interested in therapy of the culinary kind, you can head to JW Kitchen, the all-day restaurant that serves a range of global cuisine and dishes from across the length and breadth of the country. Think Rajasthani thalis ; buzith chaman, a Kashmiri cottage cheese delicacy; Amritsari chole; and, of course, xacuti, caldeen, and cafreal. At Água Bar and Café—perched atop the hotel overlooking the infinity pool—enjoy signature cocktails and tuck into the ‘all things avocado’ section of the menu, dedicated to a range of toasts and sandwiches that star Insta-friendly food. The wide selection of nibbles, finger foods and heartier mains are ideal to take you from sunrise to sunset by the pool.For those looking to bring in a big birthday or host a celebration, pick from the 4,607-square-feet Grande Salão, an elegant ballroom with an outdoor section or the terrace of the hotel from where you can look out onto the shimmering sea. Doubles from Rs 19,950*; website —Smitha Menon

Image may contain Architecture Building Hotel Resort House Housing Villa and Outdoors

Taj Guras Kutir Resort & Spa, Gangtok

The one thing you should wish for before you visit Taj Guras Kutir Resort & Spa, Gangtok is clear skies—all-important for the hotel’s USP: views of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain, from every room. The property is set on the hill slopes of Pangthang forest, about 20 minutes from Gangtok, on land leased from Sikkim’s former prince, filled with Guras or rhododendron, the state plant. It is also all over the menu—from a colourful salad to the Guras Avenue cocktail with gin, pears, and the flower. The 69 rooms all have mountain views and the presidential suite comes with a pantry and butler. Only 2.8 acres of the 15 acres have been built upon and the rest is nature, with a waterfall where you can dip your feet. Here, I don’t need to go to a viewpoint. My king-sized bed itself is one. You can run on the treadmill at the gym, sit in the jacuzzi , get a couples massage at the spa, all with Kanchenjunga for company. But it does its best to offer more than the mountain. The front doors open onto a walkway lit by giant flaming cauldrons at night. The food has a local touch at Machan, with dishes like bhuteko bhaat, thukpa, and tingmo. This part of the world loves its noodles and momos, so Taj has brought its Asian specialty restaurant Soi & Sake. The curated décor—from the books in the lobby to the artwork over my bed—gives the hotel a curious intimacy. And of course, everything just feels better with a Kanchenjunga view. Doubles from about Rs 29,000*; website —Sandip Roy

Image may contain Architecture Building Hotel Resort Summer Nature Outdoors Scenery House Housing Villa and Plant

The Leela Ashtamudi, A Raviz Hotel

Along a southern braid of the off-radar Ashtamudi Lake, two hours from Thiruvananthapuram airport, lies a gloriously secluded 93-key tropical getaway— The Leela Ashtamudi, A Raviz Hotel . In taking over the management of the long-standing Raviz property, The Leela makes its second foray into Kerala. Set within five lush acres of coconut palms, bamboo, and mango trees, it spreads across the Heritage and Tower wings, private pool villas, and two traditional, 200-year-old tharavadu cottages—wooden ancestral homes transported as is from Erattupetta and Anchal. The rooms offer lake views and cosy nooks to watch life play out—even the breezy lobby opens right onto the lake. An ode to Kerala in every aspect, the property’s sloping tiled roofs, grand pillars, and waterfront verandah are inspired by the Nalukettu style of architecture. Evenings bring with them a plethora of options: opt for a Mohiniyattam or Kuchipudi performance on the property or cruise through the lake on a houseboat under a sky painted golden by the setting sun. All-day restaurant Keraleeyam offers global and Indian staples, but the local cuisine is the highlight: coconut-loaded beef roast, a tangy raw mango prawn curry, and a snooze-inducing sadya, prepared for special occasions and served on a banana leaf. It’s impossible to think of dinner after a sadya, but you must, because the dinner-only restaurant Raanthal showcases the lake’s fresh catch. And the star of the show is the Fish Nirvana—a vibrant yellow coconut-infused kingfish curry cooked and served in a banana leaf alongside hot appams. Traditional Ayurvedic therapies are on offer at the Favourite Kerala Ayurveda and Spa, where treatment rooms offer magnificent views of the lake. If the expert massage doesn’t lull you into a stupor, watching the ripples on the water’s surface most definitely will. Doubles from about Rs 8,300*; website —Malavika Bhattacharya

Image may contain Home Decor Architecture Building Furniture Indoors Living Room Room Chair and Interior Design

Sitara Himalaya, Himachal Pradesh

Ever the creative, Anita Lal, iconic lifestyle brand Good Earth’s founder, has channelled her alchemist’s heart into a 10-bedroom garden retreat immersed in the spiritual magnitude of the Himalayas. Located at an altitude of 8,200 feet, 13 kilometres from Manali, on the way to Lahaul and Spiti, Sitara Himalaya is a celebration of Indian spirit with a global outlook. The splendour of the interiors is immediate—Tibetan rugs, ornamental blue and white china, bold brass work, hand-painted murals of mountain passes and hummingbirds, the earthy smell of juniper berry incense. Bedrooms are covered in hand-spun Banarasi silk wallpaper depicting a sacred Buddhist motif of a Himalayan cloud. Opening the curtains to a view of snow-capped peaks is an immediate uplift. Don’t expect room service menus, mini-bars, or TVs. There, however, is a dedicated library space, painted in teal and sky blue with red accents in homage to Buddhist monasteries. Food follows a journey through the Himalayan ranges: tandoori delicacies from the Khyber, decadent wazwan from Jammu & Kashmir, Anglo-Indian dishes from the colonial hill stations, the dham from Himachal and steamed momos from Ladakh. Sitara Himalaya can mould itself to guests’ needs—a solitary trek, a picnic, or dining followed by in-house sutradhar, Navarino Narah, playing his guitar. For a well-being retreat, head to the Svasthi area, set at the highest point of the property. The hot water plunge pool is scented with Himalayan Deodar; the infrared sauna, with walls made of bricks of Himalayan salts, relaxes the central nervous system. Therapies include a breathwork, sound bowl healing, reiki, and human touch centred on ancient marma massage. Sitara Himalaya offers a dance of colour, textiles, and texture, but it is also a catalyst for revelations and good conversations. My advice? Don’t hold back. Doubles from Rs 90,000* for a minimum three-night stay; website —Daisy Finer

Image may contain Indoors Interior Design Architecture Building Furniture Living Room Room and Computer Hardware

InterContinental Jaipur Tonk Road

The sprawling façade of the property sumptuously reveals itself at the end of a 20 minute-drive from the Jaipur airport through the industrial suburb of Sitapura. Despite being an hour away from the city centre, the snazzy 218-key hotel encapsulates the essence of the Pink City—from the bougainvillea-fringed periphery and the magenta stole draped around me upon arrival to the rose-hued chocolate shaped like Hawa Mahal in my modish one-bedroom suite. Even the thikri mirrorwork adorning the wall behind my bed echoes Amber Fort’s grandeur and reminds me exactly where I am. This also extends to its kitchens: Socorro, its global cuisine restaurant, whips up a mean Rajasthani thali, complete with a hearty masala baati-panchmel dal duo; zingy laal maas with the most tender mutton, brought in from Jaisalmer for its intense flavour; a curd-based creamy murgh Jodhpuri ; syrupy malpuas; and more. While The Royal Root spotlights regal Awadhi and Rajasthani flavours with a side of live classical music, House of Han hits the right Oriental note. Curated trips offer a crash course into regional craft like block printing and the city’s dying art of blue pottery in a local factory—the genial owner even promises to deliver the coasters I paint straight to my home once ready. Recently rebranded from Crowne Plaza, the first InterContinental in north India boasts enhanced interiors, replete with gold accents, and services. The small breakfast bag packed for an early-morning flight stuffed with freshly baked croissants, muffins, and fruits show that the little things matter. InterContinental Jaipur Tonk Road strikes a balance between Rajasthani hospitality and world-class excellence. Doubles from about Rs 14,200*; website —Sneha Kanchan

Image may contain Home Decor Indoors Interior Design Lamp Chair Furniture Rug Bed Architecture Building and Hotel

Brij Anayra, Dharamshala

Before the Brij scooped up this 161-year-old tea estate in lower Dharamshala , it used to be White Haven, one-time resting place of weary English earls and viceroys. The 10-acre space retains all of its Raj regalia. Twelve massive rooms, carved into three blocks of a green-tiled colonial cottage complex, running along a fully functioning tea garden. Interiors drip with dark timber, dim lamps, and dainty furnishings. The Viceroy Block is the poshest with grand four-posters, dining alcoves, antique secretaires, armoury displays, and vintage watercolours, several of them painted by the lords and ladies. What elevates this discreet elegance are the down-home touches. Thukpas and momos arrive on demand, or a Himachali dham spread of khatte channe and a madra of your choice, is as easily delivered. Outdoorsy types can roam the extensive grounds, flitting from hibiscus to peaches to junipers, or head uphill for day-long jaunts to McLeodganj or Dharamkot, nearly 30-40 minutes by road. But why go anywhere when the daybed’s billowing drapes pull back on the Dhauladhar’s white-tipped majesty all along? Doubles from about Rs 15,000*; website —Lakshmi Sankaran

Image may contain Tent Outdoors Architecture Building Housing Lamp Chair and Furniture

TUTC Sawai Shivir, Ranthambore

Our days at the safari camp start with birdcall and end with us perking our ears to distant howling of jackals marking their dominion around us. The 16-acre campsite of The Ultimate Travelling Camp (TUTC) Sawai Shivir , the decade-old glamping brand’s newest property, is set among farmlands. An asymmetrical pool overlooks a crater that sounds like an ambitious plan: an on-site waterhole with its own ecosystem. The camp’s furnishings and artworks are sourced from TUTC’s locations like Thiksey, Kohima, and Bandhavgarh. The lounge tent’s roof is embroidered by a family in Leh and wooden stools are made in Nagaland from fallen trees. In the nine suite tents and one presidential suite tent, well-appointed bedrooms have air conditioners for the hot days and heaters for the cool nights. Behind each bedroom is a wooden-floored bathroom and a dressing room. Meals are discussed with guests but there is room for spontaneity, as they whip up local delicacies like ash-cooked baati and dal with churma and jungli murgh straight from a pot on a sigdi by the campfire. One of the days, after a safari , therapist Archana insisted we get a massage. As she moved her fingers through my hair, and across my scalp, she said I must let the oil seep in for at least half an hour. This glamping life, it asks a lot of you. Suite tents from Rs 80,000*; website —Roshni Bajaj Sanghvi

Image may contain Architecture Building House Housing Villa Hotel Resort Summer Chair Furniture Pool and Water

Mementos by ITC Hotels, Ekaaya Udaipur

Breakfast by the lake, yoga under the stars, bird watching, nature hikes, outdoor movie screenings—no demand is too high at Mementos by ITC Hotels . The hotel, which is the first under ITC’s Mementos brand, promises mental souvenirs you’ll be tapping into days after your vacation. The hotel is situated 50 minutes from central Udaipur, but therein lies its charm. It’s a perfect alternative for travellers looking to spend time in the countryside, away from the thick of the throng yet within easy access of the historic centre. The 117 villas and suites start from 500 square feet and, depending on the category, come with either terraces, gardens, private plunge pools, or all of the above. All rooms offer a view—some overlook the valley, while others the lake. They are sumptuously decorated with golden accents simmered by a muted colour palette. Some bathrooms come with Victorian-style bathtubs that sit under sunroofs or the warm glow of a chandelier. For meals, there’s the ITC signature Royal Vega, where your silver thali gleams with recipes from the kitchens of maharajas of the past. At Kebabs & Kurries, feast on perennial favourites such as galouti kebabs, dal Bukhara, and nihari. But before you settle down in one of these restaurants, note that sunset drinks are de rigueur by the infinity pool at the Rock Bar. Doubles from Rs 31,254*; website —Shradha Shahani

Here’s how long you could wait for a Schengen visa this summer

Jahnavi Bhatt

18 visa-free safari destinations to book around the world

Condé Nast Traveller

The best time to visit Hampi

Aishwarya Venkatraman

Image may contain Urban Bar and Furniture

Moxy Bengaluru Airport Prestige Tech Cloud

Home to the country’s best-known start-ups and a whopping 11 of India’s Top 50 Restaurants , Bengaluru carries with it a happy, easy-going spirit. It’s no surprise then that the city became the first home in India of Marriott’s Moxy Hotels, a brand that pegs itself on cool. Located about 15 minutes from the airport, the no-frills Moxy Bengaluru Airport Prestige Tech Cloud promises its guests a unique experience. Instead of a hotel lobby and a front desk, you are greeted by an open-plan floor where the bar, game room, lounge, restaurant, and co-working space blend into each other. The Moxy Bar, which also doubles up as a front desk, makes it convenient to offer you a welcome cocktail at check-in. If the lobby floor looks like Social and WeWork hooked up had a baby, the rooms are reminiscent of an IKEA catalogue. You wouldn’t be off the mark since Moxy was launched in partnership with the Swedish furniture brand. You are also nudged to do some things by yourself. This doesn’t mean you’ll be doing your own bed but you will most likely have to call in for that ironing board because not all rooms have one. Keeping with the young vibe, the minimalist rooms are stripped of wardrobes, writing desks, and cable TV. Wooden clothes pegs replace the wardrobe, a foldable wooden coffee table replaces the desk, and there’s a Smart TV to mirror your personal device screen. The workaholics can choose to work from anywhere, including at the island bar while sipping cocktails. The food menu includes the regular staples but also adapts to the local palate. Naans are reimagined as flat breads, topped with locally sourced burrata, or fresh mushrooms. The signature baos, topped with Andhra spices, too, are a nod to the local favourite. Among the other offerings at Moxy Bengaluru are conference rooms with bean bags and ping pong tables upon request. It is easy to label Moxy Bengaluru as a hotel for millennials and Gen Z. But you are constantly reminded that it is for ‘young at heart’. Doubles from Rs11,270*; website —Abhishek Mande Bhot

Ronil Goa a JdV by Hyatt property is a new boutique resort in Calangute that is an unlikely bridge between the old...

Ronil Goa—a JdV by Hyatt Hotel

Ronil Goa, a JdV by Hyatt property, is a new boutique resort in Calangute that is an unlikely bridge between the old laid-back Goa and the new buzzing one. Once a 125-room, budget-friendly hotel, the property, which goes back over 35 years, is now a 135-room JdV (short for joie de vivre) by Hyatt resort this year—the first such Hyatt property in India and Southwest Asia. Its entry on the Calangute-Baga Road is easy to miss, but once inside, the resort unfolds into two separate blocks, divided by two pools and the in-house restaurant. In true Goa fashion, I’m welcomed with a coffee -rum shot, an apt teaser of the resort’s energy. Check-in is not at the reception, but at the lobby bar Patrão’s, which is open 24/7. The heart of this property is “the hub”, the central area featuring a pool with a swim-up bar, cabanas, and sunken beds, and a wood-fired oven, where music plays almost all day and night. Rooms in this block are for those craving a high-energy holiday. The pool is open till 2am for spontaneous midnight swims. If you prefer a quieter holiday, book a room in the second block with the property’s second “tranquil” pool, which is open until 10pm and meant for a relaxed dip. Rooms feature several smart design elements—a sliding mirror which acts as a minimal door to the wardrobe, walls with monotone textures in place of the standard abstract paintings found in hotel rooms, door handles shaped like seashells, and more. Night owls can crack open the complimentary Maka Di lager in the minibar. I could easily get used to the prawn curry, rice, kismoor, and eggplant pickle at the Ronil Bistro for lunch, and the fresh, fluffy sourdough pizzas by the pool for dinner. Don't skip the ice cream, which comes from Goa’s well-loved Cream Choc. Ronil Goa is ideal for travelling with friends as the property can arrange bonfires, barbecues, floating breakfasts, and poolside picnics. As new as the property is, it unknowingly holds within it a sense of nostalgia. While the staff can arrange for bar crawls and Chapora Fort visits, if you are visiting to recreate old memories, you could just stay within the nostalgic cocoon that Ronil Goa offers. Doubles from Rs16,200*; website —Arundhati Ail

In a shiny postpandemic Goa Ashvem feels like a throwback to a slower and sleepier time. KAIĀ Goa a new oceanfront...

In a shiny post-pandemic Goa, Ashvem feels like a throwback to a slower and sleepier time. KAIĀ Goa , a new oceanfront boutique resort, across the tiny, white-washed Holy Cross Chapel, is right at the edge of Ashvem Beach. KAIĀ’s intuitive design immediately channels tropical sunshine and beach vibes with a profusion of cane, rattan, jute, and other natural fabrics. On-site coconut palms and trees were incorporated into an organic design with minimal use of intrusive construction material. The resort extends across two floors with rooms built around sprawling common areas. With high roofs and floor-to-ceiling windows, these rooms open up to sweeping views of the sea and mangroves. Minimalist design crafted from locally sourced bamboo, stone, and wood, along with jute curtains and statement light fixtures make you want to lounge about in your PJs. KAIĀ also has a four-bedroom stand-alone villa right across the road for larger groups. In the light-filled space at the edge of quiet backwaters with a sliver of beach , the large glass windows serve as a frame for the spectacular sunrises and sunsets. The food is designed by chef Mohit Savargaonkar and his philosophy translates into a menu that traverses the world and back again with dishes that are high on taste and good for the gut. There are all-day breakfast offerings like the spectacular Turkish Eggs—poached eggs on a base of hung curd and chilli oil to be scooped up with freshly made poiee—and pesarattu with moringa sambhar. For the mains, pick from hearty Mexican, Mediterranean, Indonesian , classic European fare, or indulge in flavours of Malabar cooking with Kerala Kozhi Curry and an Alleppey Prawn Curry. KAIĀ’s bar programme presents craft infusions as well as a fresh tropical spin—like the Man … Gone Going with a raw mango tequila, spiced ripe mango and mango leaf liqueur, and a spiced rim with a mango leaf garnish—that makes the drinks fun and breezy. The island bar is a design win with an extended bamboo spiral roof open to the skies and seating around the counter that encourages conversations. In case you need more, there are a bunch of curated activities like village walks to art sessions, book readings, and more. KAIĀ celebrates the slow life and the lack of an agenda, a way of life that is becoming increasingly rare in Goa. Doubles from Rs 8,000*; website —Diya Kohli

*Prices are subject to change.

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Un secondo Risorgimento

Sandro Rogari

1 mese a 3,99 €

Terme Saturnia tra le finaliste di Condé Nast

Le Terme di Saturnia Natural Destination confermate tra le finaliste dei Readers’ Choice Awards 2024 di Condé Nast Traveler, confermando l'eccellenza internazionale nel settore dell'ospitalità e del benessere. Un'antica oasi di 120 ettari nel cuore della Maremma toscana, apprezzata per le sue acque termali uniche al mondo e il lusso del Resort 5 stelle con Spa termale e Campo da Golf certificato Geo.

Condé Nast Traveler ha annunciato le shortlists dei suoi Readers’ Choice Awards 2024 e Terme di Saturnia Natural Destination, tra le strutture termali più prestigiose d’Italia nel cuore della Maremma toscana, anche quest’anno rientra tra le finaliste nella categoria "Destination Spas".

Dopo il riconoscimento nel 2022 e 2023 da parte di Travel + Leisure di Terme di Saturnia tra le cinque Best Destination Spas al mondo, l’inserimento nella shortlist per i Readers’ Choice Awards 2024 di Condé Nast Traveler conferma quanto Terme di Saturnia Natural Destination sia diventata, anno dopo anno, un punto di riferimento internazionale tra le eccellenze nel campo dell’hospitality e del benessere.

Nei prossimi mesi più di 800.000 lettori di Condé Nast Traveler saranno chiamati a inviare le proprie valutazioni delle esperienze di viaggio in tutto il mondo per fornire un’istantanea completa dei luoghi in cui non vedono l’ora di tornare. I Readers’ Choice Awards sono il riconoscimento di eccellenza più longevo e prestigioso per il settore dei viaggi.

Con una storia alle spalle che affonda le radici nell’epoca degli Etruschi, Terme di Saturnia Natural Destination – Resort 5 stelle con Spa termale e Campo da Golf a 18 buche certificato Geo e tra le strutture termali più prestigiose d’Italia – sorge nel contesto del paesaggio attorno alla millenaria Sorgente termale dalla quale scaturisce un’acqua dalla potenza traordinaria e unica al mondo; un’oasi naturale di 120 ettari, icona nel mondo dell’ospitalità e del benessere, dove rinascere e riequilibrare corpo, mente e spirito.

© Riproduzione riservata

Iscriviti alla Newsletter .

Il modo più facile di rimanere sempre aggiornati.

Best Travel Destinations  Venues | Readers' Choice Awards

READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2023

A staggering half million of you voted in our 36th annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey—here are the winners.

All winners were independently selected by our readers. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Readers' Choice Awards 2023

conde nast traveller spa awards

The Best Hotels in the World

COMO Castello del Nero

COMO Castello del Nero

Colony Palms Hotel

Colony Palms Hotel

Shangri-La Paris

Shangri-La Paris

The Hazelton Hotel Toronto

The Hazelton Hotel Toronto

The Peninsula Hong Kong

The Peninsula Hong Kong

LondonHouse Chicago, Curio Collection by Hilton

LondonHouse Chicago, Curio Collection by Hilton

InterContinental The Willard Washington D.C., an IHG Hotel

InterContinental The Willard Washington D.C., an IHG Hotel

The Peninsula Chicago

The Peninsula Chicago

The Venetian Resort

The Venetian Resort

The Union Station Nashville Yards, Autograph Collection

The Union Station Nashville Yards, Autograph Collection

conde nast traveller spa awards

The Best Resorts in the World

Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort

Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort

L'Horizon Resort & Spa

L'Horizon Resort & Spa

Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection

Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection

Londolozi Game Reserve

Londolozi Game Reserve

Cottar's 1920s Camp

Cottar's 1920s Camp

Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa

Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa

Chatham Bars Inn

Chatham Bars Inn

Twin Farms

Elewana Elsa's Kopje Meru

Wentworth by the Sea

Wentworth by the Sea

Cruise lines.

Cruise ships Geirangerfjord Western fjords Norway

The Best Spas in the World

Winvian Farm

Winvian Farm

Lake Austin Spa Resort

Lake Austin Spa Resort

Mii Amo

Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa

Palazzo Fiuggi

Palazzo Fiuggi

Ananda in the Himalayas

Ananda in the Himalayas

Lanserhof LANS

Lanserhof LANS

Miraval Austin Resort & Spa

Miraval Austin Resort & Spa

Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa

Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa

Canyon Ranch Woodside

Canyon Ranch Woodside

conde nast traveller spa awards

Airlines and Airports

conde nast traveller spa awards

Countries and Islands

conde nast traveller spa awards

More from the RCAs

Your Year in Travel 2024

Your Year in Travel 2024

2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey

2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey

The 20 Best Resorts in the Caribbean: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

The 20 Best Resorts in the Caribbean: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

By CNT Editors

2023 Readers’ Choice Awards: The Top Hotels in London

2023 Readers’ Choice Awards: The Top Hotels in London

By CNT Editors and Nicholas DeRenzo

The Best Countries in the World: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

The Best Countries in the World: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

By Nicholas DeRenzo

The 20 Best Hotels in Italy: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

The 20 Best Hotels in Italy: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

By Nicholas DeRenzo and CNT Editors

The Friendliest Cities in the U.S: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

The Friendliest Cities in the U.S: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

By Caitlin Morton

The Friendliest Cities in the World: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

The Friendliest Cities in the World: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

The Friendliest Countries in the World: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards

The Friendliest Countries in the World: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards

The Best Ski Resorts in the US and Canada: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

The Best Ski Resorts in the US and Canada: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

By Jen Murphy

The Best Ski Resorts in Europe: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

The Best Ski Resorts in Europe: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

Riding the Historic Rovos Rail Across Untrammeled Corners of Southern Africa

Riding the Historic Rovos Rail Across Untrammeled Corners of Southern Africa

By J.R. Patterson

The Best US Islands: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

The Best US Islands: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

The Best Islands in the World: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

The Best Islands in the World: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

24 Reasons to Visit Japan, Voted the 'Best Country in the World' by Our Readers

24 Reasons to Visit Japan, Voted the 'Best Country in the World' by Our Readers

By Tokyo Halfie

25 reasons to go to Moscow

By Condé Nast Traveller

25 reasons to go to Moscow

The Russian capital is a dazzling mix of medieval churches, Soviet skyscrapers, art galleries, sushi bars, nightclubs and bath-houses. Benjamin Wegg-Prosser selects its 25 most compelling attractions:

1. Turandot

It's easy to believe reports that US$40 million was spent on creating the interior of this restaurant. Spread over 14 rooms, it includes homages to Louis XVI, the Ming Dynasty and imperial Russia. The Asian fusion menu reflects the chinoiserie adorning the main dining room, whose centrepiece is a mechanical golden peacock that rotates as the all-female orchestra plays. The waiting staff wear uniforms that would not be out of place in a BBC costume drama. Tverskoy bul'var 26/5, Moscow (00 7 495 739 0011)

25 reasons to go to Moscow

St Basil's Cathedral

2. St Basil's Cathedral

The recently restored onion domes shine out from the top of the cathedral which marks the eastern border of the Red Square. Napoleon's troops ransacked the building, and it was once scheduled for demolition by Stalin. Today it's the jewel in the crown of the Russian Orthodox Church. The icons inside are well worth inspecting, but even better is the people-watching outside: young couples have their picture taken with the domes in the background on their wedding day. Krasnaya ploshchad (Red Square), Moscow (00 7 495 698 3304); open 11am-5pm, Wed-Mon

25 reasons to go to Moscow

Graveyard of the fallen monuments

3. Graveyard of the fallen monuments

Ever wondered where the statues of Soviet heroeswere dumped when Communism collapsed? Many of them can be found in the grounds of the new Tretyakov gallery The most intimidating figure is that of Felix Dzerzhinsky, founder of the Cheka - the organisation that was to become the KGB. His statue was toppled in the aftermath of the failed coup of August 1991 and removed from Lubyanka ploshchad. At the State Tretyakov Gallery, 10 Krymsky Val, Moscow ( www.tretyakovgallery.ru ); open Tue-Sun, 10am-7.30pm

25 reasons to go to Moscow

Golden Apple

4. Golden Apple

It calls itself a 'boutique hotel', but with 92 rooms the Golden Apple wouldn't get away with that description west of Warsaw. Given the size of most Moscow hotels, however, the title is deserved. The price of accommodation in the city is hard to stomach, but this one is one of few places where the rates can probably be justified. Five minutes from Pushkinskaya Square (the Piccadilly Circus of Moscow), it is very well located for discovering the city. [i]Malaya Dmitrovka 11, Moscow (00 7 495 980 7000; www.goldenapple.ru );

25 reasons to go to Moscow

Museum of the Great Patriotic War

5. Museum of the Great Patriotic War

You'll understand how marking the defeat of Germany in 1945 has become a form of state religion when you visit this stunning museum dedicated to World War II. It's set at the heart of Park Pobedy (Victory Park) and includes an art gallery, a hall of remembrance and some fantastic exhibits. Highlights for any history buff include the Nazi declaration of surrender and the table and chairs used by Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill during the 1943 Tehran conference. Park Pobedy 3, Moscow; open Tue-Sun

25 reasons to go to Moscow

Gorky's house

6. Gorky's house

Despite falling in and out with the Communist Party throughout his career, Maxim Gorky was one of the Soviet era's most important authors. He was rewarded with this stunning house when he returned to Moscow from exile in Italy. The Art Nouveau building was originally the home of Ryabushinsky, an oligarch who fled to France as the Bolsheviks took power. Visitors can see Gorky's study and admire the centrepiece of the house: a limestone staircase which seems to melt into the floor. Malaya Nikitskaya 6/2, Moscow (00 7 495 290 5130); open Wed-Sun.

25 reasons to go to Moscow

Lenin's tomb

7. Lenin's tomb

Arguably the most influential political figure of the 20th century lies embalmed in a building that is most recognisable as the place from which Communist Party bosses used to watch military parades in Red Square. The authorities maintain that the body really is Lenin's and that its wax-like appearance is due to the embalming chemicals. His clothes are changed every few years so he keeps up to date with fashion, if nothing else. Krasnaya ploshchad (Red Square), Moscow (00 7 495 623 5527); open Tue-Thu; Sat-Sun

25 reasons to go to Moscow

The Moscow metro

8. The Moscow metro

Spread across 180 stations, Moscow's underground rail system is a tribute to Soviet engineering and new Russian efficiency. With trains running every 90 seconds and the roads permanently clogged with traffic, the metro is the city's most practical form of transport. The earliest stations are architectural masterpieces, with Ploshchad Revolutsii, Kievskaya and Komsomolskaya really standing out. Visitors are advised to learn a little of the Cyrillic alphabet to help decipher the station names.

The best new restaurants in the world: 2024 Hot List

CNT Editors

The best new hotels in the world: 2024 Hot List

Olivia Morelli , CN Traveller

25 reasons to go to Moscow

The State Tretyakov Gallery

9. The State Tretyakov Gallery

These galleries - in two separate locations - house the best examples of Russian art from before and after the revolution. Most of the pieces in the old Tretyakov (at 10 Lavrushinsky pereulok) were in private hands before being nationalised in 1917. Its collection includes 'Rublev's Trinity', said to be the finest remaining Russian icon. The new Tretyakov (at 10 Krymsky Val) showcases all the main Russian art periods that followed the revolution and includes well-known works such as Petrov-Vodkin's Bathing of a Red Horse (pictured). The garden houses the Graveyard of the Fallen Monuments. 10 Lavrushinsky pereulok and 10 Krymsky Val, Moscow ( www.tretyakovgallery.ru ); open Tue-Sun, 10.30am-7.30pm

25 reasons to go to Moscow

10. 02 Lounge

Under a glass dome on the top floor of the Ritz-Carlton, Moscow, this bar has the city's best close-up views of the Kremlin. The food menu includes sushi rolls and sashimi. The drinks menu is supervised by a vodka sommelier who oversees 400 varieties of the spirit. The prices are shocking. Tverskaya ulitsa 3, Moscow (00 7 495 255 8888; www.ritzcarlton.com ).

25 reasons to go to Moscow

Shop & Bar Denis Simachev

11. Shop & Bar Denis Simachev

Denis Simachev is Moscow's Malcolm McLaren, and his bar has its own fashion store. Simachev is one of a small band of cultural entrepreneurs who have created a genuinely new, 'modern Russian' brand. The main conversation piece in the bar is the mural in which the world leaders of the early 21st century are shown dining in a prison canteen. Great international comfort food is on offer, including Moscow's best steak sandwich. Stoleshnikov preulok 12/2, Moscow (00 7 495 629 5702)

25 reasons to go to Moscow

Having opened after the financial crisis, this bar sets a more modest tone than its competitors. But it still manages a few superlatives, including stunning modern art and the longest bar in Moscow, at 30 metres. It's going after the forty-something market, or the 'mature hipster' as the management would have it. The bartenders are reputed to be the best in town. The building was previously a lightbulb factory, hence the name: luch translates as 'ray of light'. Bolshaya Pirogovskaya ulitsa 27/1, Moscow (00 7 495 287 0022)

25 reasons to go to Moscow

13. The Most

In the heart of Moscow's central night-life district, ]this swanky nightspot includes a bar, restaurant and basement nightclub. The club's cavernous room is spanned by mechanical bridges, an architectural play on words: most means 'bridge' in Russian. The venue entered football folklore when Roman Abramovich chose it as the place to drown his sorrows following Chelsea's defeat by Manchester United in the 2008 Champions League final held in Moscow. Kuznetsky Most 6/3, Moscow (00 7 495 660 0706; www.themost.ru ).

25 reasons to go to Moscow

Nobu Moscow

14. Nobu Moscow

The owners took the brave decision to open this outpost of the Japanese restaurant at the apex of the financial crisis. They have been rewarded for their courage by securing it a reputation as the place for oligarchs to lunch. Since the fall of the USSR, Japanese food has become a staple diet for Muscovites, and the launch of Nobu was a natural next step. The company's owners had been fending off proposals for a Russian branch for more than a decade, so the restaurant's success is no great surprise. Dmitrovka ulitsa 20, Moscow (00 7 495 645 3191; www.noburestaurants.ru )

25 reasons to go to Moscow

15. Bosco Café

This Italian restaurant offers three essential services: an excellent watering hole in which to rest after exploring GUM, the huge shopping mall which runs along the northern side of the Red Square, opposite the Kremlin; fine views of Lenin's tomb; and an excellent cappuccino. The veal chop is as good as you would get in Milan, and the terrace is without a doubt the best summer spot in the city. Red Square (Krasnaya ploshchad) 3, Moscow (00 7 495 620 3182)

25 reasons to go to Moscow

Café Pushkin

16. Café Pushkin

This is the first port of call for anyone who wants to experience quality Russian food. At first glance the building appears to be a stunningly preserved 19th-century townhouse; on closer inspection the façades are entirely fake. But this lack of authenticity is not reflected in the food, especially the outstanding meat pies and dumplings. The slickest waiters in Moscow even have a trolley with a dozen different mineral waters. Tverskoy bul'var 26a. Moscow (00 7 495 739 0033; www.cafe-pushkin.ru )

25 reasons to go to Moscow

Eliseevskiy

17. Eliseevskiy

This is the Moscow equivalent of the food hall at Harrods. Located in a late 18th-century mansion with stunning interiors, it was renamed 'Gastronom No 1' during the Soviet period but has now gone back to its pre-revolutionary name. In recent years new branded supermarkets with a fine selection of goods have started to overshadow this grande dame , but it's still a special place to visit. Tverskaya ulitsa 14, Moscow (00 7 495 650 4643; eliseevskiy.ru )

25 reasons to go to Moscow

Bolshoi Theatre

18. Bolshoi Theatre

The Bolshoi stages operas and ballets, was the venue for Swan Lake 's première in 1877 and is home to the best-known dance company in the world. It is in fact two different theatres. The original stage is currently undergoing renovations and will not reopen until 2013 (eight years after it closed); but the new theatre has regular performances. Teatralnaya ploshchad 1, Moscow (00 7 495 250 7317; www.bolshoi.ru )

25 reasons to go to Moscow

TASS building

19. TASS building

Before the USSR fell, nearly everything we in the West knew about Russia came out of his building the home of the principal state-run news agency, TASS. Although it has been eclipsed by other news sources, its HQ remains a splendid example of tasteful 1960s Soviet architecture and is well worth a photo stop. Tverskoy bul'var 10-12, Moscow

25 reasons to go to Moscow

Stalin's skyscrapers

20. Stalin's skyscrapers

There are seven of these so-called 'wedding cake' buildings dotted across the city. Their mock-Gothic style would not look out of place in Gotham City. Stalin ordered their construction in the aftermath of World War II (and made use of free labour in the form of German POWs) to put his capital on an architectural par with the great cities of North America. The largest and most memorable is the Moscow State University building on Vorobyovy Gory (Sparrow Hills). The Hilton Moscow Leningrandskaya is housed in another.

25 reasons to go to Moscow

Bolshoi restaurant

21. Bolshoi restaurant

Set between Kuznetsky Most and Petrovka ulitsa, this is Arkady Novikov's most recent venture. To Muscovites, Novikov needs no introduction: he is the man behind most of the city's poshest restaurants. Legend has it that he started out flipping burgers in a Moscow McDonald's and caught the entrepreneurial bug. His latest outlet offers modern Slavonic cooking. The golubtsy (a Ukrainian dish of mince rolled in cabbage) comes highly recommended. Petrovka ulitsa 3/6, Moscow (00 7 495 789 8652; novikovgroup.ru )

25 reasons to go to Moscow

Moscow conservatory

22. Moscow conservatory

Russians take their classical music very seriously, and nowhere is more serious than the Moscow Conservatory. It's a series of concert halls and a school rolled into one. Every Russian classical star, be they composer or musician, has played or taught here, including Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky and Richter. Tickets are relatively easy to get, either from the box office or from babushkas who sell them for a small profit on the street outside. Bolshaya Nikitskaya ulitsa 13/6, Moscow (00 7 495 629 8183; www.mosconsv.ru )

25 reasons to go to Moscow

Pasternak's house

23. Pasternak's house

In Peredelkino, a small village 25 minutes by train from Kievsky station, is the dacha were Boris Pasternak lived for the last two decades of his life. The house was turned into a museum after his death, but his family still live in the grounds. On the first floor you can sit at the desk where he completed Dr Zhivago ; and on the ground floor you can see the early Soviet TV and fridge of which he was the proud owner. Pavlenko ulitsa 3, Peredelkino (00 7 495 934-51-75; www.pasternakmuseum.ru ); open Thu-Sun, 10am-4pm; closed the last day of each month

25 reasons to go to Moscow

Izmailovsky Park

24. Izmailovsky Park

No trip to Moscow is complete without haggling for a bust of Lenin or a set of matryoshka dolls, and the only place to do it properly is Izmailovsky Park, at the metro station of the same name. The market, set in a 16th-century royal estate, is open every weekend and has a great variety of decent souvenirs.

25 reasons to go to Moscow

Sanduny Banya

25. Sanduny Banya

The 19th-century decor of the Sanduny Banya bath-house is reminiscent of a gentlemen's club in London's St James's. But the experience is uniquely Russian, as are the felt hats worn to protect your hair from the steam. The steam room is a vast, wood-panelled chamber with a huge open oven. Foreigners are made welcome by regulars, who are happy to inflict a beating with birch leaves (more refreshing than it sounds). After you've had a good thrashing, the waiters will bring you anything from tea and honey to prawns and beer. Neglinnaya ulitsa 14, Moscow (00 7 495 625 4631; www.sanduny.ru )

By Benjamin Wegg-Prosser: published in May 2010

COMMENTS

  1. 20 Best Spas in the US 2023: Readers' Choice Awards

    Top 20 Destination Spa Resorts in the United States: Readers' Choice Awards 2023. Condé Nast Traveler readers rate their top destination spa resorts in the United States. October 3, 2023. James ...

  2. The best spas in the world

    The best spas in the world. These are the Condé Nast Traveller Spa Guide winners for 2024: the top-level retreats and medi-clinics, the most-results-driven health centres and the slickest spas. Wellbeing has never been more at the forefront of our minds than now, and there have never been more excuses to exercise wellness on a daily basis.

  3. Inside the Condé Nast Traveller Wellness & Spa Awards 2023

    A celebration at the Lanesborough for this year's Condé Nast Traveller Wellness & Spa Awards. At the end of January, the wellness world gathered at the Lanesborough hotel to celebrate the launch of the Spa & Wellness Guide 2023 in association with Healing Holidays. The guide spotlights the top wellness destinations and best spas in the world.

  4. The Best Spas in the World

    In 2024, consider German medi-clinics, Thailand's bargain crown jewel, and more. By CNT Editors. February 27, 2024. Kasper Palsnov/Lanserhof Sylt. These are the best spas in the world in 2024: the ...

  5. The best destination spas in the world: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards

    The survey for the 2024 Readers' Choice Awards is open, vote now for your favourite places, hotels, airports, cruise lines, travel fixers and more.. Wellness expert Healing Holidays, which certainly has its finger on the pulse (and chi), tells us that "people are looking for purpose and guidance", with continued demand for post-Covid balms to treat low self-esteem and poor sleep, as well ...

  6. Top 20 Destination Spa Resorts in the World ...

    Top 20 Destination Spa Resorts in the World: Readers' Choice Awards 2023. Condé Nast Traveler readers rate their top destination spa resorts across the world—from St. Lucia to Greece, and ...

  7. Condé Nast Traveller Announces 2024 Wellness & Spa Award Winners

    Divia Thani, Global Editorial Director,Condé Nast Traveller. The Condé Nast Traveller Wellness & Spa Award categories and winners for 2024 are: Euro Medimagic, Lanserhof Sylt. Forever Icon, COMO ...

  8. Condé Nast Traveller Wellness & Spa Awards 2024 Winners

    Condé Nast Traveller Wellness & Spa Awards 2024 Winners 30/01/2024, Healing Holidays This year's Condé Nast Traveller Wellness & Spa Guide was launched on Monday 29 January at London's iconic Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in front of an audience of health and wellness experts, property owners and spa enthusiasts from across the globe.

  9. Condé Nast Traveller Wellness & Spa Awards 2023 Winners

    This year's Condé Nast Traveller Wellness & Spa Guide, the first since before the pandemic, was launched on 31 st January at London's luxurious Lanesborough Hotel in front of an audience of health and wellness experts, property owners and spa enthusiasts from across the globe. Featuring only the world's very best spa retreats, boot camps, medical clinics, yoga retreats and detox ...

  10. Awards

    Travel Daily 2019 Travel & Tourism Sustainability Awards (Australia) 'Best Spa' Traveller's World 2019 (Germany) 'Top ranked Asian Spa in Top 20 Destination Spas' Conde Nast Traveler The Readers' Travel Awards 2018 (UK) 'Top 5 Favourite Destination Spa' Condé Nast Traveler Reader's Travel Awards 2018 (India)

  11. The Best Spas in the US & Around the World: 2023 ...

    26. The Grove — Hertfordshire, U.K. Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2022, 2023. A dream five-star retreat, The Grove, once home to the Earls of Clarendon, is close to London (just 18 miles) but ...

  12. Condé Nast Traveller Spa Awards 2020

    An invigorating evening at the Lanesborough for this year's Condé Nast Traveller Spa Awards. At the end of January, the wellness world gathered at the Lanesborough hotel to celebrate the launch of the Spa Guide 2020, in association with Healing Holidays. The guide, edited by Issy von Simson, spotlights the very best spa and wellness ...

  13. Inside Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards

    A look at the 2022 results—and how readers are embracing travel again. For 35 years, Condé Nast Traveler has captured the travel experiences their readers love best with the annual Readers' Choice Awards. If you needed any more proof that travel is back in a major way, nearly a quarter of a million people voted in this year's survey!

  14. Conde Nast names East Tennessee resort among best in the world ...

    The Conde Nast Traveler awards consisted of votes from 526,518 readers to name the top 50 lodgings. And East Tennessee's Blackberry Farm is among them. ... a gym, a spa, original art, turn-down ...

  15. Ocean Key Resort & Spa

    22 likes, 2 comments - oceankeyresort on April 24, 2024: "Cast your vote for Ocean Key Resort & Spa in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards for Best ...

  16. Virgin Voyages for Condé Nast's Readers' Choice Awards

    Last year we won our fair share of awards, from Condé Nast Traveler's Best New Cruise in the World to Cruise Critic's Best Overall Cruise Line, Best Cabins, Best Dining, Best Service, and Best Value-For Money - none of this is to brag, but to thank you for all the wonderful things you've already done for us, from sending your travelers ...

  17. The best new hotels in India: 2024 Hot List

    The Leela Ashtamudi, A Raviz Hotel. Along a southern braid of the off-radar Ashtamudi Lake, two hours from Thiruvananthapuram airport, lies a gloriously secluded 93-key tropical getaway— The Leela Ashtamudi, A Raviz Hotel. In taking over the management of the long-standing Raviz property, The Leela makes its second foray into Kerala.

  18. Terme Saturnia tra le finaliste di Condé Nast

    Condé Nast Traveler ha annunciato le shortlists dei suoi Readers' Choice Awards 2024 e Terme di Saturnia Natural Destination, tra le strutture termali più prestigiose d'Italia nel cuore ...

  19. 2023 Readers' Choice Awards: all the winners

    The survey for the 2024 Readers' Choice Awards is open, vote now for your favourite places, hotels, airports, cruise lines, travel fixers and more.. If 2022 was all about the return to travel, then 2023 was the year we recalibrated what was really important. Few seemed to have disappeared into the metaverse, preferring real life encounters ranging from off-grid wilderness escapes to well ...

  20. 2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey

    2024 Readers' Choice Awards Survey. April 1, 2024. You've spent the last twelve months liking, sharing, and pinning the places that made your trips unforgettable. Now, it's time to cast your ...

  21. World Travel Awards

    The finest travel brands in the world have been unveiled at the World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2023. Tourism royalty convened at Dubai's Burj Al Arab to find out who amongst them had been voted the best of the best. The red-carpet reception marked the climax of WTA's landmark 30 th anniversary of celebrating travel excellence.

  22. Spa Travel & Wellness Ideas

    Miraval Berkshires Resort & Spa. $$$ | United States, Lenox, 55 Lee Road. Contemporary design and state-of-the-art spa treatments bring a breath of fresh air to the Berkshires' favorite resort ...

  23. The Readers' Choice Awards

    2023 Readers' Choice Awards: all the winners. You voted in your thousands in this year's Readers' Choice Awards. The results are now out. We reveal this year's winners - the number-one places, hotels, cruise lines, travel fixers and more that Condé Nast Traveller readers rate around the world. By CNT Editors.

  24. SPN

    Collaborations with National Geographic Russia, GQ, Robb Report, Conde Nast Traveller and others were implemented. ... Global SABRE, Cannes Corporate TV & Media Awards, IPRA Golden World Awards, Silver Archer, Media Manager of the Year, etc. The first Russian expert was inducted into the ICCO Hall of Fame.

  25. The Best Hotels in the World: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards

    27. Sir Albert Hotel — Amsterdam, Netherlands. Readers' Choice Awards 2023. Occupying an 1895 red-brick factory in Amsterdam's stylish and formerly working-class De Pijp neighborhood, this ...

  26. READERS' CHOICE AWARDS 2023

    The Venetian Resort. $$ | United States, Las Vegas, 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd. A surprise to world travelers who anticipate turning up their noses at the Venice-themed resort. Read full review ...

  27. Awards

    The best tour operators in the world: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards. These reliable travel fixers all have years of experience and a vast knowledge of destinations at their fingertips, with accomplished all-rounders alongside more focused experts for spa, ski and specific locations. By Condé Nast Traveller. 3 October 2023.

  28. Free travel guide to Moscow, Russia

    Tverskoy bul'var 26/5, Moscow (00 7 495 739 0011). It's easy to believe reports that US$40 million was spent on creating the interior of this restaurant. Spread over 14 rooms, it includes homages to Louis XVI, the Ming Dynasty and imperial Russia.

  29. 25 reasons to go to Moscow

    The Moscow metro. 8. The Moscow metro. Spread across 180 stations, Moscow's underground rail system is a tribute to Soviet engineering and new Russian efficiency. With trains running every 90 seconds and the roads permanently clogged with traffic, the metro is the city's most practical form of transport.