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PAUSE Picks: Our Top 10 Hotels Of 2025

Our favourite Hotels of the Year!

In 2025, travel remained at the top of most of our ‘to-do’ list of priorities, with more of us investing in experiences, escapes and unforgettable trips. We’re debunking the claim that the hotel doesn’t matter because it absolutely does. Over the past year, we checked into properties across the world, from luxurious hotels and unique resorts to relaxing retreats, and the hotels proved that a stay can, in fact, make or completely break a trip. Here, we’ve rounded up a few of our top-rated stays of 2025. These hotel destinations impressed, inspired and should already be on your radar for 2026.

Royal Mansour Casablanca

The Royal Mansour brand is renowned for gold-standard luxury, and Royal Mansour Casablanca is no exception. Situated in the heart of the city, the hotel is the perfect fusion of Casablanca’s Art Deco heritage with contemporary Moroccan craftsmanship. With an intentional and intricate focus on hospitality, guests can expect opulent interiors, exceptional service and elevated fine dining, attracting both international travellers and local tastemakers who seek extraordinary experiences. It remains one of North Africa’s most prestigious addresses, offering a sophisticated perspective on a city in cultural evolution and was undoubtedly our overall top stay of 2025.

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PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of  Royal Mansour 
PHOTO CREDIT: Melia Hospitality Group

ME Malta

One of the country’s newest openings, ME Malta raised the bar across the island’s hotel scene in 2025. Designed by the late Zaha Hadid and set within the landmark Mercury Towers development in St Julian’s, the hotel is a modern and progressive addition to Maltese hospitality. Built around creativity, luxury and social connection, it stays true to the ME brand’s ethos of unique personality. With Radio Rooftop and a selection of curated dining concepts, ME Malta has become a key meeting point for both travellers and locals, establishing itself as a cultural hub. ME Malta provided one of our overall favourite experiences of 2025.
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Destino Five Ibiza

Destino Five continues to define the elevated side of Ibiza’s hotel scene, the perfect intersection of luxury and the island’s vibrant party culture. Perched above the Mediterranean, the hotel offers sun-soaked seclusion alongside easy access to Ibiza’s most celebrated nightlife. Guests can enjoy a popular pool club, fine dining, design-led suites and a calendar of regular events. In 2025, Destino Five was undoubtedly one of our favourite resort experiences and remains a top choice for those visiting Ibiza.
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PHOTO CREDIT: FIVE Hotels and Resorts 
PHOTO CREDIT: Finca Serena

Finca Serena Mallorca

Located among olive groves and rolling countryside, Finca Serena represents Mallorca at its most serene. This adults-only retreat, a member of Small Luxury Hotels, is defined by stillness, simplicity and a strong connection to nature. With a focus on wellness, seasonal dining and quiet luxury, it provides a calm contrast to the island’s busier coastal resorts. Its understated design and unhurried pace make it one of the top rated on the island and our most favourite retreat visited in 2025.
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Pug Seal Anatole France - Mexico City

When it comes to character, uniqueness and one-of-a-kind experiences, Pug Seal Anatole France ticks all the boxes. Located in CDMX’s upscale Polanco neighbourhood and housed in a beautifully restored mansion, the hotel feels more like a private residence, with each room individually designed and filled with curated details. Personalised service, thoughtful design and originality set it apart from larger luxury properties. In 2025, it stood out as one of the most unique hotel experiences we encountered, celebrating individuality and sophistication.
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PHOTO CREDIT: Pug Seal
PHOTO CREDIT: Hyatt Hotels & Resorts

Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme

Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme remains one of the city’s most enduring luxury hotels. Just a stone’s throw from Place Vendôme, it offers discreet Parisian sophistication and elegance in the heart of the city. In a year where trends shifted quickly, the hotel stood out for its unwavering consistency and refinement, reinforcing its reputation as a dependable choice for those who value understated luxury. It was undoubtedly one of our most prestigious stays of 2025.

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Palazzo Cordusio Milan

Palazzo Cordusio perfectly captures Milan’s dual identity of heritage and innovation. Set within a restored historic building in the city centre, the hotel fuses classical Italian architecture with remarkable contemporary design. Just a short walk from the Duomo, the fashion district and key cultural hotspots, its central location adds to the long list of reasons why it’s rated one of Milan’s leading hotels. From its lavish suites, curated luxury experiences and upscale dining, Palazzo Cordusio takes the lead as one of our most luxurious stays of 2025.
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PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Melia Hospitality Group
PHOTO CREDIT: Cheval Maison

Cheval Maison The Palm Dubai

Cheval Suites redefine the concept of extended stays with a contemporary residential approach to luxury hospitality. Launched in 2023 on the trunk of the iconic Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, the property offers spacious, modern and impeccably serviced apartments that combine the comfort of home with hotel-level service. Ideal for longer stays or travellers seeking comfort, space and privacy without compromise, Cheval Suites stood out in 2025 as our ultimate home away from home, proving that luxury can feel both personal and practical.
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Mason & Fifth Westbourne Park

Mason & Fifth Westbourne Park offers a quieter, more residential take on London hospitality. Located in West London, the hotel is centered around thoughtful design, innovation and community-led experiences. Boutique in all the right ways, it combines a relaxed, considered atmosphere with amenities such as a cinema and wellness studio, appealing to travellers interested in both relaxation and entertainment. It stood out in 2025 as a boutique stay that perfectly balances style and creativity, and was one of our top-rated of the year.
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PHOTO CREDIT: Mason & Fifth
PHOTO CREDIT: Hoxton Hotels

The Hoxton Downtown LA

The Hoxton Downtown LA brings a distinctly design-led and chic vibe to the City of Angels. Located within the iconic Beaux-Arts-style United Artists Building, the hotel balances the Hoxton brand’s contemporary aesthetic with its signature stylish flair. From thoughtfully designed rooms to buzzing communal areas and a rooftop pool popular among both guests and locals, it has become one of LA’s top social hubs in the Downtown district. Its effortless blend of décor, design and individuality made it our most stylish hotel pick of 2025.
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