Top 10: Best Mandarin Oriental Hotels in the World

Which are the Top 10 Mandarin Oriental Hotels in the World? TravelSort Clients loyal to a particular luxury hotel brand often ask me which hotels are the best in that brand, for example the Top 10 Four Seasons Hotels in the World and the Top 10 Aman Resorts in the World. While all such rankings are inherently subjective, based on client feedback at these hotels and my own personal experiences at several of them, these are my current picks for the best Mandarin Oriental hotels and resorts worldwide.

Keep in mind that the best way to reserve Mandarin Oriental hotels, to maximize benefits, is with Mandarin Oriental Fan Club benefits, available to TravelSort clients, which provide more value over Fans of Mandarin Oriental.

1. Mandarin Oriental Canouan

Many associate Mandarin Oriental more with urban, city center hotels, thanks to the brand's origin with its Hong Kong and Bangkok flagship hotels. But there are several resort properties, and while Mandarin Oriental acquired the Pink Sands Resort and rebranded it as Mandarin Oriental Canouan, in my view it's the most stunning Mandarin Oriental in the world, and among the very best luxury resorts in the Caribbean thanks to its more intimate size (just 39 suites), beautiful and uncrowded beaches, and much higher service standard than is typical in the Caribbean.

2. Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, Japan

Early in 2019 the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo completed renovating all its guest rooms and suites, freshening its look ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics. We were very impressed with the service level during our 2017 visit, and clients since then have also commended the team. Breakfast at K'shiki was fantastic and very high quality, and my husband and son loved their pizza at the Pizza Bar on 38th–arguably some of the very best pizza in Tokyo.

3. The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

I have clients that exclusively return to The Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong (Central), and for good reason–its clean, modern aesthetic and superb service consistently place it among Hong Kong's very top luxury hotels, in a fiercely competitive market–I consider Hong Kong one of the Best Luxury Hotel Cities in the world.

4. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailand

The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, formerly The Oriental, is one half of the Mandarin Oriental name, and as such, one of the company's two original flagship properties. Its enviable location on the Chao Phraya river makes it a perfect base for taking a boat to see Wat Arun and the Grand Palace, and the hotel also offers lovely pool and spa facilities, not to mention the 2 Michelin-star Le Normandie restaurant, with excellent French cuisine. As with most Mandarin Oriental city hotels it's quite large, so if seeking a more boutique experience in Bangkok, I recommend The Siam.

5. Mandarin Oriental Milan, Italy

The Mandarin Oriental Milan opened in 2015, so it's one of the newer Mandarin Oriental hotels, and for many of my clients, their favorite Milan luxury hotel. While it's tucked away on quite a quiet residential street, it's very centrally located, just a few minutes' walk to La Scala, the Duomo, and other sights. Rooms start with the Superior, at 375 sq. ft., but I recommend reserving at least a Mandarin Room (484 sq ft.) as some of these rooms have a small private terrace. Beautiful Italian marble bathrooms offer double sinks, soaking tub and rain shower. The Concierge Team is one of the best in the city, so don't hesitate to utilize their expertise.

6. Mandarin Oriental Paris

While not my absolute favorite in Paris, simply due to the wealth of incredible Paris luxury hotels such as The Peninsula Paris, Le Bristol, and the Four Seasons George V Paris, the Mandarin Oriental Paris is nevertheless still among the top 10 Mandarin Oriental hotels in the world. Its location is an advantage, since instead of being near the Champs-Elysees, as so many of the great luxury hotels are, it's near the Tuileries Garden (Jardin des Tuileries), making it walking distance to the Louvre Museum, the Musee d'Orsay and the Orangerie. You can also walk over the Left Bank and Saint Germain des Pres in about half an hour.

7. Mandarin Oriental Doha

Mandarin Oriental Doha just opened in March 2019, and I was just there weeks ago. The design is stunning, and there's a great experienced international team drawn from other top Mandarin Oriental hotels. While it's not on the beach, so not as resort-like as the Four Seasons Doha, the rooms, including the beautiful bathrooms, and spa are top-notch. Only the gelato could use some improvement, although the sorbets are delicious.

8. Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai

While I haven't personally stayed at this Mandarin Oriental, clients have greatly enjoyed the Mandarin Oriental Pudong, particularly the Club River View rooms and suites that have access to the Club Lounge, at least if they have reason to be in the Pudong area (since Shanghai traffic can be awful).

9. Mandarin Oriental Boston

Surprisingly, for a city with world-class universities and hospitals, Boston is a little lacking in the luxury hotel arena, with many properties slow to renovate and update. Fortunately, the Mandarin Oriental Boston is a great property, and currently my top recommendation, although it will have some competition with the new Four Seasons One Dalton that debuts soon, in 2019. I've even had clients stay here for weeks, and rave about the caring staff.

10. Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing

The new Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing in Beijing is already getting rave reviews, including from a client who has already experienced most of the other Beijing luxury hotel options. A combination of beautiful and functional rooms, hard product, and great service (which can't always be taken for granted in mainland China, even among luxury properties) helps this new property snag a place in the top 10.