The Best Ritz-Carlton Hotels, Ranked by Guest Reviews
We scored the 100 most recent verified guest reviews at every Ritz-Carlton with enough of them: 62 hotels. Asia, the Gulf and the Reserves lead; the US trails.
By Biirdee Travel, Luxury Travel Concierge · Updated October 1, 2026
Ritz-Carlton is a big, uneven brand, so we ranked it the way guests experience it. On 1 October 2026 we took the 100 most recent verified reviews for every Ritz-Carlton and Ritz-Carlton Reserve on our booking platform and scored them ourselves: the mean out of 10, the share of guests scoring 9 or more, and the share scoring under 7. We also read what the written reviews talk about, and how the reviews that mention a topic (the service, the spa, breakfast, a dated room) score against the rest.
The rule for the ranking: at least 50 reviews, written since June 2024. That gives 62 of the 96 hotels we track. Every one of them was also priced on the same dates through our own booking engine, the one behind hotels.biirdee.com (10–13 November 2026, 12–15 March 2027 and 15–18 July 2027 in the table; a fourth stay, 27–30 December 2026, in the rate lines below), so each entry shows what a night actually cost on 1 October 2026. Taxes the hotel collects at checkout are extra. What each hotel costs month by month is on Ritz-Carlton prices.
The Ranking in Brief
- Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Krabi is the best-reviewed Ritz-Carlton: 9.92 out of 10, with 98% of guests scoring 9 or more and none under 7.
- Every one of the top ten is in Asia, the Gulf or Istanbul. The highest-ranked hotel in the Americas is Montreal, 12th, and the best in the US is Dove Mountain in Arizona, 19th.
- The bottom five are all American: Philadelphia (7.27), Bacara in Santa Barbara (7.34), Atlanta (7.63), Kapalua on Maui (7.66) and Fort Lauderdale (7.77), each with more than a quarter of recent guests scoring under 7.
- Forbes stars and guest scores often disagree: The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park is a Forbes Five-Star but ranks 55th of 62, while Langkawi, only Forbes Recommended, is fifth.
- Great reviews needn't cost much: Chengdu (9.56) was $151 a night in March and July, Doha (9.56) $308–361 and Istanbul (9.74) $319–522 on the three test stays in our table.
The Top 15 on Recent Guest Reviews
Ranked by the mean of each hotel's 100 most recent verified reviews on our booking platform (out of 10), then the share scoring 9 or more and the share scoring under 7. Only hotels with at least 50 reviews written since June 2024 qualify. Rates: lowest per night on 10–13 Nov 2026, 12–15 Mar 2027 and 15–18 Jul 2027, priced 1 October 2026.
| # | Hotel | City | Guest score (mean · 9+ · under 7) | Forbes 2026 | Lowest rate: Nov / Mar / Jul |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve | Tab Kaek Beach | 9.92 · 98% · 0% | Four-Star | $1,516 (suites only) / $1,010 (suites only) / $816 (suites only) |
| 2 | The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain | Manama | 9.80 · 96% · 2% | Four-Star | $605 / $1,538 / $522 |
| 3 | The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 9.75 · 94% · 1% | Five-Star | $519 / $652 / $657 |
| 4 | The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul | Istanbul | 9.74 · 93% · 3% | Four-Star | $319 / $522 / $522 |
| 5 | The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi | Pantai Kok | 9.67 · 96% · 1% | Recommended | $552 / $592 / $640 |
| 6 | The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong | Shanghai | 9.65 · 91% · 1% | Four-Star | $466 / $374 / $512 |
| 7 | The Ritz-Carlton, Doha | Doha | 9.56 · 91% · 6% | Four-Star | $316 / $361 / $308 |
| 8 | The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal | Abu Dhabi | 9.56 · 91% · 3% | Recommended | $380 / $331 / $234 |
| 9 | The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu | Chengdu | 9.56 · 86% · 0% | Five-Star | $304 / $151 / $151 |
| 10 | The Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka | Fukuoka | 9.45 · 87% · 3% | Four-Star | $934 / $981 / $926 |
| 11 | The Ritz-Carlton Osaka | Osaka | 9.41 · 88% · 4% | Five-Star | $534 / $534 / $710 |
| 12 | The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal | Montréal | 9.38 · 85% · 6% | Four-Star | $413 / $376 / $576 |
| 13 | The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman | George Town | 9.37 · 85% · 7% | Five-Star | $6,685 (suites only) / $1,333 / $743 |
| 14 | The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne | Melbourne | 9.31 · 85% · 6% | Recommended | $580 / $1,060 / $580 |
| 15 | The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh | Riyadh | 9.30 · 88% · 8% | Five-Star | $524 / $958 / $1,068 (suites only) |
What the Top Ten Have in Common
Service, first. At every hotel in the top ten, between 66% and 85% of written reviews mention the service, and those reviews average 9.37 to 9.93. Each leader then has a signature. At Phulay Bay it is the butler, who comes up in 48% of written reviews (averaging 9.95). At Bahrain and Istanbul it is the spa: 47% and 41% of reviews mention it, scoring 10.0 and 9.76. In Shanghai and Hong Kong it is the view, in 41% and 35% of reviews (9.79 and 9.85), and in Chengdu it is breakfast, mentioned by 36% of guests and averaging 9.93.
Forbes agrees only in part: two of the top ten are Forbes Five-Star (Hong Kong and Chengdu), six are Four-Star and two (Langkawi and Abu Dhabi's Grand Canal) are Recommended. Price agrees even less. Seven of the ten cost under $700 a night on all three of our table's test stays, and the best value in the whole ranking is Chengdu, at $151. Phulay Bay also holds MICHELIN's top Three Keys in 2026, and Hong Kong holds one Key.
The Top Ten
In ranking order. Each rate line is the lowest per night across our four test stays (10–13 Nov 2026, 27–30 Dec 2026, 12–15 Mar 2027, 15–18 Jul 2027), priced 1 October 2026; "suites only" means every standard room was gone. Bahrain, Shanghai Pudong, Chengdu and Abu Dhabi's Grand Canal aren't linked to live rates on our site yet; ask us and we will price them.
1
Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Krabi, Thailand
9.9Exceptional · 345 guest reviewsThe best-reviewed Ritz-Carlton anywhere: 9.92 out of 10, 98% of guests at 9 or more and none under 7. The butler comes up in 48% of written reviews and the spa in 23%, both averaging 9.95. Pavilions and villas only on our dates; Forbes Four-Star, and Three MICHELIN Keys.
Guests praiseExceptional serviceBeautiful locationGenerous amenities
$816–3,147 a night on our test dates (suites only)
2
The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain
Manama, Bahrain
Guests rate it 9.80, with 96% at 9 or more. The spa is the story: 47% of written reviews mention it, and every one of those scored 10. Families and groups write more of its reviews than couples do. Forbes Four-Star for hotel and spa.
Guests praiseExceptional serviceBeautiful amenities
$470–1,538 a night on our test dates
3
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
West Kowloon, Hong Kong
9.8Exceptional · 1,370 guest reviewsFloors 102 to 118 of the ICC tower in West Kowloon: 9.75, with 94% of guests at 9 or more and 1% under 7. Service comes up in 73% of written reviews (averaging 9.78) and the view in 35%. Forbes Five-Star for hotel and spa, and one MICHELIN Key.
Guests praiseWonderful serviceOutstanding views
$503–657 a night on our test dates
4
The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul
Istanbul, Turkey
9.74 from recent guests, and the spa stands out: 41% of written reviews mention it, averaging 9.76. It was also the cheapest of the five luxury hotels we scored in Istanbul on all four test stays. Forbes Four-Star.
Guests praiseExcellent serviceDelicious food
$319–522 a night on our test dates
5
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi
Langkawi, Malaysia
9.5Exceptional · 1,363 guest reviews9.67, with 96% of guests at 9 or more, and every cheapest rate on our dates included breakfast. Butlers come up in 13% of reviews, all scoring 10; the spa is the weak spot (the 10% of reviews that mention it average 7.0). Forbes Recommended.
Guests praiseStunning locationExceptional service
$552–1,824 a night on our test dates
6
The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong
Shanghai, China
9.8Exceptional · 1,145 guest reviews9.65, with 91% at 9 or more and 1% under 7. The view comes up in 41% of written reviews (9.79) and breakfast in 29% (9.7), and breakfast for two adds only $45–49. Forbes Four-Star, with a Five-Star spa.
Guests praiseExceptional serviceGreat locationHigh-quality food
$374–512 a night on our test dates
7
The Ritz-Carlton, Doha
Doha, Qatar
9.2Excellent · 1,768 guest reviews9.56, and 85% of written reviews mention the service (averaging 9.58); the beach and the pool score 9.75 and 9.54 in the reviews that bring them up. Families write 32% of its reviews. Forbes Four-Star; breakfast for two adds $58–76.
Guests praiseExceptional service and attentive staffClean, spacious and luxurious roomsGreat breakfast and food
$308–419 a night on our test dates
8
The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
9.3Excellent · 3,693 guest reviews9.56 on reviews from June to August 2026, with 91% at 9 or more. The pool scores 9.8 in the reviews that mention it, and in July the cheapest room, breakfast included, was $234. Forbes Recommended.
Guests praiseExcellent serviceClean and comfortable roomsStrategic location
$234–696 a night on our test dates
9
The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu
Chengdu, China
9.8Exceptional · 745 guest reviews9.56 with nobody under 7, and a Forbes Five-Star. Breakfast comes up in 36% of written reviews (averaging 9.93) and adds just $25 for two. The best value in the ranking: $151 a night in March and July.
Guests praiseLuxurious room experienceExcellent breakfast choices
$151–304 a night on our test dates
10
The Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka
Fukuoka, Japan
9.6Exceptional · 225 guest reviews9.45, with 87% at 9 or more. Families write 37% of its reviews, and the reviews that mention the kids or the pool average 10.0. Rates hold steady: $926–1,374 on our four stays and $788–979 on our monthly calendar. Forbes Four-Star.
Guests praiseExceptional serviceWell-maintained facilities
$926–1,374 a night on our test dates
The Five Lowest Recent Guest Scores
Same scoring and eligibility as the ranking above, lowest first. A blank Forbes cell means we found no 2026 listing.
| Hotel | City | Guest score (mean · 9+ · under 7) | Forbes 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia | Philadelphia | 7.27 · 42% · 38% | |
| The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | 7.34 · 56% · 37% | Recommended |
| The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta | Atlanta | 7.63 · 51% · 27% | |
| The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua | Kapalua | 7.66 · 53% · 33% | Four-Star |
| The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale | 7.77 · 55% · 31% | Four-Star |
The Lowest Scorers, Honestly
The bottom of the ranking is all American, and the complaints are specific. At Philadelphia (7.27), 38% of recent guests scored under 7; the 20% of written reviews that call the hotel dated average 5.85, and noise comes up in 15%, averaging 4.8. At Bacara in Santa Barbara (7.34), the "dated" reviews average 4.88, food comes up in 44% (6.11), and breakfast for two added $320–556 a night on our dates. Atlanta's (7.63) low marks follow the food (6.0) and the price (2.67). Kapalua on Maui (7.66) is the one where the setting still lands, with view mentions averaging 8.54, while food (44% of reviews, 6.94) and dated rooms (6.43) drag it down. Fort Lauderdale's (7.77) weakest topic is breakfast: 13% of reviews mention it, averaging 5.2. St. Thomas (7.80) and Sarasota (7.84) sit just above them.
Then there is Central Park. The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park is a Forbes Five-Star hotel and 62% of recent guests scored it 9 or more, but it ranks 55th of 62 at 8.06, with 26% under 7: the lowest of the seven luxury hotels we scored in New York, just behind the brand's own NoMad (8.40). Service isn't the problem; it comes up in 66% of reviews, averaging 8.6. Value is. The reviews that mention the price (8%) average 4.67, those about upgrades (7%) 6.0, and those that call it dated (8%) 6.67. At $1,302–2,211 a night on our test stays, with breakfast for two adding $168–326, our read is that guests mark it down for value, not for the welcome.
Nine of the ten lowest-ranked hotels are in the US or the US Virgin Islands; the exception is the Nile Ritz-Carlton in Cairo. If you are booking a Ritz-Carlton in America, check the score first.
Strong Hotels the Ranking Leaves Out
Some of the brand's best hotels miss the cut only on our rules. Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Ubud scores 9.77 †, Macau 9.49 † and the Dubai beach resort 9.46 †, but their latest reviews reach back before June 2024, so we flag them as older (†). The Maldives Fari Islands scores 9.69 on only 35 reviews since 2022, and Bangkok, opened in December 2024, 9.59 on only 29 recent reviews. Mandapa also holds Three MICHELIN Keys and is No.61 in The 50 Best Hotels 2026, the brand's only hotel in that list's top 100.
Best Ritz-Carlton Hotels: FAQs
What is the best Ritz-Carlton in the world?
On our scoring of the 100 most recent verified reviews at each hotel, Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Krabi, Thailand: 9.92 out of 10, with 98% of guests scoring 9 or more and none under 7. The best of the classic Ritz-Carltons are Bahrain (9.80), Hong Kong (9.75) and Istanbul (9.74).
What is the best Ritz-Carlton in the United States?
On recent guest reviews, The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain in Arizona (9.21), ranked 19th of 62, then Pentagon City in Arlington and Portland (both 9.03). No US Ritz-Carlton made our top 15; the highest-ranked in North America is Montreal, 12th, at 9.38.
Is The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park worth it?
For the address, plenty of guests think so: 62% of recent reviewers scored it 9 or more. But it is not the brand's best. It ranks 55th of 62 on our scoring (8.06, with 26% of guests under 7) and last of the seven luxury hotels we scored in New York, and the reviews that mention the price average 4.67. On our dates the cheapest room ran $1,302–2,211 a night; the Ritz-Carlton NoMad scored a little higher (8.40).
Which Ritz-Carlton Reserve is the best?
Phulay Bay (9.92) on our scoring, and it holds Three MICHELIN Keys in 2026. Mandapa in Ubud scores 9.77 on older reviews and also holds Three Keys, and Nekajui in Costa Rica was promoted to Three Keys this year (it isn't in our data yet). Nujuma scores 9.33 on only 21 recent reviews; Dorado Beach (8.90) and Higashiyama Niseko Village (8.52), both on older reviews, trail.
How did you rank the Ritz-Carltons?
On 1 October 2026 we scored the 100 most recent verified reviews for every Ritz-Carlton and Reserve on our booking platform: the mean out of 10, the share scoring 9 or more and the share under 7. Hotels need at least 50 reviews written since June 2024 to qualify, which gives 62 of the 96 we track. Forbes ratings are the 2026 Star Awards; rates come from our own booking engine on the same date.
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