In 2025, The MICHELIN Guide took hospitality recognition to a new level with its inaugural hotel awards. Over the summer and fall, Inspectors carefully selected nominees across four categories: Architecture & Design, Wellness, Local Gateway, and Opening of the Year, showcasing the very best in hotel experiences. The winners were unveiled on October 8 in Paris, at a glamorous event where hoteliers from around the world gathered and the latest hotel Keys were revealed.
MICHELIN Opening of the Year Award
Winner: The Burman Hotel — Tallinn, Estonia
The 17-room Burman Hotel delivers the scale and service of a major hotel in the heart of UNESCO-listed Old Town. A 150-year-old property reborn with meticulous attention to detail, it combines high-tech, high-luxury rooms with handmade mattresses, Amouage toiletries, and sleek marble bathrooms. Part of the Bombay Club casino, the hotel redefines refinement with elegant interiors, a full-service spa, and three exceptional dining options, including MICHELIN-recommended Koyo and Shang Shi—and a bakery, Maison François. Perfect for both business travelers and urban explorers, it offers top-tier amenities at a surprisingly accessible price.
MICHELIN Architecture & Design Award
Winner: Atlantis the Royal — Dubai, UAE
Opened in 2023, Atlantis The Royal reimagines Dubai’s skyline with six interconnected towers, each composed of terraced, cantilevered blocks that combine striking design with practical, shaded outdoor spaces. The result is a hotel that feels more like a self-contained, garden-filled neighborhood than a conventional skyscraper.
Guest rooms, dubbed Skyscapes and Seascapes, feature interiors centered around water—a nod to the region’s historical relationship with this precious resource. The hotel boasts 795 rooms and suites, 15 restaurants, and a dramatic skybridge linking the upper levels, offering visitors a futuristic yet deeply immersive luxury experience.
MICHELIN Local Gateway Award
Winner: La Fiermontina Ocean — Larache, Morocco
Authentic cultural immersion in a stunning seaside setting on Morocco’s northwest Atlantic coast.
About six hours by car from Marrakech, near Tangier, La Fiermontina Ocean is tucked away along a seven-kilometer olive-lined road, offering a secluded escape from mainstream tourism. The property’s ocean-view villas and beach club showcase the beauty of the region, but its true distinction lies in its human touch.
Co-owned with the Fondation Orient Occident, a national non-profit supporting migrants and refugees, the hotel actively fosters community engagement. Many of its buildings are nestled in the nearby town of Dchier, including four traditional homes amid rolling olive groves, designed to encourage meaningful interactions between guests and locals.
Experiences here go beyond luxury sightseeing. Guests can embark on coastal treks with local guides or share breakfast with a local family, creating intimate, memorable encounters that directly support the surrounding community.
MICHELIN Wellness Award
Winner: Bürgenstock Resort — Bürgenstock, Switzerland
150-year celebration of Switzerland’s timeless mountain allure, paired with one of Europe’s largest spa facilities.
Since its original opening in 1873, the resort has captivated visitors with its electric cable car ride up the mountains, attracting icons like Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren over the decades. After a decade-long renovation completed in 2017, Bürgenstock Resort remains a testament to the enduring charm of fresh mountain air and stunning views over Lake Lucerne.
The 10,000-square-meter Alpine Spa is a wellness powerhouse, featuring five pools, cryotherapy chambers, infrared saunas, and infinity pools. Modernized yet steeped in history, the resort perfectly blends restorative luxury with state-of-the-art wellness offerings.
Want to experience the luxury of these hotels for yourself? Reach out to us and let’s plan your stay! 🤩⭐
Note: This post is based on information gathered from the MICHELIN Guide’s coverage of their 2025 Hotel Special Category Awards.