In a landmark moment for the global hospitality industry, The MICHELIN Guide has expanded its legacy beyond the culinary world with the debut of the MICHELIN Key 2025 — a new international distinction celebrating the world’s most exceptional hotels. Announced on October 8, 2025, the unveiling coincides with the Guide’s 125th anniversary, setting a new global benchmark for excellence in design, service, and hospitality.
Just as the MICHELIN Star has long defined the pinnacle of fine dining, the MICHELIN Key now recognises hotels that embody the same spirit of craftsmanship, authenticity, and exceptional guest experience.
A New Chapter in Hospitality Excellence
The MICHELIN Key marks a bold evolution for the MICHELIN Guide, which has been recommending outstanding hotels since the 1920s. Over the past five years, MICHELIN’s expert inspectors have reimagined the hotel selection process, curating a trusted collection of over 7,000 hotels worldwide accessible via its digital platforms.
The new Key distinction identifies the most remarkable of these stays — those that go above and beyond in creating unforgettable experiences. Hotels are evaluated on five universal criteria:
- Architecture and Interior Design
- Quality and Consistency of Service
- Personality and Character
- Value for Money
- Contribution to the Local Environment and Culture
Not bound by price, size, or category, MICHELIN Keys can be awarded to a mountain lodge, a city boutique hotel, a heritage palace, or even a luxury tented retreat.
Understanding the MICHELIN Key
- One MICHELIN Key: A very special stay — intimate, characterful, and defined by warmth and individuality.
- Two MICHELIN Keys: An exceptional stay — where thoughtful design, authenticity, and a strong sense of place converge.
- Three MICHELIN Keys: An extraordinary stay — representing the zenith of global hospitality, where service, style, and emotion combine to create a lasting memory.
This inaugural global selection features 2,457 hotels across 120 countries:
- 1,742 One-Key hotels
- 572 Two-Key hotels
- 143 Three-Key hotels
India’s Moment of Glory
India shines bright in the 2025 MICHELIN Keys with 36 hotels earning distinctions — a reflection of the country’s evolving luxury landscape and deep-rooted hospitality traditions.Three MICHELIN Keys – The Pinnacle of Indian Hospitality
- Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
- Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur
Both properties, jewels in the Taj portfolio, epitomise regal grandeur, personalised service, and timeless architecture — positioning them among the world’s most extraordinary stays.
Two MICHELIN Keys – Exceptional Stays with Distinctive Character
- The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra
- Amanbagh, Rajasthan
- Suján Jawai, Rajasthan
- Raffles Jaipur
- The Leela Palace Jaipur
- Sitara Himalaya, Himachal Pradesh
- The Imperial, New Delhi
- The Leela Palace, New Delhi
- Aman-i-Khas, Khilchipur
- Six Senses Fort Barwara, Rajasthan
- Raffles Udaipur
- The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur
One MICHELIN Key – Memorable and Authentic Stays
- The Kumaon, Binsar
- Narendra Bhawan, Bikaner
- The Leela Palace, Chennai
- Six Senses Vana, Dehradun
- The Oberoi, Gurgaon
- Taj Usha Kiran Palace, Gwalior
- Rajmahal Palace RAAS, Jaipur
- Taj Devi Ratn Resort & Spa, Jaipur
- The Johri, Jaipur
- The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur
- Villa Palladio, Jaipur
- Soho House, Mumbai
- Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
- Taj Mahal Tower, Mumbai
- Taj Mahal, New Delhi
- The Lodhi, New Delhi
- Ran Baas The Palace, Patiala
- Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa, Uttarakhand
- Suján Sher Bagh, Ranthambore
- The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambore
- RAAS Devigarh, Udaipur
- Nadesar Palace, Varanasi
Global Highlights and Special Awards
To celebrate this new milestone, the MICHELIN Guide also presented four Special Awards honouring exceptional global achievements:
- Architecture & Design: Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
- Wellness: Bürgenstock Resort, Switzerland
- Local Gateway: La Fiermontina Ocean, Morocco
- Opening of the Year: The Burman Hotel, Estonia
Across Asia, several regions — including Mainland China, Indonesia, Laos, the Maldives, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam — earned their first-ever MICHELIN Keys. In Japan, Asaba Ryokan joined the elite ranks with a new Three-Key distinction.
Redefining Global Hospitality
From palatial landmarks to minimalist mountain retreats, the MICHELIN Key 2025 celebrates hotels that transcend luxury — places where design, culture, and genuine human connection meet. For travellers, it offers a trusted compass to discover not just where to stay, but how to experience the world differently.
With India’s 36 honorees now standing among the world’s best, the nation’s hospitality industry cements its place on the global stage, reaffirming that true luxury lies in authenticity, service, and soul.
