America’s most iconic hotels: ten legendary stays across the US

A jewel of the Pacific since 1888, Hotel del Coronado mixes historic elegance with sun-drenched Californian charm. With its soaring red turrets and beachfront setting, it’s hosted everyone from Marilyn Monroe to modern royals. Its wood-panelled lobby oozes Gilded Age glamour, but there’s plenty of modern sparkle, too – stop by the stylish boutiques or grab a bottle of wine and truffle popcorn at the ENO food market. Dining at Ocean Club is a must, where a BLT salad or classic Bolognese is accompanied by crisp Champagne and ocean views. Come for the history, stay for the coastal cool.
High Life says: Behind the spa, there’s a hidden garden terrace that’s perfect for quiet morning coffee accompanied by hummingbirds.

Famous before it even had a starring role in Pretty Woman, Beverly Wilshire has been an LA institution since 1928. Located at the edge of Rodeo Drive, its guest book reads like an awards show – Elvis stayed here, so did the British Royals. But even with that legacy, the vibe is elegant without being fussy. Inside, THE Blvd is a sleek brasserie led by rising star chef Rafael Alcala. Highlights include tuna tartare, silky pasta dishes and what might be the city’s most indulgent dessert menu – don’t miss the heavenly banana mille-feuille or mango coconut cream puff.
High Life says: Book a seat on the patio during golden hour – watching the parade of luxury cars roll past Rodeo Drive in the California sunshine is the ultimate Beverly Hills people-watching experience.

Opened in 1886 by cattle baron Jesse Driskill, this is the oldest and most storied hotel in Austin, one of the best-known stays in the state of Texas – and one of the spookiest spots in the US. This grand Texan pile on 6th Street is flooded with polished oak and cowhide and is favourite hangout of local luminaries. It also has a reputation of being haunted – a cowboy and President Johnson being the most favoured phantoms – a vibe wholly enhanced by the Ghostbusters-style hearse parked outside.
High Life says: Former president Lyndon B Johnson had his first date with Lady Bird in the Driskill dining room in 1934.

Set high above the Pacific on Big Sur’s rugged cliffs, Post Ranch Inn is rustic luxury at its most soul stirring. Awarded the coveted Michelin Three Keys, it’s often named one of America’s top hotels – and for good reason. Architecture melts into Californian redwoods and open sky, while floor-to-ceiling windows blur the line between indoors and wild nature. There’s no phone signal here – just silence, stars and the hush of ancient trees. The crown jewel is Sierra Mar, a restaurant where the tasting menu might feature sea bass tartlet with fennel blossom or Earl Grey ice cream with lavender tuiles – served with epic views and pitch-perfect wine pairings.
High Life says: Book a room with an outdoor soaking tub and ask for a ‘healing soak’ – staff will draw you a bath at golden hour, complete with bathing salts and a glass of sparkling rosé.

Perched at the peak of Nob Hill, San Francisco’s grande dame has some of the best rooms in the city with views over the bay and is a must-visit as part of a California itinerary. Check out the Cirque Bar, the first to reopen after Prohibition was lifted in 1933. And have a Mai Tai or two in the Tonga Room and Hurricane Bar. A San Fran institution since 1945, it’s the ultimate in kitsch, with Polynesian décor, fairy-lit thatched huts and a lagoon where bands perform on a floating barge. Expect tiki mugs and vintage surf tunes – and watch out for the faux thunder and lightning.
High Life says: Peek into the Venetian Room, the Art Deco former supper club where Tony Bennett first sang ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’.

Tucked away among the giant Saguaro cacti in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, The Wigwam is an oasis of good taste. Opened near Phoenix almost a century ago as a retreat for ‘tired’ executives from the Goodyear Tire Company, it’s seen everyone from Bing Crosby to Maya Angelou enjoy its Southwestern hospitality. While there are sadly no wigwams left, the desert resort has more than 300 rooms, suites and casitas, three championship golf courses and a LeMonds Aveda Spa.
High Life says: Hop on a complimentary bike and visit the majestic cacti in the surrounding desert.

Steps from the Walk of Fame, The Hollywood Roosevelt is as glamorous as the legions of celebrity guests who have waltzed through its doors. Opened in 1927, it hosted the first Oscars in 1929 and Marilyn Monroe’s first photo shoot took place around its palm-lined pool, which has since been painted by David Hockney when he lived in California. Relive the Golden Age of Hollywood in the Shirley Brasserie, where an open kitchen and wood-fired grill turn out beef cheek Bourguignon and grilled branzino with sauce vierge. Or strike out on the vintage bowling lanes in The Spare Room cocktail bar.
High Life says: Stay in the Marilyn Monroe Suite. Norma Jeane lived here for two years (and is rumoured to haunt it still).

Famous for its dazzling dancing fountains, Ocean’s Eleven and Cirque du Soleil, Bellagio is an icon of the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. Inspired by the Lake Como town of the same name, its lobby is one of the most Instagrammed, thanks to a ceiling strewn with blown-glass flowers by Dale Chihuly. Guests flock to the casino floor to follow in the footsteps of George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts, while Wolfgang Puck’s Spago pioneered the Las Vegas fine dining scene.
High Life says: Bag a rare-as-hen’s-teeth seat in The Vault, Bellagio’s ultra-exclusive speakeasy hidden behind the cages of the casino. 

If Willy Wonka designed a hotel, it would look a lot like California’s Madonna Inn. Built in 1958 by maverick entrepreneur Alex Madonna, this San Luis Obispo icon is unapologetically eccentric, with each of its 110 themed rooms decked out in wildly different styles – from glittering pink velvet to cavernous rock walls. But the kitsch doesn’t stop at the décor. At Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House, guests tuck into hearty mains – think prime rib or roast turkey – accompanied by a cascade of comforting sides: fluffy baked potatoes, warm rolls and buttery vegetables. End on a sweet note with tutti frutti ice cream or a slice of syrupy pecan pie.
High Life says: Request a table in one of the signature pink booths at sunset. When the chandeliers catch the light, the whole room glows like a candy-coloured dream.

In the beating heart of the Big Apple, The Knickerbocker Hotel on Times Square in New York is the place to see and be seen. Opened in 1906, the Beaux Arts hotel has a long and storied history and has hosted everyone from John D Rockefeller and F Scott Fitzgerald to ballet dancer Anna Pavlova. A highlight is a sundowner on the St Cloud rooftop bar, which has a privileged view of Times Square.
High Life says: Order a dry martini in the Martini Lounge. Bond’s favourite tipple was invented by The Knickerbocker’s head barman, Martini di Arma di Taggia in 1911.