In a couple of months we are going to enter the Holiday season. It’s the perfect time to relax and unwind in the lap of luxury. If you’re getting itchy feet and already making travel bookings for luxury hotels in advance, look no further than the first-ever released Michelin Guide for hotels. It has officially announced its Michelin Key Selection 2025, marking a new global benchmark for hospitality excellence. Unveiled on October 8 in Paris, this year’s list expands to nearly 100 countries across Europe, North America, and Asia, introducing the world’s great hotels through a recognition system that parallels the famed Michelin Stars for restaurants.
India stands strong in the luxury hospitality game with 36 Indian hotels earning a coveted place on the Michelin Keys 2025 list. Alongside the new awards, Michelin also introduced Special Honors for design, wellness, and cultural immersion, spotlighting how hotels today are reshaping the art of hospitality.
What Is a Michelin Key?
To understand the best hotels in India, it’s essential to know about The Michelin Key. It serves as the hospitality world’s version of a Michelin Star, evaluating hotels on five pillars: excellence in quality of service, architecture and design, character, contribution to the local experience and value for money for the guest. ‘One Key’ represents a “very special stay” that exceeds expectations. ‘Two Keys’ stand for “exceptional stay” defined by strong character and thoughtful hospitality and ‘Three Keys’ is the highest honour celebrate “an extraordinary stay”.
India’s Michelin Key Winners 2025
This year, 36 Indian hotels have earned a coveted place on the Michelin Keys 2025 list, a powerful testament to the country’s evolving luxury landscape. At the top are two legendary heritage properties that received the rare Three-Key distinction — Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, and Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad. Each of them stand as complete destinations in themselves for their grandeur, impeccable hospitality and heritage value.
The ‘Two-Key’ category features India’s most exceptional properties that blend regional storytelling, curated experiences and refined design. Among these are Aman i Khas (Ranthambhore), Six Senses Fort Barwara (Sawai Madhopur), Raffles Udaipur, and The Oberoi Amarvilas (Agra) amongst others.
The ‘One Key’ Michelin list celebrates retreats that redefine modern luxury through intimacy, craft, and wellness. The list includes standouts like The Kumaon (Almora) also one of the Editor’s picks in the Michelin Guide, Six Senses Vana (Dehradun), RAAS Devigarh (Udaipur), and Soho House (Mumbai) amongst others.
India’s Top Hotels as per Three Michelin Keys
- Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur
- Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
India’s Top Hotels As Per Two Michelin Keys
- Aman i Khas, Ranthambhore
- Amanbagh, Ajabgarh
- Six Senses Fort Barwara, Sawai Madhopur
- Sujan Jawai, Bisalpur
- Sitara Himalaya, Manali
- The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur
- The Leela Palace New Delhi
- Raffles Udaipur
- The Leela Palace Jaipur
- The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra
- The Imperial New Delhi
- Raffles Jaipur
India’s Top retreats As Per One Michelin Key
- The Kumaon, Almora
- RAAS Devigarh, Udaipur
- Taj Mahal, New Delhi
- Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa, Uttarakhand
- Six Senses Vana, Dehradun
- Taj Usha Kiran Palace, Gwalior
- Villa Palladio Jaipur
- Taj Mahal Tower, Mumbai
- The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur
- The Johri, Jaipur
- Rajmahal Palace RAAS Jaipur
- The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambhore
- Soho House, Mumbai
- Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
- The Leela Palace, Chennai
- The Oberoi, Gurgaon
- Taj Nadesar Palace, Varanasi
- Taj Devi Ratn Resort & Spa, Jaipur
- Sujan Sher Bagh, Sawai Madhopur
- The Lodhi, New Delhi
- Narendra Bhawan, Bikaner
- Ran Baas The Palace, Patiala
What Does a Michelin Key Mean?
The Michelin Keys 2025 mark a pivotal moment in luxury travel, redefining how the world experiences hotels — not just as places to stay, but as cultural touchpoints. For India, this milestone underscores its growing influence on the global hospitality industry, where every palace, resort, and retreat tells a story of heritage, innovation, and heart.
