The annual Sunset Travel Awards have landed, and the Where to Stay: City Stays category for 2026 crowns 16 hotels across the American West — from Seattle to Albuquerque — that manage to be both centrally located and genuinely special.
San Francisco does particularly well, with three winners. 1 Hotel San Francisco wins plaudits for sustainability done stylishly on the Embarcadero, with natural materials throughout and a restaurant scene to match. The Beacon Grand, a renovated 418-room landmark on Union Square, offers cable cars at the doorstep plus a 21st-floor cocktail lounge called Starlite and a rare-whiskey collection in The Library. And The Jay near the Embarcadero weaves the legacy of sculptor Ruth Asawa into its design, alongside a French brasserie and seasonal Northern Californian dining.
Los Angeles picks up three nods too. Hotel Figueroa hits a milestone — 100 years old in 2026 — with 268 rooms, a Spanish Colonial restoration, four food and drink venues including the new Florence by the Water, and downtown's only ground-level pool. The Hôtel Lili brings European-flavoured boutique charm to Beverly Hills in a reimagined 1930s residence, while The Aster in Hollywood's Vinyl District keeps things intimate at just 35 rooms, topped by a rooftop with Hollywood Hills views.
Seattle's winners span the spectrum: Lotte Hotel Seattle with its Philippe Starck interiors and Elliott Bay views, the carbon-positive Populus in a restored Pioneer Square landmark, and Harry's Guest House, a homey Capitol Hill hideaway connected to the beloved Harry's Fine Foods. Portland scores twice with the new Ritz-Carlton downtown and the 1927 Heathman, famous for its library collection and literary history.
Denver also lands two: The Ramble in RiNo, anchored by a Death & Co bar, and Clayton in Cherry Creek North, which offers guests access to the city's only private members club, complete with rooftop pool. Rounding out the list are Thompson Denver with a Ludo Lefebvre restaurant, The Global Ambassador in Phoenix, and ARRIVE Albuquerque, sitting right on Route 66 with a Zia-symbol-shaped pool.
Why it matters: if you're plotting a city break in the western US, this list is a ready-made shortlist. It leans toward characterful, design-forward properties rather than generic chains — several are eco-minded (Populus is carbon positive, 1 Hotel is environment-first) and a few are genuine historic landmarks. For travellers, it covers everything from splurge (Ritz-Carlton, Global Ambassador) to small-scale boutique (The Aster, Harry's), so there's an entry point at most budgets.
Story first published by Sunset.
