How do hotels get on the MICHELIN Guide’s List?
Earlier this year, MICHELIN introduced its hotel “Keys,” recognizing properties that stand out for design, service, and experience.
Inspectors stay anonymously and rate hotels on five factors:
- Quality and consistency of service
- Personality and character
- Interior design and architecture
- Value for the experience
- A lasting impression that makes guests want to return
Michelin Key Hotels in the USA.
This year, Akia-powered properties earned their spot on the MICHELIN Guide’s list of key hotels in the US:
86 Cannon (Charleston, SC) - A beautifully restored Charleston home that feels more like staying with stylish friends than at a hotel. One guest shares:
“The inn’s texting system allowed me to converse with the manager throughout my stay as easily as texting a friend.”
Courtesy of 86 Cannon
AWOL (Kennebunkport, ME) - Under Lark Hotels, a stylish coastal retreat with modern cabins and boutique charm.
Courtesy of AWOL
Blind Tiger (Asheville) - A guest house that feels lived-in, not staged.
“Check-in was easy, and everything we needed was already waiting in the room — snacks, wine, and fireplace logs ready to go.”
Courtesy of Blind Tiger
Faraway (Martha’s Vineyard) - A collection of historic Edgartown homes with a lively courtyard and all-day café.
Courtesy of Faraway (Martha's Vineyard)
Blind Tiger (Burlington, VT) - An 1880s mansion on a quiet hill with views of Lake Champlain.
Courtesy of Blind Tiger
The Cliffside Inn (Newport, RI) - A Victorian mansion on Bellevue Avenue.
Courtesy of The Cliffside Inn
“They texted when fresh pastries were out and remembered our coffee order from the day before. It felt personal without being fussy.”
Courtesy of Le Petit Pali
Mollie Aspen (Aspen, CO) - A 68-room stay off Main Street with a rooftop spa pool and Nordic-inspired interiors.
Courtesy of Mollie Aspen
Palihouse (Hyde Park Village) - Apartment-style suites above Tampa’s open-air shops and restaurants.
Courtesy of Palihouse
Palihouse (West Hollywood) - An urban inn near Melrose Place with full kitchens and vintage-inspired rooms.
Courtesy of Palihouse
Rancho Caymus Inn (Napa Valley) - Spanish-style inn surrounded by Rutherford’s vineyards and tasting rooms.
“Positively surpassed all our expectations: Amazing, extremely friendly and helpful staff. Superb rooms with a charming architecture.”
Courtesy of Rancho Caymus Inn
San Luis Creek Lodge (San Luis Obispo) - Bright, cottage-style rooms near downtown SLO and California Polytechnic.
Courtesy of San Luis Creek Lodge
The Brant (Narragansett, RI) - A 31-room beach retreat steps from the water, with cruiser bikes for guests.
Courtesy of The Brant
The Crawford Hotel (Denver, CO) - Inside Denver’s Union Station, rooms are designed around the station’s historic architecture.
Courtesy of The Crawford Hotel
The Menhaden (Greenport, NY) - A 16-room Greenport hotel with a rooftop deck and self-serve pantry for guests.
“We were very warmly welcomed and attended to … All of our requests regarding room location, extra towels, and pillows were acknowledged and provided.”
Courtesy of The Menhaden
Guild House Hotel (Philadelphia, PA) - Beautifully restored 1855 row-house in the heart of Philadelphia
Courtesy of Guild House
The Post Oak Hotel (Houston, TX) - Houston’s only Forbes Five-Star hotel, with a private art collection and on-site Rolls-Royce service.
Courtesy of The Post Oak Hotel
