Missouri's highest-rated hotels split into three regions: St. Louis urban luxury, home to the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis and The Ritz-Carlton; Kansas City boutique and modern hotels, home to The Truitt and The Raphael Hotel; and Ozarks and wine country retreats, home to Big Cedar Lodge and Hermann Hill. The Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis and Big Cedar Lodge are consistently ranked among the state's top luxury properties by major travel publications.
Explore Missouri's Top-Rated Hotels
Missouri splits into three distinct hotel regions: the riverfront city of St. Louis in the east, the jazz and barbecue capital of Kansas City in the west, and a stretch of rolling wine country and Ozark Mountains to the south. St. Louis carries a downtown skyline built around the Gateway Arch and Forest Park, while Kansas City's character runs through restored early-1900s buildings near the Country Club Plaza. Further south, towns like Hermann give way to river bluff vineyards, while the Ozarks around Branson hold sprawling lakefront resort land.
That range gives Missouri genuinely different trip types within a few hours' drive of each other, from downtown luxury towers to wine country inns and lakeside lodges. This guide profiles the 10 highest-rated hotels across those three regions.
How We Choose These Hotels
We evaluated every hotel against four things: guest rating and review volume, the hotel's category and market positioning, what the location actually offers for a specific type of trip, and whether the amenities held up under current guest feedback. Ratings and review counts reflect Google's aggregated guest score and were checked in September 2026.
We cross-checked each property's town and setting against its official site, and weighed service consistency alongside guest sentiment rather than rating alone. Nightly rates shown are directional where a source figure exists, and unlisted where it doesn't, so confirm the current number on the hotel's own site before booking.
Missouri's Top 10 Hotels At A Glance
| Hotel | Region | Category | Trade-off | Standout feature |
|---|
| Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis | St. Louis | 5-star downtown tower | Highest price point in the state | 4.5 (2.4K), Gateway Arch views, sky terrace pool |
| The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis | Clayton | 5-star classic luxury hotel | Located in Clayton, a short drive from downtown | 4.6 (2.0K), on-site cigar club and fine steakhouse |
| The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza | St. Louis | Art Deco landmark hotel | Very large "city within a city" property | 4.5 (3.1K), 18,000-square-foot fitness center, five-screen historic cinema |
| The Truitt | Kansas City | Design-forward boutique mansion | Smaller property with an intimate feel | 4.9 (597), restored 1916 Colonial Revival mansion with curated local art |
| The Raphael Hotel, Autograph Collection | Kansas City | Historic European-style boutique hotel | Higher price point for a boutique property | 4.6 (1.1K), nightly live jazz at Chaz, Plaza proximity |
| Ambassador Hotel Kansas City, Autograph Collection | Kansas City | Restored 1920s neoclassical hotel | Smaller property with fewer resort amenities | 4.5 (967), oversized marble walk-in showers in a former banking building |
| Loews Kansas City Hotel | Kansas City | Modern high-rise hotel | New-build tower, less historic character | 4.6 (1.9K), indoor lap pool, direct bridge access to the convention center |
| Big Cedar Lodge | Ridgedale | Rustic wilderness golf resort | Very large, spread-out 800-acre property | 4.5 (3.8K), Table Rock Lake setting, championship golf courses |
| Hermann Hill | Hermann | Wine country boutique inn | Small-town setting, limited nearby dining | 4.9 (878), private hot tubs and steam showers with gourmet breakfast delivery |
| Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa | Branson | Castle-style resort | Convention-heavy property, can feel busy | 4.4 (5.8K), panoramic Table Rock Lake views, full-service marina |
St. Louis Urban Luxury
Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis
- Address: 999 N 2nd St, St. Louis, MO 63102
- Category: 5-star downtown tower
- Rating: 4.5 (2.4K reviews)
- Standout feature: voted the #1 hotel in Missouri by U.S. News Travel, this downtown tower offers floor-to-ceiling Gateway Arch views alongside a sky terrace pool and top-tier spa facilities
- Best for: travelers wanting Missouri's single most decorated luxury property, steps from the Arch
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis
- Address: 100 Carondelet Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63105
- Category: 5-star classic luxury hotel
- Rating: 4.6 (2.0K reviews)
- Standout feature: this legendary property routinely secures the state's #2 ranking, known for flawless white-glove service and a sophisticated on-site cigar club
- Best for: couples and travelers wanting elite classic luxury just outside downtown St. Louis
The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza
- Address: 212 N Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108
- Category: Art Deco landmark hotel
- Rating: 4.5 (3.1K reviews)
- Standout feature: this iconic Art Deco landmark next to Forest Park operates as a "city within a city," featuring an 18,000-square-foot fitness center and its own five-screen historic movie theater
- Best for: families and history-focused travelers wanting a self-contained landmark stay near Forest Park
Kansas City Boutique And Modern
The Truitt
- Address: Kansas City, MO
- Category: Design-forward boutique mansion
- Rating: 4.9 (597 reviews)
- Standout feature: praised by Condé Nast Traveler, this restored 1916 Colonial Revival mansion features highly curated contemporary art just steps from the Country Club Plaza
- Best for: couples wanting an intimate, design-focused boutique stay over a standard hotel tower
The Raphael Hotel, Autograph Collection
- Address: 325 Ward Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64112
- Category: Historic European-style boutique hotel
- Rating: 4.6 (1.1K reviews)
- Standout feature: a landmark that pioneered the boutique hotel concept in the U.S., this property is famous for live jazz seven nights a week at its restaurant, Chaz
- Best for: romantic getaways wanting a walkable stay near Kansas City's Plaza shopping district
Ambassador Hotel Kansas City, Autograph Collection
- Address: 1111 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106
- Category: Restored 1920s neoclassical hotel
- Rating: 4.5 (967 reviews)
- Standout feature: formed inside a majestic 1920s neoclassical banking building, this hotel treats guests to massive rooms with oversized marble walk-in showers
- Best for: design-focused travelers wanting a historic boutique stay in downtown Kansas City
Loews Kansas City Hotel
- Address: Kansas City, MO
- Category: Modern high-rise hotel
- Rating: 4.6 (1.9K reviews)
- Standout feature: the youngest mega-luxury hotel in downtown KC, this tower features an indoor lap pool and direct bridge access to the Kansas City Convention Center
- Best for: business travelers wanting a sleek, contemporary stay with convention access
Ozarks And Wine Country Retreats
Big Cedar Lodge
- Address: 190 Top of the Rock Rd, Ridgedale, MO 65739
- Category: Rustic wilderness golf resort
- Rating: 4.5 (3.8K reviews)
- Standout feature: spanning 800 acres overlooking Table Rock Lake, this resort is regularly named one of America's best golf and family destinations
- Best for: golf enthusiasts and families wanting a rustic-luxe wilderness resort experience
Hermann Hill
- Address: Hermann, MO
- Category: Wine country boutique inn
- Rating: 4.9 (878 reviews)
- Standout feature: nestled in Missouri's historic wine country, this near-perfectly rated inn features suites with private hot tubs, steam showers, and gourmet breakfasts delivered to the door
- Best for: couples wanting a peaceful, romantic wine country escape
Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa
- Address: 415 N State Hwy 265, Branson, MO 65616
- Category: Castle-style resort
- Rating: 4.4 (5.8K reviews)
- Standout feature: known as the "Castle in the Ozarks," this AAA 4-Diamond resort sits on a mountain ridge with panoramic Table Rock Lake views and a private marina
- Best for: travelers wanting a traditional full-service resort with lake and marina access
Missouri Hotel Taxes And Fees
Missouri charges a 4.225 percent state sales tax on hotel rooms, and cities and counties add their own local lodging and tourism taxes on top of that. In St. Louis and Kansas City, combined state, city, and convention and tourism taxes can push the total rate close to 17 to 18 percent in downtown areas. Smaller towns like Hermann, Ridgedale, and Branson set their own local lodging tax rates, so the exact combined charge depends on the specific municipality. Resort fees are also common at larger properties like Big Cedar Lodge and Chateau on the Lake, billed separately from tax, so confirm the exact combined rate and any resort fee directly with each hotel before booking.
Choosing The Right Base For Your Trip
Urban luxury travelers should choose the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis for Gateway Arch views or The Ritz-Carlton for classic elegance in Clayton. Design-focused couples are better suited to The Truitt or The Raphael Hotel near Kansas City's Country Club Plaza. Romantic wine country trips call for Hermann Hill, while golf and family travelers should pick Big Cedar Lodge or Chateau on the Lake in the Ozarks.
{{cta-strip}}
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the nicest hotel in Missouri?
The Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis and Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale are widely considered Missouri's top luxury properties, offering high-end urban elegance and a premier wilderness resort experience respectively. The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis is a strong alternative for classic elegance in Clayton.
2. Where is the best place to stay in Missouri?
The right base depends on trip type. Urban travelers should pick the Four Seasons or The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza for downtown St. Louis access, while Ozarks-bound travelers should choose Big Cedar Lodge or Chateau on the Lake for a full lakefront resort experience.
3. What is the prettiest town in Missouri?
Ste. Genevieve is widely celebrated as one of Missouri's prettiest and most historic towns, known for its 200-year-old French colonial architecture along the Mississippi River. Hermann, home to Hermann Hill, is a close alternative for scenic river-bluff vineyard views.
4. What is the number one tourist attraction in Missouri?
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is Missouri's most visited attraction, drawing travelers staying at nearby properties like the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. The Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, close to The Raphael Hotel and The Truitt, is a close second for tourism draw.
5. What is the best romantic getaway hotel in Missouri?
Hermann Hill is Missouri's top romantic pick, offering private hot tubs and in-room gourmet breakfast in the state's wine country. The Raphael Hotel in Kansas City is a strong alternative for couples wanting a European-style boutique stay with nightly live jazz.
.png)
.png)
.png){kind=icon}
