Inside the 7 Most Lavish Hotel Suites on Earth — and Who Stays There

By TIM ROBERTSON
October 24, 2025 – 8:36 AM PDT

For most travelers, a hotel suite is a haven at the end of the day — a soft bed, a good view, and perhaps room service on speed dial. But for the world’s elite, a “suite” means something entirely different. It is not merely a place to sleep; it is a statement, a stage, a sanctuary. From private underwater bedrooms to palatial penthouses above Fifth Avenue, these seven suites redefine what it means to check in.

1. The Mark Penthouse — The Mark Hotel, New York

When Meghan Markle hosted her now-famous baby shower here, the world caught a rare glimpse of New York’s most secretive address. At more than 10,000 square feet and spanning two floors, The Mark Penthouse is a private palace suspended above the Upper East Side. Designed by Jacques Grange, it fuses contemporary Manhattan minimalism with the sophistication of a Parisian salon.

A grand staircase leads to a rooftop terrace that wraps around the suite, offering panoramic views of Central Park and the skyline. Inside, there’s a formal dining room for 24, a library, and a living room with soaring cathedral ceilings. The penthouse is often booked during the Met Gala season — a convenient refuge for the world’s most photographed guests seeking privacy after the flashbulbs fade.

2. The Royal Penthouse Suite — Hotel President Wilson, Geneva

Geneva’s Hotel President Wilson is known for discretion — the kind that attracts presidents, billionaires, and rock legends who prefer not to be noticed. The Royal Penthouse Suite occupies the hotel’s entire eighth floor, with twelve marble-clad bedrooms, bulletproof glass, and panoramic views of Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc.

At roughly $80,000 per night, this suite is equipped like a diplomatic residence: a grand piano, private gym, billiard room, and a security system befitting a head of state. Michael Jackson once stayed here during his European tours, while Bill Gates has been a returning guest. In a city where power often travels quietly, this suite is the ultimate address for the discreetly powerful.

3. The Muraka — Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

The Muraka feels like a vision from another world — and in many ways, it is. This two-level villa reimagines luxury living beneath the sea. The upper floor floats above the lagoon with sun decks, infinity pool, and butler quarters; the lower level descends 16 feet below the surface into a glass-walled master suite surrounded by coral reef and marine life.

Here, guests can dine, sleep, and dream beneath the ocean — in total privacy. Accessed only by private seaplane or speedboat, The Muraka comes with a dedicated chef, butler, and even a personal fitness trainer. Kris Jenner and the Kardashian family famously filmed their stay here, turning the underwater villa into a pop-culture icon — proof that even in the Maldives, fame finds a way to shimmer.

4. The Empathy Suite — Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas

Las Vegas has always been a city of spectacle, and the Empathy Suite is its grandest showpiece. Conceived by artist Damien Hirst, it’s the world’s first livable art installation — two floors of contemporary design where luxury and surrealism collide. Butterfly motifs, glass vitrines filled with medical paraphernalia, and the artist’s signature formaldehyde shark make this one of the most visually arresting hotel spaces ever created.

Priced at $200,000 for a two-night minimum, the suite includes two salt therapy rooms, a private gym, and a cantilevered pool with panoramic views of the Strip. Guests have included music royalty like Cardi B, who celebrated her birthday here surrounded by custom cocktails, commissioned art, and Vegas’ ever-present promise of excess. Staying here isn’t just a night out — it’s an act of performance art.

5. The Penthouse Suite — Hôtel Martinez, Cannes

Perched above the Boulevard de la Croisette, the Hôtel Martinez Penthouse Suite is as much a symbol of the Cannes Film Festival as the red carpet itself. Its vast terrace — one of the largest in Europe — overlooks the Bay of Cannes, offering front-row seats to the Riviera’s glamour. Inside, the décor evokes 1930s art deco elegance with white lacquer furniture, soft creams, and gold accents.

During festival season, the suite becomes a high-security enclave for Hollywood’s elite. Julia Roberts famously stayed here during her barefoot debut on the Cannes red carpet — a moment that captured the effortless chic the Martinez embodies. Between film premieres and private champagne receptions, the suite remains a cinematic hideaway where stars can exhale in privacy while the world watches below.

6. The Royal Suite — Burj Al Arab, Dubai

The Royal Suite at Dubai’s Burj Al Arab is nothing short of theatrical. Spanning two floors connected by a gilded spiral staircase, the suite features 24-karat gold leaf, silk wallpaper, and rotating canopy beds fit for royalty — both literal and figurative. Guests arrive via chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce or private helicopter, greeted by an army of staff whose precision rivals a royal household.

Every element is designed for awe: marble columns, towering mirrors, and Hermes amenities in every room. Justin Bieber and Gigi Hadid have both stayed here, adding a touch of global celebrity to one of the most recognizable hotels in the world. In a city built on spectacle, the Burj Al Arab remains the definitive icon — and its Royal Suite, the ultimate statement of success.

7. The Grand Riad — Royal Mansour, Marrakech

Commissioned by King Mohammed VI of Morocco, the Royal Mansour is not just a hotel — it’s a masterpiece of Moroccan artistry. The Grand Riad, its crown jewel, is a four-bedroom private palace hidden within the medina’s ancient walls. Intricately carved cedarwood, hand-laid zellij tiles, and silken draperies create a setting that feels more royal residence than resort suite.

Guests enjoy a private hammam, rooftop plunge pool, and dedicated staff who move through secret underground passages to ensure total privacy. Beyoncé spent time here during a Moroccan escape, perfectly matching the property’s blend of elegance and cultural soul. For those who enter through its unmarked gates, the Grand Riad offers not just luxury, but immersion — a dream in mosaic and light.

Luxury You Can Name

From the hushed diplomacy of Geneva to the underwater dreams of the Maldives, these suites share one defining trait: they are destinations in themselves. Each has hosted moments of quiet opulence, personal milestones, and celebrity intrigue. They are where the world’s most recognizable names retreat — not to be seen, but to disappear, if only for a night, behind heavy doors and infinite views.

In the end, the true luxury of these spaces isn’t their price tag or the pedigree of their guests — it’s the rare feeling that the world outside has been momentarily paused.