13 Hotels for Your Showgirl Era

With the release of Taylor Swift’s latest album The Life of a Showgirl—an ode to sequins, spotlights and sparkles—there’s no better time to embrace your own “showgirl era” in the world's best destinations for nightlife and opulence. From Parisian palaces dripping in crystals to Miami Beach icons known for twilight cabaret, these 13 oh-so-dazzling hotels channel the spirit of the stage, with theatrical interiors, storied patrons and a legacy of glamour—and a bit of spectacle.

This Bill Bensley-designed property sits in the heart of Hanoi’s romantic Old Quarter, just steps away from the landmark Opera House. The entire hotel was dreamed up—with Bensley’s signature drama—as a love letter to the performing arts, from the mirror- and costume-clad Backstage restaurant to the portraits of showgirls Josephine Baker and Sarah Bernhardt that decorate the guest rooms (alongside memorabilia like gloves and stockings). Don’t miss Champagne breakfast or evening jazz surrounded by ornate red velvet curtains in the Diva’s Lounge, and for a supremely lavish stay, book one of the Opera Suites; the largest, which celebrates Madama Butterfly, features a wraparound terrace for fêtes with fabulous views, as well as a massive tented stone bathtub for after-party soaking.

Blending the Baroque decadence of Baz Luhrmann (behind theatrical films like Moulin Rouge), the passions and idiosyncrasies of Argentine owner Alan Faena (known for his white-suit and Panama-hat uniform) and the unabashed heat of Miami Beach, the Faena brings a showgirl’s absolute fantasy to life. (It is perhaps the most over-the-top property on this list.) The production begins upon entrance through “The Cathedral”—a foyer covered in grand, gilded, floor-to-ceiling murals—and continues through soaring suites, past a striking Damien Hirst wooly mammoth sculpture and on to a glistening stretch of sand. The sumptuous interiors of leopard, velvet and cherry-red lacquer all but steal the show; guests of the Faena are known for dressing the part. On the weekends, evening revelry begins with live music and martinis in the Living Room, until the overture starts in the Faena Theater, where patrons can enjoy dinner and a show, ranging from cabaret and jazz to dance and avant-garde performances, until late. Next-day recovery is no less indulgent; at the beach club, just raise your chaise’s red flag for pool- or ocean-side caviar service.

Founded in 1927 on Sunset Boulevard, Chateau Marmont is the last word in Old Hollywood mythology and mystique. This palm-shaded, Gothic-style hotel is the embodiment of celebrity (and notoriety); if there was ever a place to wish, “If these walls could talk,” it would be here. Showgirls flit about the grounds like Fitzgerald’s moths in The Great Gatsby; Beyoncé is known to host her annual Academy Awards after-party here, while Miley Cyrus recently launched a new chapter of her career with a series of intimate, invite-only performances around the property. Over the years, troubled icons like Marilyn Monroe, Bette Davis and Lindsay Lohan have sought refuge within the chateau’s walls, drawn by its moody, bohemian aesthetic and dual penchant for both scandal and discretion. When the curtain calls, every showgirl needs a safe haven.

Plus: Showgirls who want to see and be seen in Los Angeles will find their home down the boulevard at The Beverly Hills Hotel.

The Hotel Chelsea already made an appearance on Taylor's last album, but tortured poets often walk hand-in-hand with showgirls. The Chateau Marmont's East Coast counterpart has been a retreat for artists and their entourages since 1884, and it became a hotel in 1905. In its heyday, the Chelsea’s list of "notable denizens" included Janis Joplin, Patti Smith and Joni Mitchell, all of whom resided on-property for significant periods of time and recognized its influence in their work. In 2022, the hotel received a head-to-toe restoration from the team behind sultry-sophisticated it-spots like The Jane and The Bowery Hotel—and as a result, showgirls past and present remain well at home here, holding court from the corners of the lounge’s sunken couches and the dark-wood edges of the long lobby bar.

Plus: New York City has been the showgirl's ultimate playground ever since the Roaring Twenties; other properties that deserve mention are The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, Waldorf Astoria New York and The Plaza (home to fiction's littlest showgirl, Eloise—a character some believe was inspired by Liza Minelli).

Showgirls thrived in La Belle Époque, and the Ritz Paris was its epicenter. Coco Chanel lived here for 30 years, and the leading ladies and gentlemen of all the fine arts, from fashion to filmmaking, have passed through this institution’s gilded halls at one point or another. (Princess Diana famously dined here just before her fatal crash in 1997.) An extensive and painstaking renovation by Thierry Despont maintained the hotel’s historic prestige while investing in the pampering amenities any showgirl would require, from flexible check-in and check-out times to deep marble bathtubs with Eiffel Tower views and plush, peach-toned towels (which founder César Ritz believed to be more flattering to the complexion).

There are grand-dame hotels, and there are palace hotels, and then there are hotels whose legacy grows so large that they become more immortal than their most famous guests. The Ritz Paris is one of them—and the Copacabana Palace is another. Built in 1923, the property became a celebrity in its own right almost instantly upon its auspicious commission on the centennial of Brazil’s independence. In 1933, it starred in Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers’ on-screen debut (Flying Down to Rio), and in the 1950s, it drew chanteuses like Ella Fitzgerald and Edith Piaf to headline its theater. Under the expert present-day stewardship of Belmond—with a multi-million-dollar renovation—the Copacabana now hosts extravagant Carnaval and New Year’s Eve parties that beckon luxury travelers from around the world. What hasn’t changed? The tropical breezes, fanciful pastels, gleaming marble, soft white sand and abundant people-watching, as Rio’s glitterati mingle poolside and passistas hustle by in a sequined flush.

Opened in 1913, this hotel was allegedly shaped by architect Charles Dalmas to mimic the curves of Spanish showgirl La Belle Otéro, but it officially became synonymous with starlets—from Elizabeth Taylor to Rita Hayworth—in 1946, with the launch of the Cannes Film Festival. A decade later, the Carlton welcomed reigning actress Grace Kelly to film Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief, and its glamour quotient soared (in no small part thanks to her iconic powder-blue Grecian gown). The property recently debuted a fresh look by Tristan Auer after a seven-year renovation (including a two-year closure), with diva-approved upgrades like a boxing ring for private workouts, a spa equipped with Dr. Barbara Sturm products and the largest infinity pool in Cannes. And come May, when the red carpet rolls out, Champagne flows on the canopied terrace as if the war had just been won, and galas cast their glow over the Croisette, lighting an endless promenade for well-heeled muses.

Plus: A 25-minute drive east along the coast to Antibes, Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc is the more idyllic icon of the French Riviera—and the preferred haunt of Marlene Dietrich and Zelda Fitzgerald, among other showgirls.

The Savoy was founded in 1889 by opera producer Richard D’Oyly Carte to be the social hub for his adjoining theater. It soon became West End's hotel darling and a staple of London's showgirl scene—in large part thanks to its American Bar, the longest surviving cocktail lounge in the city. Book the Katharine Hepburn or Maria Callas suites to admire memorabilia collected during these leading ladies' many stays here—or pay a visit to the property's other destination bar, the Beaufort, where Taylor Swift herself once posed for Vanity Fair (The Savoy is also featured in the music video for "End Game").

Plus: Head to Park Lane for Art-Deco glamour at The Dorchester, a favorite spot for debutantes, culturists and London's power set.

The Mandarin Oriental is Bangkok's most storied salon, regularly hosting royal recitals, jazz clubs and authors' soirées since its founding in 1876. The property is replete with stages for a showgirl in Thailand to make her own, from the bustling lobby draped in garlands of orchids and the breezy veranda overlooking the Chao Phraya to the seductive Bamboo Bar, an institution in its own right (that still maintains a dress code).

Another icon of Southeast Asia's hotel scene, the Raffles Singapore and its legendary Long Bar (the birthplace of the Singapore Sling cocktail) have been luring showgirls—and the occasional tiger*—since 1887. The property stepped fully into the spotlight in the 1930s, often hosting lavish balls in the lobby, and to this day, Noel Coward’s “I’ll See You Again” rings out across the gilded hall every evening in homage to masquerades past. The Raffles butler program was founded here—for every showgirl needs a supporting cast—and this legacy of service has remained central through the property's many restorations (along with its antique furniture, teak floors, crystal chandeliers and marble bathrooms). Ava Gardner, Josephine Baker and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis were known admirers of this grand dame—and we believe that they would still approve today.

*N.B.: In 1902, a wild tiger escaped from a nearby circus and was discovered resting under the Raffles' billiard room in the middle of the night by a bar boy.

Sometimes showgirls need a retreat from the city, and few high-society escapes combine natural beauty with sybarite grandeur quite like Como. Though the competition is stiff, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo is perhaps the lake's most operatic set, dripping in dolce vita allure and luxury. This landmark was founded in 1910 and made its silver-screen debut in the 1932 film Grand Hotel, starring Greta Garbo as an aging ballerina; today, the Tremezzo keeps a suite in her name, as she was a frequent and beloved guest throughout her life.

Plus: Tremezzo's sister property Passalacqua is equally grandiose and evocative, inspiring such artists as composer Vincenzo Bellini, who once lived and wrote here.

From the pageantry of Mardi Gras krewes to the feathered dancers of Bourbon Street’s burlesque houses, theatricality is part of daily life in New Orleans. The city’s top hotels host Carnival balls that resurrect the revelry of Gilded Age society, while the French Quarter’s jazz and cabaret clubs draw performers year-round. Here, The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel has presided over the scene since 1893, hosting marquee entertainers from Ella Fitzgerald to Tina Turner. It even gave the city its official cocktail, the Sazerac; the Sazerac Bar was also among the first to admit women patrons in 1949, a milestone it still celebrates every September.

Plus: A few blocks away, on Royal Street, showgirls will find "Mirrorball" energy at the Hotel Monteleone's spinning Carousel Bar, also founded in 1949.

Marrakech is a siren for style mavens, with its labryinthine medina, exceptional fashion and creative intrigue (just picture Talitha Getty’s 1970 rooftop Vogue shoot overlooking the Koutoubia). And in the red city, there's no runway quite like La Mamounia, where silhouettes draped in glimmering kaftans and clinking baubles can sweep across zellige-tiled atriums into nearly 20 acres of gardens blooming with orange, olive and fig trees. Under the North African stars, in a haze of hookah smoke and perfume, a showgirl's dreams and visions somehow become more vivid—even after the encore.

Since TS12 dropped at midnight on October 3, sharp-eared readers have been quick to point out her reference to another Paris icon, Hôtel Plaza Athénée, in the lyrics of “Elizabeth Taylor.” This ultimate showgirl moved under the unmistakeable red awnings of this palace hotel many times, most famously during her affair with Richard Burton. (Marlene Dietrich also had romantic ties to the property; her lover Jean Gabin would cover the façade in roses when he was in residence, in her honor.) And so, the show goes on…