The Sagamore Pendry Hotel tops Travel + Leisure’s curated list of the best in 2018.

“Every year, Travel + Leisure‘s editors look at thousands of hotel openings and renovations around the globe with one mission in mind: what properties will truly be game changers for our readers. A great location, thoughtful design, and intuitive service are a given. What’s harder to define is a little thing called buzz-factor. A standout hotel might be adding to the fabric of a neighborhood through events, opening up entirely new destinations by their very presence, and going above and beyond in terms of excursions (helicopter safaris, anyone?) to truly transport their guests.”

“Over the course of 103 years, Recreation Pier has been, at times, a shipping facility, community center, and television set — as well as an eyesore. It seemed unthinkable that this Inner Harbor plot could be a hotel, but local businessman Kevin Plank (of Under Armour fame) and Pendry, a new, millennial-focused brand from Montage International, had the vision. Now, the Sagamore is the place to be. The 128 guest rooms resemble an old-school captain’s cabin, with plenty of brass and mahogany. The Cannon Room bar has, no surprise, a real 18th century cannon, unearthed during construction and displayed beneath the floor. At check-in, guests are given a password for a free shot of Sagamore Rye, to be added to their punch at the bar of Rec Pier Chop House, a restaurant helmed by star-chef Andrew Carmellini. But the true allure of the Sagamore is surprisingly, its location. Despite the tourist trappings downtown, Baltimore still has a working harbor, with just the right dose of grit. Staying here gets you up close to it. Doubles from $246. —Tom Austin”

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