The Ritz-Carlton, Baku

Our take

Baku's skyline belongs to the Flame Towers, and this is the address that puts them directly in your eyeline. The rooftop bar earns its reputation — order something cold and watch the towers shift color at dusk. Service runs tight, the rooms run serious, and the whole operation hums with the kind of controlled formality that either reassures or suffocates depending on your temperament. Come for a high-stakes few nights in a city that rewards that energy. If you want poolside ease or anything remotely laid-back, rebook somewhere that won't make you feel underdressed for breakfast.