The bar at the Riggs Hotel. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Hughes The Michelin Guide just released its first-ever hotel rankings for the U.S., bestowing "key" awards for outstanding properties in seven locales including the District.

Michelin Guide announced the first-ever list of top U.S. hotels to earn Michelin Keys in three distinctions, similar to restaurant stars.

The Michelin Guide has long been one of the most prestigious evaluators of culinary experiences, and now it’s expanding its expertise to hotels. The inaugural recipients of Michelin Keys in the U.S. have just been announced by the French tire company.

The Michelin Guide has announced the first selection of hotels to be awarded Michelin Keys in the United States, with 24 located in New York City. The Michelin Guide is known globally for restaurant ratings,

Michelin bestowed its new, but coveted, "key" ratings to a handful of U.S. hotels across seven cities. Here are the top picks.