It’s time to check in to these haute new American luxury hotels.
RAFFLES BOSTON
Luxury brand Raffles has come to play in the States in a big way, opening its first North American property in Boston’s Back Bay. The 35-story, 147-room, sustainable, new-build hotel represents the first mixed-use development for the 136-year-old Singaporean brand. The $400 million investment in the project is a reflection here: this LEED-certified building is a beautiful property, with a dramatic exterior sheathed in reflective glass — a tribute to its neighbor, the John Hancock Tower. Award-winning hospitality design firm Stonehill Taylor drew inspiration from the city’s historic and cultural surroundings to imagine the locally inspired design. Guests will notice details like copper accents (a nod to Paul Revere’s copper plating company), historical illustrations that adorn custom wall coverings, and greenery that references the window boxes found throughout the Back Bay. There are dramatic, unique touches throughout the hotel as well, chief among them a three-story sky lobby, a grand staircase that spirals through the atrium, and Writer’s Lounge, a signature of the Raffles brand. Upscale dining experiences are available too. Guests can visit Amar, a Portuguese-Bostonian hybrid; Long Bar & Terrace, a Paolo Ferrari-designed lounge that pairs cocktails with sweeping views of the South End; and Blind Duck, a speakeasy that offers specially crafted cocktails and small bites. There’s also a range of amenities, all of which have been designed by the world-renowned Rockwell Group: a state-of-the-art gym, a 66-foot pool, and a prestigious Guerlain Spa that features treatments of the renowned Parisian beauty and wellness brand.
40 Trinity Pl, Boston, MA 02116
AMAN NEW YORK
Aman New York is one of those rare properties; the one that comes along once in a blue moon and makes such a significant impact that it has all of the world — never mind all of Manhattan — abuzz. The Jean-Michel Gathy-designed property is nothing less than an oasis in the city, so quietly luxurious that it’s very nearly like not being in New York at all. Yet, here it is: smack dab in the center, on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, two blocks away from Central Park, close to Broadway, Rockefeller Center, and more. Its 83 suites are among the largest in the city and inspired by the airy architecture of Aman’s properties in Southeast Asia. All suites offer a functioning fireplace and massive, opulent bathrooms with oval soaking tubs, marble rain showers, and double vanities. There’s so much to love here, from the personalized check-in processes and a house car — rare for New York — to a gratis minibar of decadent treats (excluding alcohol) and daily scheduled wellness activities. Speaking of which, its Aman Spa is a spot where relaxation is almost a prerequisite, with offerings meant to detox, ground, and energize. Dining outlets follow suit: the convivial Italian restaurant Arva, Japanese eatery Nama, and year-round outdoor Garden Terrace all offer breathtaking views of the Big Apple (the subterranean Jazz Club intentionally does not). The hotel now offers even more: a partnership with Leica provides options for a personal photoshoot; a session with a renowned fashion photographer and model gives an in-depth look at the industry; and a three-day workshop helps guests master portrait photography with renowned celebrity photographer Mark Mann. Also available are experiences with artists for one-on-one sit-down sessions, art historian guided city tours, and more. It’s the personalized touches that make this so magical — because where else would one expect to receive a hand-drawn, personalized art card after a special meal?
730 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019
FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
The opening of Fontainebleau Las Vegas is easily the biggest of the year, and I do mean in every way: scope, size, prestige, and fanfare. The hotel, which makes its debut this month on December 13, is a 67-story affair residing on nearly 25 acres of land at the end of the Las Vegas Strip with 3,644 luxury rooms and suites, 550,000 square feet of customizable meeting and convention space, more than 150,000 square feet of gaming space, a collection of world-class restaurants and shops, exquisite pools, vibrant nightlife, and vitality-enhancing spa and wellness offerings. It features designs and collaborations with some of the best players in the game: Carlos Zapata Studio, David Collins Studio, Rockwell Group, Lissoni & Partners, Jeff Leatham, Lifescapes, and Jeffrey Beers International, among others. The rooms and suites, as designed by an in-house team led by Fontainebleau Development’s John Rawlins, evoke an understated, timeless elegance in a color palette of blue and silver water tones with dashes of coral-pink, accented by mercury-glass mirrors and brass details. Silver-grey wood veneer, silver-leaf details, pearlescent shagreen inlaid surfaces, and Arabescato marble define the case-goods and other hard surfaces, while custom brass bowtie-shaped drawer-pulls represent both exquisite attention to detail and a nod to Fontainebleau’s history. The rooms also feature custom carpeting in a linear, Art Deco pattern of dove-grey and shades of blue that establish a geometric foundation for the assorted curvaceous furniture selections that rest upon it. As opulent as the rooms are, it’s the sheer scale of the F&B concepts that blow my mind: there will be 36 first-to-market restaurants and bars, which will open this year and continue to roll out through 2024. They include efforts by chefs such as Gabriela Cámara, Evan Funke, and Josh Capon, and restaurateurs inclusive of David Rodolitz, Alan Yau, and David Grutman, who will be debuting the Sin City versions of his Miami staples Komodo and Papi Steak. As if this wasn’t enough, there is a 14,000-square-foot fitness center and 55,000-square-foot spa with 44 treatment rooms, a purifying salt cave, healing infrared sauna and invigorating event sauna, his & hers hydrotherapy lounges, as well as a co-ed sensory room with communal healing waters. Additional resort amenities will include a 96,500-square-foot luxury boutique retail district on the first two levels of the resort, a six-acre pool district, the LIV nightlife experience, and the forthcoming LIV BEACH daylife experience.
2777 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
HOTEL PER LA
Los Angeles has been having a bit of a hotel renaissance in recent years, and this is apparent in Hotel Per La, the latest five-star stay to open downtown. As with many things in the area, what’s old has become new again. The hotel is housed in the former Giannini Place building, originally built in 1922 as the headquarters of the Bank of Italy. Reimagined by HN Capital Partners and Sage Hospitality Group, the property features 241 rooms and suites, as well as grand public spaces for guests and locals alike. The hotel includes 10,000 square feet of event space and an array of dining options such as Ristorante Per L’Ora, an upscale Italian restaurant; Café Ora, a daytime café; and Bar Clara, a rooftop bar offering poolside drinks and dramatic views of the LA skyline. “Per La” — “for the” in Italian — is a nod to the building’s Italian beginnings: its founder, Amadeo Pietro Giannini, believed in the dignity and abilities of those commonly overlooked, and as such, “Per La” means “for Los Angeles, and people like you.” Today, the 12-story property retains the building’s signature neoclassical architectural features. Doric columns, ornate gold and blue ceilings, and marble floors meet modern touches like airy linens, amorphic lighting, and pops of colors. The rooms are just as exquisite. They feature European white oakwood floors and Persian rugs in vibrant colors alongside 4,000 vintage art pieces, original photographs, and illustrations from commissioned artists. The marble writing desks with settees and European-style bathrooms with Terrazzo floored walk-in showers or freestanding pedestal bathtubs complete the spaces. The addition of a heated rooftop pool makes this one to beat.
649 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
ST. REGIS CHICAGO
The newly opened St. Regis Chicago has a pretty impressive pedigree: the 101-story tower is the tallest building in the world designed by a female architect, and who wouldn’t be here for that? Beyond this unique selling point, its design is very creative, featuring a distinctive design made of an interconnected series of stacked, frustum-shaped towers that extend to various heights. The building’s crystalline form nods to the facets of a shimmering gem, with a gradient of green-blue glass inspired by nature, meant to be a reflection of the colors of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. Its 159 guestrooms and 33 suites, all designed by Gensler in a curated palette of natural stone and wood, follow suit on the nature front. In contrast, the hotel’s common spaces, spa, and Presidential Suite, designed by KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group, are decorated in metallic materials and colors such as copper and rust. Interwoven, geometric details and angular lines nod to the Great Chicago Fire as well as the city’s geographic interconnectivity of waterways, buildings, and green spaces. These modern elements are found throughout the hotel, from the fitness center, which overlooks the Chicago River and Navy Pier, to the palatial, heated indoor pool that offers stunning views of the city and Lake Michigan. Add in fabulous Japanese cuisine from the likes of chef Hisanobu Osaka, desserts courtesy of pastry chef Juan Gutierrez—winner of Netflix’s School of Chocolate — and a soon-to-openTuscan steakhouse in Tre Dita, the first venture outside of Los Angeles for award-winning chef Evan Funke; an amazing spa; and signature St. Regis experiences, including afternoon tea, evening champagne sabering, and butler service, and the St. Regis may very well become your new Chi-town go-to.
401 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601
HÔTEL SWEXAN
The new crowning jewel of Dallas’ 19-block Harwood District is Hôtel Swexan, a 134-room boutique concept that charmingly fuses the family-owned property’s Swiss heritage with quintessential Texan hospitality. It is, indeed, where its rather unique name comes from, “Swexan” meaning “Swiss meets Texan.” The hotel has a serious pedigree as well: it’s located in a 22-story modern tower designed by world-renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, who was not only recognized as one of Time magazine’s most influential people of 2021, but who is responsible for the Tokyo Olympic stadium, the new Rolex Building in Harwood District, and the LVMH headquarters in Japan. The mirrored structure exemplifies Kuma’s philosophy that buildings should enrich the connection between their architecture and the environment they’re in. And in the case of Hôtel Swexan, the interiors mirror the exterior, with art and design elements inspired by exploration and adventure drawing cues from various global cities inclusive of 100 different types of natural stones and woods and decorations of antique fireplace mantels from the 19th and 20th centuries. One of the hotel’s hallmark features is that every bathroom is one-of-a-kind, covered with different wallpapers, lighting, sink fixtures, floors, and tiling. There are also eight unique suites, five dining and drinking concepts, a private social club, and an expansive rooftop pool with panoramic views of the Dallas skyline.
2575 McKinnon St, Dallas, TX 75201
HALL ARTS HOTEL
HALL Arts Hotel is the first hotel in the Dallas Arts District — the largest contiguous arts district in the country — and one with a prestigous wine pedigree to boot in that the property was developed by Craig and Kathryn Hall, the co-owners of Napa Valley’s award-winning HALL Wines. Designed by HKS Architects with interiors by Bentel & Bentel, the 11-story property flaunts a sleek, contemporary glass and steel jewel box design for its 183 guest rooms and 19 Arts District-inspired suites — each of which is named in tribute to cultural venues and performances that embody the area. It features a rooftop pool, a robust contemporary art collection, and Ellie’s, a sophisticated and locally beloved eatery with a lounge and terrace area.The restaurant not only uses sustainable, farm-to-table fare, but it also has a robust wine program representative of its owners. Art is a big focus here as well, and as such, the property offers its own art tour, alongside other offerings such as a 2,900-square-foot fitness studio with Matrix equipment and Pelotons; complimentary bikes; and homey touches such as HALL branded dog amenities and in-room watercolor kits to further enhance the stay.
1717 Leonard St, Dallas, TX 75201
THOMPSON HOUSTON
Set in a soaring 36-story skyscraper, Thompson Houston is the city’s newest and most fashionable landmark. It suits the city to a “T,” housed as such in a refined, mid-century modern building with a glass-and-steel facade. The hotel’s coveted location in verdant Buffalo Bayou Park centers the property as a true oasis within the city, a 160-acre green space adjacent to downtown Houston overflowing with diverse flora that is delightfully close to Montrose, the city’s artistic hub. The 172 guestrooms, 34 of which are suites, play to its strengths, showcasing glorious views of the H-Town skyline and Buffalo Bayou Park from floor-to-ceiling windows. Each room is fresh and modern, paying homage to the hotel’s natural surroundings through a synthesis of earthy colors, organic materials, and hardwood flooring. The attention to detail here is as excellent as the views: from an unparalleled honor bar stocked with delicious local goodies to the spa-grade plush robes and professional-grade Tivoli audio systems, every detail is designed to make guests feel like true VIPs. That each room is decked out with a custom en-suite bathroom featuring luxury-grade stone wall treatments, rose-gold and bronze fixtures, and D.S. & Durga bath and body products only furthers this point. All guests are also treated to one of Houston’s largest pool decks — an astonishing acre in size — with a laid-back café, private cabanas, as well as a peerless infinity pool with unobstructed downtown views. A private heliport provides the ultimate way to make an entrance for even the most discerning of guests.
1717 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TX 77019