Here’s the skinny on some of the newest hotels around the globe, upscale havens you can visit this summer or put on your calendar for autumn. With no further adieu, let us introduce you.
Fairmont Golden Prague
The first property within Eastern Europe for the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts brand, this 320-key hotel has suites and residences overlooking the spellbinding Vltava River. Born from a multi-million Euro renovation of one of the city’s most beloved Brutalist architectural landmarks, the Fairmont Golden Prague boasts six dining and drinking outposts and a 15,000-square-foot Spa & Wellness center. Their one of a kind L-shaped pool incorporates both outdoor and indoor swim areas.
Highlight: One of the Czech Republic’s most extensive art collections dresses the hotel including chandeliers by René Roubíček and Čestmír Kafka’s gilded ceiling sculptures.
Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna
In Vienna we forever yearn for an old school hotel, but we don’t want to be lost in the past. Nimbly delighting us with nouveau offerings from molecular mixology to a cutting edge spa and wellness center, this refurbished landmark building on the Ringstrasse also manifests its noble heritage through preserved Renaissance Revival elements from stone archways to columns. Theo’s Lounge & Bar occupies the more than century-old building’s former courtyard, where horses once clomped in to turn around. Now bright, modern and electric with chatter, it has become Vienna’s livingroom for locals and tourists alike. Dinner at one-Michelin-starred Edvard won’t soon be forgotten.
Highlight: Choose from 152 stunning rooms, including more than 60 suites. By far the most peerless is the more than 3,000-square-foot Presidential Suite complete with grand piano.
Tierra Atacama
Eco-travelers and outdoor buffs know the Baillie Lodges for their experiential upscale programs meant to immerse adventurous holiday makers in lesser trammelled destinations. Just reopened after a twelve-month closure and $20 million redo, Chile’s legendary Tierra Atacama returns better than ever. In the Atacama Desert in the shadow of the Licancabur Volcano features streamlined spaces, kitted with regional decor, elements and craftsmanship. Suites were reduced from 32 to 28, providing more commodious quarters over all. Four new suites boast plunge pools, plus a dedicated vehicle and guide at guest’s disposal.
Highlight: Design lovers will swoon over the use of rare travertine marble, sourced from nearby Calama in the guest lounging areas and the fact that more than 40 local artists and designers took part in creating the cultural narrative of the interiors.
The Newman London
You’ve stayed at all the rest (we don’t need to name them)—and though they pamper and cajole with first class service, sometimes you just long to spend the night in artsy Fitzrovia. Try the Newman, the brainchild of well heeled hoteliers and canny restauranteurs who wanted to create the sort of hotel they’d hanker to book themselves. Deftly designed by Lind + Almond, known for creating subtly expressive, sophisticatedly eclectic havens, The Newman vaunts 81 Art Deco-inspired guest rooms, suites and apartments. Choose one with a private balcony or bring a quartet to takeover the rooftop floor, which can be booked as a private four-bedroom space.
Highlight: Though spa, cocktail bar and restaurant delight, it’s the design motif you won’t forget. It evokes Fitzrovia’s artiness and its characters, such as Nancy Cunard, bohemian queen, whose obsession with polka-dots is honored throughout the property.
Aman Nai Lert Bangkok
Aman regulars worldwide have celebrated the idiosyncratic luxury hotel brands’ foray into urban areas, such as New York City, in recent years. Known for their innovation and soulful take on locales, Aman delves deeply into each destination. Their newest sanctuary, situated in Bangkok, takes the brand back to its roots. Their first property, Amanpuri, opened in tropical Thailand 37 years ago. Melding with leafy Nai Lert Park, the eponymous new hotel has 52 suites and 34 branded residences, alongside a global Aman Club and dining venues.
Highlight: Wellness always stands out at Aman. In this case, the glorious Aman Spa brings bliss amid 16,145-square-feet.
The Florentin Frankfurt
Business-y Frankfurt gets overlooked by too many travelers. But that’s set to change soon, when Althoff Hotels (a family-owned collection of 20 luxurious European hotels) opens The Florentin at the end of this summer. The re-imagined, historic villa is set to turn Frankfurt into a destination, rather than a stopover. Transformed into a clever 147-room hotel, The Florentin lies near the Main River and Frankfurt’s much touted Museum District. Built for the Speyer family in 1901, it has garnered attention from the design world for its restored, original facade–among other glamorous elements.
Highlight: A 3,500-square-foot Presidential Suite and 12 signature Loft Suites ensure Frankfurt can accommodate honeymooners and CEOS like never before.