The 100 Best New Hotels in the World

The 2023 It List.

Interior of Passalacqua at Lake Como
Photo:

Courtesy of Passalacqua

This year, for the first time, we divided our 100 It List winners into seven categories, looking at them through the lens of affordable luxury, best new wellness getaways, and inviting beach vacations, among other designations. Here, we've compiled our 100 winners, listed in no particular order, so you can see them all in one place.

01 of 100

The Peninsula Istanbul

Exterior view of the Peninsula Istanbul

Courtesy of The Peninsula Hotels

The 177-room Peninsula Istanbul is as much a love letter to Turkey as it is an outpost of a global luxury hospitality brand. Peninsula’s latest property is a four-building complex that soars high above the rushing waves of the Bosphorus. Turkish designer Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu, credited as the first woman to design a mosque, placed culturally relevant reference points throughout the property: bathrooms done in Marmara marble, kilim-style carpets. It’s hard to pick which room you’ll want to book — some come with floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies, and private terraces that frame the water beautifully. Or maybe you’d prefer suites with direct access to the lush, manicured gardens or the pool. But no matter what, come June, everyone will head straight to the rooftop to eat at Gallada, Fatih Tutak’s highly anticipated Turkish Asian restaurant. It hasn’t opened yet, but it’s already where all of Istanbul wants to be. Until then, see you at one of the sexiest pools around: an 82-foot long indoor basin surrounded by theatrically lit Marmara columns. peninsula.com; doubles from $959. —Chadner Navarro

02 of 100

Hôtel Dame des Arts — Paris

Rooftop bar and lounge with Eiffel Tower views at Hotel Dame des Arts in Paris

Ludovic Balay

To say a hotel has one of the best locations in Paris usually implies it’s in the first arrondissement, a few steps from the Louvre, in a corner of the City of Light where English prevails. Conversely, when I say the brand-new Hôtel Dame des Arts just opened in Paris’s most desirable location, I mean it’s in the sixth arrondissement on the Left Bank, across the Seine from the Louvre and Arc de Triomphe, in the city’s Latin Quarter. In Dame des Arts’s lobby — scented with a rich, cedar-dominant fragrance blended for the hotel by perfumer Arthur Dupuy, and featuring dark floors made of burnt wood — I only heard French. It’s spoken by locals who come to enjoy a glass of Provence-sourced Super Schluck orange wine on the restaurant-adjacent terrace or the ninth-floor rooftop with an unobstructed view of the Eiffel Tower. The sixth arrondissement still cultivates the bohemian culture the Rive Gauche was known for in the early 20th century when des écrivains like Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, and the Fitzgeralds lived, wrote, and drank here. It follows, then, that the 109 rooms at Dame des Arts and its Mexican restaurant (with a mezcal selection the likes of which you rarely find in France) display sketches of Left Bank tastemakers and works published on this side of town. In my room, one of 17 with a balcony facing the Eiffel Tower, I found a Lia Rochas-Pàris book of black-and-white photo essays called “Cafés Noirs & Idées Claires,” which translates to “black coffees and clear ideas.” damedesarts.com; doubles from $386. —Maya Kachroo-Levine

03 of 100

The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad

View from the Madison Suite Bathroom at the Ritz-Carlton NoMad

Björn Wallander/Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton NoMad 

It’s not often that you can wake up to views over the Hudson from your hotel bed, then brush your teeth while looking out at the distant spire of One World Trade. But then again, it’s not often that Manhattan gets a new-build hotel. And at The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad — a shiny 50-story tower on the corner of 28th and Broadway, a plot formerly occupied by a parking garage — the 250 keys offer 250 different angles from which to gaze down at your kingdom. The hotel opened in July 2022 after nearly four years of construction. Rooms and suites with sculptural chandeliers, black terrazzo bathrooms, and Diptyque amenities run up to floor 37, with 16 residences filling out the rest. The crowning view comes from the 50th-floor Nubeluz, a glowing, 1920s-inspired, velvet-and-satin sanctum — it's the first rooftop bar from José Andrés, who partnered with Ritz-Carlton on all food and beverage at the property. Tables are packed nightly at the expansive ground-floor Zaytinya, the second location of the chef's popular Mediterranean concept. An outpost of The Bazaar by José Andrés will open off the lobby later this spring. ritzcarlton.com; doubles from $1,073. —Hannah Walhout

04 of 100

The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon

Interior seating space with vibrant colors and basket lamps and a view of the balcony at The Standard Bangkok hotel

Chris Schalkx

Just when Bangkok's luxury hotels all started to look the same, The Standard swooped in to turn the Thai capital's hospitality scene on its head. Taking over one of the city’s most notable skyscrapers, The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon swapped the typical straight lines and muted hues of its five-star peers for a daring mash-up of polychrome palettes and swirling illustrations by Spanish artist-designer Jaime Hayon. The 155 rooms all deliver different perks: some have a whirlpool tub, others come with a small balcony or fully functional kitchen. At the five bars and restaurants, including dim sum–focused Mott 32 and neo-Mexican rooftop spot Ojo, locals often outnumber hotel guests. In a city as food-obsessed as Bangkok, that's always a good sign. standardhotels.com; doubles from $237. —Chris Schalkx

05 of 100

InterContinental Khao Yai — Thailand

Exterior of a luxury hotel villa in Thailand with train-inspired design elements
The InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, a new Bill Bensley‒designed property in northern Thailand.

Courtesy of InterContinental Khao Yai Resort

The work of Bangkok-based hotel designer Bill Bensley has always been idiosyncratic. But when he created InterContinental Khao Yai, he let his imagination run wild. Bordering Thailand’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Khao Yai National Park, the resort serves as the madcap homestead of a fictional 20th-century train conductor — dreamed up by Bensley — named “Somsak.” The reception area masquerades as his office, styled as an old-school station house, and the outdoor pool sits next to Somying’s Kitchen, an all-day diner named after Somsak’s imagined mother. Entry-level rooms are modeled on old-school Orient Express-style train cars, while other rooms are converted from vintage rail carriages. With one-of-a-kind objects painstakingly sourced from throughout Asia, these suites are playful, unforgettable, and surprisingly romantic. ihg.com; doubles from $154.  —John O’Ceallaigh

06 of 100

Gleneagles Townhouse — Edinburgh

Guest room suite bathroom with art and marble tile at the Gleneagles Townhouse

Courtesy of Gleneagles Townhouse

Next year marks the 100th anniversary of the opening of Gleneagles, one of Scotland’s most beloved hotels, in the bucolic county of Perthshire, some 40 miles north of Edinburgh. But 2022 brought another reason to celebrate: the launch of Gleneagles Townhouse, the brand’s first offshoot, in the heart of the Scottish capital. The new property, which encompasses both a 33-room hotel and a members’ club, shares many of the same traditional design touchpoints as its older sibling — my spacious corner room had a canopy bed and hunter-green tile in the bath. And yet, a youthful spirit presides, with a warm and friendly staff, contemporary art in the public spaces, and a bright color palette at the Spence, the hotel’s all-day restaurant. Don’t miss the rolling cheese and dessert cart — then top off your evening with a nightcap at the Lamplighter, the rooftop lounge (exclusive to members and guests), which overlooks St. Andrew Square. gleneagles.com; doubles from $674. —Peter Terzian

07 of 100

Lolebezi — Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia

Interior of living space lounge at Lolebezi Safari Lodge in Zambia

Courtesy of Lolebezi Safari Lodge

Tucked into a remote concession in Lower Zambezi National Park, this eight-suite lodge from African Bush Camps offers an uber-modern take on the safari experience: each of the standalone accommodations is clad in glass (all the better for those Zambezi River views) with plunge pools and marble bathrooms. The design firm Fox Browne Creative incorporated details that speak to Zambia’s land and culture, like bronze sculptures resembling native winter thorn seed pods and patterned rugs made by local South Luangwa artisans. The wildlife here is literally at your doorstep, with elephants and monkeys roaming freely and half-submerged hippos grunting along the river. End the day with a sundowner in the Circle of Light, a suspended wooden walkway built around an giant winter thorn tree and take in the natural splendor of this special slice of Zambia. africanbushcamps.com; doubles from $1,490 per person per night, all-inclusive. —Travis Levius

08 of 100

Under Canvas Bryce Canyon — Utah

The Hoodoo Suite at Under Canvas Bryce Canyon in Utah, a luxury tented camp experience

Bailey Made

The newest outpost of the Under Canvas glamping brand is located 14 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, and feels like a family-friendly outdoor resort. Fifty elevated platform tents are spread across 700 acres filled with sweet-smelling ponderosa pines and gravel trails for the occasional electric golf cart. Like its other locations, Under Canvas Bryce Canyon prioritizes access to nature-driven activities and environmental responsibility (the property is completely solar-powered, and the tents include pull-chain showers to reduce water waste). But it’s also undeniably comfortable — the only enticement strong enough to lure me from my king-size bed was the excellent breakfast and oat-milk latte that awaited at the walk-up dining bar. In the evenings, the smell of campfire and roasting s’mores evoked a powerful childlike satisfaction, where the most important thing to do in that moment was to stargaze, and maybe spear another marshmallow. undercanvas.com; tents from $314. —Samantha Falewée

09 of 100

Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo — Mexico

Interior of a guest room at Four Seasons Tamarindo

Courtesy of Four Seasons

For decades, Mexico’s Costalegre, the rugged coast stretching about 150 miles from Puerto Vallarta down to Manzanillo, Colima, has sat quietly, like a well-guarded secret. The 157-room Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo is the first hotel to open on this protected stretch of coast in years. Sitting at the heart of a 3,000-acre natural reserve, and managed by hoteliers who are committed to the ethos of the Costalegre, you’d hardly know the property were here — unless you knew where to look. Less flash and more natural finesse, the sand-and-stone buildings camouflage seamlessly into the natural environment. Book one of three Cliffside Suites for jaw-dropping views and private infinity pools — a perfect front-row seat for those incendiary Pacific sunsets. Four Seasons needs no introduction when it comes to exceptional food and in-house indulgences, and Tamarindo is no exception with its four restaurants, tiered infinity pools, and alchemy-inspired spa. The splashes of magic here come from its ends-of-the-earth allure, its amplification of local voices through art and design, and its commitment to sustaining the land around it — all in typical Four Seasons style. fourseasons.com; doubles from $1,250. —Meagan Drillinger

10 of 100

Fasano Trancoso — Brazil

The Pool deck area at Fasano Trancoso

Courtesy of Fasano Trancoso

The coming together of Brazil’s foremost luxury hotel brand, Fasano, and the country’s premier beach destination, Trancoso, could hardly be a more perfect match. With an idyllic setting along a stretch of pristine sandy beach, Fasano has married its trademark urban style with laid-back beachside living, offering 40 deluxe, modern bungalows hidden among tall palm trees and lush vegetation. Designed by renowned Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld, the pared-back, sophisticated rooms combine top-tier luxuries with muted rustic tones and locally crafted wooden furniture, while many feature outdoor decks and hammocks with uninterrupted views out to the beautiful blue sea. Add in the Olympic-length swimming pool, a spa offering relaxing massages, plus two restaurants serving Italian classics as well as Bahian specialities, and I found there was very little reason to leave. fasano.com.br; doubles from $850. —Joel Porter

11 of 100

Rock House — Turks and Caicos Islands

View of the Rock House Turks & Caicos from the water

Courtesy of Grace Bay Resorts

The latest addition to the Grace Bay Resorts’ portfolio is more of a boutique operation (especially when compared to the sprawling Grace Bay Club). The 46 accommodations, spread across a limestone hill, range from cozy studios to expansive two-bedroom villas. Interiors are decidedly pared down: vaulted ceilings; furnishings in a muted palette of grays and creams; and sheer, paper-thin curtains evoke the easy-breezy vibe you want from island life. Some villas come with plunge pools if you want to soak in private. But it’s in the common spaces where Rock House shines. The 130-foot wooden jetty is almost the default social hub of the resort — I took a yoga class there one morning and spent a couple of afternoons drinking rosé on a daybed. The hotel sometimes organizes themed dinners here, too, lighting up the plank for a bit of atmosphere as the waves pound on the private beach. Rumor has it Drake is a big fan of this venue, and occasionally throws private hangs with his friends after dinner service is over. rockhouse.gracebayresorts.com; doubles from $760. —Chadner Navarro

Related: This Cliffside Caribbean Resort Feels Like the Mediterranean Getaway of Your Dreams — and It's Less Than 4 Hours From New York

12 of 100

Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale — Florida

Aerial view of a woman swimming in the pool at the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale

COURTESY OF FOUR SEASONS

Some visitors to South Florida might never learn about Evelyn Fortune Bartlett — the painter, art patron, and socialite fondly remembered as Fort Lauderdale’s grande dame. But the Four Seasons wants you to know her name: her memory lives on in Bonnet House, a signature cocktail based on Bartlett’s daiquiri recipe and named after the nearby estate where she wintered and entertained. It’s just one way Four Seasons is hoping to capture the spirit of this laid-back enclave 30 miles north of Miami. The hotel occupies a bright-white 22-story tower on Beach Boulevard — its design, by architect Kobi Karp, is reminiscent of the yachts that make this one of the country’s boating capitals. Its 189 rooms and suites, with interiors by Tara Bernerd, nod to that nautical nostalgia with lacquered wood that calls to mind the sleek detailing on a Riva yacht. For the restaurant, Swedish design star Martin Brudnizki (whose studio also envisioned the outdoor spaces) made use of linens, sea grass, and marine colors that complement the dining room’s ocean vistas. It’s already a popular reservation for the Fort Lauderdale community, thanks to a seafood-focused menu from chef Brandon Salomon that explores the cuisine of the Eastern Mediterranean; order the branzino, stuffed with citrus and herbs, filleted tableside, and bathed in smoky coriander chermoula. The restaurant's name? Evelyn's, of course. fourseasons.com; doubles from $524. —Hannah Walhout

13 of 100

Tropical Hotel — St. Bart’s

Pink and wicker decor at the Le Tropical hotel in St Bart

Didier Delmas/Courtesy of Le Tropical

When 369° Hôtels-Maisons purchased the Tropical in 2016, the idea was simple: to transform the second-oldest hotel on St. Bart’s into the island’s most coveted booking. But in September 2017, with renovations nearly complete and staff already on-site, Hurricane Irma did so much damage that the French hospitality group had to rebuild almost from scratch. After nearly four years of construction, the new Tropical is a sort of reset. In a destination with a reputation for exclusivity, the hotel is positioned as a place to connect: it hosts a rotating list of artists and musicians, with past residents including twin French DJs Doppelganger Paris and painter Raphaël Schmitt (who painted lavish murals on the walls of the common areas). Yoga retreats are in the works for next year — a serene departure from the beats-heavy beach-club vibe just a few steps down the hill in St.-Jean. The 23 rooms and six suites are arranged around an exquisitely overgrown courtyard, fully replanted post-hurricane. In the evenings, this garden transforms into Romi, where chefs Linda and Nicolas Bisani serve a fully Indonesian menu (a nod to Linda’s home country) complete with nasi goreng, cod curry, and five choices of sambal, the spicy Southeast Asian condiment. With the St. Bart’s restaurant scene dominated by French and fusion cuisine, it’s already a hit with locals and longtimers, too. tropical-saintbarth.com; doubles from $690. —Hannah Walhout

14 of 100

Cambridge Beaches — Bermuda

Exterior view of Cambridge Beaches, Bermuda

Courtesy of Cavan Images

Perched on a 23-acre peninsula jutting into the Atlantic Ocean, Cambridge Beaches is far from Bermuda’s other luxury hotels and the bustle of Hamilton. Eighty-six pink cottages dot the property, which also has four beaches, a rarity on the island. Cambridge Beaches is not new — it celebrates its centennial this year, and some architectural details date back to the 17th century. Still, it recently underwent a full renovation courtesy of new owners, hospitality group Dovetail + Co, known for Urban Cowboy Lodge in upstate New York. Each cottage now sports a whimsical, tropical style with dark wood beds, rattan chairs, graphic-patterned textiles, and shutter doors with brass knobs embossed with palm leaves. The pool has fresh pastel furniture and a new bar and restaurant, plus there’s now an outpost of Brooklyn, New York’s The Sunken Harbor Club. The dockside bar is decorated with actual treasures found in surrounding shipwrecks by Bermudian diving legend Teddy Tucker. Cocktails include island favorites, like rum-forward swizzles and dark ‘n stormies, along with new creations. Bermuda-raised executive chef Keith De Shields serves local classics, with dishes like shark hash, callaloo pasta, and plantain-stuffed wild boar. Still to come: a complete overhaul of the spa and indoor pool. cambridgebeaches.com; doubles from $428. —Beth Klein

15 of 100

Cali Mykonos — Greece

A guest room plunge pool at Cali Mykonos

Fabio Kraniotis/Courtesy of Cali Mykonos

Seclusion and low-key luxury define Cali Mykonos, a welcome antidote to the island’s reputation for all-night parties. The property’s 40 suites and villas are scattered like sugarcubes along a secluded cliff, on the island’s quieter southeastern side. Chef Lefteris Lazarou, whose restaurant Varoulko Seaside received Greece’s first Michelin star in 2002, oversees Cali’s menu of fresh Mediterranean staples. In lieu of deafening DJ tunes and cramped sunbeds, you’ll find most guests hanging out at the cliffside infinity pool, or at the private sandy cove for brisk swims. If you do want to venture out, the concierge team can organize island hops by yacht and get you insider access to some of the island’s best beach clubs. calimykonos.com; doubles from $865. —Travis Levius

16 of 100

Cosme, a Luxury Collection Resort — Paros, Greece

View from the lounge chairs on the beach at Cosme, a Luxury Collection Resort in Paros, Greece

Courtesy of Cosme, a Luxury Collection Resort

This 40-suite beachfront boutique hotel set a new standard for Paros, where luxury has typically been reserved to private villas. Designed to feel like an extension of nearby harbor town Naoussa, Cosme’s whitewashed, all-block buildings — constructed with local stone and Parian marble — mimic the traditional villages dotting the island. Decor blends the best of modern and ancient Greece, with an abstract mural dominating the sun-drenched lobby, hand-embroidered pillows, and antiques sourced from around the Mediterranean. There’s also an open-air concept shop, Anthologist, curated with artisanal brass objets d’art and Greek resort wear. A handful of suites have private plunge pools positioned to frame the Aegean, but I spent my days — and sunsets — at the crescent-shaped infinity pool or under a thatched umbrella at the private beach club, a first for a hotel on Paros. There’s also a 40-foot catamaran available, if you’d like to take a quick trip to the island of Antiparos. cosmehotelparos.com; doubles from $453. —Lane Nieset

17 of 100

La Tartane — St. Tropez

Exterior of guest villas at La Tartane, St. Tropez

RICARD ROMAIN/Courtesy of La Tartane

What sets this 27-room property apart on the St. Tropez luxury scene is its location — it’s set on the outskirts of the village — and its easygoing take on the Cote d'Azur experience. Designer Jordane Arrivetz was tasked with giving the hotel the warmth and familiarity of a family holiday home. So she individually decorated the rooms and suites, which are set inside six freestanding houses, with either custom or vintage furniture, choosing natural materials (rope, raffia, wood) and details (floral upholstery, shell handles, and bold graphic art) that aren’t too precious. Everything is curated, but still accessible; the point is to make guests feel like they could live here. Brazilian artist João Incerti’s whimsical murals, found throughout the property, are another special touch. Grab a spritz at the pool bar (painted with delicate tulips) before tackling St. Tropez’s legendary nightlife. latartane-hotel.com; doubles from $660. —Chadner Navarro

18 of 100

Waldorf Astoria Cancun — Mexico

View from a guest room living room at Waldorf Astoria Cancun

Victor Elias/Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Cancun

Finding the perfect short Caribbean escape often feels like a Catch-22: the easiest places to reach are naturally the most crowded. Take Cancun. Mexico's ultimate beach town has direct flights from an array of U.S. cities, but its luxury resorts — clustered in the bluntly named Hotel Zone — can feel like a gaudy versions of spring break in Daytona. That's why the opening of the Waldorf Astoria Cancun in November was so widely anticipated. Located on a secluded beach only a 20-minute drive from Cancun airport, it's an entirely different world to the teeming center. The resort's access road weaves through 100 acres of lush mangroves on a nature preserve near the fishing village of Puerto Morelos, with signs warning drivers to slow down for passing alligators. The palatial interiors designed by Singapore-based Hirsch Bedner Associates subtly translate the Jazz Age glamor of the original Waldorf Astoria in New York to the tropics. The lobby offers both expanses of gleaming marble — including a homage to the Manhattan hotel's famous (though now closed) bar, Peacock Alley — and enormous picture windows to frame the sparkling blue ocean. All 173 rooms have private balconies with panoramic beach views and either a jacuzzi or a plunge pool. The decor is soothing, riffing on the site's lavish natural beauty, including works by artist Victoria Villasana evoking the textures of coral. And this being Mexico, gastronomy is key. The fine-dining restaurant Malpeque has such treats as Ensenada-sourced baked scallop in the shell served with a chipotle-vermouth sauce and puff pastry casing. Me? I wasn't straying from my balcony. I ordered fish tacos from room service and spent the evening watching the sunset from my jacuzzi. The lights of Cancun's busy Hotel Zone were twinkling on the horizon. They seemed very far away. waldorf-astoria.com; doubles from $749. —Tony Perrottet

19 of 100

Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collection — Punta Mita, Mexico

Aerial view of Sussuros del Corazon in Mexico

Courtesy of Auberge Resorts Collection

Set on a private beach overlooking the serene Bahía de Banderas, this intimate resort infuses the elevated atmosphere of an Auberge with the rich culture of Riviera Nayarit. Paul Duesing designed the 89 rooms, suites, and villas in neutral shades that put the focus on decor elements sourced from across the country, including terracotta animal figurines from San José del Cabo in Baja California Sur and custom wood headboards from Guadalajara. As beautiful as the resort’s physical spaces are, the real difference here is the heartfelt service. When I visited with my husband and young son, just about a month after the resort opened, the staff had already dialed into the kind of warm, deceptively effortless hospitality that typically takes years to perfect. (Case in point: within a minute of sitting down to dinner at Casamilpa, the property’s main restaurant, the team whipped out a highchair and took our order to ensure no one suffered a hangry-toddler meltdown.) Equally impressive is the roster of thoughtfully curated experiences, which includes a cacao ceremony led by a local healer and a gamified wine tasting session that spotlights Mexican vineyards. aubergeresorts.com; doubles from $1,099. —Sarah Bruning

20 of 100

La Maison Palmier — Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Interior and pool at La Maison Palmier, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

YANN DERET/Courtesy of Design Hotels

Walking through La Maison Palmier’s open-air entrance under a canopy of palm trees, it’s easy to feel like you’ve stepped into a tropical postcard. This 74-room boutique hotel, designed by the Ivorian architect Désiré M’bengue, fully embodies its namesake of “palm house” — there are 200 varieties throughout the property. Set across nine villa-style buildings, the rooms are done in natural colors of cream, sage, and baked clay. The marvelous malachite-hued pool is also a statement-maker. It’s a serene and airy escape from the buzz of the city, and the property also represents a major moment for the de facto capital of the Ivory Coast — it’s the first hotel in West Africa to be affiliated with the Design Hotels group. lamaisonpalmier.com; doubles from $202. —Peju Famojure

21 of 100

Xenodocheio Milos — Athens

Guest bedroom with wood headboard and minimal decor at Xenodocheio Milos in Athens

Courtesy of Xenodocheio Milos

It should come as no surprise that food is the main attraction at Xenodocheio Milos, which opened in the Greek capital in early 2022. It’s the first hotel from Costas Spiliadis, founder of the Estiatorio Milos restaurant group — long considered one of the leading names in Mediterranean fine dining. Spiliadis bills his new property the first “luxurious gastronomy hotel” in Greece, and the emphasis on food is clear from the moment you enter the elegant 1880 building just off Syntagma Square, where an almost ethereal light and airy ground-floor dining room is very much the center of gravity. It’s a perfect backdrop for Spiliadis’s take on Greek cuisine, which has always been about simple preparations and high-quality ingredients. Despite having eaten countless bowls of horiatiki, or Greek salad, over the years, I was floored by the juicy, ruby-red tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and slabs of sublimely sharp yet creamy feta topped by freshly cut samphire, or kritamo, I ate at this hotel. Fish and seafood, fruit, bread, and even desert all tasted extraordinarily fresh and flavorful. The theme of elegant simplicity continues in the 43 guest rooms and suites upstairs, where high ceilings, natural materials, and a soothing palette create a low-key urban oasis. Step outside the property, however, and you’ll find yourself right in the thick of the city. The Greek Parliament, with its iconic changing of the guard ceremony, is just steps away, while hip local brands Ancient Greek Sandals and The Naxos Apothecary — which just happens to supply the bathroom amenities at Xenodocheio Milos — are right next door. xenodocheiomilos.com; doubles from $462. —Flora Stubbs

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Four Seasons Hotel Nashville

A guest room with an overview of Nashville from the Four Seasons Hotel Nashville

Don Riddle/Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Nashville

It wasn't that long ago that a pairing of the Four Seasons and Nashville would've seemed unlikely. But times have changed for both the iconic hotel brand and Music City. The Four Seasons Hotel Nashville, a newly built oasis just off Broadway, is now the height of contemporary luxury in town. With a spa and industrial-chic guest rooms, the hotel is a quiet retreat when it needs to be. But this is Nashville, after all, so live music is a must; you'll find it at the Italian-meets-Southern restaurant and bar Mimo, or the French Riviera–inspired rooftop pool deck. I found the hotel to be sincerely rooted in a sense of place — with special touches like the musical-themed decor (a table and lamp in my room were styled like a record player), and an overall casual approach that speaks to Nashville's spirited personality. fourseasons.com; doubles from $532. —Stefanie Waldek

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Hotel Barrière Fouquet's New York

Interior of a restaurant at Hotel Barrière Fouquet's New York

Alessandra Amodio

Parisian classic Le Fouquet's first American address has opened in Manhattan, bringing its opulence stateside. Occupying a quiet corner of Tribeca, the hotel is a slice of art deco-inspired, Martin Brudnizki-designed tranquility that hits all the right style notes. The 97-key property includes a spectacular duplex penthouse suite, and all rooms come with custom-designed wallpaper, marble bathrooms, a soft pink and green color palette, and downtown views. The hotel's signature brasserie, Fouquet's, shares much in common with its counterpart on the Champs-Élysées  — from the plush velvet seating and red-and-black decor to most of the dishes on the menu, created by chef Pierre Gagnaire. Plus, the intimate rooftop bar, spa with an indoor pool, and even a Cannes Film Festival-inspired screening space have made this a favorite with visiting celebrities (and those who simply crave a sense of privacy in the big city). hotelsbarriere.com; doubles from $918. —Dobrina Zhekova

24 of 100

Portrait Milano

Interior of the library at Portrait Milano

Martino Din/Courtesy of Portrait Milano

In fashion-forward Milan, it should come as no surprise that the newest hotel (and member of the Leading Hotels of the World) has a connection to one of Italy’s foremost fashion dynasties. The design by Michele Bönan — a longtime collaborator of the Ferragamo family — lends the hotel an elevated, residential vibe, with art and design domes in the library lounge, plus rooms done in cardinal red, emerald, and other deep tones, with polished wood and rattan accents and marble bathrooms. Then there’s the talented young chef, Alberto Quadrio, who has the city buzzing about his innovative take on the ultimate childhood comfort food: pasta in bianco. But the most remarkable thing about the hotel is its location, which, for the first time in history, opens up the 3,000-square-foot Piazza del Quadrilatero inside a 16th-century seminary, returning this formerly cloistered place to the public. luganocollection.com; doubles from $842. —Laura Itzkowitz

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Ace Hotel Toronto

Exterior of the Ace Hotel Toronto

William Jess Laird/Courtesy of Ace Hotels

Canada’s first Ace property ticks many of the brand’s familiar boxes: a bustling lobby with people on laptops working by day and drinking by night; in-room acoustic guitars and curated vinyl; and walls hung with works by Toronto artists. It’s also one of the city’s boldest buildings. The lobby is crowned with large concrete arches, and part of it is suspended from the ceiling with steel rods, which makes it seem like it’s floating above the ground. Sometimes, the Ace feels like a city hotel — DJ sets at the rooftop bar, Evangeline, go into the wee hours, and the restaurant, Alder, is helmed by chef Patrick Kriss, whose other Toronto spots, Alo and Alobar, were both recently awarded Michelin stars. But natural touches, like wood paneling, custom-made earth-tone quilts, and views of St. Andrew’s Playground Park, give the rooms a cabin-like feel. acehotel.com; doubles from $319. —Heather Greenwood Davis

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The Ned NoMad — New York

Interior of The Ned Upstairs at The Ned Nomad hotel

Alessandra Amodio

The Johnston building, in Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood, is a 1903 beaux-arts limestone landmark, originally owned by Caroline A. Johnston. Now, it’s home to one of NYC’s newest hotels. Soho House Design collaborated with Stonehill Taylor to give the 10-floor, 167-room property a cozy atmosphere (many guest rooms come with free-standing clawfoot tubs) and some have stunning views of the Empire State Building. On the first floor, guests can dine at Cecconi’s — an Italian restaurant with 12 outposts around the world serving hand-made pasta, wood-fired pizza, and seafood — or grab a martini at the 1920s-style Little Ned bar. The Ned also has an impressive art collection, with more than 150 works that speak to the theme of “A Different Century.” thened.com; doubles from $588. —Jessica Vadillo

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The Loren at Lady Bird Lake — Austin

A balcony suite living area at The Loren Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas

Mariah Tyler

This distinctly urban hotel plays a clever trick — it can make you forget you’re in a city at all. With sweeping views of Lady Bird Lake and the Colorado River, front-door access to numerous walking and biking trails, and a design that leans heavily on natural materials and a bounty of plants, this newcomer brings the outside in. Each of the 108 spacious rooms and suites has floor-to-ceiling windows that provide extraordinary views, including the city skyline (in case you needed reminding of Austin’s metropolitan charms). But the best vista comes from the superb rooftop restaurant, Nido, which has become a destination in its own right. thelorenhotels.com; doubles from $425. —Mariah Tyler

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Pendry Washington D.C. The Wharf

View of the Tidal Basin from a table at the Pendry Washington D.C.

CHRISTIAN HORAN PHOTOGRAPHY/Courtesy of Pendry Washington D.C. 

Travelers who wish to experience Washington, D.C.’s modern side will feel right at home at this sleek new addition to the capital’s hospitality scene. Occupying prime waterfront real estate in The Wharf, the city’s newest development along the Potomac River, the Pendry D.C. offers guests a front-row seat to all the happenings in this trendy district. High-end amenities include a panoramic pool terrace with cabanas, sun loungers, and a swimming pool; spa facilities; and a rooftop restaurant, Moonraker, that offers light Japanese-inspired fare with outdoor seating and gas fire pits. Also unbeatable? Unobstructed views of capital’s most noteworthy monuments, like the Jefferson Memorial. pendry.com; doubles from $438. —Dobrina Zhekova

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Mayfair House Hotel & Garden — Miami

Plant filled atrium of the Mayfair House hotel in Miami

Will Pryce/Mayfair House Hotel & Garden

In a city of minimalist high-rise hotels, this Miami icon is a brightly patterned anomaly. The Coconut Grove property, which debuted in 1985, reopened last summer after a two-year renovation that lovingly preserved architect Kenneth Treister’s maximalist style. Beyond the façade lies a sun-dappled courtyard with a hanging garden of 5,000 tropical plants. Saturated in teal, saffron, and forest green, none of the 179 rooms and suites are alike; some feature upright pianos (guests can book a visiting musician by the hour), while others have private gardens or claw-foot tubs. Start the day with yoga on the roof, then explore the indie cafés, bookstores, and boutiques of Miami’s oldest neighborhood before an evening drink at the poolside Sipsip Calypso Rum Bar. mayfairhouse​miami.com; doubles from $350. —Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon

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Nine Orchard — New York

Aerial view of a rooftop terrace at Nine Orchard NYC

Mariah Tyler

This meticulous transformation of the 1912 Jarmulowsky bank building into a 116-room hotel is a harmonious blend of new and old New York luxury. Some lost aspects of the beaux-arts structure have been recreated — like the 60-foot rooftop tempietto and the lobby ceiling. Others have been restored to their original glory, like the exterior clock. A stay here feels like you’ve been invited to a chic friend’s apartment, with the backdrop of a perfect playlist (the in-room speakers play four radio channels specially made for the hotel by DJ Stretch Armstrong and Devon Turnbull). The most talked-about aspect of Nine Orchard, though, is the food — the hotel has a trio of high-end concepts, all by Ignacio Mattos of Mattos Hospitality, that have become neighborhood staples. There’s Corner Bar, a relaxed all-day spot, and the late-night Swan Room, if you want to indulge in a caviar and martini service. It all combines to make for an updated, lively New York stay. nineorchard.com; doubles from $595. —Mariah Tyler

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W Rome

Interior of the Living room of the Extreme Wow Suite at the W Rome

Courtesy of W Rome

The W brand’s Italian debut represents a sophisticated turn for the hard-partying younger sibling of Marriott’s refined Luxury Collection. A sleek design by Meyer Davis borrows ancient Roman motifs and Mediterranean colors, and the 162-room hotel feels buzzy yet refined. It draws a well-heeled local crowd for spritzes and pizza by acclaimed local pizzaiolo Pier Daniele Seu at the rooftop lounge Otto. Downstairs is Giano, one of the hottest tables in town, run by chef Ciccio Sultano, whose Ragusa, Italy, restaurant, Duomo, received two Michelin stars. During my stay, I indulged in sweets by renowned pastry chef Fabrizio Fiorani, then reset with rooftop yoga the next morning. Bring home an edible souvenir from Fiorani’s sweet shop or a bag designed by Daria Reina, whose capsule collection for the hotel is a bespoke version of the ones she sells at her cult concept shop Chez Dede. marriott.com; doubles from $622. —Laura Itzkowitz

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Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp — Belgium

The Botanic Health Spa Exterior Garden at Botanic Sanctuary, Antwerp

Hugo Thomassen/Courtesy of Botanic Sanctuary

Built in and around a 15th-century monastery (and, more recently, a hospital), every imaginable comfort is offered under one spectacular roof at Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp. Contained within the 215,000-square-foot complex is a three-story destination spa (whose massive windows overlook the botanical gardens the hotel was named for), six restaurants run by six different celebrated chefs, sun-filled winter gardens, and meditative courtyards. The 108 rooms and suites make ingenious use of the original beams and infrastructure, and are updated with luxurious Belgian linens and a cool color palette of blues, grays, browns, and soft pink. botanicantwerp.be; doubles from $331. —Marcia DeSanctis

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Château Royal — Berlin

Blue-walled guest room at the Chateau Royal hotel in Berlin

Felix Brüggemann/Courtesy of Château Royal

A stay at this hotel is like a visit to one of the city’s many museums. Each of the 93 rooms (which include 26 suites and one residential-style apartment) showcases a work by a different contemporary artist. It’s a curated nod to the vibrancy of Berlin’s creativity, past and present. That might mean a painting by Damien Hirst, a mural by Cosima von Bonin, or a plethora of pieces in other mediums, including photographs and videos. (Among this wealth of conversation starters is a memorable expletive scrawled above the bar.) The property comprises two buildings from 1850 and 1910, plus a new building and roof extension designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect David Chipperfield, in the heart of the historic Mitte neighborhood, just down the street from the Brandenburg Gate. With everything from a covered winter garden to a fireplace lounge to relax in, this is a place for Berliners and visitors alike to discuss the zeitgeist. chateauroyal​berlin.com; doubles from $207. —Chris Wallace

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Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky — Amsterdam

Interior of a Deluxe guest room with a terrace at Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam

Courtesy of Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas

The long-awaited renovation of this beloved property (originally built in 1855) added a new spa, a leafy courtyard garden, and carefully tailored experiences that show off the best of the Dutch capital: canal cruises in an antique saloon boat, private dining in a field of tulips, behind-the-scenes tours of the 17th-century Wynand Fockink distillery next door. The staff is also meticulously attentive. An in-the-know concierge is de rigeur for five-star hotels, but how many— upon hearing your kid loves street art by Invader— would tap their contacts for help in locating the works, and then transcribe them onto a special map? anantara.com; doubles from $350. —Mary Winston Nicklin

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Rosewood Vienna

Guest suite at the Rosewood Vienna hotel

Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

Curled up in a tulip chair at Salon Aurelie — a serene parlor with hand-painted murals in the Rosewood Vienna — I nearly forgot that the buzz of Petersplatz, one of the city’s historic squares, was just one story below. I found the same stillness in the relaxation room of the Asaya Spa, where the floor-to-ceiling windows face St. Stephen’s Cathedral. (Though I was soon lulled into a deeper peace by my Augustinus Bader facial.) The 99 rooms and suites are as elegant as you’d hope in a place like Vienna, and spectacular city views are everywhere you look. Neue Hoheit Brasserie serves such Austrian classics as Krautfleckerl (cabbage and noodles), but also lighter dishes like cured swordfish or roasted-Jerusalem-artichoke soup. This is the brand’s first waltz into Austria, but not its last dance: the Rosewood Schloss Fuschl will open near Salzburg later this year. rosewoodhotels.com; doubles from $742. —Maya Kachroo-Levine

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The Twenty Two — London

Detail of a wallpapered guest room at the Twenty Two London

Courtesy of The Twenty Two

In Mayfair’s leafy Grosvenor Square, this newcomer is already making waves. The 31-room hotel and members’ club is housed in a handsome Portland stone building with vast windows. Inside, it’s all velvet-clad banquettes, low lighting, dark lacquered walls, and sparkling flagstone floor. A cozy restaurant serves lobster thermidor and dover sole to the hedge-fund crowd, many of whom then head downstairs to the plush subterranean members-only space, which is humming  with DJ sets by 11 p.m. Rooms are spacious, with four-poster beds, theater-style velvet curtains, and playful faux-parquet carpets, while bathrooms are clad in checkerboard marble. In the morning, grab a Kombucha from the minibar and head to the green expanse of Hyde Park at the end of the road. thetwentytwo.london; doubles from $698. —Rebecca Rose

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Venice Venice Hotel

Interior and views of a canal at the Venice Venice Hotel

ALESSANDRO LANA/Courtesy of The Venice Venice Hotel

The 13th-century Byzantine palace Ca’ da Mosto, which sits opposite the Rialto Market on the Grand Canal, has been reimagined by the creative team behind the Golden Goose sneaker brand into an industrial-gothic-style luxury hotel. The aesthetic is established as soon as guests enter the dramatic, pin-drop-quiet entrance — you walk across a “flooded” floor and past a white-marble sculpture, “Pietà Without Christ,” by Fabio Viale. Each of the 26 guest rooms (with more to come in the adjacent palazzo) is adorned with pieces of original avant-garde art and ephemera. The ground floor holds an all-day café (which transforms into an in-demand fine dining venue by night). Over a leisurely breakfast, guests can watch all the classic comings and goings of the Grand Canal, while in turn, being observed by curious gondola passengers and locals. At times dark in sensibility, the overall effect is a mysterious, magical, and immersive environment that will be catnip for an international art and fashion crowd. venicevenice.com; doubles from $691. —Kathy Roberson

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Casa Polanco — Mexico City

Interior of the Library and Honors Bar at Casa Polanco in Mexico City

KARYN MILLET/Courtesy of Casa Polanco

The team at Casa Polanco likes to say that staying at the 19-room property is like visiting a friend in Mexico City. That friend turns out to be owner Octavio Aguilar, who spent more than three years expanding and transforming a 1940s Spanish colonial revival mansion into an elegant urban refuge. Aguilar has lived in Polanco — a lush, centrally located neighborhood — for more than 25 years, and Casa Polanco celebrates its environs in ways both big and small. At breakfast, you’ll find perfect pastries from DaSilva, an acclaimed bakery a few blocks away, and a menu created by award-winning local chef Martha Brockman. In every room, there are bottles from Casa del Agua, a local artisanal water boutique; on every bed, linens by the Mexican designer Paulina Morán, and by every sink, toiletries custom-crafted by the high-end perfumer Xinú, whose studio is nearby. Works from Aguilar’s extensive Mexican contemporary-art collection, including stunning photographs by Graciela Iturbide and paintings by Ricardo Mazal, decorate the walls. The service is attentive but never intrusive, and the team delights in the details. Love mezcal? They’ll organize a private tasting of rare, small-batch mezcals in the sitting room. Adore architecture? They can arrange a tour of the renowned architect Luis Barragan’s Casa Pedregal. casapolanco.com; doubles from $657. —Jeff Chu

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La Valise San Miguel de Allende — Mexico

A guest room bathroom at La Valise, San Miguel de Allende

LEANDRO BULZZANO/Courtesy of La Valise

Many hotels claim to be “an urban oasis,” but nowhere does that description feel truer than this boutique property in the heart of San Miguel de Allende. While mariachi bands, live salsa music, and fireworks thrum along the cobblestone streets outside the door, inside, soft jazz harmonizes with the infinity pool’s gentle fountain. Known for contemporary decor and impeccable service, La Valise is a brand that began in Tulum and later branched into Mexico City, before venturing to its northernmost location. The new San Miguel property offers six uniquely-designed guest rooms, a tranquil open-air courtyard, and an upper deck for a nighttime jacuzzi and stargazing, making it a luxurious little hideaway in this colorful, action-packed central Mexican city. lavalisema.com; doubles from $324. —Diana Spechler

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The Ned Doha — Qatar

View from a lounge are at The Ned Doha

JOE CHUA AGDEPPA/Courtesy of The Ned Doha

Formerly the Ministry of the Interior, this Brutalist-style building is now one of the chicest city hotels in the Gulf, with 90 rooms and suites and a members’ club. This is the third Ned property to open since the brand’s London debut in 2017. (The Ned Nomad also opened in New York in 2022.) David Chipperfield Architects extended the exterior of the building, on the city’s elegant Corniche, using bold sculptural forms. Soho House Design offset the stark 1970s concrete interiors with dark woods, green marble, bold fabric patterns, and vintage furniture. On the walls are hundreds of works of art chosen by Wadha Al-Aqeedi and Elina Sairanen, art historians and curators who champion works from west Asia and North Africa. There is also a mixed-gender gym, plus a spa and Moroccan hammam. thened.com; doubles from $265. —John Arlidge

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Tampa Edition — Florida

View from inside a suite bedroom at the Tampa Edition

Nikolas Koenig/Courtesy of Tampa Edition

You’ll know you’re in Florida the minute you step into the lobby’s verdant forest of palm fronds. And you’ll know you’re at the white-hot Tampa Edition because, as a guest, you just breezed past a line of locals hoping to get in at one of the hotel’s seven dining spots, now among the city’s most coveted bookings. Located in the heart of Tampa’s bustling Water Street district, the 172-room property is near major sites like the Florida Aquarium, Tampa Bay History Center, the Hillsborough River walk, and several cruise terminals. Interiors by Roman & Williams honor the brand’s penchant for white walls, clean lines, and pale woods, but are juiced up here with vibrant Floridian shades of lime green, sunshine yellow, and turquoise. There’s a sizable gym and spa, and, despite its allure for 20-somethings, this is also a great family hotel. The double queen rooms are super spacious and smartly designed for luggage-storage, with plenty of outlets for everyone’s devices. editionhotels.com; doubles from $699. —Andrew Ferren

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Conrad Los Angeles

The Agua Viva Sunset rooftop at the Conrad Los Angeles

Courtesy of Conrad Los Angeles

Conrad might be making a concerted push into the resort space, but at its core, this arm of Hilton’s portfolio is still synonymous with luxurious urban hotels — a category Downtown L.A. was largely lacking before this well-situated Bunker Hill stunner came along last July. The 305-key property is the brand’s first California location and occupies one tower of a massive new mixed-use complex designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, whose gleaming concert hall sits across the street. Modern interiors by Tara Bernerd & Partners feature bold pops of color and pattern tempered by lush green plants and plenty of floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the common areas with light. Our spacious one-bedroom corner suite had a prime city view and was tricked out with smart technology (blackout curtains, motion-activated lights beneath the bed). Guests are also spoiled with five dining options from chef José Andres. The service was outstanding across the board, as was the food. But if I was pressed to pick a favorite, Agua Viva (the property’s casual, alfresco option) was the spot I’d return to time and time again for its grilled skewers, smashed txule burger, and build-your-own hand rolls. hilton.com; doubles from $357. —Sarah Bruning

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Fairmont Tazi Palace Tangier — Morocco

The exterior and pool at Fairmont Tazi Palace Tangier

Courtesy of Fairmont Tazi Palace Tangier

Tangier’s alluring blend of Moroccan, Spanish, and French culture is reflected in this 1920s-era palace, which was recently restored and expanded upon to create the Fairmont Tazi Palace Tangier. The light-flooded 133 spacious rooms and suites, many with private terraces or gardens, mix contemporary furnishings with traditional Moroccan textiles. At every turn, the original structure's splendor is complemented by soaring ceilings and elaborate hallways with intricately patterned floors, handcrafted moucharabieh latticework, tadelakt plaster, and zellige tiles (which are glazed with seemingly purposeful imperfections, lending the tiles a painterly quality.) The lush, central courtyard is anchored with a reflective, black marble-lined pool, with surrounding city and mountain views. Still, the staff is just as eager to connect guests with excursions outside the hotel's walls, including horseback riding on the beach at sunset, or trips to the enchanting "Blue City" of Chefchaouen, a mere two hour’s drive away. fairmont.com; doubles from $309. —Dan Koday

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andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge — Tanzania

Exterior of the andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge

Courtesy of andBeyond

In April 2020, heavy rains caused the Grumeti River to spill its banks and flood this beloved Tanzanian lodge — causing enough damage to necessitate a total rebuild. AndBeyond tapped the original designers, Fox Browne Creative and Jack Alexander, to create a property that blends seamlessly into the landscape. Indeed, the entire place seems to revolve around the Grumeti: the low-slung buildings follow a bow of the river, and each of the 10 stand-alone, semi-tented suites has floor-to-ceiling windows and a veranda that overlooks the water, where hippos splash and crocodiles lurk. On game drives, guests may be lucky enough to spot black-and-white colobus monkeys, found nowhere else in the Serengeti (though large prides of lions are the real draw). One of the more memorable moments of my stay was dinner in the bush: roaring fires lit my path, and instead of music, the distant sound of whooping hyenas was my playlist. andbeyond.com; suites from $1,135. —Mary Holland

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Duke’s Camp — Okavango Delta, Botswana

Exterior view of guest tent at Botswana

Courtesy of Duke's Camp

A 220,000-acre swath of private concession land in the Okavango Delta is home to the newest property from safari company Natural Selection. Duke’s Camp is a collection of eight canvas tents raised on wooden decks on the delta’s Kgao Island — an ideal perch from which to spot the region’s herds of thundering wildebeest. On game drives, not only did I glimpse elephants and prides of lion, but also the elusive sable antelope and neon-hued birds like the lilac-breasted roller. But here, safaris aren’t limited to driving: one of my favorite experiences was a peaceful paddle in a traditional mokoro (a dugout canoe) just before the sun set over the vast expanse of the Okavango.  naturalselection.com; doubles from $830. —Lauren Breedlove

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Olinto — Ouirgane, Morocco

View through two arches at the Olinto resort

Ebony Siovhan/Courtesy of Olinto

Olinto is a dream realized by Italian owner Fabrizio Ruspoli di Poggio Suasa. Tired of city life, he sold the beloved hotel La Maison Arabe, in Marrakesh, after 25 years, and bought a farm in the Ouirgane Valley about an hour south. He has since slowly transformed it into an elegant getaway enveloped by the Atlas Mountains. Nine guest houses — three with heated infinity pools on their rooftop terraces — are surrounded by 10 acres of olive groves, gardens, and wisteria. There’s also a small hammam and a Moroccan-Mediterranean restaurant that uses herbs and vegetables grown on site. Several times during my stay, I was delighted to hear classical music alongside the call to prayer — Ruspoli hosts a residency for pianists in the house he owns next door. olinto.net; doubles from $745. —Gisela Williams

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Waterside at Royal Malewane — Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa

Interior guest suite with green walls and red accents and 360 degree nature views

Courtesy of Waterside Lodge

The newest Royal Portfolio property shuns the usual safari palette of muted, earthy tones and instead embraces a fresh and joyful design. The 12 suites each have a vibrant color theme representing shades found in the bush: the bright pink of impala lilies, the warm orange of aloe flowers, the brilliant blue of malachite kingfishers. And there are bold, contemporary South African artworks to match. It’s not for everyone, but as top Kruger-based safari properties struggle to outdo each other on guiding, service, and food (all of which are excellent at Waterside), the confident, modern aesthetic genuinely makes the lodge stand out. It’s also a very family-friendly option — the two-bedroom Baobab Suite and four-room Waterside House villa are great for those needing more space, and kids can occupy themselves during any down time in the game and movie rooms. theroyalportfolio.com; doubles from $2,877. —Heather Richardson

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Zambezi Grande — Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia

A daybed outside under a tree by water at Zambezi Grande in Zambia

Elsa Young

Located on a tree-shaded bank overlooking the Zambezi River, this elegant Cape Dutch-style lodge recently transitioned from a private residence to a commercial safari property. The new design by South Africa-based Michele Throssell retains the intimate atmosphere of a family home and celebrates contemporary African style, which is inspired by the colors of Zambia (rich rusts and greens that reflect the hues of the river and its banks predominate). In addition to a total interior makeover, a solar farm was added, as was a new vegetable and herb garden. There are only five guestrooms, plus five larger freestanding suites — all supremely comfortable enough to recharge after a day of fishing and game drives. Afterwards, take a leisurely boat cruise to a lantern-lit, river island dinner, with wading elephants silhouetted by the sunset as your backdrop. zambezigrande.com; doubles from $1,400. —Julia Freemantle

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Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort — Punta Mita, Mexico

Wooden architectural arched tunnel at the Naviva Four Seasons resort

Yoshihiro Makino/Courtesy of Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort

Moments after arriving at this jungle-shrouded resort, I was being promised pit-smoked cochinita for dinner and offered an ice-cold Modelo. It was far from the only magic Naviva would conjure during my visit to Punta Mita. Most spa treatments are included with a stay, whether that means a temescal sweat, hot-wax massage, breath work, or guided meditation. (Also rejuvenating is a lengthy soak in the resort’s three-tiered pool.) Naviva’s 15 tented villas — each with an open-air living room, an outdoor shower, a plunge pool, and a fire pit — are integrated into the surrounding forest, and include Mexican furnishings and textiles. While the resort’s room count is low, its facilities span 48 acres, which means you’ll rarely encounter other guests while hiking the trails, catching surf breaks, or relaxing in the bamboo-shaded pavilion overlooking the Pacific. fourseasons.com; doubles from $3,950, all-inclusive. —Maya Kachroo-Levine

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Osborn House — Southern Highlands, Australia

Interior at the Osborn House hotel

Alan Jensen/Courtesy of Osborn House

Though Australia’s Southern Highlands have long been a country escape for Sydney’s elite, this residential-style hotel offers a new entry point to the region. An 1892 mansion contains 15 rooms, while seven black-timber cabins are tucked into the surrounding woods. The interiors, by Linda Boronkay, former design director for Soho House Hotels, feature works by artists-in-residence, beginning with Byron Bay painter Jai Vasicek. Osborn House makes an ideal base for hiking in Morton National Park, home to the spectacular 265-foot Fitzroy Falls — with an indoor pool, spa, and two restaurants to look forward to after the trek. Most Sundays, the hotel holds Fire Feast, an asado-style party at which chef Seguno Farrell (who trained under Francis Mallmann in Uruguay) slow-roasts Wagyu tomahawk steaks and organic chickens. Guests can watch the show with a glass of Provençal rosé in hand. osbornhouse.com.au; doubles from $404. —Kendall Hill

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The Fox at Oddington — Moreton-in-Marsh, England

Guest room with natural details at The Fox at Oddington

Martin Morrell/Courtesy of The Fox at Oddington

When it opened in 2013, Carole Bamford’s pub-hotel, the Wild Rabbit, sealed the reputation of the Cotswolds as a country escape for the well-heeled. With the opening of Bamford’s second property, the Fox at Oddington, there’s one more reason to make a trip. The Fox has just six rooms, along with the four-bedroom Coachman’s House, which has its own kitchen. Bamford’s approach to décor tends to be rustic-chic, with exposed stone walls, natural fibers, and equestrian details (leather saddles, vintage oil paintings of horses). As pleasing as the accommodations may be, the Fox is designed as a base for exploring the region: a place for a fireside gin and tonic in the Tack Room bar after a hike through the rolling hills or a drive around the storybook villages of Chipping Norton and Stow-on-the-Wold. A short stroll away you’ll find Bamford’s Daylesford Organic, a farm and accompanying store that supplies many of the ingredients for the Fox’s exceptional meals — like twice-baked cheese soufflé with chive cream or rabbit terrine with apricot compote. thefoxatoddington.com; doubles from $273. —Sabina Murray

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Oasyhotel — Limestre, Italy

A woman sits on the porch of a guest cabin at the Oasyhotel

Mattia Marasco/Courtesy of Oasyhotel

Usually when luxury hotels make a claim of “simplicity,” they don’t mean anything most of us would recognize. But the Oasyhotel is different. The property consists of a group of wooden lodges on a hill above an old stone building. The restaurant offers a brief menu of extraordinary food from within a few miles, served on wooden tables on a bare flagged floor. The lodges are plain, clean, comfortable. The luxury lies in the fairytale setting of a hilltop nature reserve in Tuscany; the passion and expertise of the hotel’s young staff (including a wildlife guide, gardeners and a yoga teacher); and the opportunity to walk the woods at night and to lunch on local cheese made from the milk of cows grazing the meadow beside you — along with a farmer who shows you how it's made. In other words, Oasyhotel is showing us all how the future of sustainable travel should look. oasyhotel.com; doubles from $410. —Sarah Moss

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Hotel Terrestre — Puerto Escondido, Mexico

Hotel Terrestre exterior view amongst the trees in Mexico

Courtesy of Grupo Habita

Arriving at Hotel Terrestre is a near hallucinogenic experience. One moment you’re bouncing along a dusty road in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, surrounded by nothing but rugged mountains and the emerald churn of the Pacific, and the next you’re entering an improbable dreamscape where high-design refinement merges with a raw, earthy sensibility. Though the rollicking surf town of Puerto Escondido is only 20 miles away, the hotel feels seductively unmoored from time and place, with its grounds of copal trees and 14 rooms built into jagged, Brutalist structures, each with a private rooftop pool. Much as all this is undeniable catnip for social media feeds, the actual experience is lushly analog, with days spent flitting between hammocks and the steam room, hot tub, and cold plunge tucked inside a dramatic temescal. Amble across the road at sunset and you find a beach bar built along a strip of epic coastline so barren that the sight of a dinosaur would hardly be a surprise between sips of mezcal. terrestrehotel.com; doubles from $545. —David Amsden

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SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites — Mendoza, Argentina

Spa suite with sauna at SB Winemakers House & Spa in Argentina, glowing in sun light

Courtesy of Susana Balbo Hotels

Susana Balbo made history as Argentina’s first female winemaker. Now, the trailblazing vintner and her daughter, Ana, have opened Mendoza’s newest boutique hotel, set within their family’s former home in the leafy suburb of Chacras de Coria. The intimate hideaway fans outward from the Spanish-style bungalow — all arched doorways and beamed ceilings, with artwork culled from Balbo’s private collection — and encompasses seven “spa suites'' with steam rooms, saunas, and sliding glass doors that open to private gardens. Wellness butlers are on hand to set up complimentary welcome massages and draw baths in the suite’s deep-soaking stone tubs, whose oval shapes are inspired by the concrete fermentation vats in Balbo’s winery, a half-hour from the hotel. There, guests enjoy complimentary tours of the cellars and multi-course lunches with views of the Andes. Guests can also opt for an aerial safari in Balbo’s private seaplane which can whisk visitors to remote destinations not accessible to commercial carriers, such as the red rocks and arid desert of Cafayate or the secluded Lago La Plata in Argentina’s Patagonia. But most will be tempted to stay back at the hotel, lounging by the pool and enjoying long, leisurely lunches and traditional parrilla dinners at La VidA restaurant. And don’t sleep on the cocktails: mixologist Flavia Arroyo of Buenos Aires hotspot Casa Cavia has crafted an expertly curated drinks list, with options that incorporate Balbo’s award-winning torrontés and Provencal-style rosé. susanabalbohotels.com; doubles from $735. —Siobhan Reid

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Borgo San Vincenzo — Montepulciano, Italy

Pool with lounge chairs and umbrellas at Borgo San Vincenzo in Italy

Courtesy of Borgo San Vincenzo

It’s the rare Italian countryside hotel that can keep both kids and parents happy during a day-long torrential downpour, but the new 21-suite Borgo San Vicenzo — the first luxury hotel to open in southern Tuscany in a decade — is just such a place. Autumn rains on our recent stay brought about an impromptu (and highly entertaining) cocktail-making class, with a foamy, dried-pineapple-garnished mocktail for our preschooler, and a more potent version for his dads. That’s just one of many immersive, carefully curated food-, drink-, and culture-focused experiences offered by this pastoral hotel, which sits amid vineyards just outside Montepulciano’s historic center. Owned by the American couple behind Anguilla’s beloved Frangipani Beach Resort, the Borgo occupies a series of stone-walled, terracotta-roofed agrarian buildings that date back to 1780, and now sport spare, subtly luxe, regionally appropriate interiors. The stone-tiled pool did us no good in the rain, yet I dream of it still. borgosanvincenzo.com; doubles from $320. —Andrew Sessa

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Parkhotel Mondschein — Bolzano, Italy

Exterior of Parkhotel Mondschein in Italy, a vine covered building

Courtesy of Parkhotel Mondschein

In the Northern Italian city of Bolzano — known as the gateway to the Dolomites — nothing new comes without at least a dash of something old. That’s especially true at Parkhotel Mondschein, which sits on the edge of the center of town, a few steps along cobblestones from Gothic cathedrals and ancient piazzas. The Mondschein itself partly dates back to 1330, when it was a tavern that welcomed roving artists and nobles. While a mélange of architectural styles has been added through the centuries, its newest iteration, led by South Tyrol’s Alto Hotel Group, is unfussily contemporary. The 70 rooms and six suites are minimal with a whiff of midcentury, featuring chevron wood floors, velvet headboards and sofas, and tasseled drapes that frame views of the mountains from Art Nouveau balconies. Guests instantly feel part of the local scene thanks to the hotel’s city guide assembled in collaboration with resident creatives like artist Mirijam Heiler and songwriter Anna Carol. You’re just as likely to rub elbows with Bolzano’s cool kids at the sultry Luna Bar, which spills out onto a lush garden that’s shared with In Viaggio — Chef Claudio Melis’s exceptional ode to Tyrolean-and-beyond cuisine, past and present. parkhotelmondschein.com; doubles from $139. —Jackie Caradonio

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Ulysses — Baltimore

Ornate and richly-colored lobby of the Hotel Ulysses

Brett Wood/Courtesy of Hotel Ulysses

The latest opening from hospitality and design firm Ash — which has hotels in Detroit; New Orleans; and Providence, Rhode Island — is a delightful palimpsest of references. Are those flamingo bedside tables a nod to Baltimore artist and filmmaker John Waters? They are. Do the floor mosaics and elevator paintings hint at Greek mythology? You bet. Is Ulysses a reference to the James Joyce novel? Naturally — but it’s also the name of a ship that brought Bavarian immigrants to Baltimore in the late 19th century. Layers of history and ornate design define the 116 rooms, which are done in blue, green, red, or yellow, with vintage European furniture and custom quilts made in Jaipur, India. I spent the day working remotely at Ash Bar, the hotel’s cafe and restaurant (don’t skip the steak tartare with rosemary chips), then stepped over to Bloom’s, a bar and lounge with velvet barstools and a mirrored ceiling. But my favorite moment was a simple one: drawing a morning bath in my suite’s soaking tub (provocatively placed in the middle of the room) and watching the sun come up over the city. ash.world; doubles from $165. —Liz Cantrell

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Life House, South of Fifth — Miami

Exterior building with a palm tree and Spanish tile roof at Lifehouse South of Fifth in Miami

Courtesy of Lifehouse South of Fith

When it comes to South Beach crash pads, it doesn’t get much cooler than this SoFi charmer. Two blocks from the sand, its parasol-studded patio and eclectically furnished, plant-filled lobby welcome out-of-towners and locals alike. The upper floor of the landmark two-story 1930s cottage has been converted to house 26 rooms, decorated in a neutral palette that fans of the “coastal grandma” style will appreciate. Unique to the hotel (and, for that matter, Miami) is the family suite, which sleeps up to six guests, four of them in lofted full-size beds that offer a grown-up spin on the bunk beds of your youth. Pretty Swell, the hotel’s restaurant and bar, is open for drinks (try the Sea Foam, with Jamaican rum, salted coconut cream, and pineapple juice) and dinner (even carnivores will love the vegan barbecue jackfruit tacos). South Beach’s boutiques, bars, and beach scene are also just steps away. lifehousehotels.com; doubles from $257. —Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon

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Palihouse West Hollywood — California

Reception, lobby with red and wicker chairs and black fireplace at Palihouse West Hollywood

Caylon Hackwith

Never has nostalgia felt as fashionable as it does at Palihouse West Hollywood. My toddler immediately ran to pet the perfectly kitschy porcelain dalmatians flanking the lobby, beneath a field of floral wallpaper on the ceiling. The hotel’s 95 guest rooms — with custom corduroy sofas, gingham tile, and Smeg-stocked kitchenettes — are an extension of this quirk that seems as if a designer flawlessly curated your cool great aunt’s abode. Situated on one of L.A.’s most walkable streets, it stirs up old memories while making new ones. Delightful touches abound, from glass mushroom lamps in the Lobby Lounge Café and Bar to a secret sugary amenity in the vintage Cali-themed pool lounge. Outside, the striped saltwater pool was so tempting, we plunged in for a brisk January swim. Even with dozens of cafes and restaurants in the surrounding blocks, a permeating coziness made me want to stay put for heart-warming meals of crunchy coconut French toast and ooey-gooey macaroni and cheese. The scene is cool all day, but even more so by night when bartenders stir up Bénédictine-tinged cocktails and in-the-know foodies sneak upstairs to the pocket-sized sushi bar hidden on the mezzanine. Oh so L.A. palisociety.com; doubles from $288. —Kathryn Romeyn

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Hotel Marcel — New Haven, Connecticut

Exterior architectural building of Hotel Marcel and interior bedroom detail

Seamus Payne

Most travelers don't dream of sleeping beside a gargantuan Ikea, but if you're a fan of brutalism, you'll be willing to overlook the blue-and-yellow signage (not to mention the white noise of I-95) for a chance to sleep in a repurposed masterpiece that's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. First built in the 1960s as the headquarters for the Armstrong Rubber Company by Hungarian-American architect Marcel Breuer, the floating concrete box sat essentially unoccupied for decades, until architect and developer Bruce Redman Becker purchased the pile for $1.2 million in 2020. He hired Brooklyn-based interiors and branding firm Dutch East Design to transform the tower into a dazzling, all-electric, LEED-platinum display of respectful adaptive reuse. Christening it the Hotel Marcel, Dutch East Design carved out 165 guest rooms and suites that remain true to the aesthetics of the midcentury architectural movement — note the Anni Albers fabrics, the Knoll chairs, and the 800 recycled lighting fixtures throughout — while notably warming up the interiors. Guests coming to New Haven to visit Yale enter the undulating panels of poured concrete to find shimmering, perforated brass encircling the restaurant bar, a sunken living room in the lobby, and deep, wood-lined windows in the guest rooms. If the stairs look familiar, that's because they’re the same as those found in NYC's original Whitney Museum of American Art, which Breuer also designed. Not a stick of Ikea furniture to be found — except next door. hotelmarcel.com; doubles from $135. —Heidi Mitchell

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Ace Hotel Sydney

Guest room with a view at the Ace Hotel Sydney

Anson Smart/Courtesy of Ace Hotels

This is Ace’s first opening south of the equator, and though Sydneysiders rarely socialize in swanky hotels, the 257-room outpost has already garnered a firm local following. That’s partially due to the quality of the eating and drinking spaces. There’s street-level cafe Good Chemistry; an all-day diner, Loam; and a rooftop restaurant, Kiln, which is one of Sydney’s hottest tickets, dishing up modern, produce-focused menus (curry-leaf eggplant with macadamia, Southern Ocean calamari, and salmoriglio) and an organic wine list. In a happening part of Surry Hills, this marks an overdue urban-cool entry for the neighborhood. acehotel.com; doubles from $261. —Kendall Hill

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Le Doyenné — Saint-Vrain, France

Guest bath with clawfoot tub and soft vintage bedroom with pink bedding at Le Doyenné in France

Courtesy of Le Doyenné/Marine Billet

In the small town of Saint-Vrain, roughly an hour south of Paris, Australian chefs James Henry and Shaun Kelly (both alumni of Paris’s Au Passage restaurant) have created a convivial guest house as an adjunct to their now award-winning restaurant. Out here, the food is billed as the main attraction, but the 10 well-appointed bedrooms on the upper floors of these former 19th-century stables are no afterthought. The building’s original structure, with its soaring ceilings and exposed oak beams, was preserved to set the tone for a contemporary countryside séjour, with inviting beds made up with homey linens, free-standing bathtubs, and for some, a view over the vegetable garden and orchard. Once dinner has been slept off, breakfast is a relaxed but equally delicious affair: order eggs any way you like (collected that morning from the property’s free-range hens), house-cured ham from the estate’s forest-raised pigs, and fresh bread and pastries made by in-house baker Lori Oyamada, who was lured here from Tartine in San Francisco. ledoyennerestaurant.com; doubles from $242. —Alice Cavanagh

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Hotel Chelsea — New York City

Art filled lobby of the renovated Hotel Chelsea

Annie Schlechter/Courtey of Hotel Chelsea

New York bohemians breathed a collective sigh of relief last summer when the Hotel Chelsea, the city's most cherished artistic refuge, reopened its doors to paying guests after an 11-year closure. And although its 12 floors were mostly redesigned — fans will look in vain for the Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, and Leonard Cohen rooms — the density of underground lore feels palpable from the moment you walk into the lobby. The original carved 1884 fireplace is still flanked by paintings traded for rent by Stanley Bard, the artist-loving owner in the glory days of the '60s and '70s, and the splendid, Gothic wrought-iron spiral staircase still coils above the front desk. A special door leads to the hotel's Spanish restaurant El Quijote, where Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and the musicians from Jefferson Airplane gathered for sangria and "shrimp and green sauce" in the summer of '69 before driving up to Woodstock. The space has preserved the red vinyl booths and antique Cervantes-themed murals. Cocktails are served in the majestic Lobby Bar, where polished wooden counters and antique mirrors look like relics from when Mark Twain held forth. Most important for guests, the upstairs floors no longer resemble "a middle school prison," as Patti Smith described the aesthetic in her memoir “Just Kids.” In fact, the remastered rooms are now downright luxurious — spacious and filled with enough light to satisfy any wide-eyed artist. The chic, retro decor — including plush velvet lounges, chairs with tiger-stripe patterns, brass fittings, and sumptuous baths — offers nods to the rock-and-roll lifestyle. Suites open onto balconies by the iconic neon hotel sign, offering New York's coolest new Instagram opportunity. Meanwhile, shuffling in and out of the elevators are the 40 full-time tenants of the Chelsea, who have managed to hang through legal wrangles, and many of whom recall the hotel's golden age of artistic debauchery and can tell wild stories about rockers, poets, and assorted hangers-on. To coin a phrase: only in New York. hotelchelsea.com; doubles from $220. —Tony Perrottet

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Beacon Grand, a Union Square Hotel — San Francisco

Grand entrance staircase at Beacon Grand in San Francisco

Courtesy of Beacon Grand

When the Sir Francis Drake Hotel opened in 1928, it became a San Francisco icon practically on sight: More than 10,000 people showed up that day to check it out. And it remained a fixture of the San Francisco scene for the next 100 or so years — until, of course, the pandemic shut the party down. The hotel quietly changed hands in spring of 2021, kicking off a full-scale rebrand under its new owners, the Northview Hotel Group. Its place in San Francisco history remains: The English navigator has been dropped from the hotel’s name, but much of the Weeks and Day-designed building has been preserved, including original chandeliers, decorative grates, woodwork, and the grand marble columns and giant patinated mirrors of its soaring lobby. (Meanwhile, the 1920s-sized bathrooms have been expanded, and the subterranean gym now includes four Pelotons, among other new equipment.) The property reopened as the Beacon Grand in June 2022, with 418 fully renovated rooms and suites — some done up in clean navy and white, others with a custom San Francisco wallpaper featuring a pattern of cable cars, lighthouses, sourdough, and seals. The bar-restaurant above the lobby serves classic dishes with California ingredients (Brokaw avocados, Liberty duck) and an impressive list of barrel-aged batched cocktails; the dark-wood space hidden at the end of the mezzanine is now a library and whiskey tasting room. Plans for other culinary venues are in the works: the 21st-floor Starlite Room, once the glittering domain of San Francisco nightlife impresario Harry Denton, will eventually light up once again. beacongrand.com; doubles from $196. —Hannah Walhout

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Aire de O:live — San Juan, Puerto Rico

The bedroom and view of ocean from Aire de O:live in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico

Courtesy of Aire de O:live

You could sit in the rooftop pool at Aire de O:live and dreamily gaze out at the aquamarine ocean. Or, if you’ve booked an Agua de O:live suite, you can sit in your own personal, heated plunge pool and do the same from right inside the room. The plunge pool sits against a picture window, overlooking one of San Juan’s most scenic beaches 10 stories below. The pool is not the only showpiece in the two-room suite, though. A tranquil garden living area enhances the spa-like design, rich with earthen-toned wood, stone, and natural fabrics. If you can drag yourself out of the suite, Aire de O:live’s rooftop features a super-cool restaurant and bar with panoramic views, just like its sibling properties in San Juan, O:live Boutique Hotel and O:LV Fifty Five. Fittingly named Kumo, which means “cloud” in Japanese, the contemporary Japanese menu includes a selection of small plates, robatayaki, and Latin-infused mains. And there’s more to look forward to: a stylish lobby restaurant and Miami-style beach club are coming soon. airedeolive.com; doubles from $245. —Kathleen Squires

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Fleur de Loire — Blois, France

Bar seating at Fleur de Loire in France

© Fleur de Loire

At this hotel, set in the Duke of Orléans’s former home in Blois, the best thing to do is eat. Chef Christophe Hay’s eponymous restaurant was recently awarded two Michelin stars, and there’s also an exemplary pâtisserie, an inventive cocktail lounge, and a second restaurant, the upscale Amour Blanc, overlooking the Loire River. After a nine-course prix fixe, it was a relief to retire to my carpeted suite in the eaves of the 17th-century château, where the decor’s gold, caramel, and pearl tones soothed me to sleep. Though they share smart furnishings, like a writing desk with a pop-up vanity, each of the 44 rooms is distinct (ones with first-floor patios look onto the garden and an infinity pool). In between meals, visit the Sisley Spa and the fitness studio, which is outfitted in trendy gear like Nohrd’s wooden treadmill. fleurdeloire.com; doubles from $213. —Betsy Andrews

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Hotel das Amoreiras — Lisbon

A waiter tending to a table at Hotel das Armoreiras in Lisbon

Francisco Nogueira

Tucked away in a leafy, quiet neighborhood just north of hip Príncipe Real, Hotel das Amoreiras is the latest in Lisbon’s hotly anticipated openings. For owner Pedro Oliveira, this discreet 19-room hideaway is a labor of love, one through which he aims to deliver the generosity of Portuguese hospitality. Inside the two stitched-together town houses, almost everything you see has a personal connection. For example, the framed Lisbon scene in the lobby was painted by Oliveira’s father, and the rest of the artwork used to hang in his apartment. Rooms are thoughtfully arranged to maximize the limited square footage, with large, light-grabbing windows and uncluttered design choices. Two attic suites feature special elements like a marble rain shower with a window that looks over Praça das Amoreiras. The ground-floor public areas are made for hours-long lingering. The interior courtyard that orbits around an old olive tree is as pretty a sanctuary as you’ll find anywhere in Lisbon, made even better with a nonstop flow of pour-over coffee — a rarity in a country obsessed with espresso. hoteldasamoreiras.com; doubles from $226. —Chadner Navarro

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Short Stories Hotel — Los Angeles

Short Stories Hotel in West Hollywood
Stefan Merriweather

In the heart of a city sprawling with some 3.8 million people, it’s easy to feel like just another body, but nothing about my experience at this 1960s motel turned boutique hotel felt anonymous. There was the check-in chitchat over fresh lemonade and a staff member to escort me to my room, featuring quirky, custom-crafted furniture (think leopard-emblazoned velvet love seats) and artwork from California painter Kenton Nelson. Then, there was the phone call to remind us of the complimentary afternoon wine hour on the shaded patio of the North African–influenced Short Stories Restaurant. Steps away, we splashed around in the petite pool beneath a living green wall, sheltered from the surrounding busy streets in a cozy little bubble. Each of the 66 rooms is stocked with plush bathrobes, Taschen books, and minibars of artisanal spirits. shortstorieshotel.com; doubles from $247. —Kathryn Romeyn

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Sommerro — Oslo

Wooden design headboard with green wallpaper in a guest room at Sommero in Norway

Francisco Nogueira

The Sommerro building might not seem like the most likely candidate for a luxury hotel renovation. A municipal office building for a former electrical company? The American equivalent would be turning the DMV into a Four Seasons. But never underestimate the Norwegian creative spirit and attention to detail, and architecture with good bones. The Sommerro manages to be both chic and marvelously weird. The foyer is modern and minimalist, but if you head toward the back room, through the Ekspedisjonshallen restaurant, you’ll be confronted with a massive fresco by Norwegian artist Per Krohg, depicting how electricity transformed Oslo. In theory, it does not “go.” It’s folksy — nay, educational. But such is the charm of this place that will light up the imagination of anyone who stays here. sommerrohouse.com; doubles from $225. —Sloane Crosley

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Le Bois des Chambres — Loire Valley, France

Exterior of restaurant and hotel Les Bois des Chambres

© E. SANDER

The town of Chaumont-sur-Loire, once the site of Catherine de’ Medici’s hunting lodge, now has a hotel. The 39-room property evokes agrarian-chic living — some beds are reached by barn ladders and others are tucked into tiny huts, while larger rooms offer sweeping countryside views and spacious showers overlooking a garden. The restaurant continues the back-to-nature theme. Beneath a thatched dome, chef Guillaume Foucault whips up Loire-centric delights like eel cream tart, wild-mint brioche, and rustic pâté in a pool of oat cream topped with juicy pear. The only other amenities here are courtyard fire pits, but who needs a spa or lobby bar when there are birds in trees, bees on flowers, and horses whinnying in the nearby field? leboisdeschambres.fr; doubles from $203. —Betsy Andrews

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The Line San Francisco

Guest room with black and white modern chair and views of San Francisco at The Line Hotel

Chase Daniel

Like its predecessors, The Line’s latest location, in San Francisco’s gritty Tenderloin neighborhood, is a celebration of creative communities. Vibrant and visually striking, the journey starts from check-in, where multimedia artist Sasinun Kladpetch’s concrete, moss, and glass found-art installation spans the lobby. Guests can further immerse themselves in curated experiences, including quarterly exhibitions from visual art nonprofit Root Division and on-site programming ranging from aura readings to incense making. Upstairs, the rooms capture San Francisco’s urban character (graffiti headboards, exposed concrete) and centuries-old history (Victorian-era pendant lights). But it’s the evenings when the hotel truly comes to life: sample the burrata with pickled gypsy peppers and wonton chips at the signature Tenderheart restaurant (chef Joe Hou’s imaginative cuisine is eclectic and flavorful). Then, head to the rooftop Rise Over Run, a glass solarium encircled by fire pits, for cocktails from bar master Danny Louie. thelinehotel.com; doubles from $219. —Lisa Cheng

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Atlantis The Royal Dubai

The Sky Villa terrace pool at the Atlantis the Royal, Dubai

Brandon Barré Photography/Courtesy of Kerzner

Most major cities have one hotel icon: the Ritz (Paris), Claridge’s (London), Raffles (Singapore), the Peninsula (Hong Kong). But Dubai, arguably, now has three. Atlantis The Royal joins the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab, which floats in the Arabian Gulf, and the pink palace of Atlantis The Palm, atop the Palm Jumeirah. The cost was rumored to be around $1.5 billion, making Atlantis The Royal one of the most expensive hotels ever built. It had a launch party to match: Beyonce performed in front of thousands of guests at January’s opening bash. The massive structures fit together like jenga, each with suites unfolding onto vast terraces with private infinity pools. Spend the days taking in the cityscape and ocean views, before dining at restaurants run by José Andrés, Heston Blumenthal, Nobu Matsuhisa, Gastón Acurio, and Ariana Bundy, who opened her first restaurant, Ariana’s Persian Kitchen, in the hotel. atlantis.com; doubles from $521. —John Arlidge

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Saint James Paris

Exterior facade of Saint James Paris

Patrick Locqueneux - Mr. Tripper/Courtesy of Saint James Paris

From the outside, this 1892 neoclassical château has a stately persona, with a dramatic stone-arch entrance and meticulous gardens. But scratch that surface just a tad, and the hotel’s playful whimsy is revealed. There’s a housecat, Pilou, who roams the space as the true king of the castle (he even steps into the Michelin-starred Bellefeuille restaurant at times). The property — which has been open as a hotel since 1991 and part of  Relais & Châteaux since 2011 — was recently redone by French of-the-moment designer Laura Gonzalez. Throughout the 48 luscious rooms and suites, flowery IKSEL wallpaper now mixes with classic Pierre Frey fabrics. There is also a separate building with four apartments, plus a villa that sleeps 12. On the 4,000-square-foot subterranean level is one of the city’s two Guerlin spas, plus a 50-foot-long swimming pool under a glass roof. It feels like a fresh escape from the city, even though it’s in the heart of the 16th arrondissement, just a short walk from views of both the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower. saint-james-paris.com; doubles from $739. —Rachel Chang

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Passalacqua — Lake Como, Italy

Gilded guest room detail at Passalacqua, in Lake Como

Courtesy of Passalacqua

Lake Como is one of the most beautiful places in Italy, so it’s difficult to imagine that a hotel could compete with it. But Passalacqua has done just that. A passion project for third-generation hotelier Valentina De Santis, the property is set in an opulent 1767 villa and adjoining former stable block with a storied past: originally built for a noble family, it has hosted Napoleon Bonaparte and Winston Churchill, as well as composer Vincenzo Bellini, who wrote the opera “La Sonnambula” there in 1831. Today’s visitors will experience a similarly grand welcome; there are only 24 rooms spread across the two buildings, so the atmosphere of a private estate remains intact. To furnish the property, De Santis and her father spent years scouring Italian flea markets and auctions for antiques, intent on maintaining the property’s historic feel. Also impressive are Passalacqua’s seven acres of manicured lawns and flower and vegetable gardens, particularly so in the late afternoon, before dusk settles over the lake. passalacqua.it; doubles from $1,592. —John Wogan

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Aman New York

The rooftop lounge at the Aman New York City

Kelly Marshall

Here it is, the year’s least surprising It List awardee: Aman New York. An absolute fortress of luxury, from the subterranean Jazz Club to the 14th-floor Garden Terrace, Aman was arguably the most anticipated and lusted-after hotel opening of 2022. It more than ticked all the boxes when it came to luxury New York City hotels. When I visited in August — in the early days following the late-summer opening — I was most taken with the fireplaces in each of the 83 rooms. They’re flanked by two windows, which legendary Aman designer Jean-Michel Gathy kept from an early iteration of the Crown Building’s design. Within the 102-year-old building (which is tinged with French Renaissance and neoclassical flair), the goal was to “bring the Aman resort experience from the horizontal to the vertical,” Aman CEO Vlad Doronin previously told T+L. How? A three-floor spa with a 65-foot swimming pool; massive rooms (the largest of which is 2,780 square feet and has an unlisted price); and the Garden Terrace’s Belgian blue stone–covered fountain with a fire pit in the middle all make the hotel feel like a private island resort at 57th and Fifth. aman.com; doubles from $1,950. —Maya Kachroo-Levine

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Mandarin Oriental Palace — Luzern, Switzerland

A table on the balcony of a guest room at Mandarin Oriental Lucern

George Apostolidis/Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental Lucern

Solar systems of chandeliers, rose-marbled scagliola plaster pillars, checkerboard marble floors — the Mandarin Oriental on Lake Luzern, the brand’s second Swiss property, wears its Palace surname like a crown. But this 136-key hotel, housed in a 1906 apricot-and-coral belle epoque Napoleon, also finds grounding in its natural setting, from the velvet pillows cushioning the tea salon’s cane-barrel chairs (they change colors based on the season) to the woodsy-floral house scent diffused through the vaulted hallways (you’re detecting notes of pine, cedar, lavender, and moss). Meanwhile, windows everywhere never let you forget Luzern’s raison d’etre. Seventy percent of the airy rooms, furnished in a cool palette of champagnes and grays with sublime jet lag-busting beds, look out on the lake. This is the time to splurge. mandarinoriental.com; doubles from $780. —Adam Erace

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VIlla Palladio Jaipur

Interior of a guest room at Villa Palladio, Jaipur

Atul Pratap Chauhan/Courtesy of Villa Palladio Jaipur

The Pink City’s newest boutique hotel will have you seeing red — in a good way. The nine-room Villa Palladio is designed almost entirely in punchy shades of vermilion, cherry, scarlet, and carmine. Over-the-top color is something of a signature for owner Barbara Miolini, designer Marie-Anne Oudejans, and artist Vikas Soni, the team who famously wrapped Jaipur’s Bar Palladio in blue. Though the aesthetic might initially seem overwhelming, Villa Palladio quickly becomes a respite from the cacophony of the city, about a 30-minute drive away. Spend some time at the spa (where the massages and “grounding rituals” incorporate powdered pearl and quartz) or reading in the garden, surrounded by the scent of jasmine, pink laurel, and hibiscus. villa-palladio-jaipur.com; doubles from $390. —Prasad Ramamurthy

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Jumeirah Bali

View from the Sunset Villa terrace at Jumeirah Bali

Courtesy of Jumeirah Bali 

To get a sense of just how idyllic Jumeirah Bali’s setting is, consider that it sits on Dreamland Beach. The name feels completely apropos when you walk its honeyed sands or catch sight of skilled surfers slicing through the waves. Luckily, the resort’s own amenities keep pace with these surroundings. The two-tiered infinity pools are the star attraction, but the vast Talise Spa and tip-top gym are rainy-day sanctuaries. Dining is next level and the service superb: all-day Segaran serves punchy Indonesian dishes; elevated grill restaurant Akasa offers subtly sweet steaks cooked over smoldering coconut wood. Enveloped by bougainvillea and hibiscus, the villas each come with a generously sized pool and standalone teardrop-shaped bathtub. jumeirah.com; doubles from $619. —John O’Ceallaigh

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Castle Elvira — Trepuzzi, Italy

Aerial view of Castle Elvira during sunset

Air Commission/Courtesy of Castle Elvira

The backstory of this early 20th-century castle is, admittedly, a bit macabre — it’s named for a young girl whose parents built the property as their summer home. Elvira tragically died there, and the parents abandoned the castle about a hundred years ago, which remained vacant until filmmaker Harvey B-Brown and his husband Steven Riseley purchased it. The couple hopes to honor Elvira’s memory by restoring the property to its original purpose as a joyful country retreat. And oh, how they have succeeded. Set on nearly 40 acres of parkland and olive groves, near Lecce, in Puglia, the 12-room guesthouse is a deliciously colorful and over-the-top escape. (It’s even got celebrity cred — actor Kate Beckinsale spent a recent Christmas holiday there.) There are lots of activities (pasta making and drawing classes among them), but the most magical moment for me was a sunset cocktail on the roof terrace. castleelvira.com; doubles from $535. —Becky Sunshine

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Santo Mauro, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Madrid

Interior lounge of the Santo Mauro, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Courtesy of The Luxury Collection

Like many aristocrats of his era, the Duke of Santo Mauro gravitated to Madrid’s elegant Chamberí neighborhood, settling in a palace built for him between 1889 and 1902. Now, that sprawling noble residence is a 49-key hotel named for its original denizen, and it continues to exude a regal air. The property’s cozy restaurant, situated in the former library, is appropriately decorated with books and burnished wood, while the salon (the old ballroom where current visitors can gather to socialize, read, or have a drink) is outfitted in deep red hues and a flamboyant assemblage of Louis XIV-inspired textiles. After sipping a Casilda nightcap on the terrace (the vodka and Campari concoction is brightened with chestnut syrup, as an ode to the courtyard’s more-than-a-century-old trees), guests ascend the dramatically winding staircase to their rooms: the most alluring of which is the duke’s former bedroom, a suite wrapped in green velvet and adorned with antiques. marriot.com; doubles from $670 —Alia Akkam

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Cashel Palace Hotel — Ireland

Interior of the drawing room at Cashel Palace Hotel in Ireland

Michelle Chaplow/Courtesy of Cashel Palace Hotel

The medieval fortress and cathedral ruins known as the Rock of Cashel are a few of County Tipperary’s main attractions. Now, just below the limestone outcrop of this site, the reimagined Cashel Palace Hotel gives visitors a new reason to stay awhile. The Palladium manor was built for the Archbishop of Cashel and has been a hotel since the ‘60s; the recent renovation preserved period details but added new construction, like a Garden Wing (a block of rooms overlooking the property’s lush gardens) and a sleek spa with an indoor-outdoor swimming pool. Exploring the verdant hills so famous to the area is a highlight — especially on horseback. There’s even an Equine Concierge, who can also arrange visits to see the famous stallions at Coolmore Stud Farm and horse treks up nearby Tipperary Mountain. cashelpalacehotel.ie; doubles from $384. —Casey Hatfield-Chiotti

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Regent Phu Quoc — Vietnam

The main pool at the Regent Phu Quoc hotel

Chris Schalkx

This sprawling resort on southern Vietnam's palm-fringed Phu Quoc island is Regent’s opening gambit in an ambitious cross-Asia plan (properties in Hong Kong, Bali, and Kyoto are set to open in the coming years). It’s all suites and villas here—and all that space comes with extraordinarily luxe touches. The 126 villas feature private pools, generous living rooms (and terraces or decks), and kitchens stocked with everything from craft sodas to artisanal Vietnamese chocolate. Even the 176 suites have spacious balconies and, in some cases, plunge pools. The kids’ club is kitted out with a mini cinema and jungle gym, which gives their grown-up caretakers ample time to sip rosé at the beachfront Ocean Club or slurp excellent pho noodles at Rice Kitchen. regenthotels.com; doubles from $238. —Chris Schalkx

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Sensei Porcupine Creek — Rancho Mirage, California

Exterior view of guest room villas at Sensei Porcupine Creek in California

Nina Ruggiero

Set on a 230-acre desert oasis with the bighorn sheep–dotted Santa Rosa Mountains as its backdrop, Sensei Porcupine Creek is not just another California wellness resort—it’s a data-driven experience where medical experts get to know each individual and craft custom programs based on needs and goals. But it’s not all blood tests, mindset analyses, and fitness assessments, either — guests can relax by the pool, take a scenic hike, stretch out at wall yoga, or get a spa treatment in between breakfast, lunch, and dinner from the on-site Nobu restaurant and sushi bar. Oracle founder and billionaire Larry Ellison opened the resort (his second with oncologist and scientist Dr. David Agus) on the site of his former Rancho Mirage estate. The 18-hole golf course — with holes modeled after some of Ellison’s favorite courses around the world — is the centerpiece. Previously, the course was available only to decorated professional athletes and world dignitaries, including President Barack Obama. But now, all golfers have to do is book one of the property’s 22 serene rooms, casitas, or villas to get access. Porcupine Creek is also serious about tennis: courts, identical to those used for the nearby BNP Paribas Open (also owned by Ellison), are helmed by former professionals ready to give lessons at any level. sensei.com; doubles from $1,475. —Nina Ruggiero

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Mii Amo — Sedona, Arizona

View from a Casita Room suite bathroom at Mii Amo, Arizona

Douglas Friedman/Courtesy of Mii Amo

Between sweeping red rock formations and dusty canyon trails scattered with gnarly junipers and prickly pears, it’s hard to think that any visitor to Sedona would want to be anywhere but outdoors. But if there were an exception, it would be the newly renovated Mii Amo. Architects Gluckman Tang (known for their work on cultural institutions like the Prado Museum in Madrid and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City) designed each of the spaces to heighten the awareness of nature, encouraging exploration both outwards and inwards. That means during a yoga class, you can capture a mirrored reflection of canyons or get a framed view of a manzanita tree from a casita courtyard. Simple and natural materials were employed throughout (river stone and concrete floors; coffered wood ceilings; wool- and goat-hair- rugs), and an expanded spa hosts extended-length programming, from ancestral stone massages to sound bath healings and labyrinth walk meditations. And because the basis of wellness is food, chef Seamus Mullen helped create a delectable culinary program at the signature restaurant, Hummingbird, which turns away from calorie counts, focusing instead on natural flavors and fresh ingredients. miiamo.com; doubles from $6,200 for three nights, all-inclusive. —Lisa Cheng

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Lanserhof Sylt — Germany

Birds Eye view of a pool and swimmer at the Lanserhof Sylt resort

Alexander Haiden Photography/Courtesy of Lanserhof Sylt

Along the sandy bluffs of the tiny German island of Sylt is the newest property from the wellness-focused Lanserhof Resorts group: a sprawling, design-led medical spa that specializes in improving gut health. This is the third property from Lanserhof, which also has outposts in Lans, Austria, and Tegernsee, Germany (about a 50 minute drive south of Munich). This one, situated along the Frisian archipelago near Denmark, takes full advantage of the island’s clean air and tranquil, rural coastal atmosphere. The interiors compliment the wild, windswept nature found outdoors — along with views of the pristine dunes and shoreline, there are dramatic flourishes like the five-story spiral stairwell that reminded me of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. As expected, the wellness facilities are excellent across the board — the spa contains three saunas, a steam room, and an indoor-outdoor saltwater swimming pool. And while lounging amidst the serene surroundings is encouraged, Lanserhof is best suited for the goal-oriented. The protocol here requires a seven-day minimum stay, with itineraries that include special diets, treatments, and examinations. Fair warning: nutrition is especially regimented, and most meal plans greatly reduce caloric intake in order to fix digestive issues. But the results —  combined with Lanserhof’s expert techniques and protocols — were amazing, quick, and highly effective. I left feeling full of energy and better than ever. And I can’t wait to come back. lanserhof.com; seven-day programs from $3,970. —Olivia Lopez

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Six Senses Vana, Dehradun, India

The Ayurveda Center at Six Senses Vana in India

Courtesy of Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas 

At first glance, you could mistake the Six Senses’ second Indian outpost for an ashram where everyone wears white and speaks in hushed tones. What you’re witnessing instead is a wellness retreat that takes its mission seriously. So seriously, in fact, that attention to detail includes everything from food specific to your physiology (which is surprisingly delicious) to the attire you wear for treatments. On arrival, you start with a consultation where the traditional Ayurvedic system of diagnosis (by checking one’s pulse) is combined with a digital body scan that provides actionable data. You’ll follow a regime of treatments – massages, acupuncture, naturopathy, foot reflexology – based on your wellness goals, along with activities such as yoga, music, meditation sessions, and walks in the Himalayan foothills that adjoin the property. On a good day you might catch glimpses of the snow-covered peaks from which the river Ganga originates. sixsenses.com; doubles from $1,000. —Prasad Ramamurthy

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Hoshino Resorts Kai Yufuin — Kyushu, Japan

Guest villas on a terraced landscape at the Hoshino Kai Yufuin resort

Courtesy of Hoshino Resorts

The serenity of nature is the star of the show at Hoshino Resorts Kai Yufuin, a new hotel set amidst tiered rice fields, and whose architectural theme channels a contemporary riff on the traditional ryokan. Time seems to slow down at this 45-room minimalist property on Japan’s southernmost island, Kyushu. Architect Kengo Kuma created an aesthetic that leans on natural elements — textured black gravel floors, butterfly-like washi pendant lights, grass-woven seating. Dinner is a modern kaiseki medley of local flavors, like wild boar and shiitake pate in a monaka wafer, with watercress salad and citrus kabosu dressing. The best way to soak up the landscape is in the restorative, steaming waters of the outdoor onsen, where every sunlight angle falling across the rice fields and the surrounding mountains can be appreciated. hoshinoresorts.com; doubles from $325. —Danielle Demetriou

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Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection — Napa Valley

Suite terrace patio at Stanly Ranch

Courtesy of Stanly Ranch

In 1986, Auberge du Soleil, then a restaurant in Napa Valley, did something groundbreaking: they decided to offer rooms where guests who had spent the day wine tasting could stay overnight. Thirty-seven years later, Auberge (which grew from that small 50-room inn and restaurant into Auberge Resorts Collection, managing 26 hotels across five countries) still sets the luxury bar in Napa. Last year, Auberge Resorts Collection opened Stanly Ranch, its third Napa Valley outpost. With 135 rooms and cottages — each decorated with light wood paneling, beige stonework, and wicker furniture juxtaposed against black metal pergolas — the California farmhouse-chic vibes are, as they say, chef’s kiss. In the middle of the property are pavilions housing the main restaurant, Bear (speaking of things that are chef’s kiss!), coffee shop Gavel, and aptly named grab-and-go lunch spot The Window. Walk down from Bear’s mountain-facing patio to the inviting central pool (one of two at Stanly), encircled by lavender shrubs, next to the alfresco Basin Bar. The final charm of Stanly Ranch, beyond the luscious spa and “Infinity” art installation atop a small vine-strewn hill, is that it actually lives up to its name: it’s legitimately set on a working ranch. In fact, the chardonnay and pinot noir grapes grown on-site have been bought up by nearby wineries since long before the hotel opened, and Auberge eventually plans to make its own Stanly Ranch–labeled wine. aubergeresorts.com; doubles from $1,200. —Maya Kachroo Levine

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Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape — Bali

A villa overlook the forest at Buahan resort in Bali

Armelle Habib

Plenty of Balinese hotels promise a one-with-nature experience, but few deliver on that pledge in the way Buahan, on the edge of a jungled valley north of Ubud, does. Each of the 16 stilted villas, built from reclaimed ironwood, have no doors and no walls — only gauzy mosquito nets separate guests from the palm-tufted mountain slopes beyond. Modeled after traditional Balinese balé dwellings, the villas also come with private pools and hammered copper bathtubs, and feature ornate wooden decor carved by local woodworkers. The food and wellness programs are just as rootsy: the Toja Spa, spread over a collection of bamboo pavilions at the bottom of the valley, offers shamanic healing rituals and body wraps with medicinal herbs grown around the property. And from the open kitchen, chef Eka Sunarya draws on native Balinese ingredients, such as moringa and wild mushrooms, for (mostly) plant-based riffs on Indonesian soups, satays, and rice dishes. escape.banyantree.com; villas from $1,345. —Chris Schalkx

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Nick’s Cove — Marshall, California

Two kayakers on the water in front of Nick's Cove cottages in Tomales Bay, California

Kristen Loken

Whether you get sunshine and still waters or gusts of wind and gray skies, the moody elements at Nick’s Cove have no bearing on the pleasures of a stay here. This 1930s fish shack-turned-getaway sits on the shores of Tomales Bay in the tiny community of Marshall (population: 400), 50 miles northwest of San Francisco. The property’s 12 cottages (five of which are elevated on stilts above the water) got a total refresh last year, complete with delightful seafaring-inspired wallpaper, vintage clawfoot tubs, cozy wood-burning stoves, and plush beds — a perfect place to cosset yourself on chilly evenings. The counter service restaurant is a popular spot for locals and Highway 1 daytrippers, thanks to the beautiful setting and coastal classics with a regional spin, from grilled Tomales Bay oysters slicked with barbecue sauce to velvety macaroni and cheese loaded with Dungeness crab. And taking a stroll along Nick’s private pier to the hotel’s boat shack is a time-honored ritual for visitors — and worth braving a strong gale or two — if only to marvel at the charming collection of maritime tchotchkes held within. nickscove.com; doubles from $425. —Leilani Marie Labong

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Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection — Gardiner, New York

Interior of a cottage at Wildflower Farms

Courtesy of Auberge Resorts Collection

From the outside, the 65 wood-and-glass cabins of Wildflower Farms look like high-design tiny homes, arrayed on the horizon with the slate-gray ridge of the Shawangunk Mountains rising in the distance. But inside, they’re as warm and comfy as a Catskills resort should be: an Arts and Crafts vibe with four-poster beds, floral motifs, patterned rugs, and quilts of sage green, burnt orange, and cream. This contrast is what the new Auberge Resorts Collection property, the first in New York, does with well-oiled precision. It’s a working farm with a spa and lounger-lined pool, where you can hike around its 140 acres before buying a cashmere sweater in the lobby boutique, a collaboration with chic gardening apparel brand Gardinheir. The cabins are clustered close together, but each has a back balcony secluded amid the trees from where you’ll hardly see another soul. Though the restaurant, Clay, will be packed — lofty and barn-like, with trees sprouting in the dining room and tapestries on the walls. Chef Rob Lawson cooks vegetables, like mushroom katsu or salt-baked celery root filled with celery-root bechamel, like they’re the star of the show (there’s a burger, too, don’t worry). The morning after dinner, you can take a walk and see where some of your ingredients came from; during my stay, broccolini, kale, carrots, cabbage, beets, radishes, various herbs, and delicate Harukei turnips were being harvested from the 150 vegetable beds and three greenhouses. The dozens of chickens were chatty and social — wake up early enough and you can collect your own eggs, then bring them to the restaurant for breakfast. All just 90 minutes from NYC.  aubergeresorts.com; doubles from $816. —Hannah Walhout



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The Madrona — Healdsburg, California

Interior of artful, eclectic lobby space with fireplace at The Madrona in Healdsburg

Matthew Millman

This oak-shrouded property originally served as a cattle ranch, with a 1881 Victorian residence as its centerpiece. Co-owners Cory Schisler, a Los Angeles hotelier, and Jay Jeffers, a San Francisco interior designer, restored the mansion and created a lush tableau with a mix of heirloom pieces (inherited from the estate’s six previous owners) and contemporary art from San Francisco’s Dolby Chadwick Gallery. The vibe honors the Aesthetic Movement, an era of beauty for beauty’s sake, which was popular in Healdsburg in the late 1800s. There are 24 rooms and bungalows, plus plenty of places for lounging, like on one of the porches or in Hannah’s Bar, which is outfitted in pink plaid. As a whimsical nod to the surrounding woodland, depictions of fleeting foxes and rascally rabbits add creature comfort to furnishings like a Victorian-era William Morris Co. sofa. Rooms have chambray drapes, custom floral rugs, and ceilings covered in pinstripe grasscloth, giving this grand old dame a new look. And because it’s wine country, you know the food and drink will be exceptional. Try the wood-fired vegetable pie for lunch, and indulge in duck bolognese gnocchi dinner.  themadronahotel.com; doubles from $493. —Leilani Marie Labong

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Villa Mara — Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Exterior of the Villa Mara, Carmel

Stephanie Russo/Courtesy of Villa Mara Carmel

This Mediterranean-style guesthouse has awakened the quiet town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, a wealthy enclave close to the world-famous golf courses of Pebble Beach. Meant to feel like a private home, its main building was constructed in 1929 and hosted guests including architect Frank Lloyd Wright and President Gerald Ford. Most of its 15 rooms have patios or balconies, and a stand-alone cottage — with an outdoor tub — is also available. There are touches of coastal California decor throughout, plus eye-catching vintage accoutrements, like Hermès ashtrays from a Paris flea market and Wilson tennis racquets from the 1970s. Start the day with an almond croissant from local bakery Sweet Elena’s and a juice shot (made with lemon, ginger, raw honey, elderberry, echinacea, and elderflower) at the on-site Jesena’s Bar. Then go into town on one of the house Linus bikes or just sink into one of the Adirondack chairs around the backyard fire pit. In the evening, grab a glass of pinot noir at Jesena’s and let the owner, Dev Patel, work his connections to set you up at one of the new spots, like Chez Noir, that are reinvigorating Carmel’s dining scene. villamara​carmel.com; doubles from $495. —Maya Kachroo-Levine

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The James Bradley — Bradley Beach, New Jersey

Interior of a suite at The James hotel in Bradley Beach, New Jersey

William Laird

George DiStefano knows his hotel is not what people expect from the Jersey Shore. But he hopes the 17-room James Bradley, which opened in August 2022 just a block from the boardwalk in Bradley Beach, will be a tasteful rebuttal to those who might have preconceived notions based on, say, a certain late-aughts reality show. Together with friend and interior designer Sebastian Zuchowicki, he re-envisioned a 1904 residential home (which had been operating as a hotel since the 1960s) as a high-design boutique property with a consciously lived-in feel. The pair sourced furniture and objects from eBay, Etsy, and flea markets as far away as Paris; other pieces were custom made by local artists, or even by DiStefano, an occasional woodworker. Each room is unique, but all are stocked with toiletries from Flamingo Estate and baskets of locally made snacks; in the mornings, the airy breakfast room offers a signature blend from Odyssey Coffee in nearby Ocean Grove, fresh pastries and homemade granola, and a hefty breakfast sandwich starring New Jersey pork roll. Guests can pre-book a massage or treatment in the spa room upstairs, and during the summer, a designated area on the beach will come complete with Riviera-style lounge chairs, umbrellas, and refreshments. Looks like the Jersey Shore is entering its chic era. thejamesbradleybeach.com; doubles from $201. —Hannah Walhout

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Daunt’s Albatross Motel — Montauk, NY

The pool on a cloudy day with pink rose bushes in the foreground at Daunt's Albatross in Montauk

Brian W. Ferry

While the glitz and glamor of Long Island’s East End is at your doorstep, guests staying at this quaint, 23-room Montauk hotel may not realize it. Montauk isn't the sleepy fishing village it once was, but it retains a certain old-world charm where the local pizza shop and the town’s general store are nostalgic fixtures that people actually visit. As it has been since 1977, the motel-turned-boutique hotel is run by the Daunt family, now in its third generation of hoteliers. Last year, the property reopened after a full-scale renovation, and now features a cozy communal courtyard with smokeless fireplaces, overhead string lights, and Adirondack chairs. Rooms were refreshed with custom knotty pine woodwork, vintage furnishings, and a sandy color palette reminiscent of the Montauk cliffs. Daunt’s is also perfectly situated, halfway between Montauk’s downtown corridor and the waves of the Atlantic. dauntsalbatross.com; doubles from $149. —Chris Dong

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The Inn at Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards — Bristol, Virginia

Exterior view of Inn at Nicewonder Farm & Vineyard in Virginia with vineyards and rolling hills and mountains in the distance

Courtesy of Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards

While the inn is new, the land it sits on — a bucolic 450-acres along the Tennessee-Virginia State Line — has been producing wine for years. The estate makes five varietals (viognier, chardonnay, merlot, petit verdot, and cab franc), and the experience of enjoying a glass, with views of the 13-acre vineyard from the heated infinity pool, will convince even the most Virginia wine-weary guests (this writer included) of its superlatives. Nicewonder has 28 guest rooms and nine luxe yurts, which have rainshowers and kitchenettes. At Hickory, the inn’s restaurant, chef Travis Milton has created a menu that both elevates and preserves the authenticity of Appalachian cuisine. A cocktail list with drinks featuring duck fat and bacon also packs a punch. nicewonderfarm.com; doubles from $325. —Madeline Weinfield

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Southall Farm & Inn — Franklin, Tennessee

Southall Farm Inn

Courtesy of Southall Farm Inn

Historically, agriculturally curious travelers had two options: working farms with rustic accommodations, and top-notch resorts that think planting a patch of spring mix constitutes farming. Situated an easy 30 minutes south of Nashville, in some of the most fertile land in the country, the 325-acre Southall perfectly strikes a balance of serious agrarian cred and total luxury. Founder and fintech entrepreneur Paul Mishkin spent more than seven years laying new agricultural infrastructure: planting fields, introducing rotationally grazed chickens, building greenhouses, grafting an apple orchard, housing four million honey bees. The 62-key, Scandinavian-silhouetted inn finally opened in December. (There are also 16 handsome hillside cabins.) Go deep with farm programming by learning harvest participation, apiary management, and watching seed-saving demos, then reward yourself with a snack of house-aged country ham, a pour of whiskey sweetened with last autumn’s apples, and a long soak in the smoking mineral pool at the spa, where even the loofahs are grown on-site. southalltn.com; doubles from $839. —Adam Erace

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Salt Cottages — Bar Harbor, Maine

Patio dining area at Salt Cottages in Maine with red and white themes

Myriam Babin

This revived roadside motel is the very definition of coastal Maine, with a design that leans into the oars-and-buoys, and whitewashed wood aesthetic. There are individual cottages as well as guest rooms in a main house, plus communal spaces like Picnic, an Americana snack bar with a roaring fire and spectacular views of Frenchman Bay. After hiking in Acadia National Park or exploring downtown Bar Harbor, take a swim in the heated pool or roast marshmallows by the outdoor firepit. On a rainy day, head to the Club House for ping pong, or book the “Retro Game Night” package, which includes a vintage game console with 600 games, a deck of Acadia-themed cards (that you can keep as a souvenir), popcorn, and canned cocktails and local blueberry sodas. saltcottagesbarharbor.com; doubles from $375. —Erica Wida

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Canoe Place Inn & Cottages — Hampton Bays, New York

Interior suite at Canoe Place in Hampton Bays with living room space

Courtesy of Workstead

The Hamptons, on the eastern end of Long Island, is a waterfront destination that’s known more for its high-end home rentals than luxury hotels. Canoe Place Inn & Cottages, in the hamlet of Hampton Bays, gives visitors a reason to hang their hat at the latter. About a 90-minute drive from Manhattan, the six-acre property is situated on the site of the oldest inn in the United States, and the village of Southampton is just 10 minutes away. Design elements include vivid wallpaper with botanical and trellis patterns, deep green carpeting, and scallop motifs. The 20 rooms follow the same smart aesthetic and feature wood-burning fireplaces, free-standing claw-foot bathtubs, and private balconies with white awnings. A cottage stay is also an option: There are five in total, ranging from one to four bedrooms, and all have private backyards, fire pits, outdoor showers, and a bucolic wraparound front porch. Despite the boutique size, there’s a lineup of resort-like amenities, including a fantastic outdoor pool. The restaurant, Good Ground Tavern, serves bright, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. Wood-fired Montauk bass, sausage, and jalapeño pizza and the lobster roll crostini are menu stars. The buzzy bar has mixologists shaking up creative cocktails and proffering pours of hard-to-find tequilas, mezcals, and other spirits. And the spa, Onda (Naomi Watts is a cofounder), is a cozy respite with standout massages and facials. canoeplace.com; doubles from $350. —Shivani Vora

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Margaret - Hôtel Chouleur — Nîmes, France

Interior suite with fireplace and crystal chandelier at Margaret Hotel Chouleur in Nimes, France

Courtesy of Margaret - Hotel Chouleur

Half-hidden behind a courtyard off the delightful Rue Fresque, Margaret - Hôtel Chouleur is the hippest new hostelry in Nîmes, arguably the most elegant of southern French cities. Built in 1660 for an adviser to Louis XIV and in the ownership of architect Georges Chouleur for most of the 20th century, its five rooms and five suites offer a unique blend of the historic and cutting-edge, airy and spacious, but imbued with a sense of intimacy by dark, warm colors. The hotel’s Rouge restaurant has a Michelin star and serves residents a sumptuous continental breakfast. There’s also an outdoor pool, lush garden, 24-hour library, and small spa, as well as a gym requiring reservations, though perhaps superfluous in a pedestrianized neighborhood where walking between the Roman arena, fabulous covered food market, and Place de l’Horloge is locals’ favorite all-day activity. margaret-hotelchouleur.com; doubles from $254. —Anthea Gerrie

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