Creating a good hotel, Mark Twain wrote, “is an art apart,” and we all have our favorites, of course. This list represents Town & Country’s selection of the best, most “artful” new places: hotels, resorts, and lodges that opened mostly in the last two years (with adjustments for Covid closures and delays). To compile it, we first consulted a roundtable of trusted, globetrotting travel advisers. Sixty-eight of them nominated 160 hotels they loved (and why), based on their recent experiences and knowledge. We at T&C then culled, added, and culled again. Et voila—46 sensational places to stay.
The list is divided into seven sections: Urban Hotels, Farm Hotels, Historic Mansion Hotels, Beach Hotels, Design Hotels, Wilderness Hotels, and Wine Hotels. You can browse by category, or simply scroll through all of it—it’s a revelatory snapshot of the diverse world of travel now, and the perfect place to start making some plans. See you there?—K.G.
Urban Hotels
Cities are bustling again. These new hotels give you a piece of the action—and a retreat from it.
More From Town & Country
Welcome to your jewelry shopping enabler.
The Neelam suite, one of just five at the Johri at Lal Haveli, Jaipur.
The Johri at Lal Haveli, Jaipur This transformed 19th-century upper-crust house is the creation of Siddharth Kasliwal, ninth-generation co-owner of India’s famed and oldest jewelry store, the Gem Palace. Conveniently, it is steps from the Johri Bazaar, aka the jewelry market, and its five large suites (there’s also a courtyard restaurant and bar) are a serene blend of heritage and modernity, in shades of their namesake treasures. We love the Neelam (sapphire). But why not book all of them and have a shopping party?
Two top spots in one of the world’s alpha capitals.
Casa Polanco, Mexico City’s premier boutique hotel.
Casa Polanco and the Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City It’s a toss-up. The intimate new 19-room Casa Polanco sits on Lincoln Park, close to much of the best shopping in its eponymous neighborhood (think of Polanco as MC’s Beverly Hills).
The Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City.
At the other extreme, the 153-room Ritz-Carlton soars over the city’s grand boulevard, Reforma, and overlooks Chapultepec Park. While other luxury brands got here before it, the R-C has found the formula that appeals to both foreign visitors and local patrons. Even if you don’t stay here, have a sunset cocktail at the hotel’s Carlotta Reforma Sky Bar, for the views and the scene. (Afterward, fly to the Ritz-Carlton in NYC’s Nomad neighborhood; the rooftop bar has become the place to be at the top of the world.)
A clubby place for your Anglophilic fantasies.
A Beaverbrook Town House suite, London.
Beaverbrook Town House, London Several new London hotels are opting for a clubby feel. We love this 14-room place for its great location, off Sloane Square, near where Kensington and Chelsea meet. It’s the sister property of the country house hotel Beaverbrook (former residence of the press baron and social fixture), in the Surrey Hills outside London, and it also has polished service, cozy atmosphere, and interiors by Nicola Harding: bright colors, eclectic design choices, and tons of flair. Lord Beaverbrook would approve.
No location in Istanbul is more eye-popping.
The new Peninsula Istanbul’s location is incomparable. (A few elements of the Galataport project are opening later this year, hence this rendering.)
Peninsula, Istanbul Few sites take advantage of this city’s magical setting as well as the new Peninsula. On the Karakoy waterfront, it looks out at the ancient peninsula, the Bosphorus, and the Golden Horn. (The hotel is part of the Galataport project, which includes, among many other things, a waterfront promenade and a new home for the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, designed by Renzo Piano, to open later this year.) While some Istanbul hotels turn to the Ottomans for inspiration, the Peninsula celebrates a different side of the city, with 80 works by contemporary Turkish artists on display. It also enlisted Turkish talent, from celebrated interior designer Zeynep Fadillioglu to landscape architect Enzo Enea.
Italian style in grande-dame France? Mais oui.
A suite at the Bulgari, Paris—Italian chic with Parisian views.
Bulgari, Paris It’s not easy to break into the club of centuries-old Paris hotels, especially if you’re an Italian with modern sensibilities. But Bulgari Hotels accepted the challenge in late 2021, moving into the city’s Golden Triangle neighborhood to hold its aesthetic own in a sea of Haussmann and Beaux-Arts. It’s just across the street from the George V yet seemingly in a different universe, all textured neutrals and sleek lines, with just the subtlest hint of its host country—other than a staggering view of the Eiffel Tower from some of its suites.
The hotel worth leaving the old medina for.
The Oberoi Marrakech, newcomer in a city known for enchanting places to stay, is making a splash.
Oberoi, Marrakech It’s a trick for a hotel in such a historic city to be both traditional and contemporary, grand and simple. But the Oberoi, 10 years in the making, succeeds wildly. (Watch out, Royal Mansour and La Mamounia.) Its setting, on a 28-acre former citrus and olive farm six miles outside town, gives you a front row view of the snowcapped Atlas Mountains. Its soaring public spaces are a knockout, alternating intricate zellige tiles and nejjarine woodwork with swaths of monochrome. The spa, which “floats” on its own pond, has serious modern fitness classes. And the service? It’s an unshakable Oberoi tradition.
Your home in the heart of the fashion district.
The Portrait Milano, from the Ferragamo family.
Portrait Milano, Milan This just opened hotel is on the site of a former seminary, to which it owes its grand, light-filled piazza. And it is owned by the Ferragamo family, to which it owes its sleek style and well-appointed leather touches. The location is excellent—the center of everything—but it was built as a place of study, which means you can still retreat from the hustle and bustle of Via Spiga. But if hustle and bustle are what you’re after, there’s a Beefbar downstairs.
Not your grandfather’s grand Spanish hotel.
Edition, Madrid Among the city major recent openings, this one, designed by a triumvirate including John Pawson and Ian Schrager, stands out for its all-white, retro-glam color scheme (except for where it’s a riot of colors), for the city’s longest hotel rooftop pool, and for its feeling of tranquility, even here, near busy Puerta del Sol. The Jerónimo restaurant, led by Mexico’s celebrated Enrique Olvera, has Madrileños vying for tables.
The premier place in Panama City’s glorious old quarter.
Panama is popping, and the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo is the choice place to land.
Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo, Panama City Perhaps the clearest sign of Panama’s revival is the opening, in Panama City’s still somewhat crumbly old quarter, of only the sixth Sofitel Legend in the world. Behind the renovated 1917 waterfront facade (this was once a social club which hosted Queen Elizabeth and Albert Einstein), is an interior with all the contemporary fixings, including spa, infinity pool, and private terraces with views of downtown’s skyline across the bay. The service was excellent from day one, and the Caleta restaurant and rooftop bar Ammi were drawing both visitors (business-suited and kaftan-clad) and locals.
Because one Gleneagles deserves another.
Gleneagles Townhouse, Edinburgh—because it’s always a good idea to have a place in the country and in town….
Gleneagles Townhouse, Edinburgh The city’s it hotel has managed to achieve its status while never opting for airs of exclusivity or attitude. Minutes on foot from the Old Town, it’s located in a former bank on St. Andrew Square: The grand banking hall now houses a brasserie, and a wellness center is located in the vaults. Rooms reflect a mix of Georgian and contemporary inspirations. (Yes, the townhouse is related to that other Gleneagles in the country, but each has its own identity.)
The perfect spot on the Petersplatz.
The relaxed reception area at the Rosewood Vienna.
Rosewood,Vienna Vienna’s luxury hotel scene has long been dominated by some very old-school players. So when this new player appeared in August 2022, it introduced itself in an understated way and got every detail right, from the linens to leather remote control covers. At the same time, it provides some fresh energy to a city that can have a hard time relaxing. Case in point, the rooftop bar combines an inviting speakeasy atmosphere with city views. (Most of the major sites of the Old Town are nearby; you are in Vienna’s so-called 1st district.)
Farm Hotels
The life bucolic is all the rage (call it “Green Acres” redux). Welcome to the new crop of farm retreats, pitchforks not required.
Want to wind down in the winelands? Here you go.
The Sterrekopje wellness retreat in Franschhoek, South Africa.
Sterrekopje Farm, South Africa This 125-acre working farm, minutes from Franschhoek, signals something entirely new in this famed wine country: wellness. The 11 “sanctuaries” (or suites) are geared to highly personalized restorative healing. You choose linen or cotton sheets, AC or not, and the amenities, from soaking tubs to meditation areas, are tied to each suite’s health objectives. There are alternative treatments galore, from sound baths to breathwork to (soon) equine therapy, and the gardens that supply the kitchen are just beyond—wild, biodiverse, and abuzz with butterflies, bees, and other insects.
You can now decompress at Deneuve’s rural retreat.
Domaine de Primard is an easy hop from Paris. Vive la vie a la campagne!
Domaine de Primard, France Imagine a renovated country house owned by an effortlessly elegant French friend—someone like, say, Catherine Deneuve—and you’ll start to get an idea of this 40-room hotel 75 minutes from Paris (30 from Giverny, 60 from Chartres). While the property can’t mention that Deneuve once lived here, we can speak freely—and we think she’d appreciate its refined yet casual atmosphere. Eric Frechon, of the three-star Epicure in Paris, started the restaurant (presumably during time off from Le Bristol Hotel), and there are vegetable and herb gardens, horses, donkeys, and lots of ducks.
New York’s the Well comes to Costa Rica.
The great big outdoors and therapies, too: Auberge’s hacienda altagracia.
Hacienda AltaGracia, Costa Rica Arrival at this remote retreat from Auberge Resorts, with coffee farm, stables, and organic gardens, is typically via prop plane over the Talamanca range. After which you are encouraged to begin with a swim and purifying full-body mud mask in a fern-filled, glass-walled hydrotherapy room created by New York health haven the Well. This divine dip sets the tone for anything that follows: a riverside massage, a forest hike, or a fireside nap in your plunge pool–equipped casita. Proof, if it were needed, that nothing enhances nature’s restorative powers more than pitch-perfect, understated luxury.
Play farmer the easy way near Nashville.
A cottage interior at Shouthall Farm and Inn.
Southall Farm and Inn, Tennessee Forest bathing, apple-picking, falconry, gardening classes, honey tastings… These and other outdoor activities are the draw at this 325-acre working farm a half hour south of Nashville. At dinner, thanks to a seed-saving program, you can eat heirloom and Southern varieties of vegetables that you’ll find almost nowhere else. The rooms and cottages are farmhouse-inspired (outdoor living spaces, fireplaces), and a 15,000-square-foot spa rounds out the farm-life-the-easy-way vibe.
A cutting-edge lodge in an extraordinary landscape.
Beyond Flockhill Homestead’s cozy-chic interiors lie some of new zealand’s most flabbergasting landscapes.
Flockhill Homestead, New Zealand This 36,000-acre property has been a working cattle and sheep farm since the mid-19th century, a pedigree similar to some of New Zealand’s latest crop of amazing places to stay. (The Lindis, which opened in 2018, is another.) Flockhill’s accommodations, however (one four-bedroom villa for now, 14 more opening in November), by Christchurch architects Warren and Mahoney, are strikingly new, both contemporary and cozy, employing materials like concrete, limestone flooring, and timber to frame the views. The Craigieburn Valley setting, overlooking Lake Pearson, is breathtaking, and the lodge offers premier guided hiking, bouldering, kayaking, and other exploratory experiences.
Historic Mansion Hotels
This old thing? Not quite. At these hotels in beautifully reborn historic structures, history adds stardust to the hedonism.
Barefoot luxury on a storied lake.
The new must-stay on Lake Como—Passalacqua.
Passalacqua, Lake Como The property’s name means ferryman, and it’s a fitting one for this former private villa built on erstwhile papal property, which the De Santis family, of Grand Hotel Tremezzo fame, recently transformed. To arrive is to be transported into a sanctuary of reflection and barefoot luxury. The 24 suites are palatial; the 12 in the main house feature Baroque frescoes. It is said that Bellini composed some of his operas here, including Norma. The grandeur is leavened by bright interiors and an unpretentious approach to service—you can, for instance, observe chef de casa Mauro Verza in action in the kitchen.
A fortress of wellness.
The Rani Rajkumari suite in Six Senses Fort Barwara, Rajasthan.
Six Senses Fort Barwara, India It took Six Senses 10 years to sensitively rebuild this 14th-century ruin, with two palaces and two temples on a walled hilltop in a village southeast of Jaipur. It was worth it: The 48 suites are smart Rajasthani modern, the 30,000-square-foot spa has treatments and activities for both the sporty and the spiritually inclined (including sophisticated ayurvedic programs), the pool is gigantic, and the views of the Aravali Hills are magical. If you can pull yourself away, Ranthambore National Park and its royal Bengal tigers are 30 minutes away.
A château of your own in the 16th.
The Saint James puts you in the thick of the Rive Droite, close to the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysées, the Musée d’art moderne, and the fondation luis vuitton.
Saint James, Paris The city’s only château hotel, surrounded by its own garden in the chichi 16th Arrondissement, was redesigned last spring by the hot French designer Laura Gonzalez, gaining an indoor pool, a Michelin-starred restaurant, outdoor dining, and new landscaping. The pièce de résistance: A nearby villa was turned into five suites with kitchens and private outdoor spaces—homes away from home.
A mansion for horse lovers.
Equine imagery rules in the drawing room at Cashel Palace.
Cashel Palace, Ireland Most of Ireland’s celebrated castle hotels are out in the countryside. This is an interesting exception, located in a Palladian manor in the small town of Cashel, with rooms that look up at the famous medieval Rock of Cashel. It is owned by the billionaire Magnier family, who dominate the Irish stud industry (Queen Elizabeth once visited their nearby breeding operation, Coolmore Stud), and equine activities predominate at the property. It is also near many sites in Tipperary related to turbulent chapters in Irish history; you can trot on over to them.
Beach Hotels
Benguerra? Trancoso? The Fari Islands? Just when you thought beach resorts were been there, done that…
Think Crusoe with infinity pools and Mini Mokes.
Mozambique’s kisawa sanctuary is a perfect place to stow away—post safari, or just because.
Kisawa Sanctuary, Mozambique Remote Benguerra Island, in the Bazaruto Archipelago, has long been a magnet in the Indian Ocean—the ultimate rarefied dropout. This 740-acre hotel, on its southern tip, with 17 artful thatch-roofed bungalows scattered among the dunes, is its new star. Each bungalow sits on its own beachfront acre, with a private infinity pool and a Mini Moke available for exploring the area. The spa has a doctor in residence (plus visiting practitioners), and land-based and marine activities abound. Kisawa partners with the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies, a permanent staffed ocean observatory, where Kisawa guests are welcome.
The star of The White Lotus.
Sicily’s san domenico palace after its four seasons renovation (and
San Domenico Palace, Taormina It may have only recently begun surfacing on everyone’s radar—thanks to a certain hit HBO show—but San Domenico, which was renovated as a Four Seasons in 2021, dates back to the 14th century, when it began life as the home of a Sicilian baron, who donated it to the Dominican order to be used as a convent after he died. It opened as a hotel in 1896 and soon became a glamorous stop on the Grand Tour, hosting the likes of J.P. Morgan, the second Baron Rothschild, Greta Garbo, and Sophia Loren. What’s it like now? Well, we’ll assume you’re caught up on The White Lotus, so need we really say more?
Something cool under the Cayman sun.
A suite at the Palm Heights hotel. The window looks out on Grand Cayman’s seven mile beach.
Palm Heights, Grand Cayman Some hotels transcend their surroundings. You remember the property, not what lies beyond. Palm Heights is perched on Seven Mile Beach, and its chic 52 suites all overlook a beachfront of Starburst-yellow umbrellas and the dining spots, which include Yashinoki (exquisite Japanese cuisine) and Tillies (a menu derived from the Greater Antilles). A cool-kid crew has made the hotel its own recently (the place found its groove post-pandemic), but families and retirees mingle easily alongside the Emily Ratajkowskis and Evan Mocks. That’s attributable to a staff that sweats the small stuff without losing its cool under the island sun, including curating the books in every suite for each guest.
A perfect oasis in the ultimate party place.
Serenity if is the name of the game at Kalesma. If you want, you can forget you’re on mykonos.
Kalesma, Mykonos If you avoid Mykonos because it’s too crowded—too everything—you’re about to change your mind. Kalesma is elegant and private, with food so delicious you don’t have to go out (you’ll want to—that’s the point of being here—but not having to is a blessing on this reservations-only island). Each of the 27 bungalows has a pool and private outdoor space, and the surroundings, landscaped with olive trees, bougainvillea vines, and herbs, are quiet. Close your eyes and you’re in the Mykonos of years ago—but with fresh pineapple juice in the morning.
A real resort on Brazil’s most recherché beach.
We didn’t think that Trancoso’s gorgeous beach needed improvement—then the Fasano hotel came to town.
Fasano Trancoso, Bahia Trancoso long ago made the transition from insider’s secret to Brazil’s most exclusive beach destination. This opening marks a new phase in its history. The 40-bungalow hotel stands out as a full resort compared with the town’s older, boutique-style places. Architect Isay Weinfeld, who was responsible for the original Fasano, in São Paulo, designed this, as well. The rooms are spacious, with an understated palette of neutrals. Life here, however, unfolds by the pool and on the beach, where the restaurant serves excellent Bahian and Italian fare and you’ll find that lunch seamlessly transitions, Trancoso-style, into drinks and then dinner.
The Caribbean with big nature and a bit of Bali.
At Nayara Bocas del Toro, choose between overwater bungalows and one of these Balinese-designed treehouses.
Nayara Bocas del Toro, Panama The country’s wild side is one of its big draws, and this solar-powered hotel in the astoundingly biodiverse Bocas del Toro Archipelago has 16 overwater villas fringed by three miles of Caribbean beach, amid coral reefs and mangroves, and two chic new treehouses (with three more to come) designed by “queen of green” Elora Hardy, daughter of jewelry designer John Hardy, and her Balinese firm, Ibuku. Swim, snorkel, kayak, paddleboard, explore—or just exhale.
A magnificent coast gets a hotel to match.
Finally a hotel on Kauai that lets you adventure during the day, and luxuriate morning and night—the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay.
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, Kauai It seems perverse that the north shore of Kauai, one of the most dramatic, mystical landscapes in the world (it appeared in Jurassic Park, South Pacific, and The Descendants), has not had a premier hotel until now. The 1 Hotel, of course, is not just a hotel but a philosophy, and all its comforts are enhanced by a core commitment to wellness and sustainability. The interiors are in Zen earthtones; the activities, fitness, and spa programming are deep; nearly all the produce and protein served in its four restaurants comes from the islands; and the whole is LEED certified. Which must make Hawaii’s old spirits happy.
Not a Mexican megaresort. Hallelujah.
Etéreo, from Auberge Resorts, is a new, small-scale charmer on the Riviera Maya.
Etéreo, Riviera Maya This new 75-room hotel from Auberge, north of Playa del Carmen, is masterfully designed to be respectful of its natural surroundings, and it gives you a beach resort vacation that’s refreshingly chic, sexy, and intimate. One of its restaurants, the casual seaside El Changarro, is a charmer that serves impossibly fresh ceviche, fish tacos, and other seafood. In the rooms, local textiles, carved wooden walls by artist Manuel Felguérez, and floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that open onto the Caribbean remind you you’ve arrived in Mexico’s paradise.
A modern take on the Maldives.
At the Patina Maldives, you can luxuriate in your over-water cocoon, or change the tempo if you wish.
Patina Maldives, Fari Islands In a place where most resorts emphasize solitude and silence, Patina (from Capella Hotels Group) has shaken things up by hitting social notes, too. Its lively Fari Marina Village, which is also open to guests of the Ritz-Carlton and the upcoming Capella Maldives, has a beach club, boutiques, and restaurants. Studio MK27’s Marcio Kogan designed the resort in his signature spare modernist style, which lets the blue skies and sea steal the show.
It will make your friends clamor for your itinerary.
The Volta restaurant at Cosme Paros. Wait till you see the sunsets.
Cosme, Paros This Greek island is hardly a secret, though it has long taken a back seat to its flashier luxury resort–laden sisters, Santorini and Mykonos, preferring instead to preserve its fishing village charms. The recent arrival of the chic Cosme—by hoteliers Antonis Eliopoulos and Kalia Konstantinidou, the husband-and-wife duo credited with introducing five-star hospitality to Santorini back in the ’90s—may signal a new era. The hotel checks all the boxes: on the sand, private plunge pools, walking distance to Naousa, fabulous sunsets. We’re going.
You can now “camp” in Punta Mita.
Glamping Four Seasons style at the Naviva tented camp, Mexico.
Naviva, Punta Mita Want an alternative to a big-box hotel ? Glamping meets beach life at this Four Seasons collection of 15 tents on 48 acres of land on a peninsula overlooking the Pacific. Naviva’s division between indoor and outdoor couldn’t be more seamless, with tents open to ocean breezes. Each has its own plunge pool and is features decor by local artisans. We applaud one aspect of Naviva’s service in particular: You are contacted by personal guides in advance of your stay, to construct a customized itinerary.
A new beauty in the Balearics.
The Six Senses on Ibiza has redefined the apex of the Mediterranean vacation pyramid.
Six Senses, Ibiza From the moment it opened on the Spanish island’s remote northernmost coast, the property transformed Ibiza’s long-standing reputation as the party central of the Med. An earth-toned vision of terraced buildings tumbling down the hillside to beautiful Xarraca bay, it is equal parts local hideaway, approached via a dirt track amid pine trees, and elegant international resort, combining “authenticity” and “rawness” with a five-star place to stay. If you still pine for clubbing and all-night ravers on the beach, they’re just a half-hour away. But we bet you won’t—occupied as you’ll be with Six Senses’ menu of outdoor activities, classes, and physical and spiritual tune-ups. Or just with swanning around its pools in your kaftan.
A reason to venture beyond Dubrovnik and Zagreb.
The Grand Hotel Brioni, in Pula, Croatia. Venice is a boat ride across the Adriatic.
Grand Hotel Brioni, Pula Croatia’s rich landscape cradles some hidden gems. In historic Pula—once a major maritime center that was in turn ruled by the Venetians, the Hapsburgs (the royal family vacationed here), and Napoleon—the restored Grand Hotel Brioni (from Radisson) offers respite from the hubbub across the Adriatic in Venice—boat rides between ports are available in the summer—and from the more crowded cities of Dubrovnik and Zagreb. Go hunting for the local delicacy, Istrian white truffles, or enjoy them in-house at the hotel’s three restaurants. A peerless beachfront invites floating in the bracing waters of this quiet archipelago like one of its 14 islets.
Design Hotels
All red? All glass? All circa 1930s? Your statement stay are here.
This oasis of hip is Jaipur’s latest hot spot.
Villa Palladio in Jaipur gives new meaning to “painting the town red.”
Villa Palladio, Jaipur The city’s two expat design darlings, Barbara Miolini and Marie-Anne Oudejans (of Bar Palladio and Caffé Palladio), paired up with Rajasthani painter Vikas Soni to create this fever dream of a hotel in a 1980s structure in an enclosed garden slightly outside town that once belonged to a member of the local nobility. The nine rooms vary, but all are many shades of scarlet and shockingly beautiful (the public spaces too), with hand-painted depictions of flora, fauna, and other motifs reflecting Mughal and Italian aesthetics. The restaurant is wonderful. Tip: It’s takeover heaven.
A paean to Art Deco is the new place in Oslo.
The Francisco Nogueira Suite in Oslo’s 1930s-chic Sommero Hotel.
Sommerro Hotel, Oslo The city’s original electrical company (“Light power heat,” proclaims the 1930s façade) has been transformed into its new hot spot and apparently largest preservation project. The jewel-like rooms have Art Deco accents (sculptural lighting, curved paneling, pink marble), the 15,000-square-foot spa is innovative, and le tout Oslo congregates in its several buzzy bars and restaurants. The rooftop Tak Oslo serves Swedish chef Frida Ronge’s Nordic-Japanese cuisine and has views of the elegant Frogner district, with its royal palace, parks, museums, and shops.
Want boho chic? This checks all the boxes.
Indoors and outdoors merge at the Nomade Holbox.
Nômade Holbox, Mexico This 30-room bolthole on Riviera Maya’s carless Holbox Island is as close as you’ll come these days to the barefoot vibe of pre-deluge Tulum. There are artfully shaped dwellings up in trees, on the sand, and amid lush foliage; natural colors and materials reign; the indoor/outdoor restaurant serves Nikkei cuisine; and the daily menu of wellness activities is extensive. Sunset kundalini, anyone?
A new way to see Sedona’s red rocks.
Ambiente is all about showcasing Sedona’s red rocks through a modern prism. Bravo.
Ambiente, Arizona Way back in the 1920s, the red rocks of Sedona were a fixture of Hollywood films—America’s star landscape. The town’s first new luxury hotel in decades showcases them anew, with 40 cube-shaped “atriums” with floor-to-ceiling glass and rooftop decks with firepits and daybeds for 360-degree views. The furnishings are earth-tone, a trailhead connects you to 300 miles of hiking and biking routes, and—nice detail—there are in-room on-demand chilled wine dispensers, for when that sundowner feeling strikes.
Wilderness Hotels
That fresh longing for wide open spaces? It’s our ancestors calling. These places keep things civilized.
A grande dame in the wilderness, reborn.
The newly refurbished Hotel Union Øye, in Norway, dates back to 1891.
Hotel Union Øye, Norway There’s nothing so new, it turns out, about our infatuation with the outdoorsy nordic lifestyle. This hotel, amid the mountains of fantastically scenic Norangsfjorden, first opened to cater to the crème de la crème of European society back in 1891 (the guestlist is long and includes Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany). The property has just been refurbished by the visionary Norwegian travel company 62˚ Nord, and it masterfully walks the line between fresh and traditional, relaxed and opulent. You can bike, kayak, ski, snowshoe, wild swim, and hike (tweeds no longer de rigueur), or just be still in these magnificent surroundings. The King’s Suite has a gin-and-tonic button. Just press.
A modern remake of the western fantasy.
Think of Montana’s green o as sanctuaries for two among the trees.
The Green O, Montana A certain aesthetic comes to mind when one envisions the Montana wilderness trip—call it Dutton chic. The Green O sells a different fantasy. Here, just 12 standalone glass-walled houses are scattered deep in the woods, each surrounded by nothing but towering pines. No kids are allowed, and there is just one restaurant in which to take your meals—which are excellent, by the way. This is not to say you have to forsake the quintessential American West experience entirely. The property takes up a sliver of the 37,000-acre Paws Up Ranch, which you’re free to use as your own sprawling playground.
This is Antarctica full frontal.
If you want to say you’ve slept on Antarctica, White Desert’s echo camp is the only way.
Echo Camp, Antarctica An Antarctic cruise is the new safari—everyone’s going. This camp, run by the outfitter White Desert, was founded by polar explorers Patrick and Robyn Woodhead to allow people other than scientists to experience the magic of the seventh continent. It puts you right on it for a week, via a private jet from Cape Town. The six Star Wars–esque fiberglass pods, plus bar and dining pods (the meals are surprisingly haute, given you’re on the moon), have floor-to-ceiling windows to better take in the surreal white world. Bespoke activities include: hiking, ice climbing, fat-tire biking, mountaineering, visiting Atka Bay’s 28,000-strong emperor penguin colony, and pushing on to the South Pole (an add-on flight). Extreme, sure, but December 2023 and early January 2024 dates are already mostly booked.
You’ll see the Patagonia of your imagination.
The Explora El Chaltén minimalist chic is perfectly suited to the grandeur of its Patagonian setting.
Explora El Chaltén, Argentina Finally, the famed Chilean outdoor hospitality brand has arrived in Argentinian Patagonia, with a world class 20-room luxe-minimalist lodge worthy of the setting. It’s on a bend in the Río Eléctrico in the private Los Huemules Conservation Reserve—no lines of backpackers—and has staggering views of the Marconi Glacier and the jagged peaks of Mount Fitz Roy (familiar from the Patagonia clothing logo). The interiors keep it simple (so as not to clash with the beauty beyond) and what you do is hike, trek, and be continually astonished. There are 30 guided options at all levels of difficulty, a spa with hot tubs for après, and more activities coming soon.
Think of it as a new breed of African lodge.
Elephants are par for the course at Zambia’s lolebezi.
Lolebezi, Zambia The walking safari was pioneered in Zambia, which is the safari world’s less touted option—the wildlife numbers are insane, but the camps lean more four-star than five. This new lodge, right on the magnificent Zambezi River—think hippos and elephants everywhere—is a departure, with private plunge pools, a gym, and Cape Town–level food. Another nice surprise: no colonial-era vibe.
Wine Hotels
Wine tourism is booming. Here are the latest stops on the grape trail.
Pace yourself! This new wine hotel means it.
Palácio Ludovice, Lisbon The city’s most important new opening has both historic charm and oenology going for it. A restored early 18th-century mansion, with the original tiles, frescoes, and stucco ceilings, it calls itself a “wine experience hotel” and lets you dive into Portuguese wines before you even get to Porto or the wine regions. The 61 rooms have copies of the wine list with recommendations; dinner at Federico, in the glass-ceilinged courtyard, comes with wine pairings, of course. There are private curated tastings, and even (why not?) wine-inspired treatments by Caudalie at the spa.
Get your fill of Barolos and Barbarescos here.
The views from Piedmont’s Casa di Langa extend all the way to the Alps.
Piedmont
Casa di Langa, In case you haven’t heard, wine and food lovers (i.e., just about everyone on the planet) are increasingly looking at Italy’s Piedmont. The truffles! The Barolos! Just in time comes this 39-room quasi-Scandinavian hotel on 104 acres, with vineyards and views all the way to the Alps. There are the requisite pool and spa, but also a cooking school and a wine academy, with classes and tastings several times a day. The staff is wonderfully welcoming, the service is delivered with style, and those famed wine regions are just minutes away by car.
The top stop in Spain’s fine-wine country.
Palacio de Samaniego puts you in the heart of Rioja (albeit with Indonesian and Amazonian art on the walls—why not?).
Palacio de Samaniego, Rioja The first hospitality project from Edmond de Rothschild Heritage outside France, this 18th-century structure in the heart of Rioja was turned into a nine-room hotel after Ariane de Rothschild fell in love with the empty building in 2016. She committed to a meticulous restoration—though the new interiors opt for an eclectic contemporary mix over period-piece atmosphere. You’ll feel as if you’ve been invited to the home of a friend—who happens to have a world class collection of art from Indonesia and the Amazon and an enviable wine cellar.
This story appears in the April 2023 issue of Town & Country. SUBSCRIBE NOW
Executive Travel Editor
Klara Glowczewska is the Executive Travel Editor of Town & Country, covering topics related to travel specifically (places, itineraries, hotels, trends) and broadly (conservation, culture, adventure), and was previously the Editor in Chief of Conde Nast Traveler magazine.
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