A lot can be revealed when the doors to a new flagship hotel open. Beyond the art and architecture, past the signature scent, a viewing window into aspirations and expectations presents itself. With multi-million (and occasionally billion) dollar investments at play, each big-ticket opening is a study in luxury for the time and place. The best new hotels rise above the rest to present fresh opportunities for discovery in a tone that suits the location. It’s acknowledging that New York dreams look and feel different to Tokyo ones; that some destinations require a rev up, while others call for respite. And that standards can always be raised.
With a new cohort of landmark hotels to lust over, these are the ones we think are worth adding to your luxury travel bingo card.
The best new hotel in London
The OWO Raffles, London
If Winston Churchill features in your ideal version of London, this opening from Raffles is an immersion in legend. The 120-room beauty is sited in the former Old War Office building, fronted by the iconic stairwell where the legendary British Prime Minister delivered his wartime announcements. After a reported billion-pound investment and six-years of meticulous restorations, extravagance has not been rationed. Bunkers have been turned into ballrooms, a former guard room is now The Spy Bar while the underground real estate is now a Guerlain spa, which spans four floors.
Reasons to stay:
- Eight grand places to eat and drink, including three by Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagrec.
- A four-level spa with pool, gym and sauna.
- Sip a martini (shaken not stirred) in within the very corridors where MI5 and MI6 were born and Ian Flemmings dreamed up James Bond.
Best new hotel in New York
Warren Street Hotel, New York
From Kit and Tim Kemp’s Firmdale Hotels comes another exuberant, detail-driven wonderland, this time in New York’s Tribeca. The group’s third New York property (they also have nine in the UK) opened in February with its 69 individually designed bedrooms, suites and residences. One-of-a-kind artworks are layered with upholstery, pin-tucked bed skirts and drapery galore. Take note of the buttercup-yellow lobby or the piping on the velvet roll back dining chairs at the hotel’s all-day brasserie. Each detail contributes to an energy level that readies the mood for Downtown Manhattan.
Reasons to stay:
- Awarded one Michelin key.
- 24-hour room service, jetlag or no jetlag.
- The roof terrace is an oasis in the sky.
The best new hotel in Athens
One&Only Aesthesis
With the arrival of One&Only Aesthesis, the Athenian coast has arisen as a destination for bliss seekers, not just a cultural detour on the way to beachier islands. The glamorous gated riviera is a serene base from which to discover the Acropolis of a morning, and the depths of a poolside cocktail menu of an afternoon. There are 95 bungalows, 18 residences, and two villas all with expansive terraces with private pools. The interiors are light and lovely with the odd retro throwback referencing the area’s golden age when the lies of Sophia Loren basks on these shorelines.
Reasons to stay:
- Private pools for all, even at entry level.
- All-day Mediterranean dining from acclaimed chef Ettore Botrini at Ora.
- Greece’s first Guerlain Spa.
The best new hotel in Singapore
The Singapore Edition
Amidst the upper Orchard Road shopping district, The Singapore Edition opened as an exciting addition to the city’s drinking and dining scene for locals as well as the visitors who occupy the 204 guestrooms and suites. The Edition brand – a collaboration between Marriott International and Studio 54 creator Ian Schrager – has a strong tradition of partnering with culinary heavy hitters, including Michelin star-wielding and World’s 50 Best chefs Tom Aikens, Jason Atherton and Enrique Olvera. In Singapore, this tradition continues with FYSH, an upscale pescatarian steakhouse by Sydney’s Josh Niland of Saint Peter,
Reasons to stay:
- World-class seafood at Fysh.
- Rooftop pool.
- Four distinct bars, one for every mood.
Best new hotel in Mexico
Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya
Just north of Tulum and Playa Del Carmen, Belmond’s Maroma Riviera Maya is a luxurious new getaway with a prestigious pedigree. After an extensive, multi-year renovation, LVMH is now at the helm, fusing Mayan culture with their high-end dazzle across 72 accommodations, including guest rooms, suites, and villas. The new opening takes in Caribbean and jungle views and curated experiences to provide an atmosphere of pure escapism. Special touches in the room include chic kaftans and woven slippers to slip into, rattan baskets and more than 700,000 Mexican tiles.
Reasons to stay
- A restaurant by chef Curtis Stone, Woodend.
- Drinks blended from on-site grown herbs with premium Mexican mezcal at Bambuco Bar.
- A spa that goes beyond massages with sound healing and underwater meditation.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
