First XI of world’s hotels
From the iconic Raffles in Singapore to Sunset Tower in Los Angeles, here are some of our favourite bolt-holes
1 SUNSET TOWER, LOS ANGELES, US
There is, of course, Chateau Marmont — but for an under-the-radar starry choice in LA, it has to be Sunset Tower, the 1930s Art Deco home to the greats of golden era — and today’s — Hollywood. Its new incarnation respects the hotel’s heritage, but has added a touch of glamour — in the art installation by Lawrence Weiner in the Terrace Bar, say, or black marble basins and gold wallpaper by pop artist Donald Robertson.
2 LA COLOMBE D’OR SAINT-PAUL-DEVENCE, PROVENCE, FRANCE
In 1920, local farmer Paul Roux opened a cafe-bar in the tiny village of Saint-Paul and later added rooms. During World War II, painters and the literati sought refuge on the Riviera, and many stayed at La Colombe, where they paid for their accommodation with paintings — the beginning of what is today an extraordinary collection of works by the likes of Matisse, Picasso and Braque. The casualness with which this art is hung is even more extraordinary.
3 ASHFORD CASTLE, CO MAYO, IRELAND
With a peerless Lough Corrib setting and innate grandeur, centuries-old Ashford Castle has long been known as one of Ireland’s best hotels. It showcases the best of traditional craftsmanship and interior design, from a gleaming bar counter made of moss-green Connemara marble to glittering Waterford and Donegal crystal chandeliers, and is bedecked in antiques and artworks. That grandeur is balanced by a warm welcome that ensures guests feel at home rather than in a museum. Activities available at the castle range from boat trips to zip-wiring.
4 ASABA RYOKAN, SHUZENJI, JAPAN
The ryokan — which dates back to 1489 — is as serene as a temple. Guests are greeted by staff before shoes are swapped for slippers. It may be traditional — all tatami-mat floors and in-room banquets — but despite its heritage, there is a fresh atmosphere, as reflected in splashes of modern design, including the white diamond Harry Bertoia chairs in the lounge overlooking the lake. Soaking in restorative onsen waters is the highlight, with private and communal bathing areas fringing the lake, all with haikuinspiring views fringed with bamboo forest.
5 THE LOWELL, NEW YORK, US
With just 74 rooms, each one differently sized, shaped and decorated, The Lowell was considered a boutique hotel before the term was even invented; regular guests ask for the specific room number rather than category. Some suites feature four-poster beds and kitchens; others have large stone terraces overlooking Central Park. There is an old-world glamour to The Lowell. Try the pistachio souffle, the restaurant’s speciality, which is served with creme anglais — and with great pride by the hotel staff.
6 KASBAH TAMADOT, ASNI, MOROCCO
Seven years of hard graft transformed this crumbling fortress into one of the most luxurious High Atlas addresses, with gardens, courtyards and mountain-view suites. Scheherazade herself would feel comfortable here, wafting kaftan-clad through the gardens to spin her tales, while reclining on pouffes. Book one of the Berber tents nestled amid the maquis, where evenings end in your own hot tub beneath a sky of dazzling stars.
7 RAES ON WATEGOS, BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA
The Spanish Mission-style building was built in the 1960s by a local, Ruth Harris, and, according to legend, the garden was designed by family friend Salvador Dali. Expect one-off items sourced from an Italian furniture fair. Lucy Folk designed all the fabrics, from the pastel upholstery in the restaurant to the rose beach towels. Staff will also alert you when the dolphins and whales are putting on a particularly good show.
8 CLARIDGE’S, LONDON, UK
Claridge’s is a ribbon-tied gift box of a gorgeous hotel. Slip past the celebrity spotters, through the revolving door and into the marble-floored hall, once a turning circle for horse-drawn carriages. Take the wrought-iron lift, to your room, perhaps designed by Veere Grenney or Diane von Furstenberg. In the Art Deco bathroom, luxuriate in the sunken tub. See and be seen at afternoon tea, or for champagne in the bar.
9 FOUR SEASONS HOTEL GEORGE V, PARIS, FRANCE
Paris’ most historic little-black-book address. The Art Deco hotel was unveiled in 1928 and was named after the king of England as an affable nod to international relations. Period interiors are bourgeois to the hilt and extravagant flower displays are by artistic director Jeff Leatham. Paired with its dazzling mirage of aristocratic Paris, it is a gastronomic galaxy of stars across its three Michelin restaurants.
10 HACIENDA SAN ANGEL, PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO
This warren of bedrooms, balconies, dipping pools, courtyards and terraces is more akin to a Baz Luhrmann film set than a hotel. It was owned by Richard Burton and many of his antiques remain. It’s a traditional hacienda set-up with a Gothic-meets-exotic style: religious effigies hide in corners, heavy wooden altars are used as bedheads, corridors are lit with candelabras and statues of angels act as decorative fountains next to hidden swimming pools. Guests’ keys will also grant them access to nearby sister property, Casa Kimberly, the former home of Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.
11 RAFFLES, SINGAPORE
Raffles is a classic, a bright-white bouquet of colonial-era architecture and palm-painted gardens squeezed between skyscrapers in the heart of Singapore. Named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore, it has been declared a national monument, immortalised in novels, film and song, with a guest list including everyone from Noel Coward to Nelson Mandela. Have at least one meal in the terrific Tiffin Room, the longest-serving restaurant in Singapore, with its velvety paneer, hot curries and ambience. Suites (there are only suites here) incorporate a bedroom, parlour and balcony.