Doha’s big opening, two brand-new launches in the Americas, and a UK crashpad
We’re celebrating the arrival of the small yet perfectly formed Artist Residence Oxfordshire artistresidenceoxford.co.uk to South Leigh. The convivial 16th-century country inn is the fourth site for the group, which has nailed the trend for boho-luxe design across five bedrooms found in the eaves. Interiors include William Morris wallpaper, reclaimed furniture, exposed brickwork and original beams. Downstairs, Mr Hanbury’s Mason Arms serves modern pub food using homegrown and foraged produce. A further seven suites open later in the year. In the Americas, Havana is the destination on everyone’s lips and hoteliers are responding with a move away from its usual boutique hotels. In the heart of the old town, close to the Capitol and baroque-style Great Theatre, Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana kempinski.com has opened 246 luxury rooms across six floors. Expect high ceilings and fresh, contemporary interiors in spacious rooms with sweeping views across the city. Further south, old-school Brazilian charm is the deal at Palácio Tangará palaciotangara.com, which has launched in São Paulo. The palatial Forties building is host to 141 bedrooms set amid ten hectares of lush greenery and tropical plantlife. Bedrooms are bathed in natural light, allowing the elegant duck egg blue, olive green and dove grey colour scheme to shine while private terraces bring the outdoors in. It’s a big claim, sure, but we’re putting it out there: Mondrian Doha is the most outrageously opulent hotel launch of the year. Close to the Pearl in the buzzy West Bay Lagoon area, its vertiginous structure emulates a falcon, Qatar’s national bird, while the eye-popping interiors come courtesy of Dutch designer Marcel Wanders. His modern interpretation of the folklore of the Arabian Nights includes plays on mosaics, carpets textured to wave and crease like desert sand and a tree of life made from flowers. The lobby atrium has a dizzyingly sculptural spiral staircase, while the skybar and rooftop pool on the 27th floor are enveloped by a curvaceous stained-glass dome patterned in the style of Tiffany’s iconic peony lamp. Intricate wall murals and Swarovski chandeliers are balanced by cream and gold furnishings across the 270 luxurious waterfront bedrooms, a number of which offer private gardens and terraces. Elsewhere the ESPA spa is the country’s largest, with 12 treatment rooms. And when it comes to dining, the offering is varied. Along with three bars, the lobby lounge features NYC-favourite Magnolia bakery, while Wolfgang Puck is bringing his Cut steakhouse and Masaharu Morimoto will be heading up a sushi bar. morganshotelgroup.com