RAFFLES EUROPEJSKI, WARSAW, POLAND

Well hello there, gorgeous! When Raffles Europejski Warsaw officially opened its stylish doors in June, it was the latest chapter in a story that began more than 160 years ago. Now regarded as the very finest hotel in all of Poland, replete with very Raffles touches (we’ll get to those), this Heritage-listed neo-Renaissance palace property was designed by Enrico Marconi as the height of 19th-century style and elegance.

Through the devastation of World War II, when an estimated 90 per cent of Warsaw’s buildings were razed, the grand old dame remained standing proud on the Royal Route. Just steps from the cobbled streets of the Old Town, this is a landmark hotel with stories to tell. Given a complete, luxurious four-year makeover by the clever folks from Raffles, there are as many thoughtful nods to the past as there are embraces of future-forward design. Guests can once again enjoy traditional Polish honey cakes from Lourse patisserie on the ground floor of the hotel, while they now also have the option of relaxing with cigars and the finest cognac in Warsaw’s first humidor. An art concierge has been appointed to manage the hotel’s priceless collection of original works. More than 500 pieces by 120 Polish artists are displayed throughout the hotel from the lobby to the Raffles Spa to the 106 guest rooms and suites. As a point of egalitarian pride, guests in standard rooms are just as likely to enjoy a Kantor masterpiece as those in the presidential suite. We wonder which piece caught the eye of Mick Jagger during the Rolling Stones’ recent stay.

At the hotel’s Long Bar, a cocktail menu of 10 Slings from Raffles around the world tempt with geo-themed ingredients. Would you like a Warsaw Sling, infused with quince, gingerbread, pineapple and lemon, the original Singapore Sling or a more daring choice? Whatever you choose, this is a hotel worth raising a glass to.