Recently launched HOTELS in Europe and beyond
The latest openings blur boundaries between land and sea, bustle and tranquillity
CRETAN CREATION
Heritage, architecture and wellness collide in Crete this month. Just opened along the cliffs of Mononaftis Bay, with incredible sea views to show for it, boutique-style retreat Acro – meaning ‘on the edge’ – has been carved straight from the terroir. The 49 luxury all-pool lodgings (including seven cave suites) harness original cliff stone, marble from ancient Phaistos and raw silk to create a modern bohemian look. A rock-flanked pool with blonde-wood decking show off the main building’s Paolo Soleri-inspired limewash facade in all its pomp, and a Cretan restaurant focusing on farm-to-fork dining, extensive wellness programme, bathhouse, spa and gorgeous yoga shala seal the deal. acrosuites.com
INTO THE BLUE
For those plotting ahead for something far-flung, contemporary beachfront resort Mango House Seychelles has just landed on a south-western stretch of the island of Mahé. Once the family residence of Italian photographer Gian Paolo Barbieri, now part of the LXR group, it’s a luxurious affair with 41 sea-facing rooms and beach houses tucked away amid tropical greenery. The modern decor pulls delicately from Seychellois culture and lore, and each room has outdoor space. On your doorstep are the golden sands and warm water of Anse Aux Poules Bleues bay, two sun-dappled pools and a beautiful spa. On the food front, five restaurants champion local ingredients – in particular, seafood and spices – across cuisines including South Indian, Creole, Japanese and Italian. A great jumping off point for neighbouring art communities, golf clubs and watersport adventures. lxrhotels3.hilton.com
RAISING THE CURTAIN IN LONDON
As the saying goes, as one door closes, another opens; nowhere is it truer than on Curtain Road, where new Mondrian Shoreditch has taken root on the site of the sadly lost-to-lockdowns Curtain Hotel. Bringing with it the brand’s signature sense of cool, from the outside it’s pure Brooklyn – all crittall windows and brown brickwork. Inside, maestros of interiors Goddard Littlefair have put their hand to the design. The 120 light-filled rooms – some with separate lounge and balconies – are similarly very New York, with elegantly masculine browns and taupes leading the colourways, darkwood floors and whitewashed exposed brick. The double-height lobby has concrete walls and hand-painted art by Fred Coppin, and a rooftop pool area incorporates the rattan-clad Altitude restaurant. Elsewhere, a strong food offering includes the first London outpost for famed Andalucían chef Dani García – serving Spanish mainstays and tapas in a hidden Sevilleinspired courtyard. And funky, copper-dressed Christina’s – an all-day spot – is gaining a rep for its sandos and cocktails. Staycation, sorted. sbe.com