The world’s most enticing new hotel openings

This month’s most stylish hotel openings feature a range of destinations, from a chic city break in Europe to a bijou addition to the London hotel scene. We also explore a lush safari adventure in South Africa before heading to Sydney. Read on to find out what escapes have caught our eye for February.

New hotel openings for February 2025

Adina Town Hall Sydney, Sydney, Australia

Making guests feel at home was central to the design of the new aparthotel Adina Town Hall Sydney. Bates Smart Interior Design designed each space as a private residence to live in rather than a hotel room with sophisticated creamy shades, warm hues of brown, and brass highlights, which continue in the kitchen as the striking centrepiece, a golden brass drum that encourages guests to congregate together. Even the lobby has been given a living room feel, with a 1970s-inspired circular rug and banquette marking out the separate seating area. The finishing touch is the views from the hotel’s 27 floors, which offer a sky-high look across Sydney’s Darling Harbour, iconic Town Hall and historic Clock Tower.

Adina Town Hall Sydney is located at 511 Kent Street, Sydney, Australia; adinahotels.com

Few & Far Luvhondo, Limpopo, South Africa

After launching their adventure-driven experiential travel company Few & Far in March 2024, husband and wife travel duo Jacob and Sarah Dusek have quickly followed up with the brand’s first-ever safari eco-lodge, Few & Far Luvhondo. South Africa-based Nicholas Plewman Architects and Ohkre Collective took inspiration from some of Africa’s most iconic trees, including the large Baobabs that surround the lodge, to create the striking curved exteriors of the six cliffside suites. The natural landscape also informed the interiors, with a colour palette that nods to the clay-coloured earth, blue skies and verdant foliage and patterns and textures inspired by natural rock formations and African fauna and flora. A variety of experiences immerse guests in nature and culture, including, of course, daily game drives for animal spotting amongst the savannahs and lush subtropical forests.

Few & Far Luvhondo is located at R523, Waterpoort, 3813, South Africa; fewandfarcollection.com

Le Jardin de Verre by Locke, Paris, France

Locke will make its French debut this month when the brand opens its 17th property in Paris’ historic Latin Quarter. Design studio Fettle has combined an 18th-century Parisian residence and a 20th-century industrial factory with a newly built property and imbued each space with Locke’s signature playful style, think bold colours, a mishmash of stripes, and in the bedrooms, wavy headboards and fringed chandeliers. Elegant wall mouldings and parquet flooring nod to the hotel’s Haussman past and contrast with the original factory metalwork that has been deliberately exposed. The extensive list of facilities showcases Locke’s buzzy lifestyle concept and takes guests from morning to night with a gym, yoga studio, and coffee shop, an open internal courtyard for al fresco dining, and a destination restaurant complete with a cocktail bar and terrace.

Le Jardin de Verre by Locke is located at 7 Rue Lacépède, 75005 Paris, France; lockeliving.com

Park Lane Copenhagen, Denmark

Just north of Copenhagen next to the leafy Øregårdspark, a 1920s cinema turned beloved local hotel has been transformed once again into the city’s latest boutique bolthole. Designer Camilla van den Tempel has dressed the 69 rooms with her take on Scandinavian minimalism, inspired by the neighbouring park. Cue a chic and contemporary palette of soft creams and earthy browns, accessorised with herringbone flooring, handcrafted wallpaper and on the marble bathrooms, tubs from the Italian design brand Antonio Lupi. In the newly created collection of suites, which reside in the former ballroom, the original stucco, chandeliers, and wooden panelling have been sensitively restored. The three restaurants include the Yves at Park Lane, a modern French restaurant signed by Michelin-starred chef Yves Le Lay, the relaxed bistro Rosé Rosé, and Parsley Salon, where ultra seasonal dishes change every few weeks to highlight the terroir of Copenhagen.

Park Lane Copenhagen is located at Strandvejen 203, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark; parklanecph.com

The Welbeck, London, UK

Sitting on one of Marylebone’s pretty Georgian streets, The Welbeck has been welcoming guests for more than 200 years, albeit for different reasons when it originally opened as a hospital. It’s now been reborn – after a period as an everyday Holiday Inn – thanks to the award-winning Studio Moren, who has deftly blended its historic charm with modern chic. Postbox red hallways lead to the 164 rooms and suites, where classic white walls, wooden flooring and brown leather armchairs have been jazzed up with patterned green ceilings, yellow sofas and orange bolsters. Tapping into the building’s medical history, guests will be able to book in-room wellness services such as IV drips and beauty treatments as part of the hotel’s ‘Be Well’ philosophy, but as self-care takes different forms, there’s also The Welbecker Bar for unwinding over craft cocktails.

The Welbeck is located at 57-59 Welbeck Street, London W1G 9BL; thewelbeckhotel.com

New hotel openings for January 2025

Badrutt’s Palace, St. Moritz, Switzerland

Badrutt’s Palace is marking the new year with the opening of the Serlas Wing, the hotel’s first extension in over a century. As a St. Moritz homeowner, Italian architect-designer Antonio Citterio of the Milan-based ACPV Architects was the natural choice to take on the project, which has been seven years in the making. Citterio found inspiration in local traditions and the natural setting to blend rich oakwood, stone flooring, and wool-fabric wall panelling, creating a warm palette intended to complement the colours of the surrounding Swiss Alps and nearby Lake St. Moritz. Furnishings by B&B Italia and fabrics by Loro Piana Interiors add a timeless finishing touch, complementing the views across Via Serlas, the world’s highest luxury shopping street, and the snow-capped mountains.

Badrutt’s Palace is located at Via Serlas 27, 7500 St. Moritz, Switzerland; badruttspalace.com

Read our full hotel review of Badrutt’s Palace’s Serlas Wing

Brach Madrid, Spain

French hotel group Evok has snagged a prime spot on Gran Via for Brach Madrid, the brand’s second property outside Paris. Housed in a historic 1922 building, the hotel received an eclectic new look by Phillippe Starck, who has jazzed up the guest room’s natural layers of jatoba wood, marble and leather with fringed patterned sofas, an assortment of knick-knacks, and on one wall, an illustrated abstract map of Spain. Like its French sister Brach Paris, Brach Madrid’s Mediterranean-style restaurant will be overseen by Chef Adam Bentalha, whilst La Pâtisserie will pay homage to both countries with a mix of classic French and Spanish sweets. Check into the spa for high-tech offerings such as a hyperbaric oxygen chamber and cryotherapy, complemented by treatments courtesy of myBlend and Clarins.

Brach Madrid is located at Gran Vía, 20, Centro, 28013 Madrid, Spain; brachmadrid.com

Read our full hotel review of Brach Madrid

Romeo Roma, Rome, Italy

For one of her last major projects, Zaha Hadid brought her trademark futuristic style to the 16th-century palazzo that is now Romeo Roma. Behind the historic façade, 74 guest rooms exemplify how striking simplicity can be, with minimal hues and sweeping geometry reigning supreme. The hotel also heralds Alain Ducasse’s first foray into Rome, which paired with Hadid’s fluid shapes is a treat to the sense. The hotel has also partnered up with Krug Champagne for the rooftop bar La Terrazza, whilst the subterranean spa treatments come courtesy of Sisley. Don’t miss a swim in the indoor-outdoor pool, whose transparent floor overlooks an ancient archaeological site.

Romeo Roma is located at Via di Ripetta, 246, 00186 Roma RM, Italy; theromeocollection.com

New hotel openings for December 2024

Cheval Blanc Seychelles, Mahé Island

Cheval Blanc has once again joined forces with Jean-Michel Gathy to create its sixth maison on Mahé Island in Seychelles. Gathy looked to traditional Seychelles architecture to imagine 52 villas – 24 on the beach and 28 hidden in the green hills – with high, sloping roofs and wide entrances to blur the boundaries between outside and in. Gathy’s ‘casual chic’ philosophy informed a sophisticated palette of white, sand and greige, which helps emphasise the panoramic natural views, perhaps best enjoyed from the villa’s private pool. Facilities include five distinct restaurants, which range from the Seychellois Creole flavours of Le White to contemporary Japanese cuisine at Mizumi and Spa Cheval Blanc, which, in partnership with Guerlain, offers treatments rooted in the island.

Cheval Blanc Seychelles is located at Anse Intendance, Mahé Island, Intendance Rd, Quatre Bornes, Seychelles; chevalblanc.com

Hotel Calimala Milano, Milan, Italy

After overseeing the original Hotel Calimala in Florence, architect and designer Alex Meitlis was tasked with creating a distinct new look for the brand’s sister property in Milan. Meitlis used the city as his mood board for the 88 designer rooms, which come stylishly dressed with sleek, clean lines, shades of clay pink, citrus orange and mint blue and finished with bespoke furnishings and light fittings crafted from local, traditional materials. On the ground floor, a wine and coffee bar comes with an outdoor terrace for people-watching whilst, on the rooftop, it’s all about admiring the city from the restaurant and bar, which sits alongside one of the few rooftop swimming pools in town.

Hotel Calimala Milano is located at Via Melzo, 7, 20129 Milan, Italy; calimalamilano.com

Hotel Humano, Puerto Escondido, Mexico

Mexican hotel group Grupo Habita set its sights on the world-renowned surfing spot Zicatela Beach for its latest opening, Hotel Humano. Architect Jorge Hernández de la Garza and the designers at Plantea Estudio embraced the coastline’s laidback surf spirit to create a collection of concrete and clay structures filled with locally crafted furnishings that celebrate Oaxaca’s artisanal design. The 39 rooms exude Mexican warmth, from the tropical wood furnishings to the bespoke dark-orange textiles and handmade wine-coloured bathroom tiles, all accessorised by drawings from artist Lucio Muniain. In the centre of the hotel sits a lush courtyard and pool, whilst above is the rooftop bar and restaurant headed up helmed by chef Saúl Carranza and chef Marion Chateau, previously of Marseille’s La Relève.

Hotel Humano is located at Alejandro Cárdenas Peralta S/N Colonia Brisas Zicatela, 70934 Brisas de Zicatela, Mexico; hotel-humano.com

Me Malta, St. Julian’s

Meliá has made a strong debut in Malta with the opening of its latest Me address, which sits on the coast in the seaside town of St. Julian’s. Located inside the striking Mercury Towers development, one of the last designs personally signed off by Zaha Hadid, the 20-storey hotel welcomes guests into the 7th-floor lobby with a sculptural staircase, an abstract beaded ceiling decoration, and floor-to-ceiling views of the Mediterranean that continue into the 113 rooms and 27 suites. Crowning the property is the almost futuristic rooftop, home to the poolside ‘beach club’ Cabana Club, kitted out with plush cabanas and loungers, and the signature Me by Meliá Radio Rooftop bar, which serves up Asian sharing plates to a DJ session soundtrack.

Me Malta is located at Saint George’s Road, Triq Gort, St. Julian’s, Malta; melia.com

Namia River Retreat, Hội An, Vietnam

Sitting on a tranquil islet overlooking the Thu Bồn River, Namia River Resort is a wellness retreat that immerses guests in nature through both its design and therapies. Bioclimatic architecture specialists T3 Architects worked with Kanopea Architecture Studio to create 60 timber villas inspired by the traditional architecture of the fisherman and country houses that sit around the resort. Open plan interiors dressed with neutral hues and layers of natural materials lead directly onto private pool terraces shaded by the verdant Nipa palm forest, and sunken bathtubs have been thoughtfully placed to offer a view across the river. In the spa, the design team favoured soft organic shapes to create a serene environment for the retreat’s healing treatments, which have been inspired by Vietnamese herbology and tradition.

Namia River Retreat is located at 232 Trần Nhân Tông, Cẩm Thanh, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam; namiariverretreat.com

New hotel openings for November 2024

Bab Al Shams New Desert Villas, Dubai, UAE

After opening its doors in 2004, Bab Al Shams has received an update to its 115-room desert retreat in the form of eight private poolside villas. Design team Anarchitect imagined each of the one- and two-bedroom properties as a minimalist circular beige structure to blend harmoniously with the desert surroundings. The pared-back aesthetic continues inside, with rooms dressed in sandy neutrals and softly curved wood furnishings that mirror the villa’s round exterior. Each comes with its own outdoor terrace, fireplace and private pool. Guests, of course, have access to the resort’s facilities and choice of desert adventures, from dining in Anwā restaurant and switching off in the soothing spa to hot air ballooning or heading out on camelback across the desert.

Bab Al Shams New Desert Villas are located at Al Qudra Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; babalshams.com

Hotel Bellevigne, Chambolle-Musigny, France

French hotel group Les Hôtels (très) Particuliers tapped Jordane Arrivetz to reimagine a former manor house built over a wine storehouse into its latest address, Bellevigne, in the heart of Burgundy wine region. Arrivetz has put a contemporary twist on country style, blending the original Burgundy stonework and rustic beams with minimalist black four-poster beds and warm shades inspired by the colours of wine and the nearby vineyards. Furnishings are a mix of antiques and bespoke, such as the standout glossy green desk in the reception. Naturally, facilities centre around food and wine, with a restaurant, wine bar, oenophile library and tasting cellars stocked with more than 300 local wines, which can be balanced out with time in the outdoor pool and spa.

Hotel Bellevigne is located at 7 Rue de l'Église, 21220 Chambolle-Musigny, France; bellevigne-hotels.com

Melbourne Place, Australia

As its name suggests, Melbourne Place brings together all the best cultural aspects of the city into one destination address. Australian design firm Kennedy Nolan took inspiration from the city’s vernacular architecture to create a new build featuring a brick, concrete and stone facade. Inside, guest rooms and suites come dressed in Australian-inspired palettes of deep green, blue, gold, and brown – all linked through layers of oiled Jarrah wood, warm textiles, and furnishings sourced from local Australian artisans. On the ground floor, restaurant Marmelo serves Portuguese and Spanish flavours in front of an open kitchen. On the rooftop, at Mid Air, rising star Nick Deligiannis dishes up a Mediterranean menu which champions local ingredients. Guests can also cap off the evening with a nightcap at the late-night supper club, Mr Mills.

Melbourne Place is located at 130 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia; melbourneplace.com.au

Palm House, Palm Beach, USA

Palm House has made a splash in Palm Beach. The British owners, L+R Hotels, aimed to infuse a fresh vibe into the island’s traditional aesthetic with their first U.S. property in the USA under the Iconic Luxury Hotels collection. They enlisted architects Cooper Carry and the interior design studio Muza Lab to craft a lively design centred around the concept of fun. The design team embraced the vintage pinks and greens synonymous with Palm Beach, featuring stunning elements like three coral Murano-glass chandeliers and a pink marble counter at the Palm Bar. The vibrant colour scheme carries through to the guest rooms, which showcase coral-hued headboards and sea-green furnishings. The hotel’s highlight is the retro Sunset Pool Deck, boasting a sunken heated pool surrounded by pastel pink striped cabana beds and lush palm trees.

Palm House is located at 160 Royal Palm Way, Palm Beach, FL 33480, United States; palmhouse.com

Saltmoore, Whitby, UK

Sitting between the sea and the North Yorkshire Moors, the luxury nature retreat Saltmoore cocoons guests from the elements. Designers Sapin Studio drew inspiration from the natural surroundings to imagine the 72 guest rooms, which are housed across two hotels: Saltmoore House and The Beach House. Nature-inspired palettes range from earthy browns that nod to the nearby moors to pale ocean blue and greens, accessorised with country chic roll-top baths, tactile upholstered headboards and contemporary four-poster beds. Sculptures by local artist Emma Stothard can be found dotted around the property – look out for the standout chandelier in the lobby as the finishing touch. Saltmoore’s two restaurants and three bars also champion local producers, whilst the spa offers treatments courtesy of nature-inspired beauty brand Wildsmith Skin.

Saltmoore is located at Sandsend Road, Whitby YO21 3ST, UK; saltmoore.co.uk

W Prague, Czech Republic

The Art Nouveau style of the former Grand Hotel Evropa underpins the W Prague. AvroKO’s London design studio blended original details such as decorative stucco and curved wood panelling with a contemporary riff on nature-inspired design movement, think sinuous lines decorating the bar in the W lounge and a collection of peacock feather printed armchairs. The 161 guest rooms and suites are a contemporary contrast to the old-school glamour of the public spaces, with immaculate white walls jazzed up with circular glass headboards and pops of blue and yellow velvet. The opening has also brought impressive facilities to the Czech capital’s city centre, including the Above Rooftop bar with sweeping city views, a destination restaurant, an underground cocktail lounge, and an Away Spa.

W Prague is located at Václavské nám. 826/25, 110 00 Nové Město, Prague, Czech Republic; marriott.com