The winners of T&C's Hotel Awards in the April 2024 issue are organized into six categories: wilderness, city, country, beachside, minimalist, and high-design. For the full list, see T&C Hotel Awards 2024: The Best-Looking New Hotels on the Planet.
Le Grand Mazarin, Paris
Martin Brudnizki is the man behind this boutique hotel, which explains why Le Grand Mazarin has been all over your Instagram feed lately. The designer transformed a trio of 14th-century buildings into a 61-room property, taking inspiration from the sumptuous literary salons of 18th-century Paris and adding his brand of whimsy and maximalism, with touches like Dedar Milano textiles, a pool with a Cocteau-esque ceiling by Jacques Merle, and a speakeasy with Murano lights. But the biggest news: There’s finally a good place to stay in the Marais.—Leena Kim
To book a trip to France: Jennifer Virgilio of Queen of Clubs, jennifer@qofc.com; Philip Haslett of French Promise, Philip@frenchpromise.com ; Martin Rapp of Altour, martin.rapp@altour.com
La Fantaisie, Paris
Don’t we all fantasize about a bohemian pad in Paris? This hotel, on Rue Cadet in Fauborg Montmartre, is it. La Fantaisie was designed—as were two other hotels on this year’s Hotel Awards list—Le Grand Mazarin, likewise in Paris, and Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York—by London-and New-York- based, Swedish-born Martin Brudnizki. He brings his signature colorful approach to this project, too, with neutral raffia walls providing a backdrop for rich layers of bright accents and varied patterns. The palette here was inspired by the property’s lush courtyard garden. The rooms are fresh and airy, the staff wear cool sneakers, and the restaurant opens out onto the centerpiece garden with tables under umbrellas. The rooftop bar, with a jukebox, has already become a must-visit among Parisians.
To book a trip to France: Philip Haslett of French Promise philip@frenchpromise.com; and Jennifer Virgilio of Queen of Clubs, jennifer@qofc.com
At Sloane, London
The red brick townhouse at 1 Sloane Gardens does not announce itself with a hotel sign. But step inside At Sloane and you’ll understand why this collaboration between hotelier Jean-Louis Costes and interior designer François-Joseph Graf has London talking. T&C contributing editor David Netto sums it up: “I’m not sure a hotel like this has ever existed before—in this edgy style, with this meticulous level of execution. Graf is an artistic decorator of houses for people who can have anything. It’s very unusual for a public space to feel no less than one of those, but that’s exactly what has happened here, and it hasn’t happened in London since Blakes.—Klara Glowczewska
To book a trip to the UK: Jonathan Epstein of Celebrated Experiences, Jonathan@celebratedexperiences.com
Peninsula, London
Guests checking into the Peninsula will take in all the Peter Marino–masterminded room details: the mahogany-lined dressing area, the yellow onyx bathroom. But the property isn’t stingy; the public spaces have equal design cred. The lobby is also by Marino, so book the famous Peninsula tea and take in the triple-height coffered ceilings and handpainted de Gournay murals. Or go for dinner or drinks to Canton Blue, a decadent dream of a restaurant by Henry Yeung of Cap Atelier. Nightcap? The Brooklands rooftop bar is all about flight; the elevator that takes you up was inspired by a hot air balloon. Enjoy the ride.—Stellene Volandes
To book a trip to the UK: Jonathan Epstein of Celebrated Experiences, Jonathan@celebratedexperiences.com
Raffles London at The OWO
Beyond the stately Edwardian Baroque façade and Insta-famous chandeliered marble staircase in the lobby, where else can you sleep in Winston Churchill’s office, walk (literally) in the footsteps of Ian Fleming, watch the Horse Guards at St. James’s Palace from the comfort of a cocktail-lounge club chair, and enjoy a Guerlain facial in a supremely elegant spa before dashing a stone’s-throw to a show in the West End? In this ambitiously reimagined Old War Office, a stay in Central London will never be the same again.—April Long
To book a trip to the UK: Jonathan Epstein of Celebrated Experiences, jonathan@celebratedexperiences.com
Six Senses, Rome
How do you transplant a wellness resort into the heart of a metropolis? It’s a question certain brands have been trying to answer of late, among them Six Senses, which opened its first urban property in the Italian capital—on one of its busiest avenues, no less. Maybe it’s the 15th-century bones of the former palazzo which Six Senses Rome occupies that help keep out the noise, or the way architect Patricia Urquiola has achieved that perfect balance of minimalism and warmth with earthy tones, lots of greenery, and circular motifs, or that the Roman baths in the sprawling spa are a godsend after a frenzied afternoon at the Vatican—but it all just works. And to now have place to detox after one too many plates of cacio e pepe? That’s what we call balance.
To book a trip to Italy, Jack Ezon of Embark Beyond, jack@embarkbeyond.com
Violino D'Oro, Venice
Remember great family-owned hotels? They are few and far between these days, especially in Venice, where most of the city’s fabled inns are now in corporate hands. So it was big news last fall when 32-room Il Violino d’Oro opened its doors. Almost a decade in the making, it’s been a labor of love on the part of Sara Maestrelli and her aunt Elena, scions of a Tuscan dynasty whose assets include the Grand Hotel Minerva in Florence. Housed in three adjoining 17th-century buildings a five-minute walk from Piazza San Marco, it is 100% percent made in Italy. Every fabric, piece of furniture, plate, or glass—whether traditional or contemporary—has been hand-crafted in the country, most by Venetian or Florentine artisans. Yes, even the tassels on your room key.—James Reginato
To book a trip to Italy: Andrea Grisdale of IC Bellagio, andrea@icbellagio.com
The Dolli, Athens
Once a shipowner’s private home, the 46-room Dolli, located on a busy street in central Athens, still feels like one—and like an oasis. There are Picassos and Cocteaus and Lalannes and low slung Italian sofas, but also beautifully plated traditional Greek candies to welcome you in the lobby and one of the best views of the Acropolis from the rooftop restaurant.—Stellene Volandes
To book a trip to Greece: Mina Agnos of Travelive, Mina@travelive.com
Stradom House, Krakow
One thing Poland’s gem of a city hasn’t had is a hotel that flirts with five-star. Until now. Stradom House puts you almost directly across the street from the Royal Castle (a.k.a., Wawel, one of the most magnificent Renaissance residences in Central Europe), and occupies a former monastery and church dating back to the 14th century. Appropriately in this deeply historic town, the hotel riffs on both the past and the present. Old frescoed ceilings are illuminated by contemporary chandeliers; beneath the dome of what was the Church of St. Hedwig is now the hotel’s buzzy centerpiece, Club Hedwig, with a circular bar and DJs spinning on weekends (locals flock here); the name of the underground Sol Spa references Krakow’s 13th-century salt mine (and UNESCO World Heritage Site) in its cavelike treatment rooms, but also has a 20-meter pool with loungers and the latest in equipment, plunges, baths; there is both vintage and contemporary Polish furniture in the 125 rooms and, in some, restored frescoes. Chapel Loft, apparently the largest suite in Krakow, comes with a view of the castle.—Klara Glowczewska
To book a trip to Poland and Central Europe: Gwen Kozlowski of Exeter International, Gwen@exeterinternational.com.
Rosewood, Munich
While this is not the first five-star hotel in Bavaria’s capital, it is the first in its historic heart (less than 10 minutes from Marienplatz). There is now no better place to stay for experiencing Munich’s museums, culture, and culinary scenes.The 132 rooms and suites successfully pull off a residential feel with separate seating areas and entrance foyers. The Brasserie Cuvilliés, with its menu built around Bavarian dishes, and the clubby Montez bar have quickly become destinations for Munich residents, too—the urban hotel ideal.
To book a trip to Germany and Central Europe: Gwen Kozlowski of Exeter International, Gwen@exeterinternational.com.
Rosemary, Marrakech
Marrakech has seen several beautiful and intimate properties open this last year; the one that impressed us most was Rosemary. The woman behind it is Laurence Leenaert, a Belgian artist whose studio in Marrakech is already a must-visit for design lovers. Now she brings her unique style to this five-bedroom hotel that combines elements of a traditional riad with her own creations and a contemporary flair. The rooms (you an buy then out for a friends' weekend) have terrazzo floors, marble tubs, and curated antiques and experiences include treatments at the on-site hammam and ceramic workshops led by Leenaert. (Two other notable post-earthquake additions to the Marrakech hotel scene are Farasha Farmhouse, a little outside of town, and Dar Izza, a 14-room place filled with artworks in the heart of medina, though rooms are on the smaller side).
To book a trip in Morocco: Michael Diamond of Cobblestone Private Travel, michael@cobblestoneprivatetravel.co.
Fasano Itaim, São Paulo
The first Fasano, a sleek updating of 1930s style by Isay Weinfeld and Marcio Kogan, opened in Sao Paulo 21 years ago. It’s come back home, this time to one of the city’s coolest neighborhoods. Likewise overseen by Kogan, Fasano Itaim has a similar tropical modernist look, with Brazilian walnut panels, basalt floors, and celebrated Brazilian pieces like Sergio Rodrigues’s Vronka chairs. The feel, too, is at once clubby and sensual, but complemented with acres of glass. Even if you don’t spend the night, a drink at the rooftop bar, when the Brazilian metropolis becomes an expanse of glittering lights, is a must.—John Newton
To book a trip to Brazil and elsewhere in South America: Paul Irvine of Dehouche, paul.irvine@dehouche.com
Capella, Sydney
The city’s first luxury hotel in almost a decade—a 7-year transformation of a 1912 building occupying an entire block near Circular Quay—does not (gasp) offer Harbor views. But the Capella Sydney is impressive in every other way: Its elegant mixture of heritage architecture and contemporary interior design, large rooms, indoor pool and wellness center, and fabulous Australian dining.
To book a trip to Australia: Stuart Rigg of Southern Crossings, Stuart@southerncrossings.com
The Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York
It's hard not to be charmed by the intensity of whimsical detail that went into this favorite destination for stylish New Yorkers and visitors alike. From the pink silk walls of the elevator lobbies to the mother-of-pearl bar carts in the guestrooms, which founder Alex Ohebshalom and designer Martin Brudnizki spent years developing, the hotel is a series of delights. But the biggest draw might be the restaurant, Cafe Carmellini, and its Portrait Bar, two of New York's hottest reservations.—Danielle Stein Chizzik
To book: The Fifth Avenue Hotel.
Bowie House, Fort Worth
This might be owner Jo Ellard’s first hotel, but it isn’t her first rodeo. The champion cutting horse rider has brought an equestrian aesthetic to the 106-room Cultural District edifice (part of the Auberge Resorts Collection)—there are original black-and-white Constance Jaeggi photos depicting Texas ranch life in each room, and the lobby bar is a 200-year-old saloon model. But the design goes way beyond the barnyard. The architecture and interiors by Dallas-based outfit Boka Powell skew more contemporary than cowpoke, and pieces from Ellard’s own collection of modern art—including works by Ashley Collins, Max Zorn, and David Bates—are on display throughout. Perhaps the best example of the sleek yet sporty vibe here is the Bricks and Horses steakhouse, where the décor is unmistakably Texan, but the well-heeled guests might be the wildest animals in sight.—Adam Rathe
To book: Bowie House.
Raffles, Boston
If Paul Revere thought British troop movements in Boston were worth yelling about, what would he make of the arrival of Raffles? The Revolutionary War hero’s work with copper serves as design inspiration for the Singapore-originated brand’s first hotel in North America—as do other Bostonian icons, including the city’s park system, known as the Emerald Necklace. The hushed guest rooms provide a sense of calm in bustling Back Bay, whereas the buzzy public spaces have more razzle dazzle.
To book: Raffles Boston
Bulgari, Tokyo
Clean lines, sleek woods, and soaring floor-to-ceiling windows with vertigo-inducing views are all basically de rigueur for any luxury hotel in Tokyo, but the 98-room Bulgari, occupying the top six floors of the 45-story Midtown Yaesu tower, stands out for its unique blend of Italian panache and Japanese savoir-faire. Translation? The chandeliers are Murano, some of the marble is Carrara, the porcelain is Ginori, and the pool is lined with a mosaic of Venetian glass and tile that shimmers like emeralds. Meanwhile, there are textiles from a centuries-old Kyoto atelier, the gold ceilings of every room have been hand-painted by local artisans, and the soaking tubs are Japanese. Even the flora is on-theme. Both lemon and yuzu trees line the outdoor terraces.
To book a trip to Japan: Scott Gilman of JapanQuest Journeys, scott@japanquestjourneys.com
The Charleston, Galle
In the historic center of this fortified southwestern city, long an outpost of the Portuguese, the Dutch, and later the British, a nostalgic colonial aesthetic saturates many hotels—dark woods, white walls, and lazy ceiling fans spinning overhead. It’s an appealing enough look, but the nine-room Charleston feels like a breath of fresh air, with another era of the town’s history as inspiration. The Art Deco villa with sweeping lines has been restored a century after it was first completed in 1924, with honeyed wood details and furniture that shares the building’s clean curves.Its location is ideal for exploring, with the streets of historic Galle in one direction and the rampart of the fort and the Indian Ocean beyond it to the other.
To book a trip to Sri Lanka: Miguel Cunat of Sri Lanka in Style miguel@srilankainstyle.com
Our Method: To compile this list of great-looking new hotels around the world, we followed not whimsy but rules: 1) They had to have opened no earlier than 2023. 2) They had to have been nominated by either T&C’s well traveled editors or our roundtable of 37 globetrotting travel advisors (preferably both). There were 172 nominees, and 53 made it through our vetting process. Bon voyage!
This story appears in the April 2024 issue of Town & Country. SUBSCRIBE NOW
Klara Glowczewska is the Executive Travel Editor of Town & Country, covering topics related to travel specifically (places, itineraries, hotels, trends) and broadly (conservation, culture, adventure), and was previously the Editor in Chief of Conde Nast Traveler magazine.
