Game-Changing Check-Ins: Five Pioneering Hotels We Love

From an earth-conscious boutique in Tokyo’s coolest neighbourhood to a repurposed brutalist landmark in New England, these five trailblazing hotels are worth detouring for

Travel is full of soul-lifting moments, but we'd argue that there are few things more special than first arriving at your hotel. Hitting that key card against the door, then exhaling a sigh of happiness on opening it? Pure bliss. No longer just offering standard double rooms, today's leading hotels have evolved into buzzy neighbourhood hangouts, thanks to the arrival of first-class spa offerings, in-house galleries, co-working dens and award-winning menus. From a wellness-first Mexican hideout to a reimagined brutalist office block in Connecticut, these five trailblazing stays all celebrate locality, sustainability and design.

Five of the world's leading hotels

Trunk Bar Lounge

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Trunk Hotel

Tokyo, Japan

The nature-rich Trunk Hotel is home to 15 art-filled bedrooms, a forward-thinking concept store, destination restaurant and stylish social spaces. Situated in the design-forward Shibuya neighbourhood, the contemporary property is arranged across two four-storey buildings, with interiors brought to life by the Tokyo-based Tripster studio - a mishmash of glass, grey brickwork and wooden panels enclosed by tumbling greenery. While there's plenty to be said for the rotating exhibitions, playful cocktails and soothing chill-out-zones, it's the hotel's commitment to the environment that we love. Be it tableware hand-crafted from broken dishes, nesting areas for birds and insects, cushions fashioned from boat sails, or bar stools upcycled from old wine corks, there's beauty to be found in the smallest of details here.

Address

5 Chome-31 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150 0001, Japan

Paramount House Hotel
Photo credit: Tom Ross

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Paramount House Hotel

Sydney, Australia

Could this be Sydney's coolest crashpad? Based on its crown-like copper roof, we'd say so. Originally the film-storage warehouse for the city's iconic Paramount Picture Studios, a nine-year makeover helmed by Studio Johnston has seen the property transformed into a contemporary 29-key stay. There are five different room types to choose from, spanning loft-style studios to cosy nooks, all characterised by plant-filled terraces, slick bathrooms complete with luxe Aesop toiletries and living spaces finished with airy linens, raw fabrics and artworks by local artists. Elsewhere, a rooftop fitness space offering day passes, outdoor café serving artisan coffees and banging club sandwiches, in-house cinema and co-working den, plus acclaimed wine bar Poly, have resulted in the address becoming a hangout loved by locals and travellers alike.

Address

80 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills, Sydney NSW 2010, Australia

Hotel Schwarzschmied Exterior

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Hotel Schwarzschmied

South Tyrol, Italy

Located in the remote Tyrolean village of Lana, amid rolling vineyards and tangled orchards, Hotel Schwarzschmied might just be our favourite address for a go-slow Italian getaway. Built in 1981, the hotel underwent a recent renovation headed up by Merano-based interior designer Christina Biasi-von Berg - spot the bespoke lamps and hand-crafted carpets made from locally sourced wool. The state-of-the-art spa is equipped with an outdoor pool, steam bath and sauna, while an in-house yoga teacher leads sessions on a sun-kissed pergola. It's the celebration of Tyrol's fertile ground that we think you'll enjoy the most, though: think low-intervention wines, homemade loaves and herb-drizzled goodness available from dusk till dawn.

Address

Vicolo Fucine 6, 39011 Lana BZ, Italy

Habitas Bacalar
Photo credit: Tanveer Badal

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Habitas Bacalar

Bacalar, Mexico

Resting on the banks of the Bacalar lagoon's hypnotic blue waters, the third boutique from eco-conscious hotel group Habitas provides a tranquil base for travellers looking to recharge. Canopied rooms seamlessly blend into the surrounding landscape, with thatched roofs and tall grasses cocooning the individual structures. Holistic treatments and traditional healing rituals use organic, local ingredients, and guests are encouraged to practise mindfulness and meditation. Wellbeing is also at the forefront of the hotel's in-house restaurant, Siete, where plates of soul-nourishing, Mayan-inspired cuisine are crafted from fresh local produce. We love the property's dedication to preserving and protecting the lagoon, which includes giving guests handbooks on the endangered million-year-old reefs and how best to respect the waters.

Address

Carretera Federal 307 Xul Ha, 77963 Bacalar, Mexico

Hotel Marcel, Exterior
Photo credit: Seamus Payne

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Hotel Marcel

Connecticut, US

Nothing warms our heart more than a deserted building being given a new lease of life. Step forward, Hotel Marcel. The brutalist 70s landmark, a former office building designed by Hungarian-American architect Marcel Breuer, was carefully repurposed into a 165-room bolthole late last year. Committed to minimising its impact on the environment, the hotel is powered by some 1,000 solar panels. Local craftsmen are behind the building's brass and concrete elements, with artworks by local and emerging artists on display throughout. Light-filled bedrooms see living spaces decorated with plush sofas, art deco-inspired pouffes, stellar reading materials and dried florals. The downstairs bar is exactly the kind of place you'd want to enjoy your favourite cocktail at - all soft lighting, velvet bar stools and overgrown potted plants.

Address

500 Sargent Dr, New Haven, CT 06511, US

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