This modern playground has jungle vibes written all over it, while also being located right on the Cretan coast. With a laid-back spirit, Casa Cook is all about taking in the area’s beachy atmosphere, be it through outdoor yoga or starlit cocktails by the pool. Each cabana, which house the rooms, has a slightly rugged feel to it, blending raffia and rattan with private swimming holes. This Casa Cook is also the first of its kind to welcome families, and it is completely attuned to hip toddlers who are used to spending Sundays at Soho House – think sleepovers in teepees and a Neverland-inspired treehouse.

Ennismore Group’s Hoxton collection, originally known for its
hotels in London, Paris, and Amsterdam, made a splash
stateside in 2018 with openings in both Williamsburg, New York and
Portland, Oregon. Continuing to ride this wave, the group now has
plans for a Chicago opening in the city’s creative West Loop. Much
like its Brooklyn sister, this Hoxton location
is smack in the middle of Chicago’s art and foodie scenes, making it the
ideal jumping-off point for gallery and coffee shop
exploration.

What started as Experimental Cocktail Club gradually expanded to hotels in Paris and London, an Ibiza beach club and this winter’s brand-new Verbier chalet. In 2019, the group will be exploring further afield, with new hotels opening in both Menorca and Venice. The 40-acre property in Menorca will house nine seafront buildings, horse stables, and a vegetable garden. Meals will be served farm-to-table style with produce freshly picked from the property, and there will of course be an Experimental Cocktail Bar on-site. The Venice opening, which will be in nothing less than a canalside palazzo, is guaranteed to turn heads as well.

Nestled among fig trees and olive groves, this brand-new Alentejo retreat is the stuff holiday dreams are made of. Not only does the space mingle seamlessly with its surroundings, but the stillness and quiet are breathtaking – the hotel truly feels a million miles away from the rest of the world, making this the ideal oasis for self-care in 2019. This hotel’s design was also very carefully curated by Vito and Franck, the duo responsible for its creation. Each building and room started with an original structure, and was then given contemporary flair, with extraordinary bathtubs handcrafted using local marble, enormous double doors opening out onto private, fig tree-lined patios and a private emerald green infinity pool.

Following in the footsteps of the original Coqui Coqui darling in Tulum, this Bora Bora opening, predicted for summer 2019, is one of the most hotly-anticipated of the year. A low-key alternative to the hotels on stilts that have become synonymous with the area, this beachy bungalow is the ideal stay for a boho-chic getaway. Given Coqui Coqui’s perfumery roots, we can’t wait for their upcoming fragrances with a Pacific twist – think Tahitian vanilla, sandalwood and jasmine. All we’re saying is, we bet this is the spot Paul Gauguin would have picked as his Polynesian retreat had he visited the islands today.

Following Nobu brand’s sleek design ethos, the zen Nobu Hotel in Los Cabos is a mecca of pale wood, low-slung furniture and elegant open-air architecture. It goes without saying that a Nobu Restaurant goes hand-in-hand with the launch of this new stay, meaning that miso black cod and rock shrimp tempura are available on tap (god bless room service). When you awaken from your food coma, there is an outdoor hydrotherapy garden spa, including an experiential shower, cabana jacuzzi, saunas, a Watsu treatment pool and an outdoor shower.

Following Detroit’s explosive glow-up, the city’s well-known watch brand, Shinola, opened its eponymous hotel at the very start of 2019. The hotel shares a sleek feel with the company’s stores, and the rooms are cosy urban hideaways with names such as the Loft, the Alcove and the Den. One of the best parts about this hotel has got to be its roster of lifestyle-oriented extras, from its custom retail experience, “Shinola Alley,” which features brands such as Le Labo and Madewell, to its long list of restaurants and bars helmed by Chef Andrew Carmellini of Locanda Verde fame in New York.

Set to open in February 2019, the Santarena is located in the bohemian beach town of Las Catalinas. Inspired by the old mansions of Cartagena and Havana, this hotel’s design is pure bliss: think panoramic windows overlooking the Pacific, flowering courtyards and patios adjacent to every room. While the rooms are utterly gorgeous, you’ll likely find yourself outdoors more often than not. The rooftop lounge and beachfront infinity pool will be your best friends on-site, while the town is car-free, so you can easily wander to local restaurants and shops between dips. Not to mention the endless snorkelling, paddle boarding and hiking to waterfalls that are a breeze to access from the hotel.

A hospitality group that prides itself on catering to entrepreneurs, visionaries and creative thinkers by positioning itself in hot, innovative districts, Proper Hotels are set to grow at rocket speed in early 2019. Having recently launched in San Francisco, the line will soon be opening new locations in Santa Monica, Downtown LA and Austin, Texas. We’re drooling over the Downtown L.A. location, which will be set in a historic red brick building, formerly home to the YMCA. The rooftop pool, restaurant and bar combo will be a natural peer to the roofs at Petit Ermitage and co., so check this spot out before it gets inundated every influencer in LA.

Set in the bucolic hills surrounding Canterbury, the former Bridge Place Country Club is reopening as The Pig at Bridge Place. This 17th-century manor has quite the party-hard history, having played host to some legendary nights for Led Zeppelin and company in the 70s. A number of hidden staircases and tucked-away bars make it a piece of cake to carry on the tradition of late-night endeavours at the revamped hotel. While the manor is made up of seven bedrooms, the Coach House has twelve. The Old Stables house a massive upstairs-downstairs bedroom overlooking the kitchen garden, as well as multiple treatment rooms for decompressing between meals. Here, life revolves around breakfast, lunch and dinner plans (without forgetting snacks and fireside cocktails).

The Ahangama, part of the Harding Boutique Hotel line, is a hotel opening we’re waiting on with bated breath. Just steps away from the Indian Ocean, Harding Boutique Hotel is a tropical retreat built for indulgence. Housing only six suites, the hotel’s small scale means guests can make the most of the surf break without too much competition. After a big day out on the water, retire to your room where a rainfall shower will rinse off the day’s saltwater while immaculate bathtubs facing the sea at sunset will give cause for reflection. Later, drift to sleep on crisp Egyptian cotton. Come morning, scope out the waves from the rooftop restaurant where breakfast is served daily, and enjoy lunch and dinner at the poolside restaurant and lounge. That is of course when you’re not making the most of the butler service.

This LA and New York staple, well-known for
its rocking nightlife spots in the East Village and Meatpacking
District, is moving across the pond. Right by St. Pancras Station,
its location will make it an easy jumping-off point for travellers.
Grabbing an early-morning train out of the city? Book a room for a
cheeky staycation that will have you right across the street from
the station. Also known for its top-rated eats, The Standard is set
to become a new culinary giant in town – its restaurants will be
helmed by two of the latest hits on the food scene. The rooftop
eatery will be guided by the steady hand of Peter Sanchez-Iglesias,
whose Bristol restaurants Casamia and
Paco Tapas have both earned a Michelin star. Adam Rawson, Young
British Foodie Chef of the Year in 2015, will also be taking the
lead after training with Angela Dimayuga of Mission Chinese.

Opening this January, The Merchant House in Manama, Bahrain, is one to book now. So far, we know that the hotel will have an intensive art focus, featuring paintings by artists hailing from all over Bahrain and the Gulf region. The restaurant and café selection has been carefully planned out (dare we say “curated”) too: Indigo, the rooftop restaurant and bar, overlooks the bay and downtown Manama, and makes for the perfect spot to escape the heat with a poolside cocktail. For smoothies, sandwiches and cakes on the go, pop into Café Gray before checking out the stalls at the nearby Manama Souq, while the Library is perfect for a cosy afternoon tea.

Set in London‘s historic Vintry ward – an old
hub for wine merchants – is Vintry & Mercer, the newest city
slicker. Step inside, and you’ll note its slickness. The hotel
lobby is more like an haute greenhouse, with plants in terracotta
pots and Liberty-esque florals. The bedrooms take the decor up
another notch with velvet headboards, needle-and-thread wallpaper
and floor-to-ceiling windows opening out onto balconies. Vintry
Kitchen is perfect for early-evening Asian tapas, while the Mercer
roof terrace serves up seafood from the British Isles with a view
over St Paul’s Cathedral and the Shard. For a more intimate
experience, check out the basement cocktail lounge, Do Not Disturb,
inspired by New York speakeasies.

Once considered more of Miss Havisham style abode than millennial hangout, this century-old build (formerly the Tower Bridge Court) is set to become one of the most-popular southside spots in town. The design team have drummed up all the usual suspects: exposed brickwork, copper tables and edgy curations from local artists. Perfectly pinned on SE1, a short amble from the hotel, you’ll find TATE Modern and the newly opened, Art Yard Bar & Kitchen (great for a pre-theatre bite). City strollers and design lovers – this one’s for you.