If you consider yourself a minimalist, the Faena Hotel in Miami
Beach might not be for you. The grounds are positively dripping in
decadence, gold and glamour from the lobby upwards. The hotel forms
part of a five-block spectacle featuring an arts and culture
centre, two hotels, two residential buildings and a retail complex
– and that’s not even the lot of it. The Faena Hotel itself houses
its own state-of-the-art theatre, restaurants, bars and mesmerising
murals, mosaic, with walls decorated by the work of celebrated
Buenos Aires-born artist, Juan Gatti.

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Give up mobile phone service and give in to your inner hippie at
Playa Koralia, an eco-friendly retreat located in Buritaca at the
gateway of Colombia‘s
Tayrona National Park. Where the snowcapped Sierra Nevada de Santa
Marta tumbles into the the Caribbean Sea, the Nieto family has
cultivated a laid-back hideaway which blends seamlessly into its
natural surroundings. There are 17 bungalows dotted around
Koralia’s grounds, and with outdoor bathrooms and hammock-strewn
porches, all have a touch of rustic jungle romance about them.

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Nestled in the foothills of Mount Etna, this 19th-century
mansion sets the benchmark for boutique boltholes. A dusky pink
main house with picturesque wrought-iron balconies and ornate
window frames takes centre stage on the hotel’s 16-hectare organic
farm. Here, you can roam among olive trees, citrus groves and
vineyards – just watch out for the chicken pen. Spacious,
individually designed suites are scattered throughout the plot in a
way that makes it feel like it’s all your own. With sweeping views
down to the sparkling Mediterranean, Monaci delle Terre Nere gives
you the best of Sicily’s coast and countryside at your fingertips.

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One of the oldest Cape Dutch farms in South
Africa, Babylonstoren dates back to 1692 and sits about 45
minutes outside of Cape Town in the spectacular Cape Winelands. Its
gardens – spanning eight luscious acres – attract visitors who come
to wander the curving paths with juicy oranges drooping overhead,
explore the prickly pear maze or greet the free-range chickens
roaming through the grounds. With its focus on wellbeing, delicious
food and fresh produce, it’s easy to while away the hours between
the restaurant, state-of-the-art winery and
spa.
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As justifiably acclaimed Aman’s first city hotel, spanning the
top six floors of 38-storey Otemachi Tower in Marubouchi, Aman
Tokyo
is certainly designed to impress; and with its ultra-stylish
interiors and far-reaching views across the Tokyo skyline, it could
barely fail to. But what really makes Aman Tokyo stand out is the
thoughtful reflection of Japanese tradition that’s been
incorporated into every aspect of the experience, from the
authentic Japanese hospitality, Omotenashi, to the Japanese design
philosophy.
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If Jay Gatsby were to hold a modern-day British house party, it
would undoubtedly be at one of The Pig’s expanding litter of
hotels, where decadence, indulgence and gluttony prevail in the
most British of ways. With properties in Bath, Southampton, Dorset
and Devon, their original Brockenhurst pile invites you to kick
your shoes off and dive into the type of hedonistic escape that
will leave you satiated, rested and hankering for more. The Pig’s
whole premise centres on the food, with locally sourced and
homegrown being values at the operation’s heart – but the hotel
part doesn’t play second fiddle to gastronomy. Anticipating guests’
every need before they know it themselves, The Pig avoids being
generic, instead providing an inimitable luxury retreat which
prioritises comfort above all else.
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At 70 rooms, the Wythe is the Goldilocks of hotels; small enough
to retain a boutique sensibility, but just big enough that the
common areas are always buzzing at the right times. The same
applies to its location, located as it is in the heart of
Williamsburg the Wythe has a fantastic, but not overwhelming,
selection of nearby coffee shops, open-air food markets, thrift
stores and bars. The L train into Manhattan also happens to be just
a short walk away – though you might not even be tempted to leave
your slice of Brooklyn heaven.
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As much as we love New York City, there
are times when it can get a little overwhelming – even for us
urbanites. Hudson, a charming upstate town just a couple hours
north of Manhattan, is the perfect antidote which has been gaining
popularity among those in-the-know as a great option for a
weekend getaway. Rivertown Lodge in Hudson is our favourite
spot to spend the night and offers a nice reflection of the low-key
but style-focused town in which it resides. Formerly a cinema, the
27-room hotel provides an authentic atmosphere with furnishings and
décor sourced from local artisans.
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Opened by the Sydell Group (the team behind NY favourite The
NoMad and the funky Freehand Hostel in Miami) in January 2014,
you’ll find The Line in the heart of Koreatown,
Los Angeles. The building is a striking 12-storey, mid-century
tower block and the interior aesthetic has a similarly stark,
industrial vibe with lots of stripped-back concrete, while the
capacious lobby features a ceiling installation made from old
T-shirts. The LA Times dubbed Koreatown ‘America’s hippest
neighbourhood’ back in 2012 – and it’s only getting better.

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Nick Jones’s Soho House empire expanded into another city in
October (it is already in Miami, Istanbul, Berlin and Oxfordshire,
to name a few) and this one is a match made in heaven. The antidote
to corporate member’s clubs, Soho House couldn’t be better suited
to Barcelona, a city that is defined by its laid-back aesthetic and
creative vibe. The newest member of the trendy clan will be housed
in a converted 18th-century apartment block on Plaza Medinaceli,
just a minute from Barcelona’s Port Vell marina. “The design
approach is totally sympathetic to the building and the city”
explains Jones – but true to it’s roots, the House retains it’s
stylish DNA to ensure existing members feel at home.