The Hottest Hotel Openings for 2022

With 2021 behind us, it’s time to check in to 2022’s roster of unmissable new openings. From hotel-industry heavyweights to boutique boltholes, we’ve scanned dozens of new properties worth flying for to bring you this definitive best-of list.

Wildflower foraging on an 800-year-old estate in Transylvania, making waves in Mexico and sublime UK staycation suggestions: we've carefully curated the best new hotel hotspots to sate your wanderlust, saving you the legwork. Here, our definitive book-and-bolt list of perfect properties for everything from a weekend getaway to far-flung off-grid adventures.

The 22 hottest new hotels for 2022

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Bethlen Estates

Transylvania

Romania is firmly on our 2022 watch list, and the opening of Bethlen Estates has us making a beeline for Transylvania. The village of Cris has been in the Bethlen family - who built its imposing medieval castle - for over 800 years. The plan to open up this lush woodland area to visitors has been in the works for quite some time, with mother-and-son duo Gladys and Nikolaus Bethlen running the show. The property comprises a series of renovated Saxon cottages, a manor house and other stylishly renovated dwellings (think kilim rugs, local crafts and original wooden beams). Meals are taken in the cosy central barn, or in your individual residence, and the Transylvanian wine tastings in the cellar are unmissable. Want to venture further afield and experience the untouched beauty and staggering biodiversity of the Transylvanian countryside? Raluca Spiac's travel company, Beyond Dracula, is the best in the business when it comes to bespoke itineraries offering off-grid experiences.

Address

176 Cris, Judetul Mures, 547201

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The Fox at Oddington

Cotswolds

The Bamford family's expansion into the Cotswolds is set to continue with the acquisition of beloved Oddington pub The Fox. While the venue's homey atmosphere and hearty grub (the Sunday roasts are justifiably legendary) are set to remain, eight comfy rooms imbued with Carole Bamford's signature brand of rustic country chic will open upstairs. The tidy, honey-hued villages of this part of the UK are straight out of a Beatrix Potter book, and ideal for a road trip. We recommend booking into the soon-to-reopen Fox and spending a few days hiking through the surrounding pastoral landscape, enjoying spa treatments at Daylesford's exquisite Haybarn Spa, shopping at Amanda Brooks' meticulously curated boutique Cutter Brooks, in nearby Stow-on-the-Wold, and sandwiches at the Broadway Deli.

Opening June 2022

Address

High St, Lower Oddington, GL56 0UR

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Gleneagles Townhouse

Edinburgh

The Highlands' glorious playground hotel has come to Edinburgh. Expect all of the tartan trimmings and topline service you've come to associate with the original at Gleneagles' new Edinburgh outpost, with a few twists. Set to open in March, the Gleneagles Townhouse is intended to feel like an old-world club in which to sit, sip and savour. Now, on to the twists: the property will operate as a lively (decidedly non-stuffy) private members club, but all 33 bedrooms will be available in a hotel capacity for non-members. And, given that the hotel is located within the former Bank of Scotland building, each space is articulated with outstanding architectural features and seriously luxe amenities. Plush bar, panoramic rooftop and fabulous restaurant aside, we're keen to sample the holistic wellness offerings at the state-of-the-art gym - namely, the cryotherapy chamber and infrared sauna.

Address

St Andrews Square, Edinburgh, EH2 1GF

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The Homestead

South Africa

South Africa's newest property is about to take the safari industry by storm. The Homestead (set to open in the Nambiti Private Game Reserve later this year and taking bookings now) has sustainability at its centre. Expect a fleet of all-electric vehicles, structures built using ironstone, a locally sourced natural material, rainwater tanks, solar panels and innovative French drains that drive vital nutrients back into the soil. All 12 luxury suites are, in a word, palatial. Still, we're most excited to sit with a sundowner in the main lodge, an elevated structure with a sprawling viewing platform perched over a busy watering hole. And while the game viewing at Nambiti is legendary, The Homestead's experiences push past classic game drives to include animal photography workshops, cooking classes, off-grid camping, and the option to participate in local sustainability initiatives. Better yet, the property is a (relatively) quick whizz from Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria and, blessedly, the area is malaria-free.

Opening winter 2022

Address

Nambiti Private Game Reserve, Ladysmith, 3370

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Hotel Willa

Taos, New Mexico

It's no secret that we love a good restoration project. From the beauty inherent in preserving a building's original features, to the satisfaction of seeing the judicious addition of some contemporary edge, we're hooked. In summer 2022, Casetta (also behind San Diego's The Pearl Hotel, Palm Springs' Casa Cody and LA's Marina Riviera) is set to wow with the opening of Hotel Willa, located in laid-back Taos. Since moving into the former Indian Hills Inn back in 2019, the boutique hotel group has teamed up with The Paseo Project - pioneers of community-led art - to create a space that offers both style and comfort. Interiors - by our favourite Los Angeles design studio, Electric Bowery - make whitewashed walls and Scandi influences seem like last year's news. Here, rooms feature rustic terracotta tiles, earth-tone fabrics and a smattering of covetable oak-wood furnishings. Roll over, Sante Fe: this is New Mexico's hottest hangout for 2022.

Opening summer 2022

Address

233 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, Taos, NM 87571

soho house nashville club room bar

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Soho House Nashville

Tennessee, US

Does Soho House ever rest? Set to throw open its doors in February 2022, this new Wedgewood-Houston outpost will pay homage to Nashville's musical heritage. Formerly a sock factory, the property is designed to offer guests a real sense of being part of a community rather than just a check-in/check-out vibe. Its 47 spacious, loft-style rooms are characterised by vintage furnishings and hand-crafted pieces designed by local artisans. Guests will have access to the on-site health club, with its fabulous outdoor yoga terrace, wellbeing space, sauna and steam room, and the outdoor swimming pool is just as suave and sexy as those of its sister clubs. Snag a lounger or sit at the poolside bar and indulge in some serious R&R - and don't miss the cutting-edge laser-projection space.

Opening early 2022

Address

500 Houston St, Nashville, TN 37203

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No.1 by Guesthouse, York

York, UK

Following the buzz of No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath, brothers Tristan, James and Tom Guest have set their sights on shaking up the North's boutique game. With a prime location, just a short stroll from York Minster, this Grade II-listed Regency townhouse (formerly The Grange) is poised to become the UK's 2022 staycation hotspot. Sprawled across three floors are 39 individually designed rooms and three state-of-the-art suites, all kitted out with top-notch Egyptian cotton bed linen and pantries stuffed with irresistible snacks. Linger over expertly prepared seasonal dishes in the excellent restaurant and book a heavenly massage at the in-house spa.

Address

No.1 Clifton, York YO30 6AA

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Cali

Mykonos, Greece

Set on its own private beach on Mykonos' eastern edge, Cali makes for the ultimate Grecian getaway. The accommodation comprises 40 villas, each of which flaunts its own private pool, plus a swanky patio. Guests incoming? Arrange for one of the property's Michelin-starred chefs to pop over and rustle up some Mediterranean magic that's guaranteed to impress. It's a challenge to peel yourself away from the 110m infinity pool, we know, but if you do, we suggest heading out on one of the hotel's yachts or speedboats to explore the neighbouring islands of Tinos and Paros.

Opening summer 2022

Address

Kalafati, 84600

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Boca de Agua

Bacalar, Mexico

Once again, architect Frida Escobedo has come up with the goods. The 22-room Boca de Agua is an eco-conscious design tour de force. We're not talking about swapping plastic straws for metal ones here, either: all materials used in the build, including the shimmering limestone, have been sourced from the immediate local area, in a bid to lower environmental impact. And the hotel's ethos? That nature is essential for human wellbeing. We're sold.

Opening October 2022

Address

Bacalar, Mexico

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Passalacqua

Lake Como, Italy

Lake Como will forever be that gem that glistens the brightest in Italy's crown. If you're lucky enough to have stayed at Grand Hotel Tremezzo (or have it pinned on your travel bucket list), you'll be as eager as us to welcome its little sister, Passalacqua - an 18th-century villa surrounded by olive groves. After undergoing a major refurb, the 24-suite hotel's amenities will include an open-air-cinema and a lakeside tennis court more impressive than Wimbledon's Centre Court.

Opening June 2022

Address

Lake Como, Italy

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Alila Dalit Bay Sabah

Sabah, Malaysia

Sitting pretty on the island's northern coast, the opening of Alila Dailt Bay Sabah beachfront resort is on the horizon and we can hardly contain our excitement. Offering 152 rooms overlooking the powder-sand beach, this is the sort of place you'll never want to leave. With a handful of restaurants, a sky lounge, library and wedding chapel all on hand, there's not much you won't be able to do here.

Opening summer 2022

Address

Sabah, Malaysia

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Life House, Berkshires

Massachusetts, US

The wellness trend continues to go from strength to strength in 2022, and we're certainly not complaining - especially if it looks like toasting marshmallows around an open fire. Enter, Life House - the affordable and hip hotel group known for hosting the coolest DJs and upcoming artists. Situated in the heart of the Berkshire mountains, a 1970s-era lodge will spotlight literary legends who have passed through or had an association with Lenox, including Herman Melville and Fanny Kemble, with writing desks and typewriters on hand to satisfy those on the hunt for a writer's retreat. After bashing out a chapter or two of your future bestseller, hit the library lounge for a blockbuster cocktail or two.

Opening spring 2022

Address

194 Pittsfield Rd, Lenox, MA 01240, United States

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One Hundred Shoreditch

London, UK

The newest addition to Shoreditch's line-up of slick stays, this 258-key bolthole from Jacu Strauss (of Sea Containers London and Pulitzer Amsterdam fame) will stand in place of former East End stalwart Ace Hotel from February 2022. Expect a calming creamy palette of neutral tones in bedrooms, accented by one-off vintage pieces and exposed concrete walls that nod to the surrounding area's industrial-chic attitude. The hotel's arrival will also bring with it the largest grouping of restaurants and bars under one roof in Shoreditch: that's three bars, a restaurant, a coffee shop and a fresh seafood take-out hatch, to be exact. And the best news of all? Legendary drinks craftsman Ryan Chetiyawardana (aka Mr Lyan) will be setting up shop at Seed Library, a laid-back basement bar beneath the hotel. We'll see you downstairs.

Opening February 2022

Address

100 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JQ

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Hotel La Palma

Capri, Italy

This 200-year-old Capri icon has been reimagined by the Reubens Brothers, in collaboration with interior design wizard Francis Sultana. Now a 50-bedroom, all-white vision on Italy's most sought-after coastline, Hotel Palma will offer its guests a rooftop restaurant and bar, high-end spa and clutch of couture boutiques, as well as a new beach club slated to be the island's coolest coastal hangout.

Opening summer 2022

Address

Via Vittorio Emanuele, 39, 80073 Capri NA, Italy

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Broadwick Soho

We can't remember the last time Soho's sultry streets took on a new hotel, so it's no surprise that we're more than excited about the neighbourhood's latest opening, Broadwick Soho. Billed to launch in late 2022, it's the Sicilian-inspired terrace restaurant we'll be making a beeline for at aperitivo hour. Marrying the gritty glamour of Seventies Soho with the opulence of an eccentric British townhouse, Martin Brudnizki's first foray into hotel design is as good as they come, bringing a fresh beat to the ever-warm embrace of London's liveliest corner.

Opening late 2022

Address

18-24 Broadwick St, London W1F 8HS

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Aristide Hotel Syros

Greece has always done well on the eco-hotels front, but this latest opening on the less-explored island of Syros has really kicked things up a notch. The hotel's comprehensive environmental regeneration programme includes everything we'd expect from a sustainable property: think zero single-use plastics, synthetic-down duvets and fresh food made from local, organic produce, with all waste being composted in the back garden. In addition, a carbon-offsetting scheme will see a tree being planted for each and every guest, who'll then be able to watch their tree grow from home via a live webcam set-up in the hotel's "baby forest". We're pretty hyped up about this one, and that's before you've even got us started on the hotel's artist-residency programme and permanent exhibition space.

Address

Hotel Aristide, 27 Babagiotou St, 84100 Hermoupolis, Syros, Greece

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Room2 Chiswick

The world’s first fully carbon-neutral hotel, room2 Chiswick calls itself a “net-zero hometel”. What does that actually mean, you ask? Well, in simple terms, the hotel is an impressive 89 per cent more energy efficient than the average UK bolthole. But what really sets the hotel apart from the rest of the sustainable crowd is how they’re going about this. For starters, there’s a bug hotel, beehive and 200 tonnes of soil and wildflowers on the roof. Then, there’s the bespoke in-room food waste bins (the hotel has a zero-waste policy), ultra-efficient lighting and low-flow pressure showers to brag about. All sounding a bit too clinical? Don’t worry. Somehow, brothers Robert and Stuart Godwin – the brains behind the brand – have managed to sneak in local artisans from the area, imbuing each of the 86 bedrooms with its own creative spirit to sex up sustainable stays as we know them.

Address

10 Windmill Rd, Chiswick, London W4 1SD

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Cap Karoso

Sumba, Indonesia

Located on one of the world's most beautiful shorelines, Cap Karoso is an eco-conscious complex of 47 rooms and 20 villas on the Indonesian island of Sumba. The hotel's story began with a deep reverence for Marapu culture at its core. After visiting the island on holiday, Parisian couple Fabrice and Evguenia Ivara became so entranced by its beauty that they sought the permission of 600 locals to request ancestral approval for the retreat's construction, which was granted. This same respect will continue to be paid to local culture throughout the project, with an on-site community agricultural school and artist-residency programme that will invite contemporary artists and designers from around the world to collaborate with local artisans.

Opening autumn 2022

Address

Ate Dalo, Kodi, Kabupaten Sumba Barat Daya, Nusa Tenggara Tim., Indonesia

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Hotelito by MUSA

Hotelito by MUSA – an 11-bedroom bolthole – rests on one of the most pristine beaches we’ve ever laid eyes on: picture marble-white sands fringed by dancing palms and a labyrinthine jungle we’d happily get lost in. With the judicious use of tropical hardwood and local stone ensuring that the building merges seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, it’s little wonder this Mexican newbie has made it into the Design Hotels network. Crafted with creatives in mind, each of its standalone live-work studios has been purposefully designed so that you can work on your craft and live just upstairs. And if you’re still not sold, there’s also a saltwater bio-pool, bike park and beach club to bounce around in.

Address

La Casa Musa, Guerrero, Mexico

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La Maison Palmier

Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Abidjan's first boutique stay, this Design Hotels property pitches itself as a business hotel, although, honestly, we'd just as happily make the trip for a holiday here. Set right in the thrum of the economic capital, the hotel's light-filled bedrooms and wooden furnishings make for a nurturing space in which to decompress in peace, but don't think for a second that this is your typical run-of-the-mill business stay. Bedrooms, bistro and bar all sing with style and boast funky art deco flourishes - think powder-pink dining chairs and gold palm trees hanging from the walls - and the hotel even has its very own radio station.

Opens February 2022

Address

Rue du Jardins X Carrefour Duncan, II Plateaux, BP 4387 Abidjan 01 Côte d’Ivoire

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Janu Montenegro

The first hotel to launch under the name of Janu, Aman’s soulful (and more affordable) new little-sister brand, this visionary Montenegran property is only a five-minute drive from the original Aman Sveti Stefan. Sitting pretty on the ruggedly romantic Adriatic coast, just east of the Med, the property’s stellar views of the sweeping Bay of Kotor, island of Sveti Nikola and Budva in the distance are what have us really sold. Set to be a sanctuary for “social wellbeing”, the hotel’s focus will be on fostering connection and personal fulfilment, be that through group mindfulness classes, treatments in the swish Janu Spa or working up a sweat in the cutting-edge gym.

Address

7V7V+WVV, Pržno, Montenegro

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Fasano Trancoso

Trancoso, Brazil

Often touted as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Trancoso's spellbinding sands have lured yet another coastal crash pad to its shores in the form of hotel Fasano Trancoso - the latest offering from the Fasano Group. Sensitively designed in harmony with nature by contemporary architect Isay Weinfeld, the hotel's 40 whitewashed wooden bungalows are stretched across 300 hectares of beach, 100 hectares of which is an idyllic environmental preservation area.

Address

Estrada de Itaquena, 3925 - Trancoso, Porto Seguro - BA, 45810-000, Brazil

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