Hotels allow us to escape daily life, but the most stylish ones can also spark creativity we carry home. Architecture and local culture often shape a hotel’s design, while interiors, from Zen-like minimalism to whimsical art deco, give each space its personality. Some hotels are so inspiring, we might even want to borrow a few décor ideas for our own homes. Here are nine standout hotels around the world that combine style with unforgettable travel experiences.
1. Royal Mansour, Marrakech
Photo: Royal Mansour Marrakech
Designed in Moorish-Andalusian style by OBMI design firm, you will feel like you are entering a palace when you pass through the hotel’s grand cedar and bronze gates into three hectares of gardens. The hotel was designed to look like a Moroccan palace, with arched doorways and vintage-style floral tiles created by more than 2,000 local artisans, whose work you can also explore in the surrounding medina. Its 53 garden-style riads, each with a private roof terrace and solarium, reflect traditional Moroccan design. The hotel also pays homage to fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, who travelled to Marrakech to design his haute couture collections. The Spa Royal Mansour Marrakech, with its laced iron walls, is a sanctuary in traditional Moorish style. — Vawn Himmelsbach
2. Claridge’s, London
Prince Alexander Suite. Photo: @claridgeshotel
Claridge’s has been around for more than 200 years and was once frequented by Queen Victoria, yet it remains relevant thanks to collaborations with influential designers such as Diane von Furstenburg, Guy Oliver and David Linley. It retains art deco glamour from the jazz age, with black and white checkered marble flooring in the lobby and bold geometric designs in the 1930s-style Fumoir bar. Rooms may feature silk de Gournay wall panels, birch veneer tables and bronzed-brass screens. The subterranean spa, designed by André Fu and inspired by his time in Japan, uses limestone, oak and bronze to create a Zen-like calm. — Vawn Himmelsbach
3. Manon Les Suites Guldsmeden, Copenhagen
Manon les Suites, Copenhagen
The Danish brand’s boho-meets-luxe style with Balinese touches and hygge vibes works beautifully. At Manon Les Suites, its most luxurious property, 87 suites offer four-poster beds, multicoloured rugs and handcrafted accents. The brand prioritises natural materials that age well, creating sustainable design rather than chasing trends. The hotel’s jungle-like pool deck is surrounded by lush foliage and dangling fish lamps. A rooftop spa features a traditional Nordic sauna, aromatic steam bath and cold-water bucket bath with Balinese flair. — Vawn Himmelsbach
4. The Whitby Hotel, New York City
Photo: The Whitby Hotel, New York City
Part of the Firmdale Hotels Group, The Whitby is all about maximalist design, with bold colours, textures and patterns. Designed by Kit Kemp, Firmdale’s co-owner and design director, her signature style extends from the 87 guestrooms to the on-site orangery, outdoor terrace and book-lined drawing room. Guests will find a mix of contemporary low and high art, playful bespoke wallpaper and groupings of ceramics, baskets and candles. Kemp’s signature all-marble bathrooms create a spa-like feel. — Vawn Himmelsbach
5. The Warehouse Hotel, Singapore
Photo: The Warehouse Hotel, Singapore
Asylum, the designers behind this boutique 37-room hotel, put a modern spin on industrial design while incorporating the building’s storied past. Originally built in 1895 as a spice warehouse, it was once home to opium dens, secret societies and even a disco. Today, the heritage building, with vault ceilings and exposed brickwork, honours local talent and Singapore identity. Many rooms are loft-style with the original windows and beams, featuring leather-lined desks and tiered trays shaped like bird cages. The rooftop pool and the hip restaurant Po add to the hotel’s appeal. — Vawn Himmelsbach
6. ME Barcelona, Catalonia
Photo: ME Barcelona, Catalonia
Barcelona is a city of mind-blowing architecture, vibrant Catalan culture, and passionate people. It’s the perfect place to walk, get lost, and soak in inspiration. ME by Meliá has created the city’s latest five-star property on Passeig de Gràcia, within walking distance of Casa Rocamora, in an area rich with art and culture. Barcelona-based architect firm studio FITARQ and Spanish interior design company Mur Arquitectos took six years to reimagine the historic building and transform it into an urban retreat, while keeping touches of history that bring the space to life. From the rooftop terrace, take in views of Sagrada Familia and Plaza Catalunya. — Vivian Vassos
7. The Siren Hotel, Detroit, Michigan
Photo: The Siren Hotel, Detroit
The only city in the United States designated a UNESCO city of design, Detroit is in good company with Bilbao, Berlin and Montreal. The Siren is housed in the iconic Wurlitzer building, designed by Robert Finn in 1926. The 106-room hotel combines restored Italian Renaissance style with a modern warm palette of soft whites, pale pinks, navy and oxblood that the American design firm Ash is known for. The halls are lively with local culture, including a piano and karaoke bar, chef-driven cuisine, and a rooftop bar with panoramic city views.
And the jewel in the crown? Candy Bar. Tucked beneath the velvet glow of downtown, the plush pink cocktail bar — with an opulent chandelier sent piece-by-piece from Paris, and a larger-than-life disco ball — is a private sanctuary for romance and reverie. — Marlon Moreno
8. Kurulu Bay, Koggala Lake, Sri Lanka
Photo: Kurulu Bay
There’s something about lingering by a lake, listening to nothing but birdsong and your thoughts. In Sri Lanka, anchored in the Bay of Bengal off the southeast tip of India, there is such a lake, Koggala. It is home to a bird sanctuary, bamboo, coconut and jackfruit trees that sway in the breeze, air perfumed by frangipani, and Kurulu Bay, a new eco-resort and spa retreat. Aptly named, as Kurulu is Sinhalese for “bird,” one of the two official languages. The resort’s design is inspired by 1960s Florida architecture fused with tropical Bawa modernism, championed by Sri Lankan architect Channa Daswatte, a student of Geoffrey Bawa. Sea-to-table cuisine, spice gardens and spiritual awakenings match Kurulu Bay’s serenity. — Vivian Vassos
9. Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, Bermuda
Photo: Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, Bermuda
All the best artists are here: Warhol, Kaws, Banksy, even Mandela have left their mark on this Fairmont-managed property in the island’s largest city. Living among them is a bit mind-blowing; one minute you’ll want to take Ai Weiwei’s “Untitled” hollow wooden sphere for a roll, the next, shake hands with Kaws’ two-storey “At This Time, Companion Series” sculpture. On a highlights tour with a local gallerist of the 70+ works on display, you’ll learn it is the personal collection of the hotel’s owners, which rotates once a year. In Bermuda, a trip to the hotel’s exclusive Princess Beach Club on Sinky Bay adds a good dose of water therapy. Andy Warhol’s “Reigning Queens: Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, 1985” greets visitors at the front desk. — Vivian Vassos
RECOMMENDED: Hamilton Princess & Beach Club – The Pink Palace of Bermuda
