TRAVEL
THE MOST FASHIONABLE HOTELS AROUND THE GLOBE
WORDS
by CHRISTIAN ALLAIRE
PHOTOS
COURTESY of HOTELS
Travelling the globe in style is easier than ever thanks to these luxurious, fashion-focused hotels. Whether it’s resorts with interiors designed by fashion forces like Ralph Lauren or Giorgio Armani, or fully branded stays from luxury brands such as Versace or Bulgari, these elegant hotels are as much of a destination as the vibrant cities they are located in.
Below, see six of the best fashion hotels around the world.
1
Armani Hotel Dubai
Opened in: March 2010
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Located in the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, this hotel is the first in a series of hotels and resorts designed by Giorgio Armani, to be opened around the globe. It is situated a 10-minute walk from the famed Dubai Mall, and is also near the Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai Gold Souk traditional market. (A year after opening in Dubai, the fashion designer also opened a hotel in his homeland: Milan, Italy.)
Vibe: A high-end hotel, set in an high-rise glass tower. Armani Hotel Dubai was named the winner of the 2016 World Luxury Hotel Awards and reflects the elegance, simplicity and sophisticated comfort that defines the Giorgio Armani brand. It hosts various types of events—such as high-profile business gatherings, gala dinners and exclusive brunches—and you can even experience Ramadan in the city’s most exclusive seasonal location.
Style factor: The hotel offers modern, city-view rooms, as well as posh suites featuring dining areas, bars, studies, gyms, and views of the Dubai Fountain. It’s all about Armani’s signature minimalist style. For instance: the marble floors, muted lightning, and Armani monogramming on everything, from the walls to the towels and sugar cubes.
Indulge in: Shop in exclusive retail outlets, then head to one of the 8 chic restaurants, or relax at the spa. The hotel also offers indoor pool, outdoor terrace, and more. In the evening, step into Dubai’s premium nightlife and enjoy dancing in a stylish setting—the lounge, terrace and club designed by Armani himself. — Milena Dedovic
2
Round Hill Hotel and Villas
Opened in: 1953
Location: Montego Bay, Jamaica. The pristine Ralph Lauren-designed oceanfront rooms and villas, scattered throughout the tropical resort’s charming pineapple groves, overlook Round Hill’s stunning bay and fantastic underwater reef. The resort’s close proximity to the Caribbean Sea ensures that guests can easily enjoy aquatic activities such as kayaking, windsurfing, and complimentary snorkeling lessons.
Vibe: Elegance coupled with natural grandeur. The classic villas’ immaculate white floors, paired with impressive louvered windows, impart a refreshing atmosphere that harkens to Round Hill’s sugarcane plantation origins. These chic and tasteful cottages, surrounded by manicured fruit and floral gardens, also feature private balconies that promise intimacy.
Style factor: The rooms, adorned with four-poster beds and breezy linens, play up the timeless Ralph Lauren aesthetic. Round Hill also offers a variety of experiences including seaside massage sessions at a full-service spa, daily yoga sessions with practiced instructors, and exhilarating games at the tennis courts, or the renowned Tryall Golf Club.
Indulge in: Each morning, Round Hill provides a spectacular host of fresh Jamaican fruit, smoothies, and omelettes. Guests thereafter may privately lunch in the organic vegetable garden or treat themselves to a delightful afternoon tea, followed with dinner at the Restaurant at Round Hill. There, award-winning executive chef Martin Maginley serves up delicious, sustainable, and deluxe Jamaican ingredients. Alternatively, guests may casually dine on the seaside terrace, which offers a weekly display of Jamaican cuisine. — E.Y. Smith
3
Palazzo Versace
Opened in: September 2000
Location: Gold Coast, Australia. Fans of the late designer Gianni Versace may be familiar with the Versace Mansion in Miami—but the Palazzo Versace in Australia, designed and conceived by the fashion label, offers a dash of Italian flair Down Under. The Gold Coast is Australia’s signature coastal city, known for its prime surfing spots and abundance of beaches. (There is also a second Palazzo Versace located in Dubai.)
Vibe: Glamour and extravagance meets a waterfront setting. Drive up to the hotel and take in the driveway’s breathtaking mosaic work, the second largest pebble mosaic in the world. The lobby chandelier, once hung in the State Library of Milan, was originally purchased by Gianni Versace to install in one of his villas.
Style factor: Outfitted with bespoke Versace furnishings, the hotel embodies the brand’s signature chic maximalism. (Think opulent chandeliers, marble floors, printed chaises.) There is also a Versace boutique located conveniently on-site, where you can shop the brand’s latest collection. To explore the city, exclusive Rolls-Royce Phantoms are available for rental.
Indulge in: Have a taste of the hotel’s three distinctive restaurants. Vanitas offers Italian cuisine made with locally-sourced ingredients. Il Barocco focuses on fresh seafood, fish, and the best of Australian produce. Then, for splendid high tea, head to Le Jardin for afternoon treats.
4
Continentale Hotel
Opened in: 2003
Location: Florence, Italy. Owned and designed by the Ferragamo family—yes, those Ferragamos—the hotel is part of the Lungarno Collection, the family’s hospitality group. Nearby the hotel is the Uffizi Gallery, one of the best museums in the city (and the world).
Vibe: Classic Italian elegance with a modern touch. The hotel is housed in the medieval Consorti Tower, and features a pared-back design focused on cream and brown colorways.
Style factor: The design mimics the Italian brand’s timeless, and sleek, aesthetic. Decorated with a slight 1950s influence, the rooms feature artwork by Florentine fashion photographers. Also close by is Via Tornabuoni, a street filled with luxury designer boutiques.
Indulge in: For drinks with a view, sip on cocktails at the hotel’s La Terrazza rooftop bar. It offers rolling, 360-degrees views of Florence’s main attractions—sightseeing made easy!—including the Arno, Brunelleschi's Dome, San Miniato, Ponte Vecchio and Forte Belvedere.
5
Bulgari Hotel Shanghai
Opened in: June 2018
Location: Shanghai, China. Located on the banks of Suzhou Creek, this newly-opened location is Bulgari’s sixth venture into hospitality, with other hotels in fashion capitals such as London and Milan. (Meanwhile, it plans to open hotels in Paris, Moscow and Tokyo by 2020.)
Vibe: Contemporary opulence. The hotel grounds include a restored Chamber of Commerce Shanghai building (dating back to 1916) with an adjoining skyscraper, which spans 48 floors and includes a mix of hotel rooms and private residences. Lush gardens surround the entire area.
Style factor: On the ground floor, guests can shop Bulgari’s latest jewelry collections. The hotel’s spa and fitness center offers full services, from hairdressers and manicures to vitality pools. Just minutes away, take a stroll down Nanjing Road, dubbed “Shanghai’s Fifth Avenue.”
Indulge in: On the ground floor, the Bulgari II Cioccolato boutique and Lobby Lounge offer tea, treats, and apertivos. The Chinese restaurant Bao Li Xuan serves Cantonese and Shanghainese classics, while the II Giardino outdoor space is perfect for wine and gelato. At the Italian II Ristorante on the 47th floor, Michelin star chef Niko Romito offers contemporary Italian cooking, while guests can enjoy cocktails on the same floor at the II Bar. Finally, on the rooftop, La Terrazza provides more casual Italian fair.
6
3 Rooms at 5 Rue de Moussy
Opened in: July 2004
Location: Paris, France.
Vibe: Tasteful minimalism with a Parisian spin. Three apartment rentals at 5 Rue de Moussy are designed by the late fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa. Decorated with pieces from his private collection, the apartments are furnished with eclectic pieces by Marc Newson and Jean Nouvel, which are set against an airy backdrop of white walls and concrete floors.
Style factor: Located in Paris’s trendy Marais district, the hotel is in the heart of the city’s shopping hub. The hotel also happens to be situated right next door to the Alaïa atelier.
Bonus tip: One of the apartments has windows looking directly into the neighboring Alaïa atelier. (You’ll have to book a stay to find out which one.)
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