Mph_rew

18/08/2022

Redeveloped by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Xintiandi is Shanghai’s car-free entertainment district, built in and around a series of 19th-century shikumen (or “stone gate”) houses. Perfectly fitting in with that old-meets-new vibe is this 357-room luxury hotel, which occupies a contemporary granite-and-glass tower inspired by Chinese latticework. Inside, at the Chuan Spa, personalized treatments incorporate the five elements of wuxing philosophy: wood, earth, water, fire, and metal. And the property is filled with other nods to traditional art and culture, including a recurring horse motif that draws on Han Dynasty imagery. Guests shouldn’t miss a meal at the Michelin-starred T’ang Court, where Cantonese dishes include roasted goose, drunken pigeon in rice wine, and bird’s nest soup with crab roe.

18/08/2022

There is nothing that does not dazzle at the Santa Caterina, hewn from a cliffside off the staggeringly stunning Amalfi Coast—and even on looks alone, we’d have to agree. Terraces cleaved from natural rock formations and sprinkled with citrus groves and assorted gardens appear with astonishing regularity around every turn, ready to lend themselves to a quiet moment. The interiors are vaguely reminiscent of one of the island’s little Catholic churches—white walls, white linens, vaulted ceilings, gold-hued curtains, little baroque wooden chairs, and tiled floors decked out in primary colors—pretty angelic, really, and not a bad vibe to gravitate toward when you're seeking a peaceful stay away (you could also try the spa!). Some rooms feature ceramic accents and charming family heirlooms, and all bathrooms benefit from Bvlgari toiletries.

04/07/2022

This hotel has the ability to transport you to a relaxing oasis miles from the hustle and bustle of busy Dallas, despite being in the middle of Uptown. The spa and pool make it hard to beat, while a 2018 renovation has left the rooms and suites with incredible interior design and abundant natural light, via floor-to-ceiling windows. Food and drink is on point with the Dallas outpost of Nobu and stellar cocktails at Beau Nash.

04/07/2022

Legend holds that on his pilgrimage across Asia, the Buddha stopped to rest where the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers merge, in the middle of what we now know as Luang Prabang. He prophesied that a rich and powerful metropolis would rise along these banks. Though that apex only lasted from the 14th to the 16th century, this Kingdom of a Million Elephants lived on for architect Bill Bensley, who celebrated this era at Rosewood’s low-slung riverside retreat. Minimalist it is not. Hilltop tents overflow with romantic touches—chubby camp beds, clawfoot tubs, silk and velvet accents. At riverfront villas, the rush of water somersaulting over time-smoothed boulders acts as nature’s alarm clock for an early morning meditation with monk-in-residence Sommaiy. Deep community ties mean guests take tea with Tiao Somsanith Nithakhong, a local royal turned patron of lost Lao arts, or join a procession of 800 saffron-clad novices gliding through rice fields and primary forests for a private blessing ceremony. Rosewood’s elephant figurine–festooned cocktail bar is a delightful aerie arched over the waterfall, and make sure to ask to see the secret boutique, stocked with finds like kaleidoscopic scarves woven by a cooperative of young disabled Laotians who are some of the town’s most promising artisans.

04/07/2022

04/07/2022