Lekos

17/09/2022

The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal is a grandiose, glistening example of Middle Eastern opulence. Case in point: the Ritz-Carlton Suite, which clocks in at 1,356 square feet, has a stylish four-poster bed, spacious powder room, full marble bathroom with a soaking tub, a color therapy shower, separate living and dining areas, a kitchen, and two terraces overlooking the Grand Canal. The 21,500-square-foot Bedouin spa, a short ride from the hotel, is a standalone oasis with a private beach, 16 treatment rooms, plunge pools, saunas, and a plethora of luxurious treatments. Families can make use of Ritz Kids, available daily for children ages four to 12. Those keen on visiting the mosque and learning more about the cultural landmark can catch the hotel shuttle, which runs every 30 minutes.

17/09/2022

If you walked into the Dolder Grand without knowing what it was, you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking you’d stumbled into a fine art museum—the hotel’s collection includes pieces by Salvador Dalí, Takashi Murakami, and Andy Warhol. But the up-close access to paintings and sculptures is far from the only reason to stay at this Zurich hotel: there’s also a 43,000 square foot spa with sweeping views of the Alps, an eight-course tasting menu courtesy of Michelin-starred chef Heiko Neider, and, in warmer months, cocktails under crisp white umbrellas on the open-air panoramic terrace.

17/09/2022

The Freehand is a “luxury” hostel, and it rents a range of private rooms, which means you won’t have to share a bunk bed with a stranger—at least if you don’t want to (shared rooms that sleep four or eight, and are either co-ed or all-female, are available at about a quarter of the price). Still, the decision to stay here goes beyond budget; there’s a deep feeling of kinship among the (largely millennial) guests, and it’s that sense of community that seems to be the Freehand's greatest asset. While there’s no room service to speak of, there are two standout places to grab a bite or meet other travelers: 27 Restaurant and the Broken Shaker bar, which serves up some of the best cocktails in the city.

07/09/2022

What if you could actually visit the Garden of Eden? And what if it was surrounded by vineyards, historic Cape Dutch farm buildings, and a formal French-style potager garden, where you could pick your own strawberries and fragrant herbs? At Babylonstoren, in the Drakenstein Valley, 33 miles northeast of Cape Town, the mythical garden comes to life. Founded in 1690, the 590-acre compound is modeled on the farms that supplied the ships making their way around the Cape of Good Hope en route to India. The cottages and suites are minimalist but stylish. You won’t find a grand lobby or an obsequious concierge here, but the staff, most of whom are wearing T-shirts, aprons, or khakis, combine a genuine eagerness to help with a high level of knowledge about the farm and its long history. Stay long enough and eventually—after a visit to the on-site bakery, the winery, the cheesemaker, the butcher, and the farm-tank-style swimming pool—you may forget that you’re staying at a hotel.

07/09/2022

The pretty Georgian manor house, all honeyed Bath stone, sits at the end of an avenue of sky-high beech and lime trees, surrounded by gardens like a Jane Austen film set. On the grounds there’s a personable cottage for weekending families, a world-class equestrian center, and a serious cooking school. But you don’t have to whip up your own supper. Chef Hywel Jones plates up exquisite food in his eponymous restaurant. That in itself is a reason to stay. So are the roaring fires, the paneled libraries, the canopied four-poster beds, and the moody oil paintings. A purposeful drive in recent years to make the place feel less formal has resulted in a cheery bounce in the staff's step, a raising of chatter levels to almost a hum in the evenings, and a relaxed atmosphere where you can wear your robe down to the ESPA spa and back again without feeling like a terrible slob. Eagle-eyed guests will spot the curious Greek elements dotted around—the urns in the bathroom, the Acropolis paintings in the dining room, the Hellenic motif on the plates. This country retreat feels resonant and rooted, delightfully British to the core.

07/09/2022

Opened in 1910 as the Bellevue Hotel, the downtown Beaux-Arts building has a long history of welcoming visitors to San Francisco. But when it re-opened in 2018 with a fresh redesign by Perkins + Will, a new era began. The rooms are decorated with expressive pops of color, statement walls, and a collection of furniture that seems to know no decade. Active travelers will be glad to hear that each room comes with its own yoga mat, and free bike rentals help you cruise around and explore the city with ease.

07/09/2022

This 32-room hotel may appear traditional thanks to its colonial facade, but guests know that the sleek Hotel Matilda is anything but: there’s a crazy video installation installed behind the front desk, and the hallways are lined with contemporary artwork. Once you get to your room, you’ll discover crisp white beds dressed with Egyptian cotton linens and adorned slate gray accents, and marble-clad bathrooms stocked with Malin + Goetz products. The infinity pool and the rooftop bar, though, are the true standouts.

02/09/2022

Badrutt’s Palace doesn’t skimp on extravagance, possessing all the perks one expects from a St. Moritz hotel. The glamorous alpine hideaway overlooks the ski resort’s famous lake, and has been the go-to destination for celebrities and royalty since it first opened in 1896: Alfred Hitchcock became a loyal guest after spending his honeymoon there, and even an elephant once graced its halls. Complete with towers and turrets, the snowcapped hotel feels straight out of a winter fairytale—with the views to boot—and the rooms and suites provide an upscale, toasty retreat after a day on the slopes (hot water bottles are tucked under the sheets each night). There’s a restaurant to fit every mood (11 in total) and nightcaps should be imbibed at the Polo Bar, a popular spot among locals. Time your stay wisely: the New Year’s bashes, we hear, are legendary.

02/09/2022

Opened in 1844 and operated by the same family ever since, this property has hosted the likes of Joan Miró and Plácido Domingo. Set in a garden near the Bahnhofstrasse shopping drag (Zurich's equivalent of Fifth Avenue), the hotel looks right onto Lake Zurich and the Alps—but that's not the only nice view. Inside, rooms tastefully mix Art Deco, Louis XVI, and Regency styles, and are individually decorated in neutral tones with red, purple, and teal accents—though, if you're lucky, you'll get a room with a balcony on the water. If you're keen to splurge more than you have, the Michelin-starred Pavillon is worth the indulgence.

02/09/2022

02/09/2022