Fasoda

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.

17/09/2022

Forget a tired valet pull-through: At this boutique hotel in Denver’s thriving Cultural District, your first impression is a Leo Villareal–designed light installation. Keep walking and the art continues, including pieces by stars like Ed Ruscha and Kiki Smith. Artwork isn’t just a design flourish here—it’s the main objective of the hotel itself. If that's not enough, you're also steps away from the Denver Art Museum and the Clyfford Still Museum. You'll find serious culture connoisseurs and business travelers looking for something different staying in its 165 rooms, which sport a minimalist design and—surprise!—even more artwork.

08/09/2022

Colombia has been rising through the ranks in terms of destinations in the past decade—and you can always trust W Hotels to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with the hottest trends. Opened in late 2014, W Bogota is situated right in the heart of the capital city's upscale Usaquen neighborhood, putting guests next to embassies, restaurants, and boutiques. You can expect colorful, modern decor in all 168 guest rooms—especially in the Extreme Wow Suite, which includes a king-size bed with floral canopy, an avant-garde (and purple!) circular sofa, and 180-degree views of the city's skyline. Grab brunch or dinner at the Martin Kitchen before kicking back with a drink and live music at the W Lounge. Then it's back to your room to detox before repeating it all the next day.

08/09/2022

At this stately Vancouver Island hotel only three miles from downtown Victoria, it’s not uncommon to look out from your balcony or from the waterfront mineral pools and see pods of orcas swimming close to the shore. The 100-room hotel is inspired by an English manor house, complete with Tudor-influenced architectural touches and a charming pub serving halibut tempura and seafood chowder. While the property and the surrounding seaside village may evoke the old world, the Boathouse Spa is firmly rooted in the Pacific Northwest thanks to treatments that incorporate seaweed and marine clay.

08/09/2022

Towering over the Central Business District and the snaking ribbon of the Waller Creek Greenbelt Trail, this 37-story hotel is a mammoth new addition to the Austin skyline, ranking as the capital’s third-tallest building. With 1,048 rooms and suites and five restaurants and bars, the hotel can give the appearance of a Vegas-style mega-hotel, nowhere more so than at the palm-studded, cabana-lined rooftop pool deck. But look closer and you’ll find plenty of reminders that you’re in the Lone Star State, including a spa that incorporates mesquite wood and Hill Country–grown herbs into treatments, and grill house Garrison, where proteins are grilled and smoked with post oak from nearby Bastrop.

08/09/2022

This grand Louisville landmark was designed to impress when it opened in 1923, with its Georgian Revival facade, hand-painted coffered ceilings, mahogany furnishings, and Botticino limestone floors. (Befitting such pomp and circumstance, David Lloyd George, the former prime minister of the United Kingdom, was the first person to sign the guest register.) The 293 guest rooms and suites feature thoughtful touches, such as equestrian prints and racing-themed throw blankets. But to truly get a taste of Derby City, you’ll need to order a Hot Brown: The open-faced turkey sandwich, topped with bacon and Mornay sauce, debuted here in 1926.

03/09/2022

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.

03/09/2022

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.

03/09/2022

03/09/2022