Suite at R48 in Tel Aviv, opening in March 2023
(Picture: R48)From Hyde Park Corner to the remote shores of Indonesia, these are the openings you need to know about next year…
The Peninsula London
We’ve been waiting for this one a long time. Swish Hong Kong hotel group Peninsula – famed for its Rolls-Royce fleets, crisp-suited bellboys and want-for-nothing service – is finally landing in London. Overlooking Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner, the glam Peter Marino-designed outpost is set to open in spring, which means it’s only a few months until you can backstroke across its 25m indoor pool, shop in its luxury arcade, dine in its Cantonese restaurant or check into its extra-spacious suites. Though it’s got some competition for attention from London’s other big launch of 2023: Raffles, in Westminster’s historic Old War Offices.
Rates TBC, peninsula.com/london
Son Bunyola, Mallorca
Richard Branson’s new addition to Spain is not what you’d call understated; the 810-acre estate, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site on Mallorca’s northwest coast, features craggy peaks blanketed in olives groves, citrus trees and vineyard. In the heart of it all, a 16th century finca is being revamped into a 26-room hotel, opening in summer. The old olive press is being transformed into one of two onsite restaurants, while the sun-drenched old terrace will house a sizeable pool. Spend your days walking through the Tramuntana Mountains, sipping local wines under the wood-beamed ceilings or checking out some of the island’s other new hotels – including Son Net, a reimagined 17th century hideaway also opening in 2023.
Rooms from £523, virginlimitededition.com
Bulgari Hotel Rome
All eyes are on Rome in 2023: the eternal city’s hotel scene is seeing an injection of fresh style with new branches of Nobu Hotels and Six Senses, plus the boutique ROMEO Roma, in a 16th century palazzo. But top of our must-visit list is Bulgari Rome. This Italian brand owns hotels as far afield as Shanghai and Bali, but finally opens its flagship on home city turf this coming spring or summer. Set in a 1930s modernist building dripping in travertine marble and red brick, it’s sure to be the epitome of more-is-more Bulgari style with warm jewel tones, fabulous artwork and unashamedly luxurious suites.
Rates TBC, bulgarihotels.com
Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel, Arizona
This brand new adults-only hotel puts the epic Arizona landscapes front and centre – its rooms boast 360-degree views of the Coconino National Forest or the russet-hued rock formations of Steamboat, Chimney, Coffee Pot and Snoopy Rock. Forty cube-shaped villas have been built with bronzed glass and metal exteriors at raised elevations to minimise impact on the land; inside, earthy tones and woody furnishings bring the outside to your bedside. The highlight? Your private rooftop deck. By day, sunbathe after a wander across hundreds of miles of local hiking trails; by night, stargaze with a glass of Arizona wine in hand, before sleeping alfresco under the stars.
Rooms from £1,478, ambientesedona.com
Le Grand Mazarin, Paris
It seems like not a year goes by without a thrilling Parisian hotel opening. And 2023 is no different, with an envious variety of debuts including cool Hôtel Dame des Arts, skyscraping Philippe Starck-designed TOO, intimate Maison Delano and garden-themed La Fantaisie. But the big one to watch is Le Grand Mazarin, set steps from the Seine in shoppers’ favourite Le Marais, and rehauled by architect Martin Brudnizki. The soon-to-launch property is the first urban location from the Maisons Pariente group, which has dreamy stays like Lou Pinet in Saint-Tropez and Le Coucou in Meribel. Expect interiors that feel like the 17th century catapulted into the now, with tapestry-style bed hangings and intricate parquet contrasting with chic pastels and organic lines.
Rooms from £593, legrandmazarin.com
Aleenta Chiang Mai
Hot on the heels of game-changing medi-spa resort RAKxa, which opened mid-pandemic outside Bangkok, Aleenta Retreat Chiang Mai – launching March 2023 – will solidify Thailand as a destination for next-gen wellness. Combining classic resort amenities (glassy pools, plush designer rooms and cocktail-crafting bar) with science-based treatments, doctor consultations and bespoke nutritional programmes, Aleenta Retreat Chiang Mai will give you a much-needed sunshine hols and a healthy overhaul at the same time. In between yoga sessions or detox juices, take in Chiang Mai’s opulent temples or markets selling silks, crafts and art, or explore the lush mountainous landscapes. Or just kick back with a book and soak up the reliable Thai rays.
Rate TBC, aleenta.com/chiang-mai
The Homestead, South Africa
Rethinking what it means to safari in 2023, this 12-suite eco-lodge on the Nambiti reserve – four hours from Johannesburg – lets you see the Big Five without sacrificing urban style. Forget the usual thatch-and-earth tones; The Homestead is plumping for chic with bold prints and shimmering metallics. Quiet electric 4x4s will let you get close to the animals without spooking them, while a host of other experiences – photography, stargazing and cookery classes included – give you reason to stick around beyond the game drives. Add Time + Time’s new Future Found Sanctuary, on the top of Cape Town’s Table Mountain, and JW Marriott’s first lodge in the Masai Mara to your 2023 Africa list, too.
Rooms from £2,550 per person, homesteadlodge.com
Hotel Vermelho, Alentejo
For fashionistas, this is hands-down the most exciting opening of the year; after all, it’s straight from the mind of footwear maestro Christian Louboutin. The designer was drawn to the rustic Portuguese Alentejo region and the beachy town of Melides, and so decided it was the perfect place to open this 13-bedroom hideaway, named Vermelho – ‘red’ – after his signature colour. The promise of trad tiling meets crisp white Louboutin linens has us counting down the days until spring launch. With any luck we’ll be tying in a visit to the new Viceroy Ombria Resort in the Algarve – the European debut of the brand, complete with a lush organic farming area and astronomical observatory.
Rates TBC, vermelhohotel.com
Janu, Tokyo
We love an Aman hotel but the eyewatering rates mean they’re firmly in special-occasion territory. That’s why the upcoming launch of Janu – Aman’s new affordable, more social sister brand – is getting us so excited. The first branch will open in 2023 in Tokyo’s Toranomon-Azabudai, and is slated to have six dining outlets, an extensive 3,500m2 spa and a vibrant energy (‘Janu’ means ‘soul’ in Sanskrit, whereas in comparison Aman means ‘peace’). Elsewhere in Japan, look out for the newest addition to Marriott’s The Luxury Collection – Shisui, in the historic capital of Nara, near Kyoto. When the hotel opens in autumn, milky-hued rooms will look out to soothing greenery in a very zen set-up.
Rates TBC, janu.com
Four Seasons Cartagena
As if we needed another reason to add Colombia’s colourful UNESCO-listed city to our must-see list, it’s also now getting a Four Seasons in 2023. The sensitively designed hotel will be spread over a clutch of historic buildings, including the 16th-century Cloister of Saint Francis, 1920s Beaux-Arts Club Cartagena and four theatres. From the rooftop pool you’ll simultaneously be able to practice your front crawl while snagging views of the old walled city and sparkling Cartagena Bay – and probably sipping a cocktail or two. The design of the 131 rooms have yet to be unveiled, but you can bet they’ll show pure Four Seasons-style class.
Rates TBC, fourseasons.com
The Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York
Midtown isn’t what it used to be – in a good way. So this springtime opening, steps from Madison Square Park, the Empire State Building and the restaurants of Union Square, is just the latest move in the revival of one of Manhattan’s key stretches. Constructed over seven years by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, the Fifth Avenue Hotel will combine a historic landmark (the former home of Gilded Age society figure Charlotte Goodridge) with a 24-storey glass tower to make a glittering, glamorous base for your next NYC holiday. Also set to open in 2023 is Firmdale’s Warren Street Hotel in Tribeca – the latest from Brit designer Kit Kemp.
Rooms from £787, thefifthavenuehotel.com
COMO Le Montrachet
Fine wine plus a fine spa – what else do you need? Launching in picturesque Burgundian village Puligny-Montrachet, the latest (and first French) property in the wellness-focused COMO resort group is a celebration of life’s good things. Spread across four 18th century stone buildings, revamped by designer Paola Navone, serene contemporary suites will channel pure Gallic serenity; meanwhile the Shambala Retreat spa will turn out shoulder-unclenching deep tissue massages and hydrating facials. The restaurant will come with a superb Burgundian wine list, of course. Prefer spirits? Look instead to another exciting French opening: La Nauve, a former cognac distillery turned hotel near the Charente river.
Rates TBC, comohotels.com
Cap Karoso, Indonesia
Some call Sumba the unspoilt, forgotten corner of Indonesia – but with the arrival of Cap Karoso, more people are sure to discover it. This 47-room, 20-villa eco-conscious retreat, founded by French couple Fabrice and Evguenia Ivara, will put the island’s Marapu culture into full focus, alongside a three-hectare organic farm, beach club, open-air cinema and yoga platform. Elsewhere in Indonesia, look forward to The Pavilions Anambas opening at the tail end of next year off the northwest coast. With just 12 guest villas, reachable only by boat or floatplane, it will make the perfect base for divers and snorkellers looking to explore the marine-rich local waters.
Rooms from £245, capkaroso.com
The Lana, Dubai
When you want a dose of reliable winter sun and all the indulgences too, Dubai fits the bill. But from September 2023 there will be another reason to visit: the latest addition to the Dorchester Collection, The Lana, gracing the bankside of Dubai Canal. This tremendous, 30-storey glassy build, designed by Foster + Partners to give wow-factor even in a sea of skyscrapers, will have tall windows letting in plenty of light – and views of the Burj Khalifa and the Emirati desert beyond. Modern décor in tones of sand, gold and cacti-green gently evoke sense of place. The star, though? A rambling rooftop pool area, which will transform into a nightlife destination come sunset.
Rates TBC, dorchestercollection.com
One & Only Aesthesis, Greece
Greece has more to it than its famed islands, a fact underlined by the glitzy new One & Only Aesthesis in Glyfada. Perched on 1,600m of private seafront – on what is known as the Athenian Riviera, half an hour outside the capital – the resort will bring 60s and 70s glamour, with curved lines, airy spaces and tranquil Med hues. A beach club will let you make the most of the sparkling azure waters (who needs Mykonos?), while a Chenot Spa will come with the Swiss brand’s progressive treatments. It’s not the only hot mainland opening this year – also stay tuned for Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino, in the southwest Peloponnese.
Rates TBC, oneandonlyresorts.com/aesthesis
Capella Sydney
Down Under’s hotel scene is getting a shake up this March with the opening of Capella Sydney, in the historic Department of Education building near the iconic Opera House. The 192-room hotel will blend historical Edwardian-Baroque features – grand soaring ceilings, marble-clad foyer – with contemporary design, international art and 70 species of local floral on a seven-metre-tall ‘green wall’. Expect three restaurants too, headed by chef Brent Savage, as well a modern take on a Victorian-era drinking den, the McRae Bar. As well as wellness (there’s a 20m heated indoor pool), the hotel is also big on experiences, and will sort everything from a harbour cruise to a foraging expedition with First Australians.
Rooms from £500, capellahotels.com
100 Princes Street, Edinburgh
Edinburgh addresses don’t get much more iconic than Princes Street, and with the opening of the Red Carnation Hotels’ group first Scottish property in August, they’re not likely to get much cosier either. Inspired by Alexander McQueen, the interiors – designed by the team behind Ashford Castle in Ireland – will be full-blown Scottish chic, with custom tartan, hand-painted mural and roaring fires restoring the former Overseas League building to its former glory. There’ll be just 30 guest rooms, some looking to Edinburgh castle, and a staff ratio of 2:1, so you know service will be a priority. Drinks too: expect a ‘wine wall’ showcasing 200 bottles, plus a strong list of local whiskies.
Rooms from £330, 100princes-street.com
The Residence Douz, Tunisia
The latest launch from the Cenizaro group shows that you don’t need to head to Morocco or Dubai to do the desert. The Residence Douz, opening in autumn, will be set in 40 acres of golden sand dunes in the north African nation of Tunisia, at the gateway to the Sahara. Expect 50 villas inspired by local design, endless palm trees, and all sorts of thoughtful details: private terraces and pools, clay Tozeur brickwork and trad hand-woven carpets. Enjoy exploring the desert surrounds via camel rides, or beeline to some of the locations made famous by the Star Wars films: cave-like Matmata and Chott el Jerid salt lake. When you return, the spa will await with traditional hammams and Turkish baths.
Rates TBC, cenizaro.com
andBeyond Punakha River Lodge, Bhutan
The return of the Trans-Bhutan Trail in 2022 – an ancient cross-country route in use for centuries by pilgrims and traders – put Bhutan on every adventurous traveller’s wish list. And now there’s yet another reason to visit, with the entrance of luxe safari operator andBeyond into the country. Opening in September on the banks of the Mo Chhu River, and built in a traditional Bhutanese style, the lodge will feature six tents and two villas featuring handwoven wool upholstery and décor inspired by the country’s national flower, the blue poppy. Though the real focus is the view – of forest, paddy fields and the dramatic Himalayas. Get stuck into rafting, fishing, kayaking and trekking, then visit a local community farming project nearby.
Rates TBC, andbeyond.com
R48, Tel Aviv
Set in a 1930s Bauhaus building on chic Rothschild Boulevard — Tel Aviv’s swishest street — the new R48 will set design-lovers’ hearts aflutter. It’s not just the meticulously preserved building, restored by architects AN+ into an 11-suite hotel and extended with a glass façade that lets light pour in. It’s not just the Liaigre interiors, either, featuring whites, tulipwood, travertine slabs, granite baths and African teak. It’s also the landscaping; masterfully curated by Piet Oudolf, designer of the High Line in New York, and utilising grasses, oaks and pomegranate trees. There will be a concise art collection, with unique pieces by Israeli artists, too. It launches in March 2023, and in our opinon, not a moment too soon.
Rooms from £1,230, r48.co.il
Eliamos Villas Hotel & Spa, Kefalonia
Opening on May 1, this Kefalonian retreat will combine the swish service and style of a luxury hotel with the privacy and space of an exclusive villa hire. Just a dozen stand-alone villas, sleeping between two and seven people and complete with outdoor jacuzzis or private saltwater pools, will congregate around a ‘village’ with spa and restaurant. Mediterranean menus are set to be healthy and largely organic — befitting of the wellness focus at Eliamos — but when you want to mix things up the tavernas of island capital Argostoli are just a 20-minute drive away.
