• Coveted

Summer is coming…

Our edit of the best new hotels for design lovers

 

Summer is on its way and with it, a host of stunning new hotels that has us dreaming of the holidays to come. From a soon-to-be-open contemporary oasis in Byron Bay’s hinterland to an elegant reimagining of a 12^th century Castello in Tuscany, Italy, here we present just some of the most incredible new hotels to open this year.

 

Euphoria Retreat, Peloponnese, Greece

There’s a magnificent location, hewn into the cypress-studded foothills of the legendary Mount Taygetos on the Peloponnese peninsula in Southern Greece (mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey no less); world-leading physical and emotional wellbeing treatments (a Finnish sauna, steamy marble Hammam and Himalayan salt room are just the beginning) and most importantly, all-immersive, sensory interiors spanning four floors centred around an impressive 20-metre deep light well. Add sculptural vaulted ceilings, a dome-covered indoor pool echoing with the sound of whales and dolphins, and a colour scheme inspired by the deep earthy reds and burnished gold of the Byzantines who originally inhabited the area and you have The Euphoria Retreat, which is, as the name implies, a transcendental experience on every level.

 

Aman, Kyoto, Japan

Aman Kyoto is the latest addition to the Aman collection of luxury hotels, which spans some of the world’s most exotic and romantic locations from Bhutan and Laos to Rajasthan, Montenegro and Morocco. The newest sibling to the family comprises an exquisite series of dark timber pavilions designed by the late, great Australian architect, Kerry Hill. Set within a hidden garden within moments of some of Kyoto’s major Unesco World Heritage sites the hotel features mineral-rich onsens fed by natural hot springs, two stunning restaurants and 26 suites with ceiling-to-floor windows that will make you feel like you’re sleeping in the forest under the stars — but in high thread count linen and with room service on call.

 

Soma, Byron Bay, Australia

If meditation and mindfulness are the mantras of 2019 then the new Soma, nestled in a 22-acre rainforest in the Byron Bay hinterland is the place to put into practice all your restorative resolutions. Founded by entrepreneur Peter Ostick and meditation teacher Gary Gorrow the 10 bedroom retreat is a case study in warm modernism with timber detailing and bespoke designer furniture, a fresh water infinity pool and for the athletically-inclined, a yoga dome complete with a translucent ceiling made specifically for stargazing.

 

Como Castello Del Nero, Tuscany, Italy

If you’ve ever been lucky enough to stay in a Como hotel — the ultra chic brand of five star escapism personally curated by founder and legendary Singaporean entrepreneur, Mrs Ong — you’ll understand the full sensory appeal of the Ong family’s signature pared-back, sophisticated take on 21^st century luxury. With interiors by the inimitable Paola Navone the new Como Castello Del Nero is Como’s first European property and combines all the old-world glamour that Italy does so well with a less-is-more approach to sleek contemporary design. Located within a 740-acre estate in the heart of the Chianti wine region the 12^th century castle features only 50 rooms and suites, a Michelin-starred restaurant and Como’s signature spa and wellness offering, the heavenly Shambhala Retreat.