Travel is back and some great new places are opening their doors to guests. Alicia Miller rounds up the hottest new hotels to check out – and check into – this autumn.
More is more at the Bvlgari Paris: at the fashion house’s newest hotel opening, glamour rules. Launching in November 2021 in one of the city’s most exclusive enclaves – Avenue George V, home to the immaculate Four Seasons Hotel George V – it’s set to be a fresh rival to Paris’s established palace hotels. In price as much as style: while rates have not been officially announced, this is neither a postcode, nor a brand, that tends to come cheap.
As you can imagine, though, for that splurge you’ll get all the Bvlgari bling you can ask for. And as much – or as little – attention as you want. Just 76 rooms, the majority of them suites, should lend the place a surprisingly intimate vibe (and practically ensure that the 25m swimming pool is never oversubscribed).
At the time of writing Bvlagri is still being rather hush-hush on the details, but if London’s outpost is anything to go by you can expect a see-and-be-seen restaurant and a spa offering anti-aging facial treatments, too.
This is a hotel opening that’s been more than seven years in the making. Singapore-based hotel group Pan Pacific announced way back in 2014 that they’d be opening their first property in London, but thanks to various hiccups (namely, a certain global pandemic) it wasn’t until September this year that they finally, properly launched.
Steps from well-connected Liverpool Street Station, Pan Pacific occupies the glossy One Bishopsgate Plaza development – a space that couldn’t feel further from the traffic-clogged artery of Bishopsgate.
The vibe is overall serene: think soothing taupe and grey, botanical artworks and soaring tropical plants. There’s an 18.5m infinity pool on the fourth floor, with windows overlooking the city, but the real essential stop is the moody main floor bar, Ginger Lily.
Grab a stool and ask Francesco to mix you a Medimar martini – vodka, basil and truffle, topped with a Parmesan crisp – while you nibble your way through a small plates menu of Thai fish cakes or tempura.
The Villa Magna isn’t exactly new to Madrid: this landmark hotel has stood proudly, steps from greenery-lined Paseo de la Castellana, since the 1970s. But it’s entering an entirely new chapter in its history, as after an extensive refurbishment it’s about to become Spain’s first outpost of the Rosewood brand.
That means more upmarket but low-key comforts, impeccable service and stellar dining to tempt you away from Madrid’s buzzing restaurant scene. And, to attract the Madrileños: chef Jesús Sánchez of Cantabria’s three-Michelin-starred Cenador de Amós will be heading up the new in-house restaurant, and locals are going to be as hungry to get a taste of his capital debut as the rest of us.
Few experiences in South Africa can be as powerful, and important, as visiting Robben Island – the place where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. But now, a stay at Sanctuary Mandela is another must to add to your list. Once Mandela’s primary home, in the suburb of Houghton, Johannesburg – the place he lived after returning from the island – the building has been transformed into a nine-room boutique hotel that pairs contemporary design with a reflective, calming mood.
There are personal touches everywhere; even on the restaurant menu, which stars Mandela’s favourite dishes as once prepared by his personal chef Xoliswa Ndoyiya. And, because the hotel is owned by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, there’s even a space where visitors can immerse themselves in the man’s amazing story, myriad accomplishments and insightful writings.
The historic glamour of Rome meets the high energy of the W hotel brand at its latest location, opening this November. Within striking distance of the major sights – the Trevi fountain is a 12-minute walk, the Villa Medici just 10 – it will feel suitably Roman within, with polished marble in bathrooms, sleek leather banquettes and plenty of burnished metallics.
A focal point of the experience, no doubt, will be the terrace bar. Surrounded by a forest of greenery, bold fabrics and plenty more marble (obviously), you should be able to sink Negronis until the wee hours.
If you’ve never stayed at a Cheval Blanc hotel – and until now there have been only four, in the plush locations of St Tropez, St. Barts, Courchevel and the Maldives – all you really need to know is that they are exceptionally luxurious. And, that they are owned by LVMH: the world’s purveyor of high-end fashion, jewellery, cosmetics, wine and spirits. So the fact that they’ve finally opened in Paris is big news; you might even call it a homecoming.
And where better for a hotel linked to iconic French brands – Louis Vuitton, Dom Pérignon and, naturally, Château Cheval Blanc – than the most iconic of Parisian locations? The hotel is situated at the northern tip of Pont Neuf, next door to the Louvre.
You’ll have the whole city at your fingertips for exploring here, but good luck leaving. You’ll be far too occupied by the Dior spa, epic wine list and private balconies – overlooking the Parisian rooftops – to want to go anywhere.
Famed for its epic hill forts, opulent palaces and tiger-studded national parks, Rajasthan is one of India’s most richly rewarding corners for visitors. And, from this month, it’s also home to a fabulous new place to stay: Six Senses Fort Barwara. A converted 14th-century fort once owned by the Rajasthani royal family, it incorporates two temples and two palaces – all dressed in the unbuttoned, laid-back luxury style that the brand does so well.
Use it as a base to safari in Ranthambore National Park, or to visit nearby Unesco-protected sites. After a day’s exploring, return to rooms furnished with wooden lattice archways, floaty fabrics and regal flashes of red. And sink some tropical fruit cocktails in The Rajawat bar.
