1. THE ROUNDTREE — Amagansett, New York
The Roundtree shows off the pastoral side of Hamptons life. It’s set on two acres of land in Amagansett, a mile inland from the beach, and comprises a barn and a collection of cottages dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. From the exterior, they’re beautifully preserved, proud of their history — inside, however, you’re treated to a visually minimalist contemporary-luxe experience.
2. THE JOHRI — Jaipur, India
Rajasthan is home to some historic hotels, some luxurious hotels, and some unique, lovingly hand-crafted hotels. In the Johri it’s got all three. This spectacular building once went by the name Lal Haveli, and was the private residence of an eminent family of jewelers. Today it’s still owned by the family, as a hotel rather than a house, and it’s as exquisitely crafted as you’d expect a jeweler’s hotel to be.
3. HOTEL CHÂTEAU VOLTAIRE — Paris, France
The ultra-chic Château Voltaire is named not for the philosopher but for the fashion brand Zadig & Voltaire, for which hotelier Thierry Gillier is better known. For this venture, he enlisted creative director Franck Durand and architecture studio Festen to translate his aesthetic into a hospitality language, and the resuling hotel is every bit as stylish as its star-studded genealogy would suggest.
4. DOMES OF CORFU — Corfu, Greece
The Domes hotels know that eye-catching contemporary design is a complement to, not a distraction from, the natural splendor of the Greek islands. Domes Corfu looks straight out into the Ionian Sea from a hillside above the idyllic Paralia Glifadas beach, which means it’s got the views covered — many of the suites face the beach from their balconies, and many of the common spaces partake as well.
5. THE STANDARD BANGKOK — Bangkok, Thailand
The Standard, Bangkok occupies the lower floors of the King Power Mahanakhon tower. With 155 rooms and suites, it’s a substantial hotel but not an overwhelmingly large one; the design, by the Spanish-Italian Hayon Studio, is cosmopolitan in the best way, as befits a brand that’s finally realizing global ambitions. Expect swanky, stylish rooms, and comforts that are substantial, if not extravagant.
Hero image : Domes of Corfu