Bask & Stow

Australian hotels do a lot of things well, but perhaps nothing lies more squarely within the national expertise than this sort of laid-back, effortlessly chic seaside escape. Bask & Stow is set in coastal New South Wales, a few minutes’ walk from the main drag of the beach town of Byron Bay. The neighborhood provides the low-key, residential vibe, and Bask & Stow is nowhere near large enough to spoil it, with just five suites and a stand-alone three-bedroom cottage.

The style reads as Scandinavian to some, but architect Harley Graham was inspired by Palm Springs modernism and the Bauhaus movement; the result, all clean lines, blond wood, and minimalist white, is stylish by any name. Most suites come with bathtubs, and all have kitchenettes, as well as easy access to the property’s gardens and plunge pool.

It’s possible to order breakfast in, but that’s the extent of Bask & Stow’s culinary program. This is no great hardship, of course; the very fine Top Shop Café, known for its breakfast and burgers, is right around the corner, and a few blocks away in the other direction is Jonson Street, the town center, and a wealth of excellent restaurants.