1. THE MADRONA — Healdsburg, California
’The Madrona may be new, but the Mansion, the hotel’s ornate centerpiece, certainly isn’t — this 1881 mansion was built in Aesthetic Movement style, and stands in stark contrast to the Tuscan and Provençal pretensions of so many other wine-country hotels. It’s set on the west side of Healdsburg, and its extravagant silhouette isn’t the only surprise for arriving guests.
2. CAPELLAN DE GETSEMANI — Cartagena, Colombia
Getsemaní is a vibrant neighborhood just outside Cartagena's old city center. Hotel Capellán is vibrant as well, a historical Spanish Colonial structure whose interiors display a contemporary French influence, alongside their well-preserved heritage architecture and the comforts of a modern luxury boutique hotel.
3. VILLA SONNENHOF — Bad Reichenhall, Germany
Fans of the classic Alpine-lodge experience will have no difficulty satisfying their urges in Bavaria. But those travelers who see no contradiction between modern design and timeless mountain views will be grateful for a place like Villa Sonnenhof Boutique Hotel.
4. DONGFENGYUN HOTEL MI’LE — Mile, China
It takes a truly unusual hotel design to surprise us these days, but DongFengYun Hotel Mi’Le - MGallery is nothing if not unusual. It’s just one part of the larger Dong Feng Yun Art Village mixed-use arts and culture complex, designed by the sculptor Luo Xu in a style that feels ancient and futuristic at the same time.
5. VIRGIN HOTEL EDINBURGH — Edinburgh, Scotland
Virgin’s brand is so strong that a mental picture immediately forms upon mention of their name: some bright colors, some space-age mid-century modernist furniture, and an atmosphere that’s both seriously stylish and irreverently fun. The big surprise about Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, however, is its setting, in the 1864-vintage India Buildings.
Hero image : DongFengYun Hotel Mi’Le - MGallery
