Why the newest wave of hotels feels more like living inside a story than checking into a room
Sep 12, 2025
Forget cookie-cutter lobbies and generic suites — the latest generation of design hotels is pulling out every creative stop. Think Roman bathhouses reimagined under a Swiss winery, a 12-metre golden tree glowing inside a Bangkok lobby, lemon trees and Moorish arches in a Seville palace, or safari tents painted in the pinks and oranges of African soil. These places aren’t just hotels; they’re immersive stage sets where history, art, and architecture collide to create destinations worth the trip on their own.
Key takeaways
- Hôtel Borsari, Switzerland: No-screen rooms, Dieter Rams shelving, and underground Roman-inspired pools in a revived 19th-century winery.
- Hotel Casa del Limonero, Spain: A Seville palace turned boutique stay with restored mosaic floors, Moorish courtyards, and a private collection featuring Hockney and Vasconcelos.
- Aman Nai Lert, Thailand: Bangkok minimalism at its most dramatic — a lobby framed by a golden-leaf sculpture, atrium gardens, and a spa that spans stem cell treatments to Thai rituals.
- Masiya’s Camp, South Africa: A maximalist safari camp where dusty pinks, terracotta, and turquoise meet antiques, African art, and plunge pools under canvas.
- Aliée, Turkey: Ottoman shipyards reborn with handwoven silk rugs, Moooi sofas, and fish-filled fountains tucked into courtyards.
- Chichele Presidential, Zambia: Once a presidential retreat, now a safari lodge with mid-century modern touches, gleaming copper, and panoramic views over South Luangwa.
- Corinthia Bucharest, Romania: Belle époque grandeur revived with Murano chandeliers, Romanian poetry-inspired art, and a ballroom restaurant drenched in gold leaf.
- Patina Osaka, Japan: Facing Osaka Castle, a bold blend of tatami-lined suites, vintage music speakers, copper ceilings, and five wildly different restaurants.
- The Chedi Hegra, Saudi Arabia: A UNESCO desert site turned hotel, with a vintage locomotive in the dining room, glass floors over railway tracks, and an art installation of twisted steel rails.
Get the full story at Condé Nast Traveller
