Stephanie Chen

🏨 In Merano, Italy, the Aurora hotel has reopened after a redesign by Feld72 Architects and Hannes Peer Architecture. This historic 59-room hotel on Passer Promenade now features an 18-room extension, a new entrance, and a listening bar. The renovations were spearheaded by siblings Melanie and Philipp Aukenthaler. Unique design elements include over 2,000 handmade ceramic tiles and a sculptural Murano glass chandelier. A second renovation phase will conclude in 2028, adding a rooftop pool and bar.

🏝️ Astet Studio has transformed Lazy Lion, a cocktail bar in Budapest's historic Adria Palace, into a space where old meets new. The bar features French aesthetics with exotic flora murals and animal reliefs, while stone and wood elements are enhanced by ambient lighting. The main room boasts a vaulted ceiling, metallic palm-leaf treatments, and an organic-shaped bench, creating an immersive experience through reflections and textures.

🍴 Michelin-starred chef Jungsik Yim opened MUJE in Manhattan’s Garment District. The modern Asian fine dining restaurant spans 2,225 square feet, seating 48 guests, with six bar seats and 12 in the lounge. Designed by Two Point Zero, the space embodies harmony and evolution, using materials like stained red oak and walnut millwork. Its moody palette and crafted details reflect Yim’s philosophy of limitless culinary creativity, offering an intimate dining experience.

🏨 The Dean, an Irish-born lifestyle hotel brand, has opened the Dean Munich, a 281-room hotel in Munich's Westend. This is their largest property and the second in Germany, following the Dean Berlin, which opened in February. Designed by Tatjana von Stein, the hotel features interiors inspired by Jugendstil and 1980s Munich nightlife. The hotel includes a Japanese restaurant, Ibasho, and a fitness and wellness concept with an indoor pool, sauna, and steam room.

🏠 La Vista Motel, a 23-room boutique property in Denver, reopened after a full restoration of its 1956 structure, led by developer Nathan Beal. The motel, on the City of Denver Historic Register, features design work from Sopher Sparn Architects and Xan Creative. Each room includes vintage-inspired decor. The on-site bar, El Piñon, offers specialty coffee and craft cocktails, operated by Weston Scott. Events are hosted regularly, enhancing its local appeal.

🍴 Chef Alex Chang and sommelier Lina Goujjane launched Noury, a Japanese izakaya and modern wine and sake bar, in New York’s Soho. The intimate venue accommodates 39 guests, with a central five-seat bar. Designed by Studio Tre, Noury blends cultural traditions with contrasting materials like limestone, oak, and quartzite. The dining area features vintage and modern lighting, highlighted by verdigris bronze pendants. A handwoven abaca tapestry from the Philippines adorns the dining room’s south wall.

🏨 Planters Inn in Charleston is undergoing a major renovation, first in decades, set to complete by January 2027. The redesign of this 182-year-old hotel by Dallas-based Studio 11 Design will revamp guestrooms, suites, public spaces, and the Peninsula Grill restaurant. The project aims to preserve Southern hospitality and charm while updating modern comforts. Renovations will occur in two phases, with the Peninsula Grill starting its refresh in late August, staying open initially.

🌳 Located in Laikipia’s Solio Game Reserve, JW Marriott Mount Kenya Rhino Reserve Safari Camp has opened with 19 tented suites on a 45,000-acre conservancy. Designed by LW Design, the camp features private decks, plunge pools, and local artisan decor. Dining includes garden-fresh menus and a dedicated wine room. Guests enjoy game drives, walking safaris, and educational experiences like visits to the Solio Rhino Orphanage. Other amenities include a spa, fitness center, and outdoor pool.

🏨 Fettle studio has revamped the Stoneleigh, Dallas, originally opened in 1923, impacting all 176 guestrooms and public spaces. The design retains Dorothy Draper's aesthetic, featuring custom wool carpets, geometric wallcoverings, and a curated art collection. The 11th floor now hosts meeting spaces and five signature suites. The refurbished pool area mirrors 1920s-30s Dallas glamour. Bar Leonessa and Lion's Den evoke the hotel's Prohibition-era charm, with curated art and period-inspired decor.

🏖 White Elephant Resorts opened White Elephant Aspen in Colorado's West End. The Boston-based firm EMBARC led the design, creating an alpine-chic aesthetic in the 54-room property, featuring porcelain tiles and rustic decor. Top-tier suites like the Ajax Penthouse span 1,560 sq ft. Guests can explore over 125 art pieces curated by Emily Santangelo. The hotel offers a self-guided art tour and collaborates with Anderson Ranch Arts Center. Onsite, Lola 41 restaurant serves seafood and sushi.