Parties, parades, picnics in parks, fireworks and open-air concerts – summer doesn’t have to be about skitting off to the beach, when there are so many cities in America that offer a calendar-packing array of events designed to add summertime sparkle. Mr. & Mrs. Smith earmarked five of their favorite hotels – in five of their favorite US cities – that are perfectly positioned for making the most of the sun-soaked urban action.
Ace Hotel, Portland, OR
Bring your coloring pencils to this beatnik bolthole, where hand-painted murals by local artists make every room a studio space for Portland’s dusty bohemian glamor. With retro posters, vintage furniture, vinyl players and records, rooms are original without being ornate. Hang out in Clyde Common’s bar sipping Wild West-inspired cocktails, then venture out into the Pearl District to soak up more of the city’s creative buzz.
Stonehurst Place, Atlanta, GA
Explore Margaret Mitchell country from this historic 19th-century inn where Southern charm meets European flair. Think bare feet on gleaming hardwood floors, scraping the last crumbs of home-made lemon bread from antique gold-rimmed china, or relaxing with a copy of Gone With The Wind on the front porch swing.
XV Beacon, Boston, MA
Right beside Boston Common, this trad but trendy stay has eye-popping opulent interiors complemented by original art deco elevators and Louis XV furniture. On the rooftop, a Bostonian bower with views over Beacon Hill spills its greenery onto maple-red loungers. Look your best at Mooo, Jamie Mammano’s classic steakhouse, or descend into the stone-lined grandeur of the cellar to gaze in wonder at the vaulted array of rare fine wines.
Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, TX
Slip into vintage finery and Aladdin slippers to suit the spirit of the Saint Cecilia, just south of the river in downtown Austin. It’s a trippy mishmash of turquoise velour wallpaper, stuffed exotic birds, weathered chesterfields and glittering antique chandeliers. So dim the lights, pour a Rioja from the minibar, pick a vintage vinyl soundtrack to slap on the in-room turntable, and plan your own rock ‘n’ roll rebellion.
St Regis, Washington DC
Just a stroll from the White House, this palatial hotel combines 1920s glamor with the spankingly up-to-date. Sip a bloody mary amid the old-gold glamor of the Chandelier Room, with it’s floor-to-ceiling Palladian windows, or dine on ceviche and Colorado lamb among the eye-soothingly sleek lines of the Adour restaurant, where Alain Ducasse brings a touch of French finesse to classic American cuisine.
