The “New Asia” style of hospitality finds one of its most rarefied expressions in the New Majestic Hotel, located in the heart of Singapore’s Chinatown. An open-concept period-inspired lobby shows the imaginative possibilities of this marriage of old and new, or “heritage chic”, as the hotel calls its particular design savvy, which also takes into account its period furniture dating from the 1920s to the 1960s.

Individually designed rooms, 30 in all, continue the mix of vintage and designer furniture, customized baths, and can include private gardens and six-meter ceilings in attic-style suites. Five rooms have also been personalized by some of Singapore’s most influential talents from cinema, theatre and fashion. Every detail from bedding (the New Majestic calls it a “bedscape”) to bathroom (freestanding copper tubs) has been re-imagined. Some rooms feature floor to ceiling mirrors; others feature aquarium-themed transparent bathrooms. Back downstairs, The Majestic Restaurant is a sleek reinterpretation of one of Singapore’s favorite Chinese dining rooms and serves modern Cantonese cuisine.

The Surin Phuket (formerly The Chedi Phuket) will re-open its doors on December 21 after extensive renovation. Located on one of the most popular Thai islands known for its lush tropical landscape and white sandy beaches, the resort is nestled on the tranquil coast of Phuket’s finest shore Pansea Beach. The 108-cottage seafront retreat has been redesigned by Paris-based architect and interior designer Ed Tuttle, who was also the resort’s original architect. In addition to showing off the new beach bar and gym, the resort will showcase larger and brighter cottages and public areas, as well as a revamped chill-out lounge and restaurant.

Bright Public Spaces and Larger Rooms

The redesigned interiors give a fresh interpretation to the Thai beach house. To retain its rustic ambience, the resort has been fitted with a roof of sustainable cedar-like shingles. Frameless windows allow more natural light into its spaces and the golden teak and natural gray makkar wood tones make for an airy and spacious feel.

With a new lease of life, the 108 cottages remain connected by elevated walkways and sit under the shelter of coconut palms on landscaped slopes that gently descend into the smooth sandy beach. Earthy colors and abundant natural light dominate the newly renovated cottages. Each cottage showcases pearl granite flooring, polished makkar wood tops and redesigned features such as the spacious vanity and dressing area. New amenities make efficient use of the space, from sleek mini-bars to flat screen televisions. As a private retreat, each cottage is fitted out with its own veranda and spacious sun deck.

From Sun-Bathing to Gym Workouts

A long staircase that runs the length of the pool connects the resort to the white sandy beach and grants guests immediate access to the Andaman coastline. Guests have the best of both worlds – whether they choose to sunbathe on the Pansea Beach or enjoy the private sanctuary of the resort. Sunbeds line the terrace as soon as guests reach the foot of the stairs, which open out onto the beach. For those who fancy drinks and a hangout space against the lapping waves, The Surin’s latest beach bar stays open late into the night. There is also a new 90m² gym with sea views, above which is a private outdoor terrace that can be used for parties and events.

Chill-out Lounge and Restaurant

Clean lines, natural light and thakianthong wood frame the lobby and other public spaces, which contribute to the open and spacious ambience at the resort. The lobby features low tables and lounge seats that add to the relaxed atmosphere and extends onto an outdoor terrace. In addition to breakfast and dinner, guests can also use this area as an all-day chill-out spot. The Sunset Café and Bar serving Asian and international tapas style specialties has been transformed into an intimate lounge space with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the pool and the sapphire blue sea.

On the water’s edge at Nacka Strand, Hotel J has its own 25-berth guest harbor and offers sweeping views of the Royal Djurgården, the island of Lidingö and the boats on Saltsjön. The architects at Millimeter and designers at R.O.O.M. have transformed the 1912 brick building into a stylish shrine to seafaring – and an American one at that.

The concept draws on the nautical design of historic America’s Cup J-Class boats and the distinct feel of the New England coast. The evocative red, white, and blue of the stars and stripes invite visitors from across the Atlantic to feel completely at home. But guests from anywhere will appreciate the homey feel of white wood, cotton textiles, and solid oak furniture. In the lobby, fireside seats afford wide-angle views of the islands near Stockholm, just 15 minutes’ sailing time away.

The 158 guestrooms, in five different categories, feature natural materials such as wooden trim and fine linens that evoke an authentic feeling of comfort and ease. There are also four suites with a separate sleeping area on the upper floor, downstairs lounge, balcony and views over the sea. There are two meeting and function villas: J’ Fabrikörsvilla and the historic J’ Tornvilla which is home to The Club House bar and lounge. Decorated in the relaxed and comfortable style of New England yacht clubs it serves classic cocktails and American cuisine such as crab cakes and T-bone steaks. At the water’s edge Marine Brasserie Restaurant J is a culinary and visual experience with views over the bay and simple, sophisticated brasserie cuisine focused on seafood.

Ellensviksvägen 1
131 28 Nacka Strand
Stockholm
Sweden

For Greek Cypriot art collector Dakis Joannou, New Hotel has been a true labor of love. After picking apart the tired Olympic Palace Hotel, which was built in the heart of modern Athens in 1958, he set about restructuring it, piece-by-piece, without discarding anything. The result is an astonishing work of art – a Gesamtkunstwerk, in which all the senses are in an overall intensified form of visual, tactile and somatic interaction with the objects, structures and materials.

Right throughout the chunky modernist building, chairs and doors salvaged from the old property reappear as masterful artworks that prick guests’ senses. Thanks to interiors by Brazilian visionaries Humberto and Fernando Campana, who have earned a reputation for creating living art from cast-offs and spares, key elements of design and culture collide on every floor. From the spa and fitness area to the top-floor terrace, which affords one of the best views in Athens, the designs are consistently intense.

Each of the hotel’s 79 rooms and suites engages its guests by making them feel like they’re a part of the vivid in-room installations. There are three separate interior design concepts, each inspired by Greek culture, floating above the walls, challenging perceptions of depth and space. And in the public lounges, there are incredible tree-like sculptures crafted lovingly from a jumble of different-colored woods. Both physically and mentally, New Hotel provides endless possibilities for exploration.

NEW HOTEL
16 Filellinon Street
10557 Athens
Greece

Although it’s located on Auckland’s High Street, in the middle of the city’s hip fashion district, Hotel DeBrett is more about enduring style than any short-lived seasonal trend. And while much of the Art Deco charm of one of Auckland’s oldest hotels has been preserved, owners and designers Michelle Deery and John Courtney have managed to transform this 1920s building into a modern boutique hotel that surprises guests with warm, homely touches.

All 25 rooms are unique, but they’re stitched together by a velvety custom-made carpet striped with shades of burgundy, black, sky blue and yellow. In the public areas, meanwhile, classic mid-century armchairs and plush patchwork rugs punctuate the pine-colored floorboards. Hand-spun copper chandeliers bounce warm light off raw brick walls, while a thin and funky log-burning fire invites guests to stop and reflect on the building’s illustrious history. Back in its heyday, Hotel DeBrett’s wood-paneled Housebar was the city’s best place to see and be seen. Business deals and romances were kindled here for decades and, now that the original wooden bar is back in place, the tradition looks set to continue well into the future.

As guests step through the glass doors of Klapsons, Singapore’s newest boutique hotel, the combination of 5-star luxury and a unique sensitivity towards contemporary design is immediately apparent. William Sawaya of Sawaya & Moroni spearheaded the design team and the results are sensational. The Klapsons Boutique Hotel attempts to revise the face of both business and leisure travel to Singapore by affording a quiet sophistication and a subtle sense of luxury joined with a sincere functionality.

Sawaya has carefully given each guestroom at Klapsons an individualized design identity so that no two are alike. The custom-made guestrooms aim to bring a unique experience, new comforts and new indulgences to distinguish every stay at the innovative hotel. The element that does unite the guestrooms is without a doubt the opulent pampering ranging from Egyptian cotton sheets and goose down bedding, to Wi-Fi and a Nespresso machine. Lucas, Klapsons 1st floor restaurant, features down to earth western cuisine infiltrated with contemporary elegance. Also on hand are an alfresco bar and a lounge, one beyond Lucas’s floor-to-ceiling windows and the other just a floor above. Subtle yet suitable for the savviest, Klapsons brings a new frontier in hotel ideology to Singapore’s Central Business District.

KLAPSONS, THE BOUTIQUE HOTEL
15 Hoe Chiang Road
089316
Singapore

With its turquoise water and opalescent sand, Cap Juluca’s crescent-shaped beach is unparalleled

Is this the most beautiful beach in the world? I’ve never seen a prettier one. And if you stay at Cap Juluca, it’s all yours. Go off-season like we did and it’s even more yours. Summer season rates are in effect until the end of October, so there’s still plenty of time to benefit.

I love the Caribbean in the summer when it’s just a bit warmer than the winter, easy to get into the best restaurants and a lot more affordable to stay at five-star resorts such as Cap Juluca on the easygoing island of Anguilla.

Our villa facing the beach.

Although I certainly enjoy luxury, I actually have a slight aversion to very high-end island resorts since they can remove you from the true island experience. Somehow Cap Juluca didn’t feel this way. Yes, it was luxurious, but in a beachy, open-air way. As one of the Caribbean’s most lauded luxury resorts, it was pretty close to perfect.

The whiter-than-white Moorish buildings are laid out along the beach so that each room is oceanfront. Ours was at the far end of the resort and a golf cart was provided for getting around. Comfortable chaises with big umbrellas were a few steps away — and Carroll, our affable beach attendant set us up with cold water, large towels, afternoon cookies and drinks. Complimentary water sports were down the beach and we took out a catamaran and tried stand-up paddling a few times.

We had our own pool in a private courtyard

Our pool suite was more like a house with a private courtyard, in-ground pool (not a plunge pool, a real pool), fully-equipped kitchen, living room, circular dining area, two oceanfront terraces, spacious bedroom and enormous marble bath. With its ocean breezes, sun-shaded depth and comfortable furniture, the terrace off the bedroom was our favorite encampment for mornings, late afternoons and after-dinner lounging. A complimentary breakfast began the day and was more than ample with fruit in a bento box, our pick of pastries including a homemade banana bread, fresh juice and excellent coffee that stayed hot forever.

The hotel staff was there when needed and certainly plentiful and available, but the reception area and concierge were off in a separate area, so we did not feel as if we were constantly being faced with staff — a good thing. Yet when we needed help, they were at the ready and always accommodating. Plus, there were always a few friendly folks at the lobby entrance ready to give directions or suggestions whenever we walked or drove by.

Cap Juluca has two libraries for guests with enough computers that we never had to wait, plus shelves of great books and DVDs. And on an island with limited shopping, the hotel shops were well stocked with necessities and a small, but well-chosen array of clothing, jewelry and accessories.

Cap Juluca’s beach at sunset

Anguilla is a friendly island and with just a few main roads, it’s easy to get around by rental car (arranged through the hotel and very reasonable) or taxi (zones seem designed for maximum fares, so better to rent a car if you’re okay driving on the left). Aside from going to beaches and dining at the many fine restaurants, there isn’t a whole lot to do which was okay with us. In need of time to relax, regroup, read and just look at natural beauty, it was exactly what we wanted. Most days, we drove to a different spot for lunch where the food was always good and the beach out front was always swimmable and beautiful.

Back at Cap Juluca for the afternoon, we were always happy to return to a little luxury and yes, the most beautiful beach in the world. And then it would be time for dinner — which on this island is always a very good time. The hotel has Pimms and Spice, two beautiful waterfront restaurants where we loved not only the Pan Asian food but the live music and water practically at our feet. Cap Juluca also has a more casual spot called Blue where breakfast and lunch are served.

Our oceanfront balcony at Cap Juluca

There are quite a few other excellent restaurants close by including Blanchard’s, our favorite. In an inviting Caribbean-style wooden house with teal shutters overlooking lush greenery and blue water, it was the perfect setting for the creative fusion food that’s spawned several renowned cookbooks. The restaurant was full, but pleasantly so and in summer, booking a prime table could be done on the very same day as dinner.

25hours Hotel HafenCity, the first hotel to be built in the up-and-coming waterfront area of Hamburg, Germany, opened on July 1. The budget deluxe property offers a modern take on a sailor’s club and is the newest property from the 25hours hotel group, helmed by its passionate CEO Christoph Hoffman. The concept is based on 25 stories collected from sailors interviewed in a local seaman’s club. These stories are woven into the fabric of the hotel and are captured in log books in each guestroom, as well as in illustrations that adorn the walls. The hotel offers 170 cabin-style suites, a rooftop sauna, restaurant, bar, a Mare Kiosk, a Radio Room business center and unconventional meeting spaces, including one housed in a repurposed shipping container. For budding musicians, the hotel’s Vinyl Room is the perfect place to play DJ, and bands can practice free of charge in the Gibson Music Room, in exchange for performing in the hotel. Those on the go can pick up one of the hotel’s bikes or even a MINI to zip around town, both free of charge.

Insolito Boutique Hotel, a tranquil coastal resort nestled in a rocky hillside in Buzios, Brazil, opens a new restaurant, nine new guest rooms and a Parilla, a barbecue from Rio Plata. The new dining areas immerse guests in original culinary experiences that allow them to experiment and discover the Brazilian culture and way of life. The 20 themed guest rooms based around Brazilian history and culture include nine new spaces that reflect Brazilian Modernism, thus giving guests the opportunity to learn more about the country.

The Parilla

The new Parilla is fuelled by a mixture of firewood and coal that gives ingredients a very distinct flavor. The barbeque in situated in the popular beach lounge restaurant, close to the sea, and creates an interactive dining experience for guests. The open barbeque ‘kitchen’ allows guests to get close to the action and learn tips from the parrilleiro (cook), including the origins and cuts of the meats and how best to cook them. Diners can choose from Argentinean, Uruguayan and Brazilian meats, seafood or vegetables, and enjoy them with a special dressing from the Plata River region. There is also a range of tapas and finger foods, and a choice of two menu options in which the cook prepares a range of starters and main courses that present the typical taste of a Parilla. Dishes include pork sausage with dried tomato and mint, roasted potatoes with roquefort cheese and baby beef medallions.

The Restaurant

The new sophisticated restaurant area serves Franco-Brazilian cuisine and aims to delight the senses through a variety of Brazilian ingredients. The dishes always reflect local traditions with a contemporary French touch. For instance, jabuticaba, a fruit similar to a cherry, is used to complement meats in dishes such as ‘Beef filet in a jabuticaba sauce with a mandioquinha gratin’. He also grills crayfish and serves it with banana prata risotto. Other seafood dishes include Grilled Brazilian lobster with banana and Parma ham risotto and Provencal jumbo shrimp with Sicilian risotto.

Urban design quietly nestled among an oasis of natural serenity, Casa de La Flora sits in Khao Lak, on the shore of the Andaman Sea. The brainchild of businessman Sompong Dowpiset, this 36-villa resort is an ode to the angular geometries of Brutalist architecture, while simultaneously paying tribute to the surrounding environment. Applying a distinct sensitivity to the adjacent landscape and achieving harmony with the local flora, the hotel by VaSLab Architecture is Khao Lak’s only resort offering contemporary architecture and design. Guests are invited to experience this exceptional retreat in the midst of pioneering interiors, personalised services and discreet, yet sincere eco-credentials.

With each low-rise villa, guests are introduced to arresting sea views, private pools and a smattering of small gardens, supported by a 24-hour butler service and welcome quirks such as in-room entertainment technology provided by Apple. In addition to the secluded solace of each glass-fronted villa, Casa de La Flora’s public spaces accommodate an infinity edge pool, four treatment rooms, a sauna and a steam room. Contemporary highlights include a library where visitors can unwind while enjoying an assortment of books and DVDs. Beyond this, La Arunya restaurant lures guests with veritable feasts of Thai and international cuisine.