2021’s hottest new hotels #GLOBAL
The coolest hotels opening this year, on a global scale. It’s hotels, it’s madness… it’s hotel madness!
PROPER HOTEL, LOS ANGELES
There was a time you’d have to be a serial killer of the stature of the Night Stalker to want to be in Downtown LA. Not anymore. Now it’s arguably the most interesting part of the whole town with art projects and cultural centres and, yes, a gay scene. And the most recent addition to the flowering of Downtown has to be the Proper Hotel in a beautiful brick masterpiece in the Fashion District. The mood board is most definitely homely in a mid-century modern kind of way with a palette of teals and beiges and a soft, comfortable vibe. Then there’s the vintage basketball court and indoor pool, which have been transformed into utterly unique suites, two signature restaurants and, up on the roof, a pool... well, they have the views.
Opens June 2021
properhotel.com/downtown-la
THE LINE, SAN FRANCISCO
When you think of San Fran - or Frisco if you’re someone’s slightly hippy auntie - you think of old-school cool, Edwardian houses, maybe in pastel colours. Well, now it looks like something from outer space has landed at the crossroads of SoMa, Civic Center and Tenderloin, but rest assured, that space-age object is the city’s most eagerly-awaited new hotel, The LINE. With four ‘dining experiences’ (they could have said ‘restaurants’) and a rooftop solarium with panoramic views (we’re not interested in views unless they’re panoramic, quite frankly), the whole building is apparently inspired by New York’s Flat Iron. You can even buy an apartment there if you like it as much as we think you will. No pressure.
Opening date tbc
thelinehotel.com/sf
ROSEWOOD SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
It’s another first from Rosewood who, this time, dear reader, are opening their first stunner in South America. Like, look at it! Coming over all Grand Designs on our back bottoms, Rosewood have taken over a former maternity hospital in Cidade Matarazzo, roped in design superstars Jean Nouvel and Philippe Starck, thrown all caution to a balmy wind and will unveil a vertical park featuring 150 rooms, six restaurants and bars, outdoor pool, Asaya wellness concept, music studio, and luxury retail stores full of all the booty you’ll need for a stylish jolly. Like, amazing.
Opening late 2021
rosewoodhotels.com
MOXY SOUTH BEACH, MIAMI
Moxy totally won us over when they launched their whole new world of playful boutiques in NYC a couple of years ago (we’re particularly fond of the Moxy Chelsea, if anyone’s taking notes) so we had major chufties when we heard, via the power of press releases, that they were doing their do in Miami’s glittering South Beach. Two pools, six dining and drinking concepts dreamt up by the local gastro-kids behind Coyo Taco and 1-800-Lucky, feel-good interiors by Rockwell Group, a rooftop bar with all the right views and its own beach club? And just a block from Twist, you say?
Opens February 2021
moxysouthbeach.com
THOMPSON, HOLLYWOOD
We’re still reeling from the news that pretty much our favourite hotel in the whole goddamn world, The Standard West Hollywood on the fun bit of Sunset Boulevard, is shutting up shop (wrangles about rent, but we live in hope), so this is a little balm to sooth us through the loss. Thompson, who we love (hooray!) are opening up down said boulevard in Hollywood, where the Chinese Theatre and all those tiles with handprints off-of famouses are. Often referred to as ‘gritty’ in lesser publications, it’s actually fairly swank now, benefitting from the glittering same-sex-oriented overflow of West Hollywood right next door. And, now Thompson’s bringing its sexy right into the ‘hood, we’re more on board than we’ve ever been.
Opening spring 2021
thompsonhotels.com
SIX SENSES BOTANIQUE, BRAZIL
Those of you working your way down this list of zingers, old-school reading style, will know that 2021’s bringing a lot of hotel firsts, including this one, Six Senses’ first South American beauty. Emphasis on the beauty. An eco retreat in the Mantiqueira Mountains where it’s all about gastronomy, wellness and you – glowing, obvs – this is also the first in Six Senses’ Botanique portfolio, and boy does it pop. Seven suites and 11 private villas (with a further 16 villas and 37 branded residences to come), signature dining at Mina, sultry evenings in the Fire Side lounge, world-class spa, ‘reconnection experiences’ to really get you livin’ and lovin’ the location, all packaged in Six Senses tell-tale sustainable luxury. Oh, and take the helicopter from São Paulo for full showing off props.
Opens February 2021
sixsenses.com
HABITAS ALULA, SAUDI ARABIA
Habitas see your sustainable luxury and raise you deeper human connection in some of the world’s most extraordinary locations. Hooked, much? One of the most intriguing new travel brands out there has already landed its new-luxury hotels in Namibia and Tulum; next on the list are Bhutan, San Miguel de Allende and Laguna Bacalar in Mexico, Costa Rica’s Santa Teresa beach and the star of this listicle, Habitas AlUla, deep in Saudi Arabia’s Ashar Valley, a 100-room desert camp nestled among the remains of the ancient Nabataean civilization. Think Bedouin-style star-spangled nights, sound sensoramas and desert survival programmes. And we’re not talking ‘Ray Mears’ Bushcraft’.
Opening Q3 2021
ourhabitas.com
ACE, BROOKLYN
Those arbiters of stripped-down cool and buzzed-up lobbies are bringing their zing to Brooklyn. About time you might say, and from the ground-up, seeing as you ask. Meaning a brand-new build designed by Roman and Williams – who know their schizz, people, having done the Freehands, Chicago Athletic Club and New York’s other Ace over in NoMad – with 287 rooms, a Boerum Hill zipcode and 360° views of Manhattan through those floor-to-ceilings up top.
Opening late spring 2021
acehotel.com/brooklyn
RITZ-CARLTON FARI ISLANDS, MALDIVES
We’re all about minimalism in the Maldives, ergo the Ritz-Carlton’s soon-to-be unveiled resort in the Fari Islands, a handy 45-minute speedboat transfer from Malé – ten minutes by seaplane if you’d prefer – is getting us right there. Beachfront and over-water villas with private infinity pools, seven restaurants and bars, over-water spa, default butler service… and all made damn pretty by Kerry Hill architects.
Opening summer 2021
ritzcarlton.com
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