HOTEL GUIDE

Six New Design Hotels Openings That We Are Excited About

We scoured the globe to find some of the coolest design-driven hotels recently opened or opening soon

In the rolling hills of the Umbrian countryside, Vocabolo Moscatelli in Calzaro, Italy
In the rolling hills of the Umbrian countryside, Vocabolo Moscatelli in Calzaro, Italy

By Amulya Hiremath, edited by Hamzeh Alfarahneh on 10.04.22

From the unspoiled Umbrian countryside, a refashioned Art Deco building in a medieval Finnish town, to the pristine coastline east of Bali, Indonesia, and more. We scoured the globe to find some of the coolest design-driven, independently-owned hotels recently opened or that are opening soon from the Design Hotels portfolio.

PORVOO,  FINLAND 

The Art Deco façade at Runo Hotel in Porvoo, Finland
The Art Deco façade at Runo Hotel in Porvoo, Finland

Runo Hotel 

An Art Deco building refashioned into a hotel in the medieval Finnish town of Porvoo? We’re listening. Located just an hour from Helsinki, Runo Hotel, which translates to ‘poem,’ lives every bit up to its name. With neutral colors and natural materials, Finnish traditions meet modernity throughout the hotel, courtesy of Studio Joanna Laajisto’s exceptional design. Art by regional artists adds a hyper-local touch. The property also has a treasure trove worth of new and vintage furniture and ceramics by Nordic brands on sale. With a focus on sustainability and circularity, Runo Hotel is one that we cannot wait to book.

Rihkamakatu 4, 06100 Porvoo, Finland
Starting rate: $159
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LISBON, PORTUGAL

One of the 40 rooms of the Hotel Hotel in Lisbon, Portugal
One of the 40 rooms of the Hotel Hotel in Lisbon, Portugal
The beautiful façade adds a twist to the iconic Portuguese titled fronts
The beautiful façade adds a twist to the iconic Portuguese titled fronts
Hotel Hotel pool
Hotel Hotel pool

Hotel Hotel

Putting creatives first, Hotel Hotel is conceived to be a collaborative dialogue between numerous artists, designers, chefs, and wellness experts, to foster connections and create unrepeatable experiences. Hotel Hotel’s programming spans immersive dinners, meditation workshops, live music, and occasional artist residency — it’s a fresh take on creative hospitality, and we love it! Located in the trendy Príncipe Real neighborhood, the hotel boasts 40 rooms and Animal, the hotel’s in-house culinary concept. Designed by Pedrita Studio, Hotel Hotel, with its eclectic boldness, is Lisbon’s soon-to-be hotspot. 

Tv. Glória 22, 1250-118 Lisboa, Portugal
Starting rate: $291
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CALZOLARO, ITALY

Vocabolo Moscatelli is adjacent to a lush centuries-old forest
Vocabolo Moscatelli is adjacent to a lush centuries-old forest

Vocabolo Moscatelli 

In the rolling hills of the Umbrian countryside, dotted with terracotta roofs, resides Vocabolo Moscatelli. With just 12 rooms, it is the newest opening in Italy’s green heart. Adjacent to a lush centuries-old forest, the property is a reinterpretation of rich Italian history, redesigned and ready for today’s travelers. Under the creative vision of Swiss hospitality veteran Frederik Kubierschky, whose human approach — “spoiling my staff with trust so that they have the freedom to make their own decisions and follow their passions” — earns Vocabolo Moscatelli extra brownie points from us. 

Via del Refari 2 Calzolaro di, 06019 Umbertide PG, Italy
Price upon request
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LOMBOK, INDONESIA 

Sitting on an unspoiled stretch of sea is Somewhere in Lombok Indonesia
Sitting on an unspoiled stretch of sea is Somewhere in Lombok Indonesia

Somewhere  

If your idea of a perfect holiday has the words sun, sand, and sea, then Somewhere has to be on top of your wishlist. Poised on an unspoiled coast, east of Bali in Lombok, the hotel is an unrivaled natural playground and a treat to the senses. Under the direction of SW Design and Bambook Studio, the hotel’s unique architecture reflects Indonesia’s raw beauty and contemporary surf culture. Residents at Somewhere get the chance to experience the private bungalows which come with a plunge pool and sweeping views. Somewhere is where you catch your breath and those quiet thoughts. 

Opening in January 2023
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GUERRERO, MEXICO

The community-centric El Hotelito by MUSA in Guerrero, Mexico
The community-centric El Hotelito by MUSA in Guerrero, Mexico
Interiors reflect the tropical shoreline
Interiors reflect the tropical shoreline

El Hotelito by MUSA 

We love a hotel that takes from its surroundings only to give back. Located on the tropical shoreline along Guerrero’s Pacific coast, El Hotelito is a new type of community-centric hotel rooted in the pillars of conscious design and modern luxury. With only 13 rooms, it brings an exciting vegetable-forward restaurant and excels in its wellness offering with dedicated restorative programs and treatments. 

Rumbo a la playa 79, Loma Bonita, Guerrero, Mexico
Opening in January 2023
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BAY OF KOTOR,  MONTENEGRO

The courtyard at the 19th century abandoned fortress
The courtyard at the 19th century abandoned fortress
Breathtaking in every angle
Breathtaking in every angle
With only 26 rooms, Mamula Island combines the former with the contemporary
With only 26 rooms, Mamula Island combines the former with the contemporary

Mamula Island 

Not every day you wake up to history tastefully tailored for the modern day. But when you step onto Mamula Island in Montenegro, that is the experience you get. A short boat ride from Herceg Novi and the Croatian coast, Mamula Island has breathed new life into a long-abandoned 19th-century fortress built by the Austro-Hungarian general Lazar Mamula. The hotel boasts 26 rooms, a memorial gallery, a holistic spa, three restaurants, four bars, three outdoor pools, and its own beach. Designed by architecture firm MCM London, with interiors by Piotr Wisniewski, care has been taken not to disturb and distort the past but honor and preserve it. Enough said! We’re packing our bags.

Mamula Island, Herceg Novi, Montenegro
Price upon request
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