By Eoin Higgins
25th Jan 2021
25th Jan 2021
While we’re on a seemingly permanent travel hiatus, there’s still a lot happening with hotels opening around the globe. Here are five of 2020’s hottest openings.
Reschio Estate, Perugia, above
This Italian castle, dating back to the 11th century, brims with interest and intrigue. After years of painstaking restoration, it has been transformed into a singularly unique hotel filled with wit, a little whimsy and no end of style.
A huge highlight is Reschio’s outdoor pool: a thing of natural beauty. Settled into the landscape, surrounded by mature trees and fragrant gardens, it beckons guests in for a casual dip and feels like wild swimming, as swimmers skim over the ripples to the undulating views beyond with paintbrush cypresses, glimmering olive groves and ancient vineyards, while attentive staff cater for your every whim.
Aman, New York
OPening later this year, the Crown Building – formerly the first home of Museum of Modern Art – has undergone a monumental transformation, which has seen it fully restored to its original splendour and imbued with the famously luxe spirit of the Aman family of hotels.
Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, Aman New York celebrates a philosophy of creating sanctuaries beyond commonplace notions of luxury, whilst paying homage to a building’s striking architecture and history.
Open to guests and residents, a 2,300 square metre spa occupies three storeys, with a dramatic 20 metre indoor swimming pool surrounded by fire pits and daybeds as its centrepiece.
Meanwhile, expect delectable culinary experiences, from Nama, Aman’s interpretation of Japan’s washoku dining tradition, to Arva, the convivial Italian restaurant that features outdoor seating on the Garden wraparound Terrace, overlooking Central Park.
Zentis, Osaka
With a creative constellation that includes renowned UK designer and Philippe Starck protégé Tara Bernerd, the folks behind the acclaimed Palace Hotel Tokyo, and master chef Shinya Otsuchihashi, Zentis Osaka stands out as this thriving metropolis’ first design-driven, internationally inspired boutique property.
The newly built 212-room hotel is a welcoming amalgam of raw materials defined by a natural colour palette, exposed brickwork, and timber beams.
The hotel is itself a prime draw for foodies thanks to the succulent French-meets-Japanese offerings of Chef Otsuchihashi, who has teamed up with the forces behind the one-Michelin-star Craftale in Tokyo.
A chic bar/lounge/outdoor terrace and an airy, bright gym outfitted with cross-training equipment round out this singular statement in Osaka’s hospitality scene.
Villa Copenhagen
Villa Copenhagen is home to “a new social scene in Copenhagen allowing the past, present and future to come together in an inspiring and playful ambience”.
Meawhile, the hotel’s ethos is to “live by … values of contrast, conscious luxury and happiness, determined to redefine the industry by offering experiences of beauty, knowledge and humanity at the deepest and most inspiring level.” All of which sounds awfully highfalutin’, but we get the message!
Node, Kyoto
Upon entering Node Kyoto, guests can be excused for feeling as if they’ve walked into the private home of a serious art collector.
The public spaces of this stunning 25-room boutique hotel, located in central Kyoto just a short walk from the city’s major shopping streets, features a sublimely tranquil living room and library adorned with a world-class collection of modern art.
Locally sourced farm-to-table fare makes for an inspired dining experience in an art-filled setting that becomes a popular bar and gathering spot in the evening. A sublime creative statement, Node Kyoto is a fresh new face amid the shrines, gardens, and palaces of this traditional Japanese city.
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