Taste
5 new hideaways for your bucket list
Sometimes you discover places that instantly reshape your travel plans. Spots where architecture, cuisine, and ambiance merge into something that stays with you long after you've unpacked your suitcase. From a stately estate in the mountains of Mallorca to an iconic hideaway on a pink Bahamian beach: these are the hotels you'll […]
Sometimes you stumble upon addresses that instantly rewrite your travel plans. Places where architecture, gastronomy, and ambiance merge into something that stays with you long after you've unpacked your suitcase. From a stately estate in the mountains of Mallorca to an iconic hideaway on a pink Bahamian beach: these are the hotels you'd rather keep to yourself.
Riot of antique exuberance
A new hotel that feels like it's always been there. Such a hotel is Son Net, a 17th-century estate nestled in Mallorca's Tramuntana Mountains. Formerly the Net family's property, it was transformed into a hotel in 1998 and has now been renovated by the creator of the iconic Andalusian resort, Finca Cortesin. Each of the 31 rooms, including six cottages, is filled with heirlooms and antiques and features bold upholstery fabrics. While inside it's a riot of antique exuberance, outside it's a calming, classic finca in pinkish terracotta, with Mediterranean gardens surrounding the terrace and pool. An indoor pool is part of the 1.000-square-meter spa. The cuisine at restaurant Mar & Duix is local and classic, with dishes like "Grilled Sea Bass with Razor Clams" and "Spiced Lacquered Kid Lamb Shoulder with Garlic Mousseline and Chicory." As a sister property to Finca Cortesin, the hotel offers the highest level of service.
(Hotel)room with a view
One of the Amalfi Coast's most iconic landmarks, a 13th-century Capuchin monastery nestled in the mountains, recently opened the five-star Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel. It's the ideal location for a luxurious vacation: sunbathe by the infinity pool while being caressed by the sea breeze, work out in the outdoor gym, treat yourself to a spa treatment with Valmont skincare products, and be pampered at the fine-dining restaurant Dei Cappuccini, where chef Claudio Lanuto creates tasting menus featuring fresh seafood and vegetables from the monastery garden. The 52 suites and rooms, originally the monks' residences, almost all overlook the sea: a dazzling blue during the day, illuminated by anchored yachts at night. We highly recommend the Suite dell'Eremita. This "hermit's suite" is the perfect accommodation for a romantic getaway. Wake up to the scent of lemon and the fresh sea air, enjoy sunny days on your own terrace with a sea view, relax with a glass of prosecco in the jacuzzi.
Like sleeping in a gallery
A hidden gem in Cologne's city center, The Qvest Hotel combines neo-Gothic architecture with a museum-worthy collection of modern design, art, and photography. In a setting of high ceilings, pointed arches, detailed stonework, stained glass windows, wooden staircases, and ornate moldings, designer, owner, and art collector Michael Kaune offers his guests a gallery-like experience, with striking art and design pieces scattered throughout the interior. These include iconic pieces by luminaries such as Charles & Ray Eames, Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier. Each of the 38 rooms and suites is uniquely decorated with its own distinct character. In one of the rooms, you'll find Verner Panton's playful Living Tower, Greta Grossman lamps, and a vintage brass counter. Some suites feature six-meter-high cross vaults, while the Salon Suite stands out with a hand-painted medieval wooden ceiling dating back to 1390. The hotel features a stylish library stocked with art books and design magazines, providing a calm and inspiring space for guests to relax and explore.
The good example
Boca de Agua in Quinatana Roo, Mexico, embraces sustainability as a core value. This new boutique hotel comprises 22 treehouse-style villas nestled in the jungle overlooking a vibrant blue lagoon. The suites and walkways float on stilts and are carefully built around the mangroves to minimize their impact on the land. Of the hotel's 82 hectares, 90 percent remain untouched, and 1 hectare of damaged mangroves has been replanted. The treehouses are crafted from local FSC-certified wood, most of the furniture is made from reclaimed materials by local artisans, and the wastewater treatment system ensures that no wastewater is discharged into the lagoon. This is an act of resistance in Quintana Roo, which attracts nearly half of Mexico's international tourism, making Boca de Agua a blueprint for an alternative future.
Exclusive hideaway
In 2016, while strolling along the pink sands of Eleuthera, an island in the Bahamas, business partners Bruce Loshusan and Hans Febles discovered an abandoned boutique estate with a glamorous history. Known as The Potlatch Club during its mid-century heyday, this exclusive hideaway attracted East Coast socialites and icons such as Greta Garbo, Raymond Burr, and Paul McCartney, who honeymooned there, until it closed more than five decades ago. After seven years of intensive restoration and expansion, The Potlatch Club recently reopened under the stewardship of Loshusan and Febles. The new Potlatch features eleven suites, whitewashed cottages and villas, two outdoor pools, a spa, the original clubhouse, and the produce-focused Fig Tree Restaurant. The beach remains as pink and pristine as ever, and with new direct flights from Miami, it's more accessible than ever.
