1. RAFFLES BALI
Bali, Indonesia
Set on a hilltop overlooking the sweeping curve of Jimbaran Bay, Raffles Bali enjoys some of the best views on the island. The 32 private pool villas are all positioned to make the most of spectacular sunsets, with lush gardens and shaded daybeds for languorous lounging. Inside, rattan furniture and batik tapestries adorn the light-flooded villas, which boast hardwood floors and locally inspired furnishings, while indoor and outdoor showers, yoga mats and bespoke beach accessories encourage residents to make the most of the outdoors.
Private dinners illuminated by flickering torchlight can be arranged in the Secret Cave or the Purnama Honeymoon Bale at the water’s edge, while Rumari restaurant serves up Balinese cuisine at the highest point of the resort and Loloan Beach Bar and Grill specialises in delectable seafood in a picturesque beachfront setting. Raffles Wellbeing Butlers can make bookings for Raffles Spa and The Sanctuary, a remote hillside treatment suite, or arrange cultural experiences such as cooking classes and temple dance ceremonies, after which guests will no doubt wish to retreat to the Writers Bar for a Raffles Bali Sling while the sun slips down below the horizon.
2. NOBU HOTEL WARSAW
Warsaw, Poland
Warsaw is a city of contrasts, where a 13th-century Old Town stands in stark juxtaposition to the modern skyscrapers of the ever-expanding business district, and young chefs are reimagining traditional cuisine in stylish low-key bars and restaurants in rapidly gentrifying neighbourhoods. Situated in a pair of buildings – a 1920s Art Deco hotel and an ultra-modern new-build – on the city’s vibrant Wilcza Street, Nobu Hotel Warsaw perfectly captures this contrast.
The 117 rooms and suites are spread across the two wings, offering guests the choice between minimal, industrial design with polished concrete walls in the new wing, or a more classical feel in the original building. All are adorned with artworks from the Jankilevitsch Collection, a private collection of contemporary art based in Warsaw and Geneva. Created by Warsaw-based architects Medusa Group and long-term Nobu collaborator Studio PCH, the hotel is home to Nobu Restaurant and Café, blending the world-famous flavours of chef Nobu Matsuhisa with new dishes inspired by Polish cuisine, created by executive chef Yannick Lohou, who joins the team from Nobu Hotel Barcelona.
3. THE RITZ-CARLTON, NIKKO
Nikko, Japan
Home of Japan’s spectacular Kegon Falls, Nikko is an outdoor adventure and cultural playground, where Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines speckle the landscape and lakes and mountains provide a blank canvas for adventurous travellers. Inspired by this natural setting, The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko, brings the outdoors in, incorporating natural materials like wood and stone across its 94 rooms and suites, all of which feature outdoor balconies and engawa lounge areas from which to soak in the views of Lake Chuzenji and Mount Nantai. Set in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, guests can tap into the natural surroundings with bike rides through protected wetlands or excursions to nearby temples and shrines, or more adventurous activities such as climbing a frozen waterfall in winter. Guests who prefer a slower pace might prefer to meditate under a waterfall or join in with local cultural experiences such as learning the old art of furoshiki wrapping or watching a temple fire ceremony. The elegant spa is home to indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, fed by waters from the nearby Yumoto Onsen, as well as a range of treatments inspired by the region.
4. SUSONA BODRUM
Bodrum, Turkey
The Aegean coast is a land of myths and legends, none more alluring than that of the Susona: a mermaid who dwells beneath the turquoise waters off the coast of Turkey. This legendary creature is the namesake of Susona Bodrum, a stunning collection of 76 rooms, suites and villas fanning out from two seashell-shaped buildings on a peninsula jutting out into Torba Bay. Five jetties surrounding the peninsula are dotted with daybeds and loungers affording easy access to the crystal-clear waters. Susona Bodrum’s team of hosts will advise guests on the best spot for sunshine or sunset throughout the day and help arrange trips to local artisans such as Bodrum’s traditional leather sandal workshops or the carpet makers of nearby Etrim village. Two of the resort’s dining venues, Frankie Beach Club and Malva Restaurant, were created by Kaya Demirer, creator of the original Frankie Istanbul, while Ezi boasts panoramic views from a prized spot next to the rooftop infinity pool. Susona is the latest addition to Hiltons’ LXR Hotels & Resorts, a collection of unique luxury properties around the world.