Hot hotels for this summer and beyond
MasseriaMoroseta
Puglia, Italy
The lowdown The traditional Italian farmhousegets a modernist makeover.
Best for Easy Italian living with seriousstyle credentials.
Italy and excellent design go together like bread and butter, so it’s no surprise that one of the hottest hotels in our travel plans this year is an exciting combination of the two. Masseria Moroseta, a little gem in the Brindisi region of Puglia, takes the concept of a typical agricultural masseria and rethinks it for today’s sensibilities.
A temple to rustic minimalism, the white, geometric architecture cuts an arresting silhouette against the reliably blue skies. Inside, interiors are a study in farmhouse chic. Wide windows looking out over open terraces flood internal spaces with light, while a smattering of design classics nod to the good taste of owner Carlo Lanzini.
Wellness buffs will delight in the spa and the outdoor pool with views over olive groves. Breakfast is a generous affair of local produce, including eggs from the farm’s own chickens, and communal dinners of home-made pasta and seafood delicacies are available on demand. Best of all, Moroseta only has six rooms so peace is all but guaranteed.
Book itHigh-season rates are from £210.
SALT of PALmAr
Mauritius
The lowdown Colourful, eclectic, over-the- top design in the Indian Ocean.
Best for An alternative to cookie-cutter island resorts.
This rainbow-painted playground is the first of a new group of establishments by Paul Jones, the founder of LUX* Resorts & Hotels. Designed in collaboration with artist Camille Walala, SALT serves as a perfect antidote to the many tropical resorts that deploy a near ubiquitous design language of over-water villas and driftwood furniture.
Interiors are nothing short of loud, witha palette of sunset yellow, royal blue and vivid orange. The hotel is the first in Mauritius to call itself an eco resort, with an ethos that promotes sustainable, green living.
White bedrooms offer a respite from the flamboyant public spaces and are the most environmentally friendly rooms on the island: beds are decked out in organic, unbleached linens, toiletries and water bottles are refillable, and you’ll even find slippers and yoga mats made from recycled rubber.
Guests can take advantage of a number of bliss-inducing activities – from beach meditation and sunrise walks to salt scrubs in the spa and tours of local town Port Louis’ street food scene.
Book itDouble rooms from £160.
AlilA YAngshuo
Guilin, China
The lowdown A converted Sixties sugar millset in magnificent countryside.
Best for Design-conscious travellers seekinga pared-back oasis.
Bypass the Great Wall, skip Beijing and head straight down to the south of China for Guangxi’s winding rivers, pagoda-dotted lakes and dramatic limestone landscape. Just outside of the ancient city of Guilin you’ll find Yangshuo, an area so picturesque it’s been a popular item on backpackers’ lists since the Eighties.
Slightly off this well-worn path is Alila Yangshuo, a new wellness retreat flanked by tree-covered peaks that straddle a curve of the Li River. The hotel’s imposing architecture comprises a series of mid-century industrial buildings, with lofty public spaces that are a minimalist’s dream
Head to the subterranean spa for a black sugar scrub, take rock climbing lessons in the hotel’s gardens and dine on southern Chinese classics in Philip Zhu’s Sugar House restaurant. Alila’s pièce de résistance, however, is a pillar-lined lap pool looking out over the spectacular mountains and valleys beyond.
Book itDouble rooms from £240.
Villa la Coste
Provence, France
The lowdown A contemporary cultural haven in the grounds of Château La Coste.
Best for World-class art displays and sublime French gastronomy.
Think of the perfect modern art museum. It would probably contain an Alexander Calder sculpture, one of Louise Bourgeois’s spiders, something by Brit art queen Tracey Emin. No doubt a luminary such as Tadao Ando would have been brought in to design a wing. And, finally, there’d be an encompassing sense of tranquillity, an ambience that would allow visitors to relax completely and embrace their surroundings.
Well, all those components come together at Villa La Coste: a new hotel built around the art collection of vineyard Château La Coste. Situated in the cypress tree-filled grounds, the villa is a dream of Zen simplicity where the art does the talking.
Guests are spoilt not only by the roster of international names on display – at what other hotel would you find an Emin hanging over the bed? – but also by the bounty of Gallic indulgences on hand.
There are spa treatments using locally harvested lavender, free tastings of La Coste’s wines and exceptional cuisine at Le Restaurant. Don’t leave without taking the estate’s art and architecture walk, almost certainly the most enchanting gallery tour you’ll ever experience.
Book itDouble rooms from £580.
Be The First To Know
The Livingetc newsletter is your shortcut to the now and the next in home design. Subscribe today to receive a stunning free 200-page book of the best homes from around the world.
The homes media brand for early adopters, Livingetc shines a spotlight on the now and the next in design, obsessively covering interior trends, color advice, stylish homeware and modern homes. Celebrating the intersection between fashion and interiors. it's the brand that makes and breaks trends and it draws on its network on leading international luminaries to bring you the very best insight and ideas.
-
5 Things You Should Never Store in Your Shed, According to Experts
It's crucial to be mindful about the objects you choose to store outdoor spaces
By Katie Baxter Published
-
What are the Most Comfortable Pillowcases? From Temperature Regulating to the Best for Your Skin
When you're looking for comfort in your pillowcases, material matters. These are the best you can buy
By Faaizah Shah Published
-
Christmas tree care – how to keep your Christmas tree alive and top tips for buying the best spruce
Follow these tips and your Christmas tree won't droop too soon...
By Jacky Parker Last updated
-
How to achieve beautiful paint finishes according to interior designer, Nicola Harding
Beautiful paint finishes transform a room and are easier than you think
By Livingetc Last updated
-
Decluttering tips from the home organisers at Maison Haven
Decluttering your home will get you ready for a fresh start
By Livingetc Last updated
-
Christmas tree recycling: what are the options?
Christmas tree recycling - 7 alternatives after 12th night
By Jacky Parker Published
-
The home bar: gorgeous glassware essentials
Home bar glassware to shake, stir and sip in style
By Jacky Parker Published
-
This architect-designed holiday home offers the perfect English country escape
Making last-minute travel plans and looking for somewhere chic and private to stay? This architect-designed home is a short drive from London, and features a heated outdoor pool with gorgeous views over the surrounding English countryside...
By Lotte Brouwer Published
-
5 beautiful 'fakation' destinations that will feel like you went abroad this summer
Staycations that could easily be mistaken for a veritable European hotspot...
By Ruth Doherty Published
-
This breathtaking Santorini hotel has just been named the best in Europe
And with those epic views and stylish interiors, it's not hard to see why
By Ruth Doherty Published