Ultimate Escapes
Small Luxury Hotels of the World has curated a series of elevated, independent properties that are destinations in their own right
The best hotels offer far more than a place to lay your head. Sophisticated design by A-list names, a powerful sense of place and unique experiences make them destinations in their own right. To meet demand for a more distinctive, immersive kind of travel, Small Luxury Hotels of the World has curated a selection of stays – from its portfolio of more than 700 independently run properties – to create the Finest Collection. Together, they show how destination hotels can take many forms.
In a brick townhouse in Stockholm’s Lärkstaden neighbourhood, Ett Hem – ‘At Home’ in Swedish – welcomes guests into a warm townhouse designed by Ilse Crawford of Studioilse. Its homeliness is the vision of Swedish owner Jeanette Mix, who converted this private residence into a boutique hotel in 2012. The domestic feel is reinforced by vintage furniture from Mix’s own collection – including Finn Juhl Pelican chairs and floor lamps by Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn – alongside soft accents of wood, cane and leather, lending the space that atmosphere of lived-in luxury. Local, seasonal produce from the hotel’s relaxed kitchen adds to the sense that you’re a house guest rather than a hotel visitor.
Dar Ahlam, a terracotta-coloured, 200-year-old former Kasbah located in Ouarzazate, the gateway to the Moroccan desert, transports guests to a fantastical dreamscape. Run by former actor Thierry Teyssier, the bold building is set in a dramatic oasis, an unforgettable scene for the most indulgent escape. Forget a formal check-in or check-out procedure, or even restaurants or menus: guests can arrive and dine whenever they wish, in ultra-private spaces under palm tree-fringed, vast star-studded skies. The outside spaces are by the great French landscape designer Louis Benech, also responsible for the restoration of Paris’ Jardin des Tuileries, and include kitchen gardens used to make the mostly plant-based dishes.
At Pimalai Resort & Spa on the tiny island of Koh Lanta, Thailand, the natural setting also defines the stay, yet in an entirely different way. Pimalai means ‘heavenly place’ in Thai, and the resort is enveloped by 100 acres of lush tropical forest, fronting 900m of sandy beach facing the Andaman Sea. The hotel’s two-storey villas are designed in a southern Thai style with hipped clay tile roofs, while five restaurants offer panoramic sea views. A treatment in the award-winning spa lulls guests into deep relaxation.
Returning to the urban retreat, Emiliano in São Paulo, Brazil, is sophisticated inside and out. The soaring glass exterior corresponds to the clean lines and Carrara marble inside, with mid-century furniture from Brazilian greats such as Sergio Rodrigues alongside contemporary pieces by the Campagna brothers. It all offers a sleek backdrop to skyscraper views of one of the world’s largest cities, with São Paulo’s leafy luxury shopping street Rua Oscar Freire right on the doorstep. The hotel’s weekend Brazilian brunches, featuring ceviche and black truffle omelettes, are equally popular with locals.
The common thread of the Finest Collection hotels is not a particular style, but the fact that each offers an experience compelling enough to inspire the trip itself.
