Epic Stays 2025: 10 Incredible Hotels to Book This Year

Sunrise at Huka Lodge on New Zealand’s North Island reveals a quicksilver world. Mists off the Waikato shroud the seven-hectare parklands in a shapeshifting veil that conceals then reveals sculptural tree ferns and native pines beside the luminous blue-green waters of New Zealand’s longest river.

On arrival in Taupō, three hours by car or a 50-minute flight from Auckland, a winding driveway through English-style grounds – complete with chequered lawns and a gentle waterfall – transports guests to the main building. The two-storey pavilion anchors the 20-suite, two-cottage estate on the outskirts of Lake Taupō, one of the country’s favourite adventure playgrounds for boating, fishing and hiking.

You can indulge in all of the above as well as heli trips to the blue-chip Craggy Range vineyard and Rotorua but the lure of lodge life is such that many of us choose to stay put, submitting to spa treatments, games of tennis, croquet or pétanque, biking and hiking or simply indulging. There’s a 4500-bottle cellar to explore and a series of idyllic spaces – from hedge-walled garden rooms to fire-warmed tables on waterside decks – in which to dine on prime island produce such as sturgeon-fish caviar and Mount Cook alpine salmon.

Some cultures, including the Māori, believe rivers have spirits – a concept that’s easy to credit as you witness the changing moods of the Waikato. It’s the most restless river I’ve ever slept beside. Veteran landscape designer Suzanne Turley, who conceived the lodge grounds back in the early ’80s and has added new gardens for the spa, sauna and gym in the redesign, says the Waikato is “a real energy on the property”. The true essence of Huka.

By Kendall Hill

The 52-room Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto – the first Banyan Tree hotel in Japan – is an easy stroll to countless landmarks, including Yasaka Pagoda and Kiyomizu-dera Temple, yet inhabits its own escapist cosmos on the quiet forest edges. Designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the stay’s façade has a signature geometric expanse of interlocked timber in a contemporary riff on traditional Japanese joinery, while the entrance gate echoes the threshold of a shrine. Inside, an abstraction of bamboo hangs from a triple-height ceiling with calming rear-window views of a rock garden and forest shifting into focus as a green matcha tea is ceremoniously presented to me in the lobby lounge.

Rooms, designed by the late Yukio Hashimoto, are modern yet rooted in classic Japanese aesthetics. There are tatami floors, raised platforms, gold-accented carved wood with swathes of washi, monochrome artworks and (a highlight) that Japanese-style bath, with a medley of infusions to choose from.

One good reason to emerge from the bath is Ryozan, the onsite restaurant, which serves Japanese breakfasts and kaiseki-style dinners using seasonal local produce. Try the deep-fried taro, sliced turnip and salmon roe sushi, underpinned by an umami-infused five-year-aged Hokkaido seaweed dashi base.

By Danielle Demetriou

The strengths of Piazza della Libertà’s The Hoxton, Florence or “The Hox”, as it’s affectionately known, are in day-to-day moments – the after-work aperitivo, the mid-morning pick-me-up for visitors who have been sightseeing since 7am or the nightcap at Alassio, the onsite Italian Riviera-inspired restaurant, where the fritto misto transports guests briefly to the seaside.

Rather than focusing on bucket lists and hyper-luxury, this stay’s clear intention is to build a blended community of holiday merrymakers and neighborhood regulars, lending a convivial vibe to the communal areas. At the heart of it is a garden terrace flanked by two polar-opposite structures: a prototypical Renaissance palazzo, replete with an airy outdoor loggia, and the Branzi Building, a Postmodern complex designed by Florentine architect Andrea Branzi in the 1980s, the sleek façade of which looks like fancy Venetian blinds turned sideways. Plus, there’s a three-bedroom house for six guests available.

The “Renaissance half” of the hotel tips its hat to Tuscan tradition with touches such as marbled-paper-inspired lampshades, yet it’s anchored by a distinctly millennial-pink headboard on the king-sized bed. The Branzi Building playbook, on the other hand, is all geometric motifs and sharp, dramatic lines. Together the two structures hold 158 rooms and having the keys to one is really the only thing separating The Hox’s guests from the locals. That, of course, is by design.

By Mary Gray

Days at Kokomo Private Island, 40 minutes by plane from Fiji’s capital of Nadi, fold into each other. Between naps, guests can watch fish dart by and drink from fresh, chilled coconuts, served with a grin by a waiter on a paddleboard. Another afternoon could be given over to snorkelling the outer reef, where a marine biologist leads us through coral gardens fizzing with colour and turtles, giant clams and a disinterested reef shark.

Light, clever dishes pulled from the island’s garden and sea populate Beach Shack’s menu, including coral trout sashimi, grilled quail with thyme jus and a lemon tart so good it’s difficult to share. At Walker D’Plank, with hanging lanterns and tables perched on a deck by the water, chef Caroline Oakley decides what’s on the menu for dinner depending on the day’s catch and mood – tonight, it’s wok-fried lobster with green papaya. Tomorrow, who knows?

It’s the relaxed pace, combined with the easygoing warmth of the people, who ensure every comfort is met, that makes this stay so appealing. Kokomo isn’t about being pampered – even though you are – but about stillness, soft edges, time loosening its grip and the grounded ambience that results from natural beauty. “We could go anywhere,” says Miriam, visiting for her seventh time. “But we come here to remember how to exhale.”

By Brooke Le Poer Trench

At Rare Earth Retreats, on the lands of the Kaurna people in McLaren Vale, red earth peeks through greenery that bows under the weight of ripening fruit and a half-circle of honey-coloured hills beyond marks the far end of the valley. Wine may be the main calling card here but at this serene off-grid stay, it’s all about the sun, the rain and what lies beneath.

“Our diverse geology is what makes this region special,” says Holly Marquis, who created Rare Earth Retreats, a trio of hilltop villas a 45-minute drive from Adelaide. Reached via pedestrian-only walkways that run between rows of gnarled shiraz vines, the aptly named Stone, Clay and Slate cottages have identical floorplans and a shared aesthetic of understated luxury, yet each has its own distinctive style honouring its namesake material.

Arches frame every space, inviting guests out onto the large raised deck with a freestanding tub-with-a-view and two seats crafted from old shiraz barrels. These signal the property’s low-impact design and slow-living ethos, which incorporates reclaimed timber, thick insulating walls and an open plan to maximise airflow and reduce reliance on air-conditioning. Here, water comes from the rainwater catchment on the roof, all power is from the sun and guests are encouraged to tread softly and stay in the now – to that end, there’s no wi-fi.

Thankfully, Rare Earth’s concierge service includes a customised itinerary that spares guests the task of deciding between the Vale’s 90 cellar doors. At Vigna Bottin, you can sip your way through a range of Italian styles that thrive in the district’s Mediterranean-like climate, before visiting Alpha Box & Dice to compare rich, complex grenache from the Vale’s alluvial flood plains with the more delicate, perfumed version grown in Blewitt Springs’ ancient sand dunes.

By Alexis Buxton-Collins

Hotel Lucile, a 25-room three-storey stay inside the former church in LA’s Silver Lake neighbourhood, has charm in abundance. Like the Casetta hospitality group’s other properties, which include Malibu’s The Surfrider and Hotel Willa in Taos, New Mexico, Lucile is true to the spirit of its location. The walls are filled with works from local artists, such as Nicole Anastas and RF. Alvarez, who created original drawings and paintings inspired by the years he lived in Silver Lake. Tellingly, the great art collector Peggy Guggenheim has been chosen as the Lucile’s muse.

Inside what was once the church’s chapel is the Art Deco-style bar, with a pink marble counter, the original stained-glass windows and a handpainted mural of nearby Eaton Canyon by artist Erin Meyers. In the same space, the 100-seat restaurant, Sous Sous, is cavernous yet welcoming, with a menu that marries the South of France and the American South – order the fresh oysters, along with zucchini carpaccio and bouillabaisse for two.

The property’s prime location means it’s a short walk to Taiwanese eatery Pine & Crane, where the Dan Dan noodles topped with crushed peanuts and the spicy mapo tofu are must-tries. Head out to discover the city’s “secret stairs” that once allowed residents to descend from their homes in the hills to catch the streetcar (before cars took over). Today, these inconspicuous steps give you a peek into backyards as well as vibrant Evelyn Leigh murals and an invitation to explore – the higher you go, the better the views.

Back at Hotel Lucile, the rooftop bar, open to both locals and guests, offers its own sunset vistas of riotous pinks, oranges and deep blue in all directions. Sip a Negroni or glass of pinot noir and gaze across the metropolis to the Hollywood Sign.

By Tanvi Chheda

What do you call a hotel without a lobby? This is a question you might ask after arriving at The Emory, London’s first all-suites stay. There are no uniformed door attendants here, just a discreet, hush-hush entrance at the side of sister property The Berkeley in Belgravia, where you’ll be dropped by the complimentary chauffeur from the airport, train station or your previous accommodation.

Walk down a copper-hued corridor lined with Damien Hirst floral paintings – the rumour is one guest tried to buy the lot for their own collection – and you’ll reach the lifts that will carry you to your suite. Or rather, your apartment. The final building conceived by legendary British-Italian architect, the late Richard Rogers, The Emory has 61 of the city’s most spacious hotel rooms, with every two floors of the property the vision of a different world-class interior designer. The combination of sheer size and magazine-worthy décor makes each suite feel like your dream residence.

Then there’s the wellness space. You’ve never seen a hotel gym quite like Surrenne, a members-only health club geared towards wellness and longevity, which is available to guests and spread over four ultra-modern basement floors. There’s a Tracy Anderson Studio (where you can do the workout beloved of Gwyneth Paltrow), cool off in the futuristic ice shower and FaceGym treatments.

The rest of the hotel bears the interior stylings of Alexandra Champalimaud, Patricia Urquiola and Pierre-Yves Rochon. This cocktail of approaches is organised around high-end touches (Frette sheets and Dyson hair dryers, for instance) and a harmonious colour palette, with burnished metallics on the ground floor and warm pastels and neutrals in the suites. It could be overwhelming but like the stellar shearling slippers in the enormous walk-in dressing rooms, it underscores the elevated ease that sets The Emory apart. With suites like these, who needs a lobby?

By Hannah-Rose Yee

Wedged between avant-garde theatre Le Trianon and the Élysée Montmartre, a cult venue that’s hosted David Bowie, The Ramones and Björk, Paris’ Elysée Montmartre Hôtel is one such place. The city may be frenetic but this chic sanctuary in the 18th arrondissement feels entirely removed.

There’s no big bold sign hanging above the door or busy pavement terrace outside the understated 14-room, four-suite property from co-owners Abel Nahmias, a film producer, and architect-entrepreneur Julien Labrousse. Instead, arched wooden-framed glass doors welcome me into a serene, modern aesthetic inspired by the wabi-sabi principles of Japanese design and created by Labrousse and his wife, interior designer Elsa Kikoïne.

Handcrafted custom-made furniture made from eucalyptus wood features in the open communal space and lobby, producing an atmosphere of stillness that’s broken by the occasional clink of porcelain behind the breakfast bar. Here, a buffet of boulangerie-fresh croissants, crusty bread, eggs, charcuterie, freshly squeezed juices and coffee is laid out each morning. 

While its location is one of the property’s many high points (“You can walk everywhere – Montmartre in three minutes and Pigalle is just as close,” says Sinead, a guest from Manchester), it’s the unexpected that impresses. From the wood-decked passage on the upper floors that takes you to a hidden way into Le Trianon to the tiny retro cinema stocked with rare laser discs... all of it’s a compelling invitation to discover one of Paris’s best-kept secrets.

By Rooksana Hossenally

The vibe at Lord Howe Island’s Island House, a private lodge fringed by native kentia palms just two hours by plane from Sydney, is shoes-off relaxed but with maximum creature comforts. Think complimentary snacks – blocks of Tony’s Chocolonely, Divine Addictions Trail Mix from Tasmania – and sleek appliances, including a fondue maker, should the need arise. This makes holiday cooking a pleasure. Every morning guests can make coffee on a La Pavoni espresso machine and have toast with avocado and a handful of bursting cherry tomatoes from The Nursery, the Maxwells’ sister business, which grows produce for the lodge and their Lord Howe Island Brewery, where pilsner is infused with the local herbaceous bully bush. In the evenings, guests are in the capable hands of private chef Kimie, who whips up a feast of chargrilled beef and miso eggplant one night, with an entrée of freshly caught rainbow runner sashimi.

Whatever adventure you choose, it’s all so… easy. At the calm and protected Ned’s Beach, Anna, Island House’s cheerful manager, sets up towels, an umbrella, an esky full of cold drinks, sunscreen, snorkelling mask, flippers, a speaker, a GoPro and even a book on the local marine life.

By Hannah-Rose Yee

The hypnotic sound of a conch horn, long used to herald grand voyages in the western Pacific nation of Palau, resonates as I board the Four Seasons Explorer. Surrounded by the World Heritage-listed Rock Islands – a jewel box of some 400 jungle-cloaked limestone islets rising from a palette of tropical blues – the arrival by speedboat from Palau’s central hub of Koror could be lifted from a James Bond film. 

The 39-metre Explorer catamaran offers a maximum of 22 guests a complete immersion in the region and most are eager to explore the reefs and World War II wrecks that attract manta rays, turtles and reef sharks, with the full-board rates inclusive of three daily dives and snorkelling sessions. “The reefs here are so healthy,” says dive guide Hassan Ali.

Kayak beneath surreal rock formations or slather yourself in mineral-rich white limestone mud at the Milky Way, a cyan lagoon known locally for its therapeutic goodness. The activities schedule changes every day and also includes opportunities to find out about the nation’s rich history and culture and see waterfalls in lush rainforests with guides on the mainland.

But there’s no pressure to participate if you’d rather relax. Sun-lit State Room – one of 10 on the main deck – provides an ever-changing tropical vista from bed, while the single Explorer Suite upstairs pushes the boundaries of understated luxury with its private sundeck and panoramic views. It shares the upper deck with an indoor/outdoor dining area where multi-course feasts feature locally caught reef fish in dishes inspired by the Pacific, Asia and the West (sashimi one night, surf and turf the next), while the top deck doubles as an alfresco spa and yoga space.

By Sarah Reid

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