Three of the Hottest New Hotels to Book for Design

Condé Nast Traveler

Presented by Capital One. Every year, Condé Nast Traveler reveals its annual Hot List spotlighting the best new hotels, restaurants, and more around the world. In our final edition of 2025, we visit three new hotels worth booking for their stunning design.

Transcript

00:00I'm Sara Khan, a travel journalist and contributing editor at Condé Nast Traveler.

00:05I'm headed to three of Condé Nast Traveler's hot list hotels this year to see how thoughtful

00:10design makes for a standout trip.

00:19Come with me as I visit the Emory in London, Necawi, a Ritz-Carlton reserve in Costa Rica,

00:25and the Manor in Manhattan.

00:29My first stop is a staycation.

00:31The Manor may be only a few blocks from my apartment, but it's the ultimate escape.

00:36The slick 97-room hotel channels a fantasy of a cool, artsy Soho loft with bold design

00:42that reflects the city's cosmopolitan and global nature.

00:45When I walk into the apartment, a hidden sanctuary for hotel guests, I immediately start dreaming

00:51about a revamp of my own considerably less glamorous apartment.

00:54It's a kind of space where you notice new details with every glance.

00:59And those details all add up to this incredibly inviting experience.

01:03The combination of materials and silhouettes is totally unique and unexpected, a reflection

01:07of the kinetic vibe of the neighborhood and city itself.

01:11Architect and designer Hannes Peir threw together a riotous mix of colors, textures, and patterns

01:17that I would never have thought to put together.

01:19Somehow, everything just works.

01:22The clever touches extend to the rooms themselves, where red lacquer walls meet sculptural lighting

01:26and vibrant art.

01:28The Manor's restaurant, The Otter, has a distinctly art deco feel to it, with murals spanning the

01:34walls and food that looks like works of art.

01:36Am I actually supposed to eat the scallop crudo, or is it meant to join the modernist masterpieces

01:41on the walls?

01:42I'm not so sure.

01:45London has no shortage of beautiful boutique hotels.

01:48Next, I head across the pond to see what's new.

01:51My arrival at the discreet entrance of the Emery, London's first all-suite hotel, nestled between

01:56Vilgravia and Knightsbridge, and overlooking Hyde Park, feels like stepping into an art gallery.

02:03With sculptures and paintings from artists including Damien Hirst throughout the hotel,

02:07it pretty much is.

02:09Here the design is all about quiet luxury, thanks to the six renowned interior designers

02:15who conceptualized the suites, all of which feel like private sanctuaries.

02:19With so much love and attention going into rooms and public spaces, spas can often be overlooked

02:24in the design department, but even a minimal oasis like the Emery's longevity-focused holistic

02:30wellness club, Saren, brims with eye-catching nooks, like tranquil treatment rooms and a

02:3572-foot pool illuminated by a skylight.

02:38ABC Kitchen & Bar has quickly become a buzzy post-work hangout for the Chelsea crowd, and

02:44the interiors feature floral Damien Hirst painted over AI-generated images.

02:49The food fits right in with the space, light, bright, and imaginative.

02:54On the top floor, the vibe is different, more Jetsons meets Mad Men with circular mid-century

02:59leather swivel chairs, a rotating cigar cabinet, and epic panoramic views as the London skyline

03:05unfolds below.

03:08Next up, Necawi in Costa Rica.

03:11With design inspired by Guanacaste's old haciendas, this lush resort is a modern-day interpretation

03:16of the region's historic architecture, with an appreciative nod to the gorgeous natural environment

03:22that surrounds it.

03:23I always keep an eye out for local craftsmanship when I travel, and at Necawi, I don't have

03:27to look very far.

03:28Pieces by the area's artisans are everywhere I turn, immersing me in the visual splendor

03:34of both the Spanish and Sabanero cultures.

03:36Ritz-Carlton Reserves are places of uber-luxury, where it feels more like you're staying at your

03:41mogul friend's estate than a hotel.

03:43That is, if your friend had a funicular to carry you down to the private beach club.

03:47They're also designed to blend seamlessly into their environs, in this case, a verdant

03:52hillside perch in Costa Rica's Peninsula Papayago, overlooking the Pacific.

03:57Once again, the focus on aesthetics extends to the food and beverage at Necawi.

04:02Decadent meals are cultivated from the region's natural bounty, and teams are dedicated to

04:06chocolate, pastries, cocktails, and fresh Costa Rican coffee, some of which is roasted

04:11on site.

04:13What all of these hot list properties have in common this year is that they highlight

04:17each destination's visual tapestry in a way that evokes a true sense of place.

04:23Whether you're looking for whimsical and rustic, Soho Chic meets Art House Nouveau, or sumptuous

04:28London luxury, these properties let your eyes lead the way into an extraordinary stay.

04:34For more information on all these hotels, including what to pack, head to cntraveler.com.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended