From Portofino to London, a glittering new wave of luxury hotel offerings has landed in Europe. Here, the T editors are checking in to the dreamy, five-star escapes staking their claim on Mediterranean coastlines and “one percent” postcodes in 2025. From members-only luxury on the Aegean to the Ligurian Riviera renovation that’s expanded LVMH’s high-end hotel remit, these are Europe’s brand new hotels to whisk you into holiday mode this summer.
With LVMH helming the relaunch and star interior designer Martin Brudnizki behind the aesthetics, Portofino’s most iconic hotel is heralding in a new era on the Ligurian Riviera this summer. With a multi-phase renovation spanning three off-seasons, the hotel’s new interiors fuse Brudnizki’s signature maximalism with nods to its heritage as a former 16th century Benedictine monastery. The luxury upgrade includes a plush takeover of the hotel’s common areas, guestrooms and pool, with the addition of Italy’s first Dior Spa — Dior Jardin des Rêves. And the final phase has brought with it a new crown jewel — Villa Beatrice. An exclusive, all-frills, four-suite villa that includes a private pool, butler, and terrace with a bar.
Wrapping around eighty acres of lush landscape and embedded into a cliffside, Gundari Resort is the newest five-star stay to hit the Cyclades. Marking a new era of opulence on Greece’s Folegandros, the hotel is the first luxury offering on the island. And all 27 of its gloriously-appointed suites and villas are claiming a slice of the paradise. Local architecture studio Block722 tapped into ancient Greek design principles to bring the outside in with a muted stone exterior, curved lines and natural textures. There’s also a roster of luxury amenities — from holistic wellness (think: sound baths, energy healing and meditation) to a Michelin-starred chef at the helm of hotel dining.
Housed in the former building of the city’s first luxury hotel, the Grand Evropa, W Prague is the Marriott Group’s newly minted offshoot. Recasting its former digs in the style of Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest Hotel, this is Marriott’s first expansion into the Czech Republic. Gold-embossed doors give way to kitschy interiors by architects Benoy and AvroKO’s London and local designer Chapman Taylor. Grand chandeliers, mahogany panelling and a 1920s-style speakeasy are odes to the hotel’s former splendour, while the Anderson-style surrealism continues in the 161 guest rooms and suites.
This is Call Me By Your Name filmmaker and interior designer Luca Guadagnino’s debut onto Italy’s boutique hotel scene. Transforming a 16th century Renaissance palazzo and school in the centre of Rome into a cinematic masterpiece, the hotel’s 26 reverently-appointed rooms and suites and common areas are dotted with Baroque and bespoke design features. From frescoes to ancient marble and chequerboard furnishings, and a 1940s Murano glass chandelier by 20th century glassmaker Napoleone Martinuzzi at the grand entrance. But the rooms to book are the 250 square metre Junior and Grand suites, conjoined by 11-metre high ceilings and an opulent Aula Magna (great hall).
Set to open in 2025, Six Senses new London outpost is poised to become a luxury crash pad for the jet set. With 109 carefully-appointed guest rooms and suites built within The Whiteley London, this inner-city getaway includes a spa, lobby bar and courtyard, and a 20-metre indoor swimming pool. But the five stars here come in the form of the members-only Six Senses Place — with a bar and lounge, restaurant, wellness centre and treatment rooms primed to revive holiday skin.
Claiming coastal views over the Bodrum peninsula, this boutique, adults-only escape is raising the standards for laidback luxury. Finished in a muted palette of cream and shades of green, each of the 58 rooms and suites comes with a balcony or private terrace with a view. Guests can also level up the luxury and select a room with a private or shared plunge pool. Hotel amenities include a traditional Turkish hammam, private jetty access, beach club and a cliffside pool.
