Top-of-the-line methods to immerse your self in historical past is to actually sleep in it. Afar’s newest installment of Motels We Love focuses on accommodations world wide that provide friends a residing piece of a spot’s historical past, along with guaranteeing evening’s sleep. From a ranch with log cabins and a repurposed seminary constructing to an 18th-century château, this choice of the world’s high 16 historic accommodations will take you again in time.
The Beverly Hills Resort
- Neighborhood: Beverly Crest, Beverly Hills
- Why we find it irresistible: Previous-school Hollywood glamour
- Loyalty program: Dorchester Assortment Diamond Membership
- From $955
- Ebook now
When the long-lasting Beverly Hills Resort first opened for enterprise in 1912, Beverly Hills was a suburb of Los Angeles, and the lodge supplied a spot for folks to remain when taking a look at parcels of land to dwell on within the space. However as the town of Beverly Hills developed, the lodge—nicknamed the Pink Palace—grew to become a perennial favourite among the many Hollywood set starting from Golden Age stars like Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe to modern-day celebrities just like the Kardashians, Saweetie, and Mark Wahlberg. At the moment the lodge is run by the worldwide luxurious lodge group Dorchester Assortment, and the well-known cursive signal, whose font was created by architect Paul Revere Williams, one of many few Black architects on the time in L.A., nonetheless greets friends upon arrival. See our full listing of high accommodations in Los Angeles.—Mae Hamilton
The Carlyle, a Rosewood Resort
- Neighborhood: Higher East Facet
- Why we find it irresistible: An everlasting NYC icon with sought-after nightlife
- From $1,495
- Ebook now
This Higher East Facet legend opened its doorways in 1930 and, since then, has supplied big-city lodging to a legion of luminaries, from John F. Kennedy and Ingrid Bergman to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The lodge‘s famed restaurant Café Carlyle is the place a lot of the motion—and long-standing historical past—exists, having persistently hosted high expertise like Woody Allen, Alan Cumming, and Rita Wilson since opening in 1955.
The property’s famed Bemelmans Bar is one other favourite, particularly for nightly dwell jazz, masterful cocktails, and, throughout the holidays, a Madeline tea (impressed by Madeline creator Ludwig Bemelmans, who was commissioned in 1947 for the bar’s iconic large-scale murals). Extra R&R is offered on the lodge’s Sisley-Paris Spa, an city retreat providing an array of decadent facial and physique remedies. As soon as again of their rooms, usually with postcard-worthy views of Central Park, friends can luxuriate within the interiors designed by Alexandra Champalimaud, many with artwork deco thrives, deep soaking tubs, and wall murals depicting metropolis life. Learn our full listing of high accommodations in New York Metropolis.
Chable Yucatán
- Location: Yucatán, Mexico
- Why we find it irresistible: A wellness centered retreat on a former sisal plantation within the Yucatan
- From $791
- Loyalty program: Leaders Membership (Main Motels of the World)
- Ebook now
Set deep within the Yucatan jungle, Chablé is constructed round a Seventeenth-century sisal plantation. Whereas a lot of the glass-fronted suites are new additions, the bones of the historic buildings, comparable to crumbling stone archways and a superbly restored hacienda, are scattered across the property. There’s no higher place to get pleasure from a margarita than on the terrace of this historic constructing, the place followers whiz above. The spa can also be tied to historical past and is centered round a cenote, a sinkhole surrounded by rocks that was utilized by the Mayans. At the moment, friends can go for remedies facilitated by Mayan healers and wellness masters utilizing conventional methods and native crops comparable to chaya.
Château de Théoule
- Location: Théoule-sur-Mer, France
- Why we find it irresistible: A Seventeenth-century cleaning soap manufacturing unit turned luxurious lodge with an alluring French Riviera location
- From $936
- Ebook now
From the skin, you may assume Château de Théoule is a fortress due to the constructing’s castle-like turrets (it’s not). However that doesn’t make it any much less historic—set in a former cleaning soap manufacturing unit relationship again to the 1600s, the property, which has undergone many iterations, was lately changed into a lodge with marine-inspired rooms in shades of turquoise and pearl, overlooking the Bay of Cannes. Set alongside the ocean on the French Riviera, a brief journey from sizzling spots comparable to St. Paul de Vence and Cannes, the property’s location can also be spot on.
Copacabana Palace, a Belmond Resort
- Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Why we find it irresistible: An everlasting legend subsequent to Copacabana Seaside
- Loyalty program: Belmond Bellini Membership
- From $590
- Ebook now
Set immediately throughout from Rio de Janeiro’s famed Copacabana Seaside, wedged between Ipanema Seaside and Sugarloaf Mountain, the Copacabana Palace, a Belmond Resort, has been drawing friends with its unparalleled location, superlative service, and legendary Carnival events since 1923. The constructing itself is a marvel: a gleaming white artwork deco construction with 243 visitor rooms, designed by French architect Joseph Gire. Through the years, it’s welcomed such high-profile friends as Brigitte Bardot, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nat King Cole. And 100 years later, this beachfront legend nonetheless exudes glamour: Seaside-facing rooms have French doorways opening onto balconies, and a picturesque turquoise pool is fringed with solar beds.
Domaine de Primard
- Location: Guainville, France
- Why we find it irresistible: A small château lodge within the French countryside.
- Loyalty program: All the time Be Anticipated (Relais & Châteaux)
- From $288
- Ebook now
Upon seeing this 18th-century château, set on a 100-acre property with each wild and manicured gardens, you could surprise why Catherine Deneuve ever offered it. (The story goes that it was just too huge.) Now owned by a French couple (founders of Domaine De Fontanille, which has quite a few accommodations), the property has been fastidiously restored with 39 visitor rooms; some have duck egg blue paneled partitions and French home windows. The couple additionally added up to date parts: a Susanne Kaufman spa set in a barn and a one-Michelin star restaurant, Les Chemins, which serves seasonal veggie-forward plates in a glass-encased room overlooking the backyard. Learn Afar’s full listing of accommodations which might be a lot cheaper than you assume.
Galle Face Resort, Sri Lanka
- Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Why we find it irresistible: A colonnaded icon in Colombo
- From $90
- Ebook now
In 2015, the Galle Face Resort, situated on the island’s west coast, underwent an entire restoration of its North Wing, which included 72 rooms and suites and outstanding public areas, such because the Sea Spray restaurant, and a brand new L’Occitane spa. Study extra concerning the property’s historical past with new Heritage Excursions, which take friends on a guided stroll via the lodge’s on-site museum—from Prince Philip’s first private automotive to a cannonball that hit the lodge in 1845. The tour additionally consists of behind-the-scene seems at areas unavailable to the general public—such because the workplace the place Arthur C. Clarke completed 3001: The Remaining Odyssey.—Nicoletta Richardson
Gleneagles
- Location: Auchterarder, Scotland
- Why we find it irresistible: A Scottish resort worthy of royalty
- Loyalty program: Leaders Membership (Main Motels of the World)
- From $541
- Ebook now
Should you had been to think about a quintessential Scottish nation lodge, Gleneagles would most likely be it. Set in a stately constructing that dates again to 1923 on a good-looking property, Gleneagles is a playground for adults. There’s a golf course, taking pictures vary, spa, and a bunch of eating places the place you possibly can get pleasure from every part from scones and Earl Gray tea to whisky and smoked salmon. Inside, the inside is all wooden paneling, fireplaces, velvet tuffets, and tartan—the sorts of stuff you’d count on Kate and Will to approve of. Oh, wait: they’ve.
Imperial Resort
- Location: Tokyo, Japan
- Why we find it irresistible: A storied lodge with severe architectural pedigree
- Loyalty program: Leaders Membership (Main Motels of the World)
- From $343
- Ebook now
With a historical past that dates again to 1883, the Imperial Resort in Ginza is a Tokyo landmark, having hosted such outstanding friends as Winston Churchill and Harold Wilson. First designed by Yuzuru Watanabe, the lodge was redesigned by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1923 after a devastating hearth the 12 months earlier than. In 1968, the principle foyer was dismantled and reconstructed in a unique prefecture of the town. At the moment, the Imperial is a gleaming 659-room lodge, however parts of the unique lodge nonetheless exist, notably within the Previous Imperial bar adorned with murals and terra-cotta tiles from the Lloyd Wright design.
La Mamounia
- Location: Marrakech, Morocco
- Why we find it irresistible: A century-old lodge with historic particulars and lovely grounds
- Loyalty program: Leaders Membership (Main Motels of the World)
- From $600
- Ebook now
Having first opened its doorways in 1923, La Mamounia has been internet hosting A-list friends (from Charlie Chaplin and Francis Ford Coppola to Nelson Mandela) for greater than 100 years. The property started within the 18th century as an orchard gifted by Sultan Mohammed Ben Abdallah to his son. Finally it grew to become a lodge designed by French architects Henri Prost and Antoine Marchisio. The 209-room lodge has undergone quite a few new iterations and design overhauls; most lately it was given a refresh by Jouin and Manku, who put in an impressive chandelier to have fun 100 years. Regardless of quite a few renovations, elements of the historic inside stay unchanged: Berber rugs, artwork deco furnishings, sculpted plaster archways, hand-cut mosaic tiles, and marble flooring abound.
Lone Mountain Ranch
- Location: Massive Sky, Montana
- Why we find it irresistible: a Thirties ranch with charming Americana vibes
- From $509
- Ebook now
The Thirties Lone Mountain Ranch consists of 25 log cabins on an previous mountainside ranch in Montana. That is Americana at its greatest: Whereas the cabins had been renovated in 2016, they nonetheless really feel old-timey with wood-burning fireplaces, file gamers, and massive beds with wood frames. Eating experiences listed here are a spotlight: Some begin with sleigh rides taking friends to the lodge’s distant rustic cabin for pot pie and dwell music. On the most important Horn & Cantle Restaurant, the place diners get pleasure from soups and salads, there are moose heads and leather-based chairs galore. Upstairs is an unlikely new addition: Auric Room, a glossy members-only supper membership serving caviar and champagne.
Peninsula Hong Kong
- Location: Hong Kong
- Why we find it irresistible: Town’s undisputed grande dame with a number of the metropolis’s greatest service
- From $590
- Ebook now
Opened in 1928 by Asia’s oldest lodge model, the Peninsula Hong Kong is likely one of the metropolis’s most historic properties. It’s situated on the Kowloon Peninsula, simply throughout Victoria Harbour from Hong Kong Island. Initially designed as an opulent lodging for passengers touring on the adjoining Kowloon–Canton railway, the Peninsula Hong Kong has lengthy been a gathering spot for the elite, socialite, and tycoon, the place distinguished friends crossed the harbor to socialize, get pleasure from afternoon tea, and partake in tea dances on the iconic foyer. Over the previous 96 years, the Peninsula Hong Kong has been a magnet for worldwide celebrities and dignitaries.
In 1994, a 30-story tower practically doubled its lodging, in addition to including retailers, a spa, and health heart, an aviation lounge, twin rooftop helipads, and Felix—the lodge’s Twenty eighth-floor fine-dining restaurant, designed by Philippe Starck. All visitor rooms and suites had been renovated in 2013 with creamy colours, polished wooden, and leather-based. New high-tech extras embody a bedside management panel permitting friends to regulate the room’s mild, sound, and temperature with out getting out from underneath the covers. At the moment, the lodge is glossy and fashionable, however historic relics evoke the glory days that established the Peninsula Hong Kong because the “grande dame of the Far East.”
Portrait Milano
- Location: Milan, Italy
- Why we find it irresistible: One of many world’s oldest seminaries is now a luxurious lodge by the Ferragamo Group
- Loyalty program: Leaders Membership (Main Motels of the World)
- From $1,160
- Ebook now
Wander via the doorway of Portrait Milano within the coronary heart of the town and also you’ll be shocked to encounter an enormous previous piazza that when belonged to one of many oldest seminaries on this planet. At the moment it homes the 73-room lodge, which belongs to the Ferragamo Group. Historic particulars are in all places, from the columns within the sq. to arched ceilings and the dramatic sculptural entrance. In distinction, the rooms are all up to date basic Italian design with oversize marble baths, shiny wooden paneling, and splashes of purple and inexperienced. Learn Afar’s full overview of the Portrait Milano.
Raffles Resort Singapore
- Neighborhood: Seaside Street
- Why we find it irresistible: A reborn iconic lodge that you can spend a whole weekend in
- Loyalty program: Accor Stay Limitless
- From $1,060
- Ebook now
The resplendent Raffles Resort reopened in late 2019 to nice fanfare after two years of restoration. Initially inbuilt 1887 as a 10-room lodge, it now options 115 suites with oriental carpets and teak flooring to enhance four-poster beds and colourful Peranakan-tiled bogs. An in-room pill controls every part from the temper lighting to calling your butler for a glass of bubbly. All have a non-public veranda to get pleasure from balmy evenings outdoors.
The constructing was declared a nationwide monument in 1987, so the facade has modified little, however the lodge’s food and drinks ideas have been revamped with a concentrate on marquee restaurant collaborations with the likes of Jereme Leung (yi) and Hawaiian-born Jordan Keao (Butcher’s Block). Not forgetting Singapore’s wealthy meals tradition, the lodge affords a self-guided Raffles Singapore Hawker Meals Path video hosted by hawker champion and Makansutra founder KF Seetoh. Raffles additionally affords an unique non-public tour of the Intan, a house museum crammed with greater than 1,500 objects from Peranakan tradition.
The well-known Singapore Sling continues to be a draw on the evocative Nineteen Twenties Malayan-style Lengthy Bar and its peanut shell–lined flooring. The long-lasting drink now has sustainable twist: The lodge crops one native tree within the Kalimantan or Sumatran rainforest for each 25 Singapore Slings ordered. Learn our full listing of high accommodations in Singapore.—Charlene Fang
Ritz Paris
- Location: Paris, France
- Why we find it irresistible: Probably the most well-known lodge within the Metropolis of Mild solely acquired higher with age
- Loyalty program: Leaders Membership (Main Motels of the World)
- From $2,290
- Ebook now
Following an intensive renovation that took greater than three years, the long-lasting 1898 Ritz Paris reopened in June 2016 with all of the allure and patina that such notable friends as Coco Chanel and F. Scott Fitzgerald got here to know nicely. Architect Thierry W. Despont has up to date the interiors with Twenty first-century touches comparable to retractable roofs and heated flooring, whereas preserving the unique empire type and high-quality wooden paneling. Longtime friends will really feel at house within the unique L’Espadon restaurant and Bar Hemingway, whereas the well-known École Ritz Escoffier affords a state-of-the-art culinary program that can assist gourmands unlock the secrets and techniques of French cooking.—Nicoletta Richardson
The Watergate Resort, Washington, D.C.
- Location: Washington, D.C.
- Why we find it irresistible: The positioning of some juicy U.S. historical past—with an attractive rooftop bar
- Loyalty program: I Favor (Prefered Motels & Resorts)
- From $279
- Ebook now
Reopened in Might 2016 after a multi-million-dollar renovation, the Watergate Resort is embracing its historic function within the Nixon scandal and preserving the 336-room lodge’s unique midcentury look. Company can attempt French American delicacies on the Kingbird and sip on top-notch whiskey on the Subsequent Whisky Bar. Don’t miss the rooftop lounge, Prime of the Gate, which affords 360-degree views of the Capitol, the Washington Monument, and the Potomac River.—Nicoletta Richardson
This story initially printed in April 2016. It was refreshed with new reporting in December 2024.
