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Hotels, restaurants and destinations worth a long way for.
From Lake Como’s glamorous shores to Miami’s revived Art Deco icons, these exciting new hotels promise standout design, destination dining and unforgettable stays. Here are ten openings worth keeping on your radar in 2026.
The Emory is the ultra-luxury sister to The Berkeley, and it brings all-suite living to Knightsbridge, with designer interiors, indulgent wellness, standout dining and discreetly attentive service. It’s a London stay that makes leaving your suite very difficult.
From a Beirut townhouse dream to a global fine-dining benchmark, Em Sherif marries homestyle Lebanese hospitality, elevated Levantine flavours and gallery-worthy design, transforming restaurants into cultural ambassadors across the world.
Founded by Egyptian businessman Karim El Chiaty, Anandes announces itself with a whisper rather than a fanfare. Set into a Chora hillside, it is close enough to wander into Mykonos Town, far enough for serenity.
For decades, expedition cruising meant rugged ships and spartan comforts at the ends of the Earth. Now a new wave of purpose-built, eco-conscious vessels is redefining polar travel, led by Ponant’s trailblazing hybrid icebreaker, Le Commandant Charcot.
Editor's Pick
This place in Riyadh transforms a former equestrian club into a unique all-in-one MDLBeast destination encompassing a restaurant, club, lounge, pool concept and soon a boutique hotel too, with eclectic music and diverse culinary delights throughout.
Cee elevates Beirut nights with a fiery red rooftop sanctuary where the air feels lighter, the drinks taste better, and the views speak for themselves, capturing everything rooftop bars promise: escape, glamour, and perspective.
Gathering several artists and galleries in Cyprus – including many from the Arab world – Vima (which in Greek means platform) sought to form meaningful connections between the growing local art ecosystems of this little island nation and its neighbouring countries.
Once known for bare-bones hotels in a five-star setting, Seychelles has quietly reinvented itself. On remote Platte Island, the new Waldorf Astoria proves this emerald archipelago now rivals the Maldives for immersive, guilt-free luxury.
This year is the tenth anniversary of the Peninsula Classics Best of the Best, a concours d'élégance that crowns the world's most glorious classic car, and we got to go and witness first-hand the magic of it all.
Madrid’s ever popular ‘club-restaurant has arrived in Monte-Carlo, and in the most prime spot in town. This place is a riot of wild décor, punchy flavours and late-night salsa.
Built to host dignitaries and now a 390-room hotel, the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental commands its own private white-sand beach on the Gulf, moments from the capital's fashion stores and fine dining.
At a time when conflicts over religion, majority and power seem to be exponentially rising, The Abrahamic Family House extends a radical dialogue of rapprochement between three major monotheistic religions.
Launched in November and open till the end of April, the inaugural edition of the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial has kicked off with an impressive collection of artworks and installations in an exciting celebration of creativity and culture.
Far from Turkey’s crowded resorts, the Black Sea region reveals another world: misty mountains, Ottoman towns, canyons, lava columns, and fishing ports, all wrapped in rich cuisine and living traditions that make it an unforgettable, must-visit escape.
Relocated to its original location, Istanbul Modern pairs Renzo Piano’s shimmering architecture with bold global exhibitions and rising Turkish talent, cementing itself as the city’s most vital contemporary art destination.
Revived in 1982, the Venice Simplon‑Orient‑Express now adds opulent new marble‑clad suites to its restored 1920s carriages, pairing golden‑age glamour with champagne service and fine dining on the overnight Paris‑to‑Venice journey.
With airport expansion plans and ever more attractions including world class chefs, a vibrant art scene and a brand-new Design Space, it’s easy to see why the ancient city of AlUla has become a must-see for global culture vultures.
Dubai’s latest landmark opened in February, 2024, right next to the World Trade Centre, proclaiming itself to be the city’s “first urban vertical resort.” We think it’s an architectural masterpiece.
Saudi Arabia used to be the great importer of restaurant chains but now they’re flying solo with a flood of top-class homegrown food concepts, chief among this exceptionally good burger joint.
Section-B began in 2013 as a Friday-only, pre-order venture. The founders listened to diners and refined their recipes through feedback until reaching the result now loved by everybody, opening their first Jeddah outlet in 2015.
After eight years and $1.6 billion, Atlantis, The Royal promises extravagance on an almost unimaginable scale — but does Dubai really need another Atlantis? After staying, we're convinced it does.
After years of delays and a city-wide transformation, Mandarin Oriental Doha emerged in the heart of Msheireb with understated style, exceptional dining and one of the city’s best addresses.
From Kuwait to the Dolomites, architect Sandy Attia blends cultures, sustainability, and community to create transformative spaces rooted in place, history, and landscape.
Perched above Greece’s Peloponnese, Amanzoe blends classical grandeur, breathtaking views, impeccable service, and sublime seclusion into one of Europe’s most distinctive luxury escapes.
Monaco may be tiny, but its ambitions have always been enormous, transforming gambling profits into a sophisticated luxury ecosystem where hotels, gastronomy and entertainment reign supreme.
In a city where restaurants can be yesterday’s news tomorrow, Flamingo Room has proved remarkably resilient, combining glamorous design, crowd-pleasing food and an instinct for staying deliciously relevant.
From bold stone circles to modern calligraphy, 30 international artists transform Saudi Arabian stone into striking public sculptures, celebrating cultural exchange, female talent and Riyadh’s evolving creative identity.
Once synonymous with idyllic resorts in far-flung tropical paradises, Aman has expanded into the world’s great cities. Following its successful debut in Tokyo, the brand’s latest urban retreat, Aman New York, takes luxury to extraordinary new heights.
Abu Dhabi’s hottest waterfront address has another showstopper. Joining a prestigious lineup of hospitality and dining destinations, Apple’s latest home brings architectural drama, sensory design and a fresh perspective to the island’s evolving lifestyle scene.
If you’ve been dreaming of a Disney World getaway, now’s the time to make it happen. With the parks fully open and celebrating their 50th anniversary, the magic is back in full swing. Just be sure to check into the Four Seasons Orlando, where grown-up luxury meets childhood wonder.
The second edition of Noor Riyadh transformed Saudi Arabia’s capital into a glittering gallery without walls, bringing together over 130 artists from 40 countries for an extraordinary celebration of light, memory and imagination.
The World Cup may have put Qatar on the map, but its cultural ambitions run far deeper. With 80 per cent of the world within six hours’ flight, this wealthy nation is transforming itself into a global cultural hub.
Twenty-five years ago, The Mercer put SoHo on the luxury hotel map. Today, its understated design, confident minimalism and personalised service continue to attract those who value timeless sophistication, privacy and quiet exclusivity.
Founded in 1973, Baros helped define the Maldivian luxury escape with its thatched-roof villas, lush tropical greenery and extraordinary house reef. Fifty years on, this understated island pioneer continues to impress, particularly for its food and diving.
Built in the artist’s hometown and designed by architect Jawdat Arnouk, Mohtaraf Anachar Basbous (MAB), which translates as ‘workshop’ rather than ‘museum,’ opened last September, gathering around 50 artworks across Basbous’ career, from his first at the age of 10 to the very late…
Forget picture-perfect Instagram moments. The Nautilus offers something far more valuable: a private Maldivian escape where time slows, rules disappear and authentic experiences—from dolphin cruises to barefoot dinners—become the memories that truly last.
Eschewing Dubai’s familiar excess, The Dubai Edition offers a quieter, cooler vision of luxury. Behind its understated façade lies a richly layered hotel where design, atmosphere and hospitality come together with effortless confidence.
Step inside Palm Beach’s Colony Hotel and enter a world of flamboyant flamingos, martini-sipping monkeys and jewel-collared panthers, brought vividly to life by de Gournay in one unforgettable wallpaper design.
At The Woodward, discretion is the ultimate luxury. Geneva’s first all-suite five-star hotel delivers exceptional service, sumptuous spaces and serious culinary pedigree, creating an experience that feels less like a hotel than an extraordinarily well-appointed home.
With its sun-drenched cliffs, glamorous piazzetta and timeless Mediterranean allure, Capri has long attracted discerning travellers. Now, a fresh chapter is taking shape, promising a refined new reason to return to this storied island.
A new chapter in destination hospitality is emerging in one of Saudi Arabia’s most extraordinary settings, promising an immersive escape where architecture, landscape, and cultural heritage converge to create an unforgettable experience.
From provocative installations to extraordinary hospitality, this unconventional Las Vegas hideaway transforms the hotel suite into an immersive art experience, blurring the boundaries between luxury, spectacle and the collector’s private world.
In Le Brassus, Audemars Piguet’s Musée Atelier brings watchmaking history to life through a striking spiral by BIG, blending rare timepieces, living craftsmanship, architecture and innovation into an immersive celebration of the brand’s heritage.
Step inside ME Dubai, where every stay feels like entering another dimension. From Zaha Hadid’s unmistakable curves to indulgent suites, inventive dining and vibrant nightlife, this is Dubai hospitality at its most futuristic and unexpected.
What happens when luxury retreats are designed around nature rather than against it? In Norway, one ambitious cabin development is rethinking the traditional getaway, prioritising minimal intervention, communal ownership and thoughtful craftsmanship.
How do you build a landmark that seems to vanish into the desert? Discover the extraordinary vision, engineering challenges and creative ingenuity behind Maraya, Saudi Arabia’s dazzling celebration of architecture and nature.
Dubai’s Smartpreneur Competition has wrapped up its fifth edition, attracting 23 per cent more applications than the previous cycle. With 82 per cent of ideas originating locally, the figures highlight the UAE’s growing start-up ecosystem.
Beirut has endured war, destruction and rebirth, yet the 2020 explosion left wounds unlike any before. Through grief, memory and resilience, its people continue to mourn, rebuild and hope.
From Singapore to Paris, the world’s most prestigious hotels are getting spectacular makeovers. Discover the multimillion-dollar transformations restoring legendary properties to their former glory, with lavish suites, world-class dining and extraordinary new experiences.
Hidden in the Hawaiian highlands, Sensei Lãna’i, Four Seasons, redefines luxury with immersive wellness, exquisite Nobu dining and extraordinary design. Discover an exclusive island sanctuary where indulgence meets transformation, and doing nothing becomes an art.
In a forgotten corner of the West Bank, a centuries-old Palestinian town is bringing its extraordinary heritage back to life. But as ancient ruins rise again, an uncertain future looms over its revival.
Once Abu Dhabi’s defensive stronghold, Qasr Al Hosn has evolved into a striking cultural landmark. Discover how bold contemporary architecture, sacred geometry and centuries-old Emirati traditions converge in this remarkable urban sanctuary.
Desert X made its international debut in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla from January 31 to March 7, 2020. But beneath the desert spectacle lay a thornier question: can art thrive under a regime accused of silencing dissent?
Nestled in the Bavarian Alps, Schloss Elmau blends extraordinary luxury, world-class wellness and cultural sophistication. Rebuilt after a devastating fire, this secluded retreat offers breathtaking scenery, exceptional dining and unforgettable experiences for all generations.
Forget everything you know about Parisian luxury hotels. At Brach Paris, Philippe Starck blends African art, industrial edge and playful surprises to create an unconventional escape that challenges expectations and redefines the art of hospitality.
From the Shard to the Burj Khalifa, a tour of the rooftop and tower restaurants where vertiginous panoramas justify eye-watering tasting menus, and a bird's-eye view trumps everything else on the plate.
Checking into the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park feels like one of those moments when you should count your lucky stars. The hotel, which is located on the south side of Hyde Park, at 66 Knightsbridge, is an imposing Edwardian-era structure with a pedigree to match, not to mention a tumult…
With its great views inside and out, Perianth Hotel is just the place you’d want to stay in order to gain a fresh perspective on Athens, a city in full revival mode. Smack-dab in the heart of Agia Irini, one of Athens’ liveliest squares, is a low-slung 1930s building that houses Periant…
Privacy and natural beauty merge at Al Faya Lodge & Spa, an eco-retreat in Sharjah’s historic Mleiha desert designed by Anarchitect. Drive down the UAE’s Al Batayeh-Al Faya Road fast enough and you might miss the five-room Al Faya Lodge & Spa, set at the foot of Sharjah’s Mount …
Why do so many of the world’s ultra high net worth individuals continue to visit Clinique La Prairie? Because it’s quite simply one of most sophisticated and advanced medical centres in the world. We have become addicted to the concept of buying stuff. Indeed, consumerism isn’t just uni…
Supported since its inception by Official Bespoke and now in its fifth year, Haute Grandeur has become a benchmark in the luxury hospitality industry, offering awards based on an unbiased algorithm of paid customer reviews. When Haute Grandeur began in 2014, it had an uphill task of est…
Following last year’s first edition of the music and culture festival at the Mada’in Saleh, Saudi Arabia is now betting big on cultural tourism with a handful of luxury hotels and a Jean Nouvel-designed resort due to emerge in the Al-Ula governorate. Pick any major publication fro…
Since opening in 2003, Noma has pushed into uncharted culinary territory. Founded by a young René Redzepi, the Copenhagen restaurant won two Michelin stars, was repeatedly crowned the world's best and made its chef a star.
Philippe Jabre’s imposing art collection will soon have a new home in the mountains above Beirut. Gaby Daher and Jean-Louis Mainguy, art dealer and interior architect, are remodelling Jabre’s summer residence, a 19th century traditional Lebanese house, and adjacent bell foundry in Beit …
Located in Stockholm’s archipelago, 30 minutes from the city centre, Yasuragi is not something you’d expect to find in Sweden. That’s because it’s essentially a Japanese ryokan (inn), which was even originally designed (albeit as conference centre) in 1970 by a Japanese architect, Yoji …
Can one man’s dump ever be another one’s Eden? Apparently so. The Wasit Natural Reserve Visitor Centre in Sharjah boasts eco-friendly credentials that make it the ultimate haven for migratory birds. The UAE emirate of Sharjah is showing the way when it comes to eco-friendly projec…
Launched in 2015, the Four Seasons Private Jet Experience pairs the thrill of around-the-world travel with the hotelier's renowned luxury. For a considerable sum, guests enjoy a curated three-week adventure spanning multiple countries and continents.
Opened this past May, Cheetah Plains is the newest addition to the Sabi Sabi Game Reserve that borders Kruger National Park. Remarkably, it takes the safari to a whole new level of sophistication with a set up that comprises three unconventionally modern, even vaguely brutalist, exclusi…
Paris’ first digital art museum, the Atelier des Lumières, opened last year in a disused 19th century foundry in the city’s 11th arrondissement. And, following sold-out shows on Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and the history of the Vienna Secession, they’ve outdone themselves this yea…
The late Iraqi-British architect's final airport opened in September at a cost of eleven billion dollars, claiming the title of world's largest and arguably its most advanced and greenest.
Amid wildfires, conflict and hardship, the human spirit clings instinctively to optimism. This piece explores how art and playfulness offer a vital antidote, helping us take in the chaos while still finding room for joy.
You might expect robots in lieu of bellboys and motion–activated air conditioning in a high-tech hotel, but Hotel Ottilia has opted to invest in cleanliness, instead. The hotel opened early this year and has partnered with Danish company ACT.Global in order to use its proprietary ACT Cl…
With more than thirty galleries serving fewer than three million residents, Kuwait appears to boast a thriving art scene. Dig deeper, however, and questions arise about how much of that work is truly homegrown.
As the Beirut Institute Summit convenes in Abu Dhabi, a moderator and five designers debate the circular economy, craft heritage and whether the Arab world can finally be seen as a creator rather than merely a buyer.
Having retained his coveted Michelin star for a second consecutive year, the forty-four-year-old chef has joined the world's culinary elite, a remarkable feat for a Lebanese immigrant who arrived in Paris during the Civil War.
It took a few confused U-turns before we finally pinpointed the small road leading to Beit Al Batroun, a quaint property in the hills of northern Lebanon. Barely visible from the main thoroughfare, it turns sharply downwards as if on the side of a precipice that might lead to a much lon…
The Italian architect behind Milan's celebrated Bosco Verticale is now bringing his greenery-clad vision to Egypt's New Administrative Capital, building three structures that promise to transform the architectural essence of the region.
The Four Seasons Hotel Beirut has a new rooftop playground. The best part is it’s open year round, so you can keep that summer feeling going even when the clouds roll in. Just because autumn is rolling in doesn’t mean you have to concede summer’s over. The pool, bar and lounge ato…
A weekend at the Raffles-run palace hotel off the Champs-Elysees, where Starck's whimsical mirrored interiors, an art concierge and Nobu's only Paris outpost combine to lift the spirits.
Qatar is readying for a defining moment in its young history. In just over three years, football fans worldwide will descend on its shores for the 2022 World Cup, the region's first ever.
Chaps & Co’s motto of “bringing back the old-school traditions” of the barbershop may be great and all but it’s the approachable staff, stylish décor and affordable prices that’ll have you coming back for more. A trip to the local barber has the power to be rejuvenative.…
From design to gastronomy, there are no stones left unturned at The Bodrum Edition. It is a fabulous escape by Marriott’s hippest hotel chain. Great music? Check. Great lighting? Check. Amazing 130 square-metre villa suite replete with fresh orchids, a sleek, standalone tub and a …
From Blade Runner's replicants to emotionally intelligent robot dogs, as we imagine, so we build. The Barbican's arresting AI: More Than Human surveys the creative and scientific evolution of artificial intelligence to date.
Looking to escape electronic screens, urban riff-raff and maybe even (GASP!) Wi-Fi? Then this little bed & breakfast nestled in trees overlooking the Mediterranean Sea may be just the place. It took a few confused U-turns before we finally pinpointed the small road leading to Beit A…
Arriving at Charles de Gaulle at five in the morning after twelve hours from Abu Dhabi, our writer was utterly shattered. Yet, as the saying goes, there would be no rest for the weary.
It’s hard to think of anything as simple in Dubai. You might even call the glitzy city a Babylon for our era: built to wow the world and endowed with the world’s tallest tower, man-made islands shaped like palm trees and marble everything, ideally inlaid with gold. Ferraris and Rolls Ro…
Amsterdam may be small and easy to navigate by bike, but it’s never dull. A prime example of progressive living, bottled inside a charming 17th century city, it offers art, culture and gastronomic delights in spades. For decades, Amsterdam was characterised as a drug-dealing, sex-crazed…
Let’s begin with the 46-suite MERCHANT HOUSE in Manama, which is Bahrain’s first five-star boutique hotel and just the second Middle Eastern property for Campbell Gray Hotels (after Le Gray in Beirut). Highlights include an abundance of art, an impressive library and a delig…
Discretely built into volcanic rock and surrounded by the curative waters of Iceland’s most popular tourist attraction, The Retreat at Blue Lagoon is the country’s first five-star resort and a perfect way to brave the Arctic Circle. Winter can take its toll on even the hardiest of Canad…
The V&A's sold-out Designer of Dreams exhibition celebrates Christian Dior's couture as ephemeral architecture devoted to the female form, an exquisitely curated journey across light and dark that confirms his enduring influence.
They say size doesn’t matter but in the case of Hong Kong, it’s all about going big. From the world’s largest bridge to having the most Michelin stars under one roof, this city in China is raising the bar. Change is afoot in Hong Kong. And by change, I mean an unrivalled level of creati…
Saint-Barth’s glamorous sailing regatta returns once again in April and we caught up with its chief sponsor, Peter Harrison – CEO of Richard Mille Europe, Middle East and Africa. WHEN DID RICHARD MILLE FIRST GET INVOLVED IN THE REGATTA? – This year marks the tenth anniversary of t…
It was a seminal moment for Dubai when in November 2018, the Emirate’s first non-governmental contemporary art institution opened on the Jaddaf Waterfront. Designed by London-based Serie Architects, which is led by Principal and co-founder Christopher Lee, the new Jameel Arts Centre spr…
Milan is best known as a fashion mecca but only real insiders know where to find the city’s best shopping. Here are our top picks. CORSO COMO 10 Corso Como 10 is a restaurant with pretty unexceptional food but with an exceptional choice of all the best designer clothes of t…
Most of us long ago gave up on airline meals, yet France's oldest carrier still serves food worth boarding for. A visit to its Paris catering kitchens reveals the secret.
Adrian Zecha may be well into his 80s but that hasn’t stopped the celebrated hotelier from launching a new affordable luxury chain with two properties in Vietnam, and others in the pipeline. Adrian Zecha is quite simply a legendary hotelier and someone who has built a career on doing th…
Hidden on Sheikh Zayed Road, Trèsind reimagines traditional Indian cooking through chef Himanshu Saini's inventive, flavour-led dishes, pairing progressive fusion with old-fashioned French Guéridon service.
Following three years of work on its new HQ, YSL has finally moved back to the Rive Gauche into majestic new headquarters on Rue de Bellechasse in the French capital’s 7th arrondissement. The building, which dates back to 1671 has served many purposes over the years, including as …
There are already so many awards in our region that we definitely don’t need more. But Haute Grandeur is quite different to the others. For a start, it has no judges or experts, and there’s no voting or payment system to influence the outcome. Instead Haute Grandeur relies on a computat…