We’ve all been pouring over that list this weekend plotting out potential trips, but if you were hoping for more, our new hotels lineup won’t disappoint. From a Pasha’s palace in Jerusalem to a pair of design-led Brazilian boltholes, these latest additions are the perfect place to start looking further afield again…
The American Colony Hotel, Jerusalem – Israel*
Re-opening 1st June 2021
*Currently on the UK Green List – browse our quarantine-free destinations here.
A Junior Suite at The American Colony Hotel, with direct access to the hotel’s iconic courtyard (pictured below).
SLH’s first hotel in Jerusalem, The American Colony Hotel is steeped in history and a gem of Ottoman architecture. Originally a Pasha’s palace, the hotel is dispersed across four buildings and surrounded by lush gardens. Among the 94 rooms guests can choose between Junior Suites with painted wooden ceilings that open onto the hotel’s famed Courtyard, Classic Pasha rooms individually furnished in the Ottoman style and Penthouse Suites featuring spa bathrooms among others. In summer the hotel’s signature Courtyard restaurant offers an idyllic location for an alfresco meal or a place to relax under the shade of a mulberry tree. An edible garden provides herbs for the kitchen and a scented location to read a book while the Palm House garden is home to the Summer Bar with its grill-under-the-stars and cocktails. The pool, constructed from Jerusalem stone and lined with glass tiles, is open between May and October.
In winter, the focus moves indoors to The Arabesque restaurant which serves up Middle Eastern dishes complemented by local wines, Val’s Brasserie for a more informal menu of local dishes and afternoon tea by the fire, and the legendary Cellar Bar located in the building’s original dairy.
SLH Insider Tip: Take some time to browse the hotel’s selection of boutiques. Barakat Antiquarian has a large selection of antiques and carpets, the Bookshop offers a selection of locally-orientated historic, travel and holiday reads, and The American Colony Print Shop has reproductions of historic photographs from 1896 to 1940 curated by the American Colony Archive and the Jerusalem Fine Arts Prints team.
White Coast Pool Suites, Milos – Greece
Opening 10th June 2021
Named after the otherworldly white rock formations on the resort’s privately owned waterfront nature preserve, White Coast Pool Suites offers unparalleled natural beauty and architecture which emanates a feeling of luxurious simplicity. Couples looking to reconnect with nature and each other will find a complete sense of seclusion and privacy at this adults-only boutique hotel, which is also within easy driving distance of most landmarks on the ethereal island of Milos. The hotel champions cubist, minimalist design to make the most of its unique setting – the neutral tones of the suites are in harmony with their surroundings, perfected with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private infinity pool serving up an unforgettable Cycladic sunset over the Aegean Sea, topped off with the hotel’s signature custom room fragrance. At the restaurant, fresh Mediterranean food is paired with local wines, while the relaxed cocktail bar is the place to be when the sun begins to set. Beyond White Coast Pool Suites, you’re close to some of Greece’s most beautiful beaches including Sarakiniko Beach (pictured below), known for its moonlike rocks and dazzling turquoise waters.
SLH Insider Tip: Home of the famous Venus of Milos, the island itself is a living museum. From ancient theatres to catacombs, Milos offers history lovers the opportunity to see for themselves why Greece is considered the birthplace of civilisation. Milos is also known for its exceptional restaurants and tavernas – from fresh seafood to traditional island cooking, your palate will not be disappointed.
Bergwelt Grindelwald – Alpine Design Resort, Grindelwald – Switzerland
Opening 11th June 2021
Located in the heart of the Bernese Oberland spa town of Grindelwald, this sleek ski hotel is luxury at its zenith. With the Swiss Alps as its backdrop and the Fire & Ice spa taking wellness to new heights, every element stirs the senses. Bergwelt Grindelwald – Alpine Design Resort’s beautifully-crafted rooms and suites complement the awe-inspiring landscape outside, with the Luxury Rooms offering panoramic views of the north face of the Eiger mountain. For peak privacy, up to five bedrooms can be combined into spacious residences. Using Swiss wood and tactile fabrics, the resort keeps the modern design space airy yet cosy. Sustainability reigns high on the hotel’s day-to day operations – from staff clothing made out of recycled cotton and wool, a ‘no single-use plastic’ policy to green energy and reduced amounts of water and chemical use. You’ll even have bottled water drawn from the glacier to drink. Elsewhere, enjoy cocktails and conversation in The Seven Spirits bar, settle into The Other Club offering over 500 types of cigars, or indulge in international and modern gastronomy at their restaurant with an outdoor panoramic terrace.
SLH Insider Tip: For those with an adventurous spirit, Grindelwald is a year-round outdoor sports destination. The resort is located right next to the First ski area and close to Jungfrau, one of the world’s most iconic ski regions. As well as high-Alpine skiing and snowboarding, this is the place for glacier trekking, snow disk running, mountain hiking and even paragliding across the Jungfrau.
Emiliano Rio, Rio de Janeiro – Brazil
Emiliano Rio may just be the most exclusive and intimate spot to spend the night on this side of Copacabana. Located at the southern tip of the legendary beach, the contemporary building’s distinctive white façade breaks up the concrete monotony of Avenida Atlântica with an intricate, organic series of perforated panels that carefully control the amount of sun and sea breeze streaming in. Rio’s glamorous decade of the 1950s is perfectly captured throughout the hotel by Brazilian architect Arthur Casas, decorated with furniture from reputed fifties designers such as Sergio Rodrigues and Paola Lenti. Taking inspiration from the nature of Guanabara Bay, woven fabrics adorn floors and walls along with wonderfully rough-hewn marble and lots of natural wood to incredibly relaxing effect.
Despite Emiliano Rio’s minimalist aesthetic, its spacious suites feel welcoming and cosy. Intuitive zonal lighting runs from the bedroom to the walk-in dressing area and split bathroom, with toiletries from Emiliano’s own Santapele brand. When it is time to unwind, pop on your own Emiliano signature Havaianas flip-flops and head to the rooftop infinity pool – reputed as one of the most stylish places to soak up the sunshine with the best panoramic views of the beach in all of Rio, or at the Santapele Spa, an urban oasis in its own right.
SLH Insider Tip: Dining at the Emile Restaurant is quite an experience – its vast, tropical vertical garden elevates dining here into something spectacular, as in fact does the food itself, with recipes that express ultimate Brazilian flavours and ingredients mostly sourced from nearby Angra. During weekends and holidays, Emile also serves up a much raved-about brunch.
Emiliano São Paulo, São Paulo – Brazil
The Santapele Spa at Emiliano São Paulo.
Set in São Paulo’s most exclusive Jardins neighbourhood along the ultra-stylish Oscar Freire Street, Emiliano São Paulo is undoubtedly one of the best addresses in the city (not to mention coming with its own helipad if you like to make an entrance). From its soaring glass tower exterior, remarkable skyscraper views, refined cuisine to warm Brazilian hospitality, every detail of this stylish hotel is designed to make your stay comfortable and memorable. Rooms and suites at Emiliano São Paulo echo its common spaces in their sleek and elegant minimalism, accentuated by mid-century modern furniture by Eames, Le Corbusier and the Campana brothers, in addition to spacious Carrara marble bathrooms. When it comes to relaxation, Emiliano São Paulo has you covered – from long, city-renowned brunches, to days whiled away in the Santapele Spa, and evenings spent in the expert hands of the sommelier at the country’s first champagne and caviar bar, where more than 80 brands of bubbly and rare Beluga roe await. Being in the heart of Jardins also means the must-do sights are never far away – with art galleries, high-end shopping and top restaurants at your doorstep, and the Ibirapuera Park is just a five-minute drive away.
SLH Insider Tip: Emiliano São Paulo is a great family-friendly option – the hotel offers room customisation for children, including personalised toys, scenarios, bath toys, as well as a special kids menu at the restaurant. Splurge for the split-level Cubo Suite, and enjoy a 180-degree vista across São Paulo’s rooftops while keeping an eye on your kids swimming in the private, heated pool right in the middle of your living room.