From wood-burning stoves to roaring mantels, moments of relaxation don’t get much better than sitting beside an open fireplace with your tipple of choice. Here are some of our favourite cosy corners to warm up in and while away a winter’s day…
Storfjord, Skodje – Norway
With an open fireplace at every turn, including the lounge, dining room, and suites, this secluded woodland retreat lives up to its log cabin look and Scandinavian folktale feel. The scent of timber hangs in the air at Storfjord, while a calming combination of traditional Norwegian features and über-modern design, with a soothing palette, snug corners, and carefully selected art and antiques awaits guests inside. For spellbinding views over the fjords, make yourself comfortable on the outdoor patio complete with a Viking-esque pan-fire.
Susafa, Sicily – Italy
This 200-year old Sicilian farmhouse is a taste of rustic simplicity at its best. Exposed brick and beams, oversized blown glass lamps, and weathered wooden furniture make up the lived-in luxury feel of Susafa‘s interiors. Sample some of the estate’s organic produce beside the spacious open fire in the bar, including fresh ravioli, homemade tomato sauce, olive oil, cherry jam, and sommelier-selected wines.
Cordée des Alpes Hotel, Verbier – Switzerland
A warm welcome awaits every guest at Cordée des Alpes Hotel, a stylish wooden ski lodge which has been thoughtfully designed to integrate with the surrounding alpine architecture. Step inside the chalet-inspired reception to a crackling fireplace, decorated with vintage skis. Many of the rooms and suites come with their own hearths, including the Prestige Suites and Cordelette Penthouse, to let your muscles thaw after a day on the slopes.
The Fish Hotel, Cotswolds – UK
This village-style collection of houses, huts and hideaways set within the 400-acre Farncombe Estate is made for cosy Cotswolds getaways. Classic country styling meets pared-back, Scandi chic design at The Fish Hotel, with quaint wood-burning stoves in most of the huts and suites, and roaring fires in the lounge and Nest areas to enjoy with a post-walk hot chocolate in hand.
Foxhill Manor, Cotswolds – UK
Another member of the Farncombe family, Foxhill Manor is a charming home-from-home with a ‘whatever you fancy, whenever you fancy’ motto. For some serious indulgence, opt for The Oak Suite, which comes with twin free-standing bath tubs overlooking rolling Cotswolds hills towards the post-card worthy Broadway Village, and a snug lounge area facing a feature fireplace.
Ett Hem, Stockholm – Sweden
The whole concept of this Scandinavian bolthole is perfectly summed up by the translation of Ett Hem – ‘at home’ – which welcomes guests into its warm embrace of informal elegance. Make yourself at home beside the flickering fire in the eclectically styled lounge of this Arts and Crafts townhouse, or retreat to one of the Junior Suites complete with four-poster beds and their own period fireplaces. The low-key luxury continues through to the Ett Hem Suite, which features a marble bath tub and tiled stove for maximum warmth and comfort.
Le Refuge de la Traye, Méribel – France
Taking inspiration from classic Savoie design, the eco-luxury chalets of Le Refuge de la Traye are dotted about a miniature hamlet hidden away in the Alps. After a day on the famous slopes of Les 3 Vallées, hang up your boots and relax by the fireplace with a glass of fine Savoyard wine or a locally inspired cocktail.
Castle Hot Springs, Arizona – USA
An oasis of calm surrounded by the sepia-hued slopes of the Bradshaw Mountains, Castle Hot Springs fuses its early-20th-century glamour with an off-grid ethos of farm-to-fork dining and back-to-nature exploring. Take a dip in the bubbling thermal springs known for their healing mineral waters by day, and watch the desert sky come alive each night from one of the resort’s open fireplaces, or the expansive private decks of the Sky View Cabins, equipped with a telescope and outdoor tub ready to be filled with hot spring water.
Villa La Madonna, Piedmont – Italy
An effortless blend of sophisticated styling and the authentic influences – open hearths, exposed-brick ceilings and handpicked furniture – Villa La Madonna makes the most of its enviable location in the Bormida Valley. Verdant hills and vineyards surround this slow-living retreat, while the Alps are only two hours to the north, and the Italian Riviera one hour to the south.
Stein Eriksen Residences, Utah – USA
Wrap-around windows framing mountain views. Soaring ceilings and crackling fires. Fire pits, grills and hot tubs for al fresco evenings spent in the peaks. Stein Eriksen Residences are striking ski retreats that make the absolute best of their breathtaking setting. Being able to ski straight in and out from your hotel to some of the world’s best powder is the icing on the cake.
Grand Forest Metsovo, Metsovo – Greece
A secluded hideaway above Metsovo town, this boutique hotel is your gateway to one of northern Greece’s best-kept secrets. In winter, skiers can head to nearby Anilio, before returning to a cosy nook beside a fireplace at Grand Forest Metsovo overlooking the Pindos peaks. Dine at altitude at the Metsovo 1350M restaurant – high up on the mountainside, the sublime backdrop is accompanied by tempting plates of Epirus specialities from local producers.
Eichardt’s Private Hotel, Queenstown – New Zealand
With the best spot on the shores of mountain-backed Lake Wakatipu, Eichardt’s Private Hotel is both sleekly designed and serenely placed. Each suite and apartment frames awe-inspiring lake or mountain views, and balances antique furnishings with contemporary style notes. For peak privacy, choose The Residence – while The Penthouse boasts the best views in the house, along with its own outdoor grill.
Hotel Haven, Helsinki – Finland
Calming colours meet bold, patterned furnishings at Hotel Haven, a sleek city sanctuary just a stone’s throw from the capital’s Market Place, picturesque harbour, and Art Nouveau buildings. Downstairs, the snug fire and armchairs make the lobby ideal for relaxing with coffee and a paper.
Hotel Firefly, Zermatt – Switzerland
This all-suite refuge at the foot of the Matterhorn offers a contemporary take on the traditional alpine lodge, surrounded by the soaring peaks of the Valais Alps. Hotel Firefly is home to just 16 spacious suites – all individually decorated to reflect the elements of fire, earth, water and air. Many take this elemental inspiration further, with open fires encased in glass, and balconies for taking in the mountain air.
Hotel de Orangerie, Bruges – Belgium
Engravings, tapestries, silk-lined curtains and antiques infuse this former 500 year-old convent with nostalgic charm. Get cosy in the oak-panelled dining room at Hotel de Orangerie, then settle down by the open fire with a pot of fresh coffee – or a sparkling aperitif.
Les Manoirs des Portes de Deauville, Canapville – France
Circled by six acres of sublime gardens, Les Manoirs des Portes de Deauville is only a short drive to the Normandy coast and the seaside town of Deauville. Dotted across the beautifully restored Norman manor house and nine cottages, rooms and suites contrast crisp white and pastel tones with original fireplaces and exposed wooden beams. Curl up with an apple tasting platter beside the fireplace in The Great Lounge, washed down with some of the region’s famous calvados (apple brandy).
Schlosshotel Kronberg, Kronberg – Germany
Built in 1893, Schlosshotel Kronberg was originally home to Empress Victoria Friedrich, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria. Step inside a grandiose hall with an imposing fireplace and antique furniture all around, many of which belonged to the Empress herself. History decorates the walls of this elegant castle – expect to discover original paintings by Rubens, Titian and Gainsborough.
Art & Relax Hotel Bergwelt, Obergurgl – Austria
Set high on a sunny plateau above the pretty ski resort of Obergurgl, Art & Relax Hotel Bergwelt is a delightfully traditional-looking alpine lodge that is directly connected to the ski slopes. With unexpectedly modern, stylish interiors this chic chalet retreat has a panoramic restaurant, a spa with the highest pool in the Alps, and a welcoming bar with a blazing fire.