Hotels I Have My Eye On For 2023
Each January I compile a list of standout hotels and resorts around the globe that I have my eyes set on for that year’s upcoming travel aspirations. The best hotels capture your attention, transport you to a new world, and are worth planning an entire trip around, and I believe that the 14 hotels and resorts I'm highlighting for 2023 do just that. While some have been on my radar for awhile, some are new discoveries - so new, in fact, the majority of them are either set to open in the coming months or debuted in 2022. From a boutique hotel in Saint-Tropez with the vintage chic spirit of the 60's, to a 12 room property on a working wine estate in a corner of Italy untouched by tourism, the list is diverse in locales, experiences and price range represented. While I’ll be thrilled to check-in to even one of these properties this year, this list has sparked my wanderlust and inspired my 2023 travel plans, as I hope it does yours!
Craving more inspiration? Check out my lists of must-stay properties from recent years - 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Gleneagles townhouse
Edinburgh, Scotland
To kick off this year’s list, we are heading to the United Kingdom, which has been named “Destination of the Year” by Travel + Leisure, and more specifically, to Scotland, where a stylish city hotel with countryside flair recently opened its doors to much anticipation. Gleneagles Townhouse first popped on my radar a year ago while I was researching what to do in Edinburgh for my first visit there last March. I stumbled upon the 33-room boutique hotel’s website thanks to its famous sister property, Gleneagles, the century’s old resort and golfing destination in rural Perthshire, and was immediately captivated by the timeless yet contemporary glamour which defines this historic townhouse on St. Andrew Square. While the property was, sadly, not opened during my trip, it is now, and is not only worth staying at while in Edinburgh, but is arguably worth the trip alone. A cross between luxury hotel and members-only club (similar to Soho House), the property carefully balances timeless design and traditional service with a healthy dose of youthful fun. While not out exploring the city, spend your days indulging in long lunches or dinners in the vibrant restaurant, taking advantage of the beautiful, state-of-the-art wellness center, and have a drink or two at the striking bars and rooftop terrace before retiring to a cozy guest room of rich colors and plush upholstery where sleep comes easy. Unlike anything else in Edinburgh, it’s a true gem - one that I hope to experience someday!
If your travels take you to the Scotland, here’s my city guide to charming Edinburgh.
the fifth avenue hotel
New York City
Back across the pond, a New York City hotel of similar fashion to Gleneagles Townhouse - in both impeccable interiors and featuring a storied past shaping its future - is set to open its doors in 2023. The inaugural property of Flâneur Hospitality, The Fifth Avenue Hotel is “an oasis within the exhilarating whirl of Manhattan. Mindfully blending personal service, superlative design by Martin Brudnizki Studio, noteworthy cuisine, and compelling cultural experiences, every aspect of (this) property delights, engages, and rewards curiosity.” Centrally located in a lovingly restored Gilded Age landmark just minutes from Madison Square Park and the Flatiron District, the hotel features intimate yet grand guest rooms, restaurants and bars layered with rich finishes, hand-crafted design and cheeky character. In an oversaturated hotel market, The Fifth Avenue Hotel has what it takes to stand out.
Canoe Place
Hamptons Bay, New York
Ninety miles east of Fifth Avenue, check-in to a truly iconic escape in the heart of Southampton with roots dating back to the 1600s - Canoe Place. “The site of America’s oldest inn, Canoe Place has hosted travelers and gatherings for hundreds of years. Home to the lovingly restored Canoe Place Inn, cottages, pool and gardens, the beautiful East End landmark is a canal-front enclave featuring luxury accommodations, regionally inspired dining, and a beautifully renovated grand ballroom and pavilion.” Having just re-opened its doors in the summer of ‘22 after nearly two decades, the historic property is now designed for the modern traveler with light-filled, chic spaces that highlight original features and luxurious amenities such as the property's spa, created in partnership with clean beauty brand ONDA Beauty. It’s the perfect place for a relaxing, long weekend getaway.
ROCK HOUSE
Turks and Caicos
Being January, warm weather destinations are, unsurprisingly, at the forefront of my travel mind. In recent weeks, I have spent time researching new hotels in the Caribbean, and Rock House stands out amongst the fresh pack. Here’s why… Located on the north coast of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos, this oceanfront property is owned by island favorite, Grace Bay Resorts, and offers guests an intimate beach experience unlike anything currently offered on the island. Bright whites and light wood accents create airy accommodations in the 46 guest rooms and suites, many featuring private swimming pools and outdoor terraces. Offering all the amenities you’d expect at an island resort - pools, waterfront dining, a spa - this “Caribbean oasis provides a private, cliff-side escape that captures the allure and elegance of the South of France, Capri and the Mediterranean”. How do you beat that?
Skyline Lodge
Highlands, North Carolina
For the past two years, properties in the North Carolina mountain town of Highlands have caught my eye and made it on consecutive lists - Half-Mile Farm and High Hampton. And here we are, for a third year I find myself including yet another property in the area, Skyline Lodge. While a bit of a departure from the luxurious stays highlighted in the past, Skyline is just as intriguing to me, and seems perfect for a weekend getaway with friends or family. Built in 1929, “the original twenty room retreat constructed of chestnut, local stone, and hand cut cedar shakes, was designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright as a luxe mountain lodge, catering to the wealthy of the 1930’s era.” Over the years, the lodge has lived many different lives, and today, after a complete renovation in 2021, Skyline is thriving more than ever. Continuing to lean heavily into a mid-twentieth century aesthetic and surrounded by lush, old growth, the property is one with its natural environment and offers guests easy access to Highlands and Cashiers, as well as hiking trails, rivers and waterfalls. After a day of adventure, the restaurant at the lodge welcomes guests with an atmosphere of bygone glamour, proper cocktails and thick steaks.
THE GREENHOUSE
Iceland
Welcome to Gróðurhúsið, or, in English, the Greenhouse Hotel. On the outside, it looks like your typical, utilitarian Icelandic hotel, but step inside the plant adorned lobby and you’ll quickly discover it’s anything but normal, as it’s not only a boutique hotel but also a food hall, remote workspace and array of shops selling items by local purveyors. Located 30 minutes from Reykjavik, on the road to Selfoss, this unique space offers overnight guests comfortable beds, spacious bathrooms, and even in-room shopping, and all visitors a selection of global cuisines found at the seven restaurants in the food hall, plus a café and juice bar.
The Peninsula
Istanbul, Turkey
A crossroads of two continents, Istanbul is a bustling metropolis balancing thousands of years of history with an ever-evolving present-day, as evident by the city’s booming hospitality sector which is welcoming a noteworthy addition this winter. “Set along the dazzling Bosphorus waterfront in the historic district of Karaköy, The Peninsula Istanbul provides a showcase for both vibrant Turkish culture and superlative hospitality within Galataport, a new waterfront revitalization project. The hotel is comprised of four exquisite buildings – three of them historic and beautifully restored – and welcomes guests arriving by land or sea.” The heritage property, which is set to open its doors on February 14, 2023, is within walking distance to many of Istanbul’s historic landmarks such as Galata Tower, The Blue Mosque and the famous Sultanahmet District.
Six Senses crans-montana
Switzerland
Also slated to open next month is the newest property by Six Senses, a “Best of The Alps” resort located in Switzerland’s Crans-Montana, a year-round destination known for its world-class sporting events, champagne skiing and traditional architecture. Positioned just above the main gondola in Crans with direct ski-in and ski-out access, Six Senses Crans-Montana invites guests to experience “vitality, serenity, and adventure” in the most stylish of settings. Guest rooms and suites “have a Swiss chalet feel and are surrounded on three sides by nature and pine forest. Reinforcing the relationship between inside and outside, their light and airy style, bay windows, and private terraces provide unsurpassed views stretching across the Valais valley, from the Swiss Matterhorn on the left across the 4-Vallées range to the French Mont Blanc massif on the right.” After a long day of skiing, retreat back to the resort where a state of the art restorative spa awaits tired muscles, and evenings can be spent enjoying delicious meals of both classic Swiss fare and bold Japanese flavors before cozying up under the stars at the open-air cinema.
Etéreo
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Auberge Resort’s Riviera Maya property, Etéreo, opened in 2022 to rave reviews, including “One Of The World’s Best New Hotels” by Travel + Leisure and “Great Design Award Winner” by Architectural Digest, to name a few. Take a quick browse through the hotel’s image gallery and it’s easy to see why. Set on the white sand beaches of the Caribbean coast of Mexico with a lush mangrove forest to its back, Etéreo is a true oceanfront retreat “freed from the distractions of modern life”. Beautifully blending “contemporary aesthetics with regionally inspired design elements, and natural materials”, accommodations are stunning and comfortable with indoor/outdoor living space, as well as private plunge pools in many of the studios and suites. In addition to the hotel’s two swimming pools, beach club, spa, and five restaurants, it is also home to the region’s largest reef, easily accessible for guests to explore. Plus, Etéreo is just a short 40-minute drive from the Cancun International airport. Sign me up!
Nordelaia
Piedmont, Italy
Set in the rolling hills of southern Piedmont - a corner of Italy untouched by tourism - is Nordelaia, a destination hotel built around an 800-year-old farmhouse on a working wine estate. A small property with only twelve individually designed rooms of chic, unfussy interiors, the hotel invites guests to embrace a slower pace of life. Though small in size, the selection of amenities rival larger resorts, offering a full-featured spa, multiple restaurants (L’Orto, the fine dining experience, is run by a Michelin-starred chef), and enormous pool area overlooking the countryside. While quiet days are the draw for most guests, its conveniently positioned to venture out and explore, whether it be to the remote hill towns nearby or a bit further to Genoa (30 minutes) or Milan (60 minutes).
SOUTHALL FARM & INN
Franklin, Tennessee
This next property I’m quite excited about as it’s located in my own backyard (read '“staycation”). Nestled on 325 acres in Franklin, Tennessee, Southall Farm and Inn is just the type of property the greater Nashville area was in need of. First and foremost a farm, Southall has been years in the making, first making a name for itself amongst locals thanks to the intimate “seed to fork” dinner experience, The Rambling, before stepping into its next chapter as a luxury inn whose doors opened December 2022. “Here, everything is intended to put guests in harmony with the land, with their stunning surroundings, and with themselves. Rooted in nature’s bounty and the cycles that create it, Southall evokes the feeling of old farmsteads across America—a place of gathering and connection around food and nature.” While nature-fueled, hands-on activities and four different dining options put the land center stage of any stay, guests will find all the comforts and amenities of a five-star hotel in the inviting guest rooms and cottages scattered across the lush property. My recommendation would be to visit in September or October, when the arrival of autumn offers pleasant weather and the Tennessee countryside is at its peak.
1 HOTEL HANALEI BAY
Kauai, Hawaii
If you know 1 Hotels, you know the luxury hotel brand’s focus is sustainable, nature-inspired properties in urban environments. Well, the company is shaking things up with the addition of their newest hotel - 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. Unlike its sister properties, the property couldn’t be more in tune with its surroundings - after all, Kauai is called the Garden Island. Set to open February 15, 2023, “1 Hotel Hanalei Bay brings a world-class oceanfront transformative wellness oasis to Kauaʻi’s North Shore.” Each space puts nature front and center through teak furniture and abundant greenery, and guest rooms offer “panoramic views of the lush gardens, soaring mountains, or sparkling waters of Hanalei Bay through wide-open windows.” The resort offers countless activities which put guests closer to nature, as well as transformative wellness classes, a Bamford Spa, pools, beachfront access, and seven restaurants and bars.
Habitas alula
Saudi Arabia
For those seeking far-flung travel destinations in the coming year, consider a journey to the Ashar Valley in the Middle East, considered to be the world’s new bucket-list desert retreat. “Located in the Northwest of Saudi Arabia, Habitas AlUla is nestled among an ancient oasis in a desert valley surrounded by spectacular sandstone cliffs and palm groves with pathways leading up to one of 96 guest rooms, reception, a yoga deck, wellness and fitness centers, restaurant and a swimming pool. Every room is made from ethically sourced organic materials that blend seamlessly into the natural surroundings.” Habitas’ focus is on community, music, wellness, arts, and creativity, offering guests a multi-sensory experience inspired by the region’s heritage and magnificent landscape. While hard to pull away from tranquil days on property, the Ashar Valley is home to a wealth of natural wonders and history, such as the ancient stone cities of Hegra and Dadan, more than worth exploring. While by no means easy to get to, AlUla is just a short flight from either Riyadh or Jeddah, connected by direct flights from Dubai or Paris.
LOU PINET
Saint-Tropez, France
Southern France is near the top of my bucket list, so I often browse hotels in the region, ready and waiting for when my chance to visit finally comes. I was immediately intrigued when I stumbled across Lou Pinet - a 5-star boutique hotel stylishly designed in chic 1960s fashion, evoking Saint-Tropez’s glory days. Removed from the French Riviera crowds, this intimate and luxurious property features light-filled guest rooms full of vintage vibes and local antiques, an over-sized swimming pool and sundeck, a Tata Harper spa and acclaimed restaurant, Beefbar. Whether looking for relaxing long weekend getaway or a week long stay to explore the wonders of the Côte d’Azur, Lou Pinet is the perfect home base for an exceptional experience.
