If you are looking for a holiday with a difference, there are plenty of hotels opening for the first time in 2023.
From exploring Nepal’s “Forbidden Kingdom” to relaxing in a 1970s-Hollywood-inspired rooftop bar in Singapore, you’ll be rewarded for your adventurousness.
Nearer to home, the Old War Office in London allows you to sleep in Winston Churchill’s second world war office, while new accommodation options in France, Italy, and Spain all revel in chic luxury.
Wherever you’re looking to treat yourself this year, you’ll find inspiration in your rundown of seven of the best new hotels opening this year.
1. Shinta Mani Mustang, Nepal
The area of Nepal known as the “Forbidden Kingdom” is actually named Mustang and it only opened to international visitors in 1992.
This exotic location offers the chance to hike among the snow-capped mountains of Everest country, without the challenge and danger of tackling the world’s highest peak. Adding to the drama of the scenery, you’ll find Buddhist monasteries and the striking Shinta Mani hotel itself.
The lodge’s suites are based on traditional Tibetan homes and the hotel will offer horse riding, rock climbing, and cycling excursions when it opens in May, as well as helicopter tours and a Tibetan spa.
2. Cap Karoso, Sumba, Indonesia
If you want to experience Indonesia’s stunning beaches and lakes without the raucousness of Bali’s tourist hotspots, try Sumba.
Bigger than Bali, and much less densely populated, you’ll find the space you need to breathe and relax. Especially in one of Cap Karoso’s 47 eco rooms. Food is courtesy of the hotel’s organic farm while the décor utilises local arts and crafts to support the community and give each room an authentic feel.
And when you want to relax, enjoy the outdoor pool and an open-air cinema.
3. The Mondrian Singapore Duxton, Singapore
With 302 rooms, multiple eating and dining options, and breathtaking views of the city skyline, The Mondrian in Singapore offers a relaxed take on luxury.
While a handful of Mondrian hotels can already be found worldwide, from Los Angeles and New York to Seoul, Doha, and Shoreditch, the Singapore Duxton marks the first south-east Asian entry in their portfolio.
You’ll find a cocktail bar, an Italian steakhouse, and an all-day diner as well as the awe-inspiring rooftop pool bar.
And when you’ve finished exploring the hotel, you’ll have the culture, bustle, and excitement of this vibrant city to explore.
4. Hotel Dames des Arts, Paris, France
The inspiration for the Hotel Dames des Arts’ 109 rooms comes directly from French New Wave cinema.
Expect 50s glamour in washed-out shades of the type favoured by French auteurs François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard.
A third of the rooms have private terraces with views over Paris’s creative hub, the Left Bank St Germain district. For those not lucky enough to enjoy a terrace, you can head to the rooftop bar for a panorama that takes in all of this historic city, from the Eiffel Tower to Notre-Dame Cathedral.
The Hotel Dames des Arts is due to open in March.
5. Hotel La Palma, Capri, Italy
The Hotel La Palma is housed in a 19th-century villa and was Capri’s first hotel when it opened in 1822. Back then, it counted the actress Sophia Loren and the former Soviet leader Lenin among its guests.
Not a “new” hotel, then, but the 200-year-old villa has had a major refurbishment.
You’ll find 50 large rooms with private balconies and terraces with stunning views over the island where Lenin learned to fish.
The restaurant, meanwhile, is overseen by one of the region’s leading chefs.
6. Son Bunyola, Mallorca, Spain
Richard Branson owns the new Son Bunyola hotel, situated within a Unesco world heritage site on the beautiful island of Mallorca.
the 16th-century, 810-acre country estate (or finca) nestles between the Tramuntana mountains and the Mediterranean. After a two-year restoration, the hotel is due to open its doors in June 2023.
With 26 bedrooms and two suites (the latter housed within the estate’s original defence towers), you’ll also find a restaurant and outdoor pool. Surrounded by orchards and olive groves and with a view of the dramatic Foradada rock formation you’ll find plenty of space and time to relax within truly beautiful surroundings.
7. Raffles London at The OWO
Closer to home, you’ll find the Raffles Hotel in London. Situated in Whitehall, the Old War Office building housed Winston Churchill’s office during the second world war. Soon, you could be staying there too.
The 120-room 5-star hotel is set to open in the spring, with nine restaurants and a Guerlain Spa.
Follow in the footsteps of Churchill, TE Lawrence, and John Profumo and then step outside into the city for a two-minute walk to Horse Guard’s Parade.