As Kiwi Collection continues celebrating 20 years of lodge curation, which kicked off with unforgettable stays, our gaze turns to the particular properties which have held court docket in our assortment for the reason that early days. These icons of hospitality have stood the check of time and, by means of enduring consideration to element and continuous enhancements, by no means as soon as rested on their laurels. Standing out of their settings—the bustling Big Apple, seaside Côte d’Azur, South African savannah and past—these 20 accommodations are actually timeless.
In Iconic Cities
The icon roll name begins with storied accommodations in historic cities. Perched above Old Quebec inside Canada’s second oldest metropolis, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is a grand dame within the truest sense. Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1893, it’s now a chosen National Historic Site which boasts themed suites in honor of particular friends, reminiscent of Queen Elizabeth II. Across the border, The Plaza Hotel additionally exemplifies the Château Style. A New York City establishment since opening in 1907, the lodge is a well-liked filming location, having proven up in North by Northwest, Home Alone 2 and 2013’s The Great Gatsby.
Another Plaza on the opposite facet of the Atlantic, Hôtel Plaza Athénée Paris, will at all times be related to Carrie Bradshaw, because the Sex and the City essential character famously stayed right here within the culminating sixth season storyline. The 110-year-old French lodge embodies a couture spirit in all of the methods, from Michelin star delicacies to a Dior Spa (sure, that Dior). Over in London, England, the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park boasts two Michelin stars, for its Dinner by Heston Blumenthal restaurant, and an illustrious visitor listing over its 121 years that features Rudolph Valentino, Mahatma Gandi and members of the British royal household who take pleasure in a separate Royal Entrance.
Flying east, we arrive on the oldest city lodge on our listing, Raffles Hotel Singapore. Established in 1887 and made a nationwide monument in 1987, the lodge’s registry of daring face names contains Rudyard Kipling, Noël Coward and Elizabeth Taylor. Within, the famed Long Bar takes credit score for creating the enduring Singapore Sling cocktail. Approximately 1,600 miles because the tern flies, The Peninsula Hong Kong has stood since 1928, making it the oldest within the harbour metropolis. In true five-star type, the property is thought for its fleet of luxurious vehicles all painted Peninsula Green that may be requested for airport pick-up and drop-off.
Then there’s a particular subcategory of big-city accommodations that concurrently provide a front-row seat to the seashore. Built in 1932, in celebration of a century of Brazilian independence, Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel is known as for the enduring stretch of Rio de Janeiro sand it appears to be like out over. The famed lodge celebrates its personal 100th birthday this 12 months.
Over in Oman’s capital, The Chedi Muscat, which opened the identical 12 months Kiwi Collection launched, provides friends a non-public seashore on the gulf to take pleasure in—together with 21 acres of gardens and three swimming pools. Set on the shores of tidal Dubai Creek, the palatial Park Hyatt Dubai encompasses a 100-metre infinity lagoon which opens onto a non-public sandy seashore.
On the Water
Serving up beachfront life with decidedly much less city hustle is The Breakers. Spanning 140 acres, the Palm Beach lodge has confronted Florida’s heat Atlantic waters since 1926 and by no means stopped elevating its providing—now there are 4 swimming pools, a 6,000-square-foot oceanfront health centre and actions galore, simply to call just a few of its thrives. In one other wildly fashionable seashore city, Los Cabos, Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection has been an icon of quiet luxurious since 2002. Right on the shore of the Sea of Cortés, its rooms all face onto the sand and surf. Naturally, celebs find it irresistible right here, together with Naomi Watts, who we booked in for a three-night keep earlier final 12 months.
Away from all the things, the 30 Bill Bensley-designed villas of Anantara Maia Seychelles are tucked on 30 acres of a non-public peninsula fringed by impossibly white sands. Making it much more luxurious is the model’s “Beyond All Inclusive” idea at play right here, which incorporates à la carte eating at any time. First based by a buddy of Oscar Wilde in 1900, Côte d’Azur’s Cap Estel has been an elegant lodge for the reason that Fifties, attracting glitterati, together with the Beatles (apparently Paul McCartney used to play his guitar by the oceanfront pool). Its bijou personal seashore with a raised deck of lounge chairs is the epitome of charming.
Those who love water however don’t look after salty dips can perch themselves on the Positano cliffside at Le Sirenuse. In 1951, siblings turned the 18th-century household villa right into a lodge. It’s wealthy pink exterior is can’t-miss, and galvanizing shade isn’t shied away from elsewhere both—all in complement to these massive, blue Amalfi Coast views. For the freshwater inclined, there’s Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, India. Completed in 1746, it’s surrounded on all sides by Lake Pichola, giving it the looks of a floating mirage. It’s so hanging a visible that we featured it on the duvet of 2007’s Overnight Sensations – Asia Pacific espresso desk ebook.
In the Countryside
From nonetheless waters to the rolling hills of Tuscany. Here, amid the Chanti wine area, COMO Castello del Nero lives inside a restored Twelfth-century fort the place preserved frescos are juxtaposed by trendy Paola Navone-designed interiors. Michelin star eating, at La Torre, and a very elegant spa expertise, because it’s now within the arms of COMO, too. Pastoral perfection to place it merely.
Approximately 800 kilometers southwest of these Tuscan hills, at across the identical elevation, lies one other historic gem. In the Mallorcan village of Deià, a long-time enclave for writers, artists and musicians, La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel occupies two manor homes that date again to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. As a lodge since 1984, it has hosted Princess Diana, Sting and Gwyneth Paltrow, and this 12 months it claimed our Most Romantic Hotel award. Climb increased nonetheless to yet one more icon with its personal lengthy listing of notable friends: Gstaad Palace within the Swiss Alps. The imaginative and prescient of a village instructor, this household owned, fairytale-style lodge set in a main ski vacation spot has stood for 110 years. The snowboarding is nice, however the après is off the charts—from the fondue restaurant to the 1,800-square-meter spa.
Surrounded by very totally different however no much less spectacular pure varieties in Arizona’s Red Rock Country is Enchantment Resort. Reopened in February of this 12 months following a $40 million renovation, the 36-year-old Sedona resort is famend for its intensive menu of experiences, together with mountain biking, climbing and different out of doors adventures all run out of its Trail House—no surprise it took residence 2023’s Best Family Hotel award. Speaking of journey, a safari is the head for a lot of and all-inclusive Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve in South Africa’s Sabi Sands Reserve has been serving up bucket-list recreation viewing since 1998. In reality, with its location on a hilltop overlooking a watering gap, the eight-suite lodge grants friends a wildlife present with out having to go anyplace. Still, nobody comes all this fashion to not enterprise out in a Land Rover searching for the Big Five—seeing these icons of the savannah of their pure habitat is one in every of life’s best thrills.
