Sitting perfectly on the cusp of summer, just before European beaches begin to fill to the brim, May is one of our favourite months to travel. City breaks are sunny but not unbearably hot, the countryside is in full bloom, and even further flung, tropical climes are balmy, breezy, and only just edging into rainy season. Read on for the best boutique hotels to book for an early summer holiday…
1. Sant’ Angelo Matera, Italy
Carved into the ancient caves of Italy’s rock-hewn city, Sant’ Angelo Matera is snuggled into Matera’s atmospheric Sassi district (as seen on screen in the most recent Bond film, No Time to Die). Stone-stepped pathways lead down to a set of limestone cave dwellings, which are spread across a restored palazzo and Sant’ Angelo’s namesake grotto-church. The rough-and-ready interiors are softened by canopy beds swathed in creamy linens, and golden-hued views unfolding over centuries-old churches. There are nooks and patios to unwind on, cavernous lounges and sunken circular baths to enjoy by candlelight, and a complex of alcoves to get lost in. Intimate pizza parties and past-making classes are hosted in subterranean Più Sud, and it’s all about the sun-drenched vistas and classic Italian plates at Regia Corte on the terrace above.
2. Grand Palace Hotel, Riga – Latvia
Dating back to 1877, Grand Palace Hotel started life as the Central Bank of Latvia. Grand by name, and certainly grand by design, you’re met with sumptuous interiors from the moment you step inside from the cobbled street in Riga’s UNESCO-listed Old Town. A marble staircase leads up to the spacious rooms and suites, which are furnished with antiques, opulent drapes, and eye-catching upholstery. The pillar-lined restaurant is equally lavish, and Michelin-recognised Seasons Restaurant serves what can only be described as edible works of art. Rise and shine under the glass-roofed Orangerie Hall for breakfast, tucking into the locally sourced buffet surrounded by classical sculptures and elegant greenery before meandering along the Daugava River to Dome Square.
3. The Goethe Hotel, Rome – Italy
Inspired by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s 18th-century travels across Italy, Roman holidays at The Goethe Hotel feel like embarking on a mini–Grand Tour. This old palazzo has been beautifully restored by The Pacini Group in collaboration with Milanese designers and architects Chiara Caberlon and Claudia Benzi, who have filled the moodily lit spaces with vintage objets d’art, glimmering chandeliers, whimsical wallpaper, and patterned headboards. Italian marble and ETRO goodies can be found in every bathroom, and the Wellness Suites are a picture of tranquility with in-room saunas. When in Rome, of course you must eat out — but the hotel’s modern Italian dishes are also worth dining in for at least one evening.
4. YNDÕ Hotel, Bordeaux – France
Classical Bordeaux château on the outside, contemporary art haven within, every inch of YNDÕ Hotel is aesthetically pleasing. Owner Agnès Guiot du Doignon has filled each of the 20 rooms with design-forward furniture, including Edra sofas and Tom Dixon pendant lighting. Maximalists will adore the four-poster beds in the Crazy Rooms, which are connected to large, rounded showers tucked into the mansion’s original tower. As there’s no restaurant at the hotel — don’t fret, a freshly prepared breakfast of homemade jams, local pastries, cheese and charcuterie can be brought to your bed or balcony — check your in-room iPad for pre-loaded recommendations on where to dine and what to do in Bordeaux.
5. Schlössle Hotel, Tallinn – Estonia
Once upon a time — in the 13th century, to be exact — horse-drawn carriages trundled these boulevards, carrying goods from Tallinn’s harbour to gabled merchant houses. Schlössle Hotel is still brimming with medieval Old Town soul, from its pastel-painted shutters to the preserved wooden beams. The property’s heritage features are thoughtfully retained in the rooms, where original tapestries and antique furnishings sit alongside window alcoves which double as cosy reading nooks after shopping for traditional crafts at Meistrite Hoov. If you’re visiting over a weekend, the hotel’s flower-filled courtyard sets the stage for live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. It’s just as cosy by the fire inside, or the medieval-style cellar restaurant which plates up seasonal Estonian produce sourced from the farms and fisheries that Stenhus counts as its neighbours.
6. Bolontiku Boutique Hotel and Spa, Tikal – Guatemala
Overlooking the emerald waters of Lake Petén Itzá, Bolontiku Boutique Hotel and Spa is named in honour of the Mayan gods said to guide life and destiny — a fitting source of inspiration for such a nature-immersed, spirit-lifting stay. Where you’ll rest your head is just as peaceful, too. The Riviera Suite puts you right at the water’s edge, while Garden Suites are wrapped up in the sights and sounds of the rainforest. Crowning the top floor of the hotel, stargaze the night away while soaking in the Mirador Suite’s indoor jacuzzi. Banish toxins from the body in the Temazcal sweat lodge, heated by volcanic stones, then swim straight off the shore and cool off in the lake, with or without a paddleboard. The ancient Mayan temples of Tikal, Yaxhá, and El Mirador are just over an hour’s drive away, jutting above the jungle canopy.
7. Le Calette N°5, Sicily – Italy
Hugging the rocky shoreline along Sicily’s northern coast, Le Calette N°5 takes its name from the five surrounding coves (‘calettes’) which create little pockets of impossibly blue, sheltered waters to swim, sail, and sunbathe in. Citrus, olive and palm trees dot the grounds, while fuchsia bougainvillea climb whitewashed walls. Views take in rockpools and ruins, glistening white boats in the nearby marina and the calm waters of Caldura Bay. Follow the winding, prickly pear-lined paths down to one of three rugged beaches, or kick back at Calette Reef Club on a king-size day bed. Nearby Palermo, Segesta, Piazza Armerina and Agrigento are within easy day-trip distance, or you can venture out on the hotel’s speedboat, hopping from one secluded beach to the next while sailing the enchanting Aeolian islands.
8. Eagles Palace, Halkidiki – Greece
The Aegean Sea breeze gently rustles oak, olive, and pine trees which frame Eagles Palace, an elegant Halkidiki hideaway fronted by a private beach and jetty. The calming bedrooms (some with their own pools) are stylishly spartan in design, drawing the eye towards the emerald-green waters, across to Ammouliani island and the sacred Mount Athos peninsula in the distance. There’s a dedicated children’s pool, kids’ club, outdoor playground, and watersports centre for little ones to enjoy, and an Elemis-stocked spa to tempt grown-ups for Mediterranean green fig facials and Pilates. Dining options range from fresh seafood and traditional Greek tapas in the toes-in-sand taverna, to Michelin-starred candlelit dinners featuring ingredients from the hotel’s organic farm.
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