November Hot List: 5 new hotels to know about

With the recent re-opening of the US borders to fully vaccinated international travellers, we’ve got some shiny new stateside secrets up our sleeve, including an estate in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. All American adventures aside, our latest additions in Portugal, Croatia, and Japan will whet your luxury hotel appetite.

Keswick Hall, Virginia – USA

Opened 1st October 2021

Virginia’s beautiful countryside is an eye-pleasing tapestry of rolling hills and forested dales. This is the valley deep, mountain high setting for Keswick Hall – a turn-of-the-century estate. One of Virginia’s top destinations since 1912, Keswick Hall has now been reimagined as a restful, contemporary resort including fully transformed guest rooms and suites, common spaces, a signature free-standing restaurant, an infinity pool with cabanas, several red clay tennis courts and reimagined resort grounds. Owners Molly and Robert Hardie tapped the architecture firm Hart Howerton to bring the new space to life with landscape architects Nelson Byrd Woltz.

Culinary icon Jean-Georges Vongerichten is at the helm of the new Marigold restaurant, which serves seasonal dishes using organic and sustainable ingredients. Alternatively, guests can head to The Counter for light snacks or enjoy cocktails and small plates at Crawford’s. Seasoned golfers and novices alike can take a swing at the 18-hole Full Cry golf course by Pete Dye, which consistently garners top ranking as one of the best courses to play. The guest rooms at Keswick Hall are decorated in shades of whites, blues, and creams, featuring light wood, elegant furniture and classic upholstery, luxurious beds with Duxiana mattresses and Frette sheets. Works by local artists adorn the walls throughout the property to connect guests to the region from the inside out.

SLH Insider Tip: Expected to open in 2022, Keswick Hall’s new spa will feature eight sumptuous treatment rooms and offer services that incorporate organic red flower products, including the signature Dawn Meadow scent of Keswick Hall.

Verride Palácio de Santa Catarina, Lisbon – Portugal

The former residence of an 18^th century count, Verride Palácio de Santa Catarina sits in Lisbon’s trendy Chiado quarter, a beautiful labyrinth of winding lanes, tight archways, and stone-paved terraces. The restored seven-storey palatial building designed by architect Teresa Nunes da Ponte, whose work has become a reference in Portuguese heritage rehabilitation, is full of exquisite design details. Guest rooms all overlook the traditional Bica neighbourhood or River Tagus, and are designed with a warm and inviting feel, done up in clean modern lines and muted pastel colours of cream, blue and grey.

Its award-winning top floor Suba Restaurant is worth a visit for views over the River Tagus and red roofs of Lisbon alone. Classic Portuguese dishes by Chef Fábio Alves are made here with local ingredients and given a modern twist. Alternatively, head over to its rooftop bar which offers unrivalled 360-degree views of Lisbon’s skyline and the river beyond.

SLH Insider Tip: The two Royal Suites are the hotel’s crown jewels: the King’s Suite has a magnificent wooden coffered ceiling and a fantastic balcony with front views of the River Tagus; while the Queen’s Suite is lavished with original 18th century Stucco work, custom-made silk de Gournay wallpaper, and leads into a bathroom with blue and white tiles dating from 1901. 

Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik – Croatia

Strikingly set on a 30 metre high cliff overlooking Miramare Bay, Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik is a luxurious seaside retreat in the bay of Dubrovnik’s Old Town. The hotel features floor-to-ceiling windows offering wraparound views of the Adriatic Sea. Glass, wood and marble elements permeate the hotel, set against grainy-textured fabrics in earthy tones accented by generous fills of natural light, creating an effortless contemporary Mediterranean vibe throughout the property. The restful, minimalist design continues in the rooms and suites, where wooden floors and white linens invite you to relax. Breathe in the ocean air from your private balcony, then take a lazy breakfast on the terrace complemented by uninterrupted sea views.

The resort’s Energy Clinic Wellness & Spa features a sea-view indoor pool. When hunger calls, Michelin-acclaimed Vapor Restaurant serves up creative Mediterranean cuisine with an emphasis on fresh Adriatic seafood that hits all the right notes. The adjoining Wine Bar impresses with the best Croatian wines, and a sommelier guiding you through wine tasting flights. It is easy to while away an entire stay just luxuriating in the spa and admiring the mesmerising Adriatic views, but Dubrovnik’s picture-perfect Old Town is just a 10-minute walk away if you want to discover more of the destination.

SLH Insider Tip: Bellevue Beach sits just below the hotel and is accessible by the hotel’s private lift. You’ll find a private designated area with sun loungers and umbrellas for hotel guests on this otherwise public beach. During summer, a local water polo tournament called “Divlja Liga” (Wild League) takes centre stage on the beach, which whips up a lively atmosphere.

Chalet Ivy Jozankei, Hokkaido – Japan

Set on the banks of Toyohira River amidst the dense forest of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, this ryokan-style luxury hotel’s minimalist design blends Japanese tradition with modern touches. Inside the hotel lobby, the mesmerising landscape of Jozankei takes on a new colour and character with each season and guests are greeted at the “yukimidai” (snow-viewing platform). Each of Chalet Ivy Jozankei’s 26 tastefully-decorated suites has its own private tenboburo (an onsen bath with a view of Jozankei) in addition to a public rotenburo (outdoor onsen). Drawn directly from the Toyohira River, the water from these sodium chloride springs is transparent and contains natural salts that soften the skin and leave one feeling warm.

To fully immerse guests in the wellness experience, in-house Spa Nikur’s “Tea-Nature-Aroma” programme incorporates the traditions of the indigenous Ainu people and natural features of the land to help with healing and relaxation. Executive Chef Takuya Ito at Dining ZUI carefully selects ingredients from Hokkaido and combines them with Western ingredients and techniques to present modern, playful dishes of traditional Japanese kaiseki cuisine. The hotel also boasts a 24-hour lounge, cigar room and a mini theatre for private use.

SLH Insider Tip: There is a legend about the mystical frog-like ‘kappa’ creature at Jozankei Onsen which has given rise to many stone kappa sculptures in the area, as well as souvenirs featuring Jozankei Onsen’s mascot “Kappon”. Take a walk around the area to find them – look out for Kappa Kazoku no Gankake Te Yu (Kappa Family Wish-granting Hand Bath).  Once found, pour some hot spring water into the head of the kappa, purify your hands with the hot water flowing out of its mouth, and make a wish.

Feeling inspired? Browse and book more of our brand new boutique hotels here.