Our top boutique stays for June

Art Hotel Riposo in Ascona, on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore in southern Switzerland, is well located within the historic old town and a short walk from the lakeside promenade and Piazza Giuseppe Motta. The position places it among pedestrian streets lined with cafés and galleries, and with direct access to boat connections across the lake for day trips. 

The hotel occupies a traditional Ticinese townhouse reworked with a contemporary design approach that combines whitewashed surfaces, natural wood, and curated modern artworks. The light-filled interiors are decorated with streamlined furnishings, and several rooms and suites open onto balconies overlooking rooftops or toward the lake and surrounding hills. The rooftop terrace is an oasis during downtime, with a heated pool and sun loungers facing wide views over Ascona and Lake Maggiore. Combining Swiss and Italian sensibilities, this beautiful area is remarkable.  

SUMAQ Machu Picchu Hotel sits in Aguas Calientes, the riverside town beneath Machu Picchu in Peru, along the Urubamba River and framed by steep, forested Andean slopes. It is within walking distance of the train station, local market, and the buses that ascend to the archaeological site.
 

The building has a refined Andean-inspired design, with carved stone, polished wood, and textiles referencing Inca patterns. Interiors are warm and tactile, designed for widely changing high-altitude conditions, with heated floors, generous bathrooms, and large windows positioned toward the river or surrounding valley walls. Dining highlights Peruvian cuisine with a strong regional focus, featuring ingredients such as quinoa, native potatoes, alpaca, and Amazonian herbs. A compact spa provides massage and recovery treatments tailored to altitude adjustment. The hotel serves as a calm base for early access visits to Machu Picchu, putting you at a huge advantage before the ascent to the citadel.

In Rottach-Egern on the southern shore of Lake Tegernsee, Parkhotel Egerner Höfe is an alpine retreat that celebrates traditional Bavarian heritage. Surrounded by the Bavarian Alps and within walking distance of the lake, the hotel feels secluded yet it’s an accessible base for year-round escapes, be it summer by the lakeside or winter in the mountains.

The hotel blends classic regional architecture with modern design elements, using natural materials such as wood, stone, and linen. Rooms and suites are spacious, many featuring balconies or terraces with mountain or garden views. At its core is a strong wellness focus, with an extensive spa area including indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, and treatment rooms designed for deep relaxation. Dining is another key highlight, with refined Bavarian and seasonal dishes served at the Michelin-starred Dichter restaurant. Meanwhile Mizūmi offers Nikkei flavours, and Egerner Bucht serves relaxed regional fare inspired by Alpine taverns.