Design Hotels Offer Serene Getaways

Retreats in Spain and Lithuania give way to sparkling shorelines. Historic gems in Baltimore and Switzerland merge tradition with contemporaneity. A property tucked away in West Berlin sheds light on the city’s most historic and renowned porcelain manufacturer. From Europe to the United States, these eight recent members of Design Hotels offer serene getaways in both urban and forested destinations.

 

Wind Down In Baltimore


 

Realised by local artisans using local materials, Guest House by Good Neighbor in Baltimore is a masterful combination of past and present, a place where modernity collides with a bygone era. The seven-room hotel is set in a traditional, double-wide Baltimore row home – characterised by brick, wood flooring, and steel beams – dating from the early 1900s. During renovations, naturally aged materials were embraced and combined with an earth-tone palette defined by additional brick from a Maryland quarry, alabaster sourced from Egypt, concrete work by a local artist, and white oak from Baltimore.

 

 

A 9,000-square-foot garden featuring calming sitting areas and art installations encourages relaxation, while the stunning interiors are, uniquely, fully shoppable: Guests can purchase almost everything they see, ranging from beautiful pieces of tableware, furniture, and lighting to plants, candles, books, and more from global brands and Baltimore artisans alike.

 

For more information and reservations, call +1 (0) 410 – 834 – 4723 or email: hello@goodneighborguesthouse.com.

 

Explore Ancient Nicosia


 

Connecting guests to the heartbeat of Cyprus’s historic capital, Amyth of Nicosia is a grand, restored villa embraced by the city’s ancient Venetian walls. Designed by an Italian architect around 1900 as two separate residences, the building was converted into a school for young girls before finding new life as the hotel, which opened earlier this year. During the restoration process, the entire interior was gutted and reconstructed with materials and colours carefully selected to align with preserved historical architectural features, such as the high, wood-carved ceilings, the painted entranceway floor, and the structure’s stone frame.

 

 

Natural materials, including oak and iroko woods, bronze, stone, leather, and silk fabrics, create a warm and welcoming setting, which extends into the hotel’s restaurant-bar Amyth Kouzina. Here, guests can indulge in a refined dining experience where Cypriot and Mediterranean flavours come alive in dishes crafted with locally sourced produce.

 

For more information and reservations, call +357 (0) 2288 – 8400 or email: nicosia@amythhotels.com.

 

Sublime Greek Living


 

Tucked away on a quiet Greek island easily reachable by ferry from Athens, Stamna Sifnos offers a serene escape where the focus is on slowing down, eating nutritiously, and returning to the basics of simply living well. Deeply rooted in the island’s traditions, the hotel respects the natural morphology of its 13,000-square-metre plot, features an abundance of communal and private outdoor spaces, and boasts a gastronomy concept helmed by renowned Greek chef Gikas Xenakis. Regional craftspeople produced custom-made, olive-wood pieces, while floors are composed of marble sourced from Tinos, Naxos, and Paros, and decorative elements use silk, linen, and cotton from other nearby islands.

 

 

Beyond luxury accommodations, guests will discover a sparkling pool nestled amongst a Mediterranean garden, a shaded outdoor wellness area, and the in-house restaurant, where locally sourced, farm-fresh dishes are perfectly paired with top Greek wines – all with uninterrupted views of the Aegean Sea.

 

For more information and reservations, call +30 (0) 228 – 383 – 0520 or email: reservations@stamnasifnos.com.

 

Fine Dining On The Costa Brava


 

Housed within a beautifully updated private estate and perfectly placed in Begur along Spain’s picturesque Costa Brava, Finca Victoria is both a refuge for introspection and a celebration of art, fine dining experiences helmed by Michelin-starred chef Jordi Vilà, and long conversations that stretch into the night. The property’s design evokes the grand homes of Cadaqués and Llafranc, with wooden elements recalling the maritime spirit of the area’s boats, while local artisans crafted an abundance of custom pieces using traditional materials, such as ceramics and lava stone, to merge contemporary design with the feel of the region’s old Masias houses.

 

 

Common areas, including a wellness space and pool, unfold around the home’s original cloister, which has been transformed into the upscale restaurant Al Kostat del Mar, while a second dining outlet can be found nearby. Plus, a short walk away, guests will discover La Caseta del Mar, Finca Victoria’s exclusive beach bar.

 

For more information and reservations, call +34 (0) 972 – 600 – 835 or email: info@hotelfincavictoria.com.

 

Go Back In Time In Klaipėda


 

Bringing new life to the Lithuanian port city of Klaipėda, Reja offers an inspiring gateway to the past and a touchstone to Lithuania’s future. Located in Old Town, the hotel is situated within a fully renovated structure dating back to 1855. The structure’s original facade, which has changed little throughout the ages, gives way to fully recrafted interiors where custom marble headboards, authentic brickwork, and carpets by local designers complement ancient exposed wooden beams – a detail that echoes the 18th-century, German-style wooden frame buildings that make Klaipėda’s Old Town famous.

 

 

A gathering spot for visitors as well as the city’s creative community, Reja Coffee Shop is a place to meet, work, and converse around snacks, desserts, and home-roasted coffee. Meanwhile, The Fat Cat treats its guests to comforting European and Lithuanian gastro fare that highlights local and seasonal produce within a lively yet laid-back setting.

 

For more information and reservations, call +370 (0) 4621 – 1111 or email: info@hotelreja.com.

 

Escape To The Wilderness

 

Nestled within a dense Lithuanian forest and sitting on the shores of the crystal-clear Lake Ungurys just 40 minutes outside Vilnius, Esperanza Lake Resort fully immerses guests in nature, with each space inviting stillness, reflection, and quiet connection. Rather than impress, the architectural structure – crafted from logs, stone, clay, and other natural materials – blends into the landscape, while the design aims to soothe with an abundance of burnished woods, smooth clay-toned plaster, and textured stone surfaces guided by the principles of wabi-sabi.

 

 

In addition to 28 rooms and suites with hand-crafted furnishings, the resort boasts a 1,000-square-metre wellness centre; 15 hectares of private forest and lakeshore with a peaceful network of forest trails; Olea, one of few restaurants in Lithuania to explore contemporary Greek cuisine; and Mizu Beach by Heji, a Japanese fusion lakeside restaurant. All of this and more is backdropped by panoramic views of one of the country’s most protected and untouched natural sanctuaries: Aukštaitija National Park.

 

For more information and reservations, call +370 (0) 6600 – 3366 or email: info@esperanzaresort.lt.

 

Create Your Own Swiss Memories


 

Positioned at the intersection of Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein, Gasthaus Traube in Buchs, Switzerland, brings together a 200-year-old restaurant, a 14-room boutique hotel, and a garden oasis to create a storybook escape. The newly constructed hotel was formed from a dismantled stable, which had stood next to the centuries-old Traubensaal restaurant for decades. With a design philosophy led by authenticity, the structure’s larch façade has been carbonised using traditional Japanese techniques to preserve the wood, while individually designed guest rooms are clad in solid oak and handcrafted ceramics and tiles.

 

 

Contemporary art also plays a prominent role thanks to a collaboration with Swiss artist Heloisa Ackermann, whose soothing paintings decorate common areas and accommodations alike. Beyond the historic Traubensaal, where guests can create personalised menus and portion sizes, the property is also home to Braustube, a cozy gastropub with oak tables, stone floors, and a rustic atmosphere, and the Garten and Gartenzimmer, two interconnecting light and airy eateries offering hearty breakfasts in the mornings and a bistro menu throughout the day.

 

For more information and reservations, call +41 (0) 817 – 505 – 522 or email: info@gasthaus-traube.ch.

 

Relax In Central Berlin


 

At KPM Hotel & Residences in Berlin, an elegant and sleekly modern interior peppered with iconic porcelain sculptures and objects reflects the city’s long design history. The new building, with its striking steel façade, is nestled in a charmingly quiet corner of Charlottenburg directly across from the historic KPM Royal Porcelain Factory, which has produced high-quality porcelain since the 18th century.

 

 

Floor-to-ceiling and box-like bay windows give way to individually designed rooms and suites, with additional full-service apartments for those seeking longer-term stays. Throughout all spaces, including Dong A, the in-house restaurant serving high-end Vietnamese cuisine, the hotel’s connection with its namesake is clear: Elegant curves and monochromatic tones are complemented by KPM’s signature porcelain lighting, art pieces, and vases.

 

For more information and reservations, call +49 (0) 303 – 740 – 990 or email: willkommen@kpmhotel.de.

 

 

Source: Design Hotels.