Nomkas

What if you could actually visit the Garden of Eden? And what if it was surrounded by vineyards, historic Cape Dutch farm buildings, and a formal French-style potager garden, where you could pick your own strawberries and fragrant herbs? At Babylonstoren, in the Drakenstein Valley, 33 miles northeast of Cape Town, the mythical garden comes to life. Founded in 1690, the 590-acre compound is modeled on the farms that supplied the ships making their way around the Cape of Good Hope en route to India. The cottages and suites are minimalist but stylish. You won’t find a grand lobby or an obsequious concierge here, but the staff, most of whom are wearing T-shirts, aprons, or khakis, combine a genuine eagerness to help with a high level of knowledge about the farm and its long history. Stay long enough and eventually—after a visit to the on-site bakery, the winery, the cheesemaker, the butcher, and the farm-tank-style swimming pool—you may forget that you’re staying at a hotel.

The pretty Georgian manor house, all honeyed Bath stone, sits at the end of an avenue of sky-high beech and lime trees, surrounded by gardens like a Jane Austen film set. On the grounds there’s a personable cottage for weekending families, a world-class equestrian center, and a serious cooking school. But you don’t have to whip up your own supper. Chef Hywel Jones plates up exquisite food in his eponymous restaurant. That in itself is a reason to stay. So are the roaring fires, the paneled libraries, the canopied four-poster beds, and the moody oil paintings. A purposeful drive in recent years to make the place feel less formal has resulted in a cheery bounce in the staff's step, a raising of chatter levels to almost a hum in the evenings, and a relaxed atmosphere where you can wear your robe down to the ESPA spa and back again without feeling like a terrible slob. Eagle-eyed guests will spot the curious Greek elements dotted around—the urns in the bathroom, the Acropolis paintings in the dining room, the Hellenic motif on the plates. This country retreat feels resonant and rooted, delightfully British to the core.

Opened in 1910 as the Bellevue Hotel, the downtown Beaux-Arts building has a long history of welcoming visitors to San Francisco. But when it re-opened in 2018 with a fresh redesign by Perkins + Will, a new era began. The rooms are decorated with expressive pops of color, statement walls, and a collection of furniture that seems to know no decade. Active travelers will be glad to hear that each room comes with its own yoga mat, and free bike rentals help you cruise around and explore the city with ease.

Walking into the W’s first Middle Eastern outpost is like entering a never-ending party: Chill-out music plays in the sleek lobby (even at 8 a.m.), and the handsome staff from Mexico, New Zealand, Tanzania, and Russia, among other countries, hand each arriving guest a mocktail. The hotel’s Sisley Paris Spa and restaurants (there's Papermoon Milan and Peruvian spot COYA) are attracting expats and locals eager for a more global experience. The 442 rooms are filled with curves: rounded frames for the desks and bed platforms, arabesques on walls and curtains, and circular chairs positioned to take in the seafront or the evolving skyline of starchitect skyscrapers. Business travelers will appreciate the convenient location in the West Bay financial district, the attentive service, and the lap pool with resistance current.

The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal is a grandiose, glistening example of Middle Eastern opulence. Case in point: the Ritz-Carlton Suite, which clocks in at 1,356 square feet, has a stylish four-poster bed, spacious powder room, full marble bathroom with a soaking tub, a color therapy shower, separate living and dining areas, a kitchen, and two terraces overlooking the Grand Canal. The 21,500-square-foot Bedouin spa, a short ride from the hotel, is a standalone oasis with a private beach, 16 treatment rooms, plunge pools, saunas, and a plethora of luxurious treatments. Families can make use of Ritz Kids, available daily for children ages four to 12. Those keen on visiting the mosque and learning more about the cultural landmark can catch the hotel shuttle, which runs every 30 minutes.

If you walked into the Dolder Grand without knowing what it was, you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking you’d stumbled into a fine art museum—the hotel’s collection includes pieces by Salvador Dalí, Takashi Murakami, and Andy Warhol. But the up-close access to paintings and sculptures is far from the only reason to stay at this Zurich hotel: there’s also a 43,000 square foot spa with sweeping views of the Alps, an eight-course tasting menu courtesy of Michelin-starred chef Heiko Neider, and, in warmer months, cocktails under crisp white umbrellas on the open-air panoramic terrace.

Together, the nine 21c Museum Hotels (and counting) comprise North America’s only multi-venue museum dedicated exclusively to 21st-century art. Opened in 2018, the Kansas City location breathes new life into the 1888 Savoy Hotel and Grill, where President Harry S. Truman was such a regular that his favorite booth is now marked with a plaque. The hotel’s gallery welcomes rotating exhibits, but guests don’t have to leave their beds to see art: Each room features photographs of penguins and Antarctic landscapes shot by brand co-founder Laura Lee Brown. Continuing that chilly theme, the 21c chain is home to a flock of four-foot-tall, recycled-plastic penguins, which the staff moves around throughout the day. The K.C. ones are sky blue, and if you fall hard for them you can pick up a ceramic replica in the gift shop.

Colombia has been rising through the ranks in terms of destinations in the past decade—and you can always trust W Hotels to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with the hottest trends. Opened in late 2014, W Bogota is situated right in the heart of the capital city's upscale Usaquen neighborhood, putting guests next to embassies, restaurants, and boutiques. You can expect colorful, modern decor in all 168 guest rooms—especially in the Extreme Wow Suite, which includes a king-size bed with floral canopy, an avant-garde (and purple!) circular sofa, and 180-degree views of the city's skyline. Grab brunch or dinner at the Martin Kitchen before kicking back with a drink and live music at the W Lounge. Then it's back to your room to detox before repeating it all the next day.

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