Hotel Straf
Its unassuming facade masks a modern-elegant interior: raw-concrete walls and chocolate-brown chaise-longues in the lobby. It struck us as a destination for fans of the out-of-the-ordinary, the style-conscious and the arty. Hotel Straf is a celebration of bona fide cutting-edge fashionista minimalism, with distressed fabric under glass along its stylish corridors, and scuffed-satiny walls.
More >>
Bulgari Hotel
The interior of this Milanese fashion hotel is a chocolate box of browns , blacks and whites, with an expensive, soft-minimal feel. You'll never see a loose end or a scuff mark. The hotel has a slightly masculine appeal: Bulgari Hotel would make the ideal seduction scene for the sort of young man who gets GQ for the girls and the gear, and The Economist for the gossip.
More >>
The Gray
The Gray looks glossy, with a solid, mirrored rectangle as an awning. On our left as we enter is a small cocktail lounge, boudoirish, with velvet banquettes; the reception area is replete with a giant fuchsia-upholstered swing. The Gray is precisely central, with the Duomo at the end of the street, La Scala and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele round the corner.
More >>
Ca' Maria Adele
With its Murano chandeliers, flock wallpaper and heavy damask fabrics, the Ca Maria Adele is absolutely Venetian, but its African wood, polished concrete and laid-back, bohemian atmosphere mean it is also undeniably modern. Located right opposite the Salute, it is in the heart of Venice's most tranquil area, the art quarter, and the only other tourists you are likely to come across are lost ones.
More >>
I Qs
This intimate Venetian boutique hotel offers plush and private living in the heart of the island city. Little sister to DD724, its individually designed rooms blend comfort with impeccably executed contemporary tastes. Sprinkled with modern art, photography and sculpture, and flavoured with architectural hints of its Gothic past, I Qs does ‘urban hideaway’ with style-savvy panache.
More >>
DD724
When we find the hotel, hiding down a narrow alley in Dorsoduro, we know instantly we are somewhere really special. From the outside, you might expect it to be cramped - but it's a design triumph. DD724 may not be the only hotel in the world to feature clean lines and a brown-and-white colour palette, but it's a stroke of contemporary cool unique to these parts.
More >>
Palazzo Barbarigo
A converted 16th-century Venetian palazzo right on the Grand Canal, Palazzo Barbarigo blends modern boudoir glamour with Twenties deco chic. Dramatic contemporary furnishings, feathered lampshades and smoky mirrors send new blood coursing through the heart of this parquet-floored, high-ceilinged grande dame. A short stroll from the Rialto bridge, this is surely one of the sexiest stays in Venice…
More >>
Vigilius Mountain Resort
This boutique hotel in South Tyrol mixes stylish, minimalist design with warmth and character. Set in the spectacular scenery of the Dolomites, Vigilius Mountain Resort is ideal for activities, from skiing and tobogganing to hiking and horse riding, as well as melting down in the spa or taking in the views.
More >>