4 new luxurious stays to check out this year

Standing at one end of The Mall with Buckingham Palace at the other, the Admiralty Arch has been a backdrop to royal processions, state occasions and the theatre of British history since 1912, after being commissioned by King Edward VII in memory of his late mother, Queen Victoria.  

This year, the storied landmark will open its doors as a new flagship hotel: the Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch. At its heart will be a collection of destination restaurants and bars that are just as spectacular as the setting. The legendary Clare Smyth is helming the signature fine-dining eatery, Coreus. 

Located in the former home of the First Sea Lord, its seafood-forward menu reflects the building’s maritime heritage. Smyth is also bringing her famed bar concept, Whiskey & Seaweed, featuring a huge selection of whiskies from every distillery in the UK.  

On the top floor, fellow multi-Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud will oversee the all-day French-style restaurant, Café Boulud, perched on a magnificent vine-draped rooftop terrace with sweeping views from Buckingham Palace to the London Eye.

Here, guests will find breakfast and afternoon tea, alongside lunch and dinner menus highlighting Boulud’s most celebrated dishes. 

There is a state-of-the-art spa, a 320-cover ballroom and 100 guest rooms, including a palatial VIP Suite overlooking both Trafalgar Square and The Mall. The hotel interiors pay homage to Winston Churchill and naval intelligence officer-turned-James-Bond-author, Ian Fleming, both of whom once worked here.

Nestled in the Swiss village of Sils Maria, Chesa Marchetta opened in January. This quaint town is accessible via a two and a half hour drive from Zurich and is worth the visit thanks to its beautiful alpine views and traditional architecture.

Considered the cultural centre of Engadin, Sils Maria is an excellent base to explore its many hiking trails or to take part in water activities at Lake Sils or Silvaplana. 

Chesa Marchetta was originally a 16th-century guest house, and now features 13 newly renovated room hotels that feature traditional Engadin furniture as well as local artwork.

The rooms range from the two-bedroom, top floor family suite which includes a reading space and living room, to the smaller standard rooms which are no less evocative with excellent craftsmanship and elegant detailing.

The hotel also houses a 46-cover restaurant that celebrates art, local tradition Alpine gastronomy and Northern Italian cuisine. Produce is sourced locally through Engadin and the neighbouring valleys from Val Bregaglia to Val Poschiavo.

The hotel opens seasonally from December to March and again from June to October.

Luxury Japanese brand The Imperial opened its doors in Kyoto’s historic Gion district in March. Housed in a former theatre, this 55-room boutique property offers exceptional dining, wellness amenities and authentic local hospitality.  

The restored Yasaka Kaikan Theater which sits at the heart of the hotel is a registered Tangible Cultural Property in Kyoto. As such, the hotel design by Tomoyuki Sakakida, uses over 16,000 original deocrative tiles to honour the city’s crafting traditions.

The rooms were designed around the concepts of Preservation, Renovation and Extension, with each collection offering a different architectural perspective. All rooms offer either a view of Mount Higashiyama or the city’s historic tiled roofs.

For city views, the hotel’s rooftop bar (exclusively for guests) is worth a visit for its panaromic views and Kyoto-inspired drinks. Also be sure to check out the indoor pool, a secret sanctuary discretely tucked away in the basement and surrounded by natural historic Kitagi stone that adds to the area’s majestic air.

Hospitality legend Ian Schrager is set to open a new outpost of his Public hotel brand on the Sunset Strip this summer, promising stylish rooms, multiple bars and a sprawling rooftop overlooking the Hollywood Hills. 

Hotelier Schrager is already much-lauded for Public’s New York outpost and anticipation continues to build for the brand’s upcoming West Hollywood launch. The new hotel sits on the site of the former Standard Hotel and will boast 137 rooms with interiors designed by Schrager himself in collaboration with British architect John Pawson.

Sure to be a focal point for mingling at the hotel is its 16,000 square-foot rooftop offering sweeping views of Los Angeles. It’s expected to be a social space in line with Schrager’s belief that such areas should be open to all. In the same vein, the lobby is also expected to be a social hub where people can congregate, mix, see and be seen.

Feature image: David Iliff

Additional reporting: Karen Fong

For more information on Singapore Airlines’ flights to these destinations, visit singaporeair.com.