Firmdale Hotels
Warren Street Hotel … every space is crammed with personality, whimsy and gallery-worthy art.
Thanks to the flamboyant design ethos of founders Tim and Kit Kemp, Firmdale has developed a cult following for its luxurious boutique hotels and upscale restaurants in London and New York. Kit’s modern take on English style combines artworks with curious antiques, bold colours and beautiful fabrics. The couple has unveiled their 11th property, Warren Street Hotel, a rare new build in Manhattan’s Tribeca. From the vibrant yellow lobby filled with sculptures to the intimate guests-only drawing room and buzzy all-day brasserie, every space is crammed with personality, whimsy and gallery-worthy art. See firmdale.com
Villa Royale, Palm Springs
More time capsule than accommodation … Villa Royale in downtown Palm Springs.
Tucked away behind thick vegetation, Villa Royale in downtown Palm Springs is more time capsule than accommodation. Built in 1947, screenwriter Irving Shulman wrote an early treatment of Rebel Without a Cause by the centrally located pool, where guests can sunbathe in loungers that look across palm trees to the snow-covered San Jacinto Mountains. Guests from Mickey Rooney to The Beatles have enjoyed the facilities. Eat at a candle-lit restaurant housed within stucco walls set around an eight-seat oak and marble bar, and then head outside to gaze at the desert moonlight beside a firepit on the cobble-stoned terrace. See villaroyale.com
Frecciarossa, Italy
Trenitalia’s high-speed Frecciarossa, or Red Arrow, are a cut above.Credit: Rail Europe
Several European countries operate high-speed trains, but there’s something about Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa (Red Arrow) trains that make them a cut above. Start with the company’s scarlet pointy-nosed trains, which scream “fast” – or more precisely, “veloce”. Next in its favour are the friendly onboard staff who, in true Italian fashion, are kitted out in the most stylish uniforms this side of the Dolomites. The food packs given out in business class contain good pastries along with other snacks, and the onboard coffee is fantastico. Order an espresso doppio and enjoy the fast life on the rails. See trenitalia.com
Villa Mabrouka, Tangier
The stylish property was previously owned by French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.
This 1940s Andalusian mansion probably has the best address in North Africa: “Kasbah, Tanger, Maroc”, plus a view of the Strait of Gibraltar. Previously owned by French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and now by British designer Jasper Conran, Villa Mabrouka has 12 impeccably renovated suites and villas, plus a hectare of brilliant gardens. Decor, service and dining is to the same excellent standard. See villamabrouka.com
The Brooklet, Byron Bay hinterland
Classy yet easygoing … multi-villa retreat The Brooklet.
The Brooklet is a multi-villa retreat that combines the privacy and country charm of a house in the hinterland with the best of hotel amenities. Lyn and John Parche, who successfully managed the Byron at Byron for 15 years, and Amanda Luckmann of Bondi’s Caravan Interiors helped the owners of The Brooklet develop a truly outstanding luxury stay on an old macadamia farm over a five-year period of design and development. Classy yet easygoing, it is, in other words, perfectly Byron. See thebrooklet.com.au
The Anam Mui Ne, Vietnam
Two lovely pools among the luxurious features of this five-star resort.
Vietnamese and independently owned, the Anam Mui Ne, which opened in 2023, is an intimate, immaculate and intriguing beachside resort. With interiors inspired by French villas in Hanoi and the garden homes of central Vietnam, the resort sings with beautifully curated local art, custom tiles, exquisite vases, statues and teak furniture crafted from sustainable forests, authentic thatched roofs from Binh Thuan, and luxurious touches like huge clawfoot baths, sprawling private balconies, exquisite gardens and two lovely swimming pools. Add exemplary service and excellent cuisine, and there are plenty of reasons why this delightful property is the only Small Luxury Hotels of the World affiliate in Vietnam. Its older sister, The Anam Cam Ranh, continues to garner awards. See theanam.com
Basalt, Orange, NSW
At dawn, sunlight drenches the lines of Basalt’s timber and rammed-earth walls – and its luxurious tub for two.
Basalt’s three studios seem to emerge from within their namesake terra firma, thanks to their striking rammed earth and metal construction. This getaway is the brainchild of a local cherry farmer whose bounty is called – rather aptly considering their elevation on Pinnacle Road – Cherries from Heaven. Celestial references continue inside these architecturally designed luxury digs, with a telescope pointed to spangled skies and all the five-starry comforts: a king bed with orchard views, rainshower, bathrobes, French linen, plush rugs adorning spotted gum and polished concrete, a full kitchen and a thumping egg bath in its own private window nook. More earthly pleasures in the form of local sourdough and wine and bounding ’roos also await guests. See basaltorange.com.au