From an eco lodge nestled in the foothills of Ethiopia to a converted 16th-century farmhouse in Southern Italy, Lucy Rees rounds up four of the most exquisite, stylish and unexpected hotels recently opened around the world.
Formerly a 16th-century farmhouse, it’s been converted into an intimate nine-bedroom hotel. Surrounded by six walled gardens – one with a slate-lined pool – and 150 acres of olive groves, the one-month-old retreat is situated around 10km from the baroque town of Lecce in Southern Italy.
The biggest draw: authentic local cuisine including dishes like foglie d’ulivo ai carciofi (olive leaf pasta with artichokes). Don’t miss their on-site pasta-making classes while you’re there.
The first floating villa in the Maldives, Soneva in Aqua is from the group’s flagship resort Soneva Fushi. The sleekly designed wooden yacht sleeps sleep four adults. Cool features include a glass-bottomed spa and shower, a raised sun and dining deck and a “chart of locations” giving you the option to tailor your trip accordingly. And if all that isn’t enough, the onboard crew – comprising a captain, chef, masseuse, private butler, astronomer, and a diving instructor – will take care of your every need.
A stylish 16-room retreat designed by New York architect Uday Dhar is situated on Sri Lanka’s southern coast with views of the Indian Ocean.You’d expect a hotel named after an Edward Lear poem to be arty, and it doesn’t disappoint.
With a bohemian seaside feel, interiors feature colourful hand-embroidered lace linens, artwork hand-made by 20 international artists and local craftsmen, and a whole lot of polished concrete. There’s also a 56-foot infinity pool and spa overlooking the sea, so you can expect to enjoy some killer views.
This boutique 12-room lodge, which is slated to open in April, is nestled within Ethiopa’s Simien Mountains National Park. Working in partnership with the African Wildlife Foundation, the environmentally-friendly building has been built by locals in the Limalimo community and is made from rammed earth wood and thatch.
Rooms are scattered around the World Heritage site with hillside views, sharing scenery with ibex, wolves and gelada monkeys. Guests can also take part in day treks, sleep under the stars and take part in a range of local artisanal activities from beekeeping to injera making (traditional Ethopian flatbread) workshops.
Like this? See the most stunning, out-of-this-world buildings designed by award winning architect Zaha Hadid.