Playful, traditional and forward-thinking, Semiramis is almost ironic in a city as ancient as Athens. This zesty hotel is dipped in hot pinks, lime greens and bright oranges with furniture of different shapes, sizes and textures throughout. Located in the leafy Kifissia district, rooms feature queen- and king-sized beds, tinted partition walls and light-box art installations behind each bed. Have fun with art just like the designer, Karim Rashid, has done with the hotel, where textures and materials are mixed – think concrete with rubber floors, ceramic with dark wood and neon swimming pool floors.
SoHo’s ModernHaus Hotel is an idyllic fit for urban travellers. Artworks by Alexander Calder, George Condo, Harland Miller, Jean Dubuffet and KAWS line the walls of this carefully thought-out hotel situated in a neighbourhood of cast-iron buildings and cobblestone streets. There’s a distinct nod to Bauhaus designs throughout with clean lines, functional shapes and ornamental forms taking centre stage. On the 18th floor is a Picasso-inspired rooftop space, reminiscent of his Blue Period, complete with modular blue furniture, tiled walls and floor-to-ceiling windows framing bulks of the city.
Inspired by Tyrolean farmhouses and native goat-antelopes, Hotel Kitzhof Mountain Design Hotel invites guests to savour the essence of all things alpine. The interior design of this elegant mountain lodge was undertaken by the hotel’s co-owner, Uschi Schelle-Müller, who used local materials to create sculpted wooden lampshades, bucket-shaped leather armchairs and more. Salvaged cabin materials form the wall panels and larch floorboards while regional-produced loden blankets add a comforting touch.
We couldn’t compile a list of the world’s coolest art and design hotels and not include Berlin. The art’otel Berlin Kudamm is a trendy art hotel with spacious, design-led rooms. Each and every one of its 152 rooms features an original Andy Warhol artwork, from photography portraits to iconic pop-shots of Marilyn Monroe. The rest of the rooms are suitably toned down with white colour schemes so you can bask in the beauty of Warhol’s artwork. This Radisson-owned hotel is located in trendy Charlottenburg where you’re also close to boutique and designer stores.
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Stay in this hundred-year-old colonial mansion and experience for yourself its transformation into a contemporary-designed hotel with modern-day amenities. From the outside you can take in Macalister Mansion’s 19th-century structure with its giant sculptural bust of Sir Norman Macalister (pictured), a former British governor of Penang, after whom the hotel is named. But step inside for a fusion of past-meets-present (or just linger by the poolside terrace). Quirky yet sophisticated, rooms are coloured in elegant, white-linen tones with artwork highlighting George Town’s past.
Skwachàys Lodge doesn’t just make for a deluxe stay, it also helps your social impact. The Vancouver-based hotel is a social enterprise that includes on-site housing and studio space for 24 Indigenous artists from emerging to senior levels. The gallery workshop in the lobby gives guests access to see the artists at work. Each of the 18 rooms are individually styled by top hotel designers in collaboration with Indigenous artists and as such each suite focuses on an Indigenous theme, like the Poem Room, Feather Room and Forest Spirits Room (pictured).
This former brewery pays homage to its heritage with exposed brick, bare concrete and old timber panelling. The Old Clare Hotel’s semi-industrial feel allows guests to bask in the building’s history while revelling in a swanky stay. With subtle greys, whites and wood tones and upcycled vintage items, it’s certainly a place to linger. Chippendale, the area the hotel is located in, is popular with artists and here you’ll find one of the biggest showcases of contemporary Chinese art in the world. Remember to pack your camera.
The cosy yet eclectic Artist Residence in Penzance makes for an invigorating stay for budding artists. Set in a former Georgian coach house, this Cornish hotel combines the building’s historic character with contemporary art. Rooms feature exposed beams, seaviews across to Mousehole – reminiscent of its maritime past – and roll-top bathtubs alongside limited edition art prints and vintage and reclaimed furniture. Here you’ll find yourself simultaneously transported back in time and into another world. For more artistic inspiration, head to the nearby Art Deco lido.
Housed in one of Boston’s most iconic landmark buildings, The Newbury provides art enthusiasts with endless inspiration and appreciation. Its uncomplicated, cloud-toned guestrooms feature original artwork, custom-designed furnishings by revered interior designers, handcrafted touches and marble bathrooms. The hotel also curates personalised art tours with Cube Art Boston, where guests can visit new galleries and go behind the scenes at top institutions on a four-hour excursion.
David Deilmann pays homage to his city’s youthful yet historic identity with this semi-industrial hotel. Constructed in and around heritage-listed walls of the former Germania Brewery, Münster’s Factory Hotel retains historic elements with blackened brick walls, steel support beams and unfinished concrete. Yet there’s high-concept furniture and a rooftop bar to enjoy here, seamlessly combining nostalgia with progress. Design runs within the Deilmann family; David’s father handled the architecture and interior design while his grandfather had designed some of the city’s most-loved buildings like the Münster Theatre.
This light, airy and calming hotel features artwork and sculptures from regional and international artists, including Luca Monzani, Maria Yelletisch and Tonina Oliver. The adults-only Sa Creu Nova Petit Palais Art & Spa combines artwork with its interior design thanks to paintings depicting landscapes, murals and pictorial interpretations. Rooms feature textured stone walls, parquet oak floors and open-plan bathrooms, retaining a clean, modern style with traditional elements.
Willy Wonka would approve of Melbourne’s Adelphi Hotel. The place retains its warehouse origins with metal windows and concrete façades, but there’s no ignoring the chocolate-toned furnishings, cake-patterned carpets and sweet-shaped stools. Yet, somehow (if not miraculously) this design hotel isn’t kitsch to the point of being sickly sweet. Rooms are something of a palate cleanser with black and white tones and matching zigzag carpets before you dine at one of the two purple-lit and caramel-toned restaurants.
The 48 villas that make up Azulik in Tulum are inspired by nature: the Mayan jungle and Caribbean Sea, to be precise. There’s no electric light, air conditioning or TV, so guests are presented with the opportunity to reconnect with nature. And with that comes its design. Furnishings are sculptural art pieces themselves; Sky Villa offers clifftop views with a timber-clad canopy (pictured) while Aqua Villa features a wooden swing hanging from a curved tree overlooking the glistening sea. For those wanting to get hands-on with art, the hotel also hosts macramé, pottery, glass and fashion workshops.
An art piece in itself, Marrakesh’s AnaYela is a 300-year-old palace that was restored using traditional Moroccan craftsmanship without the use of any electric tools. All the furniture, from the lamps to the tableware, was designed by Bernd Kolb and Yannick Hervy and finished individually by over a hundred Moroccan artisans; there’s calligraphy hammered into the doors which tells the background story of this riad. This art-focused hotel is typical in its palace style, revolving around a central courtyard. With a heated limestone pool and rooftop overlooking the medina, a stay here will certainly stimulate the senses.
Filled with over 14,000 antiques and artworks – among them Picasso and Richter – The Fife Arms in the foothills of the Cairngorms is an art-lover's dream. The hotel is steeped in history and has tartan-clad walls, painted ceilings and dark-toned furniture, and there’s even a watercolour painting of a stag’s head by Queen Victoria. But it’s not all about the past. Special commissions include contemporary installations, like the Steinway piano by Mark Bradford that sits in the reception. The rooms, corridors and pretty much any other space are likely graced with pieces that the passionate gallerist owners see fit.
If Toronto’s West Queen West wasn’t creative enough, then Gladstone House only adds to it. This boutique hotel prides itself on its collection of local and regional art displayed on temporary and permanent schedules. You’ll see it for yourself as soon as you enter: there’s art above the lobby fireplace and a hand-painted mural overhead, the stairway gallery features rotating exhibitions and there’s more of the same in some of the guest rooms – although they’re working towards art being included in every room. There’s also a dedicated workshop area for guests and community members alike to enjoy.
Enjoy a Roman holiday at Relais Rione Ponte, located inside a 17th-century building in the historic Rione Ponte district. With artistic direction from Emmeotto, a contemporary art gallery just a five-minute walk away, the hotel’s handpicked selection of Italian and international artwork decorate this boutique hotel with year-round exhibitions. For extra inspiration, linger at one of the surrounding cafés and soak up the historic and ancient architecture that surrounds you.
Opened in 2020, Vida Creek Harbour uses its artwork collection to narrate the trade industry the area is known for. Spread across the lobby, rooms and every other space, here you’ll find sculptures, installations and prints that jump off the wall and into your hearts. There’s a mixed-metal installation by Rafia Ghubash, the found of Dubai’s Women’s Museum, which pays homage to the burqa, while weavings and organic materials line the walls. The theme continues in the grey-and-white-hued rooms overlooking the creek and iconic skyline beyond.
There’s a definite feel of luxury expeditions at London’s The Mandrake. There are quirky antiques and decadent art decor on display here, along with artwork by the likes of Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol and Jonas Burgert, all collected by the owner during his travels. The lavish theme continues in the rooms with French rugs, vintage chandeliers and mid-century pieces and there’s a jungle-themed greenhouse home to numerous exotic plants. Excitingly, there’s also an artist in residence programme here which firmly keeps creativity at the heart of this opulent art hotel.
Nestled in Mountain View lies the Ameswell Hotel. Positioned on the crossroads of major north/south and east/west corridors, the artwork at this hotel encompasses both the real and conceptual. Simultaneously inspired by the area’s natural beauty and creative genius – it’s not far from Silicon Valley – guests can take in prints, installations and sculptures sprinkled throughout the property. Expect to find mesmerising sculptures by Chul Hyun Ahn, bamboo artistry by Yufu Shohaku and NASA-inspired canvases by Ala Ebtekar on display.
Established by Alda Fendi of the Fendi family and designed by world-renowned French architect Jean Nouvel, this boutique property in the heart of Rome's historical centre combines a modern-meets-industrial feel. Art works by Michelangelo, El Greco and Picasso can be found across its Avant Garde art gallery and state-of-the-art rooms (which include studios and penthouse apartments). Once you've marvelled at all the art, relax on one of their spacious terraces or rooftop restaurant (pictured) to soak up those captivating city views.