When is a hotel more than just a place to sleep? Housed in a historic building, guests can be transported back to the Gilded Age or Edwardian era as easily as going to the gym or spa.
Today, you can check into a former 17th-century soap factory on the Côte d'Azur, part of the former War Office in London, or a Renaissance palace-style building that was once a bank in New York. Here are five new hotels in historic spaces where you can experience past and present, enjoying the latest luxuries and the architecture of a bygone era.
Theoule-sur-Mer, France
This seaside retreat on the Cote d'Azur was once a 17th-century soap factory, but its turreted and crenelated ramparts were added to by Scottish lords in the early 1900s, giving it more of a castle-like appearance. The property, located near the Esterel Mountains, opened this month with 44 rooms and suites, some in the castle and some in the villas. All rooms have an airy feel thanks to linen curtains, rattan light fixtures, hardwood floors and views of Cannes Bay.
I'd love to explore the inside of the building, but the soft sand and sunshine are a given every day. The hotel has its own beach, La Plage Blanche, with its 90 sunbeds. Château de Théor is about 20 minutes from Cannes, but you don't have to leave the sandy beach if you're hungry.Enjoy cocktails at beach restaurants and lounges like Stranberry Fields (elderberry gin, vanilla syrup, strawberry purée, tonic, egg whites), as well as salads, pizzaladiere (think focaccia with onion confit, anchovies, and black olives), and grilled octopus with citrus fennel and chimichurri. There are menus such as If you can tolerate leaving your lounge chair, explore the area's hiking trails, swim in the pool, or treat yourself to a massage or body treatment at the hotel's spa.
As evening approaches, head to Marerna, on the castle's terrace overlooking the bay, to enjoy Mediterranean cuisine and wine, with dishes such as calamari tagliatelle with avocado and smoked herring egg. Prices start from 360 euros (about $390) in low season and 920 euros in high season (mid-June to mid-September). The hotel will be closed for the season in mid-November.
London
The former workplace of government and military personnel, including Winston Churchill, the Old War Office (known as the New War Office when it was built in the early 1900s) has long been a site of intrigue.If you're a James Bond fan, you may recognize the Edwardian baroque style–With a style exterior that has appeared in several films, it is said that Bond's creator, former naval intelligence officer Ian Fleming, also visited the building. Now open to the public for the first time, part of it has been reborn as Raffles London, with 120 rooms and suites in the UK's first Raffles Hotels & Resorts property, His OWO.
Within the grand space are some suites of offices for political and military leaders, including a room named after Churchill. There will also be sections named after women involved in the property's history, including female spies and World War II agents such as Viscountess Astor, the first woman to become a member of the House of Commons, and spy Vera May Atkins. There are also suites. Recruited British secret agents.
The hotel's interior design was by Thierry Despont (who passed away last year), a French architect and designer known for his work on the Ritz Paris and the 100th anniversary restoration of the Statue of Liberty.
Strategic planning going on now includes when to make hotel reservations. A four-story spa. Historic spaces are being given new purpose, like Mauro Colagreco's Saison, a former library turned restaurant. Enjoy Mediterranean cuisine from France's best-known chefs at Mirazur, a Michelin-starred restaurant. The hotel's other chef restaurant, Mauro Colagreco, offers tasting menus featuring seasonal British fruit and vegetables.
Visit the Drawing Room, a wood-panelled lounge with a Steinway piano, and enjoy afternoon tea or something stronger while looking out at Buckingham Palace's Royal Guards. Or why not stop by for a drink in the underground spy He's Bar room, which was once used by MI5? Prices start at 922 pounds, or about $1,162.
buenos aires
Edificio Mijanovic, once one of the tallest buildings in Latin America, was commissioned by shipping businessman Nikola Mijanovic in the 1920s and is now home to a new hotel with 142 rooms and suites. Casa Lucia said the building was inspired by the shape of a lighthouse, which is one of the first things sailors see when entering a port, and Mihanovic made sure to make sure his ship was visible. I wanted something tall.
These days, guests can enjoy his ambitions while enjoying a bird's-eye view from the soft-hued contemporary architecture. rooms and suites. Many rooms have balconies with outdoor showers, and some offer panoramic views of Buenos Aires and the Rio de la Plata.
In addition to its proximity to the river, French-style architecture, There are also boutiques, galleries and tourist attractions such as the Recoleta Cemetery, where you can visit the grave of former first lady Eva Peron.
Return to the hotel and sample Argentine cuisine and, of course, wine at Cantina Restaurant, then head next door to Le Club Bacan, a moody cocktail bar with a large selection of Argentinian wines. Later this spring, guests should also be able to stop by the completed fitness center and spa with heated pool. Prices start at $670.
new york
Housed in a more than 100-year-old building and a new 24-story glass space called the Tower, this 153-room and suite hotel in Manhattan's NoMad neighborhood harks back to the Gilded Age when it was home. Masu. And a carriage house. This building dates back to the early 1900s. was It was sold and eventually became the Second National Bank. His five-story Renaissance palace-style building was designed by McKim, Mead & White, the architectural firm behind New York's original Pennsylvania Station and the Brooklyn Museum.
Step inside today and you'll find a sparkling lobby with chandeliers, antique mirrored walls, marble floors, and cabinets filled with curiosities. The interior design by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio is at once playful and luxurious, featuring tapestries and walls rich in color and pattern. The rooms blend old and new with antiques, Murano glass chandeliers, and wardrobes inspired by traditional Chinese cabinets.
Eating out is a must in New York.but James Beard Award winner Chef Andrew Carmellini, known for restaurants such as A Voce, Café Boulud and Locanda Verde, invites guests to stay at the hotel. The hotel's Café Hiso Carmellini is his take on modern Italian and French cuisine, with a menu that includes black dishes. Lobster bass forestiere and cannelloni with golden osetra. Afterwards, stop by his art-filled wood-paneled portrait bar, inspired by an Italian villa, and enjoy a drink by the fireplace.From price $895.
Charleston, South Carolina
This stylish boutique hotel's 25 rooms, suites, and residences are spread across three buildings in downtown Charleston, two of which date from the Victorian era. Perfect if you want the amenities of a hotel and the flexibility of a vacation rental. All rooms have full kitchens, washers and dryers. Some rooms have French doors leading to a private balcony or terrace. However, you don't want to lock yourself in your room. The outdoor terrace, just off the main lobby, has a fireplace and is the perfect place to take a break after strolling through the romantic streets dotted with gas lamps, historic buildings, boutiques and restaurants.
Or, why not stop by our hotel, Lecoux Williams House? The building is in the Greek Revival style and was built in 1834, according to the hotel. It has been repurposed as a restaurant overseen by chef Jason Stanhope. Charleston's favorite fig wins James Beard Award restaurant. That includes his Quinte, an oyster bar and cocktail spot named after his 1918 billiards hall in the same location (you can also order a seafood tower, soups, sandwiches and ice cream). Masu).Or try Lowland is a tavern with cozy dining spaces spread over two floors, including an outdoor dining area atop centuries-old cobblestones. No matter where you sit, you can enjoy comforting dishes like biscuits with farmer's cheese and pepper jelly or burgers and fries. Prices start at $399.