Up and Away
But in this hotel, an old fort palace in India’s green Aravali valley, there is a strong temptation to linger: standing in the shower, you get a spectacular view of the extensive valley plain stretching all the way to the mountain peaks on the horizon.
The 18th-century fort was recently turned into a luxury hotel offering Indian spa treatments, camel safaris, astrological sessions and visits to temples. It all sounds extremely tempting – provided you can drag yourself out of the shower.
tel. +91 2953 289 211
deviresorts.com
Ascona – 7easy
It is said that the Swiss town of Ascona on Lake Maggiore is a Sleeping Beauty. Only down at the lakeside has it been roused from its slumber, most notably at the 7easy pizza place.
The restaurant’s most striking feature is its abundance of wood décor, including stacked logs that act as room dividers. Guests eat at high stone and wood tables. And the menu? Pizza, naturally, and a great deal more Italian cuisine – courtesy of world-champion chef Ivo Adam.
Piazza, tel. +41 0 91 780 77 71
seven-ascona.ch
Copenhagen – Royal Copenhagen
The Royal Copenhagen porcelain factory, established more than 230 years ago, is located in the pedestrian-only zone of the Danish capital.
A more recent addition is a café in the rear courtyard, where orders are served on their exquisite porcelain.
The ambience exudes Scandinavian elegance, and the café’s specialty is smushi, a fusion of sushi and smørrebrød, an open rye bread sandwich. This tastes best when eaten from the “Elements” range of porcelain, Louise Campbell’s new take on the classic blue and white pattern.
Amagertorv 6, tel. +45 33 13 71 81
royalcopenhagen.com
Beijing – Lan
A design maestro has clearly pulled out all the stops here. The Lan Restaurant, in Beijing’s Twin Towers, might be described as a Philippe Starck wonderland. Access is via an ordinary elevator, but as its doors open, you step into a realm of opulence: heavy drapes, low-hanging chandeliers, leather sofas, gold stools, velvet seats, illuminated wine cabinets.
The eye is overwhelmed by the sheer sumptuousness of the place. The restaurant is divided into many compartments, each with its own design world. A floor space of 65,000 square feet provides ample room to eat, drink and dance in style. Or just observe and enjoy.
4/F Twin Towers, Bldg B, 12 Jianguomenwai Avenue
tel. +010 5109 6012
lanbeijing.com
New York – The Greenwich
Clint Eastwood has one in California, Robert Redford’s is in Utah, and now Robert De Niro has joined the ranks of thespian hoteliers. The Greenwich in TriBeCa has a red brick, glass and ironwork exterior, while the lobby boasts colorful furniture, French windows and huge chandeliers.
Entering the hotel is like stepping onto a big stage. “It’s exactly how I would furnish my private home,” says the actor – guests will be able to boast that they have had an inside view of how Robert De Niro lives.
The Greenwich Hotel, 377 Greenwich Street
tel. 1 212 941 8900
thegreenwichhotel.com
Plettenberg Bay 6 – Tsala Treetop Lodge
In the South African jungle, between the Tsitsikamma Mountains – known for their clear, bubbling springs – and the Indian Ocean, 10 treehouses on stilts have been built using natural stone and wood. Not a single tree was felled in the process.
Rooms are in the treetops, where guests can enjoy their own pool and sundeck. The main building houses the restaurant, which features a glass floor revealing the ground below – not recommended for vertigo sufferers.
PO Box 454, Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape
tel. +27 44 501 1111
hunterhotels.com/tsalatreetoplodge
Source: BMW Magazine