London food
fromCN Traveller
1 day agoThe best hotels in Mayfair, London
The former American Embassy in Mayfair has transformed into a luxurious all-suite hotel with unique features and amenities.
Inspired by Courchevel's glamorous heyday in the 1960s, when the jet set swarmed the ski resort's sun-drenched slopes, interior designer Tristan Auer (behind some of France's most revered revamps, like Hôtel de Crillon, a Rosewood Hotel) wanted the property to feel more like an intimate chalet than a traditional hotel. "We have reimagined the Alpine estate to create a dynamic and unexpected hub of conviviality,"
The hotel is located on the historic Queenhithe Dock on the Thames, a natural inlet where Alfred the Great arrived in 886 to rebuild the city after it was abandoned by the Romans. Queen Matilda was granted the dues from the dock in the early 12th century, hence the name Queenhithe. Nowadays, the Westin London City is a perfect spot for visiting theatres and museums it has a spectacular view over Shakespeare's Globe and Tate Modern, which are just across the river.
As I'm stuck in my NYC apartment on a brisk day in January, I can't help but daydream about the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach in Florida. I spent one night there in October 2025 and booked the cheapest available room for $920. Sitting in a cushioned rattan chair on my balcony as the sun went down, I could see the pool surrounded by palms and cabanas, tropical gardens, and the five-star hotel's private beach.
Housed in a bespoke armoire at least six feet tall, it is filled with curated delights of every kind. Mine, for instance, was stocked with an expansive tea selection requisite of a non-coffee-drinker, as well as a host of healthy-ish snack options, like pea chips and protein bars (though I couldn't resist the gourmet Turkish delight or gummy bears either).
The Spanish-style home, named Casa Casuarina when it was built in the 1930s, was a hot spot for the original owner's bohemian friends, according to the hotel's website. Fashion designer Gianni Versace transformed the mansion in 1992, creating 12 suites to accommodate his family and friends, which included Princess Diana and Elton John, Vanity Fair reported. Several years after Versace's death, the mansion was transformed into a luxury hotel, and the Villa Casa Casuarina now caters to celebrities like the Kardashians.
The 155-room property, which includes 21 plush suites, boasts a prime spot on Beach Street steps away from the sand and Santa Cruz's boardwalk. And many guest rooms have unobstructed ocean views. There are also four restaurants, an expansive spa, 13,000 square feet of meeting spaces, and a rooftop deck, where guests can enjoy the sights and sounds of the Pacific.
The Roosevelt New Orleans, opened in 1893, is a luxury hotel with deep historical roots in New Orleans and has hosted legendary guests and U.S. presidents.
Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, Amalfi Coast, is an 11th-century palace with terraced gardens and features a new pool club La Piscina, offering limoncello-making classes and live orchestra performances.
The Fontainebleau has unveiled the Sun Club, a pop-up experience that offers a luxurious poolside retreat with exclusive Veuve Clicquot champagne options.
Chateau Voltaire, located in the first arrondissement of Paris, offers a chic and sophisticated atmosphere, merging modern French finesse with historical influences while avoiding gaudiness.
The Dupont Circle neighborhood embodies the essence of Washington, DC, with vibrant street life, historic charm, and cultural diversity, serving as the city's true heart.
Despite recent revelations that a key document was forged to lift the protected status of a historic site in Belgrade, President Vucic insists the luxury hotel development will continue.