These impeccably designed retreats bring soulful, cutting-edge design to stylish spots
Words by STUART BRUMFITT
marrakech, morocco
Rosemary
The fashion crowd has been coming to Marrakech since Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé made it their chic Paris getaway from gray French winters. In recent years, there has been an explosion of hotel openings catering to people who love the city’s louche good taste. One of the latest is the ROSEMARY riad, the perfect retreat for design-driven, culturally curious travelers who value craftsmanship, art, and authenticity. It’s like someone’s soulful private home, standing in opposition to the more conventional luxury offerings in the city. The building was restored and designed by architectural historian Quentin Wilbaux, who has worked on 150 properties in the Marrakech medina. The interior vision was led by Laurence Leenaert, known for the hand-painted ceramics, rugs, and sculptural works she creates for LRNCE, the brand she runs with her husband. Original artworks and design pieces are available for purchase, allowing guests to take their experience home. A 40-year-old jacaranda grows through the heart of the riad, custom-made scents fill the air, and the floors glow with thousands of hand-inserted red marble lozenges. One of the main pleasures is its leisurely breakfasts, made with ingredients fresh from the market and enjoyed in a loungey, unhurried setting. rosemarymarrakech.com.
MUST-DO: In addition to the famous cobalt blue Jardins Majorelles, be sure to visit the Yves Saint Laurent Museum next door. It’s designed by French firm Studio KO and houses more than 7,000 of his garments and 30,000 accessories, sketches, and videos.
A perfect retreat for design-driven, culturally curious travelers who value craftsmanship, art, and authenticity.
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florence, italy
Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Collection
Rare is the hotel that can place you in the heart of a city and yet make you feel worlds away. But at the COLLEGIO ALLA QUERCE, AUBERGE COLLECTION, you’re perfectly placed in tranquillity between central Florence and the hills of Tuscany. It also means that the hotel (once a private villa and a boarding school) has enough distance to offer magical views of the dreamy Duomo. Father-son architect firm Esteva i Esteva have done a stellar job in restoring the historic building while also giving it a seamless contemporary feel. The generous sense of space — along with the Aelia Spa, serene grounds, and an outdoor lap pool — make this a relaxing place to stay. Take an aperitivo in the old headmaster’s office in Bar Bertelli, then follow it with chef Nicola Zamperetti’s homemade tagliatelle with rabbit and guinea fowl ragù in their restaurant, La Gamella. To re-create these dishes back home, the kitchen also offers guests pasta-making and tiramisu classes. auberge.com/collegio-alla-querce.
MUST-DO: The concierge team can arrange a private tour of Palazzo Pucci or Villa Granaiolo, where you can enjoy an exclusive visit to fashion designer Emilio Pucci’s private museum or lunch at his daughter Laudomia Pucci’s home.
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copenhagen, denmark
Hotel Bella Grande
Copenhagen has long been at the forefront of cool Scandinavian design, but the new 109-room HOTEL BELLA GRANDE feels extra special. The 1899 building’s vanilla facade and butterscotch awnings invite you inside, where the interiors are relaxing and creamy, with accents of rich reds and browns across the tiling, upholstery, and textiles. Contemporary touches include Tom Dixon lamps, Polspotten side tables, and bespoke vanities made by Københavns Møbelsnedkeri. Owners Cofoco (Copenhagen Food Collective) and design firm the Tonen Agency took inspiration from a visit to a Venetian palazzo and its open-air courtyard, and the Italian feel is matched by its lively restaurant, Donna, which spills from the dining rooms into the atrium. No matter how much burrata, ravioli, and Milanese chicken you eat here, you cannot miss their showstopping dessert: a generous pavlova with lashings of cream, berries, and strawberry sorbet. The restaurant is a visual treat too, with a blood red ceiling and luscious pink curtains. There’s also a chilled cocktail lounge to retire to later in the evening. hotelbellagrande.com.
MUST-DO: Hop on one of the hotel’s bikes to take you to the nearby old town of Copenhagen, the colorful Nyhavn harbor, and the Strøget shopping district.
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tokyo, Japan
Edition Ginza
Tokyo’s high-end neighborhood of Ginza is a striking mix of old-world elegance and cutting-edge design, with the EDITION hotel firmly representing the latter. This softly minimalist building is the refined creation of renowned architect Kengo Kuma. As you enter the two-story lobby of this 86-room hotel, you’ll be hit by the dramatic floating white staircase. Up in the rooms, there are warm walnuts contrasting with white walls and bathrooms with sensuous slabs of green marble. The Punch Room bar and the hotel’s restaurant Sophie are cozier, with soft furnishings in bright royal blue and chartreuse. In the bar, try the Kappa & Yuzu cocktail (doburoku, tequila, yuzu, cucumber, and vanilla tea) or their take on an old -fashioned (bourbon, matcha, kuromitsu, peach, and bitters). It might feel perverse to eat a French dish in Japan, but the bouillabaisse in Sophie’s will blow you away. There’s a 24-hour Technogym-filled gym, and although there’s no spa or pool, you get access to the facilities at their sister hotel, the Edition Toranomon. editionhotels.com/tokyo-ginza.
MUST-DO: On your doorstep is Dover Street Market and Beams multibrand stores with well-curated local fashion and limited-edition collaborations.
There are warm walnut woods contrasting with ice white walls, and bathrooms with sensuous slabs of green marble.
Feature image: Collegio alla Querce.
This story originally appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of C Magazine.
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