World’s Best Dressed Hotels
The travel experts at Mr & Mrs Smith have made it their business to hand-pick the most inspiring boutique hotels around the world. Here, they scoured the globe to bring their selection of the best dressed hotels – a collection of properties that are not just a repository of high-cost fittings or have high-end designers but also boast a well-curated assembly of refreshing, inspired ideas.
Palazzo Margherita, Bernalda, Italy
Style credentials: Winner of the ‘Best Dressed Hotel’ category at the Mr & Mrs Smith Hotel Awards 2016, Palazzo Margherita was once a crumbling 19th century relic in the 15th century hilltop town of Bernalda. It was then rediscovered by Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola, who pledged to restore the decaying building to its former glory. Interior designer Jacques Grange restored the original marble floors of the Palazzo, which also boasts hand-painted fresco ceilings, a courtyard, pool and even a Tunisian-themed suite. Today, Palazzo Margherita boasts unobtrusive yet intuitive service, extravagant suites designed by the Coppola clan, and rustic homemade cooking.
Mr & Mrs Smith extra: For guests staying one night, a bottle of local wine; guests staying two nights or more get a three-course meal for two (including a starter, first and second course, fruit and house wine) instead.
Fendi Private Suites, Rome, Italy
Style credentials: Once called home by the Boncompagni Ludovisi family, Palazzo Fendi is now a collection of seven private suites housed in the brand’s own headquarters. Sitting in the heart of Rome, Fendi Private suites are a mere stone’s throw from the Trevi Fountain — where the brand staged its epic Haute Fourrure show in 2016 — and the Spanish Steps. The chic and austere interiors of the suites echo that of the brand’s stylish boutiques.
COMO Point Yamu, Phuket, Thailand.
Style credentials: Overlooking Phang Na bay and the Andaman sea, Point Yamu is an effortlessly stylish Phuket retreat that puts a fresh Italian spin on traditional Thai indulgence. Its sleek Med-inspired decor was conceived by Paola Navone, in a palette of immaculate whites, blues and oranges.
Mr & Mrs Smith extra: A drink each at Aqua Bar. Guests staying in a suite (or for three nights or more) who book an hour-long massage will be upgraded to a 90-minute treatment.
Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach, Australia.
Style credentials: Runner-up at the Mr & Mrs Smith Hotel Awards 2016 for ‘Best Dressed Hotel’, Halcyon House pays tribute to the beachside hotels of ‘60s. This re-spritzed former faded surf motel has communal areas as ravishing as its rooms: walls upholstered in bright, gorgeous textiles; blue-and-white candy-stripe day beds lining; the art-lined restaurant, where Noma veteran chef Ben Devlin works his magic.
Mr & Mrs Smith extra: A bottle of prosecco and chef's plate on arrival, plus one cocktail of your choice whenever you most fancy it.
Bulgari Hotel, London, United Kingdom
Style credentials: Conveniently located in Knightsbridge — with Harrods just a minute’s walk away — Bulgari’s London outpost is a jewel of hotel at the edge of Hyde Park that boasts black marble bathrooms and subtle finishings in addition to its exceptional spa and gym services.
Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia
Style credentials: Alila Villas Ululwatu is a sleek eco-glam resort that clings to the cliffside of Bali’s limestone Bukit Peninsula. Designed by Singaporean firm WOHA (using natural materials that blend seamlessly into the environment), every corner of the resort raises the stakes in terms of boutique beauty, but the bar is the true show-stopper: jutting out over the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, thedramatic construction of bamboo and reclaimed wood is as intricate as a bird’s nest.
Mr & Mrs Smith extra: A 60-minute spa treatment for each guest.
JK Place, Capri, Italy.
Style credentials: Lined with olive and lemon trees, JK Place is a Fellini film in hotel form. Far enough from the island’s hustle and bustle but still at the heart of the action, this shoreside hotel is a vision in dazzling white Italian luxury, overlooking a postcard-perfect stretch of Mediterranean waters. Decorated with Florentine furniture and zebra skin stools, the hotel’s tempting restaurant, JKitchen, is a contemporary affair in black, white and grey, with inviting bucket chairs and sea-fresh fare.
Mr & Mrs Smith extra: €60 credit to spend in the spa.
Palazzo Versace, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Style credentials: As flamboyant as Gianni and Donatella, the Versace DNA permeates every detail of the Palazzo Versace Dubai, a hotel designed as 16th century Italian palazzo; from the Neoclassical architectural references to the furnishings in Versace fabrics; a more glamorous stay scarcely seems possible.
With Mr & Mrs Smith you’ll enjoy our best-price guarantee, as well as a little something extra on arrival at every hotel. To book, call toll free at 800 905 326 or visit mrandmrssmith.com.
