We’re also seeing a few facelifts, some major — like Belmond’s prized Villa San Michele that looms over Florence — and others like the harborside Pavilion Hotel on Catalina Island, which has had a subtle zhuzh ahead of the summer trade.
Two standout farm island stays: Sibbjäns on Gotland, Sweden, and Vestige Binidufà on Mallorca’s cooler sister island, Menorca, are the stuff of daydreams if you like the idea of strolling around a restaurant garden eating pea pods and sleeping in restored farm buildings.
Then there’s a couple of heavyweights: Soho House Tokyo, where the chefs could tempt you to stay on-site, and Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, the Orient Express’ second foray into the hotel market. The converted palazzo in Venice’s Cannaregio is a tribute to the city by architect and interior designer Aline Asmar d’Amman, who reimagined the Piano Nobile into a luxurious Venetian warren of guestrooms, suites, apartments, and a secret garden.
Needless to say, there are a few new hotels to bookmark this month, and a couple I’ll be keeping a close eye on as summer rolls out.
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Andaz Lisbon
Rendering: Hyatt
- Location: Lisbon, Portugal
- Why it’s notable: The first Andaz in Portugal brings the brand into Baixa with interiors that pull directly from Lisbon’s everyday materials and craft — cork, stone, mosaic pavement patterns, and azulejo tile references — alongside commissioned work from Portuguese artists. The building sits on Rua do Comércio facing the river, and the public spaces follow that same local thread, from a ground-floor lounge modeled on Lisbon’s street kiosks to a rooftop restaurant shaped around the country’s maritime cooking traditions and music programming that runs from Fado to late-night DJ sets.
- Type of traveler who will love this hotel: Travelers who want to stay in a central hotel in Lisbon that has brand recognition and a sense of local identity.
- What’s nearby: The hotel is on Rua do Comércio in Baixa, Lisbon’s downtown grid rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake. Praça do Comércio — the large riverfront square — is a short walk, along with the Tagus waterfront. Alfama’s older streets and viewpoints are within walking distance, while Chiado and Bairro Alto — known for shops, restaurants, and nightlife — sit uphill nearby. Major tram lines, metro stops, and ferry terminals are all within reach, making this one of the most connected parts of the city.
Azuma Farm Koiwai
Photo: Azuma Farm Koiwai
- Location: Iwate Prefecture, Japan
- Why it’s notable: A serious luxury hotel opening in Tohoku — a part of Japan that rarely appears on high-end itineraries — Azuma Farm Koiwai places guests within a 3,000-hectare working farm at the base of Mount Iwate. The project comes from the team behind Aman Tokyo and Amanemu, and that background shows in how closely the hotel is tied to its setting. Villas are arranged around a central clearing based on Jomon-era settlements, with buildings constructed from trees selected on-site and local materials including red pine, cedar, and chestnut. Guests can visit long-established craft workshops nearby, including a Nanbu ironware maker operating since the 17th century, along with lacquerware studios, wasabi farms, and sake producers across the Iwate region.
- Type of traveler who will love this hotel: People specifically interested in rural Japan, craft, and regional culture.
- What’s nearby: The hotel sits within Koiwai Farm at the base of Mount Iwate, about 25 minutes from Morioka — the nearest city and a stop on the Tōhoku Shinkansen line connecting directly to Tokyo. The surrounding area is known for its open farmland, forest trails, and access to Hachimantai National Park, where hiking routes cross volcanic terrain and alpine wetlands.
Domus Brickell Park
Photo: Domus Flats
- Location: Miami, Florida
- Why it’s notable: Domus Brickell Park is set up for longer stays in Brickell, with close to 200 units that include kitchens, in-unit laundry, and private balconies. Everything runs through a phone, from entry to booking services, so there’s no front desk. The lobby is a sociable space with Ludlow Coffee Supply — a New York spot — serving coffee during the day before shifting into a cocktail bar and dinner space at night.
- Type of traveler who will love this hotel: Business trips, relocations, or extended stays in Miami that need more than a standard hotel room.
- What’s nearby: The hotel is in Brickell, Miami’s financial district, just south of Downtown. Brickell City Centre — a major shopping and dining complex — is a short walk, along with restaurants, bars, and office towers. The Kaseya Center and Downtown Miami are a few minutes away by car, and Miami International Airport is about a 15-minute drive depending on traffic.
Fiesta Americana Funeeq Punta Cana
Rendering: Fiesta Americana Funeeq Punta Cana
- Location: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Why it’s notable: This is one of the larger new all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana this year, and it’s going all in on making sure vacations are packed with activities. There is a water park, bowling alley, arcade, and enough going on throughout the day for different age groups to do their own thing. With 10 restaurants, six bars, and separate areas for adults, the resort runs at a scale that’s closer to a self-contained complex than a typical beach stay, and it marks the launch of a new brand from Fiesta Americana as it expands further into the Caribbean.
- Type of traveler who will love this hotel: Families traveling together across age groups.
- What’s nearby: The resort is in Uvero Alto, about 40 minutes north of Punta Cana International Airport. This part of the coast is more spread out than the main Bávaro strip, with long stretches of beach and fewer resorts clustered together. It’s likely most will stay on property, but excursions to golf courses, boat tours, and off-site activities can be arranged from the hotel.
Live Oak Charleston
Rendering: Live Oak Charleston
- Location: Charleston, South Carolina
- Why it’s notable: Live Oak Charleston opens on Meeting Street in the middle of the historic district, within walking distance of the city’s main run of restaurants, shops, and galleries. A handful of rooms open directly onto the hotel’s outdoor pool, each with its own terrace and daybeds — a feature not often seen in this part of Charleston. Food is a central focus: Terra is the hotel’s main restaurant, led by a chef already well established in Charleston, with a menu that pulls from local Lowcountry ingredients alongside Mediterranean cooking. Bloo Pool & Provisions is the poolside bar and restaurant, serving a more casual menu influenced by Japanese and Peruvian dishes.
- Type of traveler who will love this hotel: Couples or weekend travelers who want to stay in the historic center.
- What’s nearby: The hotel sits on Meeting Street in Charleston’s Historic District, a few blocks from King Street, the city’s main stretch for restaurants, bars, and shopping. Nearby landmarks include Marion Square, the Charleston Museum, and a dense cluster of galleries and historic homes. The area is walkable, and most of what visitors come to Charleston for is within a 10-15 minute walk.
NIHI Rote & Hospitality Academy
Photos: NIHI Rote & Hospitality Academy
- Location: Rote Island, Indonesia
- Why it’s notable: One of the most anticipated openings of the year, NIHI Rote brings the team behind NIHI Sumba — one of the world’s most awarded island resorts — to Bo’a Beach, a remote surf break on Indonesia’s southernmost island. NIHI Rote is not somewhere you add to a Bali long weekend. Getting there takes multiple flights and a final transfer from Kupang, which is why this coastline is still underdeveloped. The Hospitality Academy sits at the center of the property — Rotenese students train across the restaurant, kitchen, and guest services, and guests can join weekly English classes and shared dinners as part of their stay. This concept will likely play well with the surf community, who generally value sustainability and respect the locals in Indo. The break at Bo’a runs directly along the beach — a fast right-hander that draws experienced surfers, with other waves reached by boat across nearby islands. But this is no surf hostel, the five-star villas follow the same line along the shore, built with carved wood and thatched roofs, each with a private plunge pool facing the water.
- Type of traveler who will love this hotel: Surfers or anyone who knows how special remote Indonesia is.
- What’s nearby: Rote sits near Timor in eastern Indonesia. Access is via Kupang, followed by a short flight or boat transfer. The surf town of Nemberala is within reach, while most of the island is made up of small villages, farmland, and undeveloped coastline.
Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli
Photo: Orient Express
- Location: Venice, Italy
- Why it’s notable: The Orient Express hotel expansion lands in Venice with a palazzo in Cannaregio. As summer heats up, it will be interesting to see how the brand copes with well-heeled demand. Boats pull up directly to a Gothic water gate, where guests step off the canal into the grand lobby of high wooden ceilings, frescoed walls, and mosaic floors. The main salons on the Piano Nobile, including a ballroom, remain intact and give the property its sense of ceremony, while the key count stays just under 50. The food and drink spaces sound just as theatrical: a canal-side restaurant with private boat access, a garden-facing dining room, and the Wagon Bar, a deliberate wink to Orient Express’ history.
- Type of traveler who will love this hotel: Repeat visitors to Venice who want to stay in Cannaregio, away from the busiest parts of the city.
- What’s nearby: The hotel sits in Cannaregio, one of Venice’s northern districts, a short walk from Strada Nova — a main pedestrian route lined with shops, cafés, and local businesses. The Jewish Ghetto, one of the oldest in Europe, is nearby, along with quieter canals and residential streets. Rialto Bridge is about a 15-minute walk, and Santa Lucia train station is within easy reach for arrivals and departures.
Paradisus Cancún
Photo: Paradisus Cancun
- Location: Cancun, Mexico
- Why it’s notable: Paradisus Cancún’s pyramid buildings have been part of the skyline for years, but the recent $50 million renovation isn’t a small tweak. Rooms, restaurants, and the main spaces have all been redone, and the whole place has been completely overhauled. What Paradisus does well — and why people keep coming back — is how it folds in local culture without turning the stay into a structured program of activities. There are optional cooking classes, craft workshops, and Mayan cultural excursions, but you’re still in a full-scale resort with pools, beach access, and plenty of places to eat and drink. There is also an adults-only Reserve section and a family side, which run in parallel, so if you’re the kind of parent who only likes their own, you’ve got access to kids clubs and a private area with butler service.
- Type of traveler who will love this hotel: Higher-spend Cancún travelers who want a large all-inclusive with both adults-only areas and family infrastructure.
- What’s nearby: The resort sits in Cancún’s Hotel Zone, directly on the beach and about 15 minutes from Cancún International Airport. Nearby are other large resorts, golf courses, and shopping areas like La Isla Shopping Village, with easy access to excursions across the Riviera Maya, including cenotes, Tulum, and Isla Mujeres.
Pavilion Hotel
Photo: Pavilion Hotel
- Location: Avalon, California
- Why it’s notable: Pavilion Hotel is one of the first places you see when you arrive in Avalon, and it’s been part of the island’s social scene for decades. It just reopened after a refresh, with lighter rooms, coastal colors, and updated patios that open toward the central courtyard. This is the obvious place to stay in Avalon. You’re right on the waterfront, a few steps from the sand, and less than five minutes on foot from the ferry landing, shops, and restaurants that make up most of the town.
- Type of traveler who will love this hotel: West Coasters looking for a quick island break without flying.
- What’s nearby: In the center of the small harbor town, the hotel is directly in front of the beach, with the Catalina Casino — the island’s landmark circular building — a short walk along the waterfront. Shops, restaurants, and ferry arrivals are all within a few minutes, making it easy to drop your bags and start exploring right away.
Salt Ranch Hotel
Rendering: Salt Ranch Hotel
- Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Why it’s notable: Salt Ranch takes over a former motor inn on Dickerson Pike — a stretch of road that once carried travelers into Nashville before the interstate system rerouted traffic — and brings it back into use as a 48-room hotel with a pool club and restored 19th-century Main House. This keeps the classic motor-inn layout. Rooms spread across separate buildings, with a Main House and a pool in the middle.
- Type of traveler who will love this hotel: Road trippers moving through Tennessee who want something with character.
- What’s nearby: The hotel sits on Dickerson Pike, about a 10-15 minute drive from downtown Nashville and Nissan Stadium. East Nashville’s restaurants, bars, and music venues are closer — a short drive south — while the Grand Ole Opry and Opry Mills are about 15 minutes northeast. This isn’t a walkable part of the city, so you’ll need a car or rideshare to get around.
Sibbjäns
Photo: Sibbjäns
- Location: Gotland, Sweden
- Why it’s notable: This is one of the most beautiful hotel openings this year. If I tried to picture my ideal place to stay in Scandinavia, it would look a lot like this. Sibbjäns sits on a 19th-century horse farm on Gotland, now operating as a 22-room stay that still runs as a working farm. Dinner is served in the barn by local chef Hanna Lukowiesky, with a five-course menu that has included agnolotti with ricotta and fava beans, grilled lamb with cabbage, and raspberries with marigold ice cream, alongside a shorter bistro menu with tartare, flatbreads, and vegetables from the farm. Rooms are split between the farmhouse and former farm buildings, including compact former workers’ quarters and larger rooms in the main house, with shared kitchens stocked for guests and a boot room. Just beyond the farmhouse is a natural swimming pond edged with grasses and water lilies. The hotel runs from spring through late fall, then closes in winter when the farm slows and much of the island shuts down outside peak season.
- Type of traveler who will love this hotel: Anyone planning a bucket-list trip to Sweden who wants a few days away from the cities.
- What’s nearby: Sibbjäns is on Gotland, an island in the Baltic Sea reached by a short flight or ferry from Stockholm. Visby, about a 20-minute drive away, is a preserved medieval town with restaurants, shops, and ferry connections. Beyond that, the island is mostly farmland and coastline, with small villages, cycling routes, and access to the sea.
Soho House Tokyo
Photo: Soho House Tokyo
- Location: Tokyo, Japan
- Why it’s notable: Soho House Tokyo marks the brand’s first House in Japan, placing it in Aoyama, a neighborhood known for fashion, architecture, galleries, and creative studios, a short walk from Omotesando’s flagship-lined avenue. The club spreads across multiple floors, with restaurants, bars, workspaces, and a rooftop pool looking toward Tokyo Tower, with Mount Fuji visible on clear days. The interiors bring Soho House’s maximalism into Tokyo through washi paper walls, Kyoto lacquer, indigo textiles, vintage furniture sourced across Japan, the UK, and Europe, and kimono fabrics reworked into bedroom upholstery. Dining is more specific than the usual club menu: prawn Scotch eggs done okonomiyaki-style, donburi bowls that change weekly, fatty tuna brioche with fruit tomato and English mustard, and an open sushi counter led by Kunihiro Shinohara, serving Edomae-style fish.
- Type of traveler who will love this hotel: Travelers who want a social place to stay in Tokyo.
- What’s nearby: The House sits in Aoyama, between Omotesando and Shibuya. Omotesando’s main boulevard — lined with stores from Comme des Garçons to Prada — is a short walk away, while Shibuya Crossing and its surrounding restaurants and nightlife are within a 10-minute drive. Harajuku’s smaller streets and independent shops are also close by, along with galleries and cafés that define the area’s creative scene.
Thompson Madrid
Photo: Hyatt
- Location: Madrid, Spain
- Why it’s notable: Thompson Madrid has undergone some substantial upgrades. It now faces a redesigned Plaza del Carmen, with terraces and outdoor seating added to the square just off Gran Vía, one of Madrid’s main streets for theaters, shopping, and nightlife. The update also brings new places to eat and drink within the hotel: La Barra de Ultramarines at street level as a Madrid-style tapas bar with doors onto the plaza, MAKÁÁ on the rooftop serving wood-fired Mediterranean dishes, and Jack’s Club set below in the remains of a former church, now used as a cocktail bar with a piano and live music.
- Type of traveler who will love this hotel: Those looking for a reliable, city-centre stay.
- What’s nearby: The hotel sits on Plaza del Carmen, just off Gran Vía, one of Madrid’s main streets for theaters, shopping, and nightlife. Puerta del Sol is a five-minute walk, with Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace within 10 to 15 minutes on foot. The surrounding streets are packed with tapas bars, late-night spots, and some of the busiest pedestrian routes in the city.
Under Canvas Yosemite
Photo: Under Canvas
- Location: Groveland, California
- Why it’s notable: Under Canvas Yosemite will be the brand’s first California property, set across 85 acres of forest just 10 minutes from the Big Oak Flat entrance. The safari-style tents come with king beds, West Elm furnishings, and private bathrooms, and the camp’s central tent will serve café-style meals, California wines, and craft beers. Within walking distance of the tents are forest trails and a natural swimming hole popular with families in warmer months.
- Type of traveler who will love this hotel: Families and couples who want to stay close to Yosemite while camping in comfort.
- What’s nearby: The camp is just outside the park’s west entrance, a short ride from scenic overlooks such as Tunnel View and Yosemite Valley. Within the park, iconic landmarks including El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls are reachable by car or shuttle, and nearby Groveland offers cafés, markets, and local shops for provisioning before or after park visits.
Vestige Binidufà
Photo: Vestige Collection
- Location: Menorca, Spain
- Why it’s notable: Vestige Binidufà is the second hotel on a private 800-hectare estate in Menorca’s north, joining Son Ermità and completing the project as a dual-property stay. Set in a valley rather than on the hilltop, it looks across open fields and farmland, with 11 rooms in a restored 18th-century farm. Guests move between both hotels, sharing restaurants, wellness, and access to the wider estate, including walking routes that lead to three coves along the coast. Meals are split between Mesura, a plant-focused restaurant at Binidufà, and Brisa at Son Ermità, which focuses on fish and traditional Menorcan dishes.
- Type of traveler who will love this hotel: Couples or solo travelers who want a luxury farm stay in Menorca, with the island’s beaches and walking trails still within reach.
- What’s nearby: The estate sits in the north of the island, close to Cala Pilar, Cala Ets Alocs, and Cala Calderer — three of Menorca’s less-developed beaches reached on foot. The Camí de Cavalls coastal trail runs nearby, with routes for walking and cycling across this part of the island.
Villa San Michele
Photo: Belmond
- Location: Florence, Italy
- Why it’s notable: Villa San Michele has long been one of Belmond’s defining properties in Europe, set high above Florence. Its reopening this month introduces a full renovation of its rooms and suites. The hotel occupies a former 15th-century monastery, with a façade attributed to Michelangelo, and terraces that look directly over the city below. The update also brings a new Spa by Guerlain, alongside its existing restaurants and bars which celebrate some of the best views across Florence.
- Type of traveler who will love this hotel: Belmond regulars looking for a quieter stay above Florence.
- What’s nearby: The hotel sits in Fiesole, just above Florence, about a 15-minute drive from the historic center. Guests can reach the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, and Ponte Vecchio by shuttle, then return to the quieter hillside. Fiesole itself has Roman ruins, a small archaeological museum, and a handful of restaurants and cafés within walking distance.
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