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The best rooftop bars in London

By Sarah James

Visiting a rooftop bar is one of the greatest outdoor activities in London , drawing day-drinkers and sunset-seekers to ivy-covered terraces and cool hideouts from Mayfair to Peckham. We're rounding up our favourite spots for a sky-high cocktail.

1. The Rooftop at One Hundred Shoreditch

This Palm Springs -inspired rooftop bar is bringing a hit of Californian sunshine to one of our favourite East London neighbourhoods. It's at the top of One Hundred Shoreditch , an exciting forward-thinking hotel that opened early 2022. Enter via the dedicated rooftop lift to arrive at the pink-centric bar. Terrazzo marble tables are tinged with marshmallow, candyfloss-hued tiles adorn the walls and blush stools are neatly lined up in front of rose-gold lamps. Plants cascade from the ceiling, while floor-to-ceiling windows open out to a terrace with some of the best views across East London. Sit on the left side for a city-skyline vista, or nab a table on the right for a dose of Dickensian London, with towering church spires and bell towers. The food is excellent – try the Instagram-ready pink-dyed devilled eggs and the sticky jackfruit taco – and the lemongrass margarita is the perfect refreshing tipple for a sunny afternoon. Olivia Morelli

Address: One Hundred Shoreditch Hotel, 100 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, London E1 6JQ Website: onehundredshoreditch.com

2. Forza Wine, Peckham

The team behind Peckham staple Forza Win has applied its aperitivo expertise to pop-up sister space Forza Wine, where a rotation of seasonal ingredients such as oily tomatoes and garlicky pesto are scooped up with fat fingers of flatbread, and crunchy, aioli-drizzled cauliflower fritti give the underrated vegetable a good name. Skip the soft serve and order a sgroppino (lemon sorbet, vodka and prosecco), and don’t be surprised if otherwise elegant cocktails are served in tumblers – up here, the wind has a habit of knocking over flutes, but it’s worth the gamble with the British weather to bag a table on the terrace with views across neighbouring Frank’s of the cityscape beyond. Anna Prendergast

Address: Forza Wine, 133 Rye Lane, Peckham, London SE15 4BQ Website: forzawine.com

3. The Culpeper, Spitalfields

A pub in the heart of East London is not the place you’d think to find views like the one on The Culpeper ’s roof. Set in the midst of an urban garden that grows food for the restaurant below – its seasonal menu changes weekly and centres around sustainability – it’s an eclectic spot that feels distinctly British. Look out onto the metropolitan sprawl and one of London’s most famous buildings, the Gherkin, while enjoying a cocktail whipped up below and delicious bar snacks that just might have been grown right beside you.

Address : The Culpeper, 40 Commercial Street, London E1 6LP Website : theculpeper.com

4. The Rooftop at The Standard, King's Cross

The stirring effect of London’s good weather was in full force on the Standard Rooftop. Every garden chair and sofa seat (following an Accidentally Wes Anderson colour scheme) was piled high with Champagne drinkers and people sipping on cocktails from a limited but well-curated drinks list. The green astroturf might not float our boat, but the unique positioning of the hotel allows for really outstanding views. Completely unobstructed around the perimeter of the space, London spread out around us like a pop-up map, with major landmarks jumping to the forefront of our vision. St Pancras Clock Tower is so close it appears to be peering over the glass barrier like a curious cyclops. Paired with clear skies (if you’re lucky), you really feel on top of the world. Lily Bonesso

Address: The Rooftop at The Standard, London, 10 Argyle Street, London WC1H 8EG, United Kingdom Website: standardhotels.com

5. Aviary, The City

At the top of Montcalm Royal House hotel in Finsbury Square, the Aviary is slap-bang in the centre of London, making it a favourite haunt of city slickers for after-work drinks. It's low-lounge seats and carefully placed trees give the space a comfortable coolness. Get here early to bag a table with a view, or – even better – a sheltered igloo big enough for six.

Address : Aviary Rooftop Restaurant and Terrace Bar, 10th Floor, Montcalm Royal London House, 22-25 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1DX Website : aviarylondon.com

6. Pergola Paddington Central

A chilled-out sun-trap in the middle of Paddington? Pergola on the Roof's little sister venue has been open since 2017, adding to the area's ever-growing list of surprisingly cool places ( Darcie and May Green ; The Pilgrm ). Two floors of communal benches sprawl out beneath leaf-covered trellises. There's two open bars, plus street food from D/F Mexico, Mam and Patty & Bun. Grab a taco and a beer and take to the fairy-lit terrace for a sundowner with a view. When it turns chilly (or, let's face it, starts to rain) head downstairs to the covered lower deck for more of the same.

Address: Pergola Paddington Central, 5 Kingdom St, London W2 6PY Website: paddingtoncentral.com

7. Bar Elba, Waterloo

Coming from the team behind quite possibly the most photographed sign in London (Tonight Josephine's neon 'well behaved women don't make history'), Bar Elba is a sunny, trellised escape above Waterloo. Named after the island Napeolean was exiled to with 600 mates and a horse in the 19th century, there's snap-friendly graffiti – expect the 'Liberté, Egelité, Rosé' sign to crop up on your feed soon – as well as a decent happy hour (even on weekends!) and gravy-dipped burgers on the menu. This summer, book in for the bottomless rooftop brunch, taking place each Saturday and Sunday.

Address: Bar Elba, Rooftop Mercury House, 109-117 Waterloo Rd, London SE1 8UL Website: bar-elba.co.uk

8. The Queen Of Hoxton

This Shoreditch rooftop changes its costume every season, with a new (often fairly whacky) theme each summer to draw in East London’s rooftop dwellers. Views look out over Shoreditch ’s brown brick buildings and street art, and the terrace is so big that you can always find a seat (not a given at some of London’s hot-ticket al-fresco spots). In recent years, drinkers have been transported to the secret den of the Luchadores (aka lady wrestlers) in San Christabel, Mexico , and to 1900s Paris.

Address : Queen of Hoxton, 1 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3JX Website : queenofhoxton.com

Jahnavi Bhatt

Condé Nast Traveller

9. Upstairs At The Department Store, Brixton

Downstairs, hurried commuters spill from the station, stressed shoppers navigate London’s most cramped Sainsbury’s and locals collect on pavements to chat and play music. Upstairs is different, a little bit like a member’s club, without the hushed tones or intimidating staff (you can either get a guest pass for the evening or pay a membership fee to go whenever you want). You’re greeted by name, and then left well alone to enjoy your evening, whether that involves a game of ping pong or table football, cocktails at the bar or supper in the sun. Inside, the design is more Brooklyn than Brixton , with industrial wooden beams and low lighting, and the atmosphere is more New York than London too – people actually welcome conversation with strangers. The food menu is sourced from the rooftop garden where possible: a beetroot salad is fantastically fresh and the jerk chicken celebrates the area’s cultural diversity. Skip pudding and get cocktails; Remember The Thyme is herby and refreshing, made with Balfour Brut Rosé and burnt orange marmalade. The bar also scores points for stocking Picpoul de Pinet, a French wine I always look for and can never find. Anna Prendergast

Address : Upstairs at The Department Store, 248 Ferndale Road, Brixton, London SW9 8FR Website : upstairsbrixton.com

The best live music bars in London

10. Netil 360, Hackney

Netil360 is a sprawling space in gritty East London that’s ideally positioned for soaking up every bit of light the day has to offer. By sunset, the impressive 360 (the hint’s in the name) degree views take the limelight as orange skies melt into a web of twinkling city lights. The bar is casual (definitely no suits or stilettos) – at least until that seminal sundown moment when the atmosphere shifts and the party starts. On the menu is made-to-order pizza and local craft beer, plus spirits at reasonable prices. Although slightly rough-around-the-edges, this rooftop bar has charm – perhaps best illustrated by a scruffy rooftop dog named Tres and a pleasingly out-of-place disco ball that bounces speckles of sunlight around the place. Olivia Holborow

Address: Netil360, 1 Westgate Street, Hackney, London E8 Website: netil360.com

11. Aqua London, Soho

Overlooking Regent Street, escape Oxford Circus for a sunset on one of the three terraces at Aqua London, one of the best bars in Soho . For summer 2021, the team will be taking reservations – come for pre-or-post-dinner drinks and either plump for a Japanese-inspired Jasmine of the Valley vodka, Passoa, Kummel, yuzu, jasmine tea, honey and egg) or a Spanish El Toro (gin, fig liqueur, passion fruit syrup, lemon, tonic, bitters and mango foam).

Address: Aqua London, 240 Regent St, Soho, London W1B 3BR Website: aquanueva.co.uk

12. Coq D'argent, The City

This roof garden was designed by Arabella Lennox-Boyd, who has won numerous awards and gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show. The concept for the design of the striking apex garden emanated from images of ploughed fields. Look over the famous Square Mile and landmarks such as St Paul's Cathedral, Mansion House, Monument and the Bank of England. On a Sunday, there's a live jazz band to enjoy too.

Address: Coq d'Argent, 1 Poultry, the City, London EC2 Website: coqdargent.co.uk

13. Radio At Me London, The Strand

The rooftop bar of the ME London hotel is set on top of the former BBC building on Aldwych and the Strand – hence the name. The vibe is something between City swagger and Euro strut. It's high in the absolute heart of London so the views are fantastic, with enough landmarks in sight to keep you entertained even on the most boring of dates. Look out past the Savoy and Waterloo Bridge to the South Bank and the Gherkin, The Shard, St Paul's Cathedral, the London Eye; and across the rooftops of Covent Garden to Trafalgar Square and the Houses of Parliament.

Address: Radio Rooftop Bar, ME London, 336-337 The Strand, London WC2 Website: radiorooftop.com

14. The Boundary, Shoreditch

If you’re more familiar with too-cool-for-school Redchurch Street at people -gawping pavement level, this gives you a fresh new angle. Placed atop Sir Terence Conran’s warehouse project – hotel rooms, bar, restaurant and bakery – it’s an expansive space perfumed with Provençale herbs and the nostalgia-tugging scent of a wood fire. Conran’s been in thrall to the Med since the days when a garlic press was an exotic object of desire – and the romance endures. No mac’n’cheese here, but lots of herby, garlicky and lemony flavours – half a lobster glazed with parsley butter, salads of frisée aux lardons and grill-scorched chicken skewers, table-conquering platters of fresh shellfish. It’s a good place to muse on other boundaries: between good and bad taste, gentrification and authenticity. And between having one bottle of Languedoc Minervois or two. Rick Jordan

Address : The Boundary, Redchurch Street, London E16 Website : theboundary.co.uk

15. Frank's Cafe, Peckham

The rooftop bar that first put Peckham on the map: here young Peckhamites (and now, cool types from across the city too) sip Campari in various forms: Negronis, Americanos and Campari Spritz among them, all while overlooking a slightly grubbier view of the London skyline than some of the slicker bars on this list. But that has its own charms: this gritty bar is on most summer must-visit lists for a reason.

Address: Frank's Café and Campari Bar, 10th floor Peckham multistorey car park, 95a Rye Lane, Peckham, London SE15 Website: frankscafe.org.uk

See more Peckham restaurants

16. Bōkan 38 Bar & 39 Rooftop, Canary Wharf

Get past its uninspiring Canary Wharf location and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by Bōkan, a three-storey restaurant and bar at the top of the Novotel. With Mad Men -style, mid-century-modern furniture, exposed industrial fixtures on the ceiling, and warm, statement lighting, we wouldn’t blame you for wanting to stay inside. But on a glorious summer’s day, Bōkan’s terrace is the place to be for an after-work drink, a Saturday brunch and live jazz on Sundays – all served up alongside breathtaking views of London.

Address : Bōkan 37, 40 Marsh Wall, Isle of Dogs, London E14 9TP Website : bokanlondon.co.uk

17. Roof Garden At Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank

One of London's prettiest terraces, with bright, bold flowers and a great view of the London Eye looming over the city's rooftops. This truly is a garden: with fruit trees and allotments, plus plenty of grass to stretch out on in the sun. Head up for lunch and stay as the afternoon stretches into the night. Be sure to order a Bellini as you enjoy one of the city's most picturesque sunsets.

Address: Roof Garden at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 8XX Website: southbankcentre.co.uk

18. 12th Knot At Sea Containers London, Southbank

This glass-walled bar on top of the retro Sea Containers London gives the impression you're floating on the top deck of the ship - all part of the nautical, good-time vibe throughout this buzzy Southbank hub. The terrace leads drinkers out of the plush indoor bar (there's a lot of velvet) to the long deck with unbeatable, all-encompassing riverside views. Expect to be mesmerised by glittering St Paul's, and even more so by the drinks – Away From The Craze, made with Hayman sloe gin, Jensen's Old Tom Gin, Lavender port wine, cacao and citrus, will kick off a summer evening the right way.

Address: 12th Knot, 20 Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PD Website: seacontainerslondon.com

19. Alto By San Carlo At Selfridges Rooftop

Strung with flowers and positioned on top of one of London’s most iconic department stores, Alto by San Carlo is the London rooftop to visit for a hit of Italian charm. Decorative sprinklings of citrus fruits and rattan furniture lend a distinctively summery feel and while on first impressions the tables seem a tad close together, in the end this just adds to the jovial atmosphere. Weary shoppers happily guzzle refreshing Aperol Spritzes in fishbowl sized glasses as they peruse the extensive wine list. Those with an appetite will find delicious Italian plates – truffle and pecorino ravioli, bruschetta with broad beans, mint and ricotta, and sea bass served simply with olive oil, lemon and parsley. This isn’t a rooftop that needs to be saved for good weather. Blankets are doled out the second a chill hits the air, and if it starts raining (let’s face it, it could) a retractable roof and walls are on hand to save the day. Olivia Holborow

Address: Alto by San Carlo at Selfridges rooftop, 400 Oxford Street, London, W1A 1AB Website: sancarlo.co.uk

20. Skylight Rooftop Bar At Tobacco Dock, Wapping

Place it on top of a car park and Londoners will flock there; first Frank's, now Skylight at the Tobacco Dock in Wapping. Three floors of fake grass are home to incredible views of the city's skyline and mellow bar areas. Expect day time yoga classes, DJ residencies and Greek pitas with halloumi and chicken from Yiro to accompany your cocktails.

Address: Skylight Rooftop Bar, Pennington St. Car Park Entrance Wapping, London E1W 2SF Website: skylightlondon.com

21. The Rooftop At The Trafalgar St James

Overlooking Trafalgar Square, this is exactly the kind of plush bar you would expect to find on top of a smart hotel – a minimalist aesthetic, smooth service that anticipates your every move and an extensive drinks list. And yet it’s still incredibly cosy – there are snuggly cashmere blankets to keep you warm, a laidback atmosphere, helped by the tropical house soundtrack, and brilliantly made cocktails (make sure to order the Old Fashioned for a perfect after-work kick).

Address: The Rooftop, 7th Floor, The Trafalgar St James, 2 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2TS Website: rooftopstjames.com

First published in CNT UK  

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7 Of The Best Cocktail Bars In London

By Radhika Seth and Amel Mukhtar

There’s nothing quite like curling up with a drink at one of the best cocktail bars in London; find the Vogue team’s favourite watering holes, below.

By Tom Howells

This sleek and subtly sexy speakeasy from the team behind Kricket sits directly beside the beloved Indian-inspired restaurant’s Soho outpost. Behind a nondescript black door and down a narrow flight of stairs, you’ll find a low-lit basement with cave-like booths where the focus is firmly on the drinks: classic cocktails with an Indian twist (“ Soma ” is a Vedic Sanskrit word meaning “to distill and extract”). As a result, the daiquiri is made with banana rum, Aphrodite bitters and spices; the martini combines vodka, Kashmiri chilli and pickle brine; and the gimlet contains Opihr gin, curry leaves and pink peppercorns.

Our recommended tipple: Everything is spectacular, but you can’t leave without trying the Chaat, a reimagined margarita with Tapatio Blanco tequila, gooseberry, chaat masala and kumquat.

Three Sheets

The cocktail menu at neighbourhood bar Three Sheets changes weekly, but one thing that’s been on the menu for seven years running is their French 75, a delicate, floral take on the classic. Also of note: their tequila-based Picantes with pineapple and ancho, and their Cherry Cosmo, which breathes new life into the Sex and the City favourite by using fermented cherries in lieu of cranberry juice.

Our recommended tipple: Try founders Max and Noel Vennings’s signature twist on a martini, made using olive oil vodka and Ethiopian koseret.

One for serious mixology connoisseurs, the Martinez is a members’ cocktail lounge hidden away on Soho’s Greek Street. Opened in 2021, its admirable goal is to honour forgotten tipples that paved the way for modern cocktails. (Tellingly, it’s named after the Martinez, a dangerous concoction of gin, maraschino liqueur, orange bitters, and dry and sweet vermouth first created in the 1860s.) There are “post-prohibition” cocktails on the menu, too, of course, and the bar staff is happy to take off-the-menu requests, but why go off-piste when there are Tommy’s Margaritas and Breakfast Martinis to be had?

Our recommended tipple: The Martinez is available three ways – try the original 1860s offering with Old Duff Genever. It’s important to respect history, after all.

Scarfes Bar

The Rosewood London is the sister hotel of New York’s Carlyle, whose Bemelmans Bar is a Manhattan institution – famously lined with works by its namesake, American illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans. Fitting, then, that the Holborn property’s Scarfes Bar boasts caricatures by British artist Gerald Scarfe everywhere you turn. The vibe here is very much one of an old gentlemen’s club, but without an ounce of stuffiness: more than 1,000 antique books line the walls; there’s a roaring fire to cosy up beside; and live jazz is played every day from 8pm. As for the drinks? The menu is ever-changing, but the current one celebrates 10 years of Scarfes with 10 of its greatest hits, including the bourbon-based On Yer Bike and the Patrón-filled Scandal Symbol.

Our recommended tipple: The ambrosial Suspicious Lady, featuring lychee wine, Linden honey and citrus hops with Roku gin.

Tayēr + Elementary

After leaving behind The Artesian (where he effectively brought about a mixology renaissance in London), Alex Kratena joined forces with Norwegian bartender Monica Berg to launch Tayēr + Elementary in Old Street. As the name implies, this is really two bars in one. The first is Elementary, a walk-ins-only bar open from 3pm, where pre-made cocktails can be enjoyed in minimalist Scandi-inspired surroundings. Tayēr, on the other hand, feels a bit like being in a chemistry lab – albeit a welcoming one – with staff dispensing heady, ingredient-led concoctions.

Our recommended tipple: The One-Sip Martini – a tiny glass of Tayēr vodka, sherry, and Ambrato vermouth with a blue cheese-stuffed olive.

Bar Termini

If you’re a cocktail traditionalist, then Bar Termini is for you. Named after Rome’s largest train station (and inspired by the city’s 1950s bar culture), it offers the best of both worlds: espresso in the morning, and Negronis in the evening. All of the classics are represented on its wonderfully short menu (you would be hard pressed to find a better Bellini in London), but there are always a few twists to consider as well. See their Elegante, which marries Sicilian granita with vodka and blossom “aroma”, or the Death in Venice, a combination of Campari, grapefruit bitters and prosecco.

Our recommended tipple: The Spritz Termini, spiked with homemade rhubarb cordial.

If you’re as obsessed with Gymkhana as the rest of London, we have excellent news: the Michelin-starred restaurant now contains its own bar, 42 . The menu here is divided into three sections; there are “eye-openers”, meant to whet your appetite or serve as a nightcap post dinner at Gymkhana; there are classics; and there are signature cocktails inspired by the spices of India (see the Moose Wala, which blends coriander seeds and citrus chaat with grapefruit and tequila).

Our recommended tipple: The Bagheera, which takes Lost Explorer mezcal and combines it with lime juice, Banasura peppercorns, and Chaprah chutney, made with red weaver ants.

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What it’s like inside The Black Dog, the London pub made famous by Taylor Swift

I t’s a midweek lunchtime on an unassuming residential street in Vauxhall, south London. There aren’t many people about – the occasional dog walker, a few runners, a couple of delivery drivers. It’s pretty much what you’d expect on a drizzly work day.

But turning the corner, it’s a different story. A redbrick Victorian pub, draped in hanging flower baskets and mosaic tiling, is an unexpected hive of activity.

Despite the drizzle, people are sitting outside, nursing pints of beer and cups of coffee. Circling them are a handful of journalists – holding microphones, cameras, notepads. Passersby stop, point and pose for photos. Every few minutes, excited customers pour out of black cabs and head inside, where every table is taken.

Welcome to The Black Dog . A local London pub that’s been thrust into an unexpected spotlight and onto the tourist map, thanks to musician Taylor Swift.

Unexpected fame

Last Friday, Swift released her latest album, “ The Tortured Poets Department ,” along with a surprise additional 15 songs that make up “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology.”

On Instagram, Swift described the music as chronicling a “fleeting and fatalistic moment in time - one that was both sensational and sorrowful in equal measure.” The record appears to be inspired by the aftermath of Swift’s break-up with her long term partner, British actor Joe Alwyn, which saw her dive into a short lived but intense relationship with another Londoner – 1975 singer Matty Healy.

Amid the 31 tracks – which range from upbeat synth pop masking heartbreak, to slower, folk-inspired songs that lean into the sadness – is a reflective, moody track called “The Black Dog,” in which Swift sings about an ex who left his cell phone location settings on after the break-up:

“And so I watch as you walk

Into some bar called The Black Dog

And pierce new holes in my heart”

As soon as these lyrics hit the internet, Swifties started sleuthing. Was The Black Dog a real London spot, or just a fictional name chosen for its symbolic significance?

Maddie Essig, an American college student studying abroad in London, was among the fans who immediately started Googling.

“Joe and Taylor spent a lot of time in London,” says Essig. “I figured it would be around here somewhere.”

Essig is sitting inside The Black Dog at a table by the window, opposite her friend – fellow American abroad and Swift fan – Jenna Spackey. When the two start chatting with CNN Travel, they’ve just finished up their pub lunch (Spackey had a cesar salad, Essig had British pub classic fish and chips).

The two friends had never been to Vauxhall before. But once they realized The Black Dog was real, they hopped on a tube train – partly as a Swiftie pilgrimage and partly to celebrate finishing up their college semester. The two only have a couple of weeks left in the UK before they return to the US – Essig to Baltimore, Maryland and Spackey to Houston, Texas. They’re calling this period their “So Long, London” era, an homage to another song on “The Tortured Poets Department” which references the UK capital.

This new record isn’t the first time Swift’s namechecked London locations in her music. In her 2019 track “London Boy” – believed to be about Alwyn – Swift describes enjoying “nights out in Brixton” and “Shoreditch in the afternoon,” as well as “walking Camden Market” and heading to Highgate, the West End and even finding joy in “gray sky, a rainy cab ride.”

“People will go to all the places that she lists in the song,” says Spackey of “London Boy.” “I feel like The Black Dog will definitely be added to the hit list.”

Pub perspective

While no one – least of all Swift – has actually confirmed the Vauxhall Black Dog is the inspiration for her song (there is another London-based Black Dog, for one, a beerhouse further out of the city in suburban Brentford – while some fans have pointed to a bar in Cork, Ireland with the same name ) the south London Black Dog has leaned into its unexpected fame.

There’s now a sign in the window quoting the lyrics. On Instagram, the pub’s added “home to tortured poets” into its bio. Inside The Black Dog, the cocktail list on the blackboard has the addendum “Taylor’s Version” – a reference to the way Swift delineates her recent rerecorded tracks from the originals.

Lily Bottomley, events and social media manager for SC Soho, the small hospitality group that owns The Black Dog, tells CNN Travel she first heard about the song through her own personal social media channels.

“I saw ‘Black Dog,’ and I was like, ‘Oh…’ And then it just spiraled. And within half a day – even before the album release, we had people showing up,” Bottomley says.

Over the weekend, the pub hired extra security – “just a precaution, nothing crazy happened.”

Then followed “a really busy Monday” and a slew of bookings for the end of June and mid-August, when Swift will play eight sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium. The Black Dog plans to open early and close later on those days. When Bottomley chats to CNN Travel, she gestures at the already-packed pub: “We’re expecting a busy Tuesday too.”

There’s been press coverage across the world, and as Bottomley speaks to CNN Travel, other news outlets are setting up lives and filming TikToks outside the pub.

The Black Dog was already active on Instagram pre-Swift-fame but Bottomley and her team set up a TikTok account over the weekend.

“Our TikTok, within 72 hours, got over 200,000 likes and a million views after its creation,” says Bottomley. “It’s immense.”

Meanwhile, the pub’s Instagram following has “tripled, nearly quadrupled now,” says Bottomley. People are following and commenting from all over the world.

The Black Dog is “a local pub,” says Bottomley – it’s generally known for its “quiet, cozy kind of atmosphere most of the time.”

Its interior is inviting, chic – and more gastropub than loud bar.

But the influx of enthusiastic Swift fans has been a joy, says Bottomley.

“We’ve had singalongs,” she says, adding the team are “working on” the idea of a Swift-themed karaoke night.

So far, the fans who’ve come by have all brought a positive, infectious good vibe.

“Last night we had loads of Swifties come in who didn’t know each other, and they were pulling chairs together, pulling their tables together, such a great atmosphere,” says Bottmley. “It’s predominantly women and it’s really positive to have that community come together in a pub.”

While many fans – like Essig and Spackey – believe “The Black Dog” is about Joe Alwyn, others think Matty Healy could be the subject (the references to smoking and the ex’s penchant for an “esoteric joke” seem more Healy-coded).

Bottomley won’t confirm or deny anything, but she does hint that the pub has “a certain blond regular,” seemingly a reference to Alwyn’s fair hair color.

As for Swift herself, Bottomley says she’s “never seen her” in the The Black Dog (which, again, fits with the lyrics of the song, which suggest Swift’s narrator is unfamiliar with the bar).

“You never know though,” says Bottomley. “We’d love to have her.”

Scene-setting song writing

When CNN Travel visits, there’s no time to sample The Black Dog’s inviting looking food menu , but this writer opts for a Swift-approved glass of Sauvignon Blanc (in another new track, “The Alchemy,” Swift compares the rush of a new love affair to a glass of wine: “This happens once every few lifetimes/These chemicals hit me like white wine,” she sings).

Meanwhile my companion tries The Black Dog’s signature stout and gives it the seal of approval. The two drinks come to £14.65 (around $18) which is about what you’d expect for London in 2024.

The stout is served up in a pint glass printed with the pub’s name, and accompanying black dog logo. Bottomley says no one’s stolen any of these glasses yet – much to her relief – but the pub is in the process of making merchandise, so visitors may be able to take a glass home before too long.

“If The Black Dog sold merch, I would buy something from their store,” says Swift fan Avangeline Strasburg. “Having something from a place I got to visit, that is also mentioned in a song of my favorite artist, would be a really neat souvenir.”

Florida-based Strasburg and her friend and fellow Floridian Katie Hageman are currently in London on vacation, in celebration of Strasburg’s 29th birthday.

“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, Taylor’s releasing an album, right for my birthday, right for our trip!’” says Strasburg.

When the two friends realized The Black Dog was a real pub, they knew they had to squeeze in a visit into their London itinerary.

“We wanted to see it for ourselves,” says Hageman.

The two friends describe the pub as “quaint” – adding it’s not really what they were expecting based on the song lyrics.

“Hearing those lyrics I think we assumed that it would be more of a dive bar with loud music,” says Hageman.

As they pore over The Black Dog’s food menu, deciding what to have for lunch, Hageman and Strasburg chat with CNN Travel about whether or not Swift’s “The Black Dog” song is really about this pub – and whether the song is about Matty Healy or Joe Alwyn, or both.

It’s fun to speculate, they agree, but “maybe it’s not even about a certain person.”

Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter, the two friends decide. What excites Strasburg and Hageman most of all is “The Black Dog”’s evocative, scene-setting lyrics, which are a staple of Swift’s song-writing.

This kind of writing is key to Swift’s success. The specificity of the imagery – such as the scarf in “All Too Well” which her ex still has in a “drawer even now” – allows listeners to put themselves in Swift’s shoes. Sure, she’s a Grammy-winning billionaire leading a life worlds away from what most of us view as ordinary, but Swift has a knack for drawing emotion from everyday, relatable details.

And when Swift describes locations – whether the rented apartment on “Cornelia Street” or the “saltbox house on the coast” in “The Last Great American Dynasty” she does so with a particularity and fervor that allows listeners to draw an image in their minds’ eyes.

“She always includes little details, sometimes they’re vague, sometimes they’re specific – but they’re always parts of her life,” says Strasburg.

Hageman compares “The Black Dog” song to a “fable” – it’s probably not based entirely in reality. It may not be a real place. It may not be about a real person.

“This made the song even more relatable to us,” she says. “And I think to all who have created stories based on the glittering filtered details we perceive of each others’ lives from the outside.”

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The best new hotels in Europe: 2024 Hot List

By CNT Editors

It’s inevitable: every spring when we pull together the Hot List , our annual collection of the world’s best new hotels, restaurants, and cruise ships, a staffer remarks that this latest iteration has got to be the best one ever. It’s certainly our most diverse, with our European edit featuring not only a hotel suite that was once Winston Churchill’s office but a much-anticipated slick addition to the buzzing Athens Riviera, plus an impressive 19th-century fortress transformation in Montenegro. We were surprised and inspired by this year’s honourees, and we know you will be, too. These are the Hot List hotel winners in Europe for 2024.

This selection of hotels is part of the annual Condé Nast Traveller Hot List 2024 . See the other lists below:

• The best new hotels in Asia
• The best new hotels in Australia and New Zealand
• The best new hotels in Central and South America and Caribbean
• The best new hotels in the Middle East and Africa
• The best new hotels in North America and Caribbean

All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Grand Hotel Son Net, Mallorca, Spain Arrow

Now and then, there arrives a new hotel that feels like it's been around forever. Son Net, a baroque 17th-century estate cradled by Mallorca’s Tramuntana Mountains, is such a hotel – a place of densely layered and singular antiquarian exuberance. A grand family estate that was first turned into a hotel by American real estate mogul David Stein in 1998, Son Net has been reborn under Javier López Granados, the art collector and creator of iconic Andalusian resort Finca Cortesin. López Granados handed the creative reins to Lorenzo Castillo – a Madrid-based art historian, antiques collector, and interior designer – who filled each of the 31 rooms and suites with heirlooms from across the world. Castillo also designed bold fabrics for the vast suites’ curtains and upholstery that nod to styles from chinoiserie to Spanish colonial and Italian Renaissance. The final result feels like the home of a magpie collector – one with an eye for both ominous oils and comical ceramic ducks. As the sister property to Finca Cortesin, the hotel also hits a level of service that few Mallorcan hotels can match. Dextrous waistcoated staff attend to every whim, in every artfully curated space: from the fabric-walled Chimney Room serving up house gin cocktails to the locavore restaurant in a double-height former olive press; from the aquamarine pool set in cypress-scented gardens to the soon-to-open 10,763-square-foot spa with Morrish touches. Add to this a backdrop of sacred mountains, and the entire setting feels like a grand tour of the imagination. From £550. Toby Skinner

Le Grand Mazarin, Paris, France Arrow

Martin Brudnizki, the designer who has been everywhere this past year, is all about stories, and few are as seductive as the idea of an aristocratic-era literary salon in the Marais, just moments from the Seine and the Hôtel de Ville, and opposite the BHV Marais, surely Paris’s most fun department store. At Le Grand Mazarin – from Maisons Pariente, the group behind chic stays such as Provence’s Hotel Crillon Le Brave – the sense is of being in a film about a sumptuous 14th-century hotel, all pastels and layers of velvet and embroidery; everything a little softer than other recent Brudnizki projects in Soho or on New York’s Fifth Avenue. It’s built in the round with a stunning glass atrium winter garden at its heart. A bijou indoor pool, a rarity in central Paris, is overlooked by a free-form forest mural by in-demand artist Jacques Merle, and the hammam and spa specialise in extra-speedy treatments. The restaurant, Boubalé, is run by Michelin-starred chef Assaf Granit with a menu paying homage to the Ashkenazi cuisine of his parents’ heritage: Kurdish kreplach cooked in beurre blanc, potato pierogi, pickled herring and mamaliga (polenta). Tucked away in the basement is the perfectly dinky Le Bar de Boubalé, which oozes relaxed sophistication but with a dash of Wes Anderson-style whimsy. Doubles from about £400. Viv Groksop

Nolinski Venezia, Venice, Italy Arrow

Most of Venice’s household-name five-star hotels are converted palazzi. In this respect, and others, the Nolinski – 43 rooms and suites on Calle Larga XXII Marzo, the smartest shopping street in town – is different. It occupies a 20th-century building constructed not as a grand private residence but as a stock exchange. Yet there’s nothing the least bit stock exchange-y about it. Its five-storey façade, in a version of the Liberty style, is subtly animated by rippling lines and wavy undulations, suitably rich in maritime associations. Interior designers Yann Le Coadic and Alessandro Scotto have pulled off a nifty trick, deploying an adventurous mixture of elements in a way that creates an impression of great restraint and serenity. Mirrors feature prominently, along with a remarkable collection of glassware, assembled specifically for the hotel. Indeed, the art throughout has been curated, hung and displayed with exceptional flair – nowhere more so than in the ravishing little Library Bar on the piano nobile. Venetians have a particular fondness for sunny courtyard spaces; the Nolinski’s is a doozy, with a small but extremely fetching adjoining bar and dining room. Upstairs, in a stupendously domed space with gold-trimmed arches, fine-dining restaurant Palais Royal is due to open in spring, overseen by chef Philip Chronopoulos, a protégé of the late Joël Robuchon and much admired for his Hellenic take on classic French cuisine. Doubles from about £730. Steve King

La Palma, Capri, Italy Arrow

Once the epitome of la dolce vita, Capri is dangerously close to becoming fully eroded by day trippers on Grand Selfie tours. Luckily, Hotel La Palma – an Oetker Collection–helmed revival of the island’s first hotel, built in 1822 – arrived fashionably late to the scene last summer. The property evokes images of Capri’s bygone jet-set glamour: Maltese designer Francis Sultana bypassed those ubiquitous cobalt-and-lemon tiles and “I Heart Capri” T-shirts for a stripped-back neoclassical vision inspired by Villa Lysis and Villa San Michele. Everywhere you look, white linen curtains waft like togas, and mosaic floors beckon guests to truly watch their steps. The colour schemes of airy whites and sky blues are reminders of the island’s legendary luxury: the view of the Bay of Naples, as seen from the gods of Emperor Tiberius’s palace. Hotel La Palma boasts those same views, though its position opposite Dolce & Gabbana on Via Vittorio Emanuele is a bit more mortal. The hotel boasts its own patisserie run by pastry master Carmine di Donna, while Gennaro Esposito – famed for his two-Michelin-starred Torre del Saracino in Vico Equense near Sorrento – oversees the new La Bianca roof terrace. But on an island where sun loungers can be booked one year in advance, the hotel’s Da Gioia beach club is the biggest splash. From £513. Stephanie Rafanelli

Raffles London at The OWO, UK Arrow

The most talked-about hotel to have opened in London this century faces off the mounted cavalry troopers of The King’s Life Guard with reborn aplomb. From 1906 to 1964, this was the War Office, where Winston Churchill boomed out briefings to staff on the wraparound Grand Staircase while secretary of state for war; where D-Day was planned; and where the spies had their own entrance. In 2016, the Empire struck back when the lease was purchased by the Mumbai-founded Hinduja Group, which sank £1.5 billion into the building and brought Raffles on board. It took seven years and an 80-foot excavation to create the 120 rooms and suites, nine restaurants, three bars, 20-metre pool and 27,000-square-foot Guerlain spa by design firm Goddard Littlefair (Gleneagles, Villa Copenhagen). Grand state offices have become plum suites, including The Haldane in smart red damask, once Churchill’s office. OWO’s interiors impresario, Thierry Despont, sadly died last summer before the final unveiling, but he conceived its look of regal masculinity wrapped in a palette of blazing red, which references the Household Cavalry. Three of the restaurants are by Argentine chef Mauro Colagreco, including a fine-dining spot, a private-table option and Saison, the all-day space. Best for boozing and schmoozing is the Guards Bar, which heaves with gossipy politicians and media types; and the tiny Spy Bar, occupying an old interrogation room in the basement, is a good evening bookender with its red velvet banquettes and half of the car from No Time to Die on the wall. From £1,100. Lydia Bell

Son Vell, Menorca Arrow

In any setting or landscape, Vestige Son Vell would stand out – an imposing 18th-century Italianate villa made of stone the colour of clotted cream, and surrounded by olive and fig trees, holm oaks, chestnuts, palms, and luxuriant formal gardens. In its actual setting and landscape, amid the gently undulating agricultural fields at the western edge of Menorca , it stands out all the more. It’s probably safe to say that none of the island’s other farmhouses, charming as they are, possess this kind of dreamy, exotic elegance. The pale lusciousness of the exterior provides the basis of the design scheme throughout the 33 bedrooms – six in the main house, 27 in five single-story bungalows – and is complemented by neutral-tone textiles, limewashed timber beams, and well-judged metallic accents. The views from the villa’s upper stories are wonderful, across treetops and gardens to the ruggedly dramatic coastline, which – if the temptation to relax by the pool or feast in one of the superb restaurants can be overcome – cries out to be explored on foot or on horseback. Son Vell was the first hotel to open under the family-owned Vestige brand; half a dozen more hotels and private rental properties, all occupying buildings of historical or architectural significance in various parts of Spain, are due to follow in short order. If Son Vell is anything to go by, the arrival of Vestige is nothing but good news, marking the beginning of an extremely interesting period for the Spanish hotel scene. From £675. Steve King

One&Only Aesthesis, Greece Arrow

In its 1960s heyday, Asteria Beach was a playground for socialites and starlets; many black-and-white Greek movies were shot in the modernist cabanas and open-air restaurants. Now this peninsula on the Athens Riviera pulls an equally glamorous crowd to the One&Only’s long-awaited Greek debut – a resort so rigorously art-directed that it sometimes feels like a movie set. Following the low-density blueprint of the original structures, bungalows and villas built from local stone and pale timber are scattered between exuberant gardens and the shoreline. The shallow bay isn’t great for swimming, but it’s perfect for learning to paddleboard or launching off to the nearby islands of Aegina or Kea (where another One&Only opens in summer 2024) – and anyway, all the bungalows and villas come with private pools. With two relentlessly responsive hosts at your disposal, you’ll be hard-pressed to venture beyond the gilded compound. There’s a lively scene at Ora, a vibrant Greco-Italian all-day affair, where plump aubergine, lobster, and lamb are wood-fired or flame-grilled in the open kitchen; and at El Bar, chef Paco Morales’s hedonistic spin on Andalusian tapas bars, where Iberico flamenquin and oysters escabeche are paired with a fiery pisco punch or sherry cocktail. Daytime drinking and sunset DJ sets keep up the tempo at the beach bar, Manco. Self-indulgence is gently encouraged by the therapists at the Guerlain spa too. Euphoria-inducing facials and wellness rituals focus on deep relaxation and inner glow, which pretty much sums up a stay at this smoothly operated urban resort. From £650. Rachel Howard

Bulgari Hotel, Rome, Italy Arrow

Bulgari opened its flagship store on Via Condotti back in 1905, and has finally unveiled a crown jewel flagship hotel in its hometown. Every inch of this instantly venerable institution, a stone’s throw from Augustus’s mausoleum, is adorned with museum-worthy pieces: handcrafted mosaics from Friuli, handblown lamps from Venice’s Murano and Gio Ponti Ginori icons from the 1930s. It all comes with next-level modern comforts: custom mattresses and bedding with a pillow menu; bathtubs fit for a Roman emperor under mosaics in the design of a Bulgari brooch; Dyson hairdryers; and a 21st-century lighting system that’s gratifyingly easy to use. There’s a Niko Romito restaurant (he helms a place in Casadonna with three Michelin stars, and oversees most Bulgari restaurants); a spa with a columned Roman-bath-styled pool; jet-lag-cancelling massages; and a terrace bar with hundreds of plants and views across the Eternal City. A partnership with the Torlonia Foundation facilitates the rotation of priceless statues in the lobby, which sit alongside the brand’s exquisite jewellery. The starting rate is fearfully expensive – well-heeled guests aren’t just paying for the exquisite digs, but sightseeing in vintage Fiat 500s, personal shoppers and a fleet of chauffeured cars. Doubles from about £1,370. Ondine Cohane

CNT Editors

CNT Editors , CN Traveller

Rosewood Munich, Germany Arrow

It’s been more than a decade since Munich had a top-end hotel reveal. Sensing an opportunity, Rosewood – gifted at reimagining historical properties – snapped up and repurposed the aristocratic Palais Neuhaus-Preysing, which dates from 1703, and the old headquarters of the State Bank of Bavaria. The result is a hotel that’s bringing a modern edge to the heart of Munich’s Altstadt, land of chiming glockenspiel clock towers and biergartens. While the imposing façade and the lobby’s original grand staircase and Baroque frescoes remain, London designers Tara Bernerd & Partners have created an airy, contemporary look for the interiors. Bavaria’s mountains and lakes are the inspiration behind the 132 rooms (more than 40 per cent of which are suites) in soothing greens, browns, tactile leather and velvet, and bathrooms with smoky-white marble and brass fixtures. Historical edifices such as these allow for regal amounts of space: the most exclusive suite, the König Maximilian I, has a fireplace and a terrace overlooking the iconic Frauenkirche cathedral. At the main restaurant, Brasserie Cuvilliés, city types gather for modern Alpine dishes such as spinach dumplings with pecorino and brown butter, and Bavarian rice with mountain cheese, pear, sorrel and artichoke. The Sekt-sipping couples among them segue to the moody Bar Montez for nightly jazz. This, along with the Asaya Spa’s pool, saunas and dreamy body treatments, is adding a new dimension to Munich’s social buzz. Doubles from about £595. Liz Humphreys

The Peninsula London, UK Arrow

It’s a sign that a hotel opening is a real event when even the taxi driver excitedly explains the subtly marked genders of the lion statues outside (hint: look for the egg). The Peninsula London has been 30 years in the making, with the Hong Kong brand spending decades looking for a goldilocks site before opting to knock down an office block that housed the headquarters of building company Sir Robert McAlpine, overlooking the Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner. For all the staff buzz (just ask any of them about the feng shui), the sense inside the new eight-storey edifice is of a frictionless bubble. The creamy seven-star cosseting feels distinctly Asian, despite the red buses and daily Household Cavalry horses outside. All the key brand markers are here: the Rolls-Royces in Peninsula green; the tinkly underwater pool music; the afternoon teas in the vast lobby; the robo-loos and drawers with nail dryers; and Cantonese classics at Canton Blue and its adjoining Little Blue bar, with sultry interiors inspire by the 19th-century Keying trading junk. There’s also a nostalgic Britishness at play, from the de Gournay wallpaper depicting the Royal Parks to the Brooklands restaurant-bar inspired by the UK’s golden age of flying and motor racing. It’s already Michelin-starred for its modern British dishes by Bibendum’s Claude Bosi, and has rare views across the parks to the London Eye. This is a hotel for a new London: global, solvent and demanding only the best. Doubles from about £1,300. Toby Skinner

Estelle Manor, Oxfordshire, UK Arrow

Hospitality titan Sharan Pasricha’s acquisition of this Jacobethan hall with parkland on the cusp of the Cotswolds has heralded a glamorous new dawn – and created an outpost for Mayfair members’ club Maison Estelle. To transform the austere panelled shell, he hired designers including Roman and Williams (NoMad London, Freehand New York), then installed a riot of paintings and sculptures with a focus on English artists such as Billy Childish and Erin Lawlor. The 108 rooms and suites are split between the main house, kitchen-garden blocks, Scandinavian-styled woodland cottages and handsome private homes. In spite of the upholstered silk furniture, Persian rugs and antiques, they feel pared down and modern. Everything celebrates the good life, with eating taken as seriously as work (there are on-site desk spaces, a creche and gym at The Clubhouse). Breakfasts and informal suppers unfold in The Brasserie, where the evening menu includes a raw section of caviar and oysters, and juicy steaks served with the marrow. The Billiards Room has an excellent Chinese selection focused on dim sum and bao by ex-Hakkasan chef Ah Tat Ip. There’s a Japanese restaurant by Nobu alum Sergej Leonenko, and the bloom-filled Glasshouse centres on British heritage vegetables and wood-fired roasts. A fun, clubbable and boozy atmosphere pervades at the 25-metre pool, and hangovers can be soaked off in the phenomenal Eynsham Baths, a Roman-inspired spa in carved marble with sculpted columns. Doubles from about £450. Lydia Bell

Hotel Corazon, Mallorca Arrow

Mallorca ’s west coast has long been a magnet for writers, artists and musicians seeking spiritual connection – an intangible alchemy that has been channelled into Hotel Corazón. A wild and spoiling spot between Deià and Sóller, it’s the creation of photographer Kate Bellm and her partner, the artist and cactus gardener Edgar Lopez, who set out to open a hotel that feels more like the private home of an arty friend, a place where anything seems possible. Their creative pals are regular guests, and the 1970s-inspired, free-flowing sculptural interior design blurs the boundaries between indoors and out. Palm fronds peek through the windows of the 15 linen-draped bedrooms, each unique, with shaggy carpets and egg-shaped dome showers in hazy shades of pink, sage and ochre. At the heart of the property is the abundant land, which is cultivated using traditional regenerative farming techniques. Vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs are harvested to conjure up seasonal dishes, served on the restaurant terrace backed by mountain views. Palm-leaf parasols cast languid shade onto day beds by the pool, and healing medicinal teas and elixirs are sourced from the garden. Sound baths, yoga and reiki are on offer, as well as insider advice on where to find hidden waterfalls and caves. Hotel Corazón immerses guests in the island’s artistic scene – an invitation to dare to dream. Doubles from about £230. Katie Metcalfe

De Durgerdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands Arrow

A former 17th-century clapboard inn in a fishing village just a 20-minute cycle from downtown Amsterdam , De Durgerdam has been restored and relaunched as a friendly hotel, with astonishing food by the team behind Michelin-starred restaurants 212 and De Juwelier. Named after the historic village it calls home, the 14-room creation is a celebration of simple, low-impact design, with a mix of vintage and custom-made furniture (Hypnos beds with beautiful wave-inspired local tulipwood headboards); but also of the golden age of Vermeer, through its moody use of natural light, velvety throws and palette of green, rust and putty. The relaxed open-plan restaurant, De Mark, takes over the whole ground floor and is already a local favourite, with a wood-burning stove, a bar and doors that open on to a terrace overlooking saltwater lake Ijmeer (an inlet of the North Sea until it was dammed in 1932). It’s overseen by head chef Koen Marees, known for his imaginative, vegetable-forward menus featuring dishes such as roasted cod with buttermilk and cream of barbecued celeriac, and tomato steak tartare. Downstairs is a candlelit wine snug. Guests can whizz into town in a cab, hire one of the hotel’s electric bikes to explore, or just cosy up by the fire. The braver among them scamper down the hotel jetty and leap into the lake. Doubles from about £260 Francesca Syz

The Peninsula Istanbul, Turkey Arrow

Life in this city revolves around the Bosphorus, so naturally the hotel scene does too. Already, the Peninsula in the three-year-old mixed-use Galataport cruise terminal has become one of Istanbul’s hot spots, thanks to the rooftop restaurant Gallada, overseen by Fatih Tutak – Turkey’s only chef with two Michelin stars. Architect Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu has transformed four adjoining buildings into a sleek mash-up of past and present: the massive Bauhaus-era Lobby restaurant was once the port’s passenger terminal, while a newly constructed wing is home to large light-filled suites overlooking the river. Each of the 177 rooms is filled with the usual hallmarks and comforts of a Peninsula – monochrome palettes, thick Tai Ping carpets, and state-of-the-art technology – but it’s the spa where the brand’s ethos shines brightest. There’s an 82-foot-long indoor swimming pool as well as eight treatment rooms and a gorgeous sauna. This is Istanbul, however, which means the spa reaches its pinnacle with a purpose-built hammam – a shimmering, marble-lined space to rival the most established baths in the city. From £606. Lale Arikoglu

Palacio Arriluce, Getxo, Spain Arrow

The mills of God grind slowly—or, as they say in Spain , “Las cosas de palacio van despacio.” But most of the time, patience pays off. In the case of the transformation of the Palacio Arriluce into a luxury hotel, expectations were almost as high as the imposing façade itself, as well all wondered when the doors of Palacio Arriluce Hotel would open. The result rises above any and all of those expectations—we are facing a true masterpiece of hospitality. The long-awaited five-star hotel, a member of the distinguished collection of Leading Hotels of the World, turns the guest into a protagonist of a movie. Sometimes the romantic, historical, mysterious hotel feels like stepping into Downton Abbey or Hogwarts. Other times it may be a scene taken from Pride and Prejudice or a Sherlock Holmes story. Art (with works by Sonia Delaunay and František), gastronomy (with the signature of chef Beñat Ormaetxea), and contemplation all coexist in this icon of the Biscayan coast, wrapped in a halo of luxury, sophistication, and charm. Palacio Arriluce offers one of the most coveted luxuries today, that of watching time go by: reading one of the books from the library, playing croquet, chatting in front of an abstract painting, enjoying a glass of txakoli (a traditional wine from the Basque Country), relaxing at the spa, or admiring the sunset from the pool. Don't call it a hotel—call it a palace. Doubles from about £380. Maria Casbas

Monument, Athens, Greece Arrow

Classified as a modern monument, this mansion was designed in 1881 by Ernst Ziller, the German architect whose eclectic neoclassicism shaped Greece’s new 19th-century capital. Hotelier Grigoris Tolkas spent three years transforming the neglected beauty into an intimate hotel, undeterred by strict building restrictions, maddening bureaucracy and spiralling costs. Restoration specialists from the Ministry of Culture painted the delicate acanthus flowers on the ceilings and trompe l’oeil stairwell, which leads to nine subtly different rooms and suites. There are sepia-toned limewash walls, brass lamps beside bespoke wooden beds and a smattering of contemporary Scandinavian furniture to keep things from sliding into retro pastiche. Modern bathrooms are concealed in mirrored boxes, a neat trick that makes the lofty rooms seem even bigger. Some suites have marble balconies overlooking the domed church of Agios Dimitrios, the pavement scene at fashionable Linou Soumpasis restaurant and the Parthenon hovering above the rooftops. A locally sourced breakfast is the only meal served in the subdued living and dining room that occupies the whole ground floor. The complimentary sauna and steam room in the basement is a lovely perk. Service is hyper-personal, from the morning crew remembering your coffee order to behind-the-scenes tours tailored to your interests, whether you’re into art, architecture or eating your way around Athens. This is a charming hideout in the heart of the city, where you can peel back layers of the past while checking the frenetic pulse of the present. From about £240. Rachel Howard

Mamula Island, Montenegro Arrow

Gulls wheel above the worn stone of an island monastery, and the Dinaric Alps rise from crystal-clear waters by a thin coastal strip of red-roofed fishermen’s cottages, Venetian merchants’ palaces, and Orthodox churches. Here, where the last narrow spit of the Croatian coast plunges into the Adriatic and meets Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor, the massive, pale limestone walls and central tower of Mamula Island hotel dominate a rocky islet. Reimagined from a 19th-century fort – and preserving its martial grandeur – the property contains 32 rooms and suites, spread through the dramatic, barrel-vaulted spaces of former cannon rooms and officers’ quarters, their interiors softened with natural fabrics, warm brass, solid oak, and smooth curves. Outside, the view links the sea, mountains, and sky. This connection resonates throughout: menus at the three restaurants featuring local oysters and freshly caught lobster, cocktails at the rampart bar infused with Mediterranean pine and olives, and holistic rituals using sea sponges and local limestone in the spa’s serene stone rooms. Guests can unwind with dawn yoga or recline on the island’s small beach. A few hundred feet across the water lie the sea caves, beaches, abandoned forts, and submarine tunnels of the unspoilt Luštica peninsula, with medieval-walled Kotor, the cascading old town of Herceg Novi, and the glorious marinas of Porto Montenegro and Portonovi a short boat ride away. From £430. Jonathan Wiggin

Palazzo Roma, Rome, Italy Arrow

Though many dream of palaces fit for a king, finding an undiscovered one these days is a tall order. Enter Palazzo Roma, a bona fide 18th-century palace turned boutique hotel and the latest (and most dazzling) debut from the buzzy Shedir Collection, owned by JK Place cofounder Eduardo Safdie. Hidden away on the southern stretch of the iconic Via del Corso in the heart of Rome’s ever-bustling historic centre, the 39-room showstopper melds incomparable architectural details – lavishly restored frescoes, intarsia wood ceilings, a baronial marble staircase – with a distinctly modern sensibility (and a 1,000-plus-piece art collection) to jaw-dropping effect. This is all thanks to the singular vision of Milan -based designer Giampiero Panepinto, the aesthetic maestro who designed the restaurant at Hotel Vilòn, its achingly chic sister property just a short stroll away. The palatially proportioned rooms boast 16-foot ceilings, splashy colour palettes, and colossal bathrooms honed in rare marbles that would wow Caesar himself, while the common areas delight and surprise: a statue of Euterpe, the Greek Muse of music, presides over the striking Salla de Musica, the palace’s former ballroom-cum-lobby. Meanwhile, more than 100 timepieces beckon in the azure-hued Clock Room, a prime perch for an aperitivo and fresh-fried arancini from Core – the fresco-wrapped, chandeliered restaurant – after a day spent pounding Rome’s black-cobblestoned streets. In a city teeming with new five-star hotels, this storied stunner just may be the jewel in the crown. From £780. Alex Kirkman

La Roqqa, Porto Ercole, Italy Arrow

It’s been eons since a new hotel graced Porto Ercole, a chic but discreet village on the Monte Argentario peninsula that’s home to Caravaggio’s tomb. The newcomer creating ripples on this part of the rock-strewn Maremma coastline is petite La Roqqa, a cliffside retreat whose distinctive coral-orange façade and secluded views of the Tyrrhenian Sea provide a forward-looking alternative to Hotel Il Pellicano, the area’s sine qua non grande dame since 1965. In the 55 rooms and suites, floor-to-ceiling windows let sunshine flood onto walls of sage green or Terra di Siena orange, which pop against crisp white bed linen. Designers Palomba Serafini, Milanese masters of uncluttered contemporary chic, have mixed midcentury pieces and Gaetano Pesce’s iconic Up chairs with ultramodern features, including an eye-catching white central staircase spiralling from the entrance. On the alfresco rooftop, Ferragamo-clad locals sip Negronis gilded by sunset rays in view of the 16th-century Forte Stella and harbour yachts below. Aperitivo hour turns into dinner at the outdoor Scirocco restaurant, where chef Francesco Ferretti knocks up fresh sea bass and other local seafood capped with Venetian grappa. Days spent lounging at the hotel’s smart Isolotto Beach Club are broken up by lunches of avocado and tuna salads paired with a local white. Or you can ask friendly staff to book you a Vespa tour along the rugged coast. It’s La Dolce Vita reimagined for the next generation. From £375. Erin Florio

La Nauve Hotel & Jardin, Cognac, France Arrow

Though France’s Henri IV was a Bourbon, he had a taste for cognac. He insisted that the Charente, which flows through the city, was the loveliest river in his kingdom. The good king would, then, surely approve of La Nauve Hotel & Jardin, which occupies a particularly splendid position on the banks of the river. This blindingly white, 19th-century neoclassical villa is flanked by two outbuildings of similar vintage and surrounded by a dozen emerald green acres that will only get better with age. Much of the garden was redesigned and replanted while the hotel was being created; and though it is already looking gorgeous, the climbing plants taking over the trellises by the water lily pond promise lovelier views with each growing inch. There are currently a dozen rooms—eight in the main villa and four in the smaller of the two outbuildings—and the interiors are charmingly eclectic. Despite the great quantities of gleaming marble and the mesmeric, grand-scale Venetian chandeliers in the lobby, there’s an intriguing hint of the Alps throughout the place. The abundance of wood—not only in the floors and ceilings, but also in the elaborate inlaid headboards, doors, and wardrobes—is an unexpected delight. Further elegant touches include luminous onyx panels, brass details embedded in the parquet, and, here and there, carved birds perched in the rafters. La Nauve’s two restaurants, the fine-dining Notes and the indoor-outdoor Brasserie des Flâneurs, are both overseen by Anthony Carballo (ex-Le Meurice and Shangri-La Paris) and are outstanding additions to the resurgent local food-and-drink scene. From £390. Steve King

Hotel Maria, Helsinki Arrow

In a country where the sun hides for a large part of the year, light is more precious than gold. Carefully considered illuminations appositely form the design backbone of Finland ’s latest top-drawer opening, an elegantly attired dame igniting buzz in the capital. Inside the former 19th-century battalion residence in the Kruununhaka district, crystal pendants sparkle from 159 chandeliers, and dozens of opaque selenite wands nostalgically mimic snow lanterns above the Champagne- and caviar-stocked bar. In the 117 bedrooms and suites (there are 38 of the latter, the highest number in Helsinki), a dizzying selection of lamps and ceiling lights can be dimmed with one touch of an iPad for sultry cinematic effect. But even beyond its highly charged interiors, this lustrous beauty is set to shine. Founder Samppa Lajunen, a former skier with three Olympic golds, has high hopes for the first wellness concept hotel in the Nordics. Finnish sauna culture and hot and cold therapy are central to the spa and health club, where nutritionists, personal trainers and therapists join forces. In restaurant Lilja, head chef Ville Rainio is on track for a Michelin star with his New Nordic menu based on Finland’s bountiful larder – from cheeses made in nearby suburb Töölö to reindeer meat from inside the Arctic Circle in Lapland. This is a distinctly local hotel with finessed service not previously seen in this part of the world. Proof that Finland can deliver more than husky rides and auroras, it’s an enlightening find. Doubles from about £386. Sarah Marshall

Hotel Violino d’Oro, Venice Arrow

It’s easy for hotels to say they want guests to feet at home – it’s harder to pull off. But from the moment you enter this intimate boutique hotel just five minutes from Piazza San Marco, you feel like you’re being welcomed into the abode of a sophisticated host. That’s because it’s a very personal project for Sara Maestrelli, who’s joining her aunt Elena in the family business. (The Maestrellis own hotels in Florence and Forte dei Marmi, but this property is the first of theirs to be part of the Leading Hotels of the World.) They were adamant that Violino d’Oro be a completely “made in Italy” project that not only showcases archival designs by Fortuny, Venini, and Martinelli Luce, but also supports young Italian artists and artisans – including the Micheluzzi sisters, whose Venetian glass vases decorate the hotel; and Allegra Santini, who created regenerated marble busts for the rooms. The locally minded, artisan-led philosophy extends to the bar, where lauded bartender Francesco Adranga shakes up creative cocktails using Gin Venice (one of the only gins made in the Venetian lagoon); and Il Piccolo restaurant, which serves gourmet dishes with an emphasis on plant-based and gluten-free options served, naturally, on Ginori porcelain. But more than the fancy trappings, it’s the staff – from the charismatic general manager, Annabella Cariello, right down to the receptionist – who make you feel at home. From £685. Laura Itzkowitz

The Carlton Cannes, A Regent Hotel, France Arrow

A six-year hotel restoration, including two and a half years of complete closure, is serious business. That’s why everyone was clamouring to rush in when the Boulevard de la Croisette’s century-­old grande dame, in a dramatic I’m-ready-for-my-close-up moment, finally flung open her doors in spring 2023 to unveil a swoon-worthy rejuvenation. But there’s more. Rebranded as a Regent Hotel, the Carlton’s neo-resort comeback works its charms beyond the showy marble-­stucco-columned lobby and gorgeously spruced-up tea salon. The sprawling peristyle garden courtyard and splashy infinity pool (which morphs into a skating rink in winter) are just part of the draw. There’s also a dazzling Le C-Club Spa for personalized holistic massages and Dr Barbara Sturm treatments, plus a luxe cutting-edge fitness centre with a boxing ring where you can slug away with a private coach. Aquanauts may prefer a plunge in the turquoise Med and relaxing on a sunbed at the Carlton’s private beach, which still oozes To Catch a Thief glamour. Upstairs, the reimagined sea-view rooms have an unfussy, minimalist beach feel. There are also cavernous seventh-floor signature suites and a massive penthouse for glitzy movie mogul bashes. Come sundown, guests drift to the intimate Bar °58 for signature cocktails (try the tequila old-fashioned spiked with agave and bitter chocolate) then continue on to the newly added restaurant Rüya for mouthwatering Anatolian­-style dishes to share among friends. Gracious service remains paramount, with 14 concierges in high season. The Carlton Cannes’s legendary glow is brighter than ever. From £345. Lanie Goodman

Highland Base, Iceland Arrow

Iceland really has been the “land of fire and ice” of late, with the recent eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula causing the temporary closure of The Retreat at Blue Lagoon, a 60-suite hotel and subterranean geothermal spa. Luckily the sustainably minded wellness company’s new sister venture, a year-round off-grid retreat for adventure extremists, is 110 miles – and another planet – away in Iceland ’s vast and mostly frozen interior, which remained unexplored until the 1930s. Highland Base in Kerlingarfjöll – a vast reserve of snowdrift-blanketed peaks, glaciers, lava fields and silence – might as well be on the moon. Getting there is a mission. In winter, after arriving at Skjol Basecamp – 90 minutes on the Golden Circle from Reykjavik – it can take two to five hours of “floating” over virgin snow in adapted Super Jeeps. The angular Highland Base huddles in a valley like a Nordic minimalist space station, a 28-room hotel and six pod-like lodges occupying the abandoned structures of the pioneers who have gone before. The pods, which have sunken living rooms, Polaroid-like windows and hanging ponchos, were designed with sustainable aged wood and concrete by Icelandic firm Basalt Architects, masterminds of the Blue Lagoon. There’s also a sleeping bag option in A-frame huts left over from a 1960s summer ski school. Activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking, as well jumping in the geothermal baths to see the Northern Lights after dinners of Arctic char and warming shots of Brennivín schnapps. Doubles from about £285. Stephanie Rafanelli

Chelsea Townhouse, London, UK Arrow

If you know London , you also know how prized its private communal gardens are to the residents lucky enough to live by them. The Cadogan Place Gardens in Sloane Square, with their mature trees and gated railings, are among the most prestigious – and the newly opened Chelsea Townhouse gives its guests access to that rarified local perk. The 36-room hotel – the third London property and the sixth hotel in the Iconic Luxury Hotels collection—sits across from three redbrick Victorian townhouses and includes roomy, ground-level suites with French doors that open directly into the garden. The decor here leans antique but is light-touch and chic – think botanical prints, pleated lampshades, velvet headboards, and the odd porcelain figurine. Much of the period furniture has been repurposed from its predecessor, the Draycott Hotel, but the redesign has breathed new life into its spaces, which are bathed in restful shades of grey and cream. Its communal areas include a fire-warmed dining room and bay-windowed library, made cosier with staff who anticipate your needs. Once nestled in this cocoon, it’s easy to forget the abundance at your doorstep: Stylish sister property 11 Cadogan Gardens – with a clever little gym that’s available for Townhouse guests – is around the corner, as is Pavilion Road, a pedestrian mews street with indie restaurants, bars, and design shops. Further out in Chelsea and Kensington, opportunities abound for a great night out; but as you wind your way back to this comfy, tucked-away sanctuary, you’ll be ever glad to be home. From about £455. Arati Menon

Broadwick Soho, London, UK Arrow

This Martin Brudzinski-designed hangout on the corner of Berwick Street and Broadwick Street is no elegant grand dame or glassy international transplant. Instead, the 57-room hotel owned by a group of friends throws patterns (leopard print, zebra stripe, geometric lines), textures (cork panelling, glitter DJ booths, silk walls) and colours (flamingo pink, crimson red, aquamarine) together to create a joyful place to stay. As is Brudzinski's way, spaces here are hardly shy and retiring. The designer's trademark maximalist vibe naturally draws comparisons to his other projects, especially Annabel's, but Broadwick is her own person entirely. Two enormous elephants hover above the street-level entrance in top hats and bow ties, while bedrooms pick up the motif and run with it by placing handcrafted Jaipur elephant mini bars front and centre and decking the walls in shimmering elephant print wallpaper. A hotel this fun, of course, needs sharp public spaces for merrymaking: Flute is the disco-chic rooftop bar; Dear Jackie is a sultry, dimly lit restaurant with an impeccable Sicilian-inspired menu; and little sister Bar Jackie is a more casual café with strong coffee for soothing weary heads the morning after the night before. Then there's The Nook, a guests-only den for nightcaps or afternoon snoozes. The result is a hotel that feels fresh while simultaneously fitting right into the London scene; a space that trades heavily on its glamour and distinctly Soho soul. Sarah James

1, Place Vendôme, Paris, France Arrow

The French capital has more than its fair share of hotels with Studio 54-style waiting lists or storied suites. 1, Place Vendôme – owned by the Scheufele family behind Swiss fine jeweller and watchmaker Chopard – counters that razzle dazzle with an elegance that’s quintessentially Parisian but more homely, especially for those accustomed to butler service. Designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon (The Dorchester, Peninsula Shanghai), it’s a new jewel for the regal 1st arrondissement, amid Place Vendôme’s murmur of top labels, and directly above the Chopard boutique. Guests enter through an imposing blue door, unbranded except for an enigmatic cursive “C”. This place is more akin to a members’ club than a hotel (it’s only accessible to guests and their visitors), so many conventions are dispensed with. There’s no lobby, rather the grandeur of an entrance hall with an 18th-century stone fireplace and sweeping staircase. Check-in, as with dining, happens wherever guests please: in the library-salon, one of the sumptuous lounges or their bedroom – of which there are five, plus 10 suites including the double-height, Versailles-worthy, gilded confection known as Appartement Chopard. There’s a glass-walled table d’hôte that allows guests to peer in on the chefs while dining; a winter-garden conservatory with a jungle-themed mural crafted from thousands of cabochon gemstones; and a Chinese-inspired fumoir. This is classic Paris, cut with an haute-private edge. From about £1,115. Katie Baron

Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino, Greece Arrow

The private Costa Navarino reserve in the Peloponnese’s Messenia is already known for its dunes, secret bays, world-class golf courses and family-friendly resorts – but Mandarin Oriental’s Greek debut takes things up a notch. With sweeping views of the coast, the resort is cast organically into the hillside, with flora-topped pool villas and gardens alive with pirouetting butterflies and bushels of oleander and rosemary. The 51 suites and 48 pool villas are spacious, and even entry-level rooms can interconnect for families. The creations of local artisans are everywhere, from the bespoke latticework headboards to the organic thyme-flavoured chocolate. Breakfast tapas, or paramana, are served on the lavender-scented terrace of Oliviera restaurant, including homemade yogurt topped with pistachio and honeycomb, and milk cake. Aside from Eastern Mediterranean restaurant Tahir (whose silken baba ghanoush is a must), the pizza omakase counter at Pizza Sapienza impresses with its 48-hour-proved, perfectly singed slices topped with freshly picked courgette flowers and local horta bitter greens with nduja. The citrus-hued spa has a panoramic 25 metre pool and indoor- outdoor gym stocked with pepper and ginger kombucha shots. This is a resort for all generations, with access to Costa Navarino’s four golf courses, tennis academy and plentiful water sports; and new free kids’ club, laden with wooden toys. And thanks to its excellent GM, Raul Levis, there’s warmth in its soul. Doubles from about £855. Jemima Sissons