5 of the Best City Stays Around the World
Combining swanky rooms, next-level locations and modern hospitality, these high-end hotels are worth bookmarking for your next big city adventure.
Crown Metropol Melbourne, Australia
Find a sense of swagger in Melbourne’s Southbank at Crown Metropol with the CBD, Arts Centre Melbourne and NGV a short stroll away. The 658-room tower has plenty of staying power, too. Lounge on a daybed at the 27th-floor swimming pool, sweat it out in a state-of-the-art gym, and make yourself at home in the Mad Men-esque rooms fitted with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame views of the Yarra. Downstairs, funky restaurant Mr Hive is all set for a long lunch of kingfish tartare, glazed duck breast and chocolatey peanut butter parfait teamed with Victorian wines (or strawberry puree-spiked ‘Mrs Hives’ margaritas if that’s more your style).
W Brisbane, Australia
Walking into W Brisbane is like stepping into a design-forward fantasy: the lobby is splashed with kaleidoscopic murals, mirror-clad walls and tongue-in-cheek works by Australian artists such as Lucas Grogan.
You can expect modern, pop-bright decor in all 312 rooms – including the 200-square-metre Extreme Wow Suite, which features an outback-style 10-gallon tub, Bang & Olufsen entertainment gear, a fully equipped bar and an epic outlook over the Brisbane River. Grab coconut chia bircher for breakfast at the Three Blue Ducks on-site restaurant and relax in one of Away Spa’s saunas or steam rooms before indulging in truffle fries and a Top of Mt. Ngungun cocktail (gin, eucalyptus bitters, saltbush, basil, lime and coconut foam) by the pool at rooftop bar Wet Deck.
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, Australia
The historic Rocks precinct, Circular Quay and Sydney’s CBD are right on your doorstep at this glamorous stay, Australia’s only Four Seasons property. Once you’re done exploring, settle into one of Mode Kitchen & Bar’s plush armchairs for a bite (the frozen pavlova with passionfruit, mango and coconut sorbet is a hit) or sample a few of the 200 global whiskies on offer at wood-panelled cocktail bar Grain.
Upstairs, the rooms and suites are serene and light-filled, with massive marble bathrooms and Christian Lacroix amenities. If you’re going all out, splurge on the two-bedroom Presidential Suite, a penthouse with its own office space, dining table for 10 and dazzling 180-degree views of Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and the city skyline.
The Langham London, United Kingdom
The polished marble, dramatic renaissance pillars and French provincial furnishings of The Langham may look imposing, but London’s 157-year-old grand dame is nothing but inviting. It’s a place where you’re greeted by jovial bowler-hatted doormen, people of all ages converge at Palm Court for afternoon tea, a lavender-infused massage at the subterranean spa promises instant zen and the cream-coloured, parquet-floored rooms feature thoughtful touches like baskets of teddy bears for families. The setting is just right, too: bustling Regent Street in the heart of the West End theatre district, with its Beaux-Arts architecture, top-notch shopping and procession of bright red double-decker buses. Plus, it’s a 20-minute walk to Hyde Park and The British Museum.
The Knickerbocker Hotel New York, United States
Times Square in New York is many things – neon-lit, noisy, nocturnal – but one word not often used to describe it is relaxing. The 16-storey ‘Knick’, however, offers a welcome escape from the chaos below. Lofty 12-foot-high ceilings provide a sense of airy tranquillity across the hotel's 330 rooms, complemented by custom lighting, minimalist furniture, automated black-out drapes and toiletries from trendy Paris-based brand Diptyque.
Snap a photo in front of the vertical garden of the St. Cloud Rooftop bar before snagging a seat in one of the ‘sky pods’ overlooking the action and order a martini; the classic cocktail is rumoured to have been invented here.
