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The Best Hotels for City Breaks in Europe
Paris? Milan? Zurich? Wherever your continental travels are taking you, here’s where to stay
The beauty of Europe, especially when you’re in Europe (by which we mean geographically, rather than socioeconomically, our thoughts on which we’ll tell you over a drink some time…), is that there are so many great cities to visit, many of them with just a short flight or a scenic train-ride between them. In the space of a single (admittedly quite ambitious) trip, you could take in Croatian beaches, Italian cathedrals, French boutiques and Portuguese wine bars, and sample the many varied and historic delights the continent has to offer.
Having said that, given your hectic itinerary, you’ll also want to make sure your accommodation is up to snuff. Accordingly, here are our selection of the hippest, chicest, cutest, most comfortable-est hotels from Rome to Reykjavik that will ensure you’re rested and ready for your next European adventure.
Hotel Excelsior – Dubrovnik, Croatia
There are sea views and then there are views you can’t unsee – step into the lobby of this landmark hotel and you’ll be greeted by a floor-to-ceiling look at the glittering Adriatic ocean, so shimmeringly blue that you’ll feel as though you’re hallucinating. The hotel’s unique cliff-edge location means many guests can see the medieval limestone fortress of Old Town Dubrovnik right from their balcony. For over a century, the five-star hotel has served exclusive clientele, including the late Queen Elizabeth II herself. Priding itself on luxury, the hotel offers an indoor swimming pool, Roman bath and Finnish sauna alongside its spa, where a 40-minute anti-fatigue espresso facial can help you recover from the roughness of sea swimming. adriaticluxuryhotels.com
Bloom House – Paris, France
A Paris hotel at its best can offer you many small pleasures. A false balcony with a view of a sliver of the Eiffel Tower; perhaps even – if there’s room between the bed and the wall – a tiny table from which to enjoy a croissant. What you might not anticipate, particularly if you’re staggering off the Eurostar with a wheelie suitcase, is that a welcome dip in a generously sized swimming pool is just a 10-minute stroll/roll away. What’s more, at the recently opened Bloom House Hotel and Spa in the 10th arrondisement, the 91 bedrooms are comfortable, spacious, and some with (real) balconies and views of (the whole of) Sacré-Coeur.
bloomhouse-hotel.com
Hotel Fouquet's Paris – Paris, France
Hotel Fouquet’s effortlessly blends old Parisian glamour with contemporary luxury (perfect for those that can’t decide if they want to live in Midnight In Paris or The Devil Wears Prada). To the left of the hotel you’ll find Fouquet’s restaurant (opened in 1899), an iconic destination frequented by the likes of the Clooneys which offers classic Parisian dishes such as French onion soup and pan-fried foie gras. Other highlights include a hidden speakeasy and state-of-the-art spa complete with heated pool, sauna and treatment rooms, something incredibly rare for hotels in such a central location.
hotelsbarriere.com
Reykjavik Edition – Reykjavik, Iceland
The Edition hotels are known for creating a certain atmosphere. Maybe it’s the heady scents that greet you when you walk through the door, or the cheerful staff, or the carefully selected muzak, but either way the lobby and bars and restaurants are likely to be people by the attractive and monied draped across the sculptural furniture with no desire to be anywhere else. The Edition in Iceland’s capital is no exception, though for those who do wish to explore beyond its stylish glassy walls can find the city’s downtown hub, the harbour, and the iconic Harpa concert hall right on their doorstep.
editionhotels.com/reykjavik
Hotel Principe di Savoia – Milan, Italy
Milan is proud of its forward-thinking design principles, and there’s plenty of molto-modern boltholes in the Italian capital that leans into that reputation. But if it’s old-world glamour you’re after, then the Dorchester Collection’s Hotel Principe di Savoia – with its grand neoclassic façade and opulent interiors – is the only place to be. Built nearly a century ago and featuring over 300 rooms as well as a wealth of luxury amenities (including a rooftop pool), the lavish celebrity haunt looms large over the tree-lined Piazza della Repubblica, a ten-minute walk away from the bustling centre of the city.
dorchestercollection.com/milan/hotel-principe-di-savoia
Hotel Eden – Rome, Italy
Perhaps you’ve already gazed over Rome from one of its seven hills. In which case, lucky you. But have you gazed over Rome from the marble bathtub of your room at the historic Hotel Eden? Ah, shame. If so, allow us to add a new item to your bucket list. Of course the hotel, constructed in 1887, is exquisite, as you would expect given it is part of The Dorchester Collection, with the kind of expert service, luxurious comfort and eye for detail that makes it firmly five-star. But it is also perfectly placed, with the Spanish Steps just a passeggiata away, and the dome of St Peter’s available for viewing at your leisure from the hotel’s vibey rooftop restaurants.
dorchestercollection.com/rome/hotel-eden
W Rome – Rome, Italy
The W hotels don't do subtlety. The hotel chain takes design cues from its host city and filters them through a kaleidoscope, and the Rome outpost is no different. Opened in December of 2021, the outside is a palazzo, but the inside is a riot of colour, geometric prints and bold, sculptural furniture. The hotel has 162 rooms and suites – including the aptly named "Extreme Wow Suite", which has a lavish outdoor dining terrace – though for hoi polloi in regular (and also very lovely) rooms, the hotel boasts several restaurants and bars. marriott.com
Vignette Collection Casa da Companhia – Porto, Portugal
With its sprawling (admittedly hilly) streets, bars (check out Aduela, where you grab a drink and pretend to be a local) and culture (the Serralves Foundation, overflowing with Calder and Miró, is a must-visit), Porto is irresistible. The beaches and bluer-than-blue swimming pools don’t hurt. The most soothing place to enjoy Porto’s offerings is Casa da Companhia, Vignette Collection, a luxe, 40-room hotel, from IHG Hotels & Resorts. (If you are also visiting Portugal’s bustling capital, the brand just opened Convent Square Lisbon, too.) Located on one of Porto’s prettiest, and pleasingly pedestrianised, streets, Rua das Flores, the hotel was once the headquarters of a port company. Beyond the well-appointed rooms – try to snag one with a balcony – the treasure is a perfectly-sized (and heated!) pool, which overlooks the city’s Sé Cathedral.
casadacompanhia.com
CitizenM – Zurich, Switzerland
The discerning CitizenM chain (it has hotels in Rome, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and beyond) knows that it’s often working in cities where space is at a premium. So what to prioritise? One of those fold-out luggage rack thingies? An array of shoe horns in varying sizes? Or how about One. Big. Bed. In fact, the beds are so big you don’t so much get into them as summit them, while all modcons – lighting, TV, soundsystem – are controlled from a bedside iPad. The Zurich Citizen M has buzzy communal spaces and is conveniently located near the train station and the banking district, with both the shores of Lake Zurich and the shops on Banhofstrasse also within easy reach.
One Hundred Shoreditch – London, UK
One Hundred Shoreditch opened its doors at the end of 2021, taking the place of the much-loved Ace Hotel. The vibe is decidedly more laidback this time around, the design of the rooms as tastefully tonal as it is serene, but the buzz around the location remains – this is the place to go for a one too many cocktails (the intimate Seed Library bar is led by master mixologist Ryan “Mr Lyan” Chetiyawardana), and the best place in town to soundly sleep them off. Much like the Ace's before, the lobby – decorated with timber totems carved from fallen trees – is a good spot to spend your working day, and the adjoining restaurant, Goddard & Gibbs, serves a beautiful seafood menu inspired by England’s fishing villages. onehundredshoreditch.com
Middlethorpe Hall and Spa – York, UK
Embrace the decorum of historical Britain with a trip to Middlethorpe Hall and Spa. Located a mere 15-minute drive from York city centre, the 323-year-old National Trust-owned hotel invites you to step back in time, unwind and forget the vagaries of contemporary life. And forget you will, as you wander 20 acres of well-groomed gardens, loosen up at the spa (located in two quaint Edwardian cottages situated opposite the country house), tuck into intricate-yet-hearty plates of thoughtfully sourced food, and drift off in a painstakingly carved, ridiculously comfortable four-poster. A kingly schedule only bettered by the cordial, sincere, readily-available staff that take great pride in their palatial workplace. middlethorpe.com
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