Travel Media Highlights
Contact: Pieter Ruig Office: 310.664.8844 Email: pieter@candrpr.com
26 MARCH 2018
THE COURTYARD LOUNGE AT THE LA PEER HOTEL
GUSTAVO DUDAMEL / LINDSEY ADELMAN / MLK STUDIO HERMÈS / PATRICK PAINTER / GEORGE ESQUIVEL FROGTOWN / FREDERICK FISHER / JUST ONE EYE
Lisa Boone / Photography by Lisa Romerein
Opposite: Elizabeth Moule of Moule & Polyzoides Architects worked with architect and designer Gulla Jonsdottir to create Kimpton’s new La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood.
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This page: For the lobby lounge, Jonsdottir selected sofas from Saba Italia, lighting by Italamp and side tables by Zanotta, Baxter, Skram and the Phillips Collection. She designed the custom rug and chandelier.
The
LA PEER
HOTEL
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KIMPTON PLANTS ITS FLAG IN THE DESIGN DISTRICT WITH A GLAM NEW DESTINATION THAT CELEBRATES LOS ANGELES STYLE magine the quintessential contemporary Los Angeles hotel, and it might look something like the new Kimpton La Peer. From the street, the elegant building’s clean lines and tile-clad façade evoke the classic Art Deco designs of Southern California architect Stiles O. Clements, who designed the Wiltern Theater and the Eastern Columbia Building. Yet inside, an undulating wall-mounted topographical map of Los Angeles behind a sensuous liquid-metal reception desk gives the hotel a distinctive contemporary character. Add site-specific works by Los Angeles artists Tanya Aguiniga, Guerin Swing, Elena Manferdini and Retna, and you have a destination hotel whose every thoughtful detail seems to say “Welcome to L.A.” 55
Left: A custom sofa anchors one end of the lobby lounge; to the left is a Smock lounge chair by Moroso. The circular sconce is by Henge; custom chairs and table by Jonsdottir. Below left: a sitting area in the lobby lounge. Right: Another custom sofa in the lounge is paired with Baxter tables and custom chairs; leather tiles accent the curved ceiling. Jonsdottir created sculptural panels to define the lobby spaces without sealing them off.
She wanted to create a hotel “where art, music, fashion, poetry, film and architecture intertwine.”
Far right: The elevators are hand-painted by Japanese artist Kahori Maki. Below: Jonsdottir designed the metal reception desk and the topographical map of Los Angeles that enhances the wall.
For the past three years Los Angeles-based architect Gulla Jonsdottir has been overseeing the interior design of the 105room hotel, which opened in January. Located on a narrow tree-lined street nestled between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue, the ground-up project is one of few hotels in West Hollywood’s Design District. Eager to “resonate to the pulse” of neighbors and prominent Los Angeles designers such as Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Kelly Wearstler and Commune, Jonsdottir says she wanted to create a hotel “where art, music, fashion, poetry, film and architecture intertwine within a context of spatial harmony.” For Jonsdottir, no detail is too small to overlook. Indeed, she designed the striking reception desk and the three-dimensional map of Los Angeles on the wall behind it. A Poliform sofa and chairs invite guests to linger before being transport-
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ed in elevators swathed in hand-painted wallcoverings by Japanese graphic artist Kahori Maki. (Her work also graces the ceilings of the first-floor restrooms). In the lobby, Richard Serra-like concrete sculptures create privacy and separate the sun-drenched lounge area from the hotel entrance. A designer who loves to play with texture, Jonsdottir installed leather tiles on the curvaceous walls and ceiling of the lounge to “hug you in.” Leather furnishings from Baxter and Moroso and clubby sofas and ottomans from Saba Italia encourage guests to sit down, work or enjoy something from the neighboring bar. Sculptural side tables by Zanotta, Skram and the Phillips Collection impart an organic feel, and a variety of lighting—from
Henge sconces to Foscarini and Italamp pieces to a custom chandelier—casts a warm glow. Mixed in among the artworks are coffee-table books on fashion, art and architecture hand-picked by Jonsdottir; lacquered-aluminum wire planters by Point 1920 and custom tables and rugs by Jonsdottir round out the space. If it feels residential, that’s intentional. “I wanted the hotel to feel like a home in the Hollywood Hills,” says Jonsdottir. In an effort to highlight the work of the neighborhood’s world-class design community, Jonsdottir chose furnishings and accessories from Mass Beverly, Niche Beverly, Poltrona Frau, H. D. Buttercup and floral designer Eric Buterbaugh, among others. But the creative details don’t stop there. In the
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More surprises await in the guest rooms, where room numbers are designed to look like price tags (a nod to the Pacific Design Center and other design showrooms nearby), and a gold Jeff Koons balloon rabbit sits on every bedside table. The palette in the rooms is neutral, but the details are strong: Pale custom tiles in geometric patterns line the walls of the bathrooms; freestanding bathtubs are obscured behind frosted glass; geometric pendant lights designed by Jonsdottir add an architectural element. “Our strategic goal at the Kimpton La Peer is simple,” says general manager Nick Rimedio. “We want to become an anchor of the Design District, L.A.’s most walkable neighborhood, where visitors and residents alike experience the sense of an oasis, a haven that feels like home.” That haven is actually a contemporary take on other vernacular courtyard buildings in Hollywood and West Hollywood. “It draws on some wonderful veins of architecture that were present in California in the 1920s and 1930s,” says the building’s architect, Elizabeth Moule, of Pasadena-based Moule & Polyzoides. “There are a lot beautiful courtyard and middle-density buildings in Hollywood. It’s a long tradition we wanted to continue.”
And while some hotels feel like a busy airport the minute you pull up, the La Peer exudes a sense of repose. “A lot of luxury is based upon privacy and quiet,” says Moule. “We wanted it to be a very concentrated and immersive experience. We wanted people to know when they wake up in the morning that they are in L.A.” Adds Jonsdottir: “When you walk in, you know it’s not New York.”
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Opposite above: The pool area features a variety of outdoor brands: Roberti Rattan lounge chairs and daybed; T&J Vestor Bubble Gold pendants and Niche Orbita pendants; Orson director chairs by Roda; Point 1920 chairs and planters; an Ethimo Swing sofa; and Paola Lenti pillows. Opposite below: Jonsdottir furnished the bar area with custom barstools and pendants. Below left: In the outdoor lounge area, Branca Shell lounge chairs surround a Hocuspocus coffee table by Swisspearl. A Roda rocking chair sits by a Zanotta Teti side table. The olive tree is hung with T&J Vestor lanterns, and T&J Vestor pillows soften built-in benches on the far wall. A site-specific work by the Los Angeles artists Retina and Guerin Swing enlivens the space. Below: Noted chef Casey Lane’s new restaurant, Vitale dei Romani—designed by Katie Dahl of Parts and Labor Design— is adjacent to the hotel’s lobby lounge.
breezeway leading out to the pool, a neon artwork by Christopher Wilcox is mounted on exposed board-form concrete across from a poetry wall that Jonsdottir calls Trapped Love. There Wilcox has mounted discarded love letters from the 1930s in encased plastic. For Jonsdottir, art is her ultimate inspiration. “I always put art first,” she says. “I want people to feel the energy of the art.” Walls of glass open from the lobby to a pool and the outdoor bar and lounge areas. Green Gaudi tiles from Spain adorn the wall behind the bar, while crustacean-like pendants illuminate the walnut bartop. At night, lanterns suspended from olive trees create a warm glow in an intimate courtyard. For contrast, a collaborative graffiti wall installation between Guerin Swing and the street artist Retna offers a counterpoint to the elegant furnishings by Roda, Kettal, Branca and Roberti Rattan. At the far end of the lobby, chef Casey Lane’s Viale dei Romani restaurant (designed by Katie Dahl of Parts and Labor Design) has the feel of a Parisian café, with blue tile and cozy mustard-colored velvet banquettes.
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This page: Jonsdottir designed custom beds, pendants and tables for the guest rooms. A Jeff Koons, balloon rabbit sits on the side table.
Below left: Architect and designer Gulla Jonsdottir, who worked on the La Peer Hotel project with Kimpton for three years.
Below: A sitting area in a guest suite is furnished with a Moroso chair, a Nevo pendant by Arturo Alvarez and a Phillips Collection side table.
Above: Other guest rooms feature string art by Tanya Aguiniga and custom lamps and chairs. Right: The baths are fitted with free-standing Americh tubs, Waterworks fixtures and custom tile. A frosted-glass panel separates the bath from the guest room.
“Our strategic goal at the Kimpton La Peer is simple— we want to become an anchor of the Design District.” Kimpton La Peer Hotel 627 N. La Peer Drive, West Hollywood lapeerhotel.com, 855.239.4324 60
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EDITED BY LESLEY McKENZIE WRITTEN BY MARGARET KEARNS
Pick Your Paradise
FIND YOUR PERFECT STATE OF ALOHA
FOUR SEASONS RESORT OAHU AT KO OLINA
Travel - opener
You can’t really go wrong when plotting a trip to the jasmine blossom-scented archipelago of Hawaii—the very word elicits a contended exhale. But each of the major
A cabana at the adults-only infinity pool at FOUR SEASONS RESORT OAHU AT KO OLINA.
islands offers its own unique magic, suited to varied types of travelers. Here, a miniguide to our favorites, from the Big Island to Kauai.
NOVEMBER 2017 C 83
THE JET-SETTER
will also arrange for everything, from a once-in-a-lifetime flight aboard a World War II warbird to a diving trip off a private yacht and a helicopter tour around the island. From $625; fourseasons.com/oahu.
THE HONEYMOONERS
The MAUNA LANI SPA outdoor hale.
The Big Island is known for its varied terrain— from black volcanic rock to lush rainforest—and the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, set on a white, sandy beach, promises environs that live up to your vision of tropical paradise (and unabashed newlywed bliss). Highlights include a freestanding spa envisioned by Sylvia Sepielli and in-demand local designer Gina Willman, regional cuisine at the CanoeHouse restaurant, and the property’s luxurious 2,700-square-foot oceanfront bungalows (with an additional 1,300 square feet of private exterior space), outfitted with private pools, spas and outdoor grills. Rooms from $419; maunalani.com.
ISLAND Life What’s better than visiting Hawaii? Living there, of course, at least parttime. As demand for high-end second homes continues to climb—especially on the Big Island—developers are answering with new and expanded luxury residential communities. Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, a property on the Kohala Coast’s worldclass Hapuna Beach, will convert one of its towers from
Travel - turn THE FAMILY
The GRAND WAILEA Wailea Canyon Activity Pool includes nine slides.
The Grand Wailea—a Waldorf Astoria resort and oceanfront mainstay—offers activities for the entire family in a prime, perennially sunny location on the island. Activities abound: from The Rock, the 20,000-squarefoot complex that houses the resort’s kids club, Camp Grande, to the 25,700-square-foot Wailea Canyon Activity Pool, replete with waterslides, rapids, rope swings, caves, a lazy river and a sand beach. Don’t miss the Fishpipe, a 90-second water ride that spins thrill seekers inside a rotating barrel, akin to a mile-long slide. From $495; grandwailea.com.
THE COUNTRY-CLUBBER Feel right at home renting a custom modern residence in the private club community at Lodge at Kukui’ula, whose abundant amenities include golf and tennis, dining at Umeke Kitchen + Bar, picnicking on the area’s lush 10-acre farm, and recreation and relaxation at Hi’ilani Spa + Fitness (the signature Seven-Step Wet Ritual, complete with plunge pool, is a must). Rooms from $750, with a three-night minimum stay required; lodgeatkukuiula.com. C 84 NOVEMBER 2017
A view of the REES JONES GOLF COURSE at KOHANAIKI.
guest rooms to oceanfront condominiums as the Hapuna Beach Residences at Mauna Kea Resort, inviting 60 families to stay in residences ranging in size from one to four bedrooms, priced from about $1.6 million to $7 million. Pre-sales begin in January 2018. maunakealiving.com. Kohanaiki, the Big Island’s newest high-design luxury residential community, encompasses 450 acres along the Kona Coast, and is set to offer the most unique resort amenities in the islands (read: a 67,000-squarefoot clubhouse that features, among other draws, a movie theater and a bowling alley). Devel- From above: A SHAY ZAKopment continues; designed current prices range custom hale. HAPUNA BEACH from about $3 million to $22 million. kohanaiki.com.
The PLANTATION HOUSE at LODGE AT KUKUI’ULA.
RESIDENCES AT MAUNA KEA RESORT.
FOUR SEASONS: FOUR SEASONS RESORT OAHU AT KO OLINA. MAUNA LANI: MAUNA LANI BAY HOTEL & BUNGALOWS. GRAND WAILEA: GRAND WAILEA. KUKUI’ULA: KUKUI’ULA. KOHANAIKI: KOHANAIKI.
The penthouse suite terrace at Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina.
Featuring a casually elegant design by de Reus Architects and Philpotts Interiors— one of Hawaii’s most beloved design firms— Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, a five-star resort that opened in May 2016, is Oahu’s most hotly tipped luxury destination in decades. Its defining elements include the four-level Naupaka Spa & Wellness Centre and a Michael Mina-helmed Fish House restaurant. The over-the-top concierge service
345 N. MAPLE DRIVE, STE. 310, BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90210
15 TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
@LACMAGA Z I N E M O D E R N L U X U R Y. C O M
ANA DE ARMAS
SPACE | HOTEL S
STAYCATION…
All I Ever Wanted With LA’s explosion of chic new hotels, there’s no better time for Industry insiders to sneak out of the house for a little plush stay-and-play. BY KATHRYN ROMEYN
O
ne might look at Greater Los Angeles’ spate of gorgeously designed, well-placed hotel openings (see: Figueroa, Freehand and NoMad in DTLA; Everly and Dream in Hollywood) as merely another draw for out-of-towners. But then one would be missing the silver(-screen) lining. These sceney luxury bolt-holes, opening their doors in rapid-fire succession from Downtown to Malibu— and West Hollywood in between, of course—may actually be best suited for locals to enjoy. The LA staycation of today is not merely about getting away from one’s own house to sleep in an even better bed that comes with room service. It’s about settling into the vibe of a place, enjoying the decor, soaking up the ambience and, perhaps most importantly, relishing a taste of some of the best cuisine and design in the city. Four new openings, in particular, stand out as the spots for H’wood types to spend the night right now.
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M O D E R N L U X U R Y. C O M
The perfect place to stay after a long day at the studio? The swank-glam Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills channels the likes of Bob Iger and Jeffrey Katzenberg.
SPACE | HOTEL S
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Amenities/Perks: La Peer—with 105 guest rooms and suites, including a fourth-floor penthouse with all one-of-a-kind artwork, and a 4,000-square-foot rooftop terrace—reflects its surroundings in the heart of WeHo’s Design District, mixing materials such as boardformed concrete and leather for the walls and featuring art from the designer’s friends beside six-foot custom light sconces. (In another artistic collaboration, chef Casey Lane’s trattoria Viale dei Romani rocks the hotel.) The pool lounge and patio bar will be a scene for intimate cocktails backdropped by a vertical garden wall lit by hanging lanterns in olive trees. In keeping with its fit neighborhood, JadeYoga mats will grace each room, and guests can awaken with meditation from the custom Yoga Wake Up app or work out with renowned trainer Marco Reed, who’s overseeing all fitness classes and offering diet and meal planning, too. Plus, there’s inroom bottle service, custom picnic baskets for room service, and a bath menu with butler service—probably not on offer at home.
From top: Robert De Niro’s Nobu Ryokan in Malibu is a star-worthy destination for Hollywood types who prefer not to be seen; Kimpton La Peer Hotel balances the young, sceney vibe of WeHo with the exclusivity of a private estate.
627 N. La Peer Drive, West Hollywood, 855.239.4324, lapeerhotel.com
NOBU RYOKAN PERFECT FOR: MOVIE STARS Why: Since April, the debut Nobu Ryokan hotel (from Larry Ellison, with Oscar winner Robert De Niro as a co-founder and producer Meir Teper as principal) has been where A-listers feel comfortable strolling around in their kimonos and bikinis, away from prying eyes, as the intimate 16-room beachfront retreat is strictly off-limits to nonguests. “Ryokan is the place you come to not be seen,” says General Manager Janelle Eng, adding that about 90 percent of the guests “come here to recoup and rejuvenate—pretty much sleep or do nothing—out of the public eye or worry.” Amenities/Perks: A transformation of the ’50s-era Casa Malibu, this first Nobu Ryokan property (more are planned for exotic destinations and major cities) exudes the feeling of omotenashi, the Japanese art of hospitality, transporting guests far from Hollywood and reel/real life. The minimalist aesthetic of the East and the cool elegance of the California coast dictated TAL Studio’s interior design, which includes such highlights as teak soaking tubs, skylights, indoor/outdoor fireplaces and Italian linens. Of course, there are charging stations for the Teslas that arrive en masse, exclusive access to Carbon Beach (aka Billionaires’ Beach), entrée to Malibu Racquet Club and, most excitingly, (nearly) instant access to owner and executive chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s famously fine fish, either next door at the restaurant or in your plush feather bed. As it should be. 22752 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, noburyokanmalibu.com
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ROBERT DE NIRO PHOTO BY ERIK PENDZICH/REX SHUTTERSTOCK VIA ZUMA PRESS; JULIA ROBERTS PHOTO COURTESY OF PRENSA INTERNACIONAL VIA ZUMA WIRE; NOBU RYOKAN HOTEL PHOTO COURTESY OF NOBU RYOKAN; KIMPTON LA PEER HOTEL PHOTO COURTESY OF KIMPTON LA PEER HOTEL
KIMPTON LA PEER HOTEL PERFECT FOR: YOUNG FILM EXECS Why: Opening in late November, “La Peer Hotel will feel more like a West Hollywood private estate than a hotel, capturing the essence of the Design District’s effortless style and relaxed cool,” says general manager Nick Rimedio. Award-winning Icelandic designer Gulla Jónsdóttir conceived the sleek, ultracreative, modern yet lush design. “There is always something happening in our lobby living room and backyard, where power meetings can transition seamlessly into evening cocktails with friends.”
2017
OUR BEEN-THERE, SLEPT-THERE GUIDE TO THE 75 BEST NEW H TELS AND RESORTS
Turn and open the page for all of the winners...followed by reviews and photos that’ll have you booking rooms now.
lettering by DIR K FOWLER
Condé Nast Traveler / 05.17
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WHERE Y U’LL FIND
A NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN & MEXICO
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UNITED STATES & CANADA
1. 11 Howard, New York, N.Y. 2. Ace Hotel New Orleans, La. 3. Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa, Ariz. 4. The Beekman, A Thompson Hotel, New York, N.Y. 5. Brentwood, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. 6. Casa Grande at Vermejo Park Ranch, N.M. 7. Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa, Laguna Beach, Calif. 8. The Dewberry Charleston, S.C. 9. EAST, Miami, Fla. 10. Four Seasons Resort Lanai, Hawaii
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Condé Nast Traveler / 05.17
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11. Greydon House, Nantucket, Mass. 12. Hotel Saint George, Marfa, Tex. 13. Hôtel William Gray, Montreal, Canada 14. Malibu Beach Inn, Calif. 15. The Peninsula Chicago, Ill. 16. The Robey, Chicago, Ill. 17. Scribner’s Catskill Lodge, Hunter, N.Y. 18. SingleThread Farm-Restaurant-Inn, Sonoma, Calif. 19. Taylor River Lodge, Crested Butte, Colo. 20. Thompson Nashville, Tenn. 21. Thompson Seattle, Wash. 22. Timber Cove Resort, Sonoma, Calif.
23. Chablé Resort, Yucatán, Mexico 24. Hotel Le Toiny, St. Barts 25. Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa, St. Barts 26. Mar Adentro, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 27. The Other Side, Bahamas 28. The Shore Club Turks and Caicos 29. Villa Marie SaintBarth, St. Barts 30. Zemi Beach House, Anguilla
22 18 14
CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA 31. Atemporal-Hotelito in Lima, Peru 32. Nekupe Sporting Resort and Retreat, Nandaime, Nicaragua
SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN
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ABOUT NEXT YEAR This is the first time London did not have a single property on our Hot List. Expect it to come back in a big way (we’re already gaga for The Ned).
ASIA
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THI NK SM A LL More than half of the hotels on the list this year have fewer than 50 rooms.
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Years in age of the ikeniwa (pond garden) at the Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto.
ARABIAN SEA
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INDIAN OCEAN
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86 Number of times our smallest hotels (28 Kothi, L’Hôtel Marrakech, SingleThread, Thanda Island) could fit into our largest (Jumeirah Al Naseem), based on room count (5:430).
AUSTRALIA
AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
EUROPE 33. Casa Bonay, Barcelona, Spain 34. Ha(a)ïtza, Pyla-sur-Mer, France 35. Hôtel Panache, Paris, France 36. Hôtel Saint-Marc, Paris, France 37. Il Sereno, Lake Como, Italy 38. Killiehuntly Farmhouse & Cottage, Scotland 39. La Granja Ibiza, Spain 40. Le Saint, Paris, France 41. Masseria Le Carrube, Ostuni, Italy 42. Nolinski Paris, France 43. Palazzo Venart, Venice, Italy 44. Palé Hall, Gwynedd, Wales 45. The PIG at Combe, Devon, England 46. Ritz Paris, France 47. Roch Hôtel & Spa, Paris, France 48. Sikelia, Pantelleria, Italy 49. Soho House Barcelona, Spain 50. Villa La Coste, Provence, France 51. Villa Pliniana, Lake Como, Italy
52. Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, Nizwa, Oman 53. andBeyond Matetsi River Lodge, Zimbabwe 54. Banyan Tree Tamouda Bay, Fnideq, Morocco 55. Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, U.A.E. 56. The Highlands, Ngorongoro, Tanzania 57. Jumeirah Al Naseem, Dubai, U.A.E. 58. Leeu Estates, Franschhoek, South Africa 59. L’Hôtel Marrakech, Morocco 60. Sofitel Tamuda Bay Beach and Spa Hotel, M’diq, Morocco 61. Thanda Island, Tanzania
ASIA 62. 28 Kothi, Jaipur, India 63. Amanemu, Shima, Japan 64. Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort, Sri Lanka 65. Chena Huts, Sri Lanka 66. Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto, Japan 67. Four Seasons Private Island Maldives at Voavah, Baa Atoll, Maldives 68. Hoshinoya Tokyo, Japan 69. Katamama, Bali, Indonesia
THE H T 75 70. KK Beach, Habaraduwa, Sri Lanka 71. Santani Wellness Resort & Spa, Kandy District, Sri Lanka 72. Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Seychelles 73. The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, Maldives 74. Villa Mahabhirom, Chiang Mai, Thailand
AUSTRALIA & THE SOUTH PACIFIC 75. Helena Bay Lodge, Northland, New Zealand
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BY THE
locals, Photograph by Casey Dunn/courtesy of Hotel Saint George
BUT WITH YOU IN MIND
It’s almost a given that a hotel will make some claim of localism (we don’t think stocking the minibar with regional craft beer really counts). These properties, however, are implementing more considered collaborations that actually resonate with the guests.
Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa
Those colorful oil canvases and ceramic mugs you’re sipping coffee from (even the staff’s name tags and bracelets) come from the 81-year-old art collective Cattle Track, down the road.
Casa Bonay, Barcelona
The 67-room hotel taps into new-wave Catalan design with yak’s-wool bedcovers
T LIST
loomed in neighboring Terrassa and prints by designer Clara Arnús.
Hotel Saint George, Marfa (below)
The Marfa Book Company, a 21-year-old local institution, moved into the hotel lobby where it shares space with paintings by Texan Jeff Elrod.
Hôtel William Gray, Montreal
Savvy Quebecois know the most buttery croissants come from Café Olimpico, whose latest outpost is next to the lobby.
Thompson Nashville
You’ll need jeans in this town. And the in-room fittings with homegrown brand Imogene + Willie will make it impossible to shop for denim at a store ever again.
few things are more divine than an outdoor massage, shrouded by palms in the garden at sikelia, the first luxury resort on sicily’s pantelleria island. Condé Nast Traveler / 05.17
0517-TR-HLMY14
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HOLIDAY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2017
LATIMES.COM/HOME
S
Gift Guide
Sarah Wilkins For The Times
GIFT IDEAS • PARTY PLANNING • HOLIDAY RECIPES • AND MORE
L AT I M E S . C O M
S
S U N DAY, N OVE M B E R 5 , 2 017
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GIFTS FOR THE WELL-TRAVELED
Abran Rubiner Beverly Wilshire
Glamping, L.A. style Camp in a chandelier-adorned 16-foot-wide, 10-foot-tall tent on the Beverly Wilshire’s Veranda Suite’s balcony. That’s rooftop glamping — Beverly Hills style. Add-ons include gold-leafed campfire s’mores. From $3,500. It can be booked only by calling the hotel directly: (310) 275-5200. fourseasons.com
FOR THE ROAMERS
Out-there suggestions for the people who are always on the go go go Castle escape
Wilderness retreat
Kilkea Castle, opening in 2018, offers a two-night stay in the 800year-old castle that includes two breakfasts, one dinner at Hermione’s Restaurant, a round of golf and a full day of trout fishing on the River Greese. $540 per person. kilkeacastle.ie
Since 1932, families have sought the healing waters at Capon Springs Resort in the West Virginia wilderness. Meals are included and kids run free at the familyowned-and-operated resort two hours outside Washington, D.C. From $108 per night per adult, $50 per night per child. caponsprings.net
Touch typing to go This lightweight, rugged pocketsized folding Bluetooth keyboard from iClever features a touchpad and can pair with up to three smart devices simultaneously. $49.99. iclever.com
Upgrade your seat Washable NiceSeats easily stretch over plane or train seats (first class to coach) to stylishly protect travelers from germs left behind by previous passengers. $40. niceseats.net
Gift wrap a trip to London
Stay healthy on the road
Embark on a Bond-like London Escape: Rosewood’s three-night Aston Martin Discovery experience transports guests, via private helicopter, to Aston Martin’s Gaydon headquarters to create a custom DB11 V12 coupe — that you get to keep, of course — and enjoy a performance training session. $256,200. rosewoodhotels.com
A healthful probiotic supplement designed by a gastroenterologist, Dr. Roshini Raj, with three probiotic strains, Vitamin C and ceramides (a protective skin lipid). $39. tula.com
Age-defying sunscreen
Cruise Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Coral Expeditions’ four-night Northern Reef itinerary includes all meals and stops at Lizard Island, Cooktown and the Ribbon Reefs in a cozy setting. (There’s a 44-passenger maximum.) $1,699 per person. coralexpeditions.com
Oru Kayak
Packable boat The Beach LT from Oru Kayak quickly unfolds from a large suitcase into a 12-foot kayak. Weight: 26 pounds. $1,299. orukayak.com
The ultimate gift card
Take a hike
One gift card, three luxury Hawaiian hotels: Prince Resorts Hawaii gift cards are good at Mauna Kea Beach and Hapuna Beach Prince on the Big Island and Prince Waikiki on Oahu. Starting at $25. shop.princeresortshawaii.com
Osprey’s lightweight 30-liter Tempest (for women) or 33-liter Talon (for men) backpack offers multiple pockets, a comfy hip belt and an AirScape back panel for breathability. $140. ospreypacks.com
Watch your weight Delsey’s Cruise Lite Softside 25inch Spinner Suiter Trolley features an overweight indicator in the side handle to alert you if a bag exceeds 50 pounds. $180. shop.delsey.com
Power, and light Power Practical’s Pronto is a 10,000 mAh USB battery with two 2.4A (12W) outputs and a built-in LED lantern. $39.99. powerpractical.com
Steady shooting Olloclip’s Filmer’s Kit provides 5 iPhone lenses (including for the 7/7+ and 8/8+), an articulated grip for smoother video and an Incase protective shell. $200. olloclip.com
Hanging habitat Combine a water-resistant hammock with a 5-foot diameter treehouse, and you have the spacious easy-to-assemble TreePod Cabana. Its transparent mesh walls make it a breezy place to relax. $225. mytreepod.com
Stuff it Thule’s 22-inch, 7-pound Subterra carry-on has a unique compression panel that ratchets down to help stow more. $280. thule.com
— Terry Gardener
Room for everything The Everyday bag’s FlexFold dividers help the backpack multitask from photo shoots to the office. From cameras to a 15-inch laptop, it has room for almost anything. $260. peakdesign.com
Stylish carry-all The eye-catching Birdie Bag glides from gym to plane or train with a ventilated shoe compartment and interior pockets for a laptop, a water bottle and more. $198. jemmabag.com
Sip and go Matador’s HydroLite Packable Filtration Backpack has a 2-liter HydraPak reservoir and a Sawyer mini in-line filter to provide clean drinking water no matter where you are. $190. matadorup.com
Compression socks Sockwell socks feature a merino wool blend that offer firm or moderate therapeutic graduated compression to help protect travelers from blood clots on a long flight. $24.99. sockwell.us.com
Stem Cellular CC Cream is an 30-SPF sunscreen made with certified organic ingredients. Available in five shades, it offers sun protection, color correction and is said to reduce the appearance of fine lines. $39. juicebeauty.com
Eco-friendly jacket Columbia’s women’s and men’s Outdry EX Eco insulated jacket packs thermal and waterproof protection in a jacket made from 100% recycled material. $200. columbia.com
RESO RTS | H O M E S | TR AVE L | A DV E NTU RE
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017
AN ART-INSPIRED GETAWAY IN
ARIZONA
Finding rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation in Scottsdale.
BY AMALIA MCGIBBON
66 | G E N T R Y D E S T I N AT I O N S
At the center of the resort, the guest house is an elegant expression of mid-century modern architecture and serves as a social gathering place for guests and locals. The design, from Delawie Architects, includes floor-to-ceiling glass walls to highlight the inviting indoor restaurant and lounge spaces. The exterior’s expansive patio and fire pits encourage guests to sit and socialize, while the interiors reflect a mix of modern classics and midcentury interpretations.
G E N T R Y D E S T I N AT I O N S | 67
T
he weather forecast said 105˚ in Scottsdale. Yikes!, I thought, I’m a California girl, born and raised, and ‘temperate’ is all I know. What wardrobe do you pack for that kind of heat? How do you emotionally prepare?? There was no need to fret, I soon learned; the recently opened Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa has everything covered. The resort is situated on 23 acres of sweeping desert landscape at the base of Camelback Mountain. I’ve always thought that one of the markers of a truly great property is its ability to take the hand that Mother Nature dealt it—be it green slopes or red rocks, rolling fog or shimmering heat—and convince you there’s no better environ for a vacation. Andaz Scottsdale manages this feat with remarkable aplomb. All of the resort’s carefully curated comforts flatter and elevate its desert locale: from the flip-flops (instead of slippers) placed next to the bathrobes in each room, to the complimentary frozen drink served poolside every day at noon, to the massage menu featuring essential Sonoran oils, and the flawless landscaping that mixes 50-foot pine trees with giant cacti and desert wildflowers. There is no real lobby or front desk at Andaz Scottsdale; travelers check in via iPad while sipping homemade iced tea in the resort’s “Guest House.” The 201 bungalow-style guest rooms and suites— ranging in size from 350 to 1,800-square-feet—are grouped in 68 | G E N T R Y D E S T I N AT I O N S
clusters of four to six units connected by meandering pathways and communal courtyards with firepits. It reminds me of an artists’ colony, and indeed the resort’s midcentury design is the result of a collaboration with many talented painters, ceramicists, photographers, fiber artists, and textile designers. Spacious rooms draw inspiration from the 1950’s desert art scene with an eclectic mix of bright colors, folk art, and cultural patterns. They feature skylights, beamed ceilings, sliding barn doors, and front terraces with colorfully cushioned “banco” seating. The resort’s glass-walled restaurant, Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen, serves locally sourced, shareable plates from Executive Chef Adam Sheff. There’s no official breakfast, lunch, or dinner hour—you can order whatever you want, whenever you want. The all-day New American menu features locally-inspired delicacies like the Blue Corn Short Stack with orange-poppyseed custard and rye whiskey syrup, and Whole Trout a la Plancha with a pecan romesco sauce. You can also pull up a stool at the restaurant bar to munch on snacks like lamb jerky, lavender almonds, or blistered shishito peppers, alongside craft cocktails like the Diamondback Fizz with Olmeca Altos tequila, grapefruit, lime, and jalapeno agave. Then, of course, there’s the on-site “Palo Verde Spa & Apothecary,” a place where nature and grace intertwine. The 12,000square-foot spa features four indoor and three outdoor treatment rooms, outdoor hydrotherapy pools, a nail and hair salon, eucalyptus
A glass box display kitchen (opposite) featuring innovative use of plancha cooking techniques puts Executive Chef Adam Sheff’s creations on full display. Your introduction to the Andaz experience begins when you enter the guest house (left), Andaz’s fresh answer to the hotel lobby. It feels like the inviting living room of a good friend, albeit one with fabulous taste in art and furniture. The spectacular Turquoise Pool (below) is a perfect spot to soak up both the sun and the scene.
G E N T R Y D E S T I N AT I O N S | 69
70 | G E N T R Y D E S T I N AT I O N S
Located on 23 acres in Paradise Valley, less than two miles north of Old Town Scottsdale, the mid-century inspired resort features 201 bungalow-style guestrooms and suites. Rooms feature state-of-the-art technology and entertainment, as well as private terraces, including some with outdoor showers.
steam rooms, outdoor relaxation lounges and an exclusive private pool for guests. Guest favorites include the Sonoran Scrub, a customized body scrub using desert salts, agave infused sugar and ultra-fine mesquite buffing grains; and the Cactus Couture, a luxurious mani-pedi combo using a prickly pear exfoliating scrub and rich shea butter cream. It would seem that Andaz Scottsdale has been designed to encourage the laziest of vacations, but there are treasures to behold if you venture off-site. Visit the Cattle Track Arts Compound, a collective of working artists less than a mile from the resort and one of Scottsdale’s best-kept secrets. Originally built in the 1930s, the complex is currently home to six full-time residents and 35 working artists. Andaz Scottsdale has an artistin-residence program that allows resort guests to interact with these painters, dancers, photographers, and even blacksmiths—so be sure to inquire about the interactive workshops on offer. I also highly recommend a visit to the nearby Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s muchloved winter home and architectural laboratory. With its low-pitched roofs, overhanging eaves, and open floorplan, the inspiring site is a prime example of Wright’s “Prairie Style” architecture. Take the 90-minute guided tour for a peek into the dramatic Living Room, the Cabaret Theater, and Wright’s living quarters. Old Town Scottsdale has its own charms too, with art galleries, boutique shops, and a trendy restaurant scene. Definitely book a table at FnB Restaurant, where Chef Charleen Badman, a James Beard award semifinalist in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017, cooks globally-accented food that showcases the best of Arizona’s abundant farming and agricultural community. I particularly enjoyed the Pink Grouper with green olive relish, fennel, and grapefruit, and the Soft Scrambled Duck Eggs with hedgehog mushrooms and cultured butter toast. FnB’s adjoining eight-seater bar highlights a different growing region every month and is a favorite among wine lovers. If you’re in the mood for something a bit more rambunctious, head down the road to Counter Intuitive, an intimate cocktail lounge, which changes its theme—i.e., décor, food, and drinks—several times a year. Andaz Scottsdale was recently recognized on Condé Nast Traveler’s 2017 “Hot List” (one of just 22 properties in the U.S.) and for good reason: the turquoise pool, the casita-inspired bungalows, the jagged mountains, and the endless sky all make it a seriously special destination. Nightly room rates are seasonally based, starting at $399 per night during peak season. Suite pricing starts at $2,500 during peak season. www.andazscottsdale.com ◆ G E N T R Y D E S T I N AT I O N S | 71
J U LY 2 0 17
“Paris is a cinematographer’s dream. No city is more dazzling in the sunshine or, better still, lit up at night.” T H R E E P E R F E C T D A Y S P A R I S P. 3 2
H E A R T O N YO U R S L E E V E
THE HEMI Q& A: AL GORE
1- 5 - O C A N A D A
How wearable tech will change dating forever P. 2 0
The former vice president returns with ‘An Inconvenient Sequel ’ P. 4 6
150 reasons to celebrate our northern neighbor’s sesquicentennial P. 5 3
Guest Room as Gallery
Arizona’s Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Spa, which opened in December, has partnered with the nearby Cattle Track Arts Compound, an 80-year-old collective of jewelers, potters, blacksmiths, and other artisans. Guests can tour artist studios, create their own works, or simply soak in original artworks, seen everywhere from wall art to restaurant dishware to staff name tags. Here, a look at a few of the hotel’s contributing artists. —SOPHIA DEMBLING art
The keycard sleeves feature a two-dimensional version of Hanger 10, a sculpture made by Matt Magee from cut-up detergent bottles. Magee says the original work, which can be found in the Girard House suite, “is meant to be seen as a kind of diagram, each color and shape referencing the next.”
26
Donny Osmond of The Osmonds smonds in Mulan (1998)
Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids on the t Block in Band d of Brothers rothers (2001) 001)
Justin Timberlake of *NSync in Black Snake Moan (2006)
Chance Phillips used needle felting—a craft in which a barbed needle is poked repeatedly through wool fibers—to create World So Full, an installation of colorful fabric balls near the hotel’s entrance. She says of her whimsical felted dolls, which are sold in the gift shop, “I often start with something in mind, and the little guy just takes on his own personality and turns out entirely different.”
Much of the dishware at Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen is the work of ceramicist Mary Van Dusen, a retired teacher and tennis pro. The resort’s style inspired her to move away from her normal earth tones and into pure, bright colors, which, she says, “released a lot of creative juices.” Mark McDowell, a former oil painter who now works primarily with colored pencils, created a sketch of Scottsdale landmark Camelback Mountain as seen from the resort. The image is used on employee name tags and on sketch pads sold in the gift shop. Santo Press, the studio of printer Brent Bond, created much of the art on property, such as Bond’s Bounce series and Koryn Woodward Wasson’s Pear of Thieves I, a linocut of prickly pears. Each room has a copy of Janet Towbin’s etching and collage Kaleidoscope. “I digitally manipulated Kaleidoscope in various color stylings,” Towbin says, “to complement the color palette of the gorgeous midcentury fabrics at Andaz.”
COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. (STYLES); BUENA VISTA PICTURES/COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION (MULAN); HBO/PHOTOFEST (WAHLBERG); PARAMOUNT CLASSICS/BRUCE TALAMON/PHOTOFEST (TIMBERLAKE); DON RIDDLE (FELT BALLS, DISHWARE); MATT MAGEE (HANGER 10); SCOTT JOHNSON (BRENT BOND)
This month, One Direction member Harry Styles makes his acting debut in Christopher Nolan’s World War II movie Dunkirk. But he’s not the first boy bander to get into uniform for a role. (JULY 21)
July 2017
KFR: CAN YOU ADD A TOUCH MORE BLOND IN HER ROOTS SO THE ‘P’ AND ‘S’ BECOMES A LITTLE MORE LEGIBLE
Keegan-Michael Key Gets Serious
French Revolutions
Cycling a stage of the Tour de France
Tasty Stays
The world’s most delicious new hotels
+Sneakers
and spritzes for summer
The World’s Most Delicious New Hotels Forget Provence and Tuscany. From Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands, the British countryside is emerging as Europe’s most exciting rural foodie getaway.
Courtesy of the Dewberry Charleston; Shu!erstock (key)
The World’s Most Delicious New Hotels
Hotel dining used to mean room-service club sandwiches and limp iceberg lettuce salads at the brightly lit lobby bar. Not anymore. Now, the best meals to be had on the road—from Berlin to Brooklyn—are an elevator ride away.
July 2017 ! ! "#
FOR A LESSON IN ARIZONA AGRICULTURE The Andaz
the biggest grower of lettuce in the United States. Or that Arizona produces almost as In December, chef Adam Sheff debuted much dairy as Vermont. Or there’s the pecan Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen at the story. Housing developments really started stunning new Andaz resort in Scottsdale, in Arizona in the ’50s and ’60s because air Arizona, introducing visitors and locals conditioning became a reality for residences, alike to contemporary Sonoran cuisine, and all the little trees they would put in the which sees him topping trout with pecan housing developments were pecan trees. romesco, pairing watermelon with tangy Now, there’s an industry around it. At first, goat cheese, and making venison, duck, it was overwhelming. There are so many and quail jerky. Here, he shares his shock ingredients, and there’s so much history, and at discovering Arizona’s bounty. there’s no single narrative to follow. It took me a few months of taking all of that in. Andaz “I came here from New York, and my impresis very much about telling stories—it’s about sion on the way out here was, “It’s Arizona. being true to your place. I felt like that was There’s nothing but desert. What am I a great thing to do with the food, as well. actually going to cook with?” So Contemporary Sonoran gives it I did a lot of research and talked a sense of place; it puts it someto a lot of people, and I realized where physically, and that gives that I had been lied to my whole you the chance to tell the story Above: the buttercrunch life about what was actually out of what the farmers are doing salad at Weft & Warp, here. I could go on and on about and the history of Arizona, which made with local lettuce what I found out that’s incredibly and radishes and topped has to do with the culture and with trout roe CARPENTER surprising, like how Arizona is the food.” —ELLEN-CARPENTER Rush Jagoe (oysters); Don Riddle (salad)
SCOTTSDALE﹐-ARIZONA
For Drinks That Pop Catahoula Hotel | NEW-ORLEANS
On a quiet street in NOLA’s Central Business District, the 35-room Catahoula Hotel— housed in an 1845 Creole townhouse—is transporting guests from the heart of the city to Peru. While its Pisco Bar offers an array of classic cocktails highlighting its namesake liquor (think pisco sours and pisco punch), the menu’s “Just for Fun” section includes elaborate concoctions like the A Huevo (pictured), which features passionfruit, blended eggs, and the jambu flower, an Amazonian bloom that will make your tastebuds tingle like you’ve just swallowed a mouthful of Pop Rocks. —LV July 2017 ! ! "#
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Dior Homme, Franck Dubarry, Glenmorangie, Bentley
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Jack Penrod, Nayla Hayek, Roberta Naas
Top 100 suites WHETHER YOU VALUE MAGNIFICENT VIEWS OR A PRIVATE BEACH, A REMOTE LODGE OR A CITY SPA, THE ELITE TRAVELER COLLECTION HAS YOU COVERED
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Top car brands alongside some of their classic and latest models
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Chicago, Havana, Dublin, Rome, Riviera Maya, Private Islands
Issue 4/Volume 17 July/August 2017
EXPLORE RIVIERA MAYA
GUIDE TO
RIVIERA MAYA TOP RESTAURANTS BENAZUZA, CANCÚN Rafael Zafra, prodigy of elBulli’s Ferran Adrià, brings Spanish glamour to the Riviera Maya with Restaurante Benazuza. Interpreting Mexican products and classic cuisine with a molecular gastronomist’s slant, Zafra serves up rich moles, duck tamales and steamed tacos. Ensconced in sleek surroundings that befit the cuisine, the restaurant offers an unforgettable 20-course tasting menu. senscancun.com HARTWOOD, TULUM It’s difficult to get a reservation at the hottest eatery on the Riviera Maya, but it’s well worth the effort. See-and-be-seen Hartwood in Tulum serves locavore surf and turf and this 100 percent sustainable restaurant changes its menu every single day. In the restaurant, open-fire grills and a handmade wood-burning oven channel the techniques of Mundo Maya — the soul of the region. Along with craft cocktails, expect items such as agave pork ribs, jicama salad, grilled octopus with sweet potatoes, lobster salad and house-made ice cream. hartwoodtulum.com
by Becca Hensley
CATCH, PLAYA DEL CARMEN Call it a restaurant with a view. Overlooking the bustling town of Playa del Carmen and the sea, occupying the rooftop of the Thompson hotel, this hip seafood restaurant mixes global techniques with local products. Unique creations, such as the hellfire roll (with blue tuna caught just off the Ensenada coast, green apples and balsamic vinegar) hit the mark — as does crispy shrimp and catch-of-the day wonton tacos. Finish with “hit me” chocolate cake, a wonder of liquid Klondike, roasted with white chocolate ice cream brownie and devil’s food cake. thompsonplayadelcarmen.com
Photos Manu Padilla, the-stills.com
Some call it a more soulful Mexico. Infused with a preponderance of Mayan culture and steeped in history, the Yucatán’s Caribbean mingles tropical hues and flora with Mexican high style. Flowing south from Cancún to Tulum, the beach district called Riviera Maya encompasses some of the area’s most exquisite crescents of sand, expanses of untrammeled jungle landscape (complete with jaguars and monkeys), and healthy offshore reefs. It’s trumpeted for stellar diving and snorkeling, and stands out as a prime spot to spy whale sharks. Though highly developed in parts, most construction has been conscientious, and the government has made sure that the region’s fascinating ancient ruins and temples (some of them listed by Unesco) reign as Riviera Maya’s true stars. With more artifacts discovered each year, these centuries-old finds continue to enrich our understanding of the past. Peppered with swimmable, fresh water springs — known as cenotes — Riviera Maya promises more than beach play. Those willing to leave the ocean adventures, sailboats and pool cabanas behind for the day can hike, ride horses, explore caves and temples and peruse museums. Opportunities to delve into local Mayan culture abound — from cooking courses to stints in a temazcal sweat lodge — a spiritual ritual meant to purify the mind, body and spirit. Cap that with nonpareil culinary offerings, exemplary hotels that brim with personality and, of course, potent margaritas — and you’re sure to begin planning your next trip before you even return home.
YAXCHE, PLAYA DEL CARMEN Delve deeply into the Riviera Maya’s roots at Yaxche, where Chef Ramón Lizaola borrows from his mother, creating and re-envisioning family recipes that may date back centuries. Utilizing Mayan flavors and ingredients, from peppers to achiote to pumpkin seeds, Lizaola introduces diners to his new renditions of Mexican favorites — such as chili rellenos wrapped in banana peppers rather than the classic poblano. With a whimsical ambiance that showcases the region’s temples and mysteries, Yaxche delivers a regional sense of place. mayacuisine.com
127 elite traveler
JULY/AUG 2017
MUST DO
TOP SUITES GRAND VELAS RIVIERA MAYA Redefining all-inclusive, Grand Velas Riviera Maya brings only the best to play. Stretching across 206 verdant acres alongside the turquoise sea, this exemplary resort manages to honor more eco-initiatives than any other retreat in Mexico — even while operating eight outstanding restaurants, providing upmarket wines and giving guests the choice between three distinct hotel experiences, including an adults-only section. The twobedroom Grand Class Presidential Suite can house four. Double-height ceilings, hand-painted frescoes, local art and hand-loomed fabrics add to its charm. A plunge pool on an ample terrace overlooks the Caribbean. Enjoy its crowning glory: an in-suite champagne and caviar bar. From $7,000 per night, contact Dinorah Tobon Hampshire, tour & travel sales manager, dtobonh@velasresorts.com, +52 1 984 877 4418, rivieramaya.grandvelas.com BELMOND MAROMA RESORT & SPA Once the private home of a visionary architect, the intimate and elegant Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa lords over a sugary-white, secluded beach about an hour from the airport. With beachside rooms and an art-bedecked main house, the chi-chi resort also vaunts a shaman-built beachside temazcal (sauna), and a hut-like tequila and ceviche bar. Bed down in the Oceanside One-Bedroom Suite, located steps from the water, which offers a private fitness room, outdoor shower, plunge pool and palapa for private spa treatments. From $1,365 per night, contact Heda Chehda, director of sales and marketing, heda.chehda@belmond.com, belmond.com BANYAN TREE MAYAKOBA AND ROSEWOOD MAYAKOBA Mayakoba, an eco-conscious compound just south of Playa del Carmen, incorporates four five-star hotels into its wilderness-like expanse. A unique melange of mangrove forest, lagoons and man-made canals, the sensitivelybuilt, wildlife-rich complex whisks guests by boat to the beach and between the resorts, which share amenities, such as the Greg Norman-designed golf course. Set on opposite sides of the landscape, the top stays are Rosewood Mayakoba — a contemporary-style haven — and the spa-focused Banyan Tree Mayakoba. Both have grand residences on the beach. Rosewood Mayakoba’s Beachfront Presidential Suite, with three bedrooms and private butler service, showcases the view via floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Down the shoreline, Banyan Tree Mayakoba’s Oceanfront Three Bedroom Villa, built around a private pool, is ideal for families, and provides stellar ocean access. Or book Banyan Tree’s Sanctuary Spa Pool Villas, which sit lagoon-side with a personal pool, and offer unlimited spa treatments and wellness menus. Banyan Tree Mayakoba: Oceanfront Three-Bedroom Villa from $3,570 per night, Sanctuary Spa Pool Villa from $1,399 per night, contact Jesus Estrada, reservations manager, jesus.estrada@banyantree.com, +52 984 877 3688, banyantree.com Rosewood Mayakoba: From $5,500 per night, contact Monica Ortiz, rooms division director, monica.ortiz@rosewoodhotels.com, +52 984 875 8016, rosewoodhotels.com
Chichen Itza and Tulum Ruins It gets crowded and the trek is long, but Unesco-listed Chichen Itza is worth it. Stone temples, ball courts and pyramids, edged by jungle, provide just a glimpse into the spectacular Mayan settlement; plan to spend hours exploring. Many choose to stay the night, and return the next morning when the ruins are less crowded and bathed in golden light. Alternatively, Tulum, an hour south of Playa del Carmen, is an extant 13th-century Mayan port and city-state. It nestles a cliff by the sea and can be accessed by foot, bike or car. chichenitza-tour.com; tulum.com Cenotes Unique to this region, cenotes (freshwater sinkholes) are plentiful. They connect in subterranean tunnels, creating the world’s largest underground river system. Sacred to the Mayan people in past and present times, the cenotes have crystalline water, framed by limestone and local flora. Explore them with fins or by foot. Don’t miss Cenote Dos Ojos, located just south of Tulum on Highway 307. It boasts two round pools, perfect for scuba divers, swimmers and snorkelers. cenotedosojos.com Whale Sharks Breaststroke with the biggest fish on earth. Funny-faced, harmless whale sharks mirror hippos in size. They crowd the waters along the Riviera Maya from May to September in search of plankton snacks. Join an expedition (such as reputable Solo Buceo), which takes guests 30 miles offshore by small boat to spot the magnificent creatures. solobuceo.com Cancún Underwater Museum (MUSA) It’s a whole new way to visit a museum. MUSA, the largest underwater exhibition in the world, presents hundreds of statues amid the reef. Home to countless colorful fish, MUSA was created to promote the interaction between art and the environment. Here, the scientifically directed installation promotes healthy coral and marine life, while offering a family-friendly ramble in the sea. musamexico.org
Discover Mayan history at Chichen Itza
Plunge into clear cenotes Blessings sculpture by Elier Amado Gil at MUSA
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! But it's not exactly roughing it. Jillian Kramer September 28, 2017
When you think of the Beverly Wilshire—the iconic hotel perched at the end of Los Angeles' opulent Rodeo Drive— it's likely you picture its stunning marble foyer, its state-of-the-art spa, its velvet-clad sofas inside each suite. Perhaps you can all-but feel the rooms' silky down duvets against your skin, or your stress melt away during an aromatherapy massage. What you don't likely see is camping. In a tent. Outside. And yet, that's exactly the latest experience the Beverly Wilshire is touting. Its new luxury experience doesn't take place in the penthouse suite or inside Michelin star-rated restaurant Cut by Wolfgang Puck. In fact, it doesn't really take place inside at all. Instead, guests of its veranda suite will be welcomed outside, into a tent pitched on the suite's attached 2,140 square-foot terrace, perched 10 stories above Rodeo Drive and offering sweeping 270degree views of Hollywood Hills. And like those views, this is no ordinary tent: it's huge, at 10 feet tall and 16 feet wide, and holds a queen size bed, night stands, marble lamps, fur rugs, and even a crystal chandelier.
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
!
Step outside the tent, and guests will find lounge furniture, a fire pit—and a dining table set for eight. Here, guests will nosh on anything but standard camping cuisine. ! "People are paying serious money here—we cannot bring them basic food," joked executive chef Samir Roonwal on a recent phone call with Food & Wine. Indeed, the experience starts at a cool $3,500, so hot dogs and canned beans won't exactly cut it. Roonwal, who began working at the Beverly Wilshire just a month ago, says he was inspired to "create a menu that is predominantly cooked on charcoal or in a wood fire oven, to maintain a campfire ambience." With smoke and flames licking nearly every dish, "the taste profile stays more authentic" to dishes hikers might cook over campfire, but with the "elevated, exquisite" twist guests expect to find at the Beverly Wilshire, Roonwal says. Presented on serveware made from wood and stone, the meal even looks a tad rustic—yet hints of gold remind you the food is anything but. The eating experience kicks off with rosé—frozen rosé topped with special reserve Osetra caviar, a combination that pairs surprisingly well, Roonwal promises. "The softness of the caviar—with its umami flavor—and the sweetness of the rosé are an incredible combination," Roonwal describes, adding this course is his favorite dish. Specialty fish, Wagyu beef, and seasonal vegetables round out the main courses, he says, then the dessert comes: a s'more. But before you shake your head in disbelief, remember, this is no ordinary camping meal. This s'more is very, very special. Executive pastry chef Chris Ford told Food & Wine that, "it's really challenging to do a s'more. It's probably the most basic and generic dessert—the poor thing has had so many reinventions. So I wanted this one to be really interesting." And it really is. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! To start, Ford roasts just the marshmallow, then tops it with a ganache made from caramelized milk—which takes on a nutty, almost brown butter-like flavor—that's been heated with a cinnamon stick burnt with a torch. By using these techniques, "the char taste comes from the inside out, and not from the outside," Ford describes. ! Then, Ford adds a slice of smoked 55 percent Valrhona chocolate and encases it and the roasted marshmallow in a Tahitian vanilla bean marshmallow, "so it looks just like the puff marshmallows you buy at the store," he says. The marshmallow sits on a housemade cookie, and is covered in a sheet of 24-carat gold. "This is the kind of dessert than can make anyone of any age go back to feeling like a kid," says Ford. !
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Natural beauty The jungle meets the beach in Mexico, a sophisticated sojourn in San Francisco, and horsing around in the California countryside
The landscape of the MEXICAN RIVIERA MAYA
prevails at MAYAKOBA .
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G E T A W AY
Clockwise from top right: The canal system that connects resorts at MAYAKOBA ; EL CAMELEÓN golf course on
the Caribbean; wildlife among the scenery; a guest room at ROSEWOOD MAYAKOBA .
The Venice of the Yucatán
Starting with the purchase of 590 acres in the late 1980s, it finally took a team of biologists, engineers, geologists, architects, engineers, hoteliers, and other experts about six years to envision and execute a forward-thinking development along Mexico’s Riviera Maya. The result is MAYAKOBA , an eco-conscious luxury resort on the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico’s Caribbean coast. What sets this property apart from others, however, is that rather than being built up right along the coastline, the natural landscape of lagoons, jungles, mangroves, cenotes (sinkholes), beaches, dunes, and reefs were intentionally retained, preserved, and brilliantly incorporated into the design, bringing the vibrant flora and fauna into the immediate experience of staying there. A six-mile-long canal system connects the Fairmont, Rosewood, Banyan Tree, and Andaz Mayakoba resorts. Guests can travel in electric lancha boats among crocodiles, monkeys, turtles, and more than 200 species of birds to the four properties’ beach clubs, spas, restaurants, and the famed El Cameleón golf course. Or on land, you can pedal around lush nature paths to El Pueblito—the village in the heart of Mayakoba. G I N A Z . T E R L I N D E N M AYAK O BA.CO M
Presidio PLAYGROUND Founder of Joie de Vivre Hotels and lead ownership partner at San Francisco’s THE LAUREL INN , Chip Conley’s background as former head of global hospitality and strategy for Airbnb is evident in the comfortable combination of the amenities of an apartment (private kitchenettes and self parking) and the services of a top hotel with sweeping city views. The property’s 1950s facade serves as inspiration for the midcentury modern interiors, which feature the work of exclusively local Bay Area artists. The urban residential sensibility is amplified by touches such as playfully designed board games and warm cookies in the living room-like lobby. Cruiser bikes on loan allow the opportunity to explore the Presidio Heights neighborhood and its proximity to Golden Gate Park, the De Young Museum, and Fillmore Street—home to Michelin-starred restaurants SPQR, State Bird Provisions, and The Progress—while the nearby Sacramento Street design corridor is home to beautifully built spaces such as March, Hudson Grace, The Future Perfect, Serena & Lily, Sue Fisher King, and more. Rates: From $229.
444 Presidio Ave., San Francisco, 415-567-8467. C H A R L O T T E J D V H OT E LS . C OM
B RYA N T
S A N TA B A R B A R A
Top to bottom: A custom-illustrated NEIGHBORHOOD MAP ; large guest
rooms feature RETRO-INSPIRED DESIGN and
kitchenettes.
THE LUXURY MAGAZINE FOR AMERICAN AIRLINES & AMERICAN EAGLE PREMIUM CLASS PASSENGERS
September/october 2016
BEHIND THE LENS
B A R H E M I N G WAY I S B A C K
CRUISE CONTROL
P H OTO G R A P H E R M AT T H E W R O L S TO N O N H I S D E S I G N D O M I N ATI O N
T H E L E G E N DA RY R IT Z PA R I S R E C A P T U R E S IT S O P U L E N T S P I R IT
A N E XC LU S I V E J O U R N E Y T H R O U G H T H E B R ITI S H V I R G I N I S L A N D S
T H E P L AT I N U M L I S T
h ot e l s & R E S O R T S
FINE DINING
NIGHTLIFE
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2 1 C M U S E U M H OT E L OKL AHOMA CIT Y New location, creative comfort
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klahoma City is a frontier town, home to the proverbial Western hero. The pulse of contemporary OKC still beats for the salt of the earth and working class, and there’s something artistic about that, as demonstrated by the new 21c Museum Hotel. A rehabilitation project that transformed the historic Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant into a 135-room boutique hotel, 21c offers 14,000 square feet of art-exhibition space open to the public for free, as well as Mary Eddy’s Kitchen x Lounge, the local toast of the OKC culinary scene that serves American contemporary cuisine in a renovated industrial setting. Built in 1916 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building still has its original casement windows, the former Model T showroom’s original terrazzo floor, entry canopy and marquee. Rates start at $219. 21CMUSEUMHOTELS.COM —ADAM PITLUK
H OT E L S A I N T G E O R G E M A R FA , T E X A S Modern genius in the Lone Star state
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A N DA Z S COT T S DA L E R E S O R T & S PA S COT T S DA L E , A R I ZO N A The perfect picture of desert life
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s you stand on your private terrace at the Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa, art and nature collide in spectacular fashion around the 23-acre property. With the rugged Camelback Mountain in the distance, the 201 bungalow-style guest rooms boast brilliant pops of color and graphic patterns representative of artists Alexander Girard, Frank Lloyd Wright and Paolo Soleri. Rooms and common spaces feature works from the resident artists at Cattle Track Art Compound, a short walk from the resort. As part of a partnership between Cattle Track and the Andaz, guests can sign up for lectures, exhibitions, live performances and workshops at the resort — including pottery and landscape photography — as part of the Artist in Residence program. Rates start at $175. SCOTTSDALE.ANDAZ.HYATT.COM —SAVANAH DICKINSON
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CELEBRATED LIVING • september/october 2016
PHOTOS COURTESY 21C OKC; CASEY DUNN; COURTESY ANDAZ SCOTTSDALE
hen you decide to open a hotel in a town that boasts one of the largest permanent installations of contemporary art in the world, you’re undoubtedly faced with a conundrum: Do you embrace the art connection or ignore it for fear of not getting it quite right? Fortunately for visitors to Hotel Saint George in Marfa, Texas, owner Tim Crowley opted for the former by installing the works of more than two dozen artists in the rooms and public spaces. Artwork by part-time resident Christopher Wool (whose painting “Untitled [Riot]” sold for $29.9 million at Sotheby’s last year) hangs in LaVenture, the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant. A diptych by Michael Phelan welcomes guests with the lyrics from Neil Young’s song “Fade to Black.” And the best part? The lobby bar is the new artist hangout. Rooms start at $195. MARFASAINTGEORGE.COM —RIMA SUQI