Editor’s Letter
Every hotel within Elegant Hotels of the World is chosen with intention, guided by a belief that true luxury lies in authenticity, perspective, and a strong sense of place. As a custodian of our growing community, I’m drawn to destinations with a clear point of view – places that feel considered, characterful, and quietly distinctive.
From storied retreats to contemporary hideaways, each reflects its own rhythm, like Cinco Quintas Hotel Boutique – where design and culture exist in effortless balance.
CATT McLEOD
GUEST EDITOR
On The Cover
Cinco Quintas Hotel Boutique feels like a private house in Cartagena’s walled Old City, with a garden at its centre and the option to reserve a floor or the whole property with friends. Awarded One MICHELIN Key in 2026, this boutique hotel has earned international recognition.
The Insider
Elegant Editions
Curated collections to suit every mood and occasion
Moments
Our guide to what’s new and not to be missed
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Forget AI. Tudor Farmhouse Is Making Christmas by Hand
Hot wax and coloured dyes might be an unexpected start to Christmas preparations. Artist Sian Burns uses both in her batik workshop at Tudor Farmhouse on 24 November. It opens […]
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Sloane Place Has Autumn Written All Over the Menu
Suffolk chicken with leeks and prunes sounds particularly good as London heads into November. It’s on the menu at Bistro 1922, which opened at Sloane Place on 5 October. Chef […]
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A Little Skin Intelligence at Galgorm Resort
There’s only so much a bathroom mirror can reveal. Galgorm Resort‘s NEXA skin analysis uses 3D imaging to examine texture, pigmentation and sun damage, followed by a conversation with a […]
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Tanah Gajah Finds Your Tennis Partner
Travelling alone needn’t mean missing a game of tennis. Tanah Gajah in Ubud can arrange a sparring partner, or a private coach for those with a serve to sort out. […]
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The Castle Hotel’s Signature Dish Has a 28-Year History
Twenty-eight years is a good run for any restaurant dish. At Brazz, the fishcakes have been on the menu since opening day in 1998. For anyone booking dinner at The […]
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South Lodge’s Botanica Writes Dairy Out of the Menu
Gnocchi in garlic cream sauce, followed by Black Forest trifle, sounds like an unlikely dairy-free lunch. Both appear on Botanica’s sample menu at South Lodge in Sussex, where the kitchen […]
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Your Ancestors May Have a Few Places to Recommend Near Matfen Hall
Some visits to Northumberland begin with a family name. Matfen Hall’s Legacy & Landscape experience pairs guests with a genealogy expert, whose research shapes their stay. An online consultation begins […]
Horizons
The stories shaping how we live and travel
Cartagena After Dark
A man who grew up beside Getsemaní’s Plaza de la Santísima Trinidad once described the square as his childhood living room. By evening, people still gather outside the church to […]
Sam Blunnie’s Estate-to-Plate Kitchen at Down Hall
Inside a kitchen shaped by local sourcing, estate-grown produce and the British seasons.
Sam Blunnie leads the Garden Room restaurant at Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate, where the relationship between chef and landscape begins long before anything reaches the plate. Working closely […]
Design Icons: Hotels Worth Travelling For
Hotels distinctive enough to become a destination in their own right
Sometimes, you choose the destination first. At other times, you discover a hotel so extraordinary that wanting to experience it becomes the journey’s start. Perhaps it is a house designed […]
Journeys
Trending escapes to book now
Paws on the Pier
Designed for discerning dogs and their equally discerning humans, Pawsitively Perfect invites you to experience Fulham Pier Hotel with your four-legged companion, complete with sweeping Thames views and beautiful riverside walks right on your doorstep.
Dine like royalty in a Scottish castle
Savour the elegance of Fonab Castle, where historic grandeur, Highland beauty and exceptional dining come together on the banks of Loch Faskally. A place for relaxation, adventure and indulgence, this lochside retreat captures the very best of Scotland in turreted five-star style
A boutique wellness retreat by the water
Step away from the pace of the city and into the calm of Bingham Riverhouse, a Georgian riverside retreat on the outskirts of London where wellness, nourishment and quiet indulgence come naturally. Set beside the Thames in Richmond, this restorative stay brings together soothing treatments, mindful movement, seasonal dining and the warmth of a members’ house made for slowing down.
Paradise Found on Koh Yao Noi
Escape to TreeHouse Villas Koh Yao for two nights of barefoot luxury, where the beach meets the jungle canopy in one of Thailand’s most peaceful island settings. Settle into your treetop villa, unwind between sea and sky, and savour the feeling of truly escaping from it all.
Pawsitively Perfect
Paws on the Pier
Designed for discerning dogs and their equally discerning humans, Pawsitively Perfect invites you to experience Fulham Pier Hotel with your four-legged companion, complete with sweeping Thames views and beautiful riverside walks right on your doorstep.
Taste of Elegance
Dine like royalty in a Scottish castle
Savour the elegance of Fonab Castle, where historic grandeur, Highland beauty and exceptional dining come together on the banks of Loch Faskally. A place for relaxation, adventure and indulgence, this lochside retreat captures the very best of Scotland in turreted five-star style
Revive and Unwind
A boutique wellness retreat by the water
Step away from the pace of the city and into the calm of Bingham Riverhouse, a Georgian riverside retreat on the outskirts of London where wellness, nourishment and quiet indulgence come naturally. Set beside the Thames in Richmond, this restorative stay brings together soothing treatments, mindful movement, seasonal dining and the warmth of a members’ house made for slowing down.
Sumptulously Elegant
Paradise Found on Koh Yao Noi
Escape to TreeHouse Villas Koh Yao for two nights of barefoot luxury, where the beach meets the jungle canopy in one of Thailand’s most peaceful island settings. Settle into your treetop villa, unwind between sea and sky, and savour the feeling of truly escaping from it all.
WithSoul Hotels
Hotels shaped by character rather than convention
Immersive and soulful experiences shaped by culture, character and connection.
Step into a world of independent luxury hotels defined by atmosphere, cultural storytelling and an unmistakable sense of place.