As selected by our luxury travel advisors
For the design-driven traveller who seeks a truly original hotel experience, reflective of the history, culture and social fabric of its location, Design Hotels™ do not disappoint.
The Design Hotels portfolio includes 300+ privately owned and operated hotels, each offering culturally-rooted hospitality, and cutting-edge design and architecture. Known for being an immersive reflection of their home cities and locations, Design Hotels go beyond merely curating their own neighborhoods, they curate culture within their very establishments.
From the pioneering boutique hotels of New York, Paris, and Rome, to the rising stars of the Maldives and Thailand, to remote locations, hidden beaches, and off-the-beaten-path escapes, here we take you through our hand-picked favourites from Design Hotels’ incredible collection.
As a Jigsaw Travel client, you will receive exclusive value-added benefits and VIP status during your stay at any Design Hotels property around the world.
- VIP Status and Welcome
- Complimentary daily breakfast
- Room upgrade upon availability at time of check-in
- Early check-in upon availability at time of check-in
- Late check-out upon availability on date of departure
- Special amenity or experience that is unique to each Design Hotel
Read on for our expert travel advisors’ favourite Design Hotels across the globe, then reach out to us on enquiries@jigsawtravel.com.au to let us design your next luxury adventure.
Santa Monica Proper, USA
This beautiful beachside hotel offers on-the-pulse cuisine, an abundance of art, and the inspiring interior designs of Kelly Wearstler. Comprised of two individual buildings – A 1928-built Spanish Colonial Revival building and a contemporary new-build, joined by a suspended bridge. The two buildings are architecturally disparate yet aesthetically harmonious, forming a Y-shaped property optimizes the ocean breeze and sunlight.
The design – Baroque ornamentation and Moorish detailing abound, with arched passageways leading through place and time.
Themes – City, Wellbeing, Sustainability
Wellness – The hotel offers Ayurvedic treatments and food, health counseling, yoga, meditation, and a gym.
Food & Drink – Restaurant, rooftop bistro, lobby library lounge
Rooms – 267
Hotel Healdsburg, California, USA
In northern Sonoma, Hotel Healdsburg places three wine regions within easy reach—and one of the area’s finest restaurants directly under your nose. The interiors of this boutique hotel set a tranquil tone completely in tune with its location. Custom dressers and bed frames crafted of wood salvaged from ancient bay laurel trees introduce the rich organic warmth of Northern California. Most rooms have private balconies and French doors framing views of the hotel gardens, the historic town plaza, or the beautiful Sonoma countryside.
The design – For Architect, David Baker, light is an important element of the design. It was vital for him that the three-story, stucco building have tall ceilings, and windows on the ground floor to create an inviting presence. Light spills into all areas of the hotel – through French doors that lead onto private balconies, under trellised walkways, or through a glass-encased stairwell filled with bamboo shoots.
Themes – City, Food & Drink, Offbeat destinations
Food & Drink – 2 restaurants, open-air courtyard bar
Rooms – 55
The Whitby Hotel NYC, USA
For a quintessential dose of New York, look no further than THe Whitby Hotel in Midtown. An enveloping mood of comfort emanates from the guest rooms thanks to fabric-lined walls, an enchanting mix of textures and hues, and Kit Kemp’s signature touches. on the doorstep, you’ve got the buzz of Times Square and the Broadway theaters. Then there’s 5th Avenue, chockablock with international designer shopping, world-class department stores, restaurants, galleries, and museums.
The design – The Whitby is a celebration of contemporary art and design. Midtown Manhattan emits downtown flair as Kit Kemp’s inimitable interiors showcase her carefree spirit.
Themes – City, Art & Culture, Food & Drink
Food & Drink – The Whitby Bar
Rooms – 86
Patina Maldives
A place where nature and inspiring architecture harmoniously coexist, Patina Maldives offers a fresh retreat for progressive travelers who seek authentic experiences in a pocket of seclusion. Artwork ranges from intricately handcrafted design pieces to big-name works such as “Amarta”, an installation from the Skyspaces series by world-renowned U.S. artist James Turrell. The building’s exterior spaces, meanwhile, artfully echo the flowing fronds of the embracing palms.
The design – Patina’s environmental stance extends to the material palette used throughout the interiors with woods, linens, rattan, paper cord, and natural fibers in different muted colors complementing gray stone flooring, whitewashed timber strips, and wooden slatted ceilings
Themes – Wellbeing, Sustainability, Beach
Food & Drink – 7 restaurants, 3 food trucks, 1 bar and 1 beach club
Wellbeing – Using a wellbeing philosophy called Flow, the spa cultivates a life-affirming vitality that amplifies your connection with nature’s divine intelligence. Within a soulful space, therapeutic prowess and scientific technologies create a relaxing environment.
Rooms – 110
The Surin Phuket, Thailand
The Surin is the home-away-from-home experience you have always dreamed of, set in a beautiful tropical bay. The design encourages guests to appreciate nature through a series of exposed walkways, while the guest cottages feature earthy materials and natural fabrics, literally inviting the surrounding nature inside through shuttered doors.
The design – The ultimate in Southeast Asian seaside serenity, all furnishings have been tailor-made to underscore the hotel’s distinctive island style.
Themes – Wellbeing, Beach
Food & Drink – Restaurant, cafe, beach bar
Rooms – 109
Zentis Osaka, Japan
Opened in 2020, the subtly edgy, wonderfully Japanese and naturally resplendent Zentis Osaka pays homage to a city known for its industrious charm with an industrial chic look and laid-back feel. Osaka’s first addition to the Design Hotels collection features local design touches, including shigaraki-yaki bedside tables crafted in the kilns of Shiga, shodo-inspired wallpaper installations and contemporary works by a local artist. The dining concept at UPSTAIRZ – the hotel’s lounge, bar and restaurant – was conceived by a team with a Michelin-star track record and features a menu with Japanese and French influences.
The design – The interior design, led by renowned UK designer and Philippe Starck protégé Tara Bernerd, features polished wooden floors, a dramatic stone staircase, and splashes of mustard which are offset by bold commissioned works of local Japanese artists.
Themes – City
Food & Drink – Bar, lounge and outdoor terrace
Rooms – 212
Parilio Paros, Greece
Timeless Greek architecture, an invitingly subdued color palette, European design elements, and the glory of Paros—all enjoyed from a sublime, private suite.
The design – Inspired by Cycladic simplicity, the design team for Parīlio incorporated bespoke furniture by IDLaboratorium lighting by Italian company Toscot, bedside tables by 101 Copenhagen, and an earthy color palette of neutral tones.
Themes – Sustainability, Beach
Food & Drink – Reimagined Greek gastronomy
Rooms – 33
Chapter Roma, Italy
Inside a brick building that dates back to 1880, Chapter Roma is a neoclassical spectacle in the heart of Rome’s historical center. Due to the fact that the building is listed with the City of Rome, many of its original architectural features still stand, including vaulted ceilings in the basement and four-meter-high arches of exposed brick.
The design – Tucked away in a street known for its history of blacksmithery, the hotel has been lovingly brought back to life in a way that showcases raw steel, brass, copper, and bronze on a canvas of exposed brick and vaulted ceilings.
Themes – City, Art & Culture, History
Food & Drink – Lobby Bar & Market
Rooms – 47
Hotel Sezz Saint Tropez, France
Situated on the Route des Salins, Hôtel Sezz Saint-Tropez is refreshingly full of light and air—guests can smell and feel the saltwater and warm breezes from their beds. Naturally fortressed by a verdant private garden, the hotel focuses on a dynamic central swimming pool that is surrounded by lounge furniture designed by celebrated designer Christophe Pillet. The rich greens of the surrounding gardens, meanwhile, breathe life into the hotel’s curvaceous and graceful design.
The design – Christophe Pillet’s distinctive style is present in every corner and crevice. Each of the rooms, suites, and villas are unique expressions of Hôtel Sezz Saint-Tropez’s overarching aesthetic theme, sprinkled with surprises.
Themes – Wellbeing, Beach
Food & Drink – Michelin-star restaurant and bar
Rooms – 37
Le Roch Paris, France
A soft-lit, pastel hideaway in the heart of Paris’ gorgeous 1st arrondissement, Le Roch combines classical luxury with inspired contemporary design.
The design – In reinventing the structure of its home inside a former public building on the rue Saint Roch, prize-winning architect Vincent Bastie put to use his vast experience and deep respect for the neighborhood’s creative roots. The result has style, elegance—and not a trace of ostentation.
Themes: City, Wellbeing, Food & Drink
Food & Drink – 1 Restaurant, bar, terrace
Rooms – 37
Louis Hotel Munich, Germany
Louis Hotel is a perfect reflection of the Bavarian capital in which it stands: chic, poised, and full of heart.
The design – Inspired by Cycladic simplicity, the design team for Parīlio incorporated bespoke furniture by IDLaboratorium lighting by Italian company Toscot, bedside tables by 101 Copenhagen, and an earthy color palette of neutral tones.
Themes – City, Food & Drink, History
Food & Drink – Grillroom: seasonal organic cuisine, sparkling wine bar
Rooms – 72
Farol Hotel Cascais, Portugal
Mounted on the rocky shoreline of the Estoril Coast, this boutique hotel, created by Architect Carlos Miguel Dias, sits balancing on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Endless ocean views amaze at Farol Hotel where the kings and queens of Portuguese fashion were in control of the guestroom interior design. The hotel boasts an outdoor saltwater pool, while many of the guestrooms feature transcendent ocean views and hydro-massage bathtubs.
The design – Ana Salazar, Fátima Lopez, Miguel Vieira and Manuel Alves & José Manuel Gonçalves were among the designers who created an individual look to rival the latest catwalk impressions for every single room.
Themes: Beach
Food & Drink – Restaurant
Rooms – 33
If you are drawn to unique properties and like to travel by design, reach out to us today on enquiries@jigsawtravel.com.au and let our expert team curate your dream adventure – completely tailored to match your personal style.
Design Hotels is just one of our many exclusive travel partnerships and affiliations that allow us to offer our clients VIP benefits and amenities. We have recently joined with Mr & Mrs Smith – the travel club for hotel lovers, and you can find the full list of our luxry travel memberships here – https://jigsawtravel.com.au/exclusive-partners/