HOTEL BEL AMI
located in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris, which has attracted Parisian intellectuals since the 18th century, Hotel Bel Ami calls one of Paris’ most storied districts home. Here you can enjoy the beautiful Rive Gauche, find some of the most complete and interesting bookshops in Paris, stop by one of the historical cafés, or simply get lost in the enchanting streets peppered with hidden restaurants and young designer boutiques around the church of Saint-Sulpice. Tucked away on a tiny side-street, Hotel Bel Ami brings together in its concept and design the most interesting characteristics of its setting: history, cultural life, and sophisticated choices for relaxing, shopping, and eating
THE WHITBY HOTEL
Set in the pulsing Manhattan midtown scene and boldly conceived by the ever-inspired design doyenne Kit Kemp, The Whitby is Firmdale Hotels’ second property in New York, and a fitting creative bookend to its hugely popular Crosby Street Hotel in the heart of SoHo. Situated on West 56th Street at 5th Avenue, The Whitby is surrounded by international designer shops, world-class department stores, restaurants, galleries, and museums, with Central Park and Broadway just a short walk away. Yet your most memorable New York City moments may very well be experienced inside the hotel where 86 individually styled bedrooms and suites are set over 16 floors, with many offering large private terraces (a rarity in New York) and all featuring Kemp’s award-winning luxurious, contemporary style and world-renowned innovative mix of color, pattern, texture, and art. Bathrooms are beautifully finished in marble or granite, with the bedrooms and suites showcasing the city through floor-to-ceiling windows. The entire top floor is dedicated to The Whitby Suite, a spectacular two-bedroom headline setting with spacious, furnished terraces. While the private worlds of The Whitby beguile, the public ones prove once again that a Firmdale property is as much a social gathering place among movers, shakers, and creatives as it is a hotel. Here, The Whitby Bar, a drawing room, an orangery and courtyard, as well as several stylish private-event rooms and a 130-seat state-of-the-art cinema, draw in stars that shine bright in Firmdale’s incomparable orbit.
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AVALON HOTEL BEVERLY HILLS
Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills sets the tone for hip repose with a boomerang-shaped pool surrounded by private cabanas. Tucked in a secluded residential neighborhood adjacent to Beverly Hills’ world-class restaurants and shops, the hotel was built in 1949 and frequented by the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball, and Desi Arnaz. Thanks to contemporary style icon Kelly Wearstler, the 84 rooms and suites—many with kitchenettes or private patios—still blend Old Hollywood roots with a distinct 1950s vibe. Here, one experiences the casual “patio lifestyle” and laidback sophistication that is unique to Southern California, as well as a full-service wellness studio offering private sessions. The hotel’s newly opened Viviane Restaurant, under the helm of award-winning chef Michael Hung, serves delectable modern Californian interpretations of classic European and American cuisines, attracting an in-the-know local crowd.
CHEZ GEORGES
High on a hilltop in Rio de Janeiro’s lush Santa Teresa neighborhood between the city’s center and the sandy beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, Chez Georges is a showcase of transcontinental modernism housed in an impressive work of Brazilian Brutalism by the nationally renowned architect Wladimir Alves de Souza. Boasting a private, seven-suite villa and a separate two-bedroom studio, the property is set on the edge of a protected forest within a lofty and secluded location. Such sights as Sugarloaf Mountain, Guanabara Bay, and the city rooftops provide impressive backdrops from various vantage points—including the living room with expansive windows, the patio with its vaulted concrete pergola, and the 360-degree viewing point on the roof. Entering through beautiful concrete arches and a stunning six-meter-high wooden door that overlooks Santa Teresa and the bay beyond, one is immersed in a space of meticulously crafted textiles, bamboo sheets, and cushions carefully chosen in Thailand and Europe. A music-lovers dream, the entire house is hooked up to a state-of-the-art music production room—situated below the welcoming 14-meter-long pool—transforming the villa into a huge recording studio. The exceptional design is characterized by rich woods, azulejo mosaics, spectacular artwork, and a glorious mix of midcentury European and Brazilian furnishings from names such as Nils Jonsson, Jo Hammerbörg, VB Wilkins, and Ricardo Fasanello, as well as handpicked pieces from the antique markets of Paris, Brussels, Ghent, and Antwerp. Perfect for musicians, bands, families, design lovers, and groups, Chez Georges—a creation of Pierre Bident Moldeva and Olivier Verwilghen, the couple behind Design Hotels™ member La Ferme de Georges in northeast Brazil—is for private hire, providing guests with a wholly unique place from which to experience Rio.
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