Open for indulgence: the best new luxury hotels of 2023

There’s a lot to love about travel, but arguably one of the most exciting aspects is its frequent evolution, from restaurants to bars and more. New hotels and resort openings too allow you to discover classic destinations – or emerging ones – in fresh, unforgettable ways. 

With that in mind, these are some of the most exciting luxury hotels opened in 2023, from low-key island hangouts to show-stopping architectural marvels openings in the world’s most iconic cities.

Now open: the best luxury hotels of 2023

1 Hotel Mayfair – England

Mayfair is much more than a spot on the Monopoly board – it’s a well-heeled address brimming with luxe hotels and heritage architecture, glittering boutiques and exclusive member’s only clubs. It’s also home to the new 1 Hotel Mayfair.

The hotel is in good company, just across the road from The Ritz.

Opened in July, the London outpost of the sustainably-minded hotel group (soon to debut in Melbourne) is a contemporary sanctuary filled with green walls and light oak flooring, tactile furnishings of crisp cream and white. The restaurants are stellar too.

Greenery forms an integral part of the hotel's design ethos.

Wellness is of course well taken care of: Bamford Day Spa offers complimentary yoga classes, in addition to personal training and, naturally, a delightful menu of pampering treatments.

Southern Ocean Lodge – Australia

One of Australia’s most distinctive hotels, Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, is now rebuilt and ready for check-in, after the original was razed by bushfire in 2020. By all accounts, it’s even more incredible than before.

SOL is part of the Baillie Lodges stable, which also includes The Louise and Longitude 131.

Adhering closely to the original design, SOL 2.0 features some ingenious refinements to its guest rooms, most notably angled outlooks which now take full advantage of the dramatic views along the coast. A new owner’s residence has also been created.

The beauty of Kangaroo Island is on full display.

The distinctive ‘Great Room’ terrace now boasts a wet-edge pool too, while the spa now includes three treatment rooms, plus a gym, sauna and hot and cold plunge pools.

Mondrian Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Mondrian Hong Kong is cut from the same personality-filled cloth as its siblings in London and Doha, with bold design statements flowing through each of its 324 rooms. Many enjoy a prime outlook over Victoria Harbour, delivering a better ‘show’ than any television could.

Rooms are light, bright and ready to make you right at home.

Location-wise, you really couldn’t ask for more. It’s smack bang in the Tsim Sha Shui neighbourhood, with MTR access only a short stroll away – ferrying you almost anywhere you want to go. That said, there are two good reasons to simply stay indoors.

Colour is a key element of the Mondrian experience.

Italian steakhouse Carna by Dario Cecchini is already heating up the hotplates for an authentic taste of Tuscan cuisine, while Avoca bar on the 38th floor will have the cocktails, beats and social atmosphere (and views) you're looking for.

Hotel Sorrento – Australia

Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula has long been a destination of choice for Melburnians escaping the city. It is less than an hour’s drive, after all. And while low-key accommodation vibes abound, the region has plenty of luxe options for those seeking to elevate their stay.

The classic Hotel Sorrento is now better than ever.

A reinvention of a long-standing icon, Hotel Sorrento is now a Mediterranean-esque boutique escape featuring five bars and two signature restaurants, a tranquil day spa and umbrella-lined swimming pool, not to mention views of Port Phillip Bay.

The local drawcard has been reinvented with 13 new accommodation suites.

Of the varied rooms, Sunset Suites are arguably ‘the ones’. Each is adorned in European Oak, travertine, and brass, with upper-level rooms enjoying sea views, while those on the ground-floor open to private courtyards with tubs for extended soaking sessions.

The Singapore EDITION – Singapore

Singapore’s luxury hotelscape has a stunning fresh addition as The Singapore EDITION throws open its doors in a ‘preview mode’ in November, ahead of a full scale opening in the near future. So what’s it like? If these renders are anything to go by, exquisite.

The lobby exudes elegance.

The first Edition in Southeast Asia, the 204-room hotel is nestled just off the west end of upper Orchard Road – a once-bucolic lane lined with fruit orchards and nutmeg plantations.

The Singapore EDITION is home to a signature restaurant, rooftop bar, and lobby bar.

That penchant for greenery now flows through The Singapore EDITION, from the white marble lobby topped in a gilded dome to the rooftop pool terrace and the timber-lined steak and seafood restaurant spearheaded by Australian chef Josh Niland: FYSH at EDITION.

Raffles Boston – United States

Some hotels you just know are worth a visit, even before you’ve finished reading the lengthy list of features inside. Raffles Boston is among them, as the brand’s debut property in North America, you can be sure it’ll be an experience worth relishing.

The Raffles Suite also has a dining room seating up to 10 guests.

Within the gleaming 35-storey building in Back Bay are 147 chic rooms and 146 residences, all affording views of the Charles River and skyline, in addition to five bar and dining venues, a state-of-the-art spa, and rooftop garden terrace.

The hotel's designed to 'spark curiosity at every turn'.

The location too is worth discovering, with the neighbourhood famed for its rows of Victorian Brownstone homes, not to mention great shopping and sidewalk cafes that spill onto the pavements. Be sure to stop by the grand Boston Public Library.

W Sydney – Australia

Good things come to those who wait. In the case of W Sydney, travellers have been waiting a rather long time. But the moment the Darling Harbour Marriott hotel has at last arrived, and it is every bit as spectacular as we hoped.

'The Ribbon' tower also houses an IMAX theatre, apartments and retail outlets.

Sophisticated rooms and suites with curvaceous circular bathtubs and vibrant waratah-inspired prints, a glamorous two-storey rooftop bar, and a heated infinity pool angled to offer uninterrupted harbour views are just a few of the standouts.

The 585-room hotel features ultra-modern interiors by British design agency Bowler James Brindley.

Guests in this five star Sydney hotel can also take their stay on the road thanks to a newly-revealed collaboration with Genesis Motors, which will see a nimble fleet of electrified GV60 and GV70 available for loans, VIP pickups and ‘special guest drives’.

The Peninsula London – England

The Peninsula London was among this world’s most-anticipated openings this year, and it’s easy to understand why, with the five star hotel cut from the same cloth as siblings in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Istanbul. 

The new hotel occupies a prime position at Hyde Park Corner.

Designed by Hopkins Architects, the team behind Dubai’s striking 25 Hours Hotel, The Peninsula London is a new-build occupying a prime position at Hyde Park Corner – almost a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace. And yes, there is a classic Rolls Royce parked in the drive.

A cobble-paved central forecourt will allow guests to arrive in style.

Within the classically-inspired Belgravia address are 190 light-filled rooms and suites, plus several noteworthy dining venues including Brooklands from Michelin chef Claude Bosi and Canton Blue Chinese restaurant, which celebrates “ the spice-trade union of Asian and British cultures”.

COMO Metropolitan – Singapore

Spanning 11 floors within Singapore’s COMO Orchard development, an integrated complex of restaurants, retail outlets and a signature spa, COMO Metropolitan Singapore hotel is – surprisingly – the group’s first hotel in its home country.

Relaxation is assured the moment you arrive.

In line with the group’s 16 properties around the world, décor across the 156 rooms is elegant and refined, with a focus on neutrals and timbers, complemented by bold pops of mustard. Views are extraordinary too, particular from the rooftop bar.

The hotel is a striking addition to the Lion City.

Dining takes the form of three venues: the first international outpost of Michelin-starred COTE Steakhouse from American restaurateur Simon Kim, plus a patisserie from French pastry chef Cédric Grolet and COMO Cuisine, serving all-day dining classics.

Raffles London at The Owo – England

Raffles Hotels set the scene for a show-stopping British debut in September when Raffles London at The OWO (an abbreviation for the Old War Office) in Whitehall unlocks its doors for the first time. As expected, it is something very special, indeed.

Originally completed in 1906, the OWO has stood witness to many world-shaping events.

Think spending the night in former offices of influential political and military leaders including Winston Churchill, David Lloyd George and John Profumo (now converted into luxury suites, naturally), followed by stays in corner turrets overlooking the Horse Guards. And that’s just the start. 

A five-year restoration has seen many original elements brought back to their former glory.

A sprinkling of signature restaurants from Argentine Michelin chef Mauro Colagreco – including a rooftop restaurant and bar with views over Whitehall, The Mall and on to Buckingham Palace – plus a serene Guerlain Spa and indoor pool are also key parts of the experience.

Six Senses Kanuhara – Maldives

If it’s overwater glamour you seek, Six Senses Kanuhara in the Maldives is the one for you – and its overwater villas aren’t even the most notable feature of the private island escape.

Six Senses Kanuhara is an IHG Hotel, which is great news for members of the IHG One Rewards program.

A scenic 40-minute seaplane ride from Male, the new resort is a top-to-bottom reimagination of one of the country’s most iconic hideaways, one which not only adds Six Senses’ signature approach to wellness and sustainability but dials up the indulgence to dramatic effect.

A celebrated Maldivian island, reborn.

From the bold circular swimming pool with swim up bar to 12 freshly-added Beach Retreats, complementing its 91 new-look beachfront and overwater villas, this is a resort destined to be seen on everyone’s Instagram feed (so you need to get in quick).

The BoTree London – England

Another recent addition to London is The BoTree, a chic hotel at the crossroads of Marylebone and Mayfair. However, rather than falling back on a heritage look befitting its neighbourhood, designers have taken it in a decidedly more exciting direction.

It’s quirky and colourful, with each of its 199 personality-filled rooms and suites adorned in bold artworks, eclectic textiles and marble bathrooms. This same vibe echoes through its two restaurants, one of which boasts a fabulous rooftop.

There's nothing understated about the decor here.

Part of the Preferred Hotels ‘Legend’ portfolio, it’s surrounded by a bevy of independent cafes, book shops and boutiques – all mere steps away from iconic Bond and Regent Streets.

Four Seasons at The Pearl Doha – Qatar

The Gulf city of Doha has flourished in recent decades, transforming itself from a small fishing village into a sky-reaching destination synonymous with both adventure and relaxation. Its latest addition is Four Seasons at The Pearl Doha.

La Méditerraneé by chef Joël Robuchon is the signature dining offering.

Rising 19 storeys above an artificial island around 4 sqm in size and only 25 minutes from Doha International Airport, the hotel is set to open with no less than seven bars and restaurants, including one from star chef Joël Robuchon, plus a pampering day spa and multiple pools.

The hotel is stunning from top to bottom.

As for its 161 apartments, they’re tailor-made for putting you in a relaxed holiday mood. Ranging from one to three bedrooms, they each feature coastal chic decor with a welcome sprinkling of refinement, together with a full kitchen, balcony and laundry.

&Beyond Punakha River Lodge – Bhutan

Known for its exquisite stable of African safari lodges, luxury brand &Beyond has made its long-awaited Asian debut with &Beyond Punakha River Lodge in the Kingdom of Bhutan. Suffice to say, it offers a true Himalayan adventure.

The one bedroom River House is designed with couples in mind.

Draped along the banks of Mo Chu River in the Punakha Valley, around four hours drive from Paro, the intimate hotel is a perfect case of ‘less is more’, with six tented suites complemented by a one- and two-bedroom suite.

Solitude and serenity come together at Punakha River Lodge.

Each tent and suite is inspired by traditional Bhutanese architecture, and fitted with all the mod cons too. And as for experience, these can be as active or relaxed as you like, from hot stone massages and yoga to hikes, rafting, biking and archery.

One&Only Aesthesis – Greece

The Greek Isles often take top billing on holiday wish lists, yet the mainland also has stunning existing and soon-to-debut options worth taking note of. Like One&Only Aesthesis on the Athenian Riviera, only a short drive from the ancient capital.

Overlooking the sapphire waters of the Saronic Gulf, the impending island-style retreat boasts 95 stylish bungalows, 18 residences and two iconic villas replete with private pools. All of this nestled within a private 21-hectare beach and forest reserve.

Unwind at the Beach Club, enjoy chilled beats by the Pool Bar, or feast of succulent seafood at Ora.

Beyond a feast for the eyes and the soul, taste buds will be well taken care of also, with ‘Ora’ from Michelin starred chef Ettore Botrini leading Aesthesis’ roll call of mouth-watering restaurants and bars.

Of course, there are some fantastic properties on the horizon too: here are some of the best new hotels opening in 2024.