Three Stylish New Hotels
From luxury spas and chic rooms to the convenience of on-site dining, these new hotels have everything covered, says Akash Arora.
Only a minute’s walk from the Notting Hill Gate Tube station, five Victorian townhouses have been transformed into a boutique hotel with 51 rooms and suites. Designed by Tom Bartlett, founder of UK-based architecture and interiors firm Waldo Works, The Laslett has that distinct British elegance. In the hotel library, walls are covered with works by local artists, while upstairs the rooms are populated with pieces from Race Furniture and Pinch. The on-site eatery, The Henderson Bar & Coffee Shop, is open all day. Go here for a smoked-salmon bagel breakfast, shepherd’s pie for lunch or evening cocktails.
Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa
One of Asia’s most family-friendly leisure destinations, Sentosa Island has a new check-in address. Surrounded by more than 10 hectares of tropical gardens, this five-storey Sofitel property features 215 rooms, suites and villas. Ask for a room on the first floor if you want a balcony. There are two restaurants within the hotel: Kwee Zeen focuses on Pan-Asian cuisine with French accents, while The Garden emphasises healthy, wholesome food. Want to relax? Sip a cocktail by the hotel’s 33-metre-long swimming pool or make your way to the on-site So Spa for a massage.
Does a fireplace plonked next to an open-air pool make any sense? No. But that’s not the sort of question you ask when you walk into a Kimpton Hotels property; they’re sprinkled with objects that may not always serve much purpose but definitely add drama to the design. Quirkiness greets you at every turn, including chandeliers that look like clusters of twisted trumpets. There are 319 guestrooms, all with complimentary wi-fi and Bluetooth speakers. Located in the Rainey Street Historic District, the hotel is near some of the city’s finest architecture and music spots such as Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater.
