We are grateful, dear Universe, for the French; They gave us Moulin Rouge, Brigitte Bardot, baguettes, and Art Deco. This beloved architectural style has made the world a better place to live in ever since the 1920s, and continues to do so until this very day.
With that, allow us to share with you some of the world’s chicest Art Deco hotels which continue to stun Instagram feeds on a daily basis. Have these on your travel bucket list for this year. You’re welcome.
The Molitor
France
Rising back from the ashes like a true phoenix is The Molitor, once home to a multitude of galas, fashion shows, performances, and sporting events in the earlier years of fabulous Paris, France. Having housed the most popular swimming pool in all of the avant-garde city for over 60 years, this once blank canvass is now a shameless boast of the Parisian art scene’s best and brightest. A quick glimpse at The Molitor’s quirky redesign will leave you winded. The proportions! The vibrant colors! The art! The big, blue, Olympic-sized pool! Wes Anderson is shaking as we speak.
When in The Molitor, make sure to try The Pool Suite, a bedroom plus lounge combo which gives you a fantastic view of the iconic indoor pool. Also try the outdoor pool which is heated to a comfortable 28°C (no need to worry about the chills), as well as their rooftop bar and barbecue which gives you a fantastic view of the city and the Parisian way of life. If these still don’t sound as enticing, try getting a relaxing whole-body experience in their Clarins Spa, proven to erase every ounce of bad juju off your body. Easy though, because it might even make you forget your own name. Beware.
13 rue Nungesser et Coli, 75016 Paris, FRANCE
Phone (+33)1/56070850
The Savoy
London
What happens when elegant English Edwardian design decides to wine and dine sensational Art Deco style, eventually marrying it before eloping into the vast English sunset? The Savoy, that’s what. Say hello to the newly renovated, 267-room masterpiece that sits quietly on the banks of the Thames river in London.
This five star hotel is one of London’s most luxurious destinations, simply because of all its little quirks and intricacies. For one, no two rooms are the same. Be a regular and experience something new each and every time. Take a quick ‘Gram with The Savoy’s Deco-style furnishings and watch those likes skyrocket. A sight to behold, the rich color palettes present are dream-like, almost unreal. Oh, did we mention that all rooms have a dedicated Butler service? Live like the royal that you are.
Before you leave, you must try the dishes of world-renowned chef Auguste Escoffier at Kaspar’s. Have your afternoon tea at the Thames Foyer, deemed as the heart of the hotel. At night, exchange glances with the dapper gentleman across the room at Beaufort Bar.
The Strand, London, England
Phone: 020-7836–4343
Fairmont Peace Hotel
Shanghai
The Fairmont Peace Hotel is a 270-room extravaganza of old-fashioned glamour meets 21st-century organized chaos, strung together by elaborate ceiling ornaments, gilded geometric shapes, and gold—lots and lots and lots of gold. It’s shameless, alluring, and will make you feel like an oriental femme fatale who took a sick day after fighting long and hard to save the people of China.
Situated at the corner of the Bund and Nanjing Dong Lu, the Fairmont Peace Hotel is a high-ceilinged historical wonder which housed a string of old Shanghai’s cabarets, galas, and soirées. This luxurious Art-Deco masterpiece has served as a gorgeous backdrop to the world’s elite for years, and continues to be one of the most sought after venues in Shanghai.
If you’re a Fairmont gold member, lucky you! You get access to the Fairmont Gold Executive Floor, which houses some of the best rooms in the hotel. Don’t forget to spend a cozy dinner in their signature Chinese restaurant Dragon Phoenix, and cap the night at their acclaimed Jazz Bar which is said to be Shanghai’s premier destination for jazz.
When in Shanghai, this place will always be a good idea.
20 Nanjing Dong Lu, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, 200002, China
Phone:+ 86 21 6138 6888
The Raleigh
Miami, USA
Nobody does Art Deco like Miami. The vibrant state of sun, sand, and fun is home to The Raleigh, a roaring Art-Deco masterpiece by architect L. Murray Dixon, who helped erect this towering beauty back in the 1940s. This retro stunner is chic, stylish, and also very famous, having been featured in a number of films already (especially the pool! Oh, the pool!).
If you’re one to gush endlessly about the perfect color palettes, this is the place to be. The Instagram-worthy hotel will leave your followers green with envy. Lush color blocking! Retro furniture! Carefree Miami life!
Once you find your sandy cheeks in The Raleigh, make sure to book the Esther Williams Suite—990 square feet of luxury with a direct view of the hotel’s signature pool, a large marble bathroom, and a deep soaking tub, among other things. Once here, you get an instant vibe that maybe—just maybe—you’d run into Marilyn Monroe along the corridors. Just a thought.
1775 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, Florida
Phone: 305-534–6300
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by Samantha Masigan
