Six new design hotels from Tokyo to South Tyrol

The Association of Design Hotels has again grown by six new members. The new additions range from a revived farm in the American Catskills to a vintage retreat in the South Tyrolean mountains to a micro hotel with a single suite in Tokyo. They were all opened between 2017 and 2019 and can be described as insider tips. That’s why we want to introduce you to them here.

Trunk House is located in a quiet side street in Tokyo’s lively Kagurazaka district, and is actually just one suite. The 70-year-old wooden building, which has been completely restored, was previously home to a traditional restaurant and Geisha house. Now it houses not only the smallest hotel but also the smallest disco karaoke bar in Japan and an open kitchen where a private chef puts just about everything on the table, from traditional Japanese food to gourmet French cuisine. Also part of the brand is the 15-room Trunk Hotel, opened in 2017 in the Shibuya district.

Farmhouse Catskills captures the memories of the “old days” in New York’s Catskills, which have always attracted Manhattan vacationers and beyond with their beautiful scenery. The new member of Design Hotels has 75 rooms and 3 suites and is located in a heritage-listed mid-19th century farmhouse in Sullivan County – the best terrain for hiking, golfing and skiing. A restaurant with a farm-to-table concept and a bar complete the offer.

At the Silena, the Soulful Hotel in South Tyrol, which specializes exclusively in adults, not only the names of the hosts Simon and Magdalena merge, but also winter with wellness and the Alps with Southeast Asia. Opened in December 2017, this design hotel with 34 rooms and eight suites is inspired by Feng Shui architecture and is located at 1,354 meters above sea level in the Vals high valley near the valley station of the Jochtal cable car. The 1,550-square-meter “Silena Spa” features an organic herbal sauna, a forest-fragrance steam bath, an indoor pool and an 18-meter outdoor infinity pool.

South Tyrol is home to Villa Arnica: surrounded by vineyards and green parks, the Lana Vintage Retreat, with its ten rooms and suites, takes you on a journey back in time to the last century – from the golden 1920s to the wild 1960s. The design studio Biquadra was responsible for the renovation of the villa in 1925. The result: no two rooms are alike. Handpicked antiques, design pieces and finds from the flea market dominate the picture. A pool is picturesquely embedded in the garden.

Also new to the Design Hotels is the Seezeitlodge Hotel & Spa, which opened in 2017 on the shores of Lake Bostal in the northeastern part of Saarland. Nestled in the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park, this lodge-style spa resort offers 98 rooms and suites, almost all with lake views. The 2,700-square-foot “Seezeit Spa” is all about the Celtic healing arts and impresses with a 31-meter indoor and outdoor pool and a sauna area. The restaurant “Lumi” with a spacious terrace and the hotel’s own 9-hole golf park Bostalsee complete the offer.

It was not until June of this year that the design hotel Parilio opened in the northwest of the Greek island of Paros. The 33 suites blend mellow, earthy tones and natural materials with a collection of vintage furniture. Modern Greek design can be found next to European art objects and distinctive ceramics from North Africa. In the restaurant “Mr. A fresh and seasonal cuisine is served – Greek and Mediterranean. Relaxation is guaranteed by the pool with its wide terrace and spa. The famous Kolimpithres beach with its unique granite rocks is just a short walk away.