Five Frivolities: November 12
New hotels in London, really good hotel sales, my favorite Martin Brudnizki-designed hotels, a gem of a newly opened historic hotel in Piemonte (Italy), and where I'd stay in popular US cities.
1. New London Hotels
London is a lovely city with a lot of lovely hotels and recently, the list has gotten longer. Let me introduce you to the new folks?
Broadwick Soho, London - This opens in just a few days, on November 15, and I’m very excited about it. They describe it as “enticingly flamboyant” and either they’re great at writing copy or their going to make a great hotel. Or, both! I think it’s the latter, as it’s designed by one of my favorites, Martin Brudnizki (more on that in #3).
One Sloane - I posted about this on TikTok, this is a special property positioned as for “those in the know,” with a bar and restaurant that’s gotten a lot of local buzz. It’s a major yes for me.
1 Hotel Mayfair, London - Not a place I would stay myself, but I know there are a lot of 1 Hotel stans and there hasn’t been a lot of fanfare about this one so thought I’d share! Plus, centrally located, pet-friendly, and they have an electric house car.
My full London hotel list is always available in the archive.
2. Hotel Sales
‘Tis the season of the discount. In Wednesday’s paid edition, I shared a handful of really great deals at really luxury hotels. Today, I’m sharing more, and I’ll have a final installment on Wednesday. Two things about me: I love a deal and I love hotels. LOVE!
1 Hotel Mayfair listed above is in fact having a sale! Book by November 28 to get up to 30% off your stay plus a £30 dining credit.
Bequia Beach in The Grenadines - Book by November 30th for up to 35% off stays now until December 31st, and January 4 - August 31st.
The Madrona in Healdsburg in the Sonoma Valley wine country of Nothern California - Book by November 27 to get up to 40% off (!!) stays now through the end of February with code CYBER.
The Four Sisters Collection of inns and boutique hotels across California (including Gaige House and the Kenwood Inn which I love) has a sale up to 40% stays from November 26-March 7, if you book by November 27 and use code SECRETSALE.
Annnnd, I’m having my own sales! Use code EARLYFRIDAY for 20% off any of my guides on happyhoteling.com (comprehensive guide to Capri, guide to hotels in Rome, guide to hotels in Tuscany). Also, for a week only (and this won’t happen again!) I’m offering a 15% discount to yearly paid subscriptions. Subscribe here!
3. Martin Brudnizki-designed hotels
Few interior designers are consistently a hit for me. One of them is Mr. Brudnizki, a Swedish visionary with a uniquely whimsical vision that I’m quite obsessed with. Take a peek below and decide for yourself, you too? Of the hotels he’s designed (either entirely or aspects of), these are my favorites:
The new suites in the Belmond Splendido in Portofino, Italy
La Fantaisie in Paris
Le Grand Mazarin in Paris (yes, there is a reason these two new openings have a similar sensibility!)
The Fifth Avenue Hotel which just opened in NoMad in Manhattan
Eden Rock, an Oetker Collection hotel in St Barths
Hotel Barrière Fouquet's New York in downtown Manhattan
The Beekman, also in downtown Manhattan
The Vesper Bar at The Dorchester in London
Badrutt’s Palace in St. Moritz, Switzerland
Not a hotel, but I must go to the restaurant he designed on a boat in Paris, Le Plage Parisienne.
4. A hotel in Piemonte, Italy I have a current crush on
To me, the best new comes from old. Le Due Matote, a new hotel in Langhe in the Piemonte (Piedmont) region of Italy has aced the art of regeneration. A 16th-17th century barn was immaculately restored and reimagined into a boutique luxury hotel. It’s not fussy. It’s fancy, but with a lower case f. If it were a Founder, it would be one of the tech scions who still drives a Honda.
Six unique suites, all with Piemontese chocolates gifted at turndown. Plus, they give you a choice of pillows. (Everyone needs to get on this train, pillows make or break).
They have a house vintage Fiat Spiaggina to take you to countryside picnics. It’s also the perfect base for truffle hunting and wine wandering.
5. Where I’d stay in popular destinations, part 3
The third installment of this series where I share 3 or less hotels that I would personally choose in popular vacataion destinations. Same as before, if you’d like my comprehensive hotel list for particular places featured in this series, let me know! This is an American edition due to many questions about the places below.
Nashville: The Hermitage Hotel or The Fairlane Hotel
Miami: Casa Faena, Esme or the Faena in all its grandeur
Austin: Commodore Perry Estate or Hotel Saint Cecilia
Charleston: The Wentworth Mansion or Zero George
On Wednesday’s paid edition, I’ll share where I’d stay in Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin, Lisbon and Porto. I’ll also be sharing a 2-week Sicily & Greece itinerary, my full Florence hotel list and five other indulgences.
The end!
As always, thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here. This is my way of doing what I love the most: writing, and talking about hotels. Any suggestions or requests? Drop ‘em below.
xx Your Penpal,
Marissa
Martin did Bar Sprez, right?