Cristine Bedfor, Malaga
In 2021, Cristina Lozano opened the first Cristine Bedfor, in Mahon, Menorca’s lovely little capital. Built in the image of her fictional alter-ego, Cristine Bedfor, it quickly became one of those cult hotels: homely and worldly, incredibly comfortable and casually stylish. The next thing to do, obviously, was to open another one. But Lozano went one better. She opened two more. One in Seville and one in Malaga. Housed in a 19th-century mansion in the city’s historic centre, the Malaga hotel is all English indulgence with Spanish accents including deep sofas, expressive fabrics and eccentric ceramics.
C/ Méndez Núñez, 1, Distrito Centro, 29008 Málaga; cristinebedforhotel.com
Fowlescombe Farm, Devon
This farmhouse and its charming barns have been beautifully reimagined as an impeccably modern country hotel; all neutral colour palettes, log fires and yoga in the greenhouse. The setting is glorious: rolling Devonian hills half an hour north of Salcombe. The surrounding regenerative farm and kitchen garden supply the hotel restaurant with squeakingly fresh ingredients for chef Elly Wentworth to work her magic. Don’t fancy driving? They’ll pick you up, gratis, from Totnes train station.
Ugborough, Ivybridge, PL21 0HW; fowlescombe.com
Son Xotano, Mallorca
This 12th-century possessió has been transformed by local architects ClapésPizà into a glorious hilltop hideaway deep in the tranquil heart of Mallorca. Surrounded by olive groves and lavender fields, the grand house manages to be stately and homely at the same time with vaulted stone ceilings in some of the rooms, freestanding baths in others and charming little secret spots for you to while away the day. In the restaurant, chef Isabel Omar takes a super-local approach to ingredient sourcing for her Balearic-inspired dishes. Read our full review here.
Carretera Sencelles, S/N, Parcela Polígono 17; annuahotels.com
Hotel Humano, Oaxaca
Grupo Habita are behind a fat stack of Mexico’s best design hotels and they’ve come up trumps again with Hotel Humano, their newest joint down a lane in La Punta Zicatela, the laid-back surf town on the Oaxacan coast. As ever with Habita, the design is absolutely on point: straight-lined concrete forms, understatedly elegant rooms, interesting shadows everywhere you look. Head to the rooftop bar where you can wash down your ceviche and fish tacos with rounds of tequila cocktails.
Alejandro Cárdenas Peralta 610, Brisas de Zicatela; hotel-humano.com
Palacete Severo, Porto
Porto is still just about hanging on to its under-the-radar status as the go-to European city for those too cool for Berlin or Lisbon. The opening of the Palacete Severo, however, is further confirmation of its burgeoning status as one of continent’s top destinations. Housed in a 19th-century palace in the slow-paced neighbourhood of Boa Vista, the hotel is a grand affair: high-ceilinged bedrooms, art-bedecked public spaces and period details abound. Don’t miss Éon, chef Tiago Bonito’s handsome fine dining restaurant.
Palacete Severo, R. de Ricardo Severo 21; palacetesevero.com
Bailiffgate, Northumberland
Ideally situated, in the middle of charming Alnwick, The Bailiffgate sits opposite the gates to the Duke of Northumberland’s castle. Housed in a Georgian building that’s been sensitively extended, the hotel has a lovely warmth to it with roaring fires in the Commissioner’s Bar and a beautifully designed modern dining room. If you can, stay in room 114 for its glorious views over the castle and surrounding meadows.
2-8 Bailiffgate, Alnwick NE66 1LX; bailiffgatehotel.com
David Annand is editorial director of Secret Trips
