2022’s best new hotels

With a name inspired by mythological muse Calliope, Cali Mykonos pinches her famed beauty, eloquence and penchant for poetry, too. Opening this June, its interiors have all the flow and precision of blank verse, achieved by that classic Cycladic combination of sharp, clean lines and light, local marbles. A draw for peace-seekers, the (un)real estate surrounding its 40 sugar-cube villas also happens to be some of the island’s most rugged and low-key. Plus, you’ll be hard pressed to spot a ripple in the infinity pool, thanks to nearby mountains blocking out those infamous Mykonos winds. Pool not your vibe? There’s always the private beach... 

Rocco Forte’s Asia debut is finally about to do just that – and no one’s more pleased than the dynasty’s director of design, Olga Polizzi. Sister of the big boss, Sir Rocco, Polizzi’s trademark style can be seen all over, yielding the group’s signature Anglo-Italian vibe – just a little – to China’s taste for Chinoiserie, calligraphy and ceramics. Following in the footsteps of Rome and Berlin before it, the Shanghai property will give guests a ritzy rooftop bar (right) in which to soak up Xuhui’s glistening riverside skyline, but we’re most excited by the plummy tearoom, modelled on the group’s own London townhouse, Brown’s. 

Picture a jaw-dropping location on the edge of Dominica’s craggy west coast, overlooking nothing but endless Caribbean Sea. This bluff-bound resort – which has been posting video updates on its construction like an elaborate episode of Grand Designs since early 2019 – is a grassroots project with ambition, plus an architectural ace up its sleeve. Yes, we’re talking about the cliff-hanging villas, three-sided glass structures built directly into the rock, looking precariously phenomenal and ready to be booked up forever. Set to open early this year, more villas and rooms sprawl inland with a tiered infinity pool at their heart. 

At the time of writing, we don’t know much more about this new Nolinski venture than its postcode, but you’d be surprised what can be gleaned from one address. Venice’s hottest new property is in one of its most quintessentially Italian streets. Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci and Chanel are neighbours, while the ornate Chiesa di San Moisè church is the pot of gold at the end of this honey-hued tunnel. We can also tell you it’s two minutes to St Mark’s Square, and even less to the nearest Servizio Gondole, so you can hitch a ride. As far as interiors go, we’re promised dark, rich woods, dusty pinks and ruby reds – the same velvety sumptuousness of Nolinski Paris but with the warmth dialled all the way up. 

Como Hotels & Resorts locations have always been a bit ‘beauty and the beach’, but now the group is easing up on the latter and dialling up the Disney with its purchase of a fairy-tale French estate so enchanting that Belle might as well be pottering about with books in hand. While charm is high on the menu, this is Burgundy, which means one thing: wine. Puligny-Montrachet, the quaint village Como calls home, is surrounded by world-famous vineyards and some of the greatest dry white wines you’ll ever sip. In the middle of it all, the 18th-century hotel (opening in ‘phrases’ throughout 2022) will provide a gateway to the best producers while setting itself up as a gastronomic epicentre, starring 31 rooms and suites spread across four heritage buildings to stumble back to. Scrummy. 

There’s a reason 1 Hotels describes its newcomers as ‘sprouting’ – these sustainable sanctuaries are designed in unison with nature so as to leave a positive impact on their environment. At the rate 1 Hotels is growing, it’s a good job, too. The portfolio is made up of responsible urban retreats, which means community and charity partnerships, recycled materials, plastic reduction, rainwater reclamation, low- energy everything, smart heating, farm- to-table grub, electric vehicles, native greenery and, actually, quite a lot more. So, while you might want to visit Nashville to indulge in strong liquor and crispy fried chicken, you can rest assured that your hotel is a totally guilt-free experience. 

Talk about a transformation. Previously a dated four-star property riding the coattails of a fantastic location, this family-friendly resort has a new owner, a new name and a dramatic new look. Unveiling its glow-up this spring, sneak peeks show off a hotel that’s all slatted woods, warm neutrals and pops of fauna. There’s a shiny new all-inclusive package – the ‘Unlimited-Luxury® experience’ – and Explorer’s Club for the tykes which, alongside three outdoor pools, make it a dead cert for non-whingy family holidays. Gouviá village is nearby but, when it comes to food, this is one resort you don’t need to leave. Oceana looks like a winner: a seafood specialist serving up gorgeous bay views below. Dreamy, indeed. 

Big Five spotting on the regular and malaria-free, Nambiti Private Game Reserve (just 2.5 hours by car from Durban) is fast becoming the safari capital of South Africa, and Homestead, opening early this year, is about to be its finest new eco-lodge. The 12 lodges aren’t just for couples, either – solo travellers and families are encouraged, with a few lodges able to interconnect to welcome all the gang. As for honeymooners – those individual infinity pools, glass- to-ceiling walls directly overlooking the watering hole and roaring open fires make the whole place wildly romantic. Solar energy is set to run the show, while experiences extend beyond your classic safari to anti-poaching workshops, wildlife photography sessions and more. 

Over on Ibiza’s wild west coast, leave the kids behind and check into an adults- only paradise that puts guests within a five-minute walk of not one, but two of the island’s most stunning coves. Beauty spots Cala Gració and Cala Gracioneta may be popular, but they are nowhere close to losing their earthy, bohemian spirit – something the new TRS hopes to encapsulate, too. Accepting bookings from May 2022, the property ticks such indulgent boxes as swim-up suites, a premium spa, butler service and plenty more. Plus, you can wield your all-inclusive package at three à la carte restaurants, head up to Gravity sky lounge for sunset sundowners and enjoy the pools – the nicest of the bunch is a sultry little number hiding in the spa.

Saying bienvenue in April, this 162-room hotspot is sticking tight to SO/’s mantra of five-star service meets joie de vivre, which is perfect, since this latest outpost is springing up in none other than the French capital itself. Already promising to “break up with cliché” (although we wouldn’t be mad if it didn’t), the new SO/ will sit ten storeys high on the banks of the Seine, wedged perfectly between the Île Saint-Louis (one of two natural islands on the river) and the historic Marais neighbourhood, home to Place des Vosges, the city’s oldest square. In keeping with Paris’ Belle Époque aesthetic, the restaurant will recreate a modern-traditional bistro, while a panoramic rooftop bar will stump up 360° views (hello, Eiffel Tower) across the top two floors. Art fiends will be delighted to find an exclusive work from Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, the man who once brought life-sized icebergs to the Panthéon in an installation challenging climate change. Cool. 

Wild birds in the surrounding forest, a rare hot spring at its feet: KAI Poroto has to be the year’s most peaceful opening. It’s also baby-new as of this January – meaning that by the time you can get to Japan, the place will be waiting to greet you with a roaring fire in the lobby, lake views from every window and two authentic Ainu bathhouses (the Ainu are native to Hokkaido and take bathing very seriously). Speaking of, every decorous detail pays homage to the Ainu: the 42 rooms feature centrepiece square tables in a nod to their traditional square fireplaces, while local motifs paint the walls and cushions. In the private dining room, delicacies arrive on boat-shaped plates inspired by their trade. Nor is their belief in the healing properties of hot spring water to be dismissed – in the spirit of kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery pieces with gold, prepare to be feel whole again.