Itching to dust off that suitcase and pack your bags for a cosy winter retreat? This list might just end up pointing you in the right direction. From Hotel Ještěd, a television transmitter-restaurant-hotel in the Czech Republic located more than 1,000 metres above sea level to Le Grand Bellevue nestled in the Alpine mountains, Design Dispatch rounds up some charming European lodgings to inspire your next trip.
Casa Howard, Italy
Nestled within Florence’s historical centre is a boutique hotel that perfectly complements the experience offered by the city itself – a place where art, history and style collide. The mildly eccentric decor of Casa Howard combines colour, patterns, accent walls and mid-century furniture with elegance and charm, giving every corner of this cosy and intimate residence an effortlessly elegant and Italian feel.
Gilpin Hotel Lake House, England
It had us at ‘Lake House’. Located within the verdant Lake District, this warm and welcoming accommodation includes a hotel with garden suites and spa lodges, as well as a lake house a stone’s throw away from the main grounds, with its own lake, hot tubs, swimming pool and boat house. Described by its owners as a “luxurious sanctuary”, Gilpin Hotel & Lake House is a welcoming haven in balmy settings.
Le Grand Bellevue, Switzerland
Cocooned in the Alpine mountains is the Le Grand Bellevue hotel, the oldest palace hotel in the region. Originally built in 1912 as a spa, it was revamped and reopened in 2013 in a luxurious old-meets-new style; evident in the art deco-inspired bar with its vaulted ceiling, Chesterfield sofas and velvet chairs, and the lavish, cosy chalet-style suites that frame impressive views of Gstaad and the surrounding region.
Corinthia Budapest, Budapest
Not too far removed from the immaculate yet imaginary world of The Grand Budapest Hotel is Corinthia Budapest, housed within the former Grand Hotel Royal, once a jewel in the city’s main avenue. Built in the 1890s in the classic French Renaissance style, it was restored and reopened almost a century later by Corinthia Group, and is replete with historic details, as well as an elegant old-world charm.
Hotel Ještěd, Czech Republic
Sleeping and dining above the clouds has been made possible by Hotel Ještěd, an impressive accommodation in Czech Republic located more than 1,000 metres above sea level. Designed by architect Karel Hubáček, the building is a television transmitter, as well as a restaurant and hotel accessible by a cableway, with a futuristic aesthetic for both its exterior and interiors, evoking images of an (upscale) sci-fi film.
killiehuntly Farmhouse & Cottages, Scotland
Isolated in the heart of Scottish countryside is a house whose position overseeing the sprawling Cairngorm mountains has remained unchanged since 1850. Described as a “beautiful, simple shelter from the hurry and haste of everyday life”, Killiehuntly Farmhouse & Cottages offers four rooms designed in a simple Scandinavian style, yet brimming with texture and warmth, providing an authentic ‘home away from home’ experience.
