In Design Rewind, AD looks back at the people, places, and things that defined 2025, from the best hotels we stayed in throughout the year to the best place to build a home (hint: it’s not on a lot). Here’s what we saw in the year’s rearview mirror.
Our editors’ favorite hotels of the year are as varied and vibrant as they come, reflecting our wildly different travel styles, but with one non-negotiable throughline: unforgettable design. Some of us chase fully immersive, off-the-grid, barefoot escapes where time dissolves entirely; others want a bustling city hotel with a strong bar scene and museums just a few blocks away. Still, others are happiest at a considered farm stay or upstate hideaway, where the pleasure lies in quiet mornings and befriending animals on the farm. What unites us is an almost instinctive way of noting how a space actually works once you’re living in it—and, just as crucially, how it makes you feel when you finally turn in for the night.
Between design fairs, reporting trips, and vacations that are never entirely not research, our team spent much of the year on the road—mentally filing away the details that separate a merely good hotel from one that lingers long after checkout. Those travels took us everywhere from private islands in the Seychelles to rice paddies in Northern Thailand, from Gothic Revival landmarks in Belgium to barefoot Caribbean hideaways, alongside buzzy new openings in cities like Osaka and Edinburgh. Some stays were quick stopovers; others were full-throttle escapes. All of them earned their place here for the same reason: They got it exactly right.
Ahead, the hotels our editors couldn’t stop thinking about in 2025: the ones we’ve already recommended to friends, bookmarked for return trips, and now quietly measure every stay against.
Of all my extraordinary hotel experiences this past year, the most memorable might have been my dip in the outdoor swimming pool at The Peninsula Istanbul, which opened in 2023 along what had once been a bustling cruise port but is now a blissful stretch of luxury and cultural offerings. Submerging myself in the refreshing water (never mind the temperate early May weather!) I trained my gaze on the infinity edge, allowing it to merge with the breathtaking Bosphorus beyond, the manmade and the natural forming one continuous expanse of blue. Crisscrossing the strait were ships of all sizes, with the domes and minarets of the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque in the distance. Some version of the breathtaking view has existed for centuries at this remarkable nexus of peoples and histories—what was previously part of the Ottoman and Roman empires. I felt like I was bathing in the past.
Throughout my stay at The Peninsula Istanbul, that maritime vista remained ever present, whether during breakfasts on the waterfront terrace or cocktails on the rooftop bar. Our suite, a cosseting sweep of plush, pared-back rooms, looked directly out across the water to the city’s Asian side. (All praise to Turkish designer Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu who oversaw the interiors.) My boyfriend and I loved sipping coffee or nibbling dates on our private terrace and exploring the hotel’s four buildings, three of them historic port edifices. And though I didn’t get a chance to experience their new yacht experiences (launching this summer) or make a splash in the hotel’s indoor pool, that would be well worth a return trip, with its Instagram-enviable rows of sculptural ceiling lights, each fixture resembling an illuminated evil eye. Put simply, only good luck here. —Sam Cochran, global features director
Arriving at Hôtel Le Toiny in early November felt like walking onto the set of a White Lotus season filmed in St. Barths—with its lush cliffs and impossibly blue water, it felt like the perfect setting for the mischief my group was about to get into. I quickly realized this secluded Caribbean outpost isn’t just a luxurious backdrop for a little drama, but its own slice of paradise.
I visited the recently renovated hotel on a press trip to experience one of its 22 newly designed private villas, spread across 42 acres overlooking the Anse and crafted almost entirely from local and organic materials. My villa was wrapped in leather accents, rattan mirrors, and Paolo Moschino artwork plus featured an ocean-view bathroom. But my favorite part was the private infinity pool, where I drank fresh juice at sunrise and hung out with the group at night overlooking the moonlit ocean.
The hotel’s new Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, La Table, and its adjoining Mythical Pink Bar, complete with mother-of-pearl accents and an open-air oyster-shell bar, offered fresh sharable tapas (the Mahi-mahi ceviche and lobster salad were my favorites) and artisanal cocktails. Down at the beach (which I reached via the hotel Defender), I lost track of time swimming for hours between the tropical hills and sipping piña coladas and fresh coconuts—which, yes, my group did attempt to pluck from the trees ourselves. We also attended the beach club’s weekly Thursday-night extravaganza, where fire performers and live jazz lit up the shoreline.
I also enjoyed nearby excursions that the hotel helped arrange, including a surf class, a sunset boat tour, a French-Riviera-esque lunch at La Guérite, and dinner at La Sella, where the cocktails alone—served in hand-crafted artisanal seashell glasses—are a must. One of the most memorable would have to be Le Ti, St. Barth’s iconic cabaret restaurant (and let’s just say, some moments from that night are better left between us and the island). —Livia Caligor, content operations manager
In The White Lotus season three, the characters who arrive at the resort are—theoretically—seeking healing and inner peace, though they’re mostly too narcissistic to access it. Not to overstate my own humility, but when I embarked on my own White Lotus-inspired trip to Thailand earlier this year, my heavenly surroundings weren’t so wasted on me. I soaked up the sun while exploring the show’s main filming location, the beachy Four Seasons Koh Samui, and basked in the amenities at the Four Seasons Bangkok, where the luxe bedding and intense blackout curtains helped the best nap of my life. But it was only when I arrived at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai that I truly felt like I was experiencing some form of nirvana.
The property in Northern Thailand consists of 98 rooms (including suites and private residences) all arranged around a working terraced rice farm where water buffalo splash. Lanna Kingdom style architecture blends into the lush landscaping, and somehow, every area of the property feels like its own intimate nook where you are shielded from other guests for true privacy and relaxation. Wandering the grounds, creativity is everywhere. You’re likely to stumble upon teachers showing guests how to tie-dye or make pottery, a representation of the area’s rich history of traditional crafts. You might even find intricate floral mandalas floating on water, or someone carving a piece of fruit in the intricate Thai style.
The outdoor spaces here are just as important to the overall design scheme as the interiors. My room was beautiful, with richly carved wood accents and an aspirational closet-and-bathroom setup, but the jewel of the space was the attached deck for lounging on the swing sofa or journaling and reading. Doing morning yoga on a small dock overlooking the rice paddy, with the mountains rising all around me in the distance, it’s nearly impossible not to feel enlightened.—Rachel Wallace, senior entertainment editor
I arrived at Hotel Maalot in Rome with my husband and two-year-old, and immediately felt as though we’d landed in a curated, jewel-toned daydream. It’s the kind of boutique hotel that reads like a well-edited mood board: maximal in the right places and impossibly tactile. The hotel leans into an eclectic, art-forward sensibility while somehow keeping things resolutely intimate (there are only about 30 individually curated rooms and suites—each with their own distinctive look and feel).
The public spaces are equally evocative: the restaurant/bar sits beneath a soaring glass-ceiling veranda, a grand chandelier overhead, velvet banquettes all around, and a luxe lounge that was somehow also cozy enough to collapse into after a long day of sightseeing. As someone who travels for design as much as for discovery, Maalot felt like the perfect blend of style and soul. Even with a toddler, I found moments of real calm: mornings with espresso in the garden-inspired dining room, delicious nightcaps delivered to our room while our little one slept peacefully in the soundproof room, and a staff that was masterful in service yet joyfully approachable.
Plus, the location couldn’t have been more ideal. The Trevi Fountain and Via Condotti were a short stroll away, and Villa Borghese was perfect for stroller breaks. Returning to our suite—bright, richly textured, and utterly cozy—the city’s beauty felt like it followed us inside. By the end of our stay, it was clear: Family travel doesn’t mean compromising on style, and boutique hotels like Maalot are proof that thoughtful design and heartfelt hospitality can coexist beautifully. —Pujah Shah, global director, audience development, analytics, & social
A short stay at the new Four Seasons Osaka, designed by Japanese architects Nikken Sekkei, was probably the most glamorous stopover on my two-and-a-half week Japan trip last winter. Situated in a mixed-use high-rise, it’s located in the central and bustling Dojima neighborhood, the perfect home base to explore (read: shop and eat) one of my favorite cities. My recommendation: Have a martini—or a glass of Japanese wine, there’s a great selection—on the glamorous 37th floor Bota Bar, gazing at the city lights before you head out to explore Osaka's rich nightlife.
The hotel’s design, masterminded by three Japanese firms—Simplicity, Curiosity, and Design Studio Spin—gives you a real sense of place thanks to the handmade details incorporated throughout, from the red urushi lacquer elevator banks to the textured stone slabs and water features at the hotel entrance, which reference the 16th century Osaka Castle, nearby. My room on the Gensui floor—designed by Simplicity in a traditional Japanese style—felt like a luxe, modern ryokan, with tatami-lined floors (my favorite smell), chunky, stone sinks, and headboards made of washi paper. A highlight was enjoying a Japanese breakfast in the intimate, 28th floor dining room overlooking the city, only accessible to Gensui guests as we planned our activities for the day. —Hannah Martin, senior design editor
Wildflower Farms is the sort of place that invites you to wash your hands with Mediterranean sea salt and set an intention for your stay upon arriving. There’s no denying its posh atmosphere—there’s a valet, a huge menu of spa offerings, healing meditations, heated bathroom floors, and “grangers” to take you to and from any part of the property you’d like with just a phone call. But there’s something distinctly grounded here, too, and referential to its surroundings in the Hudson Valley.
You can feed the animals at 8:30am each morning. Firepits abound on the 9-acre working farm, which is inhabited by 65 rustic cabins among tall grasses with a view of the sky so wide it feels nearly Western. The bar serves Hudson Whiskey NY, and the distillery is steps away from the property itself. The shop also sells Saipua soaps from Esperance, New York.
It’s rare for a resort to feel like a real place among its elevated accoutrements, but Wildflower does exactly that with a conversational, welcoming staff; incredible on-site farm-to-table feasts at their restaurant Clay; and complimentary Fireside Cider Hour on the Great Porch with local ciders. The resort seems to have an innate understanding that the truest method of relaxation is admiring and engaging with the scenery. But, you know, the rain shower helps, too. —Julia Harrison, commerce writer
Ghent is one of the most well-preserved Medieval towns in Europe, whose Gothic influences are easy to detect in the surrounding architecture. There, cobbled streets are lined by canals from the confluent rivers Lys and Scheldt that reflect back picturesque facades.The 1898 The Post hotel lies in the city center at the edge of the riverbank, with a 13th century church just across the street. What was previously the town post office—hence the namesake—was restored by architect Louis Cloquet in a Neo-Gothic style back in 1898, with multiple spires and a clocktower not dissimilar to the Big Ben. Despite its impeccable surroundings, the hotel’s stunning architecture drew my gaze each time we approached it.
The interiors are equally considered, with antique furnishings and a luxe vintage feel. Each of the 38 rooms has a distinct design scheme, which had my family excitedly running between the four rooms we booked to see the differences in style. Up a stone spiral staircase from the street, the hallways are painted a deep green, which creates a moody feel in line with the Gothic surroundings without feeling cold. One of the hotel's biggest amenities is its swanky cocktail bar, The Cobbler. Mixed leather and tufted upholstered seating alongside vintage paintings and stuffed bookshelves provided an elevated eclectic vibe—not to mention the wide array of delicious drinks.
Gothic architecture can easily feel dark and gloomy—there’s a reason it's often associated with haunted settings in movies and television—but The Post 1898 pays reverence to the style with a heightened sense of coziness. It’s an inimitable experience with design that transports you to the Medieval period at Ghent’s very core while spoiling you with all the comforts of a luxury hotel. —Lauren Arzbaecher, commerce producer
Here’s a good hypothetical: Would you rather have a castle on a mountaintop or a casita by the sea? This would have been a much harder question for me to answer seven months ago, but, having spent three nights at the Four Seasons Desroches Island—a coral atoll in the Amirantes, the outer Seychelles—I am definitely team casita. On my long weekend there I had an idyllic Seychellois cottage, with a peaked roof, a pool, and a pavilion for poolside reading and lounging, right on the white sand shore. It was an ideal location to cozy up and stay awhile, and don’t just take my word for it—a sea turtle had dug a nesting spot for her eggs just in front of my pavilion on the beach.
Along with hawksbill and green sea turtles, the island is home to over 150 giant Aldaba tortoises who roam freely, under the protection of the Island Conservation Society. Once a coconut plantation, Desroches is now entirely inhabited by conservationists, marine biologists, and the Four Seasons, which gives it a private island feeling. You ride around on your bike like the entire island is your playground, from beach to beach, surf lesson to Seychellois curry cooking class, to dinner in the Lighthouse restaurant with 360 degree views from the bar.
And while there is a lavish breakfast buffet with a champagne station alongside Japanese and Western breakfast options in the main restaurant, my favorite morning surprise was walking out to read on my pavilion and finding a “floating breakfast” in the pool: A wicker basket gliding along the water’s surface, holding a teapot, croissants, tropical fruits, orange juice, yogurt, and a bud vase with a few pink blooms. It was proof that simple luxury is not an oxymoron. —Eleni N. Gage, contributing editor
As something of a Vegas regular, I’ve stayed at numerous properties on the Strip, but the Aria has quickly became a favorite—embodying the city’s creativity and ingenuity through a fusion of high design, technological innovation, and public art. It’s also one of the Strip’s most sustainable properties, powered by renewable energy with desert landscaping that saves millions of gallons of water annually and a robust food waste program that diverts scraps to compost.
On my first night, I dined at Aria’s Carbone, where the chef kindly made me a personalized tasting menu to accommodate my allergies. It was easily one of the best meals (and espresso martinis) I’ve had. While the crowds echo those at its New York sibling, the Vegas outpost—designed by AD100 talent Ken Fulk—leans fully into theatrical glamour with black-and-white checkered floors, red velvet banquettes, and a cinematic mood.
One of the delights of staying at Aria, besides its serene atmosphere, is diving into neighboring MGM properties via its indoor tunnels. My speakeasy crawl began at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas inside Ghost Donkey: Mezcal and Tequila Lounge, a jewel-box lounge inspired by Wong Kar-wai’s 2046. Another standout was Ski Lodge, hidden behind Superfrico—a psychedelic Italian-American restaurant pairing avant-garde art with stellar dishes (the hamachi crudo and tuna tartare were exceptional). Ski Lodge transported me into a cheeky après-ski fantasy complete with vintage skis, hypnotic snowfall projections, campfire s’mores, and neon snowsuit-clad staff rallying guests for shotskis. Our crawl concluded at The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails, a traditional (and award-winning) barbershop with a janitor’s door leading to a secret rock lounge that hosts surprise guests like Machine Gun Kelly, Bruno Mars, and Anderson .Paak.) Though people say “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” my time at Aria proved that some experiences follow you home. –Caligor
In Scotland in November, there’s a chill that gets into your bones, and the sun is already beginning its descent after lunch time. But in the lobby of The Hoxton during my recent visit, you wouldn’t be able to tell by the warm and bustling atmosphere there. The 214-room hotel, which opened in June, is located inside renovated Georgian-style former town houses in the Haymarket area of Edinburgh, and like many establishments in the city, retains its historic charm while also feeling completely fresh.
Maybe because of its rich literary history and storybook feel, or because of the presence of the city’s Festival Fringe, but Edinburgh seems to embody creativity, teeming with cute shops and a vibrant art scene. The hotel did a nice job of pointing me in the direction of local businesses and artists I should check out, like local shop and gallery Bar for a sampling of Scottish design, or Edinburgh Printmakers, where I took a class.
My room was simple, but stylish and oh-so-cozy, wrapped in pastels and rich textures—though the property also boasts three “houses,” or full-on apartments, if you need more space to sprawl. From my homey base at The Hoxton I was able to set out on foot to explore hot spots like Dean Village and Lannan Bakery, where the line that wrapped around the block for pastries foretold even more warm delights waiting within. —Wallace
Amid the natural beauty of the Ardennes forest that spans Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and France, lies Château de Vignée. Having driven from the hustle and bustle of Brussels, I felt an immediate sense of peace emanating from the red brick manor and its meticulously cared for greenery as I pulled into its circular courtyard. Although Belgium takes influence from all of its neighboring countries, the restored 17th century castle most directly mirrors French style in its architecture.
Inspired by its history and forest setting, the interiors take cues from hunting lodges, but with a high-end twist provided by terrazzo flooring, stunning light fixtures, plush furnishings, and a moody color palette. Floor to ceiling windows inside the suites and several patio areas highlight the hotel’s greatest asset: its location in the Ardennes. There are several surrounding forest trails to traipse through, achieving the Château’s goal of feeling secluded within nature. To further feel immersed in the calming environment, my family and I took full advantage of the spa on-site—including massage and facial treatments, a Finnish sauna, steam room, and indoor pool.
Another major highlight was the Michelin-starred restaurant Arden on the ground floor, where we enjoyed a delectable multi-course dinner of cuisine inspired by the Ardennes, made primarily with ingredients sourced from the on-site gardens. The plating and wine pairings were gorgeous, and only enhanced by our forest views. A jewel hidden among the Ardennes, Château de Vignée is where to go for a highly rejuvenating stay. —Arzbaecher
“It looks like you’re in space.” I lost track of how many times different friends made this same observation after seeing a photo—taken from my bedroom window—of the icebergs in Disko Bay. They were right, of course. The crystal masses did look like celestial bodies shining against the midnight waters. And it was certainly a view that felt out of this world.
This summer, I boarded Viking’s Octantis ship for a near two-week journey through Greenland and the Canadian high arctic. The itinerary was dynamic—kayaking through polar waters, visits to colorful Greenlandic towns, zodiac tours, and hikes to an icefjord, to name a few—but time on the ship was just as exciting. Like a luxury floating retreat, the Scandinavian-inspired interiors were the perfect home base to return to after activities in the frigid air. Serene but not sterile, each area—from the bar to the lounge—had its own personality.
I found myself drawn to the spa most days, where I’d read next to the pool as we floated through the icy landscape and felt the most relaxed I have in years during a blissful Swedish massage. I still miss the fresh focaccia I’d snag each afternoon from the dining hall and dream regularly about the delectable pasta from the on-board Italian restaurant, Manfredi’s.
My stateroom was small-but-mighty—exactly what you’d want on a cruise—with ample storage and countless thoughtful details, like beds that were elevated just enough to slip a suitcase under. Of course, it was impossible to find a bad view on board, which changed regularly from endless ocean vistas to iceberg-dotted waters. And yes, we did see a polar bear—safely, I might add, from the deck of the boat. —Kate McLaughlin, digital features editor
For a decidedly different flavor of Greek island life, I headed to the island of Spetses, a rustic island and haven for stylish Athenians where the automobile population is approximately seven (all of which are taxis). Here, we stayed at a Thinking Traveller property (think: Airbnb but for impeccably sourced and designed villas only) called Villa Catrine, situated at the top of a charmingly winding road with a view of the sea below.
At Catrine, comfort was the number one priority: Next to the gorgeous pool, a full, covered outdoor kitchen and dining room is surrounded by ample spaces for conversation and reclining—while yet another fully stocked kitchen sits on the main floor. An elevator is also available to deposit guests and their luggage among the three stories of the house. Each of the seven bedrooms (decorated in a traditional Greek palette of whites and blues) is so well-stocked that a large family or friend group could lodge here with ease, and most have ensuite bathrooms and attached terraces. You’ll lack for nothing once you arrive. —Rachel Fletcher, commerce director
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