Sun-drenched and seriously chic, these hotels across Europe are make the case for staying in.
The Maybourne Riviera, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France
Perched above Monaco on the clifftops of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, The Maybourne Riviera was born from the legendary Vista Palace, reborn as a jewel of contemporary luxury hotel design by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte. All fits rooms face the sea, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the full arc of the Côte d’Azur. Gastronomy is a centrepiece: chef Mauro Colagreco presides over multiple dining venues, from the Michelin-starred Riviera restaurant to the seafood-forward Ceto on the top floor. An infinity pool, sauna and thoughtfully designed spa complete the picture. Ten minutes from the Principality of Monaco, it is the Riviera’s most dazzling address.
One&Only Portonovi, Montenegro
Spilling into the Adriatic with the grace of an Italianate palace, One&Only Portonovi is Europe’s first One&Only resort, a Mediterranean masterpiece with refined interiors by Jean-Michel Gathy. Set where the open waters of the Adriatic meet Montenegro’s Black Mountains, the sheltered haven of Boka Bay provides the idyllic setting. Six swimming pools, a private beach club, and 145 rooms, suites and villas cater to families and romantics alike. At Tapasake Club, Asian fusion and cocktails draw Montenegro’s most discerning crowd, while the transformative Chenot Espace wellness center offers a scientific approach to wellbeing.
Jumeirah Capri Palace, Anacapri, Italy
Nestled in Anacapri, the highest and most unspoiled part of the Island of Capri, Jumeirah Capri Palace embodies the ideal of Dolce Vita. Part hotel, part art gallery, it houses a remarkable collection of works by contemporary masters including Arnaldo Pomodoro and Giorgio Tonelli, the latter painting the floors of the private pool suites by hand. L’Olivo holds the distinction of being Capri’s only two Michelin-starred restaurant, while the beach club Il Riccio sits at the water’s edge near the Blue Grotto. The Capri Medical Spa is renowned worldwide for its Leg School, a programme drawing guests back season after season.
Mandarin Oriental Punta Negra, Mallorca, Spain
One of summer 2026’s most anticipated openings, Mandarin Oriental Punta Negra is perched on one of Mallorca’s most cherished coastal landmarks in Calvià, drawing deeply from the island’s timeless spirit with natural beauty meeting contemporary understated luxury. The resort offers 131 rooms including 26 suites, 19 rooms and suites with plunge pools, and three rooftop suites with private pools, alongside six restaurants and a spa with nine treatment cabins. The culinary line-up is formidable: Matsuhisa from Nobu Matsuhisa brings Nikkei-style dining against spectacular sea views, while Leña by Dani García celebrates fire, smoke and local culinary traditions.
Villa d’Este, Lake Como, Italy
A literal Renaissance palace, Villa d’Este began entertaining nobility after its construction in 1542, later home to a Napoleonic general, a future Queen of England and a Russian empress before transforming into the grand hotel that continues to entrance heads of state and cultural icons today. Set amid 25 acres of luxuriously landscaped park on the shores of Lake Como, accommodations are divided between two historic mansions, their rooms dressed in period furnishings and silk-brocade drapes. The famous floating pool sits directly on the lake, offering one of the most singular views in European hospitality. The Veranda restaurant, a beauty center, and an impeccably trained staff complete a stay that feels less like a hotel and more like a private estate.
Villa Dubrovnik, Croatia
Perched on a cliff with its distinctive architecture, Villa Dubrovnik embodies the essence of its city, contrasting and harmonising at once with the emerald green of the Adriatic Sea, while offering guests a view of the island of Lokrum and the walled Old Town. Neutral tones, teak accents and floor-to-ceiling windows define the serene rooms and suites, each with sea views and many with private balconies, some featuring whirlpool baths. Begin the day with a swim from the hotel’s beach, then return at sunset for cocktails on the rooftop as golden light spills across the sea. The concierge can arrange private boat trips to the Elafiti Islands, vineyard tours of the Pelješac Peninsula, and access to Dubrovnik’s Old Town on foot.
Portrait Milano, Italy
Housed in one of the oldest seminaries in Europe, a Lombard Baroque masterpiece dating to 1565, Portrait Milano sits at the heart of the legendary Quadrilatero della Moda. The Ferragamo family’s Lungarno Collection brought in architect Michele Bönan, whose 73 suites feature Carrara marble, leather accents and a rich colour palette of vermillion and green, referring to the original Baroque architecture while carrying a distinct mid-century modernist influence. The hotel overlooks the Piazza del Quadrilatero, the largest public square in Milan’s fashion district, where Beefbar, the first Italian outpost of the Monte Carlo original, and the 10_11 garden restaurant anchor the ground floor.
Six Senses Ibiza, Spain
On the crystalline bay of Cala Xarraca at Ibiza’s northern tip, Six Senses Ibiza offers 137 guest accommodations, from pool suites to beachfront cave rooms built into the coastal cliff as a setting for deep spiritual experiences rooted in the island’s culture. The first Balearic resort to receive BREEAM sustainability certification, the property supplies its kitchens from its own organic farm and bottles drinking water on-site. The spa houses a Rose Bar longevity lounge, hammam and a rooftop yoga deck, while the Beach Caves come alive at sunset with live music. Worlds apart from the island’s southern circuit, this is Ibiza as a state of mind.
Amanruya, Bodrum, Turkey
Named for the Sanskrit word for peace, Aman, and the Turkish word for dream, Ruya, Amanruya sits on the north coast of the Bodrum Peninsula, surrounded by ancient olive groves and Mediterranean pine forest. All 36 freestanding pavilions are arranged along quiet footpaths to evoke the layout of a clifftop village, each constructed using traditional techniques: white marble floors, hand-carved stone detailing and furniture in native acajou wood. A three-storey Library Tower, wine cellar, art gallery and a 50-metre infinity pool overlooking the bay complete an experience engineered entirely around privacy. The ancient ruins of Ephesus and the Temple of Apollo at Didyma are within driving distance for those who can bear to leave.
The Dolder Grand, Zurich, Switzerland
Built in 1899 and set on the Adlisberg hill some 200 metres above Zurich’s city centre, The Dolder Grand reopened in 2008 following a SFr 440 million renovation led by Norman Foster. Its 175 rooms and suites, two-Michelin-starred restaurant under chef Heiko Nieder, a 4,000-square-metre spa and an art collection of over 100 works, including pieces by Takashi Murakami and Salvador Dalí, make it a city resort in the truest sense. Panoramic views sweep over Zurich, the lake and the Alps, while the Dolderbahn rack railway connects the hotel to the city centre in minutes. Urban energy and forest-edged seclusion coexist here with rare and graceful ease.
Cheval Blanc Paris, France
Ranked fourth in The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024, Cheval Blanc Paris is among the most decorated addresses in Europe. Designed by Peter Marino, the Maison sits on the banks of the Seine with the Eiffel Tower moments away – its interiors combining the intimacy of a private residence with sweeping views across the French capital. The culinary offering is unrivalled: three Michelin-starred Plénitude under chef Arnaud Donckele, the convivial Le Tout-Paris brasserie, Milan-inspired seafood at Langosteria, and Hakuba, an intimate omakase by chef Takuya Watanabe. Long Parisian summer evenings were made for an address like this.
