We love it, we love it not, we… You know what, actually we just love all of the stays that have landed on Smith this month, from tropical retreats at the laidback tail-end of high season, to historic Euro hideaways and the odd architectural wonder. See where our team’s hopping off to this spring.
CASA TO
Mexico
Brutalism — it’s an acquired taste, but I’m a fan of buildings that give all the angles in front of stern Soviet cityscapes, or toughen up London’s historic City quarter. I least expected to find concrete slabs and brusque utilitarianism on the sunny shores of Puerto Escondido, by the beaches of Mexico’s Pacific coast. But, architect Ludwig Godefroy’s Casa To hotel — designed to look like a Oaxacan temple — doesn’t harsh the buzz of this mellow surf hotspot. Amid thatched casitas and flowering greenery, it brings as much stone-cold drama as the wave-crashed cliffs nearby, and tropical warmth, with its sun-flooded spaces and lively mezcal and natural-wine bars. A powerful show of brute strength.
Don’t miss Neon-drenched, open-air dance nights at the ChulaSanta beach festival on the 17th April and Vortx Festival on the 19th. And, you may be lucky enough to catch the last of the baby-turtle hatchings.
Kate Weir, Deputy Editor
VILLA MUHR
Slovenia
Delusions of grandeur? Moi? I may not stand to inherit a throne, but I can get a step further up in the world at historic chalet Villa Muhr. It was the King of Yugoslavia’s hunting lodge in the 1920s before passing through a succession of princes and princesses (after whom its suites are named) and became a hospital in World War II. The current owners rescued it from abandonment and preserved its original features when revamping, so it’s retained a regal bearing; and now has a bar with rare spirits and a basement wellness space. But, don’t forget, this stay’s ermine cloak is the shaggy forests of the Julian Alps, and bear emblems and antlers wreathed with wildflowers on the interior remind you who really rules these parts.
Don’t miss Alongside wild encounters in the Triglav National Park, take the 30-minute drive to Radovljica for its chocolate festival from 20 to 21 April, which promises acrobatics classes, concerts and circus acts alongside praline judging and dessert workshops.
KW
STOCKHOLM STADSHOTELL
Sweden
Functional design, access to nature and high levels of social cohesion all contribute to what social sciences term ‘Nordic exceptionalism’. But here’s another reason for that distinctly Scandi sense of fulfilment: lagom. The Goldilocks-coded Swedish expression translates to ‘just enough’ and encourages us to seek satisfaction in the middle ground. It’s that warm feeling after two glasses of wine, it’s 25-degree weather with a light sea breeze, it’s skipping a starter to really enjoy dessert. It’s also the credo underpinning Stockholm Stadshotell, a new-to-Smith stay on the city’s trendy Södermalm island. Here, you’ll find that just-right balance in calibrated rooms which bring together original, 19th-century features and sleek, Scandi minimalism; a double act of a casual bistro and fine-dining restaurant; and cosseting communal spaces that feel like a home away from home.
Don’t miss Controversial artist Maurizio Cattelan and his Toiletpaper co-founder Pierpaolo Ferrari will be taking over Södermalm island’s Fotografiska gallery with a show promising ‘zero moderation’. Join them on 4 April for their Toiletpaper party, a celebration of surrealism. Don’t forget to dress up — the outfit of the night wins free Fotografiska membership for a year.
Riccardo Molinari, Senior Hotel & Villa Curator
AMAN NAI LERT BANGKOK
Thailand
Aman openings always excite me, and the latest in Bangkok, arriving on 2 April, is no exception. As ever with this ultra-luxe brand, wellness is a core feature (Aman means ‘peace’ in Sanskrit, after all), and I’m anticipating an elevated wellbeing experience here. Aman Nai Lert Bangkok was designed by the star architect Jean-Michel Gathy, and has 52 suites, a huge spa and lots of places to dine and drink. The hotel has a setting that guarantees wellbeing from the moment you arrive: the seven-acre oasis of Nai Lert Park, which may be in central Bangkok, but you’d never know it.
Don’t miss If you love New Year’s Eve, you’re in luck, because the Thai edition — Songkran — takes place this month. The celebration, which falls annually on the 13th, has gotten longer and longer over the past few years and now basically takes up all of April.
Marion Barrère, Curation Director
CASA BRIVIO
Milan
What better way to honour April’s new beginnings than by redecorating? Or so goes my annual pitch to Mr Smith, who by now knows better than to die on this particular hill. Is it unnecessary? Yes. Time consuming? Sure. But will that stop me from ripping up the carpets and re-painting the bedroom? Not a chance. This year, I’m looking to Milan for inspiration — in particular, Casa Brivio, a design-led hotel in the city’s lesser-known Carrobbio area. Set over two revamped, 1970s Rationalist-style blocks, this new stay is a masterclass in Italian modernism, with its silken wallpaper, designer lighting, custom carpentry and vivid splashes of colour.
Don’t miss Back in its 63rd edition, this year’s Salone del Mobile takes the theme of Connected Worlds, exploring the relationship between the physical and digital worlds, diverse cultures, and humans and their environment. The show runs between 8 to 13 April at the Fiera Milano exhibition centre.
Stephanie Gavan, Associate Editor
NAMIA RIVER RETREAT
Vietnam
While all The White Lotus junkies flock to Thailand (so cliché), go against the grain and head further east to Vietnam instead. The ancient trading port of Hội An is a backpacker hotspot for a reason — who doesn’t love somewhere you can hang out for a few days, eating bánh-mi, cycling around and having clothes tailormade? Well away from the hostels and dorms is Namia River Retreat, which is designed to make guests feel good, whether that’s with yoga before sleep, facial reflexology, a sunrise cycle or a herbal hammam.
Don’t miss The monthly lantern festival — when the Unesco-protected city will be even prettier than usual — falls on 11th April.
Caroline Lewis, Senior Associate Editor
ESH HOTEL
Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula is one of those rare places designated as a Blue Zone, the term used to describe regions where locals live unusually long lives. The perfect match for April, then, a month of vitality and renewal. I’d make a beeline for Esh Hotel, a meditative retreat on Nosara’s jungle-fringed coast. The architecture and interiors borrow from brutalism and wabi-sabi principles, using natural light and the hotel’s jungly frame to spectacular effect. Stays here lean into the region’s healthful ways, with guided meditations, daily yoga classes and sauna sessions available to help zap stress and top up serotonin. The surf at nearby Playa Guiones is world class, too — the hotel’s beach shuttle will have you on the sand in 15 minutes flat.
Don’t miss Costa Ricans go big on the parades, religious rites and celebrations during Holy Week, the country’s most important holiday, which will be celebrated from 13th to 20th April this year.
Hamish Roy, Senior Associate Editor
SALTMOORE
North Yorkshire
A hotel that serves up seaside charm, painterly landscapes and cultural clout all at once? Why yes — it’s Saltmoore in Whitby, where you’ll find no end of justifications to arrange a spring stay. Built on a rugged stretch of Yorkshire coastline, the town has Sandsend Beach on one side and the broodily romantic North York Moors National Park on the other. Its ruined abbey inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and legendary explorer Captain Cook spent his formative years in town. All that, and we’ve hardly touched on the hotel. Well, it’s a beauty, with interiors inspired by the wild landscape, a British restaurant spotlighting hyper-local produce and all manner of outdoor pursuits on offer, including moorland walks, surfing, cycling and coastal horse-riding.
Don’t miss One of the highlights of Whitby’s social calendar is Goth Weekend, running from 24-27 April this year (and again at the end of October). Ostensibly a music festival, it’s also an annual pilgrimage for goths and a general celebration of the culture. It goes without saying that the town’s demographic will be radically different for those four days, which might be your idea of fun or your worst nightmare. Plan accordingly…
HR
Keep some space in your calendar for more new arrivals…