‘August’ the month means ‘book your summer break before the season turns’. ‘August’ the adjective means ‘majestic’. Our editors’ picks for late summer bring both these concepts together, with new arrivals from Iceland’s ink-hued coast to French Polynesia’s luminous waters. An A-list island, vinotherapy treatments in a 14th-century French cloister and a Rosewood redo of a legendary Vancouver hotel are this month’s laurelled picks.
The Brando
Tetiaroa, French Polynesia
Yes, The Brando is named after Marlon Brando of A Streetcar Named Desire and Apocalypse Now fame. It was once his private island where he’d come to get away from the pressures of Hollywood, and later — after it became an ultra-luxurious hideaway — where Barack Obama came to recover from his stint as the president. I have neither of these concerns, but I still think I could benefit from some time in paradise, kayaking through lagoons to see exotic sea and bird life, learning about traditional Polynesian culture, applauding dining theatre at the teppanyaki grill and getting acquainted with Dirty Old Bob (don’t worry — it’s a cocktail named after Brando’s island confidante, with Jack Daniel’s, pineapple, lime and honey). Turns out this level of luxury can be very shoulder-loosening.
Why we love it: I’m not so shallow to stay here just for tropical decadence. The hotel’s sustainability initiatives run deep — into the ocean, actually, where sea water used to keep the hotel cool rather than harmful air-conditioners is drawn up. Brando himself was heavily invested in making this a beacon of Earth-kindness, and with its sustainability and community-outreach programmes, it makes great efforts to live up to his vision.
Kate Weir, Deputy Editor
Can Aulí
Pollença, Mallorca
The Hippocratic oath holds up at former village doctor’s residence Can Aulí, because there’s certainly no harm in booking yourself a stay here. Set close to the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, it has a restorative spa with all-organic treatments, food that’s nourishing in a grown nearby then eaten in the sunshine way, and it’s adults-only (for over-14s), which makes its leafy terraces and pool area even more restful. Parts look like a monastery for the monks of the order of Architectural Digest: some like a still-life painting, some like a modern-art gallery, due to the owners’ reverence for local handicrafts, painting and sculpture. The sum of those is an effective cure-all.
Why we love it: While personally I’m more of a passenger princess, those who like to zip about on two wheels will fare very well here. Pollença is a pretty stop along several Serra de Tramuntana cycling routes, and Can Aulí caters well to pit stops. They have a dedicated bike garage with racks, pumps and cleaning stations, a repair workshop and route maps available on request.
KW
Les Sources de Vougeot
Burgundy, France
The multi-talented clan that brought you cult French beauty brand Caudalie and its ensuing collection of vineyard hotels has done it again, this time in Burgundy. Their latest outpost Les Sources de Vougeot opened this spring; it’s set within the Château de Gilly and close to the Clos de Vougeot, an enclosed vineyard built by Cistercian monks in the Middle Ages. The location could not be better suited to a wine-focused retreat, surrounded by some of France’s most famous terroirs and enjoying the optimal conditions of the Côte de Nuits region. The historic architecture has been carefully transformed, with friezes and frescoes restored, and a spa has been installed in the vaulted stone cellar.
Why we love it: This is one for every type of wine fan — if you don’t want to drink it (potentially an error, given the hotel sits on the photogenic Grands Crus de Bourgogne wine route), you can reap the benefits of some vinotherapy at the spa instead.
Caroline Lewis, Senior Editor
Another Place, The Lake
Lake District, UK
My university days are becoming a hazy memory now (20 years ago this summer!), but as an English graduate, the Lake District will always have a special place in my heart. Because of Wordsworth, yes, but, going further back, because of my original literary obsession, Beatrix Potter. The children’s book author and illustrator had a farm near Ambleside, where visitors today can call by to be transported to Mr McGregor’s garden. At Another Place, The Lake within the national park, a Georgian family home has been turned into a hotel on the shores of Ullswater, with 18 acres of grounds and a vegetable garden Peter Rabbit would love. After a bracing walk in the fells, guests can retire to the fireplace in the library to play boardgames and warm up.
Why we love it: If you’re hoping to start the kids young on their appreciation of the beauty of this country, this is a good place to start. There’s plenty of family-friendly accommodation, including two-bedroom Tree Houses and Best Family Suites with bunk beds — and all of the unashamedly gorgeous Lake District National Park is on your doorstep.
CL
Black Sand Hotel
Ölfus Region, Iceland
Iceland will always hold a special place in my heart — my trip there in 2009 kicked off a series of events that led me to meet my husband, long story short. But while the romantic foundations have already been laid, Black Sand Hotel injects a new frisson to this long-held affection. Just as there’s nowhere else on Earth like Iceland — its volcanic geology creating a desolate beauty that’s shaped by geysers, waterfalls and glaciers and unfolds along onyx-sand coastline — so too this Smith newcomer is set to make a unique impression.
Why we love it: The minimalist, ultra-modern interiors are a study in quiet design — the ocean-swept views from its peninsular perch do all the talking. Presentation at Ómur restaurant is understated too; chef Hugi Rafn Stefánsson focuses instead on a celebration of flavour, inspired by Nordic culinary tradition. Although, the dining room’s theatrical setting, framing Atlantic scenery through picture windows, could potentially steal the show. One to take my Mr Smith to.
Kate Pettifer, Senior Content Editor
Rosewood Hotel Georgia
Vancouver, Canada
I popped my Vancouver cherry on a layover on the way home from New Zealand last year and it proved to be the most stylish of flight breaks. Staying in Downtown makes all the difference when you want to be in the heart of the British Columbian city, a walk from the Waterfront’s dining spots and transport links.
New-to-Smith Rosewood Hotel Georgia sits opposite Vancouver Art Gallery in Downtown. The owners knew they were putting this decades-standing grande-dame into safe hands when they invited Rosewood to work their magic across 12 floors of rooms and suites, a sprawling spa and pool and choice of dining spots.
Why we love it: Rosewood excels at storytelling through design and service — and Georgia is no exception. An art trail showcases Canadian creatives, provenance-proud dining is the focus at restaurant Reflections, and a cocktail lounge and live jazz sets respect the stay’s 1920s origins. When your hotel has hosted the likes of Nat King Cole, Katharine Hepburn, Bing Crosby and Mick Jagger, a protective approach to heritage is key.
KP
Helenekilde Badehotel
Tisvilde, Denmark
Move over, Nantucket. I’ve found a new haunt for seaside loafing: Tisvilde, on Denmark’s North Zealand coast. Nicknamed the ‘Danish Hamptons’, this seaside enclave is a closely guarded secret among well-to-do Danes, who spend their summers lolling on its powdery beaches, strolling its ancient forests and hobnobbing in its independent galleries and cosy cafés. Built in 1896 as a gift from a loving husband, Helenekilde Badehotel is the perfect partner to this life of leisure. Owner and former ballet dancer Alexander Kølpin has nailed the Nordic summerhouse aesthetic, dressing the house in a palette of sage and cream, filling its rooms with jute, rattan and linen details, and breathing new life into its whitewashed terraces and coastal gardens. Sea swims, sailing lessons and sauna sessions should keep you occupied until sunset, when guests gather on the terrace of Restaurant Kilden as the sun sets on the island of Hesselø.
Why we love it: Among the hotel’s many charms is the in-house bakery, turning out delicious sourdough and rye loaves that make breakfast a treat. The flour is milled and produced on an 80-hectare organic farm north of Copenhagen, where the growers pride themselves on extracting deep flavours from the wheat.
Hamish Roy, Senior Associate Editor
The Zetter Bloomsbury
London, UK
Of all the love letters to London, Virgina Woolfe’s Mrs Dalloway remains one of the very best. The esteemed Modernist writer peppered her novel with references to Bloomsbury, her bohemian home, where her most rebellious and free-thinking characters live. A century later, those same qualities have inspired The Zetter Bloomsbury, spread over six townhouses on Montague Street. Like the writers, artists and critics that came before him, ex-Soho House designer James Thurstan Waterworth turned to his surroundings for inspiration. The rooms read like a rich, layered history, with classic Georgian features sitting alongside curios and antiques that speak to a life of travel and unconventional taste.
Why we love it: Mrs Dalloway’s journey through the city takes place in high summer, when London life is at its fullest bloom. With its orangery, spacious terrace and sprawling garden, The Zetter Bloomsbury makes a fine match for August, inviting loafing worthy of the leisure class.
HR
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