From Jasper Conran, Christian Louboutin and the House of Dior, these designer projects are wow-worthy…
Villa Mabrouka, Morrocco
“I read Ludwig Bemelmans’ book Hotel Splendide when I was a teenager. An uproarious account of his life as a waiter at the thinly disguised Ritz-Carlton in the 1920s in New York, it was first published in 1941 and it is so charming. It has inspired my intrigue in hotels ever since,” explains Jasper Conran. He has cemented his credentials as a hotelier with the opening of his second hotel project, Villa Mabrouka in Tangier, Morocco, the former home of designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé. Conran preserved rather than reinvented this property, adding to its lush gardens and channelling the white-on- white style of interior designer Syrie Maugham. Decorative details – antique 1930s lighting, Mauritanian rugs, mother-of-pearl inlaid furniture, linen sheets and glazed tiles – all add up to a serene, elegant retreat. Suites are priced from €450; www.villamabrouka.com.
Vermelho, Portugal
Red, one of AW23’s most prominent trends, is the name of shoemaker Christian Louboutin’s first hotel project, Vermelho (red in Portuguese). This project, in the Portuguese village of Melides, allowed Louboutin “to empty my storage of antiques and objects I purchased over many years!” The hotel has 13 rooms, a garden designed by Louboutin’s former partner Louis Benech, and XTian restaurant. Flashes of red permeate the decor with Moorish side tables, Murano lamps, Venetian mirrors and floral armchairs which pay homage to the designer’s French and Egyptian roots. Overnight stays cost from €390; www.vermelhohotel.com.
Dior Spa, Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc
The house of Dior has rolled out a series of impressive spas in chic addresses including Hotel Splendido, Portofino and on board the Belmond Royal Scotsman; the most recent is in the manicured gardens of the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc on the French Riviera. In addition to toile du Jouy decorated treatment rooms, the spa houses an ice fountain to boost blood circulation, and a Japanese-inspired Iyashi Dôme room for infra-therapy. Guests can opt for one of four Dioriginels Rituals, or wellness treatments named Bouquets. www.oetkercollection.com.
