The best new hotels to book now

If you can bet on anything, it’s that August will be a scorcher. The smartest way to handle record-setting temperatures is to spend those balmy, languid days at a fabulous hotel. The most eagerly anticipated new stays prove that the dog days of summer are among the best times for a holiday that’s all about escapism – whether that’s checking into a Cycladic retreat for R&R on the island of Paros or decamping to a serene Aman resort on the East Cape of Baja California Sur. A few more openings we’re dreaming about stealing away to this month: Chapter puts its stylish stamp on Tuscany, the highly anticipated Danieli, A Four Seasons Hotel finally opens its doors in Venice, and 1 Hotels plants its eco-chic flag in Austin.

The world’s best new hotel openings

1 Hotel Austin, Texas

1 Hotel has already left its eco-luxury imprint on cities around the world, from Miami to Tokyo, and now Austin joins the list. Rising from the tallest tower in Texas, the nature-inspired interiors – a collaboration between Studio MAI and the Starwood Hotels design team – do justice to two of the city’s most emblematic outdoor destinations: Waller Creek, a historic downtown waterway, and Lady Bird Lake, a reservoir on the Colorado River. The dialogue between urban and elemental comes to life through local stone, reclaimed wood, raw textiles and biophilic touches such as native shrubs. Guests can take in views of the restored green corridor from airy rooms, savour seasonal Texas ingredients at the restaurant, enjoy the rooftop bar and pool and switch off at the Bamford Wellness Spa.

1 Hotel Austin is located at 96 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701, United States

Amanvari, East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Aman’s long-awaited Baja California debut, Amanvari, set within the exclusive Costa Palmas community on the East Cape and meaning ‘peace’ and ‘water’ in Sanskrit, does a right turn from the mega-resorts of Los Cabos. Elastic Architects’ design, with initial contributions from Heah & Co., centres on the elemental landscape and the indoor-outdoor living afforded by its desert horizons, towering cardón cacti, warm breezes and the deep blue waters of the Sea of Cortez. Dotted across the property are just 18 sleek casitas. Each is finished with natural stone, timber and plaster and enhanced by bespoke furnishings, expansive terraces, heated pools, outdoor showers and generous alfresco living spaces. Privacy and peace are intertwined with wellness that taps into ancestral traditions and modern technology, ranging from temazcal to hydrotherapy houses.

Amanvari is located at Eureka s/n esquina con Sta Maria la Ribera, 23570 East Cape, B.C.S., Mexico

Chapter Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

Imagined by South African interiors architect Tristan Du Plessis as a modern Tuscan retreat, the second addition to the Chapter Italia portfolio sits within a restored 17th-century borgo, spanning 50 hectares of vineyards, olive groves and landscaped gardens in the undulating hills of Chianti. That all may sound like a traditional agriturismo, but upon first glance, it’s very clearly a contemporary, slightly unexpected rebrand of the countryside classic. The social and sleeping spaces mix earthy tones and modern styling to create bold expressions with character and soul. The preserved original stone staircases and vaulted ceilings mingle with furniture handcrafted by local makers, custom lighting from DCW Editions and Marset and playful art – from Kokekit drawings splashed across the ceilings of Osso to a striking work concealed beneath the pool and 82 rooms.

Chapter Chianti is located at Loc. Fontebussi, Cavriglia (Arezzo) 52022, 

Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel, Italy

Travellers with a penchant for historic grandeur will feel right at home among the treasure trove of brocade, gilded mirrors and Carrara marble at one of Venice’s most legendary hotels, which will reopen after a multi-year restoration under the Four Seasons flag. Uniting a trio of interconnected palaces and set on the Riva degli Schiavoni, steps from Piazza San Marco, with interiors by Pierre-Yves Rochon, the 120-key landmark boasts a museum-worthy collection of Murano glass, local Rubelli fabrics and ​o​il paintings. At the centre of the 15th-century Palazzo Dandolo, the atrium is an exquisite showpiece of soaring pink marble columns and a grand staircase. ​The accommodations range from spacious one-bedroom suites inspired by private Venetian residences, with generous velvet living areas and king bedrooms, to light-filled rooms in soft cream and honey tones overlooking the ​lagoon.

Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel is located at Riva degli Schiavoni, 4196, 30122 Venice, Italy

Luura – Cliff, Paros, Greece

Paros is quietly rising through the ranks among Greece devotees seeking a more understated alternative to tourist-heavy Santorini and party-centric Mykonos. Its newest stay, Luura – Cliff, designed by Elastic Architects with interiors by Berlin-based studio Lambs and Lions, makes a compelling case for a laid-back Cycladic escape – sans screaming toddlers, blaring speakers, and (hopefully) TikTok reels. Influenced by the island’s artistic legacy, slower rhythm, and warm Mediterranean hospitality, the seafront retreat integrates the enduring charm of whitewashed Cycladic architecture with earthen hues, local stone and a significant art collection, including both site-specific commissions and works pulled from the Khoury family cache – notably pieces by Greek artists Sofia Mitsola and Kostas Paniaras, sculptor Judith Hopf and painter Chantal Joffe. The result is an environment that feels both familiar and unfettered across 39 spacious suites, two restaurants, a wellness area and a chapel.