By Mark Ellwood
Illustration by Enya Todd.
You don’t need to venture far to find a splashy new five-star hotel. Maybe it’s the afterglow of the Semi-quincentennial, but the US is a veritable hot spot for openings this year. From the Wine Country on the West Coast to a quiet corner of Upstate New York. We’ve rounded up our top picks of the latest offerings to come online, plus a few to watch out for—no passport required.
Delano Miami Beach
Miami Beach, FL
Yes, it’s back—and better than ever. The just-opened reimagining of the landmark property, instantly recognizable for its Aztec-inspired roofline, was a much-needed jolt of cash and love. Don’t worry, though: the Rose Bar, named after the wife of the hotel’s original developer, is still serving drinks.
The Vineta Hotel
Palm Beach, FL
Luxe chainlet Oetker Hotels’ first foray stateside is a jewel box-sized property in Palm Beach. The onetime Chesterfield hotel was stripped to the studs for this 41-room makeover of the Mediterranean Revival building. It’s already generating a buzz for its F&B, especially its standalone bar, a rarity among hotels here.
The Selvedge, a SingleThread Inn
Healdsburg, CA
The owners of SingleThread restaurant already run a five-room, ultra-luxe B&B above their three Michelin-starred restaurant. But later this year, they will branch out with this 10-room inn housed in an 1895 Victorian.
The Huntington Hotel
San Francisco, CA
Welcome back to one of the grande dames of hospitality here, perched atop Nob Hill. The 1920s-era building just underwent a mammoth overhaul that added a contemporary flair while nodding to its past—including relighting the Huntington sign on the rooftop.
The Knox, Auberge Collection
Dallas, TX
The explosive expansion of Auberge hotels continues with a new spot opening by end of year in the mixed-use complex on Knox Street, right near Highland Park—a welcome addition to the local five-star hotel scene that will hopefully jolt the property into life again.
White Elephant Aspen
Aspen, CO
The beloved preppy staple headed west from its home base of Nantucket with this just-opened 54-room new build in Aspen’s West End. For the max flex in this prime spot, book the three-bedroom, 1,560-square-foot Ajax Penthouse, which comes with its own fire pit.
The Farmhouse at Inns of Aurora
Finger Lakes, NY
The 10-room spa-powered hideaway opened earlier this year in a quiet corner of the Finger Lakes. And yes, that is a Wolf Kahn on the wall: The inn features more than 30 works from the personal collection of owner Pleasant T. Rowland, the octogenarian American Girl founder whose links with the town date back to college.
Soho Farmhouse Hudson Valley
Rhinebeck, NY
After years of rumors, the third outpost of the globe-spanning member club’s Farmhouse concept, piloted in England’s the Cotswolds, will open early next year on a 250-acre historic estate south of this tony, tiny town.
The Cooper
Charleston, SC
The Champalimaud-designed, 191-room hotel trumps a crowded market in the Holy City, as it’s the first and only luxe perch right on the water a short walk from Joe Riley Waterfront Park. The 1,427-square-foot Presidential Suite has its own private patio overlooking the water.
The Whit
New Orleans, LA
Tina Turner impersonator Hollie Vest once ran the erstwhile Harris-Maginnis House as a kitschy B&B, but the new owners have repurposed this Greek Revival pile into a 15-room boutique hotel opening this fall. Come for a cocktail at the lounge overseen by local legend in the bartending world, Neal Bodenheimer.
