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This is (y)our wanderlust collection of cool design hotels, luxury villas and boutique B&Bs that share our passion for good architecture and creativity. These are soulful places to stay that we have chosen and that you have always wanted to find, where ordinary is a no no. Small, family-owned independents of lifestyle and the fine details, these hotels and guesthouses were created by those local heroes, designers and architectures who dared to dream. From your Alpine pit stop of aged heritage to the modernist architectural den lost in the wilderness, the luxury coastal bolthole to the culture crashpad of urbane design.
Meet The Aficionados - pleasingly here, there and not everywhere.
Happy travels amigos,
Iain & Crew
Definitely off-radar, ‘an insider’s boho art den’ best describes this series of lavish apartments, suites and rooms dressed in a plush melange of period styles, furnishings and artistic installations. This discrete little number is famed by writers, artists, actors and thinkers alike.
The edgy contrast of an aged coaching inn where artsy installations lend an air of east-side gallery – this is a cradle of the arts and style where a bold, contemporary curatorial scene is flanked by twisted beams and heritage-thick walls.
A lovely Alpine lodge for families that has had a chic, eclectic refit. Quirky design elements, stacks of well-positioned collectables and lively, modern takes on heritage prints and textiles decorate this boutique interior.
A peak-side, sophisticated bolthole oozing fifties Vogue glamour. A firm favourite of the design fraternity, it is a trove of timeless, postmodern pieces that feel perfectly at home in this Alpine masterpiece of creative chillax.
A lair of nature wrapped by the mountains and forests with perhaps one of the best nature-inspired spas in Austria, all overlooking the Leogang Rockies. This design hotel hugs smooth modern interiors that brush up to loveliness of the Alps, complete with its own lake.
A fabulous foodie haunt, this chilled riverside hotel in Upper Austria is a traditional modernist that plays with heritage, the arts and nature between the Bohemian Forests and the Danube.
A legendary crash pad of royalty, celebs and lovers of Arlberg, this is the chic chalet hotel and spa of consummate five star style. Interiors are dedicated to Alpine heritage and modern luxe running through the hotel’s family history.
The Hirschen "Young since 1755", is a love pot of heritage, art, culture, food and style – a Wunderkammer of familiar nostalgia reframed for the nomads who seek roots and prefer to sleep with history.
Mesmerhaus, once the sexton’s home, is today a wonderful style chameleon of ornate exteriors and simplistic elegant interiors. The effect is of refined originality, a heritage house reduced to its essence through a calming language of decorative stillness.
Strikingly modern design and humble heritage are the trademarks of Tempel 74 Apartments in the heart of the Mellau-Damüls ski region, just 500m to the ski lifts. Centuries-old Alpine craftsmanship marries pioneering architecture.
Close to the natural beauty of the Neusiedler Lake lies one of Austria’s best kept foodie secrets, a place famed for making the humble, wonderful.
Wonderfully humble, this authentic exclusive-hire farmstead hideaway dating back to 1885 comes with the mandatory choc-box appeal of a rural Alpine chalet besieged by the hush rhythms of lush green pastures, ancient forests and hum of the mountain waters.
Close to the Tirol mountains of the Tux and Zillertal Alps, this new boutique hub of chilled design and nostalgic tradition, stepping away from the chocolate-box picture-post-card image with creative art installations and a casual approach to life in the alps.
Birds, botanicals and fauna headline the canvas of this Austrian designer den found in Tirol wrapped in a fusion of honeyed Alpine traditions and chic urban style.
Drenched in Tirol originality and crafted by a setting of mountainous vistas. This luxury ski & spa hotel is all about boutique personality, passion, delicious food and a perfect location that hugs the snow-capped plateau, with windows that frame endless Austrian mountain eye-candy.
Built into the original Medieval town walls of Hall, this former guilders’ house of traditional Tirol style has stood here for well over half a century with records dating back to 1450. Today, behind the rose petal façade, lies the small Kontor Boutiquehotel.
Newly opened, Summer 2021, Ullrhaus is a hotel of muted luxury, where cool design marries Alpine soul and a minimalist edge. Located in the resort of St Anton in the Tyrolean Alps, home to some of the Alps’ most exhilarating skiing.
The fabulous boutique Hotel Julien, with its mansion-house pedigree in the heartlands of old-town Antwerp, is a self-confessed curator of the arts, designer pieces, antiques and mid-century furnishings, which adorn the handsome salons and rooms in comfy elegance.
MUD Residence is an original 60s house layered with contemporary detailing, located in Flemish Brabant between the greens of Heverlee forests and Meerdal woods, a fresh, modernist and creative abode 20kms east of Brussels.
Set against the forested Beskydy (Beskids) range in the Carpathian Mountains, this 200-year-old designer hideaway fosters modern Czech county living whilst giving heritage a hug, decked in whites, linens and twisted rafters.
Bijou refuges crafted deep in the countryside or clinging to the wild coastline, these hideaways bring style to the gems of nature.
Originally conceived as the village schoolhouse back in the 1930s, the traditional house, with alpine curb appeal of larch shingles, gabled rooftop and green shutters frame the lattice windows, is now a fabulous small design hotel surrounded by the Bavarian alps and pastures.
An epic mountain setting that could easily inspire a novel or two, this is a sleek Bavarian bolthole where the past cuddles up to organic modernity. Hand-finished in every detail, this is Alpine living with a fashionable edge, all authentically wrapped in natural woods, stitched linens and fluffy sheepskin throws.
A famed retreat for artists over centuries, this little boutique house-hotel is all about style on the seaside, bathed in nautical blues and New England crisp sail whites. Just steps away from the windswept beaches of Ahrenshoop this is a thatched hideaway that is chilled and lovingly familiar on the Baltic coast of Germany.
Sat in a secluded spot right on the edge of the famous Caldera, individually-created traditional houses hug the rock formations – these exceptionally sleek designer dens are more than villas, their tonal whitewashed minimalism gradually revealing handcrafted touches and a cool boutique aesthetic.
Éros Kéros Villas, on the slow-pace Cyclades island of Koufonisia, come drenched in Aegean blue vistas – a sun-kissed boutique retreat of four cubic Cyclades-style merchant houses that lazily gaze onto the island of Keros.
Luxury boutique villas with hotel services, dotted around pools in scented gardens and all done in a chilled Cycladic design. The villas are perched on a gentle hillside that melts into the Aegean with views towards the islands of Delos and Mykonos.
Crossing Condotti is a style colony of luxury suites, lavish apartments and designer penthouse living created within 18th-century palazzo townhouse, which poignantly resides behind the Piazza di Spagna and namesake, Via Condotti, in the heart of Rome’s historic Tridente district.
Once the home of devout Sisters, its aged cloistral heritage has been recast following an exacting narrative of preservation, reframing the monastic aesthetics for the modern nomad without corrupting the patina of austere beauty and timeworn touchpoints.
A small designer outpost that is both rustic and sophisticated in its design simplicity – conceived to mirror the surrounding vineyards and Arco Mountains of Trentino, this rural idyll is an architectural bolthole that gives nature a stylish makeover, irresistibly close to Lake Garda.
With the feel of a hip in-the-know club for lido-lovers, Aqva Boutique Hotel’s modular alabaster white building is fronted by a turquoise pool surrounded by sleek decking. Like a pointing finger, a private pier juts out onto the lake - perfect for those celeb moments.
An über sleek modernist villa located in Bardolino, just fifteen minutes stroll from shoreside Lake Garda. A private-hire cuboid holiday home wrapped around by a lush garden and a pool, Montelino provides privacy seeking nomads with everything necessary as a hub for a modern-day Grand Tour pitstop.
A smooth design den pearled in white with an interior design that is eminently simple: clean Alpine aesthetic that borrows from Italian design, the Danish principals of Hygge and a touch of sweet sophistication in the Japonesque detailing.
The chilled design hotel Miramonti sits perched atop Merano, nestled in forestry with spectacular, Bond-like views. Modernity subtly reigns whilst snuggling up to Alpine traditions – the vibe is relaxed, chilled and most definitely easy-going.
Affectionately known simply as ‘Magda’, personality flows from this mountainous bolthole of style framed on all sides by glorious greens, thanks to its location in choc-box Bolzano within the South Tyrolean Dolomites. Magda will soon become your New Best Friend.
Niedermairhof is no ordinary bed & breakfast; it is a wonderfully restored nest egg vision, with a combo of traditional heritage and classic designer pieces – complete with all the creature comforts of a dinky luxury hotel.
A groovy icon from the seventies, Seehotel Ambach presides over the shores of Lake Caldaro in Italy’s South Tyrol with its perfectly formed, curvaceous marshmallowy walls of laid-back glamour and a canvas of tangerine, vert and oxide reds which drape mid-century furniture pieces.
A design smoothie wrapped in vineyards and mountain eye-candy; this villa-hotel masters the polarity of heritage with its sedated tones of taupe framing dramatic vistas of vert. Modernity, fresh elegance and a natural hand are cornerstones within the restored traditional walls of Das Wanda; a modern, designer, natural retreat with a strong South Tyrolean heart.
Ceramics, pencil-lead greys, putty linens and aged furnishings headline at this restored design guesthouse of original simplicity in the cute market of Lana, South Tyrol.
Rising up like delicate meringue-whipped peaks, mirroring the Dolomites panorama that surrounds it, the architecture and design of Hotel Milla Montis create an impact.
Small, delicate, exquisite; this creative residence is fully-stocked with vintage family pieces and curatorial heritage, and includes a fabulous orangerie thriving between the greenest of Mediterranean gardens and whitest snow-capped peaks.
A fabulous retro-design, five bedroom holiday home of smooth vintage in Merano, this design vacation-rental is gorgeous, a luxury haven dotted with thoughtful mid-century design pieces, layered with love.
Wrapped by the Dolomites, this modern eco resort pairs mountain lifestyle with simple elegance and luxury wellness vibes. An authentically pastoral location accented with the local Ladin culture that feels at once both holistic and fun.
The vigilius mountain resort, created by architect, Matteo Thun, reclines in effortless eco style set to a fragrant Alpine landscape of larch trees, mountain pine, foxgloves and alpine roses.
With mountain eye-candy stretching out in every direction, this nest egg of casual style is the perfect bolthole for urbanites who love the rural idyll framed by modernity and crowned by its fabulous rooftop infinity pool of sheer wow.
Birch and smoked oak hug the thick walls and capture the house’s DNA from the days as a farmhouse barn. Once a resplendent Renaissance home to the Bishop and favoured lodgings for the merchant traders heading along the Romanesque Via Claudia Augusta.
An eye-catching designer hillside bastion of cool contemporary interiors framed by lush alpine forests and snow-capped mountains, where simple luxe shakes hands with age-old tradition, this is Hotel Bühelwirt Ahrntal in Italy’s stunning Valle Aurina.
Caramel timbers, robust chunky stone and larch shingled rooftops amplifies Alpine charisma buttered across the three ‘Malghe’houses of the Borgo Eibn which are draped in the views of the Sauris plateau and the Dolomites.
A restoration den of raw genius – a weathered Tuscan house close to Montefollonico that has been allowed to expose her weathered elements and complemented with chic salvaged interiors. An imaginative retreat of utter, rustic romance.
An aged private-hire farmhouse conversion that is brimming with smoothness and urban vibes. Original stonework is forged with pastel eggshell tones, modern furnishings and fresh tonal whites.
An aged former Convent, the history and heritage of this house has been lovingly exposed to play host to modern furnishings and a chilled vibe right in the heart of old town Pienza.
A tiny redoubt of stripped, twisted beams, limestone walls and a modern interior. There’s an air of culture at this aged – and much loved – restored monastery, which perches on a verdant hillside overlooking distant Capri and close to the Paestum Temples.
Agriturismo simplicity meets designer theatrics here at this chilled farmhouse awash in white and filled with rustic bric-a-brac. A candlelit gem that sits amongst the twisted olive trees, rubbing shoulders with a golf course and the Adriatic.
A sleek modernist mansion sitting front row on the Lezzeno shoreline of Lake Como, backed by a mountainous canopy forest. A homage to Italian custom, style and native craftsmanship, Filario flirts with time-past decadence and chilled luxury – an elegant paring of design and heritage overlooking Bellagio, Villa Balbianello, and Comacina Island.
An elemental experience awaits at this natural designer den, where cashmere hugs, rock walls shield, and simplicity is elegant. Insanely popular foodie destination where the maverick chef-owner prepares food from the seas, straight from the heart.
A short drive northwards from the wild sandy beaches, the eco-design guesthouse lies secluded within the Horn Head peninsula. Created to blend seamlessly in with its surroundings of County Donegal’s mountainous yet green landscape.
An unfussy architectural gem that floats above a bed of the greenest and most delicate fauna like a scene from the latest Hobbit epic, this is total immersion in nature from your spectacular viewing pods – here, less is definitely more.
An old logged, fairytale-like gingerbread house, wrapped in a lush carpet of nature. Inside, designer interiors narrate this chameleonic hub of eclectic creativity – it is traditional, pleasingly crafted and naturally cool.
A decidedly laid-back designer escape, it is a working creative hub for artisans, a nature-loving nest for adventurists and a bolthole for urbanites seeking lush downtime on Lake Wulpinskie.
Being tactile by nature is something that rocks our boat – so no wonder then that our love of fonts, print and paper stock is part and parcel of what defines The Aficionados.
Artsy modernism melts within aged tea plantation walls perched upon a verdant hilltop – a house of uninterrupted rural life where Azorean beauty bursts from the terracotta architecture and the scents of wild coastal nature clean the air.
This is without a doubt no ordinary B&B; a cool culture den of artistic flair and bohemian allure, the aptly named Casa Amora is tucked away in Lisbon’s famed creative district, Amoreiras
Opening in Spring 2022 this new seductive fusion of small design hotel meets stylish villa set between the medieval streets, scented pines and a short distance from the coast.
This reclusive stopover will give you reason to pause and take in the stillness of your environment while a revelling in the perfectly blended alchemy of Scottish and Scandinavian style.
Once a remote shooting lodge home to the Duke of Sutherland, Kinloch
Lodge now provides a remote and inviting retreat into the vastness of
nature.
In a toned-down material palette of stone, timber, metal and glass, the brutal stone exteriors are hushed by Danish functionality: each piece of furniture carefully considered so as to embellish nothing but the raw landscapes, framed in oak.
A tiny weathered Scottish farmhouse plays host to Scandinavian contemporary design and Scottish crafted pieces from the Highlands - an irresistible combo of old and new, heritage meets the design - affectionately known as the 'Scandi-Scot'.
Design Bothy & Geordie's Cottage close to the Cairngnorms National Park, ideal for a small family or as a Highland refuge, this aged restored cottage is decorated with Scandi influences and Scottish crafts - complete with log stove.
Imagine the romance of a remote crofter's house in a modern architectural design overlooking the infinity of the Scottish Highlands. This is your stylish den of Norse interiors with the traditional soul of the Gaels - a snug holiday retreat for two close to Isle of Skye in Wester Ross.
A monastic designer den of rural appeal set in a 30-hectare estate, this rural sanctuary has clubhouse flair, a sleek modernist touch and loads of sun-kissed sophistication. Altogether, a chilled off-radar adaption of indulgent luxury.
A funky creative home to fashionistas and hipsters, trendy grandmas and urban kids - this is where generations mix with ease. Hotel Flora’s playfully light, vibrant boutique interior sees the modern designer hotel fused with Nordic confidence and a nudge of hot Brooklyn vibe.
Dens of creativity, art and playfulness, each of these hotels plays host to countless cultural events, where boho meets highbrow.
Unapologetically vivid, this preferred pad of intellect and creativity is awash in Art Nouveau flamboyance tamed with clever 1950’s-inspired design interventions. A stylishly cool home of the arts, brushed with boldness.
A chilled habitat of modern alpine vibe, this ski bolthole is dapper, plush and Martini cool. A suave lair of modern alpine style that flirts with the traditions of the Alps and is the perfect habitat for the ski fraternity and summer activity junkies.
A fabulously humble basecamp of good design for kindreds of style, Brücke 49 is a collection of rooms, suites, studios and apartments in the high-in-the-mountains creative enclave, Vals.
A bijou design hotel laced in a plush hipness of crushed velvets, soft linens, aged oak beams and lovely quirky accessories – a dash of peacock blue, gold, burgundy and teal usher a signature of urban cool to this
120-year-old dairy warehouse.
Once the grand resting spot for the weary English mountaineer brigade heading high up the Alps, this is a fabulous example of Swiss culture melting into English eccentricity – a place where the urbane greets the mountains, all in fresh modern tones.
Twisted beams frame the 14th century frescos while a curatorial catalogue of designer classics delivers a modernist influence: the Widder Hotel is where medieval heritage meets Eames and Poliakoff slumbers against thick stonewalls.
Medieval foundations, original beams, stucco ceilings and state of the art interior design make these luxurious holiday-stay apartments home in historic Zurich, overlooking Rennweg and the famous Lindenhof.
A combination of country house familiarity and urban chill. A designer orchestration of salvaged pieces, crafted textiles, aged ceramics and bespoke furnishings that are housed in a traditional red-brick new build – this new luxury kid on the block gives TriBeCa the unpretentious grand hotel it so craved.
A smooth genre of luxury hotels that bring an urban touch and neu luxe together: Old-school quality with a relaxed contemporary feel.
