Suite dreams: 10 of the world’s most glamorous Art Deco hotels
According to the famed playwright, George Bernard Shaw; “the great advantage of a hotel is that it is a refuge from home life”. We love our homes more than the next person, but we’ve got to concede: he’s got a point. Over the course of the 2020s, we spent more time at home than anyone could have imagined. So, we think we speak for most of us when we say, we’re ready to let loose, travel, and party like it’s the 1920s. These grande dame hotels showcase the very best in Art Deco design and channel the spirit of the roaring twenties. From Shanghai to the South of France, these are 10 of the world’s most glamorous Art Deco hotels.
Claridges, London
Location: Davies St, London W1K 4HR
The late Hollywood legend, Spencer Tracy, famously declared “Not that I intend to die, but when I do, I don’t want to go to heaven—I want to go to Claridge’s”. Does his ghost wander its marble-floored halls today? No comment. But we can confirm that a visit to Claridges is pretty heavenly. London’s grand dame of Art Deco decor, it was designed by C W Stephens, the architect behind Harrods, and with interiors by 1920s icon Basil Ionides, you won’t find a more Mayfair experience than a trip to Claridges. So, for the ultimate Art Deco interiors take afternoon tea in its jazz moderne mirrored foyer beneath an enormous, century-old chandelier. Expensive, but worth it.
Umaid Bhawan, Jodhpur
Location: Circuit House Rd, Cantt Area, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342006, India
A princely palace fit for a very modern Maharaja, Umaid Bhawan is not only one of Jodhpur’s top attractions but also one of India’s most extraordinary heritage hotels. A primary example of Indo-Saracenic Art Deco architecture, the reigning Maharajah Umaid Singh commissioned Henry Vaughan Lanchester (whose architectural works stretch from Westminster to Zanzibar) to build what would at the time be the largest private residence in the world. A museum to Art Deco design and Jodhpur’s royal family, each of its 347 rooms is packed full of period furnishings, black-and-white photographs, and curios from a bygone age. Another hotel where the room rate reflects its flamboyant heritage, head to The Trophy Bar for some no less sophisticated sundowners.
The Waldorf Astoria, New York
Location: 301 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022, United States
Occupying an entire block of Manhattan real estate, The Waldorf Astoria wins the award for the world’s largest Art Deco building. The preferred crash pad of stars like Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra, today it is known as a champion of Art Deco design and old-world service. Among its notable Art Deco features include Nina Saemundsson’s Spirit of Achievement statue and Louis Rigal’s The Wheel of Life mosaic in the foyer. But it’s the aptly named Peacock Alley Bar that’s the place to see and be seen.
Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club, Miami
Location: 3925 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140, United States
Synonymous with Art Deco decor, a stroll along Miami Beach’s Boardwalk is to take in a catwalk of the city’s most gorgeous examples of what has become known as ‘Miami Art Deco’ architecture. You’ll struggle to find a better example than Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club. Following a $39 million renovation in 2018, this Mid-Beach masterpiece has been returned to its former glory days thanks to those timeless Riviera-chic meets Nautical Deco interiors. Find out how you can bring a little of that Miami Art Deco style into your home.
The Savoy, London
Location: Strand, London WC2R 0EZ
London’s first purpose-built luxury hotel, The Savoy has been welcoming the likes of the Marx Brothers, Cary Grant, Tallulah Bankhead, and Vivien Leigh since it opened in 1889. Designed by famed Art Nouveau designer A.H. Mackmurdo, its balconies provided front-row seats of the River Thames. Although, it wasn’t until after World War I when the hotel underwent a bit of a revamp thanks to Sir Howard Robertson, that The Savoy became known for its Art Deco decor. From those walnut panelled walls to luxurious silk wallpaper, it’s The Beaufort Bar, housed in what used to be a cabaret theatre, where you should head for some real roaring twenties cocktails. Extortionate? Yes. Cheaper than a room? Absolutely.
The Sunset Tower Hotel, Los Angeles
Location: 8358 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, United States
A stalwart of Holywood glam, The Sunset Tower Hotel is an ode to Art Decor decor. Designed by architect Leland A. Bryant it opened its doors in 1931 and soon became a home away from home for the likes of Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, and more recently Jennifer Aniston. A Sunset Boulevard landmark, its 14 peachy floors tower above its low-rise West Hollywood neighbourhood. Inside, rooms are decorated in a neutral colour palette with stylish églomisé panels and walnut cupboards. It doesn’t get more Hollywood than this.
Hôtel Belles Rives, Antibes, France
Location: 33 Boulevard Edouard Baudoin, 06160 Antibes, France
If you checked into Hôtel Belles Rives in the summer of 1929 you might just have found yourself sipping martinis with the face of roaring twenties himself, F. Scott Fitzgerald. The famed writer and expert on all-things jazz-era glamour spent the summer of ‘29 penning his love letter to the French Riviera (and wife Zelda), Tender is the Night, from his balcony overlooking the Côte d'Azur. Today, the hotel, and its decor pay homage to its esteemed guest with Art Deco designs throughout including Venetian terrazzo mosaics, animal-print armchairs, and pastel frescoes. Sip on Bar Fitzgerald’s signature Fitzgerald85, a concoction of gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and Angostura Bitters.
Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai
Location: 20 Nanjing Road East, Shanghai 200002, China
The epicenter of Shanghai’s Thirties hedonism, Fairmont Peace Hotel retains all the elegance of the era, though a £50m renovation has added all the modern trimmings of a modern luxury hotel. Originally The Cathay, this Art Deco masterpiece was the creation of Iraqi Jewish refugee, Victor Sassoon, who used to live in its copper pyramid roof. An idiosyncratic edifice, amongst Shanghai’s ultra-modern skyline, it boasts the best views in the city across the lively Bund below. Spend an evening in the faithfully restored Thirties Jazz Bar, where live jazz music is played lightly, or enjoy grand afternoon tea in the Jasmine Lounge.
Hôtel Martinez, Cannes, France
Location: 73 Boulevard de la Croisette, Cannes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France, 06400
The art deco jewel in Cannes’ star-studded crown, you can’t but love the old-time grandeur of Hôtel Martinez. From royalty to film stars, its guest book reads like a who’s who of the glitterati set, through the ages. Its shimmering white façade welcomes you as you arrive by road (or water) and it’s no less glamorous inside. The white and blue decor has a coastal feel, whilst high ceilings and enormous deco chandeliers remind you you’re in the French Riviera. During the film festival, the beach club is the place to spot Hollywood royalty sunning themselves whilst the spa is the place for award-winning treatments.
Azerai La Residence, Vietnam
Location: 5 Lê Lợi, Vĩnh Ninh, Thành phố Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế 530000, Vietnam
An extraordinary hotel in an extraordinary setting, upstream of the Perfume River, Azerai La Residence is located in the historic city of Hue, across from the famed 19th-century citadel of Vietnam’s last imperial family. Built in 1930, it harks back to the fashion of the time: clean lines, nautical flourishes, and a streamlined style typical of art deco architecture. Originally the residence of the French ‘Resident Superieure’ it has lost none of its original je ne sais quoi. No expense has been spared when it comes to sourcing vintage art deco pieces and every room is filled with heavy deco furniture, monochrome tiles, and well-polished teak floors.
