IMAGES: CÉSAR BÉJAR; JOHN ATHIMARITIS


CLEVER CONVERSION Expect exquisite interiors, thoughtful service and creativity in these smart heritage hotel projects


Raffles London at The OWO England Six years and £1.3 billion in the making, the


Clockwise from top left: The César Bejar Treehouse, Boca de Agua; the marble central staircase at Raffles London at the OWO; The Granville Suite at Raffles, once the office of the head of the British Army; the main pool at Boca de Agua


unveiling of Raffles London at The OWO has been one of the most hotly anticipated hotel openings in years. It proved well worth the wait. Taking the bones of the former war office on Whitehall in central London, Raffles painstakingly researched the history of the building and rebuilt it piece by piece, incorporating design details throughout that reflect its storied past. From curtains modelled on the coats of the Horse Guards who parade outside to the extraordinary wood-panelled suite in Winston Churchill’s former office, it’s a hotel that comprehensively reflects and builds upon its heritage. The guest experience more than lives up to the weight of that legacy, with service both slick and friendly, staff seeming to magically pop up at the exact moment you need them. Highlights include the atmospheric subterranean pool and Guerlain spa; the surprising dishes that appear in the vegetable-forward tasting menus at Saison by Mauro Colagreco; and a residents-only bar that reflects the building’s standing as the birthplace of MI5. Daily historian-led tours of the premises leave guests in no doubt that they’re staying in a very special slice of London’s history. From £827. raffles.com AC


Runners-up MONDRIAN BORDEAUX LES CARMES, FRANCE Wine and Bordeaux are synonymous, so it’s fitting that this new opening is set in former grand cru classé aging cellars. Don’t expect dark and dingy: the stone exterior is a masterclass in grandeur, with crenelated bays and a carved gable. Inside, designer Philippe Starck has been given free reign. Concrete, boiled wool and warm-hued leathers intersect in rooms, some of which have private terraces. In the restaurant, Japanese dishes from renowned chef Masaharu Morimoto meet — what else? — a generous selection of local wines. From €228 (£190). mondrianhotels.com AM


THE STORE, ENGLAND Until its 2020 closure, Boswells was part of the fabric of Oxford for 282 years. Now the department store’s grand premises on Broad Street have been transformed into a thoroughly modern hotel, with scalloped headboards, pops of colour and parquet flooring in the rooms, and a rooftop bar serving cocktails drawing on Oxford’s heritage. Treadwell restaurant, in the former pharmacy, draws a local crowd for seasonal dishes such as venison dumplings, while the spa, a moody enclave with walnut wood, has treatments from Brit brand Oskia. From £216. thestoreoxford.com AM


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