A great hotel and a great drink go hand in hand. And with 2023’s most hotly anticipated new openings set within some of the most renowned wine– and spirits-producing regions, as well as the world’s most exciting cocktail capitals, travellers will be spoilt for choice.
Taking the immersive imbibing experience a little further this year are a number of properties with vineyards of their own, and even hotels housed in former Cognac distilleries.
Wine lovers with historic appellations on their radar are well catered for, with new boutique offers in Burgundy and South Africa. While for those seeking something a little different, exciting new hotels are scheduled for emerging and lesser-known wine destinations, from the valleys of northern Mexico to Portugal’s Alentejo coast, where a property from renowned shoe designer Christian Louboutin is about to open.
Spirits aficionados can get in on the action, too. Top-name hotel brands are ramping up once again, with new openings slated from the Hoxton, Bulgari, Raffles, and more, each one based amidst dynamic cocktail metropolises, from London to Tokyo.
Read on for our selection of the most exciting hotels set to open in 2023.
Drink destination hotels opening in 2023
Future Found Sanctuary by Time + Tide
Cape Town, South Africa
Tucked away on the slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain, this newly opened retreat from the bustling city is engulfed by nature. Hike straight off the property to the waterfalls of Table Mountain National Park. Though boutique – there’s two stilted private villas, bookable as a whole or by the suite – there’s an extensive list of services aimed primarily at rejuvenation. Try the sound healing studio, a natural cold immersion pool, heated swimming pool, on-site massages or Tai Chi. Minutes from some of South Africa’s oldest wine farms, it’s an easy base for exploring the Constantia winelands, the oldest uninterrupted wine-growing region in the southern hemisphere.
Now open, www.futurefoundsanctuary.com
Barceló Funchal Oldtown
Madeira, Portugal
This five-star property located in the centre of Madeira’s capital, Funchal, looks out over the city to the inky Atlantic. In fact, it’s the rooftop, complete with pool and cocktail bar and with far-reaching views across this rugged archipelago, that will be the defining feature of the 111-room property. Madeira is renowned for its fortified wine, so it’s no surprise that the hotel will serve an impressive selection of locally produced wines. For those that want to delve a little deeper, wine tasting and wine pairing experiences from visiting producers will be on offer too.
Spring 2023, www.barcelo.com
Como le Montrachet
Burgundy, France
Good things come to those who wait. Delayed from a scheduled opening in 2022, the anticipated next property from family-owned Como group sees the full transformation of the 18th century Hotel Le Montrachet. With four buildings based around a picturesque square in the village of Puligny-Montrachet, guests will be within easy reach of four Grand Cru, and 17 Premier Cru vineyards. As with Como’s other properties (including its stunning hotel in the heart of Tuscany) expect a focus on fine dining, and of course, top notch wines.
Spring 2023, www.comohotels.com
La Nauve Hotel & Jardin
Cognac, France
Set in a Belle Époque mansion with manicured grounds that flow down to the River Charente, the Almae Collection’s latest property is an apt base to explore over 200 local Cognac producers. This former distillery – developed around the original waterways and canals once used in the distilling process – will have 12 rooms, a pool, a destination restaurant, and a bar stocked, of course, with a refined range of local wines and brandies. Catch a boat to the centre of town direct from the property to explore the major houses (Hennessy, Rémy Martin and Martell) as well as smaller Maisons.
Spring 2023, www.lanauve.com
Raffles London at The OWO
London, England
If walls could talk. Opening to the public for the first time, the landmark Grade II listed former Old War Office on Whitehall is set to become London’s latest grande dame. The new Raffles hotel – which will have 120 rooms and suites, 85 residences, the UK’s first Guerlain spa, nine destination restaurants and no less than three bars – sees the former chambers of political and military leaders, from Winston Churchill to David Lloyd George, painstakingly restored into guest rooms and entertainment spaces. With views over Horse Guards Parade and St. James’s Park, it a scenic base from which to explore one of the world’s cocktail capitals.
Spring 2023, www.theowo.london
Banyan Tree Valle de Guadalupe Resort, Spa and Winery
Ensenada, Mexico
Mexico’s Tequila-producing regions are rightly famous. But the nation’s lesser-known wine scene in Baja California makes an intriguing base. Set across 40 acres, Banyan Tree’s new Valle de Guadalupe luxury resort will itself include a full working winery, with vineyards, fermentation, barrel and aging rooms, a winemaking lab, a tasting room and an underground cellar. While five culinary spaces have your gastronomic needs taken care of, the Veya spa completes the ‘multisensory experience’ of the valley. Treatments will use endemic plants grown just steps away.
Autumn 2023, www.banyantree.com
Warren Street Hotel
New York City, USA
Firmdale Hotels, the company behind London’s Ham Yard Soho and Charlotte Street hotels, is the latest to set its sights on trendy Tribeca. The new sister property to the city’s Crosby Street and Whitby hotels follows the same formula of turning unloved properties into luxury destinations, in this case, a former car park. Alongside the 57 individually designed bedrooms and suites furnished with contemporary art, there will be 12 residences over 11 floors, and the new Warren Bar and Restaurant. Beyond the neighbourhood’s cobblestone streets, the best bars of Soho, Little Italy, and Chinatown are within easy reach.
Autumn 2023, www.firmdalehotels.com
Bulgari Hotel Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan
If slick skyscrapers are what come to mind when you think about Japan’s capital city, Bulgari’s first Tokyo property won’t disappoint. Set to occupy the top seven floors of a new 45-storey tower, it’s designed – as with all Bulgari properties – by the architectural firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, meaning the brand’s signature Italian style will adorn all 98 rooms and luxury suites. Settle in the Bulgari Bar, Il Ristorante, the fireplace lounge, or its 1,500 sqm spa and rest those feet. Located close to the Imperial Palace and the shopping districts, Nihombashi and Ginza, it’s a convenient base to explore the city’s growing list of world-class bars.
TBC 2023, www.bulgarihotels.com
Vermelho
Melides, Portugal
Sitting below the hills of the Serra de Grândola and buffeted by the roaring Atlantic is Portugal’s hidden gem. Melides’ relaxed, beachy vibe has long attracted artists and other creatives. And from 2023, it will also be home to shoe designer Christian Louboutin’s new 15-room hotel. Opulent but relaxed, the historic villa will feature unique works of art, from frescos to ceramics, and antique furniture. Horse ride across the beach before heading inland to a tasting of wines produced by vineyards of the Alentejo region.
TBC 2023, www.vermelhohotel.com
The Hoxton
Edinburgh, Scotland
Whisky lovers have no shortage of fine places to stay when visiting Scotland’s capital. Yet, the city is set to boast one more. The Hoxton is bringing its funky fashionable vibe to the Georgian townhouses of Grosvenor Street, stitching together ten properties with a design scheme focused on block colours, subtle textures and locally sourced materials. Longer stays will be catered for with the addition of three ‘Hox Home’ three-bedroom, self-contained apartments. Bed in, and pour a wee dram.
TBC 2023, www.thehoxton.com
