The Coolest Art Hotels Around the World

London

Photo courtesy of The Beaumont

Sleeping in the oaked-fumed interior that is Room, Antony Gormley’s womb-like cube sculpture, is a treat. But The Beaumont’s extraordinary suite isn’t the only reason to check into the first hotel from Chris Corbin and Jeremy King of Le Caprice and The Wolseley fame. Housed in a former parking garage, the hotel quickly became a new London classic, with its art deco-inspired rooms, spa, hammam and barber shop. Fashion Week saw a stream of editors and the actress Alicia Vikander in the American Bar, where the cocktails are old fashioned and the food is everything you want it to be. Selfridges may be just a stone’s throw away, but why walk when you can use the hotel’s vintage Daimler for Mayfair drop-offs? thebeaumont.com

Zurich

Photo courtesy of Dolder Grand

With its fairy-tale spires, the Dolder Grand could have stayed as a traditional historic property, if not for the four-year renovation that saw the addition of two wings designed by Foster & Partners, and a partnership with Galerie Gmurzynska that saw modern art by the likes of Keith Haring and Takashi Murakami spread around the 178-room icon. Guests checking in now do so under Andy Warhol’s 11-metre masterpiece Big Retrospective Painting, while works by Dalí, Richter and Pissarro complement chef Heiko Nieder’s modern take on European cuisine in The Restaurant, its two-Michelin-starred dining room. Suites have been inspired by everyone from the Rolling Stones to Herbert von Karajan, and it’s hard to beat the hotel’s enviable position overlooking Lake Zurich and the huge spa offering organic facials and bamboo shiatsu. But if you do feel like venturing out, the efficent concierge will arrange every little thing. All very Swiss. thedoldergrand.com

New York City

Photo courtesy of The Surrey

While most of the hotel buzz focuses on hip downtown spots, there’s something to be said for staying uptown. But eschew the grande dames for the discreet East Side retreat that is The Surrey. Housed in a classic Beaux Arts building, it feels more like a friend’s expensively decorated townhouse than a hotel, albeit with Café Boulud on the ground floor and a spa on the second floor. Rooms are what you’d expect. What sets it apart is the art. A Chuck Close tapestry of Kate Moss rubs shoulders with a Jimmie Martin graffiti cabinet and a video installation by William Kentridge. The Met and the Guggenheim are on the doorstep and Art Muse founder Natasha Schlesinger offers curated art tours. Don’t miss cocktails on the private roof terrace. thesurrey.com

San José del Cabo, Mexico

Photo courtesy of Mar Adentro

Forget the Cabo made notorious by the hordes of American college kids on spring break. Those in the know will be heading north to San José de Cabo, to Mar Adentro, the sleek, all-white property designed by renowned Mexican architect Miguel Angel Aragonés. Opening this month, Mar Adentro is design-led minimalism at its best, with individual suites that seem to float above vast mirrored pools. Nothing has been overlooked. Personalised pillow menu? Check. High-tech gym? Check. On-site movie theatre? Check. But it’s the art gallery with its rotating exhibitions that really sets Mar Adentro apart. Not feeling so highbrow? Head to the private beach for fresh fish tacos from the food truck. maradentrocabos.com