2015 Nov 29
Often overlooked but just as integral as well-designed guest rooms, these hotel baths offer a wow factor all their own.
OSPREY PAVILION, SOUTHERN OCEAN LODGE, KANGAROO ISLAND, AUSTRALIA
With sprawling views across a pristine island in the Great Australian Bight, this bathroom features a hand-carved granite tub and heated limestone floors. From $1,524 per person/night (includes all meals and a selection of excursions)
ROYAL MONCEAU SUITE, LE ROYAL MONCEAU RAFFLES, PARIS
Conceived by French interior design star Philippe Starck, the extraordinary bathroom in the Royal Monceau Suite features a ceiling that’s entirely backlit. As a result, the space is devoid of shadows, a crafty trick that Starck, who prides himself on “democratic design” (function before form), carefully calibrated to ensure that guests have the best possible light in which to see themselves in the mirrored walls. From $16,020/night
KINGSTON TREEHOUSE, LION SANDS GAME RESERVE, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA
I LOVE AMSTERDAM SUITE, CONSERVATORIUM, AMSTERDAM
Housed in the rafters of Amsterdam’s former Postal Savings Bank from the 19th century, this haven features a deep soak tub and is clad entirely in Jerusalem sandstone. Oregon pine and hemlock beams provide a dramatic counterpoint to the sleek surfaces. From $3,869/night
AFFRESCO SUITE, IL SALVIATINO, FLORENCE, ITALY
As the name would suggest, this suite (and consequently its bathroom) is anchored by a Bruschi fresco from 1886, discovered during the building’s most recent renovation. Central to the space is an ancient soaking tub of intricately carved stone. From $1,216/night
SUITE BATHROOMS AT AMAN TOKYO
Composed of traditional Japanese building materials—camphor wood, washi paper, and Kakou Gan granite—this tranquil bathroom features expansive views over Tokyo’s Otemachi district. Sizable furo soaking tubs—an integral part of the Japanese bathing ritual—complete these rooms. From $620/night
PHULAY BAY, A RITZ-CARLTON RESERVE, KRABI, THAILAND
The four-leaf clover is a recurring theme in this indoor-outdoor bathing pavilion—it appears in the shape of the terrazzo-and-mother-of-pearl bathtub, the sinks, and the window frame. Folding screens with traditional Thai Lanna paintings envelop the bathing suite. From $465/night
VIÑA VIK, MILLAHUE, CHILE
U.K.–based custom furniture manufacturer Splinter Works created a special carbon-fiber Vessel bathtub to mimic the form of a relaxing hammock—the perfect spot to enjoy views of the Chilean wine country. From $1,200/night
DROMADAIRE SUITE, LA SULTANA, MARRAKECH
Past a pair of antique copper doors, the walls in the Dromadaire Suite bath are dressed in hand-applied tadelakt, a traditional Moroccan plaster that’s treated with natural soap to increase its water resistance. The room—with its marble tub and surrounding columns—is inspired by a traditional palanquin, used across North Africa to carry women through camel caravans. From $561/night
DEDON ISLAND, THE PHILIPPINES
Designed as a “laboratory” to test out Dedon’s line of exclusive outdoor furniture, Dedon Island is a living testament to the company’s mantra of “barefoot luxury.” This theme certainly presides over the guest baths, which feature locally sourced bamboo and yakal wood, indigenous stone, a rain shower cleverly concealed in the ceiling, and, of course, Dedon’s Babylon stools. From $552 per person/night
This article was first published in the Architectural Digest
