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The world’s most inspiring hotel bathrooms
Expect a hotel stay to involve a spa-like bathroom or toilet to remember? These are the spots to stay in…
The joy of a fantastic hotel bathroom can never be underestimated. Perfectly styled and well-appointed, they can elevate your stay to next-level luxury. And, if you’re looking for a hotel bathroom that will truly delight and inspire, you could do no better than these venues. Scattered around the world, they are the cream of the bathroom crop for discerning travellers.
Of course, for every dream bathroom, there’s also a horror story. Want to hear about when hotel bathroom design goes wrong? We asked Pandora Sykes to share her personal hotel bathroom nightmares.
Jonojé, Bruges
For Studio Loho, Jonojé, a hotel in Bruges, was an opportunity to experiment with aesthetics and materiality. Nearly all of the furniture was designed, made, or commissioned by the studio. This includes the basins, which are hand-finished in clay. The studio wanted to design around the acts of showering and washing themselves, rather than the space that contains them. So, instead of creating an enclosed shower area, it created the shower as an object in its own right: a vessel that frames the gesture rather than merely housing it. jonoje.com
The Netty, Oxford
The Netty hotel in Oxford is built around the concept of transforming what was once a Victorian public toilet into somewhere beautiful, atmospheric and unexpected. A pink high-cistern WC in this ensuite acts as a playful nod to the building’s former life, and was the starting point for the entire bathroom concept. Because the rooms sit below street level, interior designer Rachel Gowdridge was very conscious of creating depth, warmth and atmosphere. Rich colour and reflective surfaces, like the ceramic silver basin by Vida XL, layered textures and decorative detailing all help draw you into the space and create a sense of escapism. thenetty.co.uk
Orient Express La Minerva, Rome
Throughout Orient Express La Minerva, Rome, architect Hugo Toro wanted spaces feel cinematic and timeless, almost like fragments of a Roman dream. The bathroom reflects this through elegant materials, handcrafted features and subtle references to Roman architecture. The standout piece is the sculptural, richly veined marble basin, inspired by the city’s Triton fountain, conceived as a small monument within the room. orient-express.com
Splendido, Portofino
With the bathrooms at Splendido, Martin Brudnizki and his team wanted to give guests the most luxurious experience. The main features are the mosaics and the Graniglia alla Genovese used on the floors. Every bathroom has custom-designed drapery with lace details, as per the Italian tradition. Generously sized showers and baths are paired with large vanity tops, which provide space for toiletries and soaps. A soft and calm palette was selected for the materials to ensure the guests have a peaceful experience. belmond.com
Hotel Pilar, Antwerp
Local interior architecture practice Studio Contekst played with traditional boundaries in the 21 rooms of Hotel Pilar, a boutique hotel in the Belgian capital. An example of this can be seen in the way there is no separation between this bedroom and its bathroom. The shower tiles are reclaimed from an old factory and acquired through Rotor Deconstruction in Brussels, which you can purchase in the hotel gift shop. hotelpilar.be
The Newman, London
The bathrooms at The Newman are heavily inspired by the local art deco architecture of Fitzrovia, including the Gem Langham Court Hotel, a Victorian building that features a striking black and white glazed-brick façade. Such patterns inspired Lind + Almond’s designs. Almost all of the furnishings and lighting at the hotel are entirely bespoke. In the bathrooms, there are custom-made carved marble vanities, while the tiles were made by Gorbon Tiles. thenewman.com
25hrs Hotel, Copenhagen
Renowned London-based Swedish interior designer Martin Brudnizki worked on the concept for this hotel brand’s latest outpost, located in a former porcelain factory. The antithesis of typical Scandinavian style, its colourful bathrooms eschew pared-back neutrals, instead sporting graphic patterns and punchy colours that serve as a visual dopamine hit. 25hours-hotels.com
Hotel Saint Vincent, New Orleans
Award-winning studio Lambert McGuire Design was responsible for the restoration and redesign of this hotel, a 19th-century red-brick building in the city’s Lower Garden District that was once home to an infant asylum. Those days have been firmly placed in the past thanks to the addition of maximalist bathrooms featuring glossy scarlet tiles and custom-designed marbled wallpaper. saintvincentnola.com
Nobu Ryokan, Malibu
If the thought of showering under California skies makes your heart sing, add a stay at this hotel to your bucket list. Designed by Studio PCH and Montalba Architects, the converted 1950s beachfront property combines the minimalist aesthetic of traditional Japanese inns with the carefree spirit of its SoCal location. Think contemporary decor and handcrafted teak soaking tubs chosen to balance the flow of energy. malibu.nobuhotels.com
The Standard, London
Housed in a brutalist building that was once home to Camden Council, The Standard takes its cues from the 1970s and, according to designer Shawn Hausman, the ‘naughtiness of King’s Cross’. Suites feature terraces with soaking tubs overlooking St Pancras train station, while bathrooms are clad in stripy tiles guaranteed to offset London’s sometimes grey skyline. standardhotels.com
Proper Hotel, Santa Monica
Designer Kelly Wearstler was determined that guests should feel a connection to this hotel’s laidback location. Taking inspiration from palm trees and the beach, its bathrooms combine organic materials and earthy colours to create an easygoing sensory experience that will delight surfers and style seekers alike. ‘When you come to California, it’s just super-relaxed and friendly,’ says Wearstler. ‘It’s cool.’ properhotel.com
Dá Licença, Estermoz
This bijou hotel in the historic Portuguese city was conceived to make visitors feel instantly at home. ‘There’s a minimal and monastic side to Dá Licença,’ explain creatives Vitor Borges and Franck Laigneau, who were responsible for the design, ‘but it is never less than cosy and inviting.’ Serenity awaits in its bathrooms, with vintage furnishings and baths hewn from stone that pay homage to the region’s marble-rich terrain. dalicenca.pt
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