Latest news with #PatriciaUrquiola
Times
5 days ago
- Times
Il Sereno review: a uniquely modern hotel on the banks of Lake Como
When it opened in 2016 in the small town of Torno, this thoroughly modern hotel ruffled the feathers of Como's grande-dame properties with its unashamedly sharp-edged aesthetic, crafted by celebrated designer Patricia Urquiola. The 40 lake-view suites are pared back with panache, the food is Michelin-starred and the spa is in a converted boathouse full of character. You really are on the lake here — its gently lapping water is only inches away as you swim in the photogenic outdoor pool, and there's even a tiny natural beach beneath the terrace. For extra wow factor, the hotel has Riva boats for stylish outings. This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue Score 9/10Urquiola is one of her generation's pre-eminent designers. Her work is displayed in the permanent collection of MoMa in New York and the Fonds National d'Art Contemporain in Paris. As she is based in Milan, about an hour's drive away, Il Sereno feels like her weekend residence — and the attention to detail reflects that. The use of local book-matched marble is stunning, accessorised by Venetian terrazzo floors and walnut fixtures that add depth and warmth. For glamour, she's added watery blue, bronze and tangerine tones to the day beds from B&B Italia, husk armchairs by Moroso, custom lighting by Flos and covetable hand-knotted Warli rugs by Paolo Zani. Bathrooms are calming cocoons, many with deep tubs as well as rainforest showers. All are stocked with pampering black amber amenities by the A-list-approved Ex Voto Paris. There are also generous touches such as a complimentary panettone and minibars. In short, the rooms are so classy that you barely notice the dreamy views over the lake through the walls of windows. Score 9/10 The Naples-born executive chef Raffaele Lenzi was running his own pastry shop at 14 and went on to work in world-class kitchens such as the then two-Michelin-starred Arquade at the Hotel Villa del Quar in Verona. He has been presiding over Ristorante Il Sereno Al Lago since 2016 and everything about this dining experience is theatrical. You approach via an extraordinary 'floating' sculptural staircase with walnut treads lashed together by copper-coloured metal rods, and sit beneath the building's ancient stone arches, the lake almost within touching distance. Like the design, dinner takes its culinary cues from the past but adds a 21st-century dynamism. Tasting menus showcase Lombardian produce and you should expect the unexpected. Apologies for spoiling the surprises, but this might include a moreish hummus of fermented borlotti beans, perfectly cooked cauliflower with carbonara sauce, delicately piquant rainbow trout with sweet-and-sour melon and horseradish, and unforgettable veal osso buco. Breakfast embraces healthy granolas and fruit but can't resist Italian sugar hits of custard-filled doughnuts and panettone. • More of the best hotels in Lake Como• Best villas in Lake Como Score 9/10The sleek 18m infinity pool runs lengthwise to the lake and is fitted with underwater music and mood lighting. It has a smart sun deck lined with pea-green loungers. To its side is a mini sandy beach with direct access into the lake should you prefer to swim there. There are also paddleboards, kayaks and a rowing boat to take onto the water. The small spa is in a characterful old boat house and somehow squeezes in a hot tub, sauna, steam room, fitness centre and three treatment rooms where excellent therapists work their magic with products from the Swiss luxury skincare brand Valmont. The hotel also has its own private dock, three self-drive Riva boats and a Urquiola-designed Vaporina del Lago water limousine for aquatic explorations in style. Score 8/10Torno is on your doorstep and is a pretty little town with atmospheric cafés, quaint churches and precious few tourists. If you hanker after hordes of holidaymakers, fashionable Como town is about a 15-minute drive away, where you'll find designer stores and fancy restaurants. Torno has a pier and ferry services and is about a ten-minute walk from the hotel for trips further afield. Price B&B doubles from £765Restaurant three course menus from £112Family-friendly YAccessible Y Susan d'Arcy was a guest of Il Sereno ( • Lake Como v Lake Garda: which one should you visit?• Best villas in Lake Garda
The Independent
21-07-2025
- The Independent
Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona hotel review
Located on the city's buzzy luxury shopping street, Passeig de Gràcia in Eixample, this is one of the city's finest addresses, home to an exceptional spa, rooftop pool and a two-Michelin-star restaurant Location Aside from Versace, Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Prada, the hotel is surrounded by two of Gaudí's masterpieces: Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, meaning you can take your couture with a side of culture when meandering around the area. The hotel is set back from the busy street by a long walkway and offers an oasis from the chaos of the Catalonia capital, complete with a rooftop infinity pool that overlooks the city's gothic spires and offers panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. The Gràcia neighbourhood offers a showcase of Modernista architecture on the Illa de la Discòrdia where Domènech i Muntaner and Puig i Cadafalch left their mark with Casa Lleó Morera and Casa Amatller, respectively. Expect ornate facades, endless bar options and plenty of Michelin-starred restaurants. The vibe Barcelona is a city that pulses with energy, yet inside the hotel, the atmosphere is joyfully peaceful. The mid-20th century building was previously the Hispano Americano private bank, which has been transformed into an elegant hotel. Designed by the revered Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola, the decor is sleek and contemporary, with light wooden flooring, French rugs and large walk-in showers in each room. Hidden away up a staircase from the hotel's reception is the serene Mimosa Garden, designed by landscape architect Bet Figueras. The 660-square-meter terrace is plush with lavender bushes and rattan booths – the perfect place to hide away for some time alone. Meanwhile, chilling poolside is an effortless joy as waiters bring guests complimentary sunscreen and a personal cool box – containing apples and luxury water on a bed of ice – to guests as they tan. By night, the rooftop transforms into a vibey bar as loungers vanish and are replaced by intimate tables where visitors can enjoy creative tapas and classic cocktails as the sun sets over the city. Service The service at Mandarin Oriental is impeccable. Tea and a hot flannel are offered to guests at check-in, bags are taken from you at the door, and bottles of water are handed out in case you've built up a thirst from the airport. On arrival to the room, you'll find little touches like a handwritten note and a sweet snack. Staff are friendly, accommodating, and almost anticipate your every need. You don't need to call them often – but when you do, help comes happily and hastily. Here, nothing is too much trouble. Bed and bath Expect immaculate rooms with crisp white sheets and plenty of natural light. There are homely touches such as coffee table books and flowers added to make the space feel familiar, with slim balconies overlooking Gràcia in some rooms and suites. The bedding is seriously comfortable with no noise from the lively street below making its way up into the room. Bathrooms are large with double sinks, walk-in showers and separate baths separated by sliding doors. Water pressure is excellent and haircare and body products from the Miriam Quevedo extreme caviar range are as sumptuous and moisturising as they sound. Food and drink Moments, by Raül Balam and his mother Carme Ruscalleda, is the two-Michelin-starred restaurant on site. Balam is one of the most garlanded chefs in the world, and the food here is creative and proudly Catalan. Blanc, the hotel's less formal dining option, is where the buffet breakfast is held each day. No holds are barred, with Iberico ham carved as requested, bottles of cava popped from the moment the day begins, mountains of manchego cheese, and fresh pastries waiting for guests from 7am until 11am. Terrat – the vibey rooftop bar – is the perfect place for some poolside snacks or evening tapas. Meanwhile, the hotel's celebrated Banker's Bar offers a quirky drinking destination, with the former bank's steel safes used as decoration in the gentlemen's club-esque cocktail spot. Facilities The facilities at Mandarin Oriental will make you want to live here forever. Located on the minus one level of the hotel, the spa has an expansive 12-meter indoor heated swimming pool, a hammam and rainforest showers, as well as a fully serviced fitness centre. Think magnesium water in a mini fridge by the weights machines, with dates and fruit nearby to snack on once you've finished your workout. Bliss. Plus, it's open 24/7. If the gym isn't your vibe, you can also book personal training services or private yoga classes. Exercise mats can be left in your room or suite, so if you want to work out alone to a YouTube video, that's possible, too. The spa facilities are expansive with eight spacious treatment rooms, whirlpools and a seriously calming relaxation room complete with colouring books and Rubik's cubes to take your mind off any daily stresses. There's also free wifi throughout the hotel. Disability access MO Barcelona has four accessible rooms. In addition, all rooms and suites feature wheelchair accessible walk-in showers, which the housekeeping team can adapt with suction grab bars as needed. Pet Policy The hotel has pet-friendly rooms, with treats, bowls and beds available. Check in/check out Check in 3pm, check out 12 noon. Family friendly? Despite being so zen, the MO Barcelona is surprisingly child-friendly. Cots are provided and children under 12 stay free. There are also family suites, which accommodate up to six people. In the Blanc restaurant, there are children's menus and a play zone with board games, toys and a screen showing movies, to keep small ones entertained while adults have brunch. At a glance Best thing: Stunning skyline views of the city with kind staff who'll cater to your every need. Worst thing: There's a two-sided lift system, which can sometimes be confusing. Right for: Anyone who seriously needs to chill. Not right for: Groups on a budget.
Hospitality Net
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hospitality Net
Il Sereno, Lake Como Presents the Darsena Listening Suite: the World's First Hotel Suite Built Entirely Around the Art of Listening
Created for sound - Owner-audiophile Luis Contreras and designer Patricia Urquiola turn 200 m² of lakefront space into a dedicated hi-fi sanctuary. Championing analogue - Klipsch La Scala loudspeakers, McIntosh tube pre-amp and amplifier, Thorens turntable, and a meticulously rebuilt Revox reel-to-reel deck. With over 500 vinyl records—and counting—the music is never just background. Private Michelin experience - Chef Raffaele Lenzi serves tasting menus in-suite, with each course unfolding to a thoughtfully curated musical backdrop. Living collection - Guests may request favourite albums in advance, with the records joining the library for future listeners. Inspired by Japan's jazz-kissa - Adapts the quiet-listening culture now trending worldwide to an Italian modernist setting on Lake Como. This season, Il Sereno Lago di Como introduces its most personal and immersive offering yet: The Darsena Listening Suite. Conceived by owner-audiophile Luis Contreras and brought to life together with designer Patricia Urquiola, this 200 m² lakefront sanctuary redefines the travel experience through music. The suite becomes a cultural space where high-fidelity analogue music, tactile contemporary design and Michelin-starred cuisine converge, with the lake as natural backdrop. Drawing on Tokyo's jazz-kissa listening cafés—intimate venues where vinyl is revered—The Darsena Listening Suite is believed to be the first hotel guestroom anywhere designed entirely around the act of listening. How a Reel-to-Reel Sparked the Dream In early 2021, shortly after Italy's lockdown lifted, Luis Contreras found himself transfixed by the gentle spin of a vintage Revox B77 reel-to-reel tape deck during a dinner. That simple, hypnotic loop—and the warm, analogue hum that accompanied it—inspired him to create a space where guests could truly pause, lower a stylus and immerse themselves in music. Over the next year, he journeyed through the world of high-end hifi, meeting bespoke tubeamp artisans, exploring artisanal systems and combing vintage hifi listings online. While handcrafted, old-school rigs proved breathtaking, their delicacy and complexity made them impractical for daily hotel use. Equally tempting were classic vintage turntables and speakers—high-end hifi, like fine automobiles, holds its value—but the unpredictability of older equipment posed too many reliability risks. Ultimately, Contreras chose a hybrid path: modern reissues of iconic designs that deliver classic sound with guest proof stability. The suite's core system now features Klipsch La Scala II speakers, a glowing McIntosh MC275 amplifier, a MacIntosh C22 Preamp, a Thorens 1601 turntable with Sumiko Amethyst cartridge and the restored Revox deck that sparked the entire vision. To this, he added more than 500 LPs from his personal collection—from Deutsche Grammophon box sets to original press Bowie—and a promise that any guest's personal favourites will be sought out and added to the library. Redesigning The Luxury Suite as a Cultural Space Contreras involved Urquiola in the design, approaching it with the same reverence given to sound. A 50-foot wall of custom-woven jacquard fabric echoes the rippling water while refining acoustics. Rich walnut panelling, sculptural bronze fixtures and a monumental bespoke stone dining table form a theatre of textures and light. Molteni sofas, Gio Ponti Leggera chairs and tactile surfaces create areas for listening, lounging and gathering. Floor-to-ceiling glass blurs the line between interior and landscape, while a private deck with direct lake access invites guests to step out and swim straight from the sanctuary of the Listening Suite. From the hush of thick fabrics to the cool solidity of stone and the warm embrace of brushed wood, every detail was selected to heighten the senses. Culinary Artistry: Soundtrack to Dinner At Contreras' request, Studio Urquiola conceived a sculptural round stone table seating up to ten guests, set atop a richly coloured custom rug and positioned directly before the audio system, with Lake Como unfolding beyond. An evening here—watching the hypnotic motion of the Revox Reel-to-Reel, immersed in music, taking in the lake views, and enjoying Chef Lenzi's refined cuisine alongside a well-chosen Italian wine—offers a sensory experience that is both intimate and unforgettable. Chef Raffaele Lenzi brings his Michelin-starred Sereno Al Lago menu into the suite, where each dish is served against a backdrop of curated vinyl, perhaps a smoky jazz side to complement a lapsang-infused artichoke, or a Baroque concerto to mirror the rhythm of a delicate Risotto alla Pescatora. The warmth of a vacuum-tube amp deepens the earthy aroma of autumn truffles, while bright string arrangements elevate the citrus-forward seafood crudo. Each course is experienced as a movement in a larger composition, marked by the quiet, tactile ritual of lifting the tonearm and placing the next record. After dinner, guests may linger over a final side—a bold anthem or a whispered lullaby—transforming the suite into a lounge for lingering conversation and reflection. A Living Concept Far from static, The Darsena Listening Suite is a living project. Guest-requested records become part of the permanent archive; Contreras's son has already added his own selections, bridging generations through shared music. When not booked overnight, the suite transforms into an intimate venue for private dinners or curated listening salons for up to ten guests—keeping the space as dynamic as the playlists it celebrates. A Global Rise of Listening Rooms As vinyl sales surge and travellers seek intimate, acoustically tuned experiences, listening bars and private sound sanctuaries have proliferated from London's Spiritland to New York's niche hifi lounges. Il Sereno extends this movement, embedding jazz-kissa principles into an immersive guest suite with Lake Como's timeless elegance. Il Sereno: Continuing to Set the Standard in Experiential Hospitality Since its opening, Il Sereno has distinguished itself through its commitment to design, craftsmanship, and understated luxury. A jewel on the shores of Lake Como, the hotel offers lake-facing suites, heritage Italian furnishings, and unparalleled service. Guests can explore the lake on a handcrafted Ernesto Riva boat, enjoy scenic drives in Maseratis, FIAT 500's and classic Alfas, or discover hidden villages by Vespa or foot. With the unveiling of The Listening Suite, Il Sereno affirms its place at the vanguard of luxury travel—not merely as a destination, but as a curator of culture, a host of meaningful experiences, and a home for those who find beauty in detail. Rate from $6,300 inclusive of breakfast, plus VAT. Hotel website
Elle
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
How And Why A Stay At The Emory Has Become London's Most-Coveted Reservation
It's hard to imagine a landscape more competitive than London's hotel scene. From Belgravia's quaint addresses that boast big histories, to the legendary names that have defined what is truly brilliant hospitality and not forgetting the cool stays that line the streets of East London, there's a lot to choose from. FIND OUT MORE AT ELLE COLLECTIVE One hotel that's proving to be best in class and the new stay to covet is The Emory. Whether you're flying in to the capital or wanting to mark a special occasion with an even more special stay, this Knightsbridge hotel has all you could want and more packaged up in contemporary interiors that redefine what we think of as luxury design. Situated a stone's throw from Hyde Park Corner (and boasting heavenly views from the top floor), the hotel holds a striking space along Knightsbridge thanks to its architecture. Designed by the late Richard Rogers, the legendary architect behind Paris's Pomidou and London's Lloyds building, its 61 suites (not rooms, as each is intended to be lived in no matter how long the stay) have been designed with precision and flair by the world's leading architects and designers including Patricia Urquiola, Rigby & Rigby and Andre Fu. And yet for all its design brilliance, it is the service and facilities that make The Emory truly special and there's something to keep you there from morning to night whether you are a gym bunny, gastronome or simply in search of the best spa treatments and wellness hacks in the world. It's impossible to leave. Consider first that the A-list's favourite exercise partner Tracy Anderson has a fitness space within the hotel, where the studio is packed with bespoke equipment and kept at 35 degrees and 75% humidity to optimise workouts. Or, Surrenne. A truly best-in-class spa and wellness centre that offers exceptional treatments including signature facials through to microbiome analysis and Vo2 Max testing should you need it. All of these happen just off its swimming pool that is finished with a gold-leaf ceiling and lit with natural sunlight. Restaurants and bars are also as equally brilliant. The global superstar Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten has abc kitchens on the ground floor where seasonal dishes are created from organic, local fare with vibrancy and flavour that often defies the greying London sky outside. Kostas Sfaltos, managing director of The Emory and its neighbouring The Berkeley believes that it's the meeting of great spaces and services that makes it so special. 'The Emory is offering something completely different for guests, particularly meeting a growing demand for privacy and a highly personalised service in London and beyond,' he tells ELLE UK. Sfaltos and his team don't go so much as above and beyond as exceptional attention and service is the standard at The Emory. 'Each guest is offered a new level of tailored, personalisation with exceptional amenities and a dedicated Emory Guest Liaison on hand 24/7,' he says. 'We want to ensure The Emory helps enrich memories and experiences no matter what.' Amongst these exceptional experiences every stay will always include breakfast that can be served in your suite or in Jean-Georges' abc kitchens, an in-suite bar stocked with seasonal tipples and nibbles, complimentary membership to Surrenne for the duration of your stay, unpacking and pressing service on arrival and, most useful perhaps, use of The Emory house car. Yet, the magic of The Emory is not only reserved for guests spending the night. The crown jewel is the rooftop bar with views extending across London and makes for a great spot to take in the city's skyline whether it's on Bonfire Night or during a Buckingham Palace flyover. As Sfaltos says: 'There's no better spot to wind down after the working day.' How lucky for us then that the ELLE office is (in the grand scheme of London) just down the road. Book your stay at The Emory here. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE. Freelancer
Travel Weekly
21-05-2025
- Travel Weekly
New suites and redesigned pool at Jumeirah Capri Palace
Set in the village of Anacapri and perched nearly 1,000 feet above sea level, the Jumeirah Capri Palace unveiled five new suites and a pool area designed by architect Patricia Urquiola. The new suites feature three categories: Junior Suite Anacapri View, Deluxe Suite Terrace and Suite Terrace Pool Side. The new suites, which overlook the Bay of Naples, bring the total number of accommodations to 72 rooms and suites. The hotel's pool and bar areas have been redesigned to add a Caprese garden that now frames the Bar degli Artisti pool bar, as well as a newly landscaped lounge terrace. The hotel is host to The White Museum, a private collection of contemporary works showcased throughout the common areas. Other amenities include a two-Michelin-star restaurant, L'Olivo, and the seafood eatery Il Riccio Restaurant. Jumeirah Capri Palace is also home to Zuma Capri, perched high on the hotel's rooftop with unobstructed sea views, and a-Ma-Re Capri, a seafront osteria offering Neapolitan cuisine and a pizza menu curated by Franco Pepe. The Capri Medical Spa offers a menu of customized therapies and wellness treatments. Rates for the new suites range from about $1,700 for the Junior Suite Anacapri View to $5,500 for the Deluxe Suite Terrace.
