Hotels with Hybrid Approaches to Hospitality

GEORGIA

Embodying the zeitgeist of contemporary Tbilisi, Stamba Hotel is a living, breathing reflection of the city’s growing global significance and refined dynamism. Every space onsite renews Georgia’s cultural heritage while bolstering its contemporary creativity, from the visual arts to culinary developments. In 2018, Stamba launched as an upscale boutique hotel. Soon after, it was expanded to include SpaceFarms, the country’s first vertical farm and the Tbilisi Photography & Multimedia Museum, the first institution in Georgia dedicated entirely to the contemporary image in its different forms. These were later joined by Udabno Lab, a zero-waste production site for almond-based products like oil, milk, and ice cream in collaboration with Europe’s largest regenerative farm. A few months ago, Stamba’s offerings were expanded once more to include D Block, a uniquely designed place fit for coworking, collaborating, and special events.

BULGARIA

Awash in natural fabrics and handmade furniture, with abundant light and a restaurant that interacts with the outside scene, Junó Hotel Sofia is a cozy, urban wonder in the pulsing heart of Sofia’s downtown. Small balconies off each room and a terrace on the roof invite guests to feel at one with the city, while sliding glass panels and floor-to-ceiling windows connect the lobby and restaurant to the urban rhythm. At the restaurant and bar Cookó Kitchen:Drinks, chef Valeri Rusanov focuses on organic and seasonal farm-to-table fare inspired by the best of Mediterranean and Bulgarian cuisine. Additionally, the hotel is adorned with the stunning work of Bulgarian artist Pavel Koychev, including a bold white-cement, marble, and felt sculpture called Female torso.

LITHUANIA

Set in the heart of Vilnius’ Old Town, Hotel Pacai perfectly echoes the quarter’s 17th-century Baroque grandeur yet augments it with a contemporary twist. Housed in a historic mansion dating back to the 15th century, original features of the building—such as exposed bricks and barn timber, cracked pilasters and patches of ancient frescos—are paired with tufted leather finishes, sleek marble benches, and slender midcentury furniture. The melding of old and new is reflected at Restaurant & Bar Pacai, where the authentic tastes of Lithuania are unlocked through a seasonal fine-dining experience. Spa Pacai, too, incorporates traditional Lithuanian herbs alongside high-tech skincare into its treatments, carried out by practitioners who think holistically and value the mind-body connection. 

GERMANY

Hamburg’s The George offers a smart interpretation of a social club—but here no membership is required. Located in one of the city’s most vibrant and diverse neighborhoods, St. Georg, the hotel gives the trendy restaurants and inviting cafés dotting the area a run for their money with an impressive restaurant serving Mediterranean fare and a sophisticated bar with plenty of outdoor space. Restaurant DaCaio offers an ever-changing menu of Italian cuisine, and the Campari Lounge on the roof terrace looks out over the Outer Alster lake. Other unique spaces include a beautifully wallpapered library, a light-flooded spa with views of the lake, handsome meeting rooms with dark timber flooring, and an austere smoker’s lounge with striking leather furniture.

SWITZERLAND

In Champfèr, St. Moritz, seven historic Engadine buildings were renovated and interconnected to create Giardino Mountain, a luxurious mountain resort with three lauded restaurants. Helmed by Executive Chef Rolf Fliegauf, the restaurant Ecco, located in the former chapel of one of the historic buildings, boasts two Michelin stars and 18 Gault Millau points; Stüva offers traditional Engadine dishes with an Alpine hut ambiance; and Hide & Seek serves up casual contemporary dishes crafted with local, seasonal ingredients. The property also features a bar-lounge, a discreet cigar bar, and the dipiù Spa, which boasts a mosaic indoor pool, various saunas and steam baths, and treatment rooms with offerings inspired by Ticino and carried out with the hotel’s own skincare line made from regional ingredients.

PORTUGAL

Dating back to 1338, Torre de Palma Wine Hotel in Monforte, in Portugal’s Alentejo region, celebrates the ancient Roman passion for wine, olive oil, horses, and wellbeing. The sprawling estate features a boutique winery with small marble presses that help produce seven varietals. “We do wine traditionally, artisanally, which means guests can partake in every step of the winemaking process,” says Ana Isabel Rebelo, one of the hotel’s Originals. There are also stables where guests of all ages can feed and help groom Lusitano horses. Those seeking more of a journey can venture out on horseback through the vineyards and discover ancient Roman ruins along the way, or enjoy a relaxed picnic in the olive grove. After a day observing rich birdlife and traipsing through wildflowers, the onsite spa is a perfect place to unwind with treatments like vinotherapy, massage, and aromatherapy and amenities including an indoor and outdoor pool, a Jacuzzi, and a Turkish bath.