Inside our Travel Editor’s Pick
of Recent Five-Star Openings

Once a noble residence, now a hotel with its own perspective, Orient Express La Minerva opened in April 2025, transforming a 17th-century palazzo just a short stroll from the Pantheon. The restoration, overseen by architect Hugo Toro, is elegant without affectation—a measured layering of plaster, travertine, velvet, and bronze. Sculptures by Rinaldo Rinaldi punctuate the open spaces, while subtle Art Deco accents surface in lighting, furniture profiles, and custom detailing.

Some of the 36 suites open onto the domes and cupolas of the Piazza della Minerva; others draw their curtains on the city skyline. On the rooftop, Gigi Roma serves a Mediterranean menu with ingredients sourced from Lazio’s markets, coastlines, and kitchen gardens. Downstairs, La Minerva Bar welcomes early risers with espresso and newspapers beneath a soaring glass atrium. Wellness treatments are personalized and low-intervention, incorporating products from Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella and Biologique Recherche. For those ready to explore, the hotel links directly to the La Dolce Vita Orient Express train, extending the pull of Rome’s historic center into the slower cadence of the Italian interior.

Tracing the arc of the Prinsengracht with its cobbled lanes and gabled façades, Rosewood Amsterdam has taken up residence in the former Palace of Justice. Opened in May 2025, the transformation is both precise and provocative. Once a seat of solemn rulings, the building now hosts Studio Piet Boon’s judgment of exceptional taste. Ceilings soar, light lingers, and oak, linen, and bronze bring a softened edge to the building’s neoclassical bones. Five signature suites mark a high point, none more striking than the Canal View Duplex, where a full-height glass wall appears to float above the waterline.

Restaurant Eeuwen draws inspiration from the region’s agricultural calendar, while the wood-paneled Advocatuur hotel bar features a menu that ranges from crisp, house-distilled jenever cocktails to smoky tandoor dishes. The Asaya Spa pairs Ayurvedic rituals with tailored therapies and a 12-metre indoor pool ripples beneath a vaulted ceiling. Concierge-curated itineraries span from private salon boat cruises through Amsterdam’s historic canals to wind-blown countryside escapes in nearby Durgerdam.

Tucked into the stillness of Nai Lert Park, Bangkok’s newest jewel redefines urban sanctuary. Opened in April 2025, Aman Nai Lert Bangkok is nestled within seven acres of tropical gardens once belonging to the park’s eponymous developer and tastemaker. Jean-Michel Gathy’s architecture brings a sculptural elegance to the lush grounds. Suites are capacious and composed, their interior furnishings drawing on silk, teak, and soft neutral tones. The Aman Suite occupies the full 18th floor—566 square meters of private residence with wraparound skyline views and generous space for entertaining.

Traditional Thai therapies complement integrative health treatments amid a dedicated Banya Spa House, complete with plunge pools and thermal rooms. A bespoke detox program, shaped by Novak Djokovic’s own recovery philosophy, aligns movement, ritual, and reset. Come evening, the terrace becomes a magnet for conversation as the city’s glow begins to shimmer just beyond the trees.