Family Life, food, Food & Dining, Reviews, Top 10, Travel

10 Best Luxury Hotels in Venice

All Photos Copyright NHYM 2026

Venice has a special place in my heart, I knew it by heart way before Jeff Bezos and George Clooney entered the picture and had their weddings there. My first time was as a med student in my 20s, taking a £9 Ryanair flight and staying in a rental flat for the week with my uni friends. We roamed the streets during low season, buying groceries and capuccinos like local Venetians, and ended up in authentic Venetian bars at night for cicchetti and Barolo. Then came the romantic trip to the Danieli for my birthday with my now husband in my 30s, the trip with the kids in my 40s, and then the 40th and 50th birthday parties at Palazzos and the Aman. I have been to Venice for every reason and season of my life, and each time, came away with memories to last a lifetime.

1. Hotel Danieli, a Four Seasons Hotel: Best for Romance & Rooftops. For my romantic birthday weekend away, my fiance (now husband) whisked me away in a water taxi to the world famous Hotel Danieli. My father, who was still alive, approved. It is one of the oldest palaces in Venice, renowned for its old-school grandeur. It might not be the newest, most polished hotel, but it holds tons of history between its walls. The rooftop restaurant is one-of-a-kind with sprawling views of Venice. The management has recently been taken over by the Four Seasons, so it can only get better.

Venice Canal NHYM 2026

2. Hotel San Clemente Palace Kempinski: Best for Space and Kids. When we went to Venice with our kids for the first time, we knew they weren’t old enough to be sight-seeing all day long without whining, so we needed an alternate plan when the heat, the crowds and the sight-seeing would send them into full melt-downs. Enter the San Clemente Palace: the ultimate Venice Kids Palace Hotel on its own island and is a vast resort for the kids to run around once the sight-seeing was done. We found the perfect way to sight-see-with-kids: Our mornings were spent weaving through the canals on gondolas and shopping for masks, while the afternoons were spent around their fabulous swimming pool and its cabanas, eating pizza in its garden restaurant. This is my favourite hotel in Venice with kids, so I highly recommend it.

3. Hotel Cipriani:, a Belmond Hotel Best for Unlimited budget. If money is no object, the Cipriani Hotel has a similar premise to the San Clemente: it is on its own island and has water shuttles to take you to the center of Venice. It is a Belmond Hotel so has all the bells and whistles of the top hotels of the world. Its terrace and pool are beautiful and it is an oasis away from the bustling overcrowding, oppressive Venice in the Summer. Friends have taken their children, and raved about it.

Masquerade Ball Aman Venice NHYM 2022

4. Aman Venice Palazzo Papadopoli Hotel: Best for weddings and Birthday parties. When we were invited to a Masquerade Ball/Birthday Party at the Aman Venice, we thought, ‘if it’s good enough for Amal and George, it’s definitely good enough for us.’ and we weren’t wrong. The Aman is a special, beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of Venice that is hard to surpass. Everything about it is beautiful: its lobby, its garden, its ballroom and its rooms. We were treated to events in all of them: the garden for aperitivo, dinner in the ballroom and dancing in the lobby. Sitting under the painted frescoes of the grand ballroom with dancers surrounding us, was an experience to remember forever. Please excuse the blurry not-perfect pictures, clearly signs of a good party…

5. Gritti Palace: Best for Sunset drinks & Serious Luxury: The Gritti Palace needs no introduction. For the most wonderful sunset drinks on its terrace by the canal, the Gritti has to win hands down so even if you don’t stay at the Gritti, you can always stop by for a drink. With beautiful views and history, the Gritti has enthralled dignitaries and aristocrats for centuries. For that bucket list experience, the Gritti holds it own.

Aman Ballroom NHYM 2022

6. Hotel Nani Mocenigo Palace: Best for Value for a small Palazzo. When a Venetian friend of ours decided to throw his 50th birthday party, he chose the Nani Mocenigo Palazzo. It is more understated than the great big palaces of San Clemente and the Gritti, but for a cosy, boutique feel, and very reasonable prices, it is a hidden gem that only a Venetian would know about. It has a lovely courtyard in the back, a priceless commodity in Venice.

7. Palazzo Venart: Best for privacy and travellers in-the-know. A Leading Hotel of the World, Palazzo Venart is a private, beautiful retreat with private gardens and unique style in Venice. Unlike the sceney Gritti and Danieli, Palazzo Venart provides all the luxury amenities and service, while providing a private oasis in the middle of Venice. It’s like your own private Palazzo with your room to choose.

View from the Nani Mocenigo Palace NHYM 2024

8. Excelsior Venice Lido Resort: Best for a Venice Beach Resort. This hotel, 15 minutes away from central Venice, is right on a beach and has hosted the Venice Film Festival each year. Need I say more? It is an iconic hotel on a large stretch of beach and has more space than any other hotel in Venice: it has 4 restaurants and offers very spacious rooms. This is another great hotel for kids, and even has a kids club during high season.

9. Nolinski Venezia: Best for those looking for modern interiors in a historical exterior. A new hotel on the Venice scene, the Nolinski is truly unique in Venice. Its interiors are a mixture of Art Deco, contemporary and mid-century, which if you know me, is right up my interior-design alley. It’s perfect for those design/modern oriented visitors who don’t want the heavy drapes, gold-gilded rooms and frescoes. There is also a spa and rooftop pool, both a rarity in Venice.

10. Hotel Palazzo Stern: Best for its location on the Grand Canal. For those who want a historical experience, the Stern delivers. It was used in the 2003 movie ‘The Italian Job’ and some Netflix movies as well, so you can be sure it’s got a decor that impresses. With only 24 rooms it is cosy with a lovely terrace, perfect for those who can’t quite afford the Gritti but want a Grand Canalside experience.

Dancers at the Masquerade Ball NHYM 2022

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New York, New York: The Top 10 Best Luxury Hotels in New York City & What to do with Kids in New York City

View of Statue of Liberty from the Water. NHYM 2024.

New York City is really my ‘Soul City.’ Even though I have lived in (and loved) London for almost 25 years and have built a happy, grounded family life, New York was my wild, passionate, love affair that I knew I had to eventually move on from. When I lived there in my 20s, I didn’t notice the dirty streets, the noisy honking or firetrucks blaring, or that the concrete jungle hid most of the sunshine and therefore any possible greenery. It didn’t matter, because I lived for the nightlife. For those who know, you know. The nightlife in the 90s was unforgettable: Tunnel and Limelight for dance music, Au Bar and Bilboquet for Euro spotting, Spy and Jet bar for the Soho Lounge Scene, Bowery bar and Bungalow 8 for the celebs, and finally Life and Spa for the best club nights I’ve had. Those were the best nights of my life.

Hotel View of Central Park. NHYM 2024.

But fast forward 25 years and I am happier than ever with my two gorgeous t(w)eens and I look back on those days with euphoric nostalgia, as a time I will never get back. So when it was time to take them to New York a few years ago, I had to make it the best-trip-ever. I wanted them to love it as much as I do so that I could come back over and over again and tell people ‘it’s because my kids love New York so much.’

The Plaza, Welcome Chocolate. NHYM 2024

When I told them we were going to New York, they both – separately – begged to stay at the Plaza. This is how strong Hollywood has entered our – and our kids’ – pysches. They both loved Home Alone so much that this was the only place they wanted to stay. Period. When I enquired, the hotel made it too easy for me to stay yes: they have rooms with two double beds that snuggly fit a family of four, the location is great and they have a magical ‘Home Alone Package.’ That clinched the deal.

The Plaza Home Alone Package Ice Cream Sundae. NHYM 2024

Needless to say, my kids LOVED New York and the Plaza, my eldest so much that she wants to live there. Maybe I went a little too far. More on our actual trip on another post, there’s too much to write for one post alone.

Brooklyn Bridge. NHYM 2024

For now, here are my top 10 Luxury Hotel Recommendations in NYC for families. Most of these have Family rooms or rooms with two double beds to fit a family of four. Others have suites to accommodate bigger families. These have also been chosen for their locations, covering all of Manhattan, from the Upper West Side to the Brooklyn Bridge.

  1. The Plaza (Central Park): With Home Alone 2 as advertisement, the Plaza needs no more introduction. Their Home Alone Package includes pizza, a limo ride around Manhattan and a giant ice cream sundae back in your room. Need I say more? It was the highlight of their trip.
  2. The Mandarin Oriental (Columbus Circle): This one is both for kids and adults: The Mandarin has beautiful rooms and views, and the Spa is one of the best in the city. There’s an Alo downstairs and plenty of shopping nearby, and is so centrally located you can go uptown/downtown/midtown in minutes.
  3. The Mercer (Soho Luxury): For the ultra fashion and trendy crowd, The Mercer is still a stalwart and its restaurant, Sartiano, an Italian-American restaurant, is named after a friend from my party days, Scott Sartiano.
  4. The Wallace (Upper West Side Boutique): For those looking for a more neighbourhood experience, The Wallace in the Upper West Side will give you a real taste of living in NYC.
  5. The Mark (Upper East Side Boutique): Same with the Mark, it has been around for ages, and is a boutique hotel in the Upper East Side if you want the ‘UES’ pied-a-terre experience.
  6. The Gansevoort (Meatpacking): For a great downtown location, the Gansevoort is next to the High Line, Little Island, all the meatpacking shopping and dining you can think of (CATCH, Pastis and more). They have a great rooftop bar and a pool for the kids to splash in (mornings only, sorry).
  7. The Moxy East Village (East Village): For an East Village experience, the Moxy hits the mark with its more hip, young feel and its various family rooms. It’s a great fit for families looking for good value and a more relaxed, fun atmosphere.
  8. The Beekman Thompson (Tribeca/Lower Manhattan): For those who want a lower Manhattan, boutique vibe, The Beekman remains one of the faves. It also has easy access to Brooklyn and the financial district, while maintaining its edginess with its cool design vibes.
  9. 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge (Brooklyn): For the too-cool-for-Manhattan crowd, this eco-friendly hotel gives you access to both Brooklyn and Manhattan. And the Brooklyn bridge is just so iconic.
  10. The Peninsula (Fifth Avenue) : For ultimate luxury, it’s hard to beat the Peninsula with its large indoor pool and family perks. It has spacious, luxurious rooms for families, the Grand Deluxe Double with 2 double beds.

WHAT DO IN NEW YORK CITY WITH KIDS:

To make it an unforgettable trip, I planned a special surprise 7 Day Movie/TV Schedule for them, to keep them anticipating the next day. Each Day was themed around a TV Show or Movie and the whole day would revolve around it: filming spots, restaurants, scenes etc.. They loved it!

Day 1: Gossip Girl

– Central Park Carriage Ride: Book Your Central Park Carriage Ride with Kids or Pedicab Ride Around Central Park

– The Met Steps: Book Your Tickets to the Met

– GG Restaurants: Sarabeth/Butter/Empire Rooftop/Russian Tea Room/The Oak Room/STK

Day 2: Elf

Empire State Building/Rockefeller Center

Day 3: BIG

FAO Schwartz

Day 4: MoneyBall

Baseball Game/Knicks Game

Day 5: Night at the Museum

Book Your Tickets to the Natural History Museum

Day 6: Home Alone 2

-Tour Around NYC in a Limo: 9/11 Memorial, The Edge,Statue of Liberty, Times Square M&M shop

-BOOK YOUR HOME ALONE 2 LIMO RIDE & PIZZA HERE

Day 7: The Lion King

Book Your Broadway Show here

Other absolutely necessary things to do:

-The High Line

– Ice-Cream Museum

– Restaurants: Any food you can ask for!

– Shopping in Soho/West Village/Meatpacking District. If you have girls: Glossier, Brandy Melville etc.. it’s a girl’s paradise!

I can guarantee you can’t beat these activities with your kids!

NHYM

xx

http://www.nottinghillmummy.com

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Top 10 Best Luxury Hotels in London: London’s Summer Party Social Scene & Where to stay if you’re in London

London Summer Parties – All Photos Taken by NHYM

Wimbledon Center Court- NHYM – 2024

When I was thinking about where to travel in June, I realised there was nowhere else like London: with the glorious weather and the best summer social scene in the world, everyone heads here in June. The London Summer Party Social Scene, also called ‘The Silly Season,’ really doesn’t compare to anything, anywhere else I know. This is the time my Instagram blows up with FOMO-inducing photos of Royal Ascot, Cartier Polo, the Chelsea Flower Show, Wimbledon, Henley Regatta, Silverstone, Goodwood (speed and horse racing), so many concerts and everyone’s summer party.

Royal Chelsea Flower Show NHYM 2025

And then there are fun-fair-themed garden parties, Summer Parties with Brazilian dancers, roaming musicians and bongo players, birthday countryside pool parties, Swedish mid-sommer parties with frog dancing, Member’s Clubs Summer Parties with Ibiza’s Ushaia DJs, School Summer Parties with summer jams, cake, and Pimms. And finally, 50th Birthday Parties, which range from garden parties, countryside parties and destination parties to St Tropez and Ibiza, to intimate, to backyard candle-lit dinners.

Brazilian dancers, bongo players at a Summer Party. NHYM 2025

June is a marathon, full-time party, and the Summer Party Schedule keeps starting earlier and earlier: this year my first Summer Party was in mid-May and the last one will be in mid-July (and there are at least 2 parties per weekend). It’s impossible to go to every social event, so it says a lot about which ones you choose to attend. My very English neighbour was at Royal Ascot 2 days ago and is heading to Wimbledon tomorrow. This year, I have a 50th almost every single weekend.

Backyard, candle-lit Ibiza Summer Party. NHYM 2025

If I get an invite, I will go to one of the ‘social scene’ events like Wimbledon, the Chelsea Flower Show, or Cartier Polo but I always prioritise two types of parties: my closest friends’ summer/birthday parties because they are the ones that really matter to me and it is about showing up for them (too many people have forgotten their manners these days), and the Serpentine Summer Party, because, well, it is the most fun with the coolest crowd. I love it because it brings together the creme-de-la-creme of the art (it is an art gallery after all), fashion (from Vivienne Westwood to Roksanda Ilincic), music (Pharell Williams sang one year), film (everyone from Orlando Bloom to Cate Blanchett), sports (Venus Williams pre-Wimbledon) and business world (Michael Bloomberg is a sponsor). Being surrounded by so many creative and talented people is incredibly inspiring, and I can still keep of dreaming that I, too, will become one of them, one day.

Serpentine Summer Party 2025

Last year, it was hosted by Cate Blanchette and I hung out with Rebel Wilson at the dessert table discussing MayrLife, compared dresses with Kelly Osbourne who wore the same designer as me, and danced with (well, next to) Alicia Vikander to DJ Gallivanter’s tunes in the Pavillion. This year, it is hosted by Salma Hayek, Alfonso Cuaron, and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, three Mexican cinematic powerhouses, in front and behind the camera.

Dua Lipa Concert, Wembley Arena NHYM 2025

So, no matter what you’re interested in, from horses to regattas, music to sports, London has something to offer everyone.

Where to Stay in London:

  1. Best for Serenity and Wellness: The Six Senses London
  2. Best for West London: The Kensington
  3. Best Romance & Rooftop Pool: The Berkeley
  4. Best in Old School Luxury in Mayfair: The Connaught
  5. Best in East London: Shoreditch House
  6. Best for sustainability: 1 Hotel Mayfair
  7. Best for Cool Central Covent Garden: Nomad
  8. Best for City Views and Sky High Restaurants: Shangri-La The Shard
  9. Best Boutique: Number 16 Hotel South Kensington
  10. Best for middle-of-the-action-Leicester Square: The Londoner

Communal Garden Summer Party 2024

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The New Notting Hill ‘Wellness’ Scene

London is experiencing a full on ‘Well-naissance:’ long gone are the days of dancing on tables in dark corners of nightclubs, these days it’s all about drips and longevity. Even Tramp, the most louche, debaucherous nightclub I used to go to in my twenties, just launched a wellness members club: Tramp Health. The Arts Club already has a long-standing collaboration with Lanserhof, the medical retreat to the hard core wellness crowd (think, broth for dinner, crackers for lunch) and Annabel’s now even offers Sound Healing.

Cloud 12 Wellness After Dark

But the epicentre of Wellness in London has to be Notting Hill: it pops up more wellness-oriented businesses than anywhere in the capital: wellness memberships, exercise studios, restaurants (like the vegan Holy Carrot) and even food shops (a Whole Foods literally opened two weeks ago on Notting Hill Gate). Wellness Members Clubs are the hot new thing and I’ve already covered the new Six Senses Place members club, with access to the Six Senses Spa, gym and hotel facilities, which chose Notting Hill (well, Queensway) as their inaugural wellness club. An Australian friend looking for a good Acai bowl was bemoaning the lack of good Acai in South Kensington/Chelsea, reminding me that in Notting Hill, you can find Acai bowls on every street corner: Acai girls, Farm girl, Granger, Jusu Brothers, Oakberry, Jungle Berry etc…which is an indication of the demand and supply. But not all wellness fads survive, sadly Bodyism recently shut down, with a business model that was going to be hard to sustain, and is being replaced by an Alo store (another indicator of NH Wellness) and RePlace also closed recently.

Neeta Sharma of Grounded 1002

And then a few weeks ago, I was invited to a new concept launched by Cloud Twelve: ‘Wellness After Dark,’ which hosts weekly wellness sessions on Thursdays, with 50% off certain treatments and a ‘Wellness Social’ from 6:15pm-7pm. I was invited to try their new Infrared Sauna, which offers all kind of benefits from anti-ageing to weight loss and their ‘Wellness social,’ a rotating line-up of sessions given by guest practitioners. I attended the ‘Luxury of Knowing Yourself: Reset Through the Body,’ by Neeta Sharma of Grounded1002. Not knowing what to expect, I was welcomed with freshly foraged elderflower tea, a group of nice women, and an hour of connecting with one’s body with breathing, collective humming, tapping, body gua sha, and movement with Neeta’s guidance. I left feeling lighter, invigorated and in a better mood. I don’t know if it was the infrared sauna, the collective humming, or feeling part of a community, but it was a great way to spend a Thursday evening, prioritising myself and my wellbeing.

Neeta’s Gua Sha on sale on Grounded1002

There’s also the Method, which opened not one, but two studios in Notting Hill: first with the Nathalie Cafe on Westbourne Grove, where literally all the influencers go for their Matcha and Coffee, and their new studios on the intersection of Westbourne Grove and Pembridge Villas, in the flat-iron building, the Method Club, which offers ‘fun’ exercise classes with dancing and pilates involved. Two other gyms have opened, Third Space in The Whiteley and Form Studios across from it, all highlighting the current Wellness trend.

Finally, there are longevity clinics, popping up all over London, like Apogii, a Wellness and Longevity clinic in Notting Hill, which offers cryotherapy, infrared sauna and other longevity hacks, which was bought by Get-a-Drip, the iv clinic, which can top you up with anything from NAD+ to Vitamin C.

So, if you’re looking for a Wellness top-up, there’s nothing better than Notting Hill.

xx

NHYM

http://www.nottinghillyummymummy.com

Where to Stay in London:

  1. Best for Spa & Serenity: Six Senses Hotel
  2. Best for West London: The Kensington
  3. Best Romance & Rooftop Pool: The Berkeley
  4. Best in Old School Luxury in Mayfair: The Connaught
  5. Best in East London: Shoreditch House
  6. Best for sustainability: 1 Hotel Mayfair
  7. Best for Cool Central Covent Garden: Nomad
  8. Best for City Views and Sky High Restaurants: Shangri-La The Shard
  9. Best Boutique: Number 16 Hotel South Kensington
  10. Best for middle-of-the-action-Leicester Square: The Londoner

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Hotel Review: The Four Seasons, Astir Palace, Athens, Greece

NHYM 2025, Four Seasons Astir Palace

A friend recently asked me where to travel for Easter break and May half-term, which was not too far, had good weather for swimming, with a bit of culture but not too much that the kids would start complaining. I knew exactly where to send her. Last year, I finally made it to a hotel I have been eyeing since its opening during Easter break: The Four Seasons, Astir Palace on the Athenian Riviera, Greece. While technically not in Athens, it is only a cab ride away and offers the best of all worlds: a beautiful, seaside hotel, the best service around, plenty of excellent restaurants, things for the kids (pools, kids clubs and more), things for the adults (spa etc..), and plenty of culture within reach in Athens. And of course, all our children have been exposed to Greek mythology with the Percy books, so for any fans of Greek mythology, this is a great place to come.

The Pool. NHYM 2025

We came as a multi-generational family, and it has something to please everyone: sun and sea for the granny, pool and fun for the kids, boat days for me, good food for Mr. X, and culture, for well, everyone.

View from our room. NHYM 2025

The morning seaview was a pleasure to wake up to every day. The rooms are tastefully decorated, as is the whole hotel. There is a sophisticated luxury vibe, with added local touches of olive trees all around the property. With the Four Seasons, you always know what you’re going to get: a perfect combination of luxury and service. This Four Seasons manages to do this seamlessly: the lobby is filled with elaborate floral displays and the staff is friendly but professional, which is different to some hotels where the staff can be a little too uptight and cold. The facilities are excellent, from the spa to the restaurants to the pools to the gift shop, to the terraces. The restaurants include the main restaurant Pelago with beautiful seaviews, Beefbar (always yummy), Matsuhisa (beautiful views although a bit too expensive in my taste) and the water-side Greek taverna restaurant is also very good for a dose of Greek cuisine. There are multiple hotels on site, but we stayed in the main one, which suited us perfectly.

The Acropolis. NHYM 2025

For our hit of culture, we took the whole family for some sight-seeing in Athens with a tour guide, which is an absolute must. I am lucky enough to know people who live in cities all over the world, and love to meet them to get a real flavour of the place. I had dinner with one of our friends in Athens (well, friend of friend, but that still counts!) who invited us to a cool, trendy Athenian restaurant. There, he explained the difference between North Athenians vs the South Athenians. The Four Seasons is South of Athens and fits in where the new money is. North of Athens is old money, more traditional, with Ambassadors and old families and good schools.

Hydra. NHYM 2025

For me, a boat day is always a highlight of my trips, and this time, it was for my kids. We took a day trip to Spetses and Hydra, which are both beautiful islands accessible by boat, both with their unique personalities and fans. A question I learned to ask any Athenian: are you Spetses or are you Hydra? Spetses is for the old money aristocracy, and Hydra is more for the artists and writers (Leonard Cohen lived there). I loved both for different reasons, but I have to say that Hydra stole my heart with its charming Marina, although there were too many tourists. Spetses is quiet, off the beaten path, which people love because it doesn’t attract too many tourists. I have many friends who spend their summers on Spetses, so I’d love to go back in the summer.

Hydra Marina. NHYM 2025

For a quick weekend away or a multi-generational family trip, the Four Seasons Astir Palace is highly recommended. It won’t disappoint, and collects awards and accolades each year. In 2025, it was voted 17th best hotel in the world in the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 and even the new Michelin Guide awarded it 3 Michelin keys. So for anyone looking for a perfect mix of sea, service, luxury and culture, easily accessible from London, it’s hard to beat.

View from Matsuhisa. NHYM 2025

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Six Senses London, Hotel & Spa

Six Senses Hotel Bar NHYM 2026

The Whiteley’s has had a complete, long awaited, transformation: for years, it lay in a desolate, destitute state that people avoided (except for Gymboree classes at the top floor, which is how I know it best) but now it has been transformed into a beautiful, architectural feat led by Foster + Partners Architects and project-managed by Valouran Partners. I have watched it slowly develop over the years, both as a local, but also as a friend of the masterminds behind the facade. I was more than excited when it opened last year, first as residences, and now the Six Senses London, Hotel & Spa, which officially just opened March 1st.

Courtesy of Instagram 2026

The Six Senses Hotel brand is known for its wellness, barefoot rustic chic approach to hospitality with hotels all over the world. I’ve been to the Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, which I loved for its remote location and gorgeous villas in the jungle and by the water, remniscent of the Soneva brand (I was first introduced to Six Senses Spa 20 years ago in the old Soneva Gili that had a Six Senses Spa). I’ve also been to Six Senses Ibiza with its fantastic spa and great food and view, while the Six Senses Lamuu and Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman are all time family favourites. So, when I heard a Six Senses was coming to London, I was already excited: a well-known luxury and wellness brand was coming to my neighborhood! It is the right location in London, right next to the epicentre of Wellness Central, Notting Hill (There are so many matcha shops and plenty of organic food stores from Acai girls to Daylesford Organic and Planet Organic, as well as vegan restaurants like the Holy Carrot). This crowd is seriously health conscious and wellness oriented, so I think the luxury + wellness clientele is definitely around here.

Courtesy of Instagram 2026

The hotel, full of plants hanging and draped everywhere, reminds me of the 1Hotels ethos, ‘sustainable luxury hotel experience where nature inspires,’ which has done very well so far with its hotels in Mayfair, New York and Toronto. When you enter the Six Senses, an overwhelming sense of calm and peace envelops you; it is truly an oasis in grey London. It was a rainy, dreary day in early February when I visited for the first time before it opened, and it really felt like I was being transported to a holiday for a few hours. The entrance is framed by the original Whiteley’s staircase which was painstakingly moved from its original position to become the backdrop of the hotel lobby. The design, the furniture and the finishings are all soothing but luxurious, fitting with what the Six Senses brand trying to do in cities recently: a soothing urban oasis in the middle of the city.

There is nothing like this hotel in the immediate vicinity: most of the luxury hotels are in Knightsbridge or Mayfair and this is the first five star hotel in West London, covering Queensway, Bayswater, Notting Hill and West Kensington.It is an ambitious gamble to put it in Bayswater/Queensway, more known for its souvenir shops than its glamourous neighbours nearby, Notting Hill and Kensington but there is a commitment to redevelop the entire area, which I am really waiting eagerly, and so far the Everyman Cinema, Guillam Coffeshop, ThirdSpace and Nela are so far hitting the right notes. I will definitely be encouraging my friends and family to stay here.

Courtyard of the Whiteley NHYM 2026

Six Senses Spa

The piece de resistance of the hotel really is the Six Senses Spa: it is stunning. The entrance lobby of the spa below the hotel with its hanging chandelier and highest ceilings you can imagine is probably my favourite part of the whole hotel. The pool was still closed when I visited, but the rest of the spa really is one-of-a-kind in London. There is everything you could think of in a spa from pods to cryo, and there’s a biohacking recovery lounge, a magnesium pool, and a state of the art gym. There is even an Alchemy bar, but which was closed when I visited so can’t tell you much about it. So the next time I want to spa but don’t want to trek to the Bulgari Spa or the Corinthian, I will definitely be heading there. (FYI – the pool is still not open yet as of March 2026).

Six Senses Kitchen

Courtesy of a friend 2026

The Six Senses Kitchen is very good, better than expected, but with a luxury 5 star hotel, the food has to be on point. I had a delicious beetroot dip, Lamb koftas and green chard rolls as starters, which were all delicious. The mains, the stone bass and Red Suffolk pork, were both tasty and memorable. My friend who stayed overnight highly praised the Asian inspired breakfast and brunch. The bar is also quite stunning, served with a perfect caprinha cocktail, one of the best in Notting Hill, Mr. X said. The manager was absolutely lovely, which is essential for this type of hotel. It still feels like the hotel is in its soft opening stage, but it is a wonderful addition to the neighbourhood.

Six Senses Place

For those who don’t know yet, they have started a Six Senses Place Membership, which gives access to the gym, pool, spa, and the 1st floor of the hotel which has another restaurant and many other lounges and spaces. Here, it is all about wellness and wellbeing, and I am intrigued to see who they will attract. The owners of the Six Senses Residences and Whiteley’s Residences will get instant membership to the Six Senses Place, which is really an attractive proposition: there’s everything you could need under one giant Whiteleys roof.

The Whiteley’s has truly returned to its glory days, with beautiful residences, restaurants and a hotel and spa to attract the gliterrati. Queensway’s redevelopment has to follow, but I am really hopeful that it will match the grandeur and beauty of the Whiteley’s so far. I wish it all the best success and I’ll be back soon for the Spa and Sunday brunch!

xx

NHYM

http://www.nottinghillyummymummy.com

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Review: Celeste, New Notting Hill Member’s Club

NHYM 2026

A few months ago, I was asked to write a review on Maison Estelle, the very swanky London members club celebrated for its wonderful art collection, but the weeks went by and I just never found the time. And now, Celeste, its Notting Hill satellite, has opened! So, given I’ve already been twice, I thought it more appropriate to review it.

I went opening week, during the soft launch when they were offering their members a taste of their new club (thank you!). Firstly, let me give you a brief set up of the club: the ground floor is an Italian-American restaurant opened to the public, the first floor is a very cool, jazzy bar area, the second floor is their Japanese and the top floor is a quiet, loungey space for drinks.

NHYM 2026

We went to the Italian-American restaurant our first time. The front room is definitely channeling the American-Italian Soprano restaurant vibe, with a bar and mahogany panelled walls and tables, all decorated with gold accents. To me, it’s a little too nostalgic and misses the opportunity of a modern twist and feels like a complete different restaurant to the back room, The Courtyard.

The Courtyard, has a completely different feel to it, lighter with white walls, and I personally prefer it to the front room: it feels more like an all-day restaurant it advertises itself to be and just feels more welcoming to me. We ate there, and had the tri pomodoro pasta and the seabass, which was all good, but it is difficult to compete with all the ridiculous choices of new restaurants in the neighborhood, which focuses on inventive new food: Japanese/Mexican, North African, Michelin-starred Brasserie and Modern Greek just to begin with. But if you’re looking for more simple, straightforward American-Italian food, this won’t disappoint. Celeste sample menu. (For now, it is still not open to the public, and they have yet to announce an opening date).

The first floor bar is cozy and very cool, with old vinyls stacked on shelves with Marvin Gaye records and a DJ loud enough to create a buzzy, fun atmosphere. The staff is young and cool, and very attentive. There’s nothing like it in Notting Hill, and it definitely feels intimate like a ‘hosted home.’ There are nibbles for sharing, should you just want to show up one night without reserving. I ran into the same neighbour twice both times I went there, she is fan: definitely a new hotspot in the making.

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On our second visit to Celeste, we tried the Japanese. The Japanese restaurant on the second floor is sleek and attractive; there is an open kitchen where the chefs prepare their plates meticulously, and next to it are only about ten/twelve tables, of twos or fives, so again, very intimate and small. The food is very good, although on the expensive side. The hamachi starter is large and tasty, the wagyu is excellent, so good I will go back for it, but be willing to fork out £54. The salmon maki could use a bit more taste, but that’s something that could be easily fixed. Their chocolate mousse dessert is delicious and the jelly pieces really does make it a stand out dish.

The top floor, under the eaves, is a beautifully decorated space and feels like an art collector’s library, with an eclectic pick of art and books. We had a drink on our first night there, but I could see people going there for an afternoon coffee.

The crowd is a mix of locals (I saw local friends each time I went), and Maison Estelle members. They are a well heeled, international crowd, from French to Americans to Italians to Germans to Dutch and Swiss. One table next to us was a group of finance bros talking about their family ski trip to Courchevel, another table was an English ex-magazine editor with her girlfriends, and we ran into friends in the real estate business. It is definitely more grown up than the Electric’s crowd on a Saturday night, (which makes me feel like a proper grandma).

I was very curious to see how they were going to use Beach Blanket Babylon’s space, and they have used it as well as possible. It’s cozy and intimate, with a neighbourhood feel, but brings in a bit of Mayfair glamour to the ‘hood. It’s a great addition to Notting Hill, especially since it’s literally 2 minutes away from me.

You know where to find me now for drinks on a Friday night 😉

xx

NHYM

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Family Life, Top 10, Travel

Top 10 Best Luxury Hotels Ibiza: 10 Best Hotels, Villas and Agroturismos in Ibiza, Spain

If like me, you have had a dreadful January, you are not alone: everyone I have spoken to has had a pretty miserable January. The last few weeks have been dreary and depressing: it’s been dark, cold, and very, very wet but beyond that, we’ve recently witnessed two mass shootings (a friend’s son was stuck at Brown University during the shooting and other friends were on Bondi beach right before the shooting), then the fire in the nightclub in Crans Montana was shocking, with friends of friends who lost their child, but also because my kids are the age where they could have been there (and then the fire at the Roof Gardens a few nights ago, but thank god no one was hurt). The two shootings in the US left me horrified and speechless: people in the US are scared and do not feel safe. And let’s not mention Greenland. It all feels way too close to home, and right now it feels like we live in a twilight zone. So when I write my travel posts, it’s not because I ignore what’s going on in the world, but it is a way of using memories to dream of happier times. First up, Ibiza.

All Photos Copyright NHYM 2026

A few months ago, someone asked me to write a post about where to stay in Ibiza, particularly agroturismos, after I had been to a 50th birthday party and stayed at Atzaro. He had never heard of it- and agroturismos – before last year. What a lot of people don’t necessarily know about Ibiza is that it is multi-faceted; there is the trashy San Antonio crowd, the party drug-fuelled crowd, overlapped with the club people and the hippy crowd that came in the 70s. Then, finally, there are the inbetweeners, who love the clear waters of Formentera, the laid back vibe of the island, with a stop at Pacha once in a while, like me and my friends. I have been going to Ibiza for 30 years, the first time when I was 18 yo going to foam parties at Amnesia and going to the VIP section of Pacha to listen to David Guetta. I remember those days going to sleep at 10pm and waking up at 3am to go to clubs when they opened. Then, I discovered Formentera and Juan y Andrea in my 20s, when a friend of a friend literally bought a Sunseeker overnight and we spent endless days on the boat, mostly spending our time in Formentera. Then came the kids, and we rented gorgeous villas around the island with other friends with kids. Needless to say, I have wonderful memories of the island through the decades.

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So, when a good friend invited me to her 50th birthday party last May, there was no way I was going to miss it. I had always wanted to stay at Atzaro, but somehow it never happened. Atzaro is one of the original luxury Agroturismos, in a part of the island that is still mostly undeveloped, which is Ibiza before Ibiza became Ibiza. Agroturismos are working farms that offer accommodation and dining to visitors and the spectrum runs from rural farms to very nice luxury hotels, which Atzaro is a prime example. They are very popular in Spain and Italy, especially in Ibiza, and shows an authentic side of Ibiza.

Atzaro is a thirteen hectare estate with beautiful bougainvillea covered buildings and terraces, ponds, gardens, restaurants, pavillions, orange groves and a vegetable garden. It was born from a 300 year old finca, and has been turned into one of the best hotels in Ibiza.

The interiors are typical finca style with terracotta tiles, littered with white fresh cotton sofas, wood materials, and low wood ceilings to keep the interiors cool in summer.

The pavillions are covered with climbing flowers and plants and inside are stylish rooms with teak four poster beds, and outside are private terraces and pools. The style of the hotel is understated yet luxurious, and has all the mod cons you can think of and every detail is thought of. Even their hotel shop has original Ibizan pieces that I couldn’t resist.

The outdoor restaurant is situated under grape vines and for breakfast is as magical as it could be.

Bougainvillea overflowing on the terraces.

The 43 meter freshwater Pool in the Spa.

There are day memberships available for guests staying outside the hotel, so my preference was the hotel pool, which is exclusive to hotel guests and has more privacy.

Spa with Balinese architecture surrounded by ponds, filled with singing frogs.

The gardens are wonderful for a wander and to get back to nature.

The event space is beautiful and if I were a die-hard Ibiza fan, this is where I would find any excuse to throw a party: wedding, anniversary, or a 30/40/50th birthday party. Or maybe I can renew my wedding vows like Brooklyn and Nicola.

My friend’s 50th birthday party was equally beautiful at another Agroturismo, Can Curreu, where the speeches were tear inducing, both from their sentimentality as well as from laughter. It was a wonderful weekend surrounded by old friends and new friends, and we danced and partied like we were 18 years old. More wonderful memories to add to my Ibiza Memory Box.

There are now so many accommodation options in Ibiza that it’s hard to know what to choose from, but here are my and my friends’ favourite places to stay in Ibiza:

  1. Six Senses: The Six Senses landed in Ibiza a few years ago, and it is in a beautiful spot with gorgeous views and an amazing spa. Here it’s all about wellness, healthy living, Mediterranean food, and a superb spa. Perfect for a wellness break. The service can be hit or miss, but I would happily go with a few girlfriends for a weekend away.
  2. Nobu Hotel : For a more modern hotel, Nobu Ibiza is the one to go for. Clean white lines and sea views make this one an easy pick.
  3. Villas: Mi Casa Su Casa: I love all their villas, rustic chic and luxurious, but the one we rented was one of the most beautiful villas in Ibiza with an Olympic sized pool (well, almost) and a breathtaking sea view.
  4. Petunia Ibiza: A Beaumier property and sister hotel to Les Roches Rouges in France, it’s a beautiful boutique hotel near Es Vedra.
  5. Es Cucons: This rural, rustic chic hotel is inland and away from the crazy Ibiza nightlife. So if you want peace and quiet and nature, this one is great. I stayed years ago, and it’s still as good as it was 20 years ago.
  6. Can Curreu: This is where the 50th birthday was, so although I have never stayed there, my friends loved it enough to host a party there and most of their guests stayed here. And it comes with very reasonable prices.
  7. Can Jaume: Another lovely Agroturismo rural hotel, with orange groves and farmlands, it’s still close to Ibiza town, but with a slower paced Ibiza life.
  8. Dynamic Lives Villas: Friends of friends who go to Ibiza every summer rent villas from this villa rental company. It specialises in villas in Mallorca, Ibiza and Mykonos and they highly recommend it.
  9. Les Terrasses Agroturismo: Another Agroturismo, which like it names says, is full of terraces, and is a family friendly, intimate hotel that friends return to year after year. They have a lovely restaurant in their garden, and you’d never guess you were in Ibiza.
  10. Soho Farmhouse and Mondrian Ibiza are new openings in Ibiza. I haven’t been yet, so let me know what they’re like!

xx

NHYM

http://www.nottinghillyummymummy.com

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Family Life, Food & Dining, Travel

Hotel Review: The Regent Hotel, Phu Quoc, Vietnam

Regent Hotel Entrance Lobby Area

Regent Hotel

******

Ultra – Luxe Hotel in Vietnam

It’s the second Monday of January, and let’s face it, we are all feeling the Winter Blues. The excitement of Christmas, New Year’s, holidays and holiday parties are all over and it’s been cold, wet and dark. We are in the deep, depths of winter, without sun or fun in sight. Travel agencies even coined the term ‘Blue Monday’ to encourage people to start booking holidays to get out of their post-holiday slump and to dream about some faraway sunny spot for their next holiday. Blue Monday is actually next Monday, but my Blue Monday started early this year! So to cheer myself up, instead of future holidays, I’m reviewing past holidays and a fantastic hotel we found over Christmas, that I thought was a hidden gem, until we ran into TWO people we knew there.

The Regent is an ultra luxury, five star hotel in Phu Quoc, a tropical island in the Gulf of Thailand off the coast of Cambodia, which belongs to Vietnam. It’s a 45 minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City airport in South Vietnam. We had been eyeing this hotel for a while, which received rave reviews since it’s opening in 2022. Here I thought that I had found somewhere original to travel to, yet by day 2 I had already run into a friend from my 20s, and by day 5, run into another family who lives in West London. I was impressed that they both had found this off-the-radar hotel. I had already visited Phu Quoc 18 years ago when it was completely deserted and barely had any luxury hotels, so this hotel is a welcome addition.

The Regent Beach

The hotel’s beach, as you can see, is incredibly spacious – unlike the sardine-sunbeds of the South of France – and full of fine, soft sand and picturesque palm trees. Don’t expect translucent waters like in the Indian Ocean or the Andaman sea here, but it is a wonderful spot, with ultimate privacy. The water is warm, but not as clear as other places you can travel to, so if it’s clear water you’re after, you are better off going somewhere else.

Ocean Club Pool at Sunset

The sunsets from the hotel are just about as perfect as they can be, both from the Ocean Club/pool area (above) as well as the Rooftop pool, or from your room. These are postcard-worthy sunsets that competes with the best of the sunsets. I mean, even the palm trees are perfectly situated in my photo.

Main Pool

There are many beautiful pools around the resort: the main family friendly one, the Ocean Club pool, the rooftop pool and the adults only pool, so if you’re a pool lover there are plenty of options. There are also private pools with some of the rooms, but we didn’t really need one since we were always at the Ocean pool or beach, or rooftop pool for the sunsets. Every few hours, you are treated to coconut or strawberry ice cream by the pool attendants. Can I say this is heaven?

There are multiple restaurants around the resort: The main Rice Market which has breakfast and buffets, the sushi Oku which was really delicious, the beach one, which is really relaxed with Fire Shows, and the Ocean Club which we preferred for lunch. Because we were there during the Festive Season, there wasn’t much a la carte, so I would suggest trying some of the restaurants on the island like Camia restaurant because we got tired of set menus every night.

Main Pool with Rice Market at the back – where breakfast is served

The hotel really delivers in service, style and luxury. It is owned by a very rich Vietnamese property developer and I was impressed by the details, the architecture, and the style which can sometimes go wrong in some hotels. It is quite modern/contemporary but yet still imbues warmth and character, which some minimalist hotels can lack. It is run by Regent Hotels, a brand that kind of disappeared but is now being revived by the IHG Group as their ultra-luxe brand, and I have to say that I was impressed. I pretty much liked everything about the hotel.

Sunset from Room which comes with a large living room/terrace

The rooms were all beautiful, huge and well – appointed, with tons of amenities, and all with wonderful sea views. The sunsets were gorgeous from our room and my mother found her happiness at sunset. There are also large villas dotted around which we didn’t try this time but definitely want to try next time. Their sunsets though won’t be as spectacular as ours. There are two bedroom beach villas that I would love to try one day, which literally look like full apartments. The rooms come with everything you could ask for, including free mini bar and snacks, which were obvious winners for the kids: crisps, Haribo, dried fruit, almonds, juices and more were replenished every day. We had interconnected rooms so perfect for a family.

Bedrooms are all luxurious and stylish with nice textures and warm, natural colours

Even though there was no hotel shop, one of the few negatives, you could literally Whatsapp the hotel at any time and ask for anything you want and it would appear: Forget nail clippers? Check! Forgotten tooth brush: check! Glasses cloth? Check! And the best challenge I gave them: I wanted a small Christmas tree for our Xmas celebration. Guess what, they actually brought me a little Xmas plant! This service was some of the best I’ve ever seen. With the room comes 3 items of laundry per person, per day. Another huge plus for Mr. X!

Good Morning Vietnam! Fruit and Coffee by the pool…

There was also an activity schedule for adults that my daughters loved. They have sadly grown out of the kids club – which by the way is amazing – so it was great that they could partake in the adult activities: Kite making, candle making, canvas painting, Vovinam martial arts, etc…Ok, so my kids were the only ones to take advantage of the activities, but it was great to have them on offer. Mr. X also had enough to do with Pilates, Yoga and Boxing, all complimentary. There was a coastal bike ride that we couldn’t do sadly because it was full so book that in advance! In addition, there was beach volleyball, basketball, beach tennis, paddle all available on the beach. (Just don’t bother with the pearl farm visit which essentially was a pearl shop!)

Island hopping to the An Thoi Archipelago

Phu Quoc island has been slowly developed in the past 20 years. When I first went, only 1 luxury hotel existed. Now, there are quite a few, but the Regent is by far the best one. Unfortunately, island developments, as we all know, can be hit or miss. On Phu Quoc, there are some great developments like the Regent, just as there are some not-so-nice ones. There are many what they call ‘ghost towns’ which are unfinished towns all around the island. Our tour guide explained that it was Vietnamese mafia parking their money and never finishing the developments. Other funny developments are ‘the Venice’ of Phu Quoc which is a village designed like Venice, or the tower of Pisa. For Europeans, it really is quite a funny sight to come all the way to Asia to get replicas, but I guess it’s a bit like Las Vegas. One of the families we ran into didn’t love the island, but they went scuba diving, which I wouldn’t have recommended, unfortunately there’s not much to see.

We did enjoy snorkelling around the islands at the south tip of Phu Quoc. The water there was really clear, and it definitely felt like we were castaways. There is a hotel catamaran you can take, which I would recommend to avoid the crowded tourist boats (although there were some with slides which we were dying to try). We took a small semi-private boat to a semi-deserted island (picture above) which was gorgeous where we had a beach picnic with a very entertaining tour guide who kept calling Mr. X Tom Cruise.

Feeding Capybaras at the Phu Quoc Safari & Zoo

What my kids loved the most though, was the Phu Quoc Safari, so if you have young children or animal-loving kids (like mine), you have to go. It’s really rather impressive, with large grounds for animals to roam around in. There is a safari park that you go through in a bus where you can see tons of white rhinos, which are going extinct, so it is impressive they have 44 white rhinos. A good sign of health and that they are happy is that they are making babies. There are also Bengal tigers, Asiatic bears, zebras, baby zebras, Antelopes and many giraffes.

I was most excited by the Giraffe restaurant, where you can feed giraffes while you have lunch. I no longer need to go to the Giraffe hotel in Nairobi to pet and feed giraffes! I’ve already done it in Phu Quoc! My kids also loved feeding the Capybaras, which are a really popular animal at the moment. Feeding parakeets and holding macaws was also fun, so there’s lots of interactivity with the animals which is great. For younger kids, there is the option of Zoo Keeper for the day, which we sadly couldn’t do because my kids are too old now.

My friend, the friendly giraffe

We got to pet everything from giraffes to elephants to parrots to capybaras and tapirs. The giraffes were so friendly, I was literally hugging a giraffe! There were also wild monkeys running around the zoo, but we were explicitly told not to pet or feed them, as they can get quite aggressive and steal your hat or phone!

Elephants saying hello

We were three generations travelling together, so as you can imagine, it wasn’t always smooth sailing coordinating tweens to seventy year olds, but what an amazing trip for both my kids and my mother. The hotel was fantastic and everyone enjoyed the activities we did. There was even an inflatable water park next door that the kids loved.

It wasn’t my first time to Vietnam, and Phu Quoc wouldn’t necessarily be the first place I would choose to go to, because there isn’t much culture (go to Hoi An/Halong/Saigon/Hanoi first), but if you’re on your fifth trip in, this hotel is incredibly affordable, especially away from the high season. You get so much for your money, it’s a third of any hotel in the Caribbean or Thailand or the Indian Ocean at the same luxury level at the same time of year, so I would definitely go back for that reason. So for those looking for ultimate luxury for reasonable prices, just go and try it out.

Sunset from the Rooftop Pool

The sunsets, the hotel, the food, the service, were all impeccable so for the hotel alone, I would go back in a heartbeat. The staff also made it so worth it, everyone was just so friendly and nice, you can’t even drop anything without someone running to catch it for you. It is far to go just for a stand-alone trip, but if you combine it with a sight-seeing trip beforehand, it’s a perfect place to wind down, feel pampered and just relax… One of my kids asked if we could extend our trip for a few more days. Or just not come back home at all. I get what she means.

xx

NHYM

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Family Life, Top 10, Travel

The Top 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Paris

View from the Cheval Blanc Rooftop with the Tour Eiffel. NHYM 2025.

Last Christmas, I found the perfect Christmas gift for Mr. X: a romantic weekend away to Paris. It ticked all the boxes: what he loves (Paris), what I love (travel), something memorable (I often give him memories and experiences instead of material goods), and gave us a perfect excuse to spend time together (sans kids!) So, I asked my most glamourous Parisiennes friends where to stay. Both answered with the same exact response: Le Cheval Blanc, Paris. ‘It’s best hotel we’ve ever stayed in! Six stars!’ ‘Cheval Blanc just opened in La Samaritaine. It’s the new place to go.’ It’s already in the World’s 50 Top Hotels of the world, coming in at number 20, and received a global recognition award, so after oohing and ahhing about going (the price is a drawback), I decided to surprise Mr. X.

Cheval Blanc at Dusk. NHYM 2025

1. Hotel Review: Cheval Blanc Hotel, Paris

Best for the Best of the Best

Rating: 10/10

What to like: Everything.

Biggest downside: You just won’t want to leave it. Well, that and the price tag.

We arrived late afternoon and went straight to their fabulous rooftop for a hot chocolate (me) and Champagne and patisseries (him). The view cannot really get better than this: on the left is Notre Dame (which had just been renovated and unveiled) and on the right is the Eiffel Tower, both with expansive views of Paris and the Seine. This view really is unbeatable.

Rooms: The rooms are all you can ask for with views of the Seine or Paris streets, but my favourite part was all the goodies they give you. I know, it’s really childlike, but I didn’t even need to go shopping after that! I was so excited to open all my goodie bags: there were Cheval Blanc keyrings, pens, toiletry bags, and Dior everything in the bathroom (eye cream, serums and more). We were literally fighting over all of the goodies that came with the room.

Food: The food selection is really excellent: La Langosteria upstairs on the roof with night-time views of the Eiffel Tower is delicious and very sexy. On the first floor, 3 star Michelin restaurant Plenitude made it to 13th best restaurant in the world in the World Restaurant Awards 2025. Need I say more? And the breakfast is really divine, their pastries incredible, which made it hell for me, given I am allergic to gluten and dairy, although I gave in to temptation and still ate their croissant. It was so good, it was worth the stomachache.

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Spa: Dior. Lovely.

Crowd: We came right before Fashion Week, and everyone was oh so fashionably cool. The Asians, the fashionistas and the super rich. So just for three days, we actually thought we were one of them. Pharell Williams was staying at the same time as us, and we saw him in full head-to-toe Louis Vuitton gear. Of course. He was just appointed Men’s Creative Director line for Louis Vuitton. Is there anything this guy can’t do?

LVMH has really hit a homerun here (with Lauren Sanchez staying here for her Bachelorette party). I loved it and so did Mr. X. It showcased Paris in its most beautiful light, from its rooftop to its restaurants. The only problem, was that each time we stepped out of the hotel, we just wanted to go back ‘home.’ Yes, it felt like it was our home for a few days, and the biggest problem, is we never wanted to leave.

Book your hotel in Paris

View from the Cheval Blanc. NHYM 2025

2. Raffles Royal Monceau

Best for Luxury meets Cool

Rating: 9/10

The Royal Monceau is definitely my kind of hotel, designed by Philippe Stark and is equally as cool as luxurious. The rooms are very stylish yet came with every luxury you could ask for, and the food always good: there’s a Matsuhisa which we loved, even though we were given a seat at the bar. For breakfast, we sat next to Sting and Trudy, which confirmed its coolness factor.

Book the Royal Monceau here

3. The Peninsula

Best for Ultimate Luxury

Rating: 9/10

For ultimate luxury, the Peninsula can’t be beat. It’s well known to offer the ultimate luxurious experience, with everything including Japanese style toilets. Every details is top of the range and expensive. The top floor restaurant is very elegant and grown up, with beautiful views, so this one is for those looking for modern luxury. Olivia Palermo was also staying there during Fashion Week, riding the elevator with us.

Book The Peninsula Paris here

Notre Dame, Newly renovated, NHYM 2025

4. Four Seasons George V

Best for Perfect Service

Rating: 8.5/10

I was once invited – years ago – to Paris before the Lehman meltdown and the Credit Crunch, when banks and private equity shops and hedge funds were splashing their cash to impress clients. Well, somehow I was part of the clientele, and stayed at the George V, Four Seasons. As with all Four Seasons, it was a great, know-what-to-expect stay. At the time, it hadn’t been renovated so I found the rooms a bit on the heavily-draped side, but as expected, the service was top notch.

Book the Four Seasons Hotel George V here

5. Hotel Costes

Best for the Cool, Trendy Crowd

Rating: 8/10

Of course I could continue with a list of other ultra luxury hotels like the Plaza Athenee and The Ritz and the Crillon, but these are a little old school for me. They are beautiful – don’t get me wrong – and the ice rink at the Plaza Athenee looks so cute at Christmas (it just opened Nov 27th), but I feel like I am visiting my grandmother when I go there. So, if you like the old Paris, don’t hesitate to go! But for those wanting something a little cooler, Hotel Costes is an old stalwart for the cool crowd. The bar and restaurant and its playlist reminds me of the 90s and summers in Paris, and its location is conveniently located next to the Louvre and Le Fumoir, one of my favourite places in Paris. It is dark and broody, so don’t expect light and brightness, but it does add mystery to the whole place and is apparently known for being a ‘den of opulence’ on Wikipedia.

6.Book Plaza Athenee here: Best for the Courtyard and outdoor ice-skating rink in winter.

7. Book Le Crillon here: Best for Old School luxury

8. Hotel Shangri – La: Best for Eiffel Tower Views

9. Hotel Bauchaumont: Best for Affordable Luxury

10. La Reserve: Best for Spa and Pool

La Fondation Louis Vuitton, Parc d’Acclimation, NHYM 2025

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