2023’s Top New Hotels and Openings in the U.S.
Each year we like to share a roundup of our favorite hotels, and this year we are highlighting some of the most exciting new hotel openings across the country. From an innovative, new hospitality groups opening in the Hudson Valley as their first foray in the U.S. to highly anticipated reopenings of renovated historic darlings by designer Ken Fulk. From a buzzy new city hotel in Manhattan to Auberge’s latest addition on the sleepy banks of Kiawah River in the Charleston Sea Islands. Each of these new hotels and lodges offer something truly unique and we love matching clients with the interesting stays that perfectly match their vision for their trip, whether that’s ultimate pampering at a desert wellness retreat or glamping in style at the brink of Utah’s preeminent adventure mecca.
Habitas Hudson
Hudson Valley, New York
Habitas opened their first jungle-infused hotel by accident in Tulum, Mexico in 2016. The founders had originally intended to create a unique home in the area for themselves and their friends, but soon found that the property was outperforming other hotels in the area. Since then, Habitas has opened several new properties all over the globe, from Saudi Arabia to Morocco. Opened in December 2022, Habitas Hudson is the brand’s first enterprise in the U.S. The property was thoughtfully placed in the Hudson Valley, aligning with the Hudson Valley’s long history of providing a haven to connect with nature. Habitas Hudson offers unique experiences, typical of the forward-thinking brand, such as a two-night immersive experience foraging for mushrooms and learning about the fungi’s versatile health benefits and culinary uses.
Pairs well with: New York to Montreal: Where Past Meets Present
Villa Mara
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Carmel-by-the-Sea’s newest boutique hotel was designed to not feel like a hotel. Sinking into a chair by the wood burning fireplace feels more like arriving at an effortlessly stylish friend’s living room than like checking at a hotel lobby. Just a short walk to Carmel Beach, the property is surrounded by an architecturally-diverse enclave of private homes in Carmel Point. Though the shops and restaurants of the city’s downtown are just a mile away and you can spot Pebble Beach Golf Links from the nearest stretch of Carmel Beach.
The hotel is filled with homages to its surroundings and history. Each of the fifteen guest rooms and the signature suite are each named after a local historical figure, landmark or geographical highlight. The front and back yards consist of fire pits, custom water features, seating vignettes, and over an array of 400 plants, such as rose bushes, lavender, and pops of hydrangea. Each morning, breakfast pastries and quiches are sourced from local patisserie Sweet Elena’s and served with local roasting company ACME coffee, fresh fruits, freshly squeezed juices, mimosas and wellness juice shots from Organic Pharmer.
Pairs well with: Couples California: A Refined Luxury Road Trip
Warren Street Hotel
New York City, New York
Scheduled to open in early 2024, the Warren Street Hotel by Firmdale promises a magnificent fusion of contemporary art and design, boasting interiors curated by the renowned designer Kit Kemp. Situated on the former site of a car park at 86 Warren Street, the British hotel brand’s third New York City hotel will have 57 individually-designed bedrooms and suites, along with twelve exclusive residences spanning eleven floors. Each residence is adorned with floor-to-ceiling windows, and some even offer private terraces with breathtaking views of iconic skyscrapers like One World Trade Center and the Hudson River. The hotel will also house a charming drawing room, a bright and airy orangery, and the delightful Warren Bar and Restaurant, which of course will serve afternoon tea in addition to breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Soniat House
New Orleans, Louisiana
Pre-renovation Soniat House
Interior designer Ken Fulk has an extensive portfolio of restaurants, hotels, and private homes bursting with color and pattern. As of late, the Fulk’s fearless designs are breathing new life into iconic, but aging, hotels. He will soon be transforming Blantyre’s 1902 Tudor-style mansion into an ‘American Downton Abbey’ in the Berkshires. He worked on the restoration of Austin’s historic Commodore Perry Estate. Another one of the designer’s current projects happens to be a favorite of ours: Soniat House. Slated to open in the summer of 2024, Fulk will work his magic on the New Orleans 19th century townhouses-turned-hotel, facing the challenge of giving a beloved landmark a new shine while staying true to its historic French Quarter soul.
Pairs well with: The Best of New Orleans and Cajun Country
The Dunlin
Kiawah River, South Carolina
Swathed in golden spartina grass, majestic oak trees, and serene shallow marsh flats, Auberge’s newest (?) property will open next year amongst the ethereal Charleston Sea Islands. Located on the banks of the Kiawah River, the resort sprawls over an expansive 2,000-acres, with seemingly endless miles of waterfront to speak of. Welcoming guests with 72 charming cottage-style guest rooms and suites, as well as 19 residential villas, Dunlin offers a true sense of Southern comfort. It’s the type of place where you can spend half the day relaxing on the wooden wraparound porch, enjoy the honest yields of the onsite 100-acre farm, and meander through the moss-draped live oaks and gently-flowing waterways on miles of trails.
Pairs well with: Charleston, Savannah and the Golden Isles
Appellation
Healdsburg, California
Sonoma County’s fecund valleys and hillsides surrounding Healdsburg have long secured the town’s status as a global destination for wine and farm-fresh dining. Who better to encapsulate this illustrious history than culinary visionaries and local residents Charlie Palmer and Christopher Hunsberger? From the rooftop bar’s sweeping views of neighboring vineyards to exclusive winery experiences and an unparalleled wine selection, every facet of Appellation embraces the quintessential characteristics of the region. Aside from the ace food and beverage offerings, guests can enjoy the property’s two sparkling pools, or explore the walking trails encircling the property and connecting to Foss Creek Trail.
Pairs well with: Napa and Sonoma in Style
Ulum Moab
Moab, Utah
From the same group behind Under Canvas, Ulum Moab is another masterclass in unpretentious luxury. Surrounded by a majestic wall of sandstone rock, the glamping property provides immersive access to the desert just 25 miles south of Moab, and the treasure trove of national parks and red-rock public lands the area has to offer. Deep connection with nature doesn’t come at the cost of comfort at Ulum. The guest rooms are titled as “tents,” although they are unlike any tent you’ve ever seen before. Crisp, clean canvas stretches over 360-feet of accommodation space, with amenities like king size beds dressed in Parachute linens and rain showers in the en-suite bathrooms decked out with Aesop bath products. Hiking, biking trails, white water rafting, horseback riding, and rock climbing are all just around the corner– just consult with the resident “adventure concierge” who will point you in the right direction to make the most of Ulum’s prime location in the middle of Utah’s top adventure hub.
Pairs well with: An Odyssey Through Utah’s National Parks
Sensei Porcupine Creek
Rancho Mirage, California
Sensei Porcupine Creek is a wellness-centered oasis, supremely secluded within the foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains, just a twenty minute drive from the Palm Springs airport. The expansive 230-acre property is the former private estate of Silicon Valley billionaire (and Sensei co-founder) Larry Ellison. The desert mountains, part of Coachella Valley, frame the horizon and the grounds are dotted with Robert Indiana and Keith Haring sculptures from Ellison’s personal collection, making for an incomparable setting. The focus is firmly fixed on wellness at Porcupine Creek and different booking packages offer different experiences at the property, such as spa treatments, or private sessions focusing on mental health, nutrition, yoga, or fitness. Based on the answers to the thoughtful questionnaire sent prior to the stay and the personal counseling of a ‘Sensei guide,’ staff work together to address guests’ wellness needs with an extremely personalized approach.
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Last year’s round up of new hotels: 10 New U.S. Hotels to Get Excited About
2021’s Team Top Picks: The All Roads North Team’s Favorite Hotels in the U.S.