1. Alila Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur
Occupying the 35th to 44th floors of a mixed-use development in the trendy Bangsar neighbourhood, the new Alila Bangsar is the brand’s third city hotel and first in Kuala Lumpur. A lush, towering urban retreat, its wood-clad exterior is juxtaposed against serene interiors flooded with natural light and punctuated by tall, leafy plants.
With an emphasis on sustainability, Alila Bangsar eschews plastic wherever possible, opting instead for refillable glass bottles and shower dispensers. Guests can check in on iPads and order room service via a television console. The main restaurant, Entier, is built on nose-to-tail dining, and sources ingredients locally wherever possible.
The hotel features a minimalist-luxe aesthetic, with lots of wood and stone accented by brass fittings, complementing the tropical landscape. While there’s an expansive sense of space, it also feels intimate thanks to plenty of warm lighting. Rooms are cosy, with a small living room on each floor near the lifts, furnished with comfy sofas, coffee tables littered with art and design tomes and a well-stocked self-service pantry.
2. The Assemblage, New York
A haven in the Financial District, The Assemblage is a hushed, living sanctuary with its atrium’s domed ceiling and walls completely covered in preserved moss. As you check in, you’re invited to drop a sprig of lavender or sage into a bowl of water to set your intentions for your stay.
The hotel is designed to connect you with nature and focuses on the idea of biophilia, or the innate bond between humans and other living systems. To emphasise that, common spaces are dotted with towering cacti, preserved mushrooms and lush greenery.
Ayurvedic meals are served in the café, featuring ingredients sourced from within 320km of the space, and you can grab a botanical boost made with osha root, chlorophyll and nettles at the elixir bar.
3. The Retreat Palm Dubai, Dubai
Designed to be the United Arab Emirates’ first holistic wellbeing hotel, this urban sanctuary bills itself as half-resort, half-clinic, and caters to health-conscious travellers who want to get more out of their holiday than a tan – DNA analysis and cryotherapy, for instance.
For those short on time, the hotel offers a special 24-hour package. It includes a single night’s stay, plus wellness offerings ranging from a consultation with a naturopathic doctor to spa treatments and colour therapy. While the health centre offers DNA analysis, the Rayya Spa focuses on customisable spa and beauty treatments using natural and organic products. In-room offerings include the Sleep Well in-room bath experience, which consists of a sleep consultation, scented candles and ergonomic Technogel pillows.
As an added benefit, minibars are stocked with all manner of healthy treats such as kale chips, coconut water and dark chocolate – all organic, of course.
SEE ALSO: 3 new beach hotels perfect for your next holiday
This article was originally published in the September 2018 issue of SilverKris magazine.
