Meet the New Hotels Everyone Will Be Talking About This Season

As you plan your holiday and winter travel, take note of these buzzy openings making waves across the region. Taking stock, we find that the West’s hotel scene has never been more exciting: The steady stream of design-savvy, community-driven crash pads offer way more than a place to lay your head. A new Canyon Ranch outpost with sleek treehouses proves that a good eco-leaning property can be the direct ticket to reconnecting with nature. French Riviera-accented cool prevails in a new Palm Springs boutiquey spot (complete with Christian Lacroix-designed wallpaper in some rooms). Breckenridge’s modish ski bunker promises to be like a Soho House in the mountains for the REI set. And speaking of Soho House, L.A. just debuted a new one of those, too, but this time with rooms to spend the night. Need more reasons to pack your bags? Read on and be the first to check into these covetable stays.

Dive Palm Springs, Palm Springs, CA

A few hours away from L.A., at adults-only Dive in Palm Springs, you’ll find a slice of the French Riviera in the desert. Adding to the slew of high-design hotels in the area, the 11-room inn embodies the look and feel of Saint-Tropez in the Sixties, the resort town’s heyday. You’ll fall asleep listening to Françoise Hardy songs while lounging under a scalloped umbrella in the palm-studded garden, cool off with Champagne popsicles and Aperol Spritz served from the wheeled bar cart that circles the pool every hour, and spend the day languidly moving from one rattan-accented spot to the next. Every room features its own highly Instagrammable touch, like a private, 3-hole golf course; a daybed and movie theater; or custom wallpaper and ceiling mural by fashion designer Christian Lacroix.

Canyon Ranch Woodside, Woodside, CA

In November, the iconic wellness brand transferred its cult-favorite spa resort concept to a 16-acre stretch of sprawling hills and forests, just above Silicon Valley. Canyon Ranch Woodside’s 38 spacious rooms (none smaller than 416 square feet) are divided between the main lodge and 24 glass-encased treehouses, built into a canopy of ancient redwoods. Designed as suspended cottages, these sleek sanctuaries are outfitted with modern amenities (iPads, sleep therapy sounds machines) and silk linens from luxury Italian line Mascioni. Everything here is included in the rates, from meditation sessions to spiritual wellness guides to locally foraged meals planned by an award-winning team of nutritionists. Your stay—whether it be a night or a week—is meant to be entirely worry-free, so you can focus on recharging and reconnecting with nature.

Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas, Los Cabos, Mexico

Los Cabos has officially left behind its spring breaker image in favor of something much more apropos to its edge-of-earth beauty. The Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas, which debuted in October, takes advantage of the landscape, sitting on a 2-mile stretch of the virtually untouched East Cape. From here, you’ll have prime views of the Sierra de la Laguna mountains and prime access to the Sea of Cortez, a UNESCO Marine Heritage site, which Jacques Cousteau named “the aquarium of the world.” The 141-room, indoor-outdoor hotel is the first resort in the thousand-acre Costa Palmas community (an uber-luxe Aman resort is expected next year) and has plenty of amenities to keep you entertained: five restaurants, four pools, a teen and kids program, and boating adventures departing directly from the resort’s marina, to name a few.

The Hoxton, Downtown L.A., Los Angeles, CA 

After impressing with debuts in Williamsburg, Chicago, and Portland, this October, the London-based Hoxton brand raised up a stunner in Downtown L.A. Located in a 1925 Beaux-Arts building that was once the headquarters of the Los Angeles Railway, the 10-story Hoxton, Downtown L.A. calls some of the city’s oldest theaters and movie palaces neighbors. While the main spaces and 174 rooms speak to the building’s French influences and carry an air of British elegance, the Hoxton is decidedly Los Angeles with its eclectic, worldly decor; in-room reads selected by about 100 locals; and the rooftop bar, lounge, and pool that take advantage of the city’s reliably glorious weather. To feed the convivial vibe, the team tapped the Soho House to help design the common spaces, which welcome the public. And with the opening of Sibling Rival, an outpost of a Williamsburg brunch favorite, the hotel is sure to draw plenty of foot traffic from travelers and locals alike. 

W Hotel Aspen, Aspen, CO

Though the W Aspen opened at the end of August while Colorado was still soaking in the summer vibes, we’d be remiss not to tell you about the town’s first luxury hotel opening in 25 years. Drawing inspiration from the region’s Ute tribe, the town’s mining history, and ’60s and ’70s counterculture, the ski-in/ski-out hotel, at the base of Aspen Mountain, stuns with its mix of sleek futuristic and groovy design. The Rocky Mountains get its due through the chalet-like exterior, wood finishes, and locally commissioned murals and prints. Once the sun sets, a fireplace on the second-floor communal Living Room roars to life, signaling to skiers that it’s time to transition to après-mode. Take yours in the year-round rooftop deck—complete with firepits, hot tubs, and a dance floor—or at the underground 39 Degrees with its crushed velvet seating and grotto feel.

KEX Portland, Portland, OR

Kristinn “Kiddi” Vilbergsson, the owner of the Iceland-based hostel brand Kex, sees many similarities between his native country and nature-loving, outdoorsy Portland. That’s why he chose the City of Roses for his first U.S. locale. A project seven years in the making, the four-floor Kex Portlandopened in the city’s buzzy Central Eastside this November. Following the wave of haute hostels like the Freehand and Generator, the modern hostel is divided into 15 shared rooms and 14 private spaces. Seattle-made, industrial-cool bunks come with sliding drawers, electrical outlets, and privacy curtains; and local artists, like Melanie Nead who hand-drew the hallway wallpaper, add personality throughout. The hotel’s aesthetic reflects a blend of places with pieces sourced from around the globe, but a Nordic stamp prevails. Pack your swimsuit for the 12-person sauna; and if you’re a local, don’t skip a Nordic-meets-Northwest feast at Vivian. The smørrebrøds (open-faced sandwiches) are killer, but the drinks menu—with Oregon wines you won’t sip elsewhere and Kex beer brewed in Portland—may win as the highlight. 

Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani, Honolulu, HI

After a multi-million-dollar revamp, the 288-room Halepuna Waikiki now stands in for the 1980s landmark Waikiki Parc. Rooms draped in shades of blue and sandy greige extend from the eighth floor up, showing off mountain or sea views. But if you really want to soak up some of the best shots over Waikiki Bay, post up by the rooftop infinity pool, where you can fall into a deeper state of zen by booking the “cabana refresher” spa treatment. But though the trimmings may be shiny and new, the warm hospitality and aloha spirit are deeply ingrained in this Oahu newcomer. Not only is the property related to the century-old Halekulani next door, but it also retained more than 80 percent of the former Waikiki Parc’s beloved staff. 

Gravity Haus, Breckenridge, CO

Powderhounds, rejoice: The 60-room Gravity Haus opens its doors in December at the base of Peak 9 in Breck. The ski-in/ski-out property is part-boutique hotel, part-social club with a membership option. You don’t have to be a member to stay at this eco- and adventure-minded lodge where contemporary rooms are set up in a mix-and-match style of beds and bunks (making it easy for families and groups to crash together). The daily 13.5% resort fee covers gear storage, access to the nearby gym and sports recovery center, private car service, soaks in the Japanese-style onsen, and welcome bubbly or beer—for starters. But, for those who want to get plugged into the network of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts, the fees start at $249 annually for perks such as dibs on the slopes and Gravity Haus-led adventure trips and social experiences (backcountry outings, farmer dinners), lockers for gear storage all season, free access to the local coworking space and gym/recovery center, and discounted room and food rates.  

Silver Lake Pool & Inn, Los Angeles, CA 

The FINCH, Walla Walla, WA

At the 80-room The FINCH, which opened in late October, the open-air design is meant to encourage interactions and show off the natural scenery. Custom installations by regional artists perk up the walls and gathering spaces (around the firepit, in the Map Room with guides to the area, on the lawn) offer plenty of space to linger over a glass of Walla Walla wine or cup of local Livit coffee. Taking over a 1960s motel building, The FINCH incorporates touches of mid-century modern design with low-lying furniture, most of which is sourced from the Pacific Northwest. Beyond the whimsical compound, wineries are just a short cycle away, and the hotel has a fleet of bikes and a tune-up station in case you BYOB (bring your own bike). Consider this the perfect basecamp for a weekend escape in Washington’s wine country.

The West Hollywood EDITION, West Hollywood, CA

Set on Sunset Boulevard, The West Hollywood EDITION brings the same cool factor that Studio 54 co-founder Ian Schrager brought to his other outposts in Miami and New York. Case in point: Leonardo DiCaprio and Paris Hilton were among the many celebs at the opening night party in October. British architect John Pawson is behind the 190-room hotel’s minimalist-chic style that’s heavy on neutrals. The skyline plays a large role in the design thanks to expansive, floor-to-ceiling windows throughout. What really sets this spot apart from others in the hotel-heavy area, though, is the subterranean, disco ball-filled nightclub, Sunset, and buzzy rooftop pool scene. Are we in for a Studio 54 comeback? One can hope. 

Soho Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA

The third Soho House in the city (after Hollywood and Malibu), Soho Warehouse is the largest of the London-based, members-only clubs along the West Coast—and the first in the region to feature hotel rooms and the only one in the city with a rooftop pool and gym. The design blends Art Deco influences from the 1916 former warehouse and 1970s soul that pays tribute to the building’s days as a recording space. The 48 mini abodes flaunt exposed brick (some with graffiti sprayed pre-construction) and vintage along with made-in-L.A. decor that makes spaces feel more like artists’ lofts than hotel rooms. Splurge for one of the “Large” rooms, which come outfitted with a six-person dining table and swanky, velvet couch in the sitting area, along with a gold-accented soaking tub. Chill in the Tuscan garden on the ground level or around the 50-foot rooftop pool deck and bar with sweeping views of Downtown L.A. Fortunately, no membership is needed to stay as a guest. 

Espacio the Jewel of Waikiki, Honolulu, HI 

Let’s say you have five grand to drop on a night at a hotel. Well, those stacks would be well spent at ESPACIO the Jewel of Waikiki, a next-level luxury hospitality experience in the heart of the city. With only nine suites that stretch across each of the nine floors, the name of the game at this hotel is exclusivity. The 2,250-square-foot rooms—with a soothing palette of pastel hues, hand-knotted Persian rugs, discreet elevator entrances, and in-room dry saunas—come with private butlers trained to anticipate needs and deliver on such personalized demands as scheduling behind-the-scenes art viewings and tracking down late-night cravings. Hobnob with your fellow elite travelers around the rooftop pool, at the spa, or at the Japanese-French restaurant led by Jason Yamaguchi, nephew of revered Hawaii chef Roy Yamaguchi. Here, you’ll dine on fish flown in from a top-shelf Japanese market and sip from the wine collection valued at a cool $5 million.