Where to stay spring/summer edit 2026

Like a sundial, we’re counting down the rays until summertime, where the promise of tropical adventures or balmy days shoreside has us itching to go further. Perhaps to Paris for immersive art experiences, Sonoma for its big sippers, Tanzania to spy toothsome cats or Vienna for the caterwaul of Eurovision. From the Yorkshire Dales to Laotian jungle, we’ve new-to-Smith stays that’ll shape up your summer.

Crafted at Powdermills

We wuthered away the beginning of 2026 up north, but with adaptations of more classics landing this year — namely Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice — we coyly turn our gaze to England’s southern shires for bonnet-ripping fun. Whither do our fans flutter? To Aldeburgh-on-Sea, where 17th-century coastal inn The Suffolk has rooms decorated in pastels and a destination restaurant where the chef is practically best buds with each supplier. After oysters and day-boat fish, take drinks on the roof terrace — the town’s famed for its classical music festival, so you may be serenaded from afar.

Once the happy ending’s happened, it’s to Wiltshire-set Jacobean manor Woolley Grange. A dashing figure that’s very family-friendly and never a bore, with a den, escape room and gardening club for smaller guests. A spa and scenic pursuits keep adults sweet, too. In East Sussex, Crafted at Powdermills turned a listed gunpowder mill into a cool creative hub with colourful licks of paint, but there’s still tinder enough to inflame a passion here, especially with its arts workshops and body-and-soul wellness. To paraphrase Austen: it is a truth universally acknowledged, that a person with some PTO, must be in want of the good life — England’s south offers it in abundance.

Is it too soon to book a stay for Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival? The answer is always ‘no’, especially if you want to spend it at the city’s coolest new hideaway. The Hoxton opened here last June, bringing East London swagger to West Edinburgh’s Haymarket. With the hotel’s Edwardian detailing and Murano chandeliers, it feels grown-up with an undercurrent of in-the-know-ness; see the ‘secret’ arthouse cinema and Patatino restaurant’s tight pasta-pizza edit (a haggis-topped pie nods to the locale).

Meanwhile, 100 Princes Street announces its address with decor that comes at you like a whisky slug to the throat. Tartans of the fiercest of clans line the walls and there’s the odd kelpie head for good measure. But if we were in the most central of locations, we too would declare it boldly. Lean into the drama, even if the festival’s fully booked, with whisky tastings, River Tweed fishing trips and bespoke kilt fittings.

Cataloochee Ranch

The Great Smoky Mountains have the kind of stats that make you feel insignificant. However, in summer they put on a show for humans hiking out into them — and we don’t mean Dollywood’s fireworks. The blue-tinged ‘smoke’ (actually fog from the undergrowth) turns a vivid array of hues as the sun plays among it and the peaks are viridescent. But where in the park’s 500,000 acres should you stay? On the western, Tennessee end of the range, RT Lodge sits on the campus of Maryville College, and its preppy feel is a cosy counterpoint to the wildness. Limber up for your big adventure with on-site biking trails and soothe any climber’s aches in the spa.

To the south-east, in North Carolina, you’ll feel more ruggedly rustic (while living luxuriously) at Cataloochee Ranch, where you’ll rope steers, feed cattle, hit bull’s-eyes and bomb about in a UTV. Then slumber in cowboy-chic suites and eat meals that amount to much more than a tin of beans. Add a touch of urbanity to your break at Blind Tiger Asheville, a Queen Anne house where you get a very warm welcome and a feel for the locality through its art, antique furnishings and local treats to try.

Want that lake-house life but the log-cabin look isn’t quite your vibe? Drake Devonshire — the Prince Edward County outpost of super-cool Torontonian stay The Drake Hotel — might fit. It translates the cosmopolitan into a campside aesthetic: patterned blankets on beds, clapboard accents, nature-reffing artworks, and the real deal right outside your window. It feels wholesomely hip, with days passing in waterside sauna spells, games of boules and craft beers, riding bikes with wicker baskets and toasting marshmallows on the bonfire come evening. But art walks that reflect the area’s vibrancy, slick dining (maple-chilli duck wings, Ibérico pork in apple butter, Southern-fried-tofu sandwiches) and curated wine and cider tours give it that not-your-average-camping-trip edge.

The Penny Bun

As Emerald Fennell was conceiving her lavishly reimagined Wuthering Heights, the real-world owners of Denton Hall — set in the same windswept landscape as Brontë’s classic novel — began a decade-long project to restore their 800-year-old estate, situated at the southern tip of the Yorkshire Dales. Work on the historic hall continues, but those in-the-know have, Cathy-like, been swooning at two of the estate team’s side projects.

The Coach House at Denton Reserve (landing on Smith soon) is the former home of the hall’s butlers and gardeners and retains that cosy heritage charm (as well as those stress-busting views across the lake) but with sustainable design and freestanding tubs. The Penny Bun, meanwhile, is a pared-back, candle-lit gastropub-with-rooms on the edge of the estate with restaurant ingredients plucked fresh from the reserve. This is more Heathcliff to the Coach House’s Edgar Linton, with raw textures, dark wood and moody lighting. Mind you, at both, you’ll experience a sense of ‘coming home’.

The motto of one of America’s most celebrated poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was: ‘Not loudness, but love’. In this maximalist world, his namesake, Longfellow Hotel, seems to have taken note. At this handsome redbrick corner building in Portland’s historic West End, quiet quality and seamless service succeed over attention-grabbing design. The thoughtfully curated menus at Twinflower Café, the Five of Clubs cocktail bar and the Astraea spa are less about making a statement and more about getting everything exactly — and lovingly — right.

There are lovely things going on down the coast in Kennebunkport, too. White Barn Inn & Spa is a refined New England stay with an equally laser-focused attention to detail; and sea captains did indeed own each of the properties collectively known as Kennebunkport Captains Collection, a string of stately homes with working fireplaces, intimate hidey-holes and lively gathering spots.

The Newman

London may not be famed for dependable sunshine, but this city rarely misses a beat whatever the season, with a steady stream of fresh places to stay across its most cultured of corners. First to Fitzrovia, where The Newman has recently arrived as this neighbourhood’s aureate narrator, regaling its poetic past in the secret underground bar, locally loved restaurant and allusive, art deco interiors.

Richard Curtis may have tempted you to Notting Hill but Six Senses London will be why you stay. Housed in the former Whiteleys department store, the cinematic setting has been transformed into a surprisingly restorative retreat, starring a subterranean spa, private members’ club and destination dining made for meet-cutes. There’s an equally soothing effect from Templeton Garden in residential Earl’s Court; or make the most of the South Bank’s theatrics and waterside setting at sociable hub, The Hoxton, Southwark.

Southeast Asia isn’t lacking in love for its sun-drenched islands and rich cultural tapestry. But this season, we’re redirecting our spotlight from the top-billers towards lesser-visited Laos and its latest starlet of a stay, La Résidence Phou Vao. Named for its lofty perch above Luang Prabang, this hotel was once owned by royalty — and its latest incarnation keeps you suitably indulged. An infinity-edged pool invites idle afternoons, while the alfresco spa draws on restorative ancient traditions and sacred ceremonies. August and September bring wetter weather, but during the buffering spring months, fewer crowds and lush landscapes allow your concierge to curate itineraries around waterfall visits, private temple tours and Mekong River cruises.

Park Lane Copenhagen

We didn’t think we could fall any faster for this Scandinavian city in the summer, with dips from La Banchina’s deck, cycles through Christianshavn and its annual 3 Days of Design festival each June proving irresistible draws. That is until Park Lane Copenhagen graced the Hellerup ‘hood’s well-heeled streets. You’ll find Danish delights at every turn here, with its minimalist interiors in a soft palette by Camilla van den Tempel and a clutch of adjoining eateries, where seasonal classics fuel beachside forays and wanders through the surrounding suburb.

Alternatively, take a 30-minute train south to Køge Bay’s idyllic shoreline, where Rox Resort makes a calming counterpoint to the city. Summer’s warmer weather brings a slower rhythm of wild swims, bay-hugging hikes, wood-fired sauna sessions and perhaps a cold plunge or two to keep things distinctly Nordic.

Putting the ‘verde’ in its Monteverde cloud-forest home, Hotel Belmar is green in many senses. There’s a verdant backdrop to every corner: spells in the garden’s hot tub, scenery-gazing from your terrace, horseback riding through lush countryside or sun salutations on the yoga deck. It’s a sustainable stay — with a carbon-neutral status, involvement in community projects and reforestation efforts — and at its farm-to-table restaurant, you can sip herb-infused cocktails as you polish off plates of garden-grown curry. We’ll be green with envy if you tick it off your holiday hit list summer.

Convento de Cabanas

Restored monastery turned six-key boutique hotel Convento de Cabanas is near northern Portugal’s praias, close to the border with Spain. Its coastal locale may seem like it’s off the beaten track, but it lies along a well-trodden path: the historic Camino de Santiago hiking route. Whether you’re making a pilgrimage (as walkers did back in the day) or not, you can seek out contemplation at the hotel’s church, rose garden or library, with wholesome interludes of homegrown dining, dips in the greenery-framed pool and artisan-led workshops.

For a change in pace, swap swims in the river by Convento for picture-worthy views of the Tagus at Alfama-set Casagrand Luxury Apartments Lisboa. With its 13,500 original tiles and multi-bedroom residences — each with lofty ceilings and tricked-out kitchens — we can’t imagine you’ll tire of playing house; but if you do, the cathedral is just down the road. You can also cosplay as a local at neighbouring stay Hermitage Castelo Casa Sé, a high-end-but-homey collection of apartments designed with lingering in mind. Whip up a culinary storm em sua casa, or let the next-door Italian restaurant deliver focaccia and fresh pasta to your door.

Haute-Savoie in the French Alps has something of a haute-winter reputation. But come spring, as the marmots emerge from their burrows and the valleys become flecked with wildflowers, you’d be wise not to turn away from this bucolic beauty. Hôtel Saint-Georges in Megève will reopen its doors at the end of June, all set for a summer of hosting sun-kissed hikers, adventure-seeking cyclists and discerning gastronomes.

Due south, the French Riviera is more familiar summer territory, but our gaze for 2026 is pulled towards the Calanques Massif and Med-lapped beaches, then pans west towards Marseille. Talk of the town Zannier Île de Bendor, backdropped by seaside enclave Bandol, is a new island resort for summer 2026. A passion project of many years, it brings a fresh chapter to fabled pastis-purveyor Paul Ricard’s hedonistic offshore playground. Set on the Corniche Kennedy in central Marseille, Les Bords de Mer has sea views you’ll soak up from its polished spa, rooftop bar and possibly your room. In a quieter port but still with sea views and a crowning terrace, Hôtel Liautaud Cassis is a boutique stay that’s big on élan. Haute summer, here we come.

Almanac Palais Vienna

Thanks to 2025 winner JJ and his operatic ballad Wasted Love, the joyful spectacle of Continental togetherness that is the Eurovision Song Contest rolls into the Austrian capital in May 2026. And we’re hopeful the sequins-and-glitter bonhomie set to permeate Vienna will last all the way to open-air live music fest, the Danube Island Festival in July.

We’ve added a few new tracks to our Vienna album, too. Palais Rudolf, overlooking a leafy square in the Innere Stadt, is as stylish as basecamps get, with soft-hued, mid-century-modern interiors encased in a stately mansion, and concierge service that’s equally polished. On Parkring, skirting the Innere Stadt, Almanac Palais Vienna has transformed its mansion setting with moodily lit, modern bedrooms; eye-catching art throughout; and a restaurant, bar and coffee shop loved by locals as well as guests. We’re awarding both ‘douze points’.

We never need an excuse to visit southern Italy in summer — it’s where many sensible people spend August for a reason. Since the early Fifties, there’s been one grande dame reigning over Positano, and this summer, 75 years later, she’s finally bookable on Mr & Mrs Smith. Meet Le Sirenuse, whose siren call is impossible to resist: statue-lined terraces made for supersize-lemon-flavoured sundowners, a ravishing deep-red façade and a dazzling mosaic-lined pool. The Sersale famiglia are the best custodians she could ask for — founding father Uncle Aldo’s wooden boat is still in use, on hand to whisk guests around the coast for lazy lunch stops. And there’s life in the old girl yet — in fact, this season, she gets bigger and better with a new beach club down at the shore.

Moving from the mid-calf to the heel: joining our Puglia collection in time for this summer is Masseria Auraterrae, just inland from the impossibly pretty (even by Salento standards) town of Polignano a Mare. The hilltop setting of this peaceful farmhouse means panoramic views of the Adriatic, the estate’s vineyards and olive groves; and its beach club awaits you down at the shore.

Jabali Ridge

As the rain clouds clear above Serengeti National Park, one of nature’s famed phenomena is about to unfold. The Great Migration sees thousands of wildebeest and zebra travelling across the Tanzanian plains with their young, in search of fresh grazing. And the only thing as hungry as those crocs and big cats lying in wait are the camera-carrying safari-goers intent on witnessing the action.

Our lenses are focused on Namiri Plains. Not only does this eastern Serengeti camp by Asilia Africa come with big cats in abundance and sightings of migrating herds, it also fits into many potential safari itineraries travelling from Asilia camp to camp. You could tie it into a trip exploring the country’s north and south with Jabali Ridge, or pair it with a stay closer to Ngorongoro Crater at The Highlands. It’ll even work with a sojourn at Rubondo Island Camp, for your chance to see chimpanzees in the wild. The only tricky part is tearing yourselves away from Namiri’s tented suites, savannah-spying pool and alfresco spa treatments.

California, here we come… We’ve long extolled the virtues of Sonoma County but until recently, we hadn’t unearthed a suitable stay in Sonoma itself. Enter El Dorado Hotel & Kitchen, a heritage hotel set in the adobe abode of Captain Salvador Vallejo: brother of General Vallejo, who founded Sonoma. It’s the perfect between-winery basecamp as you drink your way around Sonoma County and Napa Valley’s finest vintners, with excellent Mexican-Californian food on offer at the restaurant for soaking up any alcoholic excess. The right-on-the-plaza address and handy bicycles to borrow mean an idyllic two-wheel trip to the city’s thrift shops, galleries and ice-cream parlours is a minimal effort away.

Aman Nai Lert

Thailand’s capital is where cultures collide. It’s a city in which skyscrapers hide street markets in their shadows and temples rub shoulders with neon-bathed bars. This dizzying duality is handled masterfully at Aman Nai Lert Bangkok, overlooking its namesake park in the Pathum Wan district. Thai symbolism and heritage abound here: you’ll find intricate woodwork lending character to the suites and clutch of restaurants; in the atrium, a 12-metre-tall sculpture of a rain tree (inspired by a centuries-old one growing close by) catches the sunlight in its golden crown; and in the two-storey spa, tradition takes the form of healing rituals rooted in the ancient world. The effect is a glorious softening of this oft-frenetic city — spring and summer might bring the heat to Bangkok, but here you’re as cocooned as can be.

Serenity is equally abundant at Siri Sala, a reimagined Thai river-house on the northern bank of the city’s Noi canal. This wood-panelled and gable-roofed villa has lemongrass-scented gardens on one side and waters plied by longtail boats on the other. Charter one to see the city from its famed waterways or stay home for the day, whipping up fragrant dishes with a private chef or trying your hand at Thai-script calligraphy.

There’s no such thing as the wrong time to visit Paris, but spring and summer are always, emphatically right. Life blooms in every corner of the city as parks, terraces, balconies and the banks of the Seine suddenly become meeting points for picnics and sundowners en plein air. In keeping with the spirit of renewal, we have a quartet of new hotels to choose as your pied-à-terre.

Salvia leans into the literary heritage of Paris’s Latin Quarter, with rooms dressed in warming woods and shades of sage, a nod to the hotel’s name and a symbol of wisdom and longevity. Some overlook the stately Sorbonne University and you’re a two-minute walk from the Jardin du Luxembourg. In Montparnasse, Hôtel des Académies et des Arts has rooms that fizz with imaginative flair, daubed with murals reminiscent of Jean Cocteau’s surrealist sketches. It’s a bona fide artists’ residence, too, offering workshops in painting, sculpture and drawing.

Montmartre pad Monsieur Aristide channels the enclave’s bohemian roots with lashings of vintage style, a convivial neighbourhood bistro and roof terrace for sipping beneath the stars. Looking for a more rural break within day-tripping distance of Paris? Go for La Folie Barbizon, a petite country house at the edge of the Fontainebleau Forest. Barbizon is considered the cradle of Pre-Impressionism, which gets its due in the fantastical interiors, created with the help of more than 20 artists.

Now that your seasonal stays are booked in, why not plan out the rest of your year in travel with our Where to Stay in 2026 guide