Design takes centre stage this May as a fresh line up of luxury hotel openings invite us into spaces where architecture, storytelling, and cultural context converge…
From a bold, birdcage-inspired retreat in Jakarta to a meticulously restored Dutch palace in Amsterdam, this month’s new hotel openings go far beyond being somewhere to just comfortably rest your head. With each place and space telling a topical, historical or uniquely cultural story, all openings this month reflect distinct design points of view worth travelling for.
25hours Hotel Jakarta The Oddbird
Image credits: Hanna Hutchinson
The much-anticipated 25hours Hotel Jakarta The Oddbird has officially opened, marking the energetic 25hours brand’s dynamic debut in Asia with a design concept by 1508 London’s Singapore studio. In collaboration with Ennismore and Agung Sedayu Group, the international design firm has crafted a vibrant and eclectic narrative that reflects Jakarta’s rich culture and kinetic energy.
Situated in the heart of Jakarta’s SCBD within District 8, the 38-storey hotel features 210 rooms, 135 serviced apartments, and an array of creative spaces, including The Oddbird Bar, a co-working lounge, and themed meeting rooms. 1508’s design approach diverges from conventional hospitality, embracing maximalism, cultural storytelling, and mid-century nostalgia to create an immersive guest experience.
Guestrooms are split into two distinct themes: Garden and Urban. The Garden rooms, lush with greenery-inspired textures and local motifs, evoke Jakarta’s past as a garden city. Meanwhile, Urban rooms celebrate the city’s modern pulse with geometric patterns, industrial elements, and bold contrasts.
Public spaces are equally expressive – The Oddbird Bar showcases vintage Indonesian artefacts and mismatched retro furnishings that transition seamlessly from day to night, while the coworking area features human-scale birdcage pods for creative solitude.
With its bold interiors and culturally rich concepts, 25hours The Oddbird invites guests to ‘come as they are’ and immerse themselves in the city’s spirited charm.
Rosewood Amsterdam
Image credit: Daniëlle Siobhán
After a decade of meticulous restoration, the Rosewood Amsterdam has officially opened its doors, ushering in a new era for the former 17th-century Palace of Justice. Located on the UNESCO-listed Prinsengracht canal, the hotel redefines luxury through a purpose-led, design-focused experience rooted in Dutch heritage and contemporary craftsmanship.
The property’s transformation was led by the Netherlands-founded firm, Studio Piet Boon, who also designed the recently opened Roswood Miyakojima. In Amsterdam, the team has created 134 individually designed rooms and suites, along with serene public spaces, three dining areas, a library, and the Asaya Spa. Five signature suites – each rich in narrative and architectural detail – offer residential-style living with sweeping canal views.
Original elements like stone floors, woodgrain doors, and pleated headboards reference the site’s Palatial history, with judicial robes now seamlessly blending with bronze fixtures, mirrored enclosures, and natural materials, as elegant décor.
Throughout the hotel, Rosewood’s ‘sense of place‘ philosophy is thoughtfully woven into every detail. A colour palette of soft greys, inky blues, and warm neutrals mirror the shifting moods of Amsterdam’s sky, grounding the interiors in their surroundings. Nearly 1,000 curated artworks – including pieces by Frank Stella, Viviane Sassen, and Maarten Baas – transform the hotel into a living gallery too.
Image credit: Ennismore / Heiko Prigge
The Hoxton, Florence, is here, marking the brand’s second Italian destination after Rome. Located in Florence’s historic centre, the hotel seamlessly blends Renaissance grandeur with modernist flair.
Comprising 161 thoughtfully designed rooms, The Hoxton spans two distinct buildings: one, a restored 16th-century palazzo that once belonged to the Ricasoli family, features a vaulted arcade, lime-washed walls, and original 1611 frescoes. The other, in striking contrast, is a bold 1980s structure by architect Andrea Branzi – his minimal, geometric aesthetic offering a modern counterpoint to its ornate neighbour.
AIME Studios, The Hoxton’s in-house design team, has brought both spaces to life with an imaginative mix of Italian craftsmanship, mid-century furniture, and custom elements. In the palazzo, Renaissance motifs meet contemporary comfort with scalloped headboards, rich textures, and marble-inspired palettes. Some rooms offer Duomo views, terraces with outdoor bathtubs, or spiral staircases in duplex suites.
Meanwhile, the Branzi building channels postmodern playfulness with vivid colour-blocked wardrobes, graphic textiles, and statement lighting.
Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique
Image credit: Hilton
Hilton has opened the doors of the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, a 188-room cliffside retreat overlooking Playa Penca on Costa Rica’s Northern Pacific Coast. Merging barefoot luxury with timeless design, the resort marks Waldorf Astoria’s debut in the country.
Designed by Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, the resort is terraced into the peninsula’s contours, offering panoramic views of Culebra and Coco Bays. Architecture and landscape blur as native flora envelops living rooftops, reducing heat and echoing the resort’s deep environmental commitment. Public and private spaces flow seamlessly from arrival to oceanfront, guiding guests through a series of sculpted pathways, cascading pools, and vibrant social hubs.
Interiors throughout the 148 guest rooms and 40 suites draw from the natural surroundings, using earthy tones and textures to invite the outdoors in. Many suites feature private plunge pools and expansive terraces, framing Costa Rica’s forests and beaches in quiet luxury.
Zélia Halkidiki
Image credit: Zélia Halkidiki / Hyatt
Destination by Hyatt has officially arrived in Greece with the opening of Zélia Halkidiki, a five-star adults-only resort nestled along the Kassandra Peninsula. Marking Hyatt’s second affiliated resort in the country and the brand’s first under the Destination collection, Zélia is now welcoming guests.
The newly built resort features 104 guestrooms and 18 suites, each designed to frame views of the Aegean Sea or lush private gardens. Interiors are organically tactile – think bamboo, stone, and wood – in soothing neutral tones, to create calming spaces that invite relaxation. Signature suites include swim-up terraces, loft-style layouts, and perfect sunset-viewing balconies.
Zélia Halkikdiki’s dining options will be led by award-winning Chef Vassili Papatheodorou, whose menus blend international flavours with local produce. Indulge in Mediterranean-inspired plates at Mesogaea, fresh bites at Zest and Japanese-Peruvian fusion at Shizen. For a more intimate experience, Syntrofi, set within a fragrant vegetable garden, offers a farm-to-table experience.
Main image credit: The Rosewood Amsterdam by Daniëlle Siobhán
