Designer-Approved Hotel Interiors Across Europe
Travel plans taking you to Europe? Don’t overlook the importance of where to stay. Join us as we journey through the cobblestone streets of historic cities, wander along sun-kissed coastlines, and get lost in the countryside, all in pursuit of Europe’s best design-forward hotels. Explore the work of industry legends like Bryan O’Sullivan, Olga Polizzi, and Peter Marino, and book a stay to experience it for yourself.
Sometimes, a post resonates so much that it warrants a follow-up, which was the case for our Design Hotels: U.S. edition. This time, we’re headed across the Atlantic to uncover the best hotel interiors in Europe, where beautiful architecture and rich history are seemingly everywhere. With prestigious interior design studios at the helm, several of whom have earned spots on the coveted AD100 list, it’s easy to see why European hotels set the standard for design-led hospitality. From Europe’s bustling cities to far-flung locales, we’re here to guide you to the perfect destinations—not just to stay, but to leave inspired.
Hotel Endsleigh
Location: Devon, United Kingdom
Designer: Olga Polizzi
To visit Hotel Endsleigh is to step inside a Jane Austen novel. Designed by British hotelier and interior designer Olga Polizzi, this restored country house includes 21 guest rooms, each featuring a distinct sense of charm. With a style defined by Polizzi as ‘uncluttered elegance,’ the hotel thoughtfully marries old and new, honoring its rich English heritage with a modern sensibility. Beyond the interiors, guests can tour the 108-acre gardens or indulge in afternoon tea served daily at the on-site restaurant.
Images via Hotel Endsleigh
Cheval Blanc
Location: Paris, France
Designer: Peter Marino
Finding well-styled hotel interiors in Paris isn’t difficult, per se. But not every hotel has AD100 legend Peter Marino guiding its design perspective. He helped usher in a new era for a 1920s Art Deco building, transforming it into the epitome of Parisian elegance and quiet luxury. Marino’s signature style, characterized by a blend of classic sophistication and contemporary elegance, permeates every corner of Cheval Blanc, from the airy guest rooms to the artful dining spaces. When it’s time to explore the city, guests don’t have to go far. The Louvre is a stone’s throw away, and the Marais district is just outside their doorstep.
Images via Cheval Blanc
Ballynahinch Castle
Location: County Galway, Ireland
Designer: Bryan O’Sullivan Studio
Many of London’s best hotel and restaurant interiors share a common thread—Bryan O’Sullivan Studio. However, for this project, the Irish designer, also an AD100 honoree, returned to his roots to reimagine Ballynahinch Castle in Connemara, Ireland. The challenge came in integrating modern design elements while communicating a deep respect for the hotel’s heritage. Drawing inspiration from the castle’s rich history, O’Sullivan sourced many antique pieces to accentuate its character, blending old and new elements reminiscent of a well-loved home. This delicate balance between preservation and renewal is evident throughout the property, inviting guests to discover the wild beauty of Western Ireland.
Images via Ballynahinch Castle
The Dylan Hotel
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Designer: Studio Linse
Set in the city’s most coveted neighborhood along the Keizersgracht canal, The Dylan showcases a more romantic, artful side of Amsterdam. Upon entering the hotel, guests will pass through a 17th-century archway leading to a historic theater-turned-luxury boutique hotel featuring 41 guest rooms. Paul Linse of Studio Linse led the interior design with lush fabrics and calming colors, emphasizing a timeless quality to complement the canal home’s original architecture. In between museum visits, guests can wander the open courtyard, book a private canal tour, or grab bikes to explore the city.
Images via The Dylan Hotel
Quinta da Côrte
Location: Douro Valley, Portugal
Designer: Pierre Yovanovich
This unsuspecting winery guesthouse has caught the attention of design enthusiasts across the world. Quinta da Côrte, envisioned by the designer Pierre Yovanovich, offers a unique hospitality experience amidst the vineyards of Portugal’s Douro Valley. The intimate setting with just eight guest rooms allows for a truly immersive experience, where every detail has been carefully considered to tell a story. Yovanovich’s design perspective shines through the painted geometric ceiling details, textural plaster walls, and hand-painted wall tiles. A closer look at the interiors makes a compelling case for a trip to Portuguese wine country.
Images via Quinta da Côrte
Vocabolo Moscatelli
Location: Umbria, Italy
Designer: Jacopo Venerosi Pesciolini
Once a 12th-century monastery, Vocabolo Moscatelli is crafting a fresh narrative as a design-forward boutique hotel nestled in the Italian countryside. As a member of Design Hotels, it stands as a testament to the marriage of historical heritage and contemporary luxury, welcoming guests with 12 rooms across the property. Interior designer Jacopo Venerosi Pesciolini’s work features unexpected moments of primary color, like a red canopy bed, breathing new life into the villa’s stone walls within the surrounding Umbrian landscape.
Images via Vocabolo Moscatelli
Atoles Retreat
Location: Santorini, Greece
Designer: Stones and Walls
Atoles Retreat is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of stay. This cliffside property epitomizes pared-back luxury with its warm minimalist style and purposeful use of natural materials. Situated away from the crowds in Imerovigli, the property offers a serene escape where guests can bask in the breathtaking views in the privacy of their own plunge pool. Designed by the renowned architecture studio Stones and Walls, each cave-like villa features microcement walls, creating an organic layer of texture and movement. While the interiors evoke a distinct Greek aesthetic, the caldera views give this hotel a true sense of place.
Images via Atoles Retreat
BY: ANASTASIA CASEY
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