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With these three Hot List 2023 hotel winners, there is as much to do beyond their doors as there is behind them—from epic hiking trails to museum hopping. Here's how to turn an overnight into a proper stay, complete with planning tips in New York’s Hudson Valley, Miami, and Los Angeles.
Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection, Gardiner, New York
In the recent wave of high-end hotels to come to the Mid-Hudson region, Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection, on the Catskills side of the river, is undoubtedly the most luxurious. But it’s not out of character with its surroundings, because what it offers is a luxury of place. Set in a generous swath of meadow and woodland beneath the iconic Shawangunk Mountains, the property pays tribute to the beauty of the area—and its rich agricultural heritage. Home to a working farm, and may be one of the only resorts in the world that encourages guests to get dirty: you’ll want to take part in the many hands-on experiences, like pulling carrots in the garden, feeding the pigs, gathering eggs in the chicken coop, and harvesting ramps in the forest. Pack accordingly—broken-in jeans, flannel shirts, and all manner of agricultural chic are welcome here.
When the “work” is done, the leisure is spectacular. There is a fine spa with indoor and outdoor swimming and lounge pools; an incredible locally and seasonally minded restaurant called Clay; and a wonderfully curated little store selling everything from soaps to farm apparel to artisanal housewares. Best of all is an outdoor communal space, the Great Porch, where city escapees wearing Arcteryx and Blundstones gather around a massive fire pit while drinking craft cocktails featuring wild botanicals grown on site. The hotel’s green credentials are impeccable—only four percent of the 141 acres has been developed, with much set aside in a conservation easement—so guests can feel good about staying there. There’s much to keep you on site, but Wildflower wants guests to get to know the region, too, so be sure to go on a hike in the Gunks, soak up some Hudson Valley culture at nearby art meccas like Storm King and Dia Beacon, and grab a meal at one of the many great new restaurants that have opened lately in the town of Kingston and the surrounding area. —Jesse Ashlock
Mayfair House Hotel & Garden, Miami, Florida
Mayfair House may be in its second act—but it’s just getting started. Lodged in the heart of leafy, low-key Coconut Grove, the palatial hotel first opened its doors in 1985, and with its yawning indoor atrium, was then a distinguished example of that era’s typology. But over the years, the property fell into disrepair—and after a lengthy pause, reopened in 2022, following its purchase by Brookfield Asset Management and a mammoth redesign by interiors maven Matthew Goodrich. Now, everything about it feels fresh; its signature atrium, loaded with vegetation, is a place of respite rather than a shopping mall, and rooms express a modern flair with clawfoot tubs, jewel-tone walls, and tropical-print accent pieces. But the F&B is the real scene-stealer. That’s thanks to Chris Hudnall and Randy Alonso, co-founders of hit Downtown Miami bar Lost Boy, who’ve launched concepts exciting enough to keep you on-property through the night. The vibe is cool, calm, collected, and fun–so don a flouncy, floral dress or a breezy button-down and khaki shorts and head up to Mayfair Grill, where the centerpiece is—you guessed it—an aromatic wood-fired grill, which touts Miami’s first Sonoran culinary offering (think woodfired Navajo bread studded with roasted pepper, dried tomato, and Mexican chihuahua cheese, and hand-milled maize tacos). Sipsip, the cocktail bar by the hotel’s scene-y rooftop pool, serves up rum-centric cocktails best enjoyed with the expansive views of Biscayne Bay.
But this is Miami’s oldest continuously occupied neighborhood, and as such, there’s plenty to see beyond hotel walls. Grab a vanilla cream cold brew at Panther Coffee, the city’s first specialty roaster, then mosey over to Barnacle Historic State Park. Formerly the home of Ralph Middleton Munroe, one of the Grove’s earliest residents, you can still see his 1891 home, the oldest in the county, which sits under an ancient tree canopy. (For something with a little more “wow” factor, you can’t do better than Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, a mere 10 minute-drive up the coast—the sprawling, Mediterranean-style villa and estate, built in 1916 for industrialist James Deering, is well worth a stroll.) And while the exotic birds no longer roam Peacock Park, you can at least sit it on a free fitness class. If you happen to be in town on a Sunday, the Coconut Grove Foodie and Farmers Market operates out of St. Stephens, the church next door, where you’re guaranteed an enviable selection of artisanal goods and handicrafts. —Betsy Blumenthal
Conrad Los Angeles
When a hotel has the distinction of being designed by Frank Gehry, you sit up and take notice; and when it’s his first hospitality project in a city as major as Los Angeles, you book a flight. So get thee to Conrad Los Angeles. The 305-room property, which recently opened in DTLA’s Bunker Hill neighborhood, is part of The Grand LA, a new development designed by the starchitect—some 15 years in the making–that also includes residences and mixed-use retail. Not content to settle for one industry titan, the hotel also counts Spanish-American chef and restaurateur José Andres among its collaborators, who generated five different F&B concepts. Among the highlights: Sed, a cocktail bar serving playfully presented modernist tipples inspired by Andrés’ travels, and Agua Viva, a laid-back, open-air spot whose boho-chic design conjures a Balearic Island beach club. (There are fun twists on Asian fusion like the build-your-own hand rolls, which can be filled with fresh cuts of seafood or a variety of veg-friendly fillings. But the star of the show—and a staff favorite—is undoubtedly the large-format ribeye topped with a punchy chimichurri.)
Once you’ve checked out the spa, which touts all of the cutting-edge beauty and wellness treatments that LA is known for, including biohacking booths, a harmonic therapy room, and an infrared sauna, it’s time to hit the streets. Don something tailored but cool—a structured button-down and tapered denim—and commence your art circuit. With its glossy, sculptural frame and locally sourced artwork (Gehry collaborated with Judith Tatar of Tatar Art Projects to hand-select pieces for display) the Conrad deftly fits into its milieu—The Broad Museum, Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Music Center, and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) are all neighbors—and you’ll want to pay each one a visit. The Broad, in particular, which houses the contemporary art collection of philanthropist-patrons Eli and Edythe Broad, delivers a knockout lineup; in addition to permanent holdings from Hank Willis Thomas, Cecily Brown, Jasper Johns, and Jenny Holzer, there are rotating exhibitions dedicated to maestros like Keith Haring, Roy Lichtenstein, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Yayoi Kusama. Make time to meander around ROW DTLA, Downtown’s city-within-a-city, just an eight-minute drive from the hotel: The 32-acre complex houses a vast swathe of retail and restaurant spaces, including Arcade, a vintage co-op; Bodega, a youth culture-driven footwear shop; and fragrance shop Scent Bar DTLA. —B.B.
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