Cool and Colourful: Art Deco Hotels

“Elegant, fun, loud and stylish all at once, Art Deco is one of the most enduringly cool schools of design ever. It’s had a major influence on hotel design from its early-20th-century heyday to the present, from elegant period rooms in classy European grand dames to quirky nautical-themed British beauties. Whether you’re an architecture geek or just appreciate timeless design, there’s something special about a stay in an aesthetic Art Deco classic. Check out these five Art Deco hotels for the most stylish stay you’ve ever enjoyed.

National Hotel, Miami Beach
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Miami’s South Beach is where you’ll find the celebrated Art Deco neighbourhood, where cool architectural lines meet the ocean and beach. At the National Hotel, the Art Deco influence extends beyond the historic tower building to the 1940s furniture in the lobby and the elegant style of the in-house Blues Bar. The longest infinity pool in Miami completes the ensemble, stretching out from the Art Deco tower between palm trees, down to the hotel’s own private stretch of sandy beach.

The Savoy, London
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The Savoy redefined the hospitality industry when it opened and as the grand dame of London (if not the world), it’s been consistently setting the bar for over 100 years. The Savoy blends design styles but its iconic sign on the Strand is instantly recognisable with its silent movie-era font. Some of the Savoy’s highlights are the Art Deco rooms on the Strand side of the hotel, with elegantly arched doorways and period light fixtures, and the Art Deco Kaspar’s restaurant is the hotel’s design centrepiece – all mirrors, brass and elegant dazzle. It’s like staying in London in the roaring 20s with all the comforts you’d expect from the same decade a century on.

Art Deco Imperial Hotel, Prague
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If you’re the kind who appreciates the little touches, this is the destination hotel for you. Prague’s Art Deco Imperial wears its design influences on its sleeve (the clue’s in the name), but the hotel is as impressive for its subtle details as for its more obvious opulence. Brass detailing on bathroom fixtures finishes off the effect created by the ornate porcelain friezes of the hotel’s famous café. You’ll even find decorative tiling in the gym.

Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée, Nice
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With a prime spot on the Promenade des Anglais, the Hyatt Regency Palais de la Méditerranée is one of the most strikingly gorgeous hotels in Nice – and that’s saying something. The Palais downplays the styling inside, but marble bathrooms with circular porthole mirrors, and big, arched windows hint tastefully at the hotel’s design history.

The Midland, Morecambe
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The Midland is a tour de force of the Streamline Moderne school, with long lines, sweeping marine curves and pristine whites (a miracle considering its location on Morecambe seafront). The Midland is a Grade II* listed building and whether you’re walking in the front entrance or enjoying the view from the glass-fronted Sun Terrace Restaurant, the hotel just puts a smile on your face. Much of the interior décor has been modernised, but the Ravilious Rotunda Bar with its unique chandelier and circular bar is a treat, with excellent views across Morecambe Bay.”