Words: Aobh O'Brien-Moody
With art collections to rival those of the world’s finest galleries, today’s leading hotels are attracting discerning aesthetes in droves. This blurring of worlds is evidence of an increasing demand for unique hospitality experiences – from lounging beneath a Picasso at cocktail hour to passing a Dalí on the way to dinner – that go beyond a dip in the infinity pool.
La Colombe d’Or, Saint Paul de Vence
At La Colombe d’Or, nestled between Nice and the Alpes-Maritimes, the ghosts of artists past linger. The 25-room hotel was once a weekend haunt for the likes of Miró, Chagall, Matisse and Picasso, who offered owners Paul Roux and his wife Baptistine (“Titti”) their art in exchange for free room and board. It was the beginning of an extraordinary collection that the Roux family – who remain at the hotel’s helm – are still building. One of the more recent additions is a large ceramic by Irish artist Sean Scully, installed by the pool.
This article was taken from the autumn 2024 issue of Gentleman's Journal. Read all about the issue here...
El Fenn, Marrakech
Art is woven into the fabric of El Fenn. Bought in 2002 by Vanessa Branson (sister of Richard; former gallerist and founder of the Marrakech Biennale) and her business partner Howell James, the compact yet colourful hotel in the heart of the Marrakech medina is peppered with works from Branson’s personal collection, alongside contemporary showstoppers by the likes of Antony Gormley and Fred Pollock, and pieces by local Moroccan artists.
The Silo Hotel, Cape Town
Spread across the top six floors of a Thomas Heatherwick-designed tower – which also houses Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town’s celebrated Museum of Contemporary African Art – The Silo is part hotel, part gallery. The industrial bones of the space serve as an excellent canvas for a collection of pieces by emerging and established African artists, including Cyrus Kabiru, Mohau Modisakeng and Nandipha Mntambo. There’s even an art concierge on hand to curate tailor-made art and design tours.
The Dolder Grand, Zurich
Perched on a hill overlooking the Alps and Lake Zurich, The Dolder Grand is a Swiss institution. More than 100 works of art comprise the hotel’s impressive collection, which is filled with heavyweights such as Andy Warhol, Joan Miró, Max Ernst, Keith Haring and Salvador Dalí. The latter's painting Femmes métamorphosées – Les sept arts greets guests at the entrance to the restaurant. Each artwork has a QR code, offering more information about the artist and the piece itself.
Faena Hotel, Miami Beach
The US outpost of Argentine hotelier and art collector Alan Faena’s concept is a maximalist’s dream. The fun begins with Damien Hirst’s gold-plated woolly mammoth skeleton, Gone But Not Forgotten, installed outside. Meanwhile 2,500 (and counting) original pieces by artists such as Jeff Koons, Tracey Emin and Juan Gatti serve to elevate the cultural drama inside.
Le Royal Monceau, Paris
Le Royal Monceau takes the concept of an art hotel one step further, with an elaborate cultural offering that includes an art book shop, cinema and a contemporary gallery. It also has a dedicated art concierge that will assist with anything from suggesting exhibitions to access to art auctions.The Philippe Starck-designed property features more than 350 artworks throughout its rooms, suites and public spaces, which guests can learn more about on a private guided tour.
The Fife Arms, Braemar, Scotland
What was once a hotel for bus tours has been transformed into a Highlands haven bursting with eclectic artworks and curios. The Fife Arms' owners, Iwan and Manuela Wirth of global art behemoth Hauser & Wirth have integrated more than 14,000 pieces into every corridor and corner. A leisurely wander reveals multiple Picassos, a Highland stag drawing by Queen Victoria, and a Louise Bourgeois giant spider sculpture – and that’s just for starters.
Rosewood, London
Quirky curiosities meet art deco flourishes in the grand Edwardian building that houses Rosewood, London, from Peter Osbourne’s modernist zebra and Jack Russell sculptures in the lobby to the Cecil Beaton photographs lining the corridor. The hotel’s award-winning Scarfes Bar is named after renowned British caricaturist Gerald Scarfe, whose original paintings adorn its marble walls and transform the room into a compelling living canvas.
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