Marking the beginning of Aman’s legacy, Amanpuri opened 36 years ago in 1988. Since then, its idyllic setting amid coconut palms on a private Phuket peninsula has made it a legendary tropical hot spot for well-heeled travellers including A-list celebrities and royalty. Taking its guests’ privacy very seriously, it’s not uncommon for staff to sign confidentiality agreements when high-profile visitors check in. It has even been known to send out boats to shoo away paparazzi trying to catch a glimpse of celebrity guests from afar.

Some 40 Pavilions are woven into the resort’s cliffside jungle, each one a little teakwood temple. But without a doubt the most decadent way to enjoy a stay at Amanpuri is in one of its exclusive private villas, perched on the tip of the peninsula in perfect seclusion. Designed to echo the Buddhist architecture of ancient Ayutthaya, these range from a three-bedroom villa to palatial eight- and nine-bedroom estates, with the option of garden or ocean views. 

Show, not tell: that’s what Desa Potato Head has done so well. Seeking to inspire rather than preach, it has proved that when prioritising sustainability is the norm and not a novelty, it can be aesthetically pleasing and cool.

Dubbed a “creative village” by founder Ronald Akili, Desa Potato Head is a unique, living, breathing ecosystem that’s been cultivated by an eclectic band of creative talent. Its striking architecture unfolds from the moment of arrival, starting with the façade—built using 1.5 million bricks, each hand-pressed by local artisans and fired using only biomass, in a time-consuming practice typically reserved for Bali’s Hindu temples. There’s an assortment of art installations, including a towering sculpture by New York-based artist Futura, crafted from 888kg of waste collected along the Balinese coast. 

Arriving at The Upper House feels like coming home. It’s not just the earthy, elegant interiors or the absence of a “close door” button in the elevator—a rare but welcome reminder in Hong Kong that it’s OK to slow down. What makes The Upper House feel like home is its service, which is refreshingly informal—perfectly hitting the sweet spot between attentive and unobtrusive.

It’s also deeply personal. Here, an off-hand comment about enjoying the house-made chocolates could mean a plate of them awaits you at your next meal. Casual praise for the signature ginger verbena fragrance could mean a candle has been organised for you to take home.

Designed by Hong Kong-based architect André Fu, The Upper House is calming and contemporary. Its 117 spacious studios and suites are a masterclass in timeless design, featuring details crafted from wood and stone, softened by luxurious textiles. They also boast what are arguably the sexiest bathrooms in Hong Kong—every room features a deep soaking tub, positioned next to floor-to-ceiling windows to soak in panoramic mountain or city views.

When Thai actor and singer Krissada Sukosol Clapp inherited a plot of prime riverside land in 2005, he commissioned architect Bill Bensley to transform it into The Siam Hotel, a 39-suite-and-villa boutique hotel. Bensley’s signature palette of black and white lays a contemporary canvas for Clapp’s personal antique collection, which transports guests to Bangkok’s decadent period of King Rama V. The eclectic museum-worthy collection spans  newspaper clippings of days gone by, to vintage toys and sculptures that date back to the Han dynasty.

The Siam as a whole is ridiculously photogenic, but perhaps the most stunning is the soaring atrium featuring formidable palm fronds that stand three storeys high. Take a dip in the pinstriped infinity pool, listen to records in the vinyl room—the collection features everything from jazz greats to Bob Marley and Madonna—or relax at the Opium Spa. On top of traditional services like facials and massages, Opium Spa offers guests the unique experience of receiving a sak yan tattoo, a sacred 2,000-year-old ritual that is said to impart luck and protection to the wearer.

It’s hard to imagine a better environment to inspire well-being and promote deep healing than among crystalline lagoons, barely touched beaches and swaying coconut palms. And while spas and wellness programmes are nothing new to the Maldives, Joali Being is the country’s first dedicated immersive wellness retreat, centred around four pillars—mind, skin, microbiome and energy. 

Arriving at the island, guests are greeted by an ethereal, wave-like sculpture by artist Seçkin Pirim, with undulating layers inspired by the flowing skirts of whirling dervishes in the artist’s native Turkey. Occupying the secluded island of Bodufushi in Raa Atoll, Joali Being has 68 villas—all with private pools and an appointed butler or jadugar, which means “magician” in Hindi. The villas’ design is clean and minimal, with playful touches of turquoise and taupe, swinging lounge chairs and a section of floor made of glass in the overwater villas. Villas also come with an electric bike, with a wooden plate engraved with your name.

Presented by Tumi, Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li took home the "Best Design" award in the hotel category. 

In Shanghai’s tree-lined French Concession, in a historic enclave originally built in the 1930s, Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li reinvigorates one of the city’s most storied and beloved eras. The property—the only all-villa hotel in Shanghai—houses 55 villas fashioned from restored shikumen, a style of terrace houses that were characterised by laneways of narrow, low-rise buildings. Once, as much as 60 per cent of Shanghai’s housing stock was built in this style, but its legacy is disappearing as skyscrapers increasingly dominate the skyline. Shikumen are a nostalgic reminder of simpler times, and guests of Capella Shanghai have the unique opportunity to experience this communal style of living that was typical of a bygone Shanghai. 

The interiors by Jaya Interior Design Business, now part of Bangkok-based Blink Design Group, combine classic technique with local elements. Each of Capella Shanghai’s one-, two- and three-bedroom villas is fashioned from one of the original lane houses, with typical design elements like stone entrances, tall ceilings, traditional redwood-framed windows and inviting courtyards. The villas range from 1,200 to 2,700 sq ft and feature French-accented furniture with a flourish of chinoiserie—elegant details like silk wallpaper and impressionist artwork, wrought iron and button-upholstered headboards.

Step on to the grounds of Raffles Singapore and you’ll be transported to a bygone era. A storied jewel in the heart of the Lion City, this iconic hotel has been synonymous with luxury since it opened its doors in 1887. The architectural marvel, including its stunning façade, is the work of architect Regent Alfred John Bidwell, who designed the building in an elegant neo-renaissance style. The façade’s intricate details reflect the hotel’s colonial heritage, which is closely intertwined with Singapore’s history.

Named after the founder of modern Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles, the property began as a modest ten-room bungalow that housed dignitaries, writers and celebrities, quickly gaining international acclaim for its grandeur. Today, the hotel boasts 115 suites that retain its old-world charm while offering an elevated experience through modern improvements like subtle technological upgrades. There’s not one but two presidential suites—The Sarkies Suite and Sir Stamford Raffles Suite—each showcasing a curated selection of antiques and artworks, offering the hotel’s legendary butler service, and featuring large private verandas overlooking the hotel’s tranquil Palm Court and porte-cochère. 

Whispers of the debut of Aman’s sibling brand, Janu, have been on the lips of travel editors and Amanjunkies for years. When Janu Tokyo opened in March 2024, in Tokyo’s Azabudai Hills, a new sustainable urban village just steps from Roppongi and Toranomon Hills, it was the most highly anticipated hotel opening of the year.

Janu offers the same level of comfort, service and design sensibility found in Aman properties, but with a playful spirit—providing a more lively, less secluded luxury hotel experience. While many Aman properties are designed to ensure interaction with other guests is minimal, if not non-existent, Janu places an emphasis on  community, an approach it calls “social wellness”.

The design is the work of Malaysia-based firm Denniston, under the leadership of Jean-Michel Gathy—who has worked on many Aman properties, including in Venice and New York—with spaces throughout the hotel fashioned to foster connection. Like the convivial, 12-seat counter at Janu Bar, where signature cocktails take inspiration from Tokyo neighbourhoods—a delicate blend of matcha, rose and orchid milk, for example, represents Kagurazaka, once a bustling geisha district. Janu Lounge is always abuzz with people lingering over afternoon tea and champagne, many of whom relocate to the lush outdoor terrace on sunny days. 

Set within apple orchards and pine forests, with its grand dzong fortress-inspired design and outdoor ponds reflecting the Himalayan clouds above, Six Senses Thimphu is a palace in the sky. Designed in collaboration with Thai studio Habita Architects, the hotel’s ethos is grounded in simplicity and harmony, expressed through the use of local materials such as hemlock wood and ashlar stone. Six Senses Thimphu has 25 spacious villas and suites, with floor-to-ceiling windows and decks that allow guests to take in the towering peaks, quiet valleys and flowing rivers—views that can also be enjoyed from the baths and private pools that feature in some of the lodges.

Guests can immerse themselves in its majestic settings with yoga in the pavilion, local cuisine made from organic ingredients and leisurely paths to ancient monasteries, which are a short walk through the woods away. The Talakha Monastery, a hidden gem rarely visited by foreigners, is an hour’s hike away, and the hotel can arrange intimate talks with the resident monks, as well as tree planting activities.