Some of the world’s most renowned luxury hotels are also historic institutions in their own right: take Claridges, the Plaza or the Ritz, for example.
But posh doesn’t have to mean old. New hotels, featuring innovative design, stylish decor and a more contemporary take on high-end service, are consistently landing on prestigious World’s Best Hotels lists.
Condé Nast Johansens Awards know that, and in their 2025 Awards for Excellence, they’ve named the most outstanding new accommodation in Europe: Amavia Collection, Villa Olivia.
Perched looking over the bay of Villefranche on the French Riviera, the villa blends five-star hotel services with green practices such as organic sourcing and water efficiency.
It’s available for exclusive hire only, which means all five of the ridiculously plush, terraced rooms will be yours during your stay (make sure you nab a master bedroom – those are the ones with a sea view).
But being in a villa hardly means you’ll have to fend for yourself – imagine! Either on the 12-person terrace or in the 10-person dining room, you could have your meals prepared by Michelin star-experienced chef Alain Llorca, have some live music arranged, or even book in for a mixology class!
As part of the list, the most romantic hotel in Europe was also named – you can read more about that here. The full list of Europe, UK and the Med winners is here. There are also lists for the winners in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Oceania here, and North, Central, and South America here.
It’s luxury hotels galore out here
Check out TripAdvisor’s list of the best-reviewed hotels, this ranking by the World’s 50 Best Hotels and this 100 best hotels roundup by Fodors Travel for even more bougie inspiration.
Did you see that a major new art gallery is finally opening in this Italian city next month?
Plus: The iconic Orient Express is returning to Italy next year – here’s how to get on board.
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