This 1920s-era Le Royal Monceau is reliving its heyday as a locus for artists and intellectuals with redesigned Phillipe Starck interiors and a slew of fantastique perks for Paris's beau monde. The hotel's in-house Art Concierge, Domoina de Brantes, has a wealth of experience running her own gallery and working at Le Louvre and can arrange almost anything for art-minded guests, from private studio visits and after-hours tours of various galleries and museums (including her former employer) to liasons with high-profile artists to create custom commissions.
The whimsical Gladstone Hotel in Toronto's vibrant Queen Street West district has just 37 beds, but punches well above its weight when it comes to the visual arts. Each room is designed by an artist, including the Canadiana room, designed by artist Jenny Francis and upholstery design team The Big Stuff, which is sure to incite maple leaf fever thanks to a giant forest mural, antler chandelier and cedar wall paneling. Their local expert Betty Ann Jordan—a design writer who runs Art InSite Tours—provides a personalized two-hour art tour of the city for guests. Routes vary according to the season and what’s happening around town, and of course guest interest, but a popular jaunt takes walkers through some 300 galleries, boutiques, and studios of Toronto’s unofficial Art and Design District, conveniently located just outside the front door.
If you’ve brought the famiglia to Italy’s enchanted city on the Arno, chances are you’re already dreading the hours-long wait at the Uffizi. Luckily the concierge desk at the Four Seasons Florence helps ensure the littlest members of the family get their own world-class art fix—minus the boring stuff—with two kid-centric tours at the Palazzo Vecchio. “The Medieval Palace Revealed” explores the oldest parts of the building, the former home of the Medici family, including a 14th century secret staircase and the rooftop battlements, while “Life at the Medici’s Court” visits the ducal apartments, including the hidden study room of Duchess Bianca Cappello, which are usually closed to the public. Back at the hotel, which is set in a 16th century convent full of original frescoes, kids can take part in a treasure hunt around the magnificent Renaissance-era grounds.
Set between the city and the sea, this 483-room, 44-story landmark—built to coincide with the 1992 Olympic Games—offers a refreshingly contemporary counterpoint to historic Barcelona and inventive ways to express your own creativity. One-on-one floral workshops with designer Donna Stain include classes that riff on Mediterranean themes (think flowers submerged in water) and employ seasonal arrangements with festive blooms. If you are staying at the Apartments (residential-style suites on the top floor featuring wraparound windows and a host of amenities including a Mini for getting around town and access to private chefs), you also have access to a Fragrance Concierge. This service includes an appointment with a “nose” from The Vanity who helps identity your perfect individual scent, and connections to top perfumers around the world to get it custom made.
The legendary Eden Rock Hotel on the Caribbean’s most star-studded island has a room for aural artists of all stripes: the Villa Rockstar, which includes a recording studio. Aspiring musicians can follow in John Lennon’s footsteps (he used the mixing console to record Imagine) and cut their own track, perhaps inspired by the brilliant tropical blues of the Caribbean just steps away. Non-guests can also rent out the studio to record a demo, including use of instruments, an in-house engineer, and backup from island musicians. For inspiration on the album cover art, head no further than the hotel’s own high-end art gallery, where guests can liase with the artists-in-residence from December to April. Resident artists for 2013 include New York-based painter Thomas Carlson and mixed media artist Daniel Esquivia.
5 properties with creative extras