Art-Inspired Escapes: The World’s Most Inspiring Hotel Collections

September 4, 2024 by Hidden Doorways

“Life imitates art far more than art imitates life,” Oscar Wilde once famously wrote. The influence that art can have on the way we feel, experience a space, and perhaps even live and travel can be profound. It’s no surprise, then, that many hotels across the globe draw inspiration from art and artists alike. From ancient heirlooms to contemporary installations, we explore the places that do it best.

Ellerman House – Cape Town, South Africa

Where the slopes of Lion’s Head meet the Atlantic Ocean in Cape Town sits Ellerman House – a luxury retreat showcasing the best of South Africa. Among its offerings is an impressive collection of contemporary works that take guests on a journey through South Africa’s complex cultural and political history. The collection continues to evolve, with recent additions including an incredible new piece by Willem Boshoff: “Die dood van Afrikaans”, completed during the hotel’s recent refurbishment. Guests can peruse at their leisure or join the Art Haven retreat — a 3-night stay fusing a luxury getaway with art tours, workshops, spa treatments, and a special dinner menu designed to celebrate culinary artistry.

The Dolder Grand – Zurich, Switzerland

Since reopening in 2008, The Dolder Grand in Zurich has become home to over 100 works by 90 different artists, including Joan Miró, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, and Salvador Dalí. The lobby itself has a gallery-like quality, featuring sculptures, paintings, and even a set of impressive stained-glass windows — the ‘chapel of remorse’ by Jani Leinonen – installed in a centuries-old chapel-like architectural composition. Guests are encouraged to enjoy the pieces at their leisure, learning more via QR codes or through the knowledgeable concierge.

The Fife Arms – Braemar, Scotland

Built in the 19th century, The Fife Arms houses an art collection that pays homage to its Victorian roots. As co-founders of the acclaimed Hauser & Wirth gallery, owners Iwan and Manuela Wirth have a particular passion for art. More than 14,000 pieces, including antiques and specially commissioned artworks, are thoughtfully integrated into every room. From Pablo Picasso to Queen Victoria herself, no corridor or corner is left bare, enriching the experience from start to finish.

The Fifth Avenue Hotel – New York, US

The Fifth Avenue Hotel in Manhattan celebrates the spirit of the ‘flâneur’ — an observer of society and collector of art, moments, and memories. Under the creative direction of Stephen Doyle, the hotel has curated an impressive collection that spans established and emerging artists, inviting guests to explore with a curious heart. “The collection of artwork at The Fifth is a chance to revel in its sheer beauty, in its ability to provoke memories or reflections—it is there, with open arms, to enchant or amuse our guests, each in their own way,” Doyle explains. From The Portrait Bar’s exceptional collection to Alana Airitam’s striking “Queen Mary” in the lobby, each piece serves as a portal to different mindsets, places, and times. The hotel’s commitment to art extends beyond its walls — even during renovation, painter David Salle was commissioned to install monumental artworks on the surrounding scaffolding, intriguing passersby and setting the tone for the artistic journey that awaits within.

Halekulani – Hawaii, US

Hawaii may not top an art lover’s bucket list, but the Halekulani in Waikiki could change that. A curated selection of local art legends and rising contemporary artists invites guests to indulge in an elevated art experience, with each piece telling a story about local landscapes and cultures. As the Halekulani team describes: “From George Nakashima’s show at the Hau Terrace to the nebulous forms of John Koga to the ethereal elegance of Tadashi Sato’s underwater scenes, all the art at Halekulani offers an experience of that which we may only be familiar with as an intangible feeling at first. What may be understood as an artist’s abstraction of reality is an opportunity to see from other perspectives and an invitation to view what is normally unseen or inaccessible to the naked eye.”

Grand Hotel Son Net – Serra de Tramuntana, Spain

Just 15 minutes from Palma, yet feeling more remote, is Gran Hotel Son Net. This hotel has been reimagined many times since its inception in 1672. Its vaulted ceilings and frescoes evoke an Italian Renaissance atmosphere, given new life in its most recent restoration by art collector and Finca Cortesin owner Javier López Granados. With creative direction from art historian, antiques collector, and interior designer Lorenzo Castillo, who has filled the hotel with carefully sourced global antiques and pieces from his own collection, there is plenty to marvel at even if guests never leave the hotel grounds.

The Beaumont – London, UK

While London isn’t short on galleries, choosing a stay that guarantees satisfaction for art enthusiasts is worthwhile, and the Beaumont in Mayfair does just that. Curated by art consultant Lizzie Collins from Zuleika Gallery, the Beaumont houses an enviable collection of pieces dating from the 1920s to the present day, featuring works by artists such as Alexander Calder, Robert Motherwell, Howard Hodgkin, Cornelia Parker, Pablo Bronstein, Terry Frost, and Patrick Caulfield. The hotel’s commitment to art extends to its architecture, with a giant sculpture by Sir Antony Gormley incorporated into the building’s facade, doubling as a unique suite called ROOM. As part of a recent refurbishment project, the entire art collection has been refreshed, ensuring guests always encounter new and inspiring works throughout their stay. Each room now boasts its own unique selection, while pieces in public areas have been rehung or replaced with works from a notable private collection, including Magritte’s uncanny “Le Maître d’Ecole” greeting visitors in Le Magritte bar.

The Leela Palaces – Jaipur & New Delhi, India

Situated in the heart of Jaipur – ‘the pink city’ — the Leela Palace is a work of art in its own right. It features a majestic marble fountain, intricately patterned floors laid with beautiful Jaisalmeri brownstone and Banaswadi stone, ornate chandeliers, and displays of jewel-encrusted armor. Additionally, arayash artwork, intricate wall murals, and life-sized paintings can be explored on a complimentary leisurely tour of the building, organized for groups or privately. Meanwhile, the sister hotel in New Delhi houses one of the finest collections of Indian art and revived artisan crafts. The hotel’s art curator offers guided tours where guests can discover an eclectic assemblage of modern and contemporary works featuring acclaimed Indian artists such as Satish Gujral, Pradosh Das Gupta, Paresh Maity, Jayashree Burman, Sanjay Bhattacharya, Satish Gupta, and Laxma Goud.

The Dolli – Athens, Greece

In the heart of Athens’ Old Town, just a stone’s throw from the Acropolis, sits The Dolli, a testament to the art of architectural restoration. Housed in the historic Kallimasiotis Mansion, this urban jewel beautifully marries past and present. The building, a landmark of the eclecticism architectural movement, was originally designed in the 1920s by renowned architect Andreas Kriezis. Today, it stands as a refined haven where art and history intertwine. The lobby captivates guests with a curated collection that includes original pieces by Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau, designer works by François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne, and custom-made furniture from contemporary designers like Pierre Augustin Rose. Throughout the hotel, preserved ceiling motifs featuring the Sun of Vergina pay homage to ancient Greek symbolism, inviting guests to immerse themselves in a living gallery where every detail tells a story of Athens’ rich cultural tapestry.