Making a stylish entrance at a five-star hotel is one thing, but being welcomed into some of the world’s most amazing hotel lobbies is another.
These days, fancy foyers are so much more than a reception desk, vase of flowers and big buffet in the downstairs restaurant. We’re talking Art Deco architecture, garden sanctuaries and swim up pool bars. Here are the luxury hotels pulling out all the stops to impress their guests.
Phulay Bay, Thailand
One of the most romantic reception spots, the lobby at Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is located in a Thai pavilion situation on an island that is surrounded by thousands of gently flickering candles.
ME Dubai, Dubai
Opening in 2016, ME Dubai Hotel, designed by London-based architect Zaha Hadid, features a vast, sinous lobby, offering visitors to Dubai a futuristic break from the norm.
Hotel Icon, Hong Kong
Forget rare or imported flowers. Hotel Icon stepped up a notch by enlisting French botanist Patrick Blanc to design Asias’s largest indoor vertical garden which covers 2,475 square feet on one of the lobby’s grandiose walls.
Uga Bay, Sri Lanka
The lobby at luxury hotel Uga Bay, on one of Sri Lanka’s best beaches, Passekudah, is best seen at night when it is lit up. The unique lobby boasts a central feature with a marble floor and a ceiling with tiny lights which sparkle against the starry sky. Guests at the hotel can see straight out to the stunning sea through a circular tunnel design.
Room Mate Grace, New York
In the middle of Manhattan, Room Mate Grace, is the perfect spot to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. The lobby had an enviable swimming pool as its stylish centrepiece, with the warm mood lighting (along with cushioned, colosseum-style seats) give this 24-hour pool (with only swim-up bar in NYC) a lavish vibe.
