The Hermitage – The Crown Metropol Hotel Melbourne

If you are looking for an amazing hotel to stay in whilst attending the Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne, then the Crown Metropol should be on your hit list.

Located in the lovely Docklands on the edge of the city centre, it is walking distance to many main attractions, shopping precincts and close to transportation. The hotel itself is a beautiful example of modern decor and styling. I just love the artworks they have chosen to enliven the foyer of the hotel, huge timber ball sculptures by Korean artist Jae Lee Hyo and the gorgeous drips of colour in the mural painting by Melbourne artist Noël Skrzypczak. Both divine choices!

If you are a bit of a foodie you will love Mr Hive Kitchen & Bar, where acclaimed chef John Lawson will tempt you with his signature rustic french menu. Follow this with some evening drinks at 28, Crown Metropol’s sky bar and lounge which boasts some seriously spectacular views over the city skyline. The decor is as impressive as the views, think custom-made furniture, artwork by David Sequiera, a marble bar and a gas fireplace to make your stay as warm and cosy as possible.

Not a bad location to rest your weary heels after a day at the races!

The Hermitage – The Crown Metropol Hotel Melbourne

The Hermitage – Hotel Matilda, Mexico

Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday which is centered around remembering friends and family that are deceased. It is an elaborate event which takes place on November 1 and 2 of each year, and which is now celebrated throughout the world in many different cultures. But for this weeks Hermitage we travel to where it all began, Mexico.

I have chosen Hotel Matilda in San Miguel de Allende, because it is firstly a stunning hotel, but also because they host a couple very special events to celebrate this traditional Mexican holiday.

This boutique hotel is well-known for embracing contemporary art. Hotel Matilda has an impressive collection of works from Angelo Musco, Spencer Tunick, Diego Rivera, Bosco Sodi, Lluis Barba, Victor Rodriguea, Betsabé Romero, Daniela Edburg, Aldo Chaparro and Nacho Rodriguez, just to name a few! On November 1st a new exhibition by Ricardo Reyes Arte will open called “Dead Art Cocktail”. It contains the work of 14 contemporary artists and is run in conjunction with the Day of The Dead festivities.

The hotel also hosts a special dinner, Menu Blanco, by Mexican cookbook author and chef Martha Ortiz in their acclaimed restaurant Moxi. Expect to revel in ancient Mexican culinary delights which have been tweaked with a modern twist by Ortiz. On the night the restaurant is candlelit and cloaked with black tablecloths and Mexican music fills the air. Previous events have seen guests dress up in traditional costumes and face paint, which only adds to the ambiance and unique nature of this dining experience. It seems like the perfect, and authentic way to celebrate “The Day of The Dead”.

The Hermitage – Hotel Matilda, Mexico

The Hermitage – Friend House Hotel, Ukraine

Welcome to the Friend House Hotel in Dnepropertrovsk, Ukraine. This Eco friendly hotel is the work of Ryntovt Design and is quite unique for many reasons. Located in the forest on the banks of the Orel river close to Dnepropertrovsk, its design was conceived after intensive ecological studies of the location with the ambition to create a piece of architecture which utilized the locations energy and natural materials.

The hotel is constructed from clay, reed, wood and shell stone, which are used to create a rustic and unusual piece of architecture. The rooms appear like squashed clay boulders under a solid timber roof, a creative nod to the surrounding forest and to the characteristics of the chosen natural materials. I can’t help but be reminded of a bird’s nest or Fred Flintstones home with this section of the exterior, but once you enter the interior you are met with a modern, minimal approach to these rustic materials.

The rooms are sleek and stylish and very inviting. Each room contains a living area, bedroom and bathroom which have been fashioned out of the clay. Windows carved from the clay walls allow natural light to flood the rooms and the create interesting patterns on the interior. The rooms are furnished with pieces created from the same materials chosen for the building, linking the exterior and interior spaces perfectly. The contrast of rustic and modern is so unexpected, but works so well together to create this refreshingly, unconventional space.

And nestled in the center of this hotel is another surprising feature, an apple tree orchard! Why, you may ask? Because it is Ukraine tradition for apple farmers to invite guests twice a year to enjoy the blossoms and harvest the apples from their orchard. Isn’t that a beautiful sentiment to include in a hotel design!

The Hermitage – Friend House Hotel, Ukraine

The Hermitage – Dickebusch in Patonga, Australia

I have discovered a baby and toddler friendly holiday location for this weeks Hermitage and it is right here in Australia!

Welcome to the homely getaway abode owned by popular Australian homewares and furniture store Koskela. Dickebusch is a quaint little house and cottage located in the fishing village of Patonga on the NSW north coast. The renovated old home has been restored by Koskela and features some beautiful furnishings and decor, like you would expect anything less! It has a lovely relaxed feeling to the place, a real home away from home, that is suitable for families or group of friends as it can sleep up to eight people.

Koskela have really considered the needs of families with this retreat, and you will find most of the child paraphernalia you generally bring with you already supplied. Travel cot, high chair, toy cupboard, bikes with baby seats are all included! Toddlers will enjoy pottering around the herb garden and fruit trees, playing on the large deck or maybe trying a little fishing as the home supplies reels, a rowboat and kayaks! (Under parent supervision of course!)

The bathroom features a bath, which any parent will know is a bit of a necessity for kids! And all the mod cons to to make your stay enjoyable for the whole family.

The Hermitage – Dickebusch in Patonga, Australia

The Hermitage – 25hours Hotel Zurich West, Switzerland

Alfredo Häberli Design Development and Aeberli Vega Zanghi Architects have created a vibrant environment with their hotel 25hours in Zurich West. Häberli has previously designed for famous brands such as Camper, Vitra and Georg Jensen (just to name a few!) but this was his first opportunity to design a complete hotel.

The boutique hotel and its 126 rooms are all animated with strong and courageous colour palettes. The overall hotel is a trendy interpretation of the creative hub in which it is located. The interior is filled with art, beautifully designed furniture and dramatic colours which mimic the surrounding art galleries, theaters, clubs and restaurants which now reside in the factories of the old neighborhood.

The bright colours really do add a sense of youthful playfulness to this design and are a great example of how to successfully use colour to create a contemporary environment.

The Hermitage – 25hours Hotel Zurich West, Switzerland

The Hermitage – Basecamp South Lake Tahoe, California

What makes up an ultimate man holiday? Camping, trekking, bike riding, skiing or boarding and a little bit of fire! Welcome to Basecamp South Lake Tahoe, California, aka paradise for Dads!

Located in the beautiful Lake Tahoe Basin in California, this boutique hotel is set amongst some amazing scenery and natural wonders. Regardless of the time of year you visit, there is ample things to keep any adventurous types satisfied. Think mountain treks and trail bike riding in summer, or skiing and boarding in winter!

The hotel itself is like a larger, modern version of a log cabin. The 50 rooms have been kitted out with the coolest camp inspired decor and furnishings including cage lights, maps and original artworks by Wendy MacNaughton. Depending on the number of people you are traveling with, rooms can cater for one to eight people, and some are also pet friendly! A big bonus is that the hotel has indoor areas to store your bikes, boards or skis allowing your room to stay… well, roomy!

And after a big day of adventure (or relaxation if that’s more your style!) enjoy a soak in the rooftop hot-tub while taking in the views, or warm up by the one of the two fire pits, the best place to share some Dad jokes and tall tales!

The Hermitage – Basecamp South Lake Tahoe, California