7 of the best penthouse hotel suites
There’s nothing like checking into a penthouse with phenomenal views for feeling as though you’ve truly arrived in a city – and in life. KASIA HASTINGS opens the door to suite living
THE RITZ-CARLTON Hong Kong
A panoramic apartment on the 117th floor of the highest hotel in the world is perhaps the perfect spot to breathe in a penthouse-induced sense of possibility and power. When you’ve finished marveling at the Ritz-Carlton Suite’s unparalleled profile of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island, ask your personal butler to book in your daily massage, or set out to see what other wonders the Pearl of the Orient has to offer in your chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce.
HÔTEL PLAZA ATHÉNÉE Paris
Follow in the footsteps of Grace Kelly, Jackie Kennedy and Carrie Bradshaw and gaze out over Avenue Montaigne and the Eiffel Tower from your very own luxurious Parisian apartment at this iconic couture address. The crowning jewel in this opulent hotel is the signature Royal Suite, which is the largest in Paris. Occupying the fifth floor, it comprises four bedrooms, four marble bathrooms, a Jacuzzi and steam room, and décor by world-renowned designer Marie-José Pommereau. Should you ever want to leave, Alain Ducasse’s stylish meat-free Michelin-starred eatery and the Dior Institut spa are only a short saunter downstairs.
SHANGRI-LA AT THE SHARD London
If you want to wake up with London laid at your feet, nowhere rivals the Shangri-La Suite at Renzo Piano’s The Shard. Soaring well above the city skyline, 180-degree views mean you can sip your morning coffee with the Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, St Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge spread out before you. And if you’d like a closer look at the city’s iconic landmarks, the 24-hour butler and chauffeur will take care of it.
THE PRINCIPAL Madrid
Only accessible via a discreet side entrance that takes you straight up to top two floors of an impressive 1920s building, The Principal combines the sophistication of a boutique hotel with the privilege of panoramic vistas. Look out over the magnificence of Madrid’s bustling Gran Vía from the tranquility of the Suite Gran Vía, a chic penthouse pied-à-terre with a private balcony and butler on hand to organize your evening drinks. And once you’ve washed away the city, head to the hotel roof for a golden hour cocktail among the cool fashion crowd.
THE LUDLOW New York
Proving that penthouse luxury doesn’t have to mean endless glass and polished metal, The Ludlow’s top-floor suite reimagines the Lower East Side in all its former glory – think cozy furnishings, bronze stools and sumptuous textiles. A prime spot on the 17th floor and a private terrace provide lofty views of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge – wandering down to the lobby to mix among the cool creatives and nouveau bohemians will just have to wait.
THE REVERIE SAIGON Ho Chi Minh City
It’s a matter of East meets West at The Reverie, as breathtaking scenes of Ho Chi Minh City are married with the very best in modern European design. Wander the Saigon Suite’s two palatial floors and you’ll find an impressive array of classic Italian craftsmanship, iconic artwork and decadent furnishings. Unapologetically opulent in its execution, this penthouse will leave you wondering whether you’ve arrived in Vietnam or Venice.
WALDORF ASTORIA BEVERLY HILLS Los Angeles
An homage to the Golden Age of Hollywood, this Art Deco-style new arrival offers old-school glamour at every turn. And the Presidential Penthouse Suite tops the bill, with Noir Saint Laurent marble, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a private terrace and spa providing a cinematic setting for you to indulge in a taste of the Californian good life. Head downstairs for some fine dining courtesy of famous French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten at his only LA-based restaurant.