Cocooning, color drenching and the ultimate in comfort: ‘Cozy opulence’ is the hottest new interior design trend on the block. Sparked by the dress code theme of the recent film premiere of one of the world’s biggest superstars, cozy opulence has since been splashed across social media and has penetrated the design world. The ultimate trend for winter, it puts a new spin on luxury and is about creating cozy yet alluring spaces, with a delicious balance between statement style and comfort. With nearly half (47%)* of travelers seeking luxury accommodation on vacation, we are sharing a selection of hotels across the world that embody this trend. Think dark rich hues, gold accents, soft textiles and warm lighting, all woven into a subtle space of indulgent luxury. 

The Mandrake – London, United Kingdom

Located in the heart of Fitzrovia in London, this fashionable hotel isn’t shy with its provocative use of color and works of art that enliven every snug corner. The Mandrake promises an immersive experience and succeeds in enveloping its guests with its black floors, plum velvet sofas and glittering chandeliers. The cozy opulence theme runs into dramatic suites with warm tones and dashes of gold, adorned with giant feathers, four-poster beds and free-standing bathtubs. Providing balance to the rich decor is a leafy interior terrace cased in living walls of jasmine and passion flowers that brings the outdoors inside. Guests can nourish their mind, body and soul at the Spiritual Well-being Concierge and pick from a curated list of healing sessions and sound baths, while the hotel’s destination bars serve ethnobotanical cocktails and its restaurant YOPO cooks up South American cuisine. The Mandrake provides the perfect cocoon from the lively culture of the Soho neighborhood, but guests can explore more right on the doorstep with a London Music Tour (Soho) for the inside scoop on Ziggy Stardust and the Rolling Stones in this cool capital. 

Thompson Chicago – Chicago, United States

Taking center stage on the iconic Gold Coast in Chicago, this downtown hotel will woo stylish types seeking a casual luxury vibe, in amongst historic mansions, designer shops and upscale restaurants. In the grand lobby, the wood-beam ceiling, homey bookshelves and burgundy velvet couches are inviting, with coppery chandeliers illuminating a permanent warm glow. Sleek mellow and toasty rooms are made airy with floor-to-ceiling windows, and feature soft high-thread count sheets and rainfall showers, while upgraded rooms add lake views, some with private terraces. Chicago is renowned for its food scene and onsite restaurant, Nico Osteria, serves handmade pasta and grilled seafood in an open kitchen setting, while the gold-glowing and dimly lit bar features an impressive soaring glass atrium. The excellence in design spills out into the city of Chicago itself, which is famed for its grand architecture. Guests can discover this district’s past on a Gold Coast Hidden History Self-guided Audio Walk, an app-guided tour past several historical landmarks, including Chicago’s oldest piano bar, at their own pace. 

Hotel Sahrai – Fez, Morocco

Perched on a hilltop with expansive views across the city, and set in a stone, Moorish-style building, this hotel’s opulent interior is steeped in tradition with a contemporary feel. A warm glow is omitted everywhere in this cleverly designed stay, from the natural North African light shimmering through arches to the twinkling brass lanterns in the spa. Designed by French interior designer, Christophe Pillet, calming neutral rooms are layered with sheer curtains, Italian furniture and soft Moroccan rugs, while the bathrooms feature heavy drapes around a sunken bath for guests to sink into. Facilities include an impressive infinity pool, a rooftop tapas bar cocooned in a dark conservatory-style lounge with DJ beats, and a spa that features marble steam rooms and a warm jade green dipping pool. When venturing out into this spiritual city, take a Guided Tour of the Medina in Fes and dip in and out of the souks for some retail therapy, while exploring mosques, carved cedar courtyards and ancient stucco work.

Mandarin Oriental – Hong Kong

An urban retreat based in the heart of Hong Kong, this hotel blends Oriental heritage with modern luxury and channels the city’s glamorous past and present. Guests can hunker down in the honey-colored lobby, amongst walls of gleaming black and champagne marble, gilt screens and glittering chandeliers. Silken rooms and suites are styled in shades of gray and gold, with vintage Hong Kong artwork and sweeps of glossy dark wood, all to the backdrop of the twinkling city skyline. Visitors can indulge their culinary senses in the nine bars and restaurants, two of which hold Michelin stars, or the cake shop, filled with comforting sweets as opulent and ornate as the hotel itself. The food includes time-honored Cantonese cuisine in a refined setting from sauteed lobster to wok-fried Wagyu, while at the spa guests can experience chi-enhancing massage and vibrational healing. For more sensory pleasures, book an ARTE M Admission to experience one of the most iconic art galleries in Hong Kong, and its exhibition Eternal Nature, which reinterprets the place of nature within art.

Villa Cora – Florence, Italy 

Travel back to the 19th century at this immaculately restored estate hotel that delivers opulence in every rich shade. Each floor of the villa reflects a distinct mood, from the Empress Eugénie and her passion for roses to 1950s America. Lashings of vibrant fabrics and textiles dress every room, including windows draped with heavy silks – all complemented by frescoed ceilings, gold paintwork, polished parquet floors and vast chandeliers. Attention to detail is second to none with silken lavender bags left by staff on pillows at night, and decadent rose-scented toiletries continually being replenished. Guests can dip into the gentle hive of activity as little or as much as they want, from cooking lessons with the Italian chef to a poolside bar and soothing spa which offers a tepidarium, hammam and sauna. The building itself is set inside a park on a low hillside that overlooks the Boboli gardens, and its roof terrace hosts impressive views of the famous Chianti hills and rolling vineyards. Guests can hire a car to explore this wine region, and an Organic Winery Tour and Tasting comes highly recommended. 

Huka Lodge – Taupō, New Zealand

Nestled in verdant countryside next to the Waikato River on New Zealand’s North Island, this luxury lodge comes from humble beginnings as a fisherman’s camp. The deep green and blue color scheme in the communal areas emulates the hotel’s surroundings and is peppered with soft tartan notes, antique furniture, and quiet nooks to curl up in. Upstairs, guests can sink into super soft beds, weighted down with rich and heavy bed linen, while bifolding doors with riverside views open onto wooden patios. Rich dishes and wines permeate the hotel restaurant’s menu too, which serves regional delights from Te Matuku oysters and Mount Cook alpine salmon to Matangi beef and Southland lamb. The hotel facilities are extensive and guests can take a dip in the heated outdoor pool or hot tub, hit some balls in a game of tennis or lawn croquet, or cozy up around the outdoor fireplace with a blanket. The lodge is just a short walk to the scenic Huka Fall and guests can explore more of the beautiful local area on a Ngātoroirangi Māori Rock Carvings Boat Cruise around Lake Taupō. 

*Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of 42,513 respondents across 33 markets (2,000 from USA, 1,008 from Canada, 2,000 from Mexico, 1,000 from Colombia, 2,000 from Brazil, 1,000 from Argentina, 2,000 from Australia, 1,000 from New Zealand, 2,000 from Spain, 2,000 from Italy, 2,000 from France, 2,000 from UK, 2,000 from Germany, 1,000 from Netherlands, 1,000 from Denmark, 1,000 from Sweden, 1,000 from Croatia, 1,000 from Switzerland, 1,000 from Belgium, 1,000 from Ireland, 1,000 from Portugal, 1,000 from Israel, 2,000 from India, 1,000 from China, 1,005 from Hong Kong, 1,000 from Thailand, 1,000 from Singapore, 1,000 from Taiwan, 1,000 from Vietnam, 1,000 from South Korea, 1,000 from Japan, 500 from UAE). In order to participate in this survey, respondents had to be 18 years of age or older, had to have traveled at least once in the past 12 months, and planning to travel in 2023 and be either the primary decision maker or involved in the decision making of their travel. The survey was taken online and took place in January and February 2023.