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Travel Newsletter
Some trips plan themselves. A Michelin-recognized townhouse in the heart of Belgravia. A former 16th-century seminary in Milan's fashion district. A converted department store in Oxford where the rooftop bar pours cocktails above the city's skyline. And two Portuguese properties on opposite ends of the country—one tucked into the inland hills of the Algarve, one perched above the Atlantic on Portugal's Arrábida coast. This issue covers five European properties with stories behind them and reasons to stay longer than planned.
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COMO The Halkin
London, United Kingdom
COMO The Halkin occupies a quiet street in Belgravia—flanked by Knightsbridge, Mayfair, and St James's Park—with the kind of address that requires no further justification. The 41 rooms and suites have a Georgian brick exterior and arched windows on the outside; inside, interiors by Milan-based Laboratorio Associati lean warm and contemporary, with soft furnishings in aquamarine, sand, russet, and slate that feel more private home than hotel. A 2025 Michelin Key recipient. Breakfast leans into sustainably sourced British produce—from Illy coffee and freshly baked pastries to a truffle and caviar menu for those inclined. The COMO Shambhala Kitchen runs through breakfast and in-room dining with a wellness-forward menu, and the Halkin Bar handles everything from morning coffee to evening cocktails. Beyond, the Hyde Park tube station is just a three-minute walk away. For a certain kind of traveler—one who prefers discretion over spectacle—COMO The Halkin is the right call in London.
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Portrait Milano
Milan, Italy
Portrait Milano occupies a former Archiepiscopal Seminary dating to 1565—one of the oldest in Europe—in the heart of Milan's Quadrilatero della Moda, the city's legendary fashion district. The building's history is extraordinary: originally a seminary, later a library and printing shop, and more recently the creative workshop of architect Mario Bellini. After a meticulous renovation by architect Michele Bönan, it has been transformed into one of Milan's most celebrated luxury hotels. The 73 suites, family suites, and guestrooms draw from the stately mansions of Milan's past—sumptuous materials, careful attention to texture and color, and a design language that feels rooted in the city rather than imposed upon it. Guests step through a Baroque gateway onto the Piazza, a 32,000-square-foot public square lined with exclusive boutiques and gourmet dining. Below the ancient vaults, a full wellness area includes a spa, gym, and swimming pool. Portrait Milano is the rare property where the building itself is the attraction—the hospitality simply rises to meet it.
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Viceroy at Ombria Algarve
Algarve, Portugal
Viceroy at Ombria Algarve sits in the rolling inland hills of Southern Portugal—citrus groves, wildflowers, cobblestone paths—a quieter, less-discovered side of the Algarve that rewards travelers willing to look beyond the coast. Rooms, suites, and residences (including one- and two-bedroom options with private pools) are designed for indoor-outdoor living, floor-to-ceiling windows framing countryside views throughout. The dining program spans six venues: Ombria Kitchen for regional comfort cooking, Casa E Fora for terrace dining above the golf course, Solalua for small plates and cocktails into the evening, Bellvino for rooftop wine and cheese, and Salpico Pool Bar for unhurried poolside afternoons. The award-winning GEO Certified 18-hole golf course is among the Algarve's finest, and The Spa offers holistic treatments designed around the landscape and rhythm of the region. Four pools, a kids club, a preferred beach setup with lounger service and transfers, and a full calendar of cultural experiences round out a property that earns its place as one of Portugal's most complete resort destinations.
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The Store Oxford
Oxford, United Kingdom
The Store Oxford occupies the historic Boswells department store on Broad Street—one of the world's oldest family-owned department stores, first trading in 1738—and carries that legacy of discovery into every corner of the property. The 101 rooms lean into the building's former life: plush velvet headboards, bespoke artworks, and period features sit alongside genuinely comfortable beds and generous bathrooms. The spaces beyond the rooms are worth exploring on their own. Treadwell, the ground-floor restaurant, reimagines British dining with bold flavors rooted in the surrounding Oxfordshire countryside. The bar overlooks bustling Broad Street with a fireside snug alongside it. The rooftop bar and terrace—open Thursday through Sunday—pours cocktails made from the hotel's own house spirits above Oxford's skyline. Below ground, a spa cocooned in walnut-panelled walls offers four treatment rooms, steam room, sauna, and Oskia treatments. For a city built on centuries of tradition, The Store Oxford manages to feel like something entirely new.
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Sesimbra Oceanfront Hotel
Sesimbra, Portugal
Sesimbra Oceanfront Hotel is the first five-star property in Sesimbra—a historic fishing village on Portugal's Arrábida coast, where the mountains meet the Atlantic—and it earns the distinction. The 84 rooms and 8 suites all face the sea, each with a private balcony overlooking Praia da Califórnia directly below. The view is the constant: from the infinity pool, from the panoramic terrace of MarLuso Restaurant, from the Poké Bar over a cocktail at sunset. MarLuso, helmed by Chef José Faustino, anchors the dining program with contemporary Portuguese cuisine that looks inward toward the country's culinary roots without losing sight of the horizon. Beyond the hotel, Sesimbra rewards the curious—the 12th-century Sesimbra Castle, Serra da Arrábida Natural Park, and Cape Espichel Lighthouse are all within a short drive. The spa, fitness center, and world-class golf courses at Aroeira and Quinta do Peru round out the offering. For travelers willing to go a little further down the coast, Sesimbra Oceanfront Hotel makes a compelling case for why they should.
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