7 Unique Hotels for Art Lovers
Picasso in the restaurant, Warhol in the spa, and Koons in the elevator: in these hotels, art isn’t just admired—it’s lived. They masterfully integrate masterpieces into the lifestyle, creating a total work of art where every check-in feels like the opening of a gallery exhibition.
January 20, 2025
Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Hotel
Rome, Italy
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Rome, the world’s largest open-air museum, is a place where art and history compete with every cobblestone. Yet, Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri proves that even in the shadow of the Colosseum and the Sistine Chapel, there’s room for more superlatives—with one of the most remarkable private art collections. The lobby alone is a showcase of art history: the Tiepolo paintings displayed here would be the crown jewel of many museums, yet at the Cavalieri, they’re just the beginning. The collection features over 1,000 works, including Beauvais tapestries, Warhol paintings, statues, and antique furniture, making the hotel a true masterpiece. It’s Rome in distilled form: monumental, opulent, and always touched by a hint of La Dolce Vita. Staying here means not only experiencing luxury but also immersing yourself in history.
The Fife Arms
Scotland, Great Britain
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There are hotels—and then there’s Fife Arms, a breathtaking retreat in the Scottish Highlands, brought to life by gallerists Manuela and Iwan Wirth. It sits somewhere between art gallery, fairytale castle, and surreal masterpiece. The wonder begins in the lobby: a self-playing Steinway piano fills the air with melodies while Picasso’s portrait of Marie-Thérèse Walter presides nearby. But that’s just the start. The Fife Arms boasts a collection of over 16,000 artworks, including a Brueghel in the dining room, a stag sketch by Queen Victoria, and a chandelier made of antlers by Richard Jackson. At the Fife Arms, art isn’t just admired—it’s experienced everywhere.
W South Beach
Miami Beach, Florida, USA
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Turning off Collins Avenue into the elegant driveway of W Hotel in Miami Beach feels like stepping into the art world. Hello Kitty, My Melody, and Miffy greet you—not in their usual cute form, but as striking bronze sculptures by American artist Tom Sachs. At the W South Beach, there’s no divide between hotel and gallery—your stay becomes an art exhibition. With an estimated collection value of $100 million, it outshines many galleries, and the best part? It’s always open. No strict hours, no “Do not touch” signs—just a relaxed elegance. And who says a Mondrian loses its impact when admired in a bathrobe after a dip in the pool?
The Dolder Grand
Zurich, Switzerland
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In Zurich, art has always had a prominent place—and since its reopening in 2008, this is especially true for Dolder Grand. Around 100 works by 90 artists adorn its spaces, with the Schwarzenbach hotelier family personally curating the collection, making art a top priority. The diversity of the collection is remarkable: Swiss icons such as Ferdinand Hodler, Urs Fischer, and Max Bill are featured alongside international legends like Keith Haring, Joan Miró, and Anselm Kiefer. Salvador Dalí’s Femmes métamorphosées – Les sept arts greets guests at the entrance to The Restaurant, while Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely’s Le Monde dances on the way to the spa. On the terrace, Fernando Botero’s characteristically full-figured Woman with Fruit beckons. Dolder Grand treats art as an experience, inviting guests to marvel, smile, and be inspired.
The Thief
Oslo, Norway
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The name The Thief is a nod to the dark past of Tjuvholmen, a once-infamous corner of Oslo known as Thieves’ Island, where pickpockets in the 18th century often paid for their crimes with their lives. Today, however, the area has transformed into the city’s new art district, with The Thief at its heart. The hotel’s walls—and even its elevators—are adorned with works by artists such as Peter Blake, Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, and Julian Opie, turning the entire hotel complex into a seamless exhibition. Yet the true centerpiece is Richard Prince’s monumental Cowboy – The Horse Thief, which dominates the lobby like an artistic alpha. Here, the thief is on full display—not as a criminal, but as a striking metaphor that catches the eye and transports guests into an entirely new dimension of art.
La Colombe d'Or
Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France
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The depth of Colombe d’Or’s roots in 20th-century art history is best understood by simply looking at its walls. These walls don’t just whisper—they proudly chronicle the story of modern art in color and form. Since the 1930s, this refuge in the South of France has welcomed some of the greatest names in art history. Picasso, Chagall, Matisse, Miró, Braque, Léger, and other icons of modernism left behind works that not only adorn the space but are now priceless treasures. Rightly so, Colombe d’Or in Saint-Paul-de-Vence is often hailed as the “mother of all art hotels.”
Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort
Los Cabos, Mexico
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Solaz Resort Los Cabos proves that luxury is about more than just infinity pools and relaxing spa treatments (although it excels at both): it’s the only hotel in Mexico with its own museum. Named after missionary Miguel del Barco, the museum celebrates the indigenous art of the region. The true centerpiece of the exhibition, however, is a striking 13-meter-long gray whale skeleton, a powerful reminder that history is written not only on solid ground but also in the ocean’s waves. Surrounding it is a kaleidoscope of the past, featuring artifacts and historical maps serving as windows into history, alongside harpoons and knives—tools that ensured the survival of the region’s earliest inhabitants.
This article appeared in the Falstaff TRAVEL issue Winter 2024/25.