5 of the best new design hotels in the US – everything you need to know

As the world of travel starts to open up again, we are all tentatively searching for the hottest hip hotels to visit for brunch, lunch, sleepovers and everything in between.

And the leisure industry has been busy preparing to welcome back guests with stylish open arms. 

There's a host of new design-led hotels you need to add to your must-visit list, from the Proper Downtown LA, where Kelly Wearstler has sprinkled her special blend of glamour-meets-vintage style magic, to the Arlo Midtown, where Meyer Davies has created a warm and inviting space with industrial edge.

See: The best hotels in the world – take a look

See 5 new design hotels in the US you need to visit below – designer suitcase at the ready...

1. Ace Hotel Brooklyn, New York

Designed from the ground up by longtime Ace collaborators Roman and Williams, Ace Hotel Brooklyn is a 287-room boutique hotel and cultural hub located in Boerum Hill on the cusp of Downtown Brooklyn. 

Open, spacious and welcoming, the hotel’s design nods to Brooklyn’s complex fabric of communal and creative spaces, with an animated public lobby and indoor-outdoor portals that ease into the city’s edges. 

The guest rooms pair floor-to-ceiling windows with original artwork by local fiber and textile artists — with some higher floors offering a 360º panorama of Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Opening: July 2021

2. Arlo Midtown, New York

If you like your hotels with a side order of old Hollywood glam meets industrial cool, bookmark Arlo Hotels' newest Manhattan property, Arlo Midtown. 

Located between the excitement of Times Square and Hudson Yards, Arlo Midtown features 489 guest rooms and suites and boasts warm and inviting interiors by renowned New York-based design studio Meyer Davis, whose team drew inspiration from the nearby Garment District and its history of makers. 

Five dining options from the award-winning Gerber Group are slated to open in September 2021, including an urban garden escape perched atop the 26th floor.

Opened: May 2021

3. Proper Downtown LA, California

With city lights and vintage brick as backdrop, Proper re-imagines and updates a landmark in the heart of the Fashion District into a148-room destination hotel. 

The creative vision of Kelly Wearstler seamlessly blends past and present with compelling design, vintage influence and local art. 

Essentials include two restaurants led by James Beard award-winning LA chef Suzanne Goin and Caroline Stynn, (Lucques, AOC, Tavern), an intimate lounge, and a city-view rooftop pool and lounge-bar-restaurant.

There's also two one-of-a-kind suites, Especially Proper, fashioned from the basketball court and indoor pool of the building's sporting club past.

4. ModernHaus Soho, New York

Formerly The James Hotel, the all-new 114-room ModernHaus SoHo draws heavily from the art heritage of the surrounding neighborhood, the property features a one-of-a-kind art collection including dozens of paintings and sculptures from the likes of Alexander Calder, Hans Hartung, George Condo, Harland Miller, Jean Dubuffet, Hans Hofmann, Nicolas Party, and Kaws. 

Interior designer Melissa Bowers was tapped for the project, focusing on a minimalist perspective that allows the energy of the surrounding urban environment to take a prominent role. Inspired by the Bauhaus art movement of the beginning of the 20th century, ModernHaus SoHo’s design focuses on clean lines, geometric harmony, and large windows. 

Veranda, a signature restaurant from Michelin-starred chef George Mendes, is set in a greenhouse-like glass enclosure with a fully retractable roof that allows for al fresco dining.

The project also sees the return of the iconic nightlife venue, Jimmy, and its stunning rooftop and pool deck with 360 views of lower Manhattan. On the property's second floor, there's also a breakfast and cocktail bar called Jumpin Jacks, offering a high-end coffee program and all-day lighter fare by day, and an intimate lounge in the evening. 

Opened: May 2021

5. The Dupont Circle, Washington DC

The Dupont Circle hotel opened its doors on 14 April 2021 following a large-scale renovation. This transforming refurbishment includes a cutting-edge bar and restaurant designed by internationally-renowned Martin Brudnizki, alongside a new lobby and penthouse suite realized by trailblazing Irish designer Clodagh – known for her trademark ‘life-enhancing minimalism’.

Clodagh poured her Irish sensibilities, and a touch of nostalgia, into the design of the new Penthouse Suite and the hotel’s lobby - reflecting low-key, relaxed luxury that was inspired by her childhood in the West of Ireland.  

All of the guest rooms have been redesigned to echo the newly launched spaces, oozing contemporary chic and relaxed comfort with natural materials and soothing earth tones. A stunning selection of art, personally selected by Mrs Gallagher has been installed throughout the hotel, including works by celebrated Irish sculptor John Behan and legendary American actor turned photographer Dennis Hopper.

When it's time for a bite? The Doyle Bar boasts chic mid-century interiors and leafy terraces complete with wood panelling, fireplaces, and extensive use of brass and leather, the lounge-like space feels like a private club.

Opened: April 2021