The Arts Club, London
Founded in 1863, this once-stuffy club has been transformed into the Brit capital’s newest celeb hotspot
It’s where Prince Harry and David Beckham meet for a lads’ night out; where Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow and – erm – 90-year-old Prince Philip meet for a catch-up (apparently), and Mark Ronson and Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood bond over a cigarette break. Yes, this Mayfair local is officially the newest oldest establishment in town.
Founded in the mid-18th century by a bunch of gents (including Charles Dickens) who were all interested in the arts, literature and sciences, the club has survived two World Wars, a direct hit during the Blitz in 1940 and a plethora of debauched celebrity parties.
Relaunched in October last year by a group of new owners, including Arjun Waney who’s responsible for Dubai faves La Petite Maison and Zuma, and Gwyneth Paltrow who is both an investor and its creative director (does she have her finger in every pie?), The Arts Club boasts fine cuisine, art deco interiors, art exhibitions and a venue downstairs called Club Nouveau (which Mark Ronson runs, of course). Want in? Annual memberships cost from Dh3,500-Dh8,700.
Inside info
Desperate to go, but don’t want to cough up for an annual membership? Well you can either tag along with another member – if you can find one – or visit during a Wednesday and Saturday (before dark) when the ‘ordinary’ public is allowed in to view the art collection (and sup tea if they so choose).
Details
40 Dover Street, Mayfair, London
+44 207 499 8581
www.theartsclub.co.uk
Lux 11, Berlin
In trendy East Berlin, where art galleries, fashion boutiques and hip eateries and bars are a dime a dozen, a grand 19th- century white building houses a surprisingly modern interior – think flashes of neon against a stark white backdrop with bold art. Welcome to Lux 11 Berlin, a 72-room property with apartments and rooms, an in-house Aveda salon and a hip chill-out bar that serves Italian-Asian fusion (a bit random, but we’re sure it’s completely delish).
+49 309 362 800 | www.lux-eleven.com
Alila Villas, Bali
Perched 100 metres above the Indian Ocean on a limestone cliff, this modern design hotel manages to look contemporary and chic while still blending in with its natural surroundings. With just under 100 villas on the property, as well as a 50 metre-pool, a spa housed in five villas and a fine-dining Indonesian restaurant, this enviably beautiful location does, however, mean you have to trek 600 steps to get to the beach; which to us just means we can justify eating more satay. And, as an added bonus, you can stay here with a clear conscience: it’s the first hotel in Bali to have a Green Globe certification, which signals the highest level of sustainability possible in today’s world.
+62 361 848 2166 | www.alilahotels.com
