Recent Five Star Openings
Summer 2026

In May 2026, Zannier Île de Bendor enters a new chapter of Mediterranean art de vivre. On a small island off Bandol—which Paul Ricard, the legendary inventor of the anise aperitif “Ricard,” created as a meeting place for artists and visionaries—Arnaud Zannier reinterprets the legacy of the Riviera.

With its seven hectares of rock, pine trees, and azure water, Île de Bendor has always been more than an island. When Paul Ricard purchased it in 1950, he created a haven for the creative bohemian scene: studios, galleries, workshops, and two small hotels clustered around the small harbor. Rich with the scent of anise and sea salt, Bendor became the very embodiment of southern French nonchalance.

Some seventy five years later, Bendor has regained its former radiance. Together with Ricard’s great grandson Marc de Jouffroy, Arnaud Zannier spent five years reimagining the island. The result is a curated retreat where cultural exchange, culinary achievement, and nature exist in harmonious balance. The signature is unmistakable: understatement instead of attitude, elegance without theatrics. A contemporary art gallery, craft workshops, and a concept store carry Ricard’s cultural legacy into the present. Gastronomy also takes center stage. Chef Lionel Levy has curated no fewer than eight concepts—from a gourmet restaurant with sweeping sea views to the lively Nonna Bazaar, from aperitifs at Café Paul Ricard to cocktails on the rooftop terrace.

Few hotels embody the myth of Miami Beach as strongly as the Delano. Since its opening in 1947, its elegant Art Deco façade has shaped the look of Collins Avenue—an architectural echo of the era in which Miami set the stage for the latest cosmopolitan trends. In the 1990s, the hotel gained global attention when hotelier Ian Schrager and designer Philippe Starck reimagined the property, creating one of the defining addresses of the international boutique hotel boom.

In March 2026, a new chapter begins. After an extensive renovation by Elastic Architects and hospitality group Ennismore, the Delano is reopening its doors. The legendary entrance remains: guests pass through a veil of white linen curtains into the heart of the hotel. Inside, bright, minimalist spaces unfold in which elements of the hotel’s historic DNA have been carefully restored. The redesign includes 171 rooms and suites in soft natural tones, featuring expansive poolside bungalows and several penthouses overlooking the Atlantic. Custom furniture, organic forms, and gentle lighting create an atmosphere of timeless serenity. Generous windows and private terraces open onto views of Miami’s skyline or the shimmering ocean. The experience is completed by a fitness studio, a spa complex, a new beachfront deck, and an additional pool on the fourth floor.

Culinary concepts bring fresh energy to the house: alongside a modern interpretation of the iconic Rose Bar, two restaurants have been developed with the Paris Society hospitality group—including the Italian Gigi Rigolatto by designer Hugo Toro and the Japanese inspired Mimi Kakushi, designed by Studio Pirajean Lees. With its reopening in spring 2026, the Delano returns not only as a hotel but as a stage for architecture, design, and the unmistakable spirit of Miami Beach.

Amid the quieter streets of the Oltrarno district—where Florence still preserves its original rhythm—a new form of hospitality has taken shape. Opening in June 2026, La Réserve Firenze is less a classic hotel and more a private residence, hidden inside a 15th‑century Renaissance palazzo. Just steps from the Palazzo Pitti and the Ponte Vecchio, it sits on Via Santo Spirito, a street long shaped by Florentine noble families. Here, on the calmer side of the Arno, the city has preserved its authentic soul with art galleries, small boutiques, and craft workshops whose traditions reach back to the Renaissance.

A new chapter for the palazzo began with Olivia and Grégory Marciano, a Parisian couple with a deep passion for Tuscany. After relocating to Florence with their family in 2019, they acquired the historic building in 2022 and began a meticulous restoration together with Parisian design studio Gilles & Boissier. The result is a place where centuries overlap. Coffered ceilings, restored frescoes, and carved woodwork meet a restrained, timeless interior. Siena travertine can be found in the bathrooms, while the terracotta floors of Tuscan cotto and local stone seamlessly continue the house’s history. Artworks from the owners’ private collection—including works by Lee Bae, Hans Hartung, and Bernar Venet—give the palazzo a contemporary dimension.

La Réserve Firenze comprises just six spacious apartments between 170 and 210 sqm—each conceived as private chambers with kitchens, expansive living rooms, and the tall proportions of Renaissance architecture. Daily life here follows no fixed rhythm: breakfast is discreetly served in the apartment; in the evening, a private chef prepares a Tuscan menu. For guests wishing to explore Florence beyond the usual paths, the house arranges meetings with winemakers, private museum visits, or excursions into the Tuscan countryside. In this way, La Réserve Firenze sees itself as key to a profoundly personal experience of Florence.