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Gold Diggers, Los Angeles, United States
19

Los Angeles, United States

Gold Diggers

It’s not every day that you come across a hotel with a name like Gold-Diggers, but even more notable is the fact that the name might not be one unusual thing about it. The original Gold Diggers was a bikini bar, which is exactly what it sounds like, and the sign still remains above the Santa Monica Boulevard entrance. Above the bar was a small residential hotel, and behind it was a rehearsal space where all manner of L.A. rock royalty is described as have practiced in their young and lean days. In short, it’s a building (and a location) with plenty of character, perfectly suited to a modern-day rock-and-roll hotel. And that it is. Not only is it a richly textured and eclectic boutique hotel, one perfectly in tune with the tastes of the Los Angeles creative class, but it’s also a recording studio and a cocktail bar complete with a stage for live performances. Rooms come with Sonos sound systems and carefully curated in-room record collections, as well as high-end 2920 Sleep beds dressed in Parachute linens, and a selection of locally sourced snacks and minibar items. You don’t have to be a rock star yourself to stay here, but the idea is that if you wanted to cut an album by day, try out some new songs in front of an audience in the evening, and crash in one of the hotel’s 11 rooms by night, you could do it all under one roof. And even if you’re not, you’re more or less guaranteed a memorable experience, the design, the art, the clientele, and even the East Hollywood location are a world apart from the rest of Hollywood’s boutique hotels.

Los Angeles, United States
Gosoku no Kutsu, Amakusa, Japan
32

Amakusa, Japan

Gosoku no Kutsu

Japan’s ryokans offer among the more distinctive hospitality experiences available anywhere in the world, and for that they’re quite rightly sought after. But the genre in its most historically correct form can, for an outsider, present obstacles. For anyone who’s not yet ready for total immersion in tatami-style tradition, entrée comes in the form of one of several hybrid-style, Western-influenced ryokans, of which Gosoku no Kutsu is a leading representative. The location, on the west coast of Amakusa, today feels splendidly secluded, far as it is from Honshu’s big coastal cities. But back in the 16th century, when Japan was making tentative steps towards contact with the West, Amakusa was one of the first ports of call. And with its three European-influenced villas, it’s this legacy which Gosoku no Kutsu consciously recalls. They’re split up into fifteen units, and if the style is somewhat restrained, the comforts are legion. All of them are to some degree or another open to the lush greenery on the surrounding hillside, and if it’s a bit of oneness with nature you’re after, you’ve come to the right place. Add the obligatory hot-spring baths, an included dinner and breakfast, and a thoroughly old-fashioned approach to service, and you’ve got yourself a fine introduction to traditional, but not too traditional, Japanese country life. How to get there: A complimentary shuttle bus to/from Hondo port, Hondo bus terminal or Amakusa airport can be arranged with at least three days’ advance notice. Approximate transfer time is 45 minutes. Transfer-In Schedule: anytime after 14:30 Transfer-Out Schedule: 08:45, 10:45 *Guests should keep in mind the shuttle may pick up other guests at various locations. Booking Details: Gosoku no Kutsu requires additional information from guests to ensure the stay possible. As such, reservations can only be confirmed through our customer service team. Contact us for assistance. Rates begin at JPY 85800 per night.

Amakusa, Japan