London | For those who really want to sweep their partner off their feet this Valentine’s Day and beyond (because romance is not just for February), BIRD has curated its selection of stylish, secluded and slinky suites for couples; from a 1,000 year old castle to a bolthole in the clouds.
Sky-high suites:
- Nirjhara, Bali – Canopy Suite: contemporary treehouses perched above coconut trees overlooking the rice paddies
- Reschio, Umbria – The Tower Suite: A regal stay in a 1,000-year-old castle with a multi-floor suite offering a private roof terrace and panoramic views of the Umbrian countryside
- Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador – The Yaku Suite: An intimate eco-lodge experience in the Ecuadorian cloud-forest, designed for complete immersion in nature
Bucolic boltholes:
- Three Mile Beach, Cornwall – Beach Shacks: Colourful beach houses with white wooden walls and locally crafted furniture, log burners and cedarwood hot tubs, near Gwithian Beach
- Sao Laurenco do Barrocal – the private Meadows Cottage overlooking wild strewn flowers, olive groves and vineyards
- Wild Coast Tented Lodge – airship inspired Cocoon Suites complete with soaring vaulted ceilings and panoramic views in the heart of Yala National Park
Island tropics:
- LUX* Marijani, Zanzibar – Beachfront Executive Rooms: Inspired by the Spice Island’s Arabic influences, overlooking a white-sand beach and blue lagoon
- Soneva Secret, Maldives – Lagoon Crusoe Villas: Ultimate ocean villas with sliding roofs over the master bedroom revealing star-strewn skies
- Vela, Indonesia – The Owner’s Suite: onboard the 6-cabin phinisi yacht, The Owner’s Suite features floor-to-ceiling windows with unobstructed sea views, oversized bathtub and private deck
City sojourns:
- Broadwick Soho, London – Penthouse Suite: swathed in marbled wallpaper and complemented by handmade furniture, featuring artwork by Francis Bacon
- Monument Hotel, Athens – Nidus Suite: a chic, expansive suite boasting a private terrace with impressive views of the Acropolis and jacuzzi
- Pulitzer, Amsterdam – Collector’s Suites: inspired by Dutch aristocrats and a love letter to the city itself
Alpine escapes:
- eriro, Austria – The Himil Suite: featuring a private glass-walled sauna, beds perched just in front of mountain views with a large terrace to catch Tyrolean sunsets
- Badrutt’s Palace, St. Moritz – The Palace Suite: enjoy the finest views of Lake St. Moritz alongside glamorous fun and classic interiors
- Le Grand Bellevue, Gstaad – Etoile Suite: uninterrupted views of Gstaad’s glacier mountains with starlit skies visible through the glass ceiling overhead
Sky-high suites
NIRJHARA, BALI – CANOPY SUITE
Located in a quiet pocket on Bali’s southwest coast, sustainable hideaway Nirjhara is home to 25 suites and villas – including seven playful treehouse Canopy Suites – offering unrivalled views paired with contemporary architecture. Boasting breathtaking views from every corner, each Canopy Suite is equipped with a private rooftop deck featuring a freestanding soaking tub overlooking the lush jungle and rice paddies beyond. The perfect hideaway from busy Bali, the treehouse suites feature custom-made artisanal furnishings, delicate fabrics and original artworks throughout, with the rain shower and organically shaped bathroom fittings designed by Philippe Starck, taking centre stage.
RESCHIO, UMBRIA – THE TOWER SUITE
Perched within a 1,000-year-old castle amidst 3,950 acres of unspoilt Umbrian countryside, Reschio was lovingly restored by Count Benedikt Bolza and his wife, Donna Nencia Bolza, who have infused the hotel with impeccable design and authenticity. The Tower Suite is the hotel’s pièce de resistance. Set in the castle’s highest tower, this two-bedroom suite spans five floors. Explore beautifully appointed living spaces, a study, and bespoke furnishings designed by Count Benedikt himself and ascend to a private roof terrace with 360° views of the Reschio estate, where an open-air tub awaits.
MASHPI LODGE, ECUADOR – THE YAKU SUITE
Hidden in the heart of the Ecuadorian cloud-forest lies a 24-room eco-lodge offering panoramic forest views. Designed by architect Alfredo Ribadeneira, Mashpi Lodge is intended to offer complete immersion into the surrounding 3,000+HA of the Mashpi Reserve, with every room featuring floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the forest floor and gorgeous canopy below. The hero Yaku Suite provides an intimate experience for those wanting to see the wonders of the natural world from the privacy of their very own secluded suite in the sky.
Bucolic boltholes
SAO LOURENCO DO BARROCAL, PORTUGAL – MEADOWS COTTAGE
Complemented with traditional terracotta brick floors and whitewashed walls, São Lourenço do Barrocal’s Meadow Cottages provide a spacious private living area, a fully equipped kitchen and access to an outdoor patio, open to the infinity of the wildflower-strewn meadows, olive groves and vineyards across the Portuguese countryside. Couples are welcomed to the abundance of experiences offered on the estate from a romantic hot air balloon ride over the hilltop village of Monsaraz, Alqueva Lake and grazing fields to stargazing together under the Alentejo night sky with a private lesson in the first Starlight Tourism Destination in the world.
THREE MILE BEACH, CORNWALL – TWO BEDROOM BEACH SHACKS
Located in St Ives Bay, just a stone’s throw from Gwithian Beach, Three Mile Beach’s new two bedroom beach shacks are the perfect base for couples wishing to explore the surrounding golden sands, rolling waves, and nearby coastal town of St Ives. Colourful interiors see white wooden-clad walls and locally crafted furniture sitting alongside eclectic artworks and textiles sourced from the owners’ travels around the globe. Ideal for cosy Valentine’s stays, each beach house is complete with roaring log burners, sunken cedarwood hot tubs and barrel saunas.
WILD COAST TENTED LODGE, SRI LANKA – COCOON SUITE
Situated along a pristine beach on the fringes of the renowned Yala National Park, Wild Coast Tented Lodge combines the comforts of a luxury hotel with the back-to-nature excitement of a wilderness safari camp. The 28 tented Cocoon Suites are complete with soaring vaulted ceilings and panoramic jungle views from the double-height glass facades. Sri Lanka’s nature, culture and crafts played a big role in influencing the design of the Cocoon Pool Suite with the inspiration of the interiors being the look and feel of an anchored airship.
Island tropics
LUX* MARIJANI, ZANZIBAR – BEACHFRONT ROOMS
LUX* Marijani, set on the iconic Pwani Mchangani beach on the North-East coast of Zanzibar transports guests from grey skies to white sand beaches overlooking the Indian Ocean. The resort offers a blend of Arabian architecture with a coastal Swahili feel, taking cues from its natural surroundings and creating a relaxed feel throughout the property.
The Beachfront rooms look out onto the blue lagoon and feature locally crafted terrazzo floors and wood furnishings inspired by the Spice Island’s Arabic influence, providing guests with a coastal Swahili feel. The rooms also include a standalone bathtub and separate rain shower, providing guests with the perfect moment to refresh and relax after a day spent sailing on a traditional dhow to the shallows of Mnemba Island (famed for its dive sites), or experiencing 19th Century Hamamni Persian Baths and forest bathing in the resort’s indigenous forest.
SONEVA SECRET, MALDIVES – LAGOON CRUSOE VILLAS
In 2024, Soneva, the world-leading sustainable resorts operator, revealed the launch of the new, ultra-bespoke Soneva Secret. Located in Haa Dhaalu, the Maldives’ most remote atoll, Soneva Secret set a new standard for intuitive, personalised service. Each Lagoon Crusoe Villa is designed in perfect harmony with the untouched natural setting, with direct access to the white sand beach and sparkling lagoon. The vast master suites include a sliding roof, revealing star-strewn skies to fall asleep under every evening and a dedicated Barefoot Guardian and Barefoot Assistant, curating an utterly personalised stay and one-of-a-kind experience for every guest.
VELA, INDONESIA – THE OWNER’S SUITE
A dazzling private-charter yacht, Vela sails bespoke itineraries to some of the most remote corners of the Indonesian archipelago. The phinisi style yacht can sleep up to 12 explorers in six stylish cabins, including a discrete 18-person crew whilst embarking on the Raja Ampat journey, exploring the richest and most biodiverse waters in the word.
Located on the bridge deck, The Owner’s Suite offers unparalleled 360° views, with a decked out terrace and furniture perfectly placed to make the most of the vistas. After a day of diving and adventuring the white sand beaches of Wayag or the vibrant coral reefs of Cape Kiri, guests can take to the spacious tub, or take part in a private yoga session on the top deck.
City Sojourns
BROADWICK SOHO, LONDON – PENTHOUSE SUITE
Broadwick Soho, an exquisitely designed 57-key independent luxury hotel, is home to 10 suites and the standout Penthouse Suite, swathed in marbled wallpaper depicting floating elephants, tigers and exotic flora and fauna, complemented by handmade furniture such as custom minibars masquerading as brass elephants, made in Jaipur. The Penthouse Suite offers unparalleled views of London’s skyline and showcases some of the hotel’s famous art collection, such as Andy Warhol’s 1955 A la Recherche du Shoe Perdu shoe sketches (once part of David Bowie’s estate), and works from Francis Bacon, Bridget Rey, Faye Wei Wei and Casey Moore, to name a few.
MONUMENT HOTEL ATHENS – NIDUS SUITE
A neoclassical mansion steeped in history and artifacts, Monument has been meticulously restored to emulate the ambiance of exclusivity, with just nine bedrooms. The Nidus Suite is hidden within the rooftop, imbuing a sense of intimacy and romance, with slanted ceilings and historic beams paired with Scandi touches, from lime washed walls and warm wooden details. Large doors open up to a sweeping terrace and a private jacuzzi with unobstructed views of the Acropolis and the Agios Dimitrios Church.
PULITZER, AMSTERDAM – FLOWER COLLECTOR’S AND BOOK COLLECTOR’S SUITE
Overlooking two of the city’s most picturesque canals, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht, and spanning twenty-five connecting 17th and 18th-century canal houses, famed heritage hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam holds a prime location in the heart of Amsterdam’s UNESCO world heritage city centre.
Celebrate Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary and the most romantic time of the year as you stay in one of Pulitzer’s Collector’s Suites,inspired by the flamboyant Dutch aristocrats who once called Pulitzer home. A love letter to the city itself, the romantic Flower Collector’s Suite reimagines a 19th-century tulip-trader’s home for a stay that is botanically inspiring. Alternatively, the Book Collector’s Suite features its own private canal-side entrance and is furnished with a curated mix of bespoke and vintage pieces, as well as a varied selection of books to enjoy.
Alpine Escapes
ERIRO, AUSTRIA – THE HIMIL SUITE
In Ehrwald, Austria, at the foot of the Zugspitze mountain range, sits eriro. Opened in August, 2024 this idyllic nine-bedroom hotel, accessible only by cable-car to minimise traffic pollution, can be found at an elevation of 1,550m (about 5085 ft) and offers guests the opportunity to foster a strong connection with the region’s deep-rooted Alpine traditions through its guest experiences.
Taking up almost the entire second floor is their top suite, Himil. Covering over 2,000 sq ft., the suite features two large bedrooms, floor to ceiling windows which flood the space with natural light, and a private glass-walled sauna taking centre stage. The suites feature beds perched just in front of the views and both lead on to a relaxed lounging space for playing games such as backgammon whilst sipping on locally produced wines. The showstopping bath, carved out of a singular piece of wood, is perfect for evenings in, and the large terrace makes for an ideal spot to take in the Tyrolean sunsets.
LE GRAND BELLEVUE, GSTAAD – ETOILE SUITE
Perfectly placed in the heart of quaint Gstaad, amidst the snow-capped Swiss Alps, Le Grand Bellevue is the ideal Alpine hideaway, whether it’s hitting the slopes, skies, or spa.
In the privacy of the Etoile Suite, guests can stow away in the spacious double-height attic, complete with original exposed beams and uninterrupted views of Gstaad’s glacier mountains. Beneath a canopy of starlit skies, guests can unwind in the jacuzzi bathtub while enjoying views of the night through the transparent glass ceiling overhead Guests can dine at the hotel’s signature restaurant, LEONARDs, awarded 16 Gault & Millau points, or Le Petit Chalet, the traditional, rustic chalet nestled in the grounds seating just 18 guests with a menu of hearty Swiss dishes. There is also a Cigar Lounge, 18-seat private cinema and nightclub, bouquet, to keep love birds entertained late into the night.
BADRUTT’S PALACE, ST. MORITZ – THE PALACE SUITE
Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, the 129-year old alpine icon, is the perfect choice for a snow-covered Valentine’s Day trip in St. Moritz.
Long hailed as a playground of the international elite, and synonymous with impeccable service, exclusivity, indulgence, and glamorous fun, guests of the hotel will have access to some of the best winter sports in the world whether carving down the piste, or enjoying bucket-list experiences such as paragliding and skijoring. For ultimate romance, guests can feast at one of 10 dining options, including fondue at the 17th-century farmhouse Chesa Veglia, fine dining at Matsuhisa, or head to the after-hours entertainment at King’s Social House. The Palace Suite is the perfect home for guests celebrating, welcoming you with a generously-appointed classical interior and balcony overlooking Lake St. Moritz with a bottle of the finest champagne.
