The Social Network

Sometimes we go away to get away. But sometimes we travel with an eye towards expanding our social horizons.

For now, let’s leave the private villas to the honeymooners. To our more gregarious readers, we present twelve hotels that are best suited to travelers who want to mingle with fellow guests; more hot spot than fortress of solitude. These are social spaces, with lobbies and lounges that are made for mixing. It’s easy enough to simply turn up and see who you meet, the old-fashioned way.

SANCTUM SOHO
London, England

Soho, once downright villainous, now walks a fine line of posh debauchery, and the Sanctum suits it to a tee — its style is boutique baroque, and its nightlife makes it London’s current semi-official rock’n’roll hotel.

THE MARITIME HOTEL
New York, New York

The location places you on the edge of the thriving nightlife of the Meatpacking District. It’s a hot spot even in winter, but come springtime the Maritime’s terrace is one of lower Manhattan’s hottest tickets.

WANDERLUST
Singapore

The latest from the prolific Loh Lik Peng is, as usual, about twice as fun as you’d expect a Singapore hotel to be. The neighborhood, Little India, is authentically funky, and the French bistro packs them in.

HOTEL SAN JOSE
Austin, Texas

When in Austin, South Congress Avenue is the place to be, and this converted motor lodge is perfectly placed — the coffee bar gets busy early, and the courtyard lounge serves the locals late into the night.

ACE HOTEL & SWIM CLUB
Palm Springs, California

The second half of the name isn’t merely ornamental. The two pools do quite a bit of business, given the high-desert heat, and the atmosphere is clubby throughout, not just poolside but in the restaurant and bar as well.

HOTEL SANTA TERESA
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Ipanema and Copacabana may be more famous, but the newly revitalized Santa Teresa is the heart of bohemian Rio. Savor the views, cocktail in hand, and mingle with the city’s most interesting crowd.

THE WEINMEISTER
Berlin, Germany

Berlin has been hot for a while, but only now is the hotel scene catching up with the city’s status as a hipster capital. The Weinmeister leads the charge, serving its own private-brand liqueur in the buzzing Schwarz Bar.

HOTEL QUOTE
Taipei, Taiwan

The Quote is a hotel with something to prove: namely, that Taiwan is a bona fide world capital. A look at the pan-global crowd in the 333 Restaurant & Bar will likely convince you they’ve got a point.

25HOURS TAILORED BY LEVI’S
Frankfurt, Germany

The German boutique brand partners with the venerable American denim house to create a hip hotel for the ages, with a funky vintage aesthetic that makes it a favorite of Frankfurt’s creative class.

CONDESA DF
Mexico City, Mexico

La Condesa is perhaps Mexico City’s most stylish enclave, and Condesa DF is as urbane as they come. The courtyard patio serves inventive “Jap-Mex” cuisine, and the triangular roof terrace is like nothing else in town.

HOTEL UNIQUE
São Paulo, Brazil

It’s architecturally distinguished, relentlessly luxe, and populated by a cross-section of Brazil’s beautiful people. If there’s a better view of São Paulo than the one from Unique’s bustling rooftop pool deck, we don’t know it.

OPUS HOTEL
Vancouver, British Columbia

This stylish boutique hotel in Vancouver’s happening Yaletown is a hit — the Opus Bar has been packed since day one, and the pop-up restaurant 100 Days, with its ‘70s glam-rock theme, was such a success it’s been held over for a further 100 Nights.

Like this feature? Sign up for email alerts and you’ll be the first to know about new content on Tablet Talk.