There is a kind of travel that is hurried and hectic, and for that sort of pace, we’d recommend one of those pod hotels, or throwing down a cot in a quiet corner of Heathrow. If, however, you’re in search of a place dedicated to the lost art of unwinding, this list should serve as evidence that the practice is alive and well. These ten hotels are green in the most literal sense of the word — with an all-out approach to gardens. Enjoy the extra oxygen at no additional charge.
IL SALVIATINO
Florence, Italy
What is a villa without a disciplined approach to landscape design? At Il Salviatino, twelve acres of formal gardens spill down the Tuscan hillside, creating a number of impressive vistas of Florence below. Wander among the cypress trees down to the multi-tiered swimming pool for the full top-to-bottom experience.
UNIQUE GARDEN HOTEL
São Paulo, Brazil
At this retreat just outside of São Paulo in Cantareira State Park, the environment is sacrosanct. A staff of nearly a dozen agronomists and gardeners preside over 74 acres of garden, where you can find homegrown herbs and vegetables, and forests containing rare (and not necessarily edible) flora and fauna.
MERRION HOTEL
Dublin, Ireland
The Merrion Hotel’s two period gardens are the creation of Jim Reynolds, one of Ireland’s most notable landscape artists. Box hedges, water features and a grid of stone pathways recreate the traditional elegance of the 18th century.
KA’ANA BOUTIQUE RESORT
San Ignacio, Belize
Set in the lush landscape of Western Belize’s Cayo District, there is not shortage of greenery at Ka’ana. But what makes this resort stand out is its two-acre culinary garden, the primary source of produce for the hotel’s restaurant La Ceiba. Of the twenty-four herbs and vegetables found on the menu, eighteen are from the garden.
BETTEI SENJYUAN
Tone-gun, Japan
Bettei Senjyuan illustrates how well the concept of the traditional Japanese ryokan translates into 21st century, with clean, modern lines that only seem to enhance the natural beauty of its countryside setting. From irises to roses, dozens of varieties of plants and flowers change with the seasons, making this a wonderful year-round retreat.
SOLIS LOUGH ESKE CASTLE HOTEL
County Donegal, Ireland
Art and nature come together on the grounds of this newly restored 17th-century castle hotel in the north of Ireland. A number of sculptures — from bronze nudes to a fire-breathing dragon — decorate the numerous gardens that envelop the property.
INN AT PERRY CABIN
St. Michaels, Maryland
This circa-1816 hotel has a number of gardens, each with its own feel and function. In addition to the various outdoor garden “rooms” with slate floors and teak benches, there is also a kitchen garden with produce and herbs, as well as a greenhouse and “cutting garden,” the source for the cut arrangements used around the property. The hotel is also home to the state’s oldest holly tree, which serves as the town’s official Christmas tree.
UBUD HANGING GARDENS
Bali, Indonesia
Perched on the side of a densely forested valley, this Balinese resort is brimming with tropical flora. Cocoa and coffee trees mingle with bamboos, ornamental flame trees and orchids, creating just the kind of setting in which inner peace can really take root.
BARDESSONO
Yountville, California
As you might expect from a hotel in Thomas Keller territory, Bardessono places a strong emphasis both on food and on environmentalism. Their gardens are full of native, drought-tolerant plants, including edibles like fava beans, tomatoes, and romanesco, to be used by the kitchen staff of their award-winning restaurant.
BULGARI HOTEL
Milan, Italy
The Bulgari Hotel in Milan puts those urban hotels who brag over postage-stamp-sized patches of greenery to utter shame. Their expansive garden (formerly a monastery courtyard) is treated like an outdoor living room, with rattan daybeds and bistro tables for lounging with a cocktail or an afternoon espresso.
Like this feature? Sign up for email alerts, subscribe to our RSS, or follow us on Tumblr.
© 2010-2011. TABLET TALK IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE TEAM AT TABLET.
