Artistic Hotels Around the World That Double as Galleries 

From the futuristic exterior of the Hotel Marqués De Riscal in Elciego, Spain, you can tell this is no ordinary property. In fact, it is the only hotel designed by Frank Gehry, the architect behind the Guggenheim Bilbao and many other buildings. Inside, the rooms are done out in shades of red and come with sleek furnishings and designer touches, while common areas are adorned with paintings. Enjoy local dishes at the 1860 Tradición restaurant, and treat yourself to a vinotherapy session at the spa.

It doesn’t get much more peculiar than the exterior of this playful hotel. Looking like a collage of facades of various traditional Dutch houses, Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Zaandam in Zaandam, Netherlands (Amsterdam is just 12 minutes away by train), feels more like a Monopoli board and less like an actual hotel. The one blue house that stands out is inspired by a work by Claude Monet, painted during a trip to Zaandam in 1871. Step inside to find rooms in white-and-green featuring wall-sized vintage adverts, and lounge areas in warm colour shades. Don’t miss your chance to fully recharge at the ultra-modern Wellness Club with a relaxing massage or a Turkish steam bath.

As its name suggests, the Cullen, in Melbourne, celebrates the work of the Australian contemporary artist Adam Cullen. Many of his original pieces and a number of prints grace the walls, while the bold design reflects his edgy, often controversial art. Beside the deluxe rooms, there are penthouses with rooftop terraces overlooking the hip Prahran suburb, and “street-art” suites featuring the work of other internationally acclaimed artists. More street art is also dotted around the hotel. Other amenities include a small gym, a hair and beauty salon and two stylish restaurants.

In 2016, 21c Museum Hotels took over the historic Savoy Hotel and Grill building in Kansas City and gradually transformed it into a multi-space dedicated to collecting and exhibiting 21st-century art. Art is the heart and soul of the property, with rotating curated exhibitions and site-specific installations by emerging artists, alongside a series of cultural events. And even if you don’t feel like attending an exhibition at the on-site gallery, you’ll still be basking in art as you walk down the halls or unwind in your room.

Think Dubai is all about the high life and the glitzy department stores? Think again, as heritage is also a big part of this lavish emirate. Nowhere is this more evident than at the Xva Art Hotel, in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, the oldest community in Dubai. This charming boutique is housed in the former home of a merchant family, hence the old-school, rustic decor paired with patterned carpets and elaborate tapestries. The rooms are individually themed and feature works by artists represented by the prestigious XVA Gallery, a pioneer in contemporary Middle Eastern art. For yet more culture, head to Dubai Museum, a 10-minute walk away.

Aptly named Hotel Not Hotel, this creative property in Amsterdam is, of course, a hotel, yet it feels more like an art gallery. Each room has a different theme that comes to life through spaces and furnishings resembling imaginative installations. Care to sleep in a tram cart that doubles as a bed? Or a Mediterranean villa? Whichever you choose, you’re guaranteed a fun stay. Behind most of these fantastic creations, you’ll find Collaboration O, a group of graduates from the Design Academy Eindhoven. Don’t forget to pass by Kevin Bacon – the bar, not the actor – for a cocktail or a live gig.

This jolly, adults-only hotel in San Antonio Bay, Ibiza, is filled with so many pastel colours and neon spots, it looks like some kind of irresistible candy. Retro details such as Smeg fridges and pinball machines add to the theme, while splashy art is all around. Enjoy works by more than 60 international artists as well as an art-book library, curated by artist Iñaki Domingo and photographer/filmmaker Diana Kunst. Paradiso also hosts parties that fuse art with fashion and music. If you don’t snap that perfect Insta shot right here, it may never happen.

There’s art in every room at the Park Hotel Tokyo; and 31 suites on the 31st floor, known as the artist floor, have been decorated by Japanese artists who have stayed here. Each mural follows a different theme, from geishas and sumo wrestlers to pagodas and serene gardens. Seasonal exhibitions are held in various spaces around the hotel, while Corridor Gallery has been set up to allow guests to feel closer to art, even when you’re walking down the hall.

Hotel Clover the Arts in Singapore did not only rely on professional artists – such as local graffiti artist Ceno2 – to paint its walls; it also invited students from different arts and design schools around the island to put their own artistic spin on the rooms. Murals here range from natural landscapes to urban street art and manga-inspired creations that turn each of the 44 rooms into a unique work of art. When you’re done admiring the artworks, relax on the lush Rooftop Garden Terrace, taking in the skyline views of the Central Business District. The hotel sits near the Singapore River, so boat tours are a must.

Located just steps from Union Station in the heart of Denver, Colorado, lies Limelight Denver, boasting a vast collection of original and diverse artwork commissioned exclusively for the hotel by 32 different local artists, including video art, watercolor pieces, and even black and white photographs of Denver from years past. Additionally, all guests of Limelight Denver are granted complimentary access to the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, which is located just a few steps from the property.

Located within the grade II-listed building and former Police Station and Magistrates Court, the design-forward NoMad London boasts an impeccable in-house art program, drawing inspiration from the rich heritage and history of the building. Curated by the Parisian Studio Saint-Lazare, there are over 1500 artworks in the hotel – most of which are original pieces. Photographs, collages, watercolours, oil and gouache paintings, colour pencil and graphite sketches, exhibition posters, ceramics, sculpture, murals, tapestries, lithographs and engravings have been carefully resourced and curated throughout the public and private spaces of the hotel, coming from esteemed artists including Martin Parr, Joseph Alber, Weegee, Stephane Manel, and Caroline Denervaud, whose large-scale, kinetic, performance pieces pay homage to the nearby Royal Opera House.

Located on the secluded island of Nantucket, Greydon House is a 20-room boutique hotel set within a restored house from the 1800s. Within each accommodation’s bathroom lies crisp blue tile murals, with each tile being hand-painted in Portugal and reassembled at the hotel. Each guest room features Roman and Williams’ custom-designed metal beds and pendant light fixtures. With vaulted ceilings and a corner location in the 19-room hotel, the Broad Suite offers an especially original experience with an eclectic mix of old and new pieces, including wood-framed French ceremonial chairs, found objectives (from Native American ceramics to whaling artifacts), and brass fixtures made of old ship portholes that activate the space and add a layer of narrative.

Fairmont Pacific Rim is Vancouver’s definitive luxury hotel with unobstructed views of the harbor, nearby mountains, and city skyline. Combining the best of the Pacific Rim in its architecture and decor, the property offers guests a range of amenities focused on art, music, wellness, fashion and dining. The Pacific Gallery is presented throughout the 1st and 2nd floor of Fairmont Pacific Rim which prominently features rotating exhibitions on a quarterly basis, of local and International artists, in partnership with Vancouver’s Equinox Gallery. Equinox Gallery specializes in long-term representation of Canadian artists featuring contemporary art. In addition to exhibitions highlighting the work of represented artists, Equinox also undertakes larger collaborative projects which help to contextualize local artistic practices within an international conversation in a tangible and substantial manner, maintaining the gallery’s place in the ongoing conversations relating to contemporary art.