While we love a bit of modern snazz, there’s something very special about staying at a hotel that is steeped in local history. Creaky wooden floors, retro antiques, grand lounges made for afternoon tea and gossip, and maybe a hidden underground tunnel or two, have the power to practically time machine you into a bygone era. We reveal some of the region’s most majestic places in which to take a satisfying step back now that travel is on the cards once more.
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel, Vietnam
From the neoclassical facade to the interior garden courtyard, this address is golden-era glamour at its finest. Upon opening in 1901, the likes of Charlie Chaplin and writer Graham Greene rocked up at the hotel’s streetside restaurant, often hanging out for the entire afternoon. In the decades following the Vietnam war, the property was revived once more to its former glory, resplendent with gorgeous antique furniture, spacious rooms and the historical Metropole Wing, which showcases preserved furniture, flooring and neo-classical touches. all.accor.com
Temple Tree Resort, Langkawi
Not quite a hotel, but more of a mini-heritage village, Temple Tree makes
you feel like you’ve pitched up on a glorious ancient film set. Featuring twenty beautifully appointed suites which come in the shape of lovingly preserved Malaysian heritage houses, the owners of the resort moved each building from around Malaysia, saving them from demolition. Each one, aged from 80 to over 100 years old, was taken apart piece by piece to complete the journey, before being conserved with a unique character. Today guests are treated to the ultimate authentic stay in properties that used to be a century-old Chinese farmhouse, a colonial-style bungalow, and a 1940s-era Malay home. Features corporate stilts, geometric latticework, wooden furniture, and airy layouts. Amenities at the resort include two swimming pools. The restaurant at adjoining Bon Ton Resort, Nam, is one of the best on the island. templetree.com.my
Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas, Hua Hin
This property was originally known as the Railway Hotel. In the early 1900s, Thailand’s southern railway route finally linked Bangkok and the west coast by train, granting easy access to gorgeous beaches. Hua Hin, which was once a small fishing port, suddenly became a seaside magnet for today’s equivalent of hordes of Instagrammers. Ninety-nine years after its opening in 1923, this colonial-style hotel still sets a luxurious tone with its European-style decor, sweeping staircases, deep bathtubs and romantic verandas. centarahotelsresorts.com
Amansara, Siem Reap, Cambodia
In 1962, King Sihanouk commissioned French architect, Laurent Mondet, to build a guesthouse that would enable visiting dignitaries to enjoy a luxurious stay, and provide them with close proximity to ancient ruins and rice paddies. Step forward Amansara, which now stands on these grounds and embodies a masterpiece of 1960’s New Khmer architecture ten minutes from Cambodia’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, Angkor Wat. The 24 suites are suitably tranquil with private courtyards and soothing water features, and there’s also a divine spa, curvilinear pool and dining room – previously the King’s screening room. Whether he had a Netflix subscription remains unconfirmed. aman.com
The Majestic Malacca, Malaysia
This is a heritage hotel that lives up to its name. Located on the banks of the Malacca River, the hotel showcases a standout white facade overlooking the thriving trade port that once drew merchants from all over the world. Originally owned by a tycoon, the original 1920s mansion remains at the heart of the hotel, while a newer building mirrors the original architecture and maintains allure with teakwood furniture, original Victorian tile floors, claw-foot bathtubs, silk drapes and stained-glass windows. The restaurant looks over the river, allowing guests to dine on Nyonya cuisine with a view. Well worth battling the Causeway on a Friday night. majesticmalacca.com
