Palaces Reborn

Amsterdam has long been a paradox: a city overflowing with culture and charm, yet oddly barren when it comes to truly great luxury hotels. The Amstel has slipped badly; the Conservatorium, now under Mandarin Oriental, still awaits its reckoning; the Waldorf Astoria remains an ode to beige-on-beige.

Then came Rosewood Amsterdam, unveiled with fanfare and, by a feat of creative timing, named Best Hotel in the World mere weeks later by that unimpeachable authority on independence, Robb Report.

Brussels, much to my chagrin, never even had a contender. The Astoria, once the city’s grande dame, limped along under Sofitel before closing in 2007. Its resurrection as Corinthia Brussels marks the group’s boldest move yet into genuinely high-end hospitality. And since Corinthia is clearly intent on making a statement, I also visited their new all-suite Corinthia Bucharest.