Time USA – September 02, 2019

JUNGLE QUEEN

DATAI LANGKAWI

Langkawi, Malaysia

This grande-dame hotel,

which first opened in 1993,

has always been sought after for its

remote location, pristine beaches

and rain- forest setting. After a major

renovation, completed in December,

it’s clear the resort has held onto its

crown— without losing any of its ultra-

sustainable backbone. Bedrooms

and villas (starting at $595 a night)

were completely redone using natural

materials like local kawi stones, and

a new nature center offers activities

for all ages. But the buzziest update

is an elevated walkway built through

the surrounding 10 million-year -old

rain forest, where on- site naturalists

introduce guests to macaques and

flying lizards. ÑStephanie Wu

Smoky

Mountain

getaway

BLACKBERRY MOUNTAIN

Walland, Tenn.

Blackberry Mountain,

a new outpost of the

award- winning hotel Blackberry

Farm, is Tennessee’s fresh

take on a spa resort. With an

art studio, rock- climbing wall

and backpacking excursions

through the backcountry, this

5,200-acre property in the

foothills of the Great Smoky

Mountains offers plenty of

distractions for those wishing

to unplug. Cottages start at

$1,045 per night, and visitors

can try treetop meditation or

massages at the subterranean

spa. Despite the luxuries,

proprietor Mary Celeste Beall,

who opened the property in

February, says her true goal

is to help guests immerse

themselves in the rugged

terrain. —Rachel E. Greenspan

BREAKING BREAD

MASA

Bogotá

There are plenty of bakeries in Bogotá, but

none are as stylish as Masa. In late 2018,

the brand opened a new location in the Colombian

capital. Large triangular and circular windows cut

into concrete walls reveal a warm glow when the sun

sets. Studio Cadena, a New York–based firm known

for its playful designs, created the 7,500-sq.-ft.

space—comprising a restaurant, café, dining area,

retail space and bakery—to blend the concepts of

interior and exterior. So far, its strategy seems to be

working. Customers have been flocking in for quick

visits or to spend a whole day snacking on Masa’s

treats, which include homemade bread, sandwiches,

croissants and—one of its most popular desserts—

bread pudding. —Madeline Roache

PILOT PREP

HANEDA EXCEL

HOTEL TOKYU

Tokyo

Have you ever wished
while flying that you could
try a spell in the pilot's seat?
If so, this hotel just outside
Haneda International Airport
has you covered. In July it
opened the Superior Cockpit
Room, a suite equipped with a
Boeing 737-800 flight simulator.
For around $300, guests can
book 90-minute sessions with
an instructor, during which they
follow a flight path to pilot a
passenger jet from Tokyo to
Osaka’s Itami airport. A stay in
the suite itself is not included—
but true aviation geeks are
welcome to book one anyway
(starting at $238 per night)
to spend the night among the
controls. —Alejandro de la Garza

NOLA’S NEW LOOK

HOTEL PETER & PAUL

New Orleans

Hotel Peter & Paul, in
New Orleans’ Marigny
neighborhood—a joint project
of resident Nathalie Jordi and
design firm ASH NYC—is unlike
any other hotel in New Orleans.
For starters, it’s spread out
over four historic buildings,
including a Catholic church that
dates back to 1861. Original
features, like stained-glass
windows and marble fireplaces,
were meticulously restored. The
bedrooms on each floor have
a different gingham- patterned
color scheme, as well as
decor that combines history
(religious paintings, antiques
from European estate sales)
and modern- day New Orleans
(locally designed furniture).
When they’re not in their rooms,
chances are guests are visiting
the Rectory, a section of the
hotel that’s home to the coffee
shop, open- air courtyard and
bar—run by the team behind
beloved wine bar Bacchanal,
with a daily happy hour from
3 to 6 p.m. —S.W.

102 Time Sept. 2–9, 2019