AFAR – September 2019

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6. Jackalope
   Mornington
   Peninsula, Australia
   Inky-black walls,
   black leather uphol-
   stery, and moody
   lighting converge at
   this dramatically
   dark retreat an hour
   south of Melbourne.
   The aesthetic is aus-
   tere but not without
   luxurious touches,
   such as suites with
   panoramic vineyard
   views, private wine
   cellars, Japanese
   stone soaking tubs,
   and daily cham-
   pagne and caviar
   service. The hotel’s
   art collection feat-
   ures globally recog-
   nized works, such
   as Random Interna-
   tional’s Rain Room
   installation. From
   $471. jackalopehotels
   .com


7. Shou Sugi Ban
   House
   Water Mill, New York
   This three-acre spa
   and retreat is inspired
   by wabi sabi, the
   Japanese philosophy
   of embracing imper-
   fection. A stay in one
   of the 13 tranquil
   rooms is an immer-
   sion in a wellness
   program that empha-
   sizes seclusion, con-
   nection, and healing
   through nature.
   Noma cofounder and
   chef Mads Refslund
   crafted the inn’s sea-
   sonal, hyper-local,
   plant-forward menu.
   Three-day retreats
   from $4,650. shou
   sugibanhouse.com


8. Nobu Ryokan
   Malibu, California
   Japanese ryokans
   helped to define mini-
   malism in hospitality,
   but travelers don’t
   have to cross the
   Pacific in order to
   enjoy their spartan
   beauty. At this bou-
   tique inn, Japanese
   art accents 16
   uncluttered guest
   rooms that open
   onto Carbon Beach
   or offer views of a
   Zen-inspired garden.
   Tranquility awaits
   in the teak soaking
   tubs and on the
   oceanfront Brazilian
   ipe-wood deck,
   an ideal spot to sip
   a cup of steaming
   green tea. From
   $2,000, two-night
   minimum. nobu
   ryokanmalibu.com