JUNGLE QUEEN
DATAI LANGKAWI
Langkawi, MalaysiaThis 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 WuSmokyMountaingetaway
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. GreenspanBREAKING 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 RoachePILOT 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.
82 Time Sept. 2–9, 2019