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Baltic belter

Dive in

Making waves

GUNTÛ, JAPAN

For history buffs, Gdańsk will forever be

linked to local hero Lech Wałęsa’s anti-

communist struggles. These days, though,

the city’s pristine Baltic setting is so

attractive that the Puro hotel group has

opened its fourth property here. Set in

the Old Town, the 211-room hotel is a new

build by local practice KD Kozikowski

Design, with lofty interiors by DeSallesFlint

recalling the area’s historic warehouses and

shipyard. An eight-storey atrium leads

into soft-pastel spaces furnished with quirky

pieces by Vitra, Moroso and Gubi, while

the rooftop bar and terrace (pictured) opens

out over the marina and Old Town. Marcin

Małecki’s restaurant, Dancing Anchor,

steals the show with dishes such as chicken

ballotine stuffed with prawns. Daven Wu

Stągiewna 26, purohotel.pl. Rates: from £65

Celebrated Australian chef Sean Connolly

has opened a new brasserie, bar and terrace

on the top floor of architect Janus Rostock’s

dhow-shaped Dubai Opera. Designed by

Australian practices Alexander & Co and

Tribe Studio, the underwater-themed

restaurant serves grilled dishes and seafood

delicacies. ‘The experience is like floating

through an ocean sea bed,’ says Alexander

& Co’s Jeremy Bull, ‘with shards of daylight

falling upon the corals of the furniture and

reflecting from the scales of the vaulted

ceiling tiles.’ Soft pink leather banquettes

are matched with modernist seating,

while custom pieces include a long lighting

fixture with brass discs inspired by floating

driftwood. Dimity Noble

Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard,

tel: 971.4 362 7312, seanconnollydubai.com

This newly-completed small luxury cruise

ship offers an unprecedented way to enjoy

the magnificent seascape of Japan’s Seto

Inland Sea, with guests offered six routes,

from one to three nights. Called Guntû

after a local blue crab, the 19-room boat was

designed by local architect Yasushi Horibe

more as a floating traditional Japanese

ryokan than a conventional cruiser; the

ample use of wood throughout, paired with

large windows, creates a warm, welcoming

interior. As well as the main dining room,

offering both Japanese and Western dishes,

there’s a small sushi counter, where freshly

caught seafood is delivered directly by local

fishermen, while the upper deck lounge

(pictured) is a tranquil spot for tea and

wagashi sweets. Jens H Jensen

guntu.jp. Rates: from ¥400,000 ($3,562) Photography: Brooke Holm

PURO HOTEL, GDAŃSK

SEAN CONNOLLY AT DUBAI OPERA

Travel

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