3 Jun 2026 By Cathy Lau

Six Waterfront Hotels to Escape To

Berlin, June 2, 2026

Six waterfront hotels where the setting defines the stay

Not all beach getaways are created equal. These six stays stand out for their architecture as much as their location—whether set on a wild stretch of Sumba coastline, tucked into southern Tulum, or perched quietly above Lake Como.

Lake Como, Italy

Filario Hotel & Residences leans into a quieter, more understated version of Lake Como—set in the village of Lezzeno on the lake’s eastern shore, where steep hills plunge directly into the water and the pace feels noticeably slower than nearby Bellagio. Built into the mountainside on the site of a former wire factory, the hotel pairs clean-lined contemporary architecture with local Lombardy stone and warm, tactile interiors by designer Alessandro Agrati.

For the 2026 season, its private lido—one of Lake Como’s rare direct-access beaches—takes on a new identity through a collaboration with GUESS, reimagining the waterfront with fresh summer tones, patterned textiles, and bespoke design details. Alongside its infinity pool, marina, and tailored lake experiences, the beach club becomes a more expressive, lifestyle-driven space, animated by live jazz, DJ sets, and a relaxed lakeside rhythm that runs from day into night.

Tulum, Mexico

Hidden along the quieter southern stretch of Tulum Beach, close to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve yet still woven into the energy of the area, XELA Tulum feels more like a private coastal residence than a conventional resort. Originally a beachfront villa, the 12-room property was reimagined by architect Carlos Larios into a deeply atmospheric retreat, where palapa roofs, sunken lounges, warm clay tones, and organic materials create an architecture that feels inseparable from its surroundings.

The design leans into Tulum’s softer side—earthy, intimate, and open to the elements—while the Caribbean remains a constant presence, framed through terraces, rooftop views, and breezy, indoor-outdoor spaces.

Sumba, Indonesia

Cap Karoso makes a compelling case for skipping Bali altogether. Set on the wild southwest coast of Sumba in the remote Ate Dalo region, the hotel sits between empty beaches, traditional villages, and landscapes that still feel startlingly untouched—a place where ancestral Marapu culture and daily island life remain deeply present.

The architecture by GFAB Architects draws on the idea of a reimagined Sumbanese village, pairing clean-lined modernism and subtle Brutalist influences with bamboo, terrazzo, carved ikat motifs, and plant-covered roofs that soften into the landscape. The result feels deeply of Sumba itself: expansive, elemental, and beautifully attuned to a coastline defined by coral reefs, windblown savannah, and impossibly long sunsets.

Peloponnese, Greece

On the western coast of the Peloponnese, near the long sandy stretch of Kourouta Beach and within easy reach of Ancient Olympia, Dexamenes Seaside Hotel feels wonderfully removed from Greece’s busier summer circuits. Set directly on the Ionian shoreline, the hotel occupies a reimagined 1920s wine factory, where concrete fermentation tanks have been transformed into striking suites.

The architecture is what lingers: a quietly dramatic interplay of industrial brutalism, warm natural textures, and pared-back interiors that feels deeply connected to this stretch of the Peloponnese coast—wild, wind-softened, and shaped by long beaches, salt air, and an unhurried rhythm.

Lombok, Indonesia

Reaching Innit Lombok feels like leaving the usual Bali-to-beach pipeline far behind: tucked into the remote white-sand curve of Ekas Bay on Lombok’s southeastern coast, the hotel sits in one of Indonesia’s quieter, still largely undeveloped corners, known more for surf breaks and fishing villages than crowds.

Its seven beachfront villas, designed by Indonesian architects Andra Matin, Gregorius Supie Yolodi, and Maria Rosantina, reinterpret the traditional Lombok lumbung house through a distinctly modern lens—raw timber, terrazzo, rattan, and open-air living spaces dissolving the boundary between indoors and sea. The result feels understated, elemental, and perfectly attuned to this wild stretch of coastline, where cliffs, salt air and long empty beaches shape the rhythm of the stay.

Miami, USA

Few places embody Miami Beach glamour quite like The Shelborne By Proper, a reimagined 1940s landmark sitting directly on Collins Avenue in the heart of South Beach, with the Atlantic just beyond its palm-lined pool. Following a major restoration, the hotel balances Miami’s Art Deco legacy with a fresher, more contemporary sensibility—curved forms, tropical tones, travertine, marble, and warm woods softening the grandeur of the original architecture.

What makes it compelling is how deeply it feels tied to this stretch of coastline: equal parts oceanfront retreat and social stage, where sunrise swims, late dinners, and the energy of South Beach sit just outside your door.

For more information, please visit www.designhotels.com.