NEW TO SMITH THIS MONTH

A remote retreat in South Africa’s Soutpansberg Mountains, Few & Far Luvhondo sets the standard for conservation-led escapes. With its cliff-hanging suites, tailored tracking excursions and personal superhosts, it could easily have plumped for the moniker ‘above and beyond’ instead. Add in the extraordinary bush braais, sleep-outs beneath the stars and daily ‘magic moments’ arranged by your guide, and you've a stay set to make memories that'll last a lifetime. 

 And we've more new arrivals to sweep you off your feet, including hotels in LA, Mexico and Iceland.

The Hoxton, Downtown LA, US

Set in a Beaux Arts building that once served as LA’s rail hub, The Hoxton, Downtown LA is a stop worth hopping off at. The interiors riff on coastal California cool with a dash of Hollywood glamour, a look that chimes perfectly with the hotel’s creatively minded ‘hood, which is home to Broadway’s theatres and the Fashion District. Hit the ground running with breakfast at Moonlark’s Dinette — order chilaquiles, pancakes and flat whites — before transitioning to lazy afternoons on the roof at Inanna, where mezze plates and a poolside crowd take over as the skyline softens at dusk.

Laiva Hotel San José by Tasman, Mexico

Pastel-pink brutalism sets the scene at Laiva Hotel San José by Tasman, which is ensconced in the cobbled heart of San José del Cabo. For all its sharp-edged architecture, life at this striking stay is soft around the edges. Days often begin with cups of steaming-hot cacao at Laiva Café; hit a high point as you tour the Gallery District on a community-led art walk; then start winding down as you take position on the roof terrace, snacking on adobada tacos, smoky burritos and fish crudo by the mountain-framed pool.

Black Sand Hotel, Iceland

Iceland’s otherworldly Atlantic coast looms large at Black Sand Hotel, which sits on strip of volcanic sand on the island’s rugged south. Soaring picture windows provide cinematic snapshots of the landscape outside, which inspired the earthy tones that define the polished and minimalist rooms. Any suggestion of fire and ice ends at the door, however — within you’ll find a convivial atmosphere, cosy bar scene, refined Icelandic cuisine and staff who’ll arrange all manner of adventures, from helicopter tours to waterfall hikes. 

Hotel Sevilla, Mexico

A fixture of Mérida’s old town for more than 400 years, Hotel Sevilla was a noble mansion before it was reimagined for 21st-century stays. The makeover takes its cues from 1950s brutalist architecture: slab-like walls and monolithic concrete forms were added to an otherwise old-world building of shady arcades and footworn floor tiles. The result is a stay that feels both tranquila and timeless, with sun-dappled pools to dip into, a checkerboard terrace for mod-Mexican feasts and a series of cloistered corners to kick back in. 

Kat Florence Hotels, Canada

If anyone can find a diamond in the rough, it’s Kat Florence. The fine jeweler and Elora native originally overhauled the 185-year-old Commercial Hotel to create a private retreat for her clients, but these days you can stay in the designer-dressed suites or standalone cottage without splashing out on a bejeweled ring. There are just four rooms in the main villa, but this is no mere B&B — guests get a 60-minute La Mer massage each day, access to the Nordic spa, a tasting dinner with a private chef and chauffeured use of the house Rolls-Royce or Bentley.