While many travelers prefer to simply relax in a luxurious new spa or dine at a coveted Michelin-star restaurant, others are drawn to landmark and historic hotels with a story to tell. From Europe to the U.S., iconic buildings with Art Deco and Art Nouveau facades have been transformed into luxury hotels — their original features including chandeliers, sweeping staircases, stone corridors, and antique furnishings meticulously preserved.
For those who appreciate character as much as craftsmanship, such hotels offer a way to step inside a living narrative. Not only do they exude character, but many are also in prime city-center locations. From a former U.S. Embassy to a restored 16th-century church and boarding school, and even a building that once ranked among the tallest in the country, these nine luxury addresses come with a past.
Hotel del Coronado, California
Opened in 1888, Hotel del Coronado stands as a landmark on California’s coastline. Built entirely of wood by two retired businessmen, Elisha Babcock, Jr., and Hampton Story, the Victorian hotel was the largest resort hotel in the world at the time and quickly became a playground for Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, and Katharine Hepburn. The hotel underwent a six‑year, $550 million renovation which, in 2025, unveiled the restored lobby, front porch, guest rooms, and event spaces. Custom furniture is on display as is a replica of a bronze statue by French sculptor Charles Cordier in the garden courtyard. The renovation also introduced new culinary offerings, including Nobu Del Coronado.
Chancery Rosewood, London, England
Sitting as the U.S. Embassy until 2017, the Chancery Rosewood gave one of London’s most recognizable modernist buildings a second life in the heart of Mayfair’s Grosvenor Square. Originally designed in 1960, the hotel has been reimagined by Sir David Chipperfield Architects and, in 2025, reopened as a 144-suite luxury hotel preserving the building’s sculptural façade. There’s no prescribed check-in or check-out times, the rooftop bar offers sweeping views of Grosvenor Square and Hyde Park, and the quintessentially British afternoon tea features a curated collection of over 100 distinctive teas.
Collegio alla Querce, Florence, Italy
This two Michelin-key hotel, just outside Florence, was formerly a 16th-century church and boarding school. In 2025, Collegio alla Querce — which sits on a hillside overlooking the Centro Storico, the Duomo, and the Tuscan countryside — was transformed into an 83-room Auberge Resorts Collection property. The restoration carefully preserves stone corridors, features an original chapel and theater, and includes a bar that was once the principal’s office of the former boarding school.
Waldorf Astoria New York City
In 1931, the Waldorf Astoria New York — known for introducing hotel room service and private bathrooms — was named the tallest hotel in the world, an example of Art Deco grandeur in Midtown Manhattan. The hotel has welcomed presidents including John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, and has been at the center of social events such as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions. After closing in 2017, the landmark underwent a $2 billion multi-year restoration, reopening in phases over the past two years. The renovation preserved spaces like Peacock Alley, where an 11-foot-tall clock commissioned by Queen Victoria sits in the center of the room.
The Oberoi Rajgarh Palace, Khajuraho, India
Just minutes from Panna National Park & Tiger Reserve (and a short drive from the UNESCO World Heritage temples of Khajuraho) is Oberoi Rajgarh Palace, Khajuraho. The restored 350-year-old palace blends centuries-old stone architecture, courtyards, an infinity pool, arched gateways, and a rainwater-fed lake within its 76-hectare private estate. The restoration took over a decade, and the 65-room property was officially inaugurated in November 2025.
Casa Lucía, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Situated just steps from Plaza General San Martín, one of the oldest parks in Buenos Aires, Casa Lucia opened in 2024, breathing new life into the Edificio Mihanovich, a 1929 skyscraper built by the Bencich family. The landmark stood dormant for several years before being reimagined by Pau Guardans, founder of Único Hotels. Enjoy a sensory experience in the hotel’s wine cellar with selections from Mendoza, Buenos Aires, and beyond, all picked with the help of master sommelier Aldo Garcia.
Rosemead House, Vancouver Island, BC
Designed by Canadian architect Samuel Maclure, Rosemead House is a restored 1906 Tudor Revival mansion originally built as a private residence. Opened in 2025 as a 28-room luxury boutique hotel, each room is individually named with British-inspired titles and decorated with antique furnishings and artworks from more than 200 estate auctions across the UK. The hotel also incorporates set elements used in Netflix’s The Crown, with guests entering through gates featured in the series’ depiction of Buckingham Palace.
El Convento Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Built in 1646 on land donated by Doña Ana Lanzós and authorized by King Philip IV, this 17th-century Carmelite convent is one of the oldest buildings in Old San Juan. The structure was saved from demolition in the 1960s by Robert Frederick Woolworth, and reopened in 1962 as Hotel El Convento. Located just steps from San Juan’s historic Puerta de San Juan and Plaza Doña Fela, the hotel preserves 350-year-old construction details, including original mahogany beams, Andalusian tile floors, and a central courtyard anchored by a 300-year-old Spanish nispero tree. In 2025, the hotel updated all 81 guest rooms, corridors, and the Patio del Níspero restaurant.
Dock House Boutique Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa
This six-room boutique hotel in Cape Town’s historic Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, was originally built in the 1800s as the harbor master’s private residence. Following a major interior refurbishment led by designer François du Plessis, the hotel reopened in late 2025. Guests enjoy harbor-facing balconies, a private library, and a secluded courtyard garden, plus views of Table Mountain.
Feature image courtesy of Oberoi Hotels and Resorts. Travel Curator may earn a commission from product or booking links on this page.
