As one of the greatest 20th-century American novels, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is getting the big-screen treatment on May 10, with leading man Leonardo DiCaprio playing the part of the infamous Jay Gatsby. While the film is sure to highlight the look and feel of America’s Roaring Twenties, you can see that period’s art deco aesthetic in person at some of world’s most luxurious hotels. Here are a few dashing properties worthy of their own Hollywood close-up.
45 Park Lane, London
The Art Deco lobby at Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star 45 Park Lane — which was the one-time home of London’s Playboy Club during the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s — was designed by New York-based Thierry Despont and features a dramatic staircase leading to the first floor. Guest rooms feature earth tones, diamond-patterned carpet, lacquer furnishings and pops of color in artwork and soft goods.
The Plaza Hotel, New York
The Plaza Hotel in New York recently unveiled its new Fitzgerald Suite in honor of The Great Gatsby’s big screen release. The suite’s Art Deco design evokes F. Scott Fitzgerald’s history at the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel, and includes photos of him and his wife, Zelda, throughout, plus a complete volume of his published works, and documentaries and movies about him and his achievements. The new suite was designed by Academy Award-winning costume, set and production designer Catherine Martin (who is also the set designer on the film) using Art Deco-inspired furniture pieces from Restoration Hardware, as well as wallpaper, rugs and fabric from her own Metropolis and Deco rug collections.
Claridge’s, London
Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Claridge’s in London exudes Art Deco style throughout. But it’s the ultra-glam The Fumoir bar that we especially love. The space is small and cozy (capacity is just 12), and the Thierry Despont design includes rich leather seating, vintage photographs and an original 1930s Lalique glass panel. The ultra-chic lounge in the Linley Suite also exudes the cool Art Deco style prominent when Claridge’s was refurbished in the 1920s.
Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai
The stunning Art Deco octagonal hall at Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai features a spectacular yellow glass rotunda. Sunlight casts a gold hue over the white Italian marble floor, as well as over the silver relief carving on the walls. Historic Peace Hall — one Shanghai’s most famous ballrooms — features luxurious Art Deco details, including gilded geometric shapes and lavish ornamentation on the ceiling.
Miami’s South Beach is known for its abundance of Art Deco hotels, and The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach is no exception. The Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel’s Lobby Bar is a cool spot to retreat for a cocktail (try the Art Deco Punch) or glass of wine after a day of soaking up the sun on the beach or the by hotel’s pool. It’s also hard to beat the fun Art Deco design of The Ritz-Carlton Suite. The Morris Lapidus-designed landmark hotel was originally built in 1953 as the DiLido hotel.
Sagamore, The Art Hotel, Miami
The Game Room at the Sagamore Hotel in South Beach provides guests an ultra-chic retreat to host an intimate gathering, movie screening or small reception. Sagamore’s iconic whitewash façade sets the tone for the hotel’s design, and the major art pieces that are at the heart of it. The Cricket Taplin Collection of contemporary art, curated by the Miami hotel’s owners Cricket and Marty Taplin, is on display throughout the Sagamore with pieces ranging from videos in the garden to murals in the stairwell.
The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, Miami
The chic black-and-white color palette at The St. Regis Bar & Wine Vault is set off by the space’s stunning wall mural by Santiago Rubino. The Grand Hall epitomizes glamorous Art Deco design in elements such as mirrored surfaces, a gray-and-blue color scheme and dramatic crystal chandeliers. The hotel’s design, by Sieger Suarez Architectural Partnership, is a nod to famed architect Morris Lapidus, whose 1950s-era hotel designs have become synonymous with Miami.
The Chatwal, New York
Original features of the landmark Stanford White-designed building have been restored in The Chatwal. Designer Thierry Despont revamped much of the building, which was originally home to America’s first professional theater club, The Lambs, saving original Art Deco details such as chrome metal, suede walls and wood paneling. Not only does The Chatwal’s The Bar at The Lambs Club feature a glamorous Art Deco design of the 1930s, it also includes a menu that honors the classic cocktails of the time, such as the Moscow Mule.
The Savoy, London
Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star The Savoy in London sits on the banks of the Thames and is the epitome of old-fashioned glam. No two room designs here are the same, but many of the Savoy Suites are decorated using Art Deco style furnishings and rich color palettes. The Beaufort Bar is about as grand and ornate as a design can get. The jet-black-and-gold Art Deco interior is the ideal backdrop for the spot’s extensive menu of champagne, including rare vintages from Louis Roederer.
William Waldorf Astor built and opened his Fifth Avenue hotel in 1893, which was originally the Waldorf Hotel until his cousin built the adjacent Astoria Hotel. The current location (it was moved in 1931 to Park Avenue to make room for the Empire State Building) of the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Waldorf Astoria New York retains much of its original Art Deco interior. The Park Avenue lobby was recently restored and is now one of the most stunning examples of Art Deco design in the Big Apple. Murals by French artist Louis Rigal adorn the walls, while an impeccable tile mosaic of The Wheel of Life (made with 150,000 tiny tiles) embellish the floor, plus new Art Deco lighting now hangs from the gold-and-silver leaf ceiling.
Photos Courtesy of Starwood Hotels And Resorts, Hilton Worldwide Inc, VFM Leonardo, Fairmont Hotels And Resorts, The Chatwal Hotel, Maybourne Hotel Group and Sagamore Hotel
