World's most incredible hotel lobbies

Roshina Jowaheer

Updated 2 July 2015 at 8:05 am·1-min read

Making a stylish entrance at a hotel is one thing, but what about being welcomed into one of the world's most amazing hotel lobbies before checking in to your room?

These days, hotel lobbies are so much more than a reception desk and a vase of flowers. We're talking art deco architecture, designer cocktail bars, garden sanctuaries and even an art gallery.

Many luxury hotels pull out all the stops to impress their guests, making every experience indulgent, from the moment you set foot in the hotel.

Check in at the Hong Kong's Hotel Icon, for example, and you'll find yourself enjoying afternoon tea in one of the world's largest vertical gardens. Or how about treating yourself to a night in the the London EDITION, where you won't want to leave the lobby: it boasts a bar, a pool table and a fireplace for cosying up with a hot chocolate in the winter. Then there's the ITC Grand Chola is home to the most photographed hotel lobby in India - and we can see why, with its pristine marble and symmetrically arranged pillars creating a grand setting... And then there's our fave, Sri Lanka's Uga Bay (pictured), with its twinkling star ceiling and circular tunnel to the beach.

Take a tour of more of the world's most gorgeous hotel lobbies...

<p>Resembling a wedding cake, the lobby at <a href="http://www.sterminshotel.co.uk/" target="_blank">St Ermin's</a> in <a href="http://travel.aol.co.uk/guides/london/" target="_blank">London</a> cannot be beaten for voluptuous, royal icing-white plasterwork created by English theatre designer J P Briggs, just after he completed the Savoy Theatre. The beautiful Grade II listed lobby packs a dramatic punch, with a sweeping central staircase and curved wooden balustrades to encourage an aria or two from the mezzanine. The lobby boasts glittering original chandeliers, marble floors and vast fireplaces, while the ceilings, columns and balustrades feature nymphs, goddesses and flowers, as well as exotic elephants and tigers.</p>

<p>The deepest traditions of glamour and sophistication of one of the world’s greatest resort destinations are evident from the moment you step into the hotel lobby of <a href="http://www.editionhotels.com/miami-beach" target="_blank">The Miami Beach EDITION</a>, with its pristine white marble floors and polished white pearl Venetian plaster walls, highlighted with tones of gold and the deep green of indoor palm trees that bring to mind iconic gathering places, such as the world-famous Coconut Grove in the golden age of Hollywood. One of the few hotel lobbies in <a href="http://travel.aol.co.uk/guides/miami/" target="_blank">Miami Beach</a> to offer a view of the ocean, the space is casual yet elegant.</p>

<p>The lobby at luxury hotel <a href="http://www.ugaescapes.com/ugabay/" target="_blank">Uga Bay</a> on one of <a href="http://travel.aol.co.uk/guides/sri-lanka/" target="_blank">Sri Lanka</a>'s best beaches, Passekudah, is best seen at night when it is lit up and provides a romantic setting. The unique lobby boasts a central feature with a marble floor and a ceiling with tiny lights which light up and sparkle against the starry sky. Guests at the hotel can see straight out to the stunning sea though a circular tunnel design.</p>

<p>The lobby at <a href="http://www.hotel-icon.com/" target="_blank">Hotel Icon</a> isn't your average hotel entrance. As the luxury hotel is all about individuality and being green, the lobby features its own vertical garden - one of the world's largest and designed by world-famous botanist Patrick Blanc - with over 8,000 plants to greet guests checking in and those enjoying afternoon tea or lunch at its lobby café, Green.</p>

<p>Nothing at the ten-storey, three-wing <a href="http://www.itchotels.in/hotels/itcgrandchola.aspx" target="_blank">ITC Grand Chola</a> is grander than its lobby, an awe-inspiring space with 92,000 square feet of marble, granite and stone carvings. The most photographed hotel lobby in India is a pristine expanse of pastel-hued marble and symmetrically arranged pillars finished in white stucco, reminiscent of the temples of South India. The showstopper is the grand staircase that spirals up and out, flanked by elaborately carved Carrera marble pillars inspired by the Gangaikondacholapuram temple in Thanjavur. The carved balustrades are embellished with the four-leaf clover and ‘wheel of life’ motifs from the Chola era, carved by sculptors from Mahabalipuram who are known the world over for their skill and artistry.</p>

<p>The sophisticated Art Nouveau lobby at <a href="http://www.fourseasons.com/budapest/" target="_blank">Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest</a> is a modern space with a glass ceiling and dramatic chandelier. It was once where guests were carried by horse and carriage and the mosaic floor features more than a million tiles. Off the lobby is the Bar which spills into the hotel's historic Páva Udvar (Peacock Passage), where light appetisers and refreshments are served.</p>

<p>Paintings, a sculpture, photography and video installations come together as one at <a href="http://www.raffles.com/istanbul/" target="_blank">Raffles Istanbul</a> for its collection that tells a story of a city in flux. The lobby lounge presents an eight-metre-high mural by Jean Frances Rousseau, playing with perspective and focusing on photography, specially commissioned for the space. Throughout the hotel, there is a full collection of original artwork – a combination of existing works, and works specially commissioned for the hotel by local and international artists.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.mandarinoriental.com/tokyo/" target="_blank">Mandarin Oriental Tokyo</a>'s impressive lobby is located on the top floor, the 38th floor of the Mitsui Tower in <a href="http://travel.aol.co.uk/guides/tokyo/" target="_blank">Tokyo</a>, providing it with incredible views of the metropolis below including the iconic Tokyo Sky Tree to the East, over the Imperial Palace Gardens and out towards Mount Fuji to the West.</p>

<p>Arrival in <a href="https://www.atlantisthepalm.com/" target="_blank">Atlantis, The Palm</a>'s Royal Towers Grand Lobby presents a dazzling interplay of water, light, and sound with a wall of windows that offer stunning views of the azure waters and beaches along the Arabian Gulf. Moving across the lobby’s travertine marble floors, guests can enjoy a symphony of sound as a water wall cascades into a pool, a soothing reminder of the surrounding sea. Artist Dale Chihuly's striking glass sculpture is the centrepiece, with over 3000 pieces of intensely-coloured blown glass, ranging from fiery oranges and reds to tranquil blues and greens. The piece is surrounded by a reflection pool. The lobby also features hand painted murals by Spanish artist Albino Gonzalez on the 19-metre-high arched ceilings. They tell the story of the ancient mythological city of Atlantis and represent the seasons of the year.</p>

<p>Experience one of the world's oldest and most beautiful cities from a quiet garden sanctuary, flanked by historic buildings and with modern facilities at the <a href="http://www.fourseasons.com/florence/" target="_blank">Four Seasons Hotel Firenze</a>. The lobby is a Renaissance loggia decorated with original bas reliefs and stuccoes. The stunning hotel spreads out between the 15th century Palazzo della Gherardesca and a former 16th century convent on the other side of the eleven-acre park, and the largest private garden in Florence.</p>

<p>The grandfather clock in the airy lobby of <a href="http://www.raffles.com/singapore/" target="_blank">Raffles Singapore</a> is probably the oldest piece of furniture in the hotel. Every evening when the clock strikes eight, the lobby's pianist strikes up old Noel Coward tune 'I’ll see you again'. The story of the iconic hotel begins at the door. Raffles Singapore’s fabulous doormen, Narajan, Swaran and Sarjit, greet their guests in true Raffles style with their distinctive uniforms from Gieves and Hawkes, and big, genuine smiles of welcome into the lobby.</p>

<p>The ambience is enticing and the scale is imposing — everything from the soaring doorways to the stately gesture of the marble staircase sweeping across one corner seems borne from another age in <a href="http://www.editionhotels.com/london" target="_blank">The London EDITION</a>'s hotel lobby. Upon entering the hotel, you are held in a striking modernist glass vestibule projecting into the sumptuous lobby with its spaceship-like polished silver sphere light presiding over the entrance. The impressive lobby also features a beautiful bar, inviting seating and a pool table.</p>

Resembling a wedding cake, the lobby at St Ermin's in London cannot be beaten for voluptuous, royal icing-white plasterwork created by English theatre designer J P Briggs, just after he completed the Savoy Theatre. The beautiful Grade II listed lobby packs a dramatic punch, with a sweeping central staircase and curved wooden balustrades to encourage an aria or two from the mezzanine. The lobby boasts glittering original chandeliers, marble floors and vast fireplaces, while the ceilings, columns and balustrades feature nymphs, goddesses and flowers, as well as exotic elephants and tigers.

<p>
This spectacular handrail designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932 is a masterpiece of the <a href="http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_Home.html" target="_blank">Vatican Museums</a> in Italy. It is unlikely that when commissioning it the Vatican expected the Simonetti Staircase to become one of the most photographed pieces in the museums - but it did! Made up of two wrought iron stairways (one going up and one coming down) that curve in a double helix, the Momo Staircase, as it is also known, was once used by all visitors to the museums on their way in but the entrance has been moved so it is no longer on the route. Be sure to stop and admire it on your way out.</p>

<p>
This cool sculpture is a piece of art designed by Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, which the office workers of global accounting firm KPMG in Munich can enjoy on their way in to work. The architectural staircase, called Umschreibung (Rewriting), is a nine-metre-high double spiral of sleek steel. While it doesn't actually lead to anywhere and cannot be climbed, it makes for a great view - especially when looking for a distraction from work!</p>

<p>
This impressive staircase can be found in Melk Abbey, one of the world's most famous monastic sites located above the town of Melk and overlooking the river Danube. The rooms of the castle-turned-monastery contain permanent exhibitions and visitors come from all over the world to browse its ornate library and famous frescoes by Paul Troger. Don't miss the marble hall, a stunning example of Baroque architecture.</p>

<p>
The famous Chand Baori step well in the village of Abhaneri in Rajasthan, India, is one of the country's architectural wonders and one of the most intriguing staircases in the world. The step well is located opposite Harshat Mata Temple and was built in the ninth century with 3,500 narrow steps and 13 stories. With a depth of 100ft, it is the deepest step well in India and was constructed to try to solve the problem of water shortages in Rajasthan.</p>

<p>
One of the most exquisite bookshops in the world, Livrario Lello in the Portuguese city of Porto is home to this lavish red staircase, making its interior as stunning as its incredible Art Nouveau and Gothic Revival facade. Lello is one of the oldest bookshops in Portugal and opened in 1901. While the staircase is its centrepiece, with carved wooden banisters and glossy red steps, the shop also features a marvellous stained glass ceiling and ornate wooden shelves holding books from every era and genre.</p>

<p>
China's piano style stairs built at Wulin Plaza in Hangzhou make the appropriate musical notes when stood on. The 54 steps were installed to encourage people to walk instead of lazily take the escalator. The only problem could be too much noise if everyone starts taking the stairs!</p>

<p>
The wonderful staircase at Hartenfels Castle dates back to the 16th century and resembles a snail's shell. During East German times it had to be closed to the public due to its decaying condition and in 1991 the first plans were initiated to restore the intriguing stairway made from sandstone and consisting of 53 steps. The stairs are around 20 metres high and are situated in the inner courtyard of the castle in Torgau.</p>

<p>
The Grand Staircase within the <a href="http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/lonpr-st-pancras" target="_blank">St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel</a> is known as one of Europe's grandest stairways and is among the most beautiful hotel staircases in the world. It has been the backdrop to films, such as Batman Returns, and the Spice Girls' music video for the song Wannabe. Blessed with a cathedral-like ceiling thanks to Sir Gilbert Scott's design it is now a stairway to explore and discover the Victorian age of industry and commerce.</p>

<p>
It may look like a rollercoaster but this unusual sculpture is in fact a staircase stretched through all kinds of curves. Located in Duisburg, Germany, the Tiger & Turtle - Magic Mountain sculpture is the creation of German artists Heike Mutter and Ulrich Genth. The interactive sculpture features 249 steps for visitors to explore in the day, when they can take in the views above the Rhine, and at night when the LED lights on the handrails illuminate the staircase. The loop is the only part that cannot be climbed and is closed off by a barrier.</p>

<p>
This Brazilian masterpiece in Rio is the work of Chilean-born artist Jorge Selaron who considers it as 'a personal tribute to the Brazilian people.' Selaron's Stairs, a mosaic staircase made from vibrant yellow, green and blue tiles inspired by the Brazilian flag, connects the neighbourhoods of Santa Teresa and Lapa. The staircase consists of 250 steps and measures 125m long. Selaron began work on the stairway in 1990, creating a constantly evolving piece of art, which now has over 2,000 brightly-coloured tiles collected from over 60 countries. The 65-year-old claims 'this crazy and unique dream will only end on the day of my death.'</p>

<p>
The privately-owned Palazzo Biscari in Catania is home to this stunning white Rococo-style staircase decorated with stucco and beautiful frescoes above the door of the gallery. Built in the 17th century, the palace features a large double staircase in the inner courtyard, the Feasts Hall with a complex arrangement of mirrors, stuccoes and frescoes painted by Matteo Desiderato, plus a small dome for the orchestra. <strong>Image: </strong>Domenica Prinzivalli / <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/orpheus1974/" target="_blank">Flickr/Mire74</a></p>

<p>
Get ready to climb if you're visiting the Portuguese sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga, as its monumental Baroque staircase is one of its best features, climbing 116 metres. The glorious ornamental stairway of granite and white plaster was commissioned by Braga's vertically challenged archbishop in 1723 and took 60 years to complete. Although there is no reason for its presence, the staircase remains the object of devoted pilgrimage and many penitents climb up on their knees.</p>

<p>
The most prominent interior features of the <a href="http://assembly.state.ny.us/" target="_blank">New York State Capitol</a> building are its three major staircases, which were lavishly carved in a variety of stone. The Million Dollar Staircase, officially named the Great Western Staircase, took 14 years to construct, from 1883 to 1897. As you may have guessed by its name, the staircase cost more than one million dollars. It was designed by Henry Hobson Richardson and built by Isaac Perry, and is renowned as an outstanding example of American architectural stone-carving excellence containing 444 steps and reaching a height of 119ft. Over 500 stone cutters and carvers were employed at various times to complete the staircase and it features famous American faces, such as Lincoln, Washington and Grant, beautifully carved into the sandstone.</p>

<p>Located on the a man-made island in Doha Bay in Qatar, the <a href="http://www.mia.org.qa/en/" target="_blank">Museum of Islamic Art</a> houses a collection of 4,500 pieces of Islamic art. The building's own masterpiece is its grand double staircase set below a geometric dome in the main entrance of the museum. The steps are cut into its underside giving the illusion of an upside down staircase.</p>

<p>
With striped stairs that create a dizzying effect when reflected in the mirrored walls and sparkly chandeliers, this staircase at luxury five-star Parisian hotel <a href="http://www.leroyalmonceau.com/" target="_blank">Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris</a> is the masterpiece of designer Philippe Starck who transformed the hotel in 2010 and created a sleek and stylish stairway. There's more to the hotel than spectacular steps, such as a cool cinema, 149 bedrooms reflecting Starck's fresh style and one of Paris's largest hotel swimming pools.</p>

<p>
Created by Irish ceramist Aileen Barr and mosaic artist Colette Crutcher, <a href="http://www.tiledsteps.org/" target="_blank">The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps</a>, tucked away in the quiet neighbourhood of Golden Gate Heights on 16th and Moraga, is a stunning work of art and one of San Francisco's hidden gems. The 163 steps contain 2,000 handmade tiles and 75,000 fragments of tile, mirror and stained glass, which make up scenes of the land, sea and sky. The project involved community workshops and donated tiles were incorporated into the design with over 200 local residents helping to create the panels.</p>

<p>
In London, the elegant Tulip Stairs of the <a href="http://www.rmg.co.uk/queens-house/" target="_blank">Queen's House</a> in Greenwich were the first geometric self-supporting spiral stairs in Britain. Although the stairs are named after tulips, it is believed the flowers in the wrought-iron balustrade are actually fleurs-de-lis. The Tulip Stairs are the location of Rev R. W. Hardy's famous 'ghost' photograph, taken on 19 June 1966, which revealed what appeared to be two or three shrouded figures on the staircase.</p>

<p>
Adorned with a plethora of arches and resembling the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the external spiral staircase of the small Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo in Venice is the building's best known feature. Known as the Scala Contarini del Bovolo (of the snail), the staircase leads to an arcade, offering a charming panoramic view over the rooftops of Venice.</p>

<p>
Dame Zaha Hadid was the creator of the sleek, futuristic staircase at Rome's <a href="http://www.fondazionemaxxi.it/?lang=en" target="_blank">Maxxi - National Museum of the 21st Century Arts</a>. The architect used swooping curves, impossible angles and dramatic views to style the museum of 21st-century art's staircase in 2009. What's more, the extraordinary stairs were finished in the thick black primer used as an undercoat for new cars and they rise up through the lobby with bare metal treads, disappearing far into the museum. Stairs aside, the Maxxi National Museum consists of two museums - MAXXI art and MAXXI architecture and there is a large outdoor courtyard for large-scale works of art to be installed.</p>

<p>
We're in love with this elegant staircase at the Electoral Palace in the city of Trier, Germany. The south wing stairway oozes rococo glamour and style, and was the creation of artists Johannes Siez and Ferdinand Tietz in 1756. The building is one of the last examples of German Renaissance architecture and was once the residence of the Archbishop of Mainz.</p>

This spectacular handrail designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932 is a masterpiece of the Vatican Museums in Italy. It is unlikely that when commissioning it the Vatican expected the Simonetti Staircase to become one of the most photographed pieces in the museums - but it did! Made up of two wrought iron stairways (one going up and one coming down) that curve in a double helix, the Momo Staircase, as it is also known, was once used by all visitors to the museums on their way in but the entrance has been moved so it is no longer on the route. Be sure to stop and admire it on your way out.

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World's most incredible hotel lobbies

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