Travel Insider: Nine Sensational Suites

Coco Chanel, Elvis Presley and Winston Churchill are an unlikely trio that had one defining characteristic in common: their fondness for exclusive hotel suites. Throughout the ages, world leaders, Hollywood celebrities, fashion icons and legendary writers have put down roots in luxury hotels, appropriating luxurious suites or in some cases, entire floors for months on end. 

For some it was cachet; for others, comfort and convenience. Whatever the motivation, hanging your hat in your own private suite usually comes with privileges beyond high thread-count bedding and fluffy bathrobes. Perks like round-the-clock room service, well-connected personal concierges and elevated security provide a compelling case for world leaders and media darlings alike to settle into the stately surrounds of a world-class suite. 

With spectacular properties in destinations around the world, Kempinski is home to some of the finest luxury hotel suites on the planet, from sprawling villas and sky-high penthouses to characterful hideaways steeped in history. I’ve selected these nine sensational suites for their superlative space, historic pedigree or wow factor. 

Historic hideaways: stories suites where history happens

CIRAGAN PALACE KEMPINSKI ISTANBUL

Sultan Suite (458 sqm / 4,929 sqft)

Home of the Ottoman sovereigns for hundreds of years, Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul is the queen of the Bosphorus and home to a collection of historic suites fit for royalty. The Sultan Suite claims the crown as most opulent of all; a living museum where every surface reflects the grandeur and style of the Ottoman era. 

Double-height ceilings and marble columns evoke the original architecture of the palace, with decorative fireplaces and replicas of artworks by 19^th-century Italian artist Fausto Zonaro, the official court artist until 1910. Period furnishings bedecked in Ottoman motifs were all made by artisans in Türkiye, while a grand crystal chandelier and beautiful hand-made curtains frame superlative Bosphorous views that can be enjoyed through the suite’s vintage telescope.

On arrival, your personal butler will invite you to choose from a selection of aromatic soaps and fragrances, a ritual dating back to the days of the Sultan. And if you can bring yourself to leave the sumptuous surrounds, there’s a chauffeur-driven 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow waiting to show you the sights of Istanbul. 

Feeling inspired? Browse the full selection of Kempinski destinations here

HOTEL TASCHENBERG PALAIS DRESDEN

Royal Suite (380 sqm / 4,090 sqft)

Art, fashion and history come together in perfect harmony in the Royal Suite at Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden, an architectural love letter built by Augustus the Strong for his mistress in 1705. Berlin-based interior designer Markus Hilzinger sought inspiration from the hotel’s storied past to infuse the space – formed by combining the King and Queen Suites – with regal splendour and contemporary comforts.

The King Suite’s duck-egg blue banquet hall features artworks by Venetian artist Bernardo Bellotto reproduced in collaboration with the Dresden State Art Collection, while gold-leaf haute couture drawings by French studio Atelier Hector adorn the walls of the Queen Suite’s living room and pastel peacocks strut across the sage green walls of the elegant boudoir. 

Connected by a golden anteroom, the suite is bedecked with Parquet de Versailles oak flooring and hand-knotted carpets. You’ll be soothed into a serene state of mind thanks to the Finnish sauna, relaxation room and a bathtub hewn from a solid block of black marble in the King Suite, and a massage bathtub with customisable salt floatation in the Queen Suite. 

HOTEL ADLON KEMPINSKI BERLIN

Royal Suite (185 sqm / 1,991 sqft)

Spending the night in the Royal Suite at Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is a refined experience reserved for the privileged few: heads of state, VIPs and monarchs including Queen Elizabeth II and self-styled ‘King of Pop’ Michael Jackson have all checked into this historic hideaway. 

Drawing back the curtains of the master bedroom reveals close-up views of the Brandenburg Gate and Pariser Platz in the historic heart of Berlin; turn the other way and you’ll discover a spacious marble bathroom with standalone tub, jacuzzi and sauna.

Private meetings or intimate dinners can be held in the cherry red study and the entire suite meets the high levels of security required by heads of state and VIP visitors, who will also enjoy limousine transfers and 24-hour butler service. 

Superlative space: showstopping suites that go on and on

THE APURVA KEMPINSKI BALI

Nusantara Presidential Villa (1,379 sqm / 14,843 sqft)

Cascading down from the clifftops of Nusa Dua, The Apurva Kempinski Bali is a tribute to the architecture and craftsmanship of the Majapahit empire, which ruled over Indonesia from the 13^th to 16^th centuries. The blend of imperial residence, architectural traditions and tropical ambience finds its zenith in the Nusantara Presidential Villa, an enormous 1,379-sqm three-bedroom hideaway on its own private beach surrounded by tropical gardens. 

The master bedroom, enveloped by floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides, sits below a tiered palapa-style roof and overlooks the villa’s 18-metre swimming pool. Dark timber floors and walls are dotted with sculptures and antiques from the Majapahit era, while period furnishings made by artisans and craftsmen from across the archipelago find the careful balance between modern Indonesian design and traditional heritage. 

Steps from the Apurva Chapel, this spacious suite was built to entertain, with an abundance of indoor and outdoor space for wedding receptions or private parties, plus a full-sized kitchen.

KEMPINSKI HOTEL DAS TIROL

Penthouse Suite (1,020 sqm / 10,979 sqft)

Framed by the majestic Kitzbühel Alps, the Penthouse Suite at Kempinski Hotel Das Tirol offers an immersive luxury experience through every season.

Cocooned in the suite’s cosy wood-lined interiors and warmed by the fire, families will bask in the majestic views of snow-covered mountains during the winter months, and soak in the sunshine on three vast outdoor terraces during long summer days amid a rolling ocean of green hillsides. Rooted in the mountain setting, Tyrolean design touches include cow and zebra-hide rugs and armchairs, and a show-stopping 10-seat dining table overhung by light fittings made from reclaimed timber. 

A case study in contemporary Alpine luxury, this five-bedroom suite occupies the entire seventh floor of the hotel, with a fully equipped kitchen and 1,020 sqm of indoor-outdoor space, making it the largest hotel suite in Austria. 

KEMPINSKI HOTEL THE DOME BELEK ANTALYA

Sultan Villa (467 sqm / 5,026 sqft)

Mediterranean living meets modern Turkish design at Kempinski Hotel The Dome Belek, where a collection of three-bedroom Sultan Villas provide a glimpse of the action on the resort’s PGA Sultan Golf Course and the distant peaks of the Taurus Mountains. 

With space for up to six guests, the villas are set in lush gardens overlooking the course, with a private swimming pool that can be heated in the winter months and a covered terrace, lounge and dining area that makes indoor-outdoor living feasible all year round. 

Inside the 467-sqm villas, walls of white marble and black timber are accented by golden chandeliers and a burnished bronze log-burning fire. Your private butler will mix sundowners and poolside refreshments, book you a private beach cabana and reserve you a table at Sofra by The Lake. Luxury living at its best. 

Wow factor: Luxury suites that will leave you breathless

HOTEL VIER JAHRESZEITEN KEMPINSKI MUNCHEN

Maximilian Suite (175 sqm / 1,883 sqft)

Opened by King Maximilian II of Bavaria in 1858, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich is one of the oldest hotels in Europe. The Maximilian Suite, reimagined by interior designer Colin Finnegan in 2019, stands out as a study in fine craftsmanship and artistic expression.

Inspired by the grand staterooms of the Munich Residence, golden sunrays radiate from a Murano lamp in the master bedroom, framed by an antique Carrara marble fireplace, walnut pillars and an intricately wound tapestry. World leaders and VIPs alike will appreciate the hand-crafted safe and watch winder produced by Munich-based Stockinger, and the Roman-style mosaics in the gorgeous marble bathroom.

A hand-stitched artwork pulls focus in the living room, a representation of the four seasons inspired by the glass cupola that soars over the hotel lobby. Throw open the doors of your private terrace to reveal the gothic rooftops of Munich’s Old Town, framed on a clear day by the frosted tips of the Bavarian Alps. 

KEMPINSKI MALL OF THE EMIRATES

Three Bedroom Aspen Ski Chalet (228 sqm / 2,454 sqft)

Transition effortlessly from beach to piste during a stay at Kempinski Mall of the Emirates, where the collection of Aspen Ski Chalets brings a little slice of Rocky Mountain chic to Dubai’s urban metropolis. Step inside the 228-sqm three-bedroom chalet and you enter a winter wonderland where flagstone walls and a flickering fire frame views of Ski Dubai. 

Designed with families in mind, the suite boasts an eight-seat dining table, and three elegantly appointed bedrooms with views of the Dubai skyline on one side and Ski Dubai on the other. Bedrooms and marble bathrooms are accessed via a grand sweeping staircase, adding an extra touch of drama to this showstopping suite.  

You’ll also enjoy 24-hour butler service and access to the hotel’s Executive Lounge, as well as tickets to the kid-friendly Snow Park in Ski Dubai. 

THE DAVID KEMPINSKI TEL AVIV

The David Penthouse Suite (380 sqm / 4,090 sqft)

Musical notes tinkle from a baby grand piano as night descends over Tel Aviv, a privileged view reserved for guests staying at the penthouse suite in The David Kempinski Tel Aviv. This three-storey hideaway reveals panoramic views over the sparking Mediterranean Sea via six-metre floor-to-ceiling windows and a wrap-around terrace complete with a 10-metre infinity pool. 

Imagined by interior design consultancy ara Design, the walls of the double-height living room are adorned with original artwork and crowned by a silver-and-gold chandelier that cascades from the ceiling alongside a slab of deep green marble, a nod to the Bauhaus style for which Tel Aviv is known. 

Two ocean-facing master bedrooms with marble bathrooms and spacious living areas are perfectly positioned for sublime sunsets, and guests have access to a private study, gym, dry sauna and a fully stocked pantry, as well as a full-time personal concierge. 

For today’s well-heeled traveller, suites provide a sanctuary from which to experience a destination on your own terms; a place to call home while exploring the world, with show-stopping interiors and elevated services that add a dash of the extraordinary. 

Whether you’re a long-term Kempinski loyalist or a first-time guest, these sensational suites will help you travel the world in style.

If you enjoyed this, why not find out more about how Luxury Travel Advisors can help plan your suite stay?