Six houses that were something else before they were hotels, or that sit inside a larger site. Each entry says what the building was, how the public rooms are arranged, and what to confirm before a stay.
01
Cheval Blanc Paris
Paris, France
CategoryArt Hotels
SettingCity centre
CheckedSeptember 2026
What it is
Cheval Blanc Paris is a hotel on the right bank of the Seine, facing the river across the Quai du Louvre. It occupies part of La Samaritaine, the department store complex that reopened after a long restoration, and shares that address with shops and offices. Restaurants, a spa and an indoor pool sit within the same block.
The building
The store fabric was restored during the works, and the hotel stands behind the river-facing elevation rather than in the historic sales hall. Guest floors are set high in the block, above the commercial levels. Several public rooms look across the water toward the Institut de France, and the entrance is separate from the store doors.
Points to check
Ask which door to use on arrival, since the hotel and the store are reached differently. Restaurant and spa access can be limited to guests at certain hours, and the pool is sometimes closed for private use. Confirm what will be open for the dates you hold.
02
Belmond Copacabana Palace
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
CategoryArt Hotels
SettingCoast
CheckedSeptember 2026
What it is
Facing Copacabana beach across the seafront avenue, the Copacabana Palace has operated since the early twentieth century and now belongs to the Belmond group. It is a full-service house with restaurants, a pool courtyard, a spa and event rooms, used by the city for its own occasions as much as by travellers. The building is protected as heritage.
The building
The white front runs the length of the block, symmetrical, with shallow balconies on the upper floors. Behind it a courtyard holds the pool, and a later annexe adds rooms on the garden side. Public rooms keep their original proportions and much of the plaster detail, and the ballroom is still used for events.
Points to check
The pool courtyard is shared with the restaurants and fills during events. Reaching the sand means crossing a wide avenue, so allow time. Some rooms sit in the annexe rather than the historic front block; ask which building applies before you confirm a booking.
03
The Peninsula Istanbul
Istanbul, Türkiye
CategoryArt Hotels
SettingCoast
CheckedSeptember 2026
What it is
The Peninsula Istanbul stands on the Karaköy waterfront, on the redeveloped stretch of quay on the European shore. It brings together four buildings, several of them former port structures and one built for the hotel. Restaurants, a spa, a pool and a garden terrace face the Bosphorus, and cruise berths run along the same quay, which stays in use while the hotel operates.
The building
One of the older buildings served as a passenger terminal and keeps its long hall and tall windows. The newest block stands closest to the water and carries the pool terrace. Ground-level links join the four structures, so the hotel reads as a group of houses around a garden rather than as one slab.
Points to check
Rooms sit in different buildings with different outlooks, so ask which one you are booked into. The quay is a working cruise terminal and is busiest on arrival days. Outdoor terraces close in poor weather, which is worth checking before you plan a meal outside.
04
Casa Cipriani New York
New York, United States
CategoryArt Hotels
SettingCity centre
CheckedSeptember 2026
What it is
Casa Cipriani occupies the Battery Maritime Building at the southern tip of Manhattan, a former ferry terminal on the East River. It combines a members' club with a small hotel, alongside restaurants and event rooms. Ferries still leave from the slips below, so the building keeps its original transport use at street level while the upper floors are given over to the club.
The building
The cast-iron front and the vaulted upper hall were restored during the conversion, and the main rooms sit directly above the ferry slips. Windows on the water side look toward the harbour, while the club rooms occupy the long central hall. The hotel part is small and reached from its own entrance.
Points to check
Much of the building is reserved for members, so confirm which rooms and restaurants a guest may use. The pier below is in daily service and is noisy at commuting hours. The way in is a side entrance rather than the ferry hall, so ask for directions ahead of arrival.
05
Villa La Coste
Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade, France
CategoryArt Hotels
SettingMountain
CheckedSeptember 2026
What it is
Villa La Coste sits within Château La Coste, a working wine estate north of Aix-en-Provence. The hotel is one part of a larger site that also holds vineyards, galleries and an outdoor walk past art and architecture, open to day visitors as well as guests. Suites stand in low buildings across a slope, with restaurants and a spa nearby.
The building
Guest buildings are set into the hillside as stepped terraces, each suite with its own terrace facing the valley. Pavilions across the estate were designed by different architects, and the walking route links them through vines and woodland. The spa and pool stand apart from the guest terraces, further down the slope.
Points to check
The art walk is ticketed separately and follows unpaved paths, so bring suitable shoes. Pavilions close in bad weather or for installation work. Restaurants across the estate keep different days, and the site lies well outside the nearest town, so arrange transport before you travel.
06
Sowaka
Kyoto, Japan
CategoryArt Hotels
SettingCity centre
CheckedSeptember 2026
What it is
Sowaka stands in the Gion district of Kyoto, on a lane running toward the Kamo river. The house is a converted wooden building that formerly served as a restaurant and teahouse, and it now works as a small hotel with a dining room. A newer wing behind the garden holds further rooms, so the site has two parts.
The building
The older structure keeps its timber frame, sliding screens and tiled roof, with a garden between it and the newer wing. The new building is contemporary but low, and follows the shape of the plot rather than the street line. Rooms differ in layout because they follow the walls of the original house.
Points to check
Rooms in the old and new wings differ in size and in the way bathrooms are arranged, so ask which wing yours is in. Lanes nearby are narrow and often closed to cars, so confirm how to arrive with luggage. The dining room keeps limited days.
About this page
This site is independent and reference-only. Everything here comes from public sources, including hotel websites and published material, and any of it can change without notice. Master Guide is not connected with any hotel named on this page, sells nothing and takes no bookings. Confirm rooms, access and opening directly with the house.
