From the silver screen to the suite, these hotels deliver a seamless mix of storytelling, style, and world-class service
Movie hotels are properties that have either starred in iconic films and television shows or draw their identity from the world of cinema. From grand lobbies immortalized on screen to suites named after legendary characters, these hotels offer more than just a place to stay. They offer a story. Just as luxury yachts bring cinematic seascapes to life, these hotels offer a refined escape where elegance and storytelling converge.
Luxury Hotels Featured in Films
Across the globe, a select group of luxury hotels have doubled as film sets, becoming silent characters in stories loved by millions. Their distinctive design, cultural weight, and timeless glamour make them perfect choices for directors seeking atmosphere and authenticity. From dramatic entrances to sweeping rooftop views, these settings often leave an impression as lasting as the films themselves.
The Plaza, New York
Featured in: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, The Great Gatsby, North by Northwest
Since its opening on October 1, 1907, The Plaza Hotel has become a New York icon, hosting world leaders, industrial moguls, Broadway legends, and Hollywood films. This elegant lady, located in the heart of Manhattan on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Central Park, is recognizable by its French Renaissance chateau-inspired exterior and green mansard roof.
Through 282 distinctive rooms, including 102 luxurious suites, The Plaza offers a beautiful blend of historic heritage with refined interiors. Expect timeless elegance in the Beaux Arts style and hand-crafted furniture.
Don’t miss afternoon tea at the Palm Court as one of New York’s most famous rituals, and for a complete cinematic experience, stay in the Gatsby Suite, which is decorated in the Art Deco style.
San Domenico Palace, Taormina
Featured in: The White Lotus (Season 2)
History and romance intertwine at the captivating San Domenico Palace in enchanting Taormina. Perched on a cliff with a picturesque view of the ancient theater, majestic Mount Etna, and the celestial blue Ionian Sea, this luxurious Sicilian hotel resides within a former 19th-century palace, which was originally a 14th-century Dominican monastery.
Since the 20th century, this unique estate has operated as a sophisticated coastal retreat, hosting luminaries such as Ingrid Bergman, Audrey Hepburn, and Sophia Loren for lavish stays and glamorous parties, and serving as the scenic backdrop for the second season of the acclaimed series ‘The White Lotus.’
Within the San Domenico’s grounds, one finds the Michelin-starred Principe Cerami restaurant, a testament to culinary excellence.
Juvet Landscape Hotel, Geirangerfjord
Featured in: Ex Machina, Succession
Embraced by a birch forest, on the edge of the magnificent Geirangerfjord, where the river’s rapids collide with imposing mountain peaks, lies the Juvet Landscape Hotel. The landscape rooms, birdhouses that float above the ground, and a four-bed chalet form a unique symbiosis of untouched Norwegian wilderness and bold architecture, born from deep respect for nature.
The architectural vision of the Jensen and Skodvin duo, with sharp, modern lines, creates a magnificent contrast with the soft green carpet of the landscape, emphasizing the raw beauty of the surroundings. It’s no wonder that Juvet served as the backdrop for the cult film ‘Ex-Machina.’
Its spartan elegance, perfectly woven into the minimalist aesthetic, poses the eternal question: what do we truly need for the perfect escape from everyday life?
Dolder Grand, Zürich
Featured in: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
For breathtaking views, there’s no need to trek to a remote Swiss village when a magnificent castle-hotel already overlooks Switzerland’s largest city. The Dolder Grand, with its distinctive three towers, resembles an elegant yacht anchored on a green hill, boasting a panorama that stretches from the emerald lake to the snow-capped Alpine peaks.
The hotel impresses with a renowned spa center of almost 4,000 square meters, over 100 works of art (including pieces by Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, and Takashi Murakami), and an exquisite two-Michelin-starred dining experience led by Chef Heiko Nieder.
True opulence is found in the Maestro Presidential Suite, a tribute to Herbert von Karajan, spanning an impressive 400 square meters across two floors in the main building’s tower.
Grandhotel Pupp, Karlovy Vary
Featured in: Casino Royale, La Vie en Rose
Beneath the cinematic glare of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the Grandhotel Pupp steals the spotlight, much like a true Hollywood star gracing the red carpet. Nestled in the heart of the historic Czech spa town, this legendary hotel has, for over three centuries, drawn iconic figures ranging from Casanova and Napoleon to Chopin and Kafka, crafting a unique blend of glamour and history.
Its present-day splendor owes its existence to six generations of the Pupp family, who lovingly built and expanded this magnificent edifice over 300 years. Consequently, no two of its 228 rooms are entirely alike.
For those yearning to step into the world of the world’s most famous secret agent, the legendary Becher’s Bar awaits, where sipping a Vesper Martini can transport you into the realm of James Bond as portrayed in Casino Royale.
Text Hrvoje Bulešić
Photos Juvet Landscape Hotel, Thetravelbook, Eric Ellot Kvamsdahl, The Plaza – a Fairmont Managed Hotel, San Domenico Palace, Jan Maly, Grandhotel Pupp, Dolder Grand
