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The Mediterranean hot list
April 2025

The Mediterranean • Insider guides • The Mediterranean hot list April 2025

What we’re loving in April 2025 (and you will too)

Stay informed and stay inspired! The Mediterranean hot list is your monthly dossier of what’s shaping the cultural and creative landscape across the Mediterranean. From smart new openings and design-forward projects to events worth pencilling into your diary, we spotlight the ideas and initiatives that matter. Whether you’re a local with a keen eye on your surroundings or a traveller seeking authentic inspiration, this is your curated guide to the things that are getting our attention (and deserve your’s, too).

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Top photography courtesy of Casa Brera

Marlow: Monaco’s new golden hour hotspot

Monaco has a new golden-hour rendezvous: Marlow. Located in the Carré d’Or, this restaurant is the latest project from the Giraudi Group, the team behind some of the Riviera’s most stylish dining spots. In addition, French architect Hugo Toro has created a space that glows. Earthy terracotta, honeyed woods and sculptural wicker pendants cast soft shadows, echoing the play of light on the Côte d’Azur’s cliffs. Meanwhile, arched doorways frame glimpses of the sea, and the breeze carries the scent of citrus and salt. The mood is polished yet playful, with a touch of undone elegance that invites you to linger. The menu focuses on fresh, coastal Mediterranean flavours with cosmopolitan polish. As a result, the wine list feels like a love letter to sun-soaked vineyards, offering crisp whites and rosés that beg to be sipped as the afternoon melts into evening.

Marlow
Place Princesse Gabriella
Monaco

Photography courtesy of Marlow

Experimental Marais: a Parisian hotel with edge

Paris has no shortage of beautiful hotels. However, Experimental Marais isn’t trying to impress with grandeur. Instead, it makes you feel at home in the most distinctly chic way possible. Set in a 17th-century hôtel in the heart of the Marais, this flagship from the Experimental Group is everything the brand does best: impeccable taste, a buzzing social heartbeat and cocktails so good they’ve redefined drinking culture. Moreover, French designer Dorothée Meilichzon has woven together textures and tones that feel both effortless and intimate – arched doorways, sculptural lighting and a warm palette of mustard, deep green and soft neutrals. The real soul of Experimental Marais lives in its bar and bistro. By day, the restaurant serves classic produce-driven French dishes. By night, the dimly lit cocktail bar fills with locals and in-the-know travellers. The drinks? Pure alchemy – elegant, unexpected and always a little playful.

Experimental Marais
116 Rue du Temple
Paris
France

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Photography courtesy of Experimental Marais

The Verse: Lisbon’s refined aparthotel

On Lisbon’s Rua de São Bento, where antique shops and design studios jostle for space, The Verse has redefined the art of the aparthotel. Set in a restored building by architect João Luís Carrilho da Graça, with interiors by Studio Astolfi, the 15 apartments mix warm oak, limestone and microcement with sculptural furniture and custom lighting. In addition, the accommodation ranges from compact studios to two-bedroom suites with terraces, each space as considered as a private residence. Downstairs, a lobby-meets-cocktail bar draws locals in for a drink. Moreover, a discreet concierge service arranges private dinners, market visits and museum tours.

The Verse
R. de São Bento 39
Lisbon
Portugal

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Photography courtesy of The verse

Galerie Objets Inanimés: Marseille’s most poetic design space

Founded by Julie Pailhas, Galerie Objets Inanimés curates design with feeling, celebrating the poetry of form, texture and time. Pailhas brings together vintage treasures, contemporary design and one-of-a-kind artisanal pieces that share a quiet beauty. For example, the gallery shows light sculptures by Adélie Ducasse, an exclusive ceramic collection in limited editions and works by Claire Cosnefroy and Olivia Cognet. This spring, the exhibition explores stillness and form, where muted tones and organic textures create a hushed, almost meditative atmosphere. As the sunlight shifts across linen-draped windows, soft shadows fall on sculptural works that appear to carry their own quiet weight. Finally, get in touch with Julie via Instagram or the website to arrange a visit and find the exact address.

Galerie Objets Inanimés
Marseille
France

Photography courtesy of Galerie Objets Inanimés

Merci #2: Paris’ best-kept secret unveiled

Merci, the beloved Parisian concept store, has expanded with a second location at 19 rue de Richelieu in the 1st arrondissement. Housed in a beautifully renovated former post office, the interior atmosphere is almost monastic – minimalist yet warm. Raw wood, soft textiles and sculptural ceramics are arranged like a still-life painting. In addition, the selection features handcrafted furniture, timeless fashion and objects that exist beyond trend cycles. Merci #2 also hides an invisible café, tucked behind a sliding door, where espressos are served at stone tables. As a result, this is not a place for the rush of retail, but for discovery, conversation and the kind of quiet luxury Parisians master so well.

Merci #2
19 rue de Richelieu
Paris
France

Photography courtesy of Merci

Hospes Infante Sagres: Porto’s grand dame, reborn

Porto changes, but Hospes Infante Sagres remains – now more radiant than ever. Since 1951, this landmark hotel has been the city’s quiet aristocrat, hosting dignitaries, artists and travellers drawn to its old-world grandeur. After an elegant restoration under the Hospes Hotels banner, it hasn’t lost an ounce of its soul, only gained new life. The hotel’s façade still whispers of Porto’s gilded age. However, step inside and the story deepens. The grand ironwork staircase, the stained-glass ceiling and the 19th-century chandeliers remain, casting a soft golden glow over the lobby’s luxe furnishings. Meanwhile, the rooms now show a richer palette of deep indigos, burnished golds and soft velvets, timeless yet inviting. The famed Barão Fladgate restaurant reinvents Portuguese classics with a modern hand. In addition, the intimate wine cellar serves as a portal to the Douro Valley’s finest vintages.

Hospes Infante Sagres
Praça D. Filipa de Lencastre 62
Porto
Portugal

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Photography courtesy of Hospes Infante Sagres

The Hoxton Florence: a hotel with soul in Tuscany

The Hoxton Florence is set in a 19th-century villa in the San Frediano district. This hotel is all about soul, where history balances with artistic edge. Designed by Ennismore’s Aime Studios, it keeps the Renaissance bones intact – arched windows, high ceilings and frescoed walls – while adding mid-century furniture, terrazzo floors and warm Tuscan tones. Each room balances old and new. Locally sourced artwork, vintage rugs and custom-made headboards give every space its own personality. Furthermore, the hotel’s café-bar hybrid, Cugino, anchors daily life. Mornings start with espressos and cornetti, while evenings stretch into negronis and small plates. Finally, the lush courtyard offers the perfect spot for aperitivo hour.

The Hoxton Florence
Via delle Mantellate 2
Firenze
Italy

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Photography courtesy of The Hoxton Florence

Snob: Lisbon’s old favourite refreshed

Snob Bar & Restaurant in Lisbon has been a cherished establishment since 1964. Known for its English club-inspired ambience, it long served as a gathering place for intellectuals, artists and locals seeking a discreet, welcoming environment. Now Snob has reopened after a stunning renovation by Ana Krausz of Krausz Studio, which preserves its original charm. The refreshed space includes dark green leather upholstery, brass fixtures and wooden furnishings. The menu still features classics such as the popular Bife à Snob, croquettes and the beloved mango mousse. Moreover, the bar service has been expanded to create a more complete cocktail experience. With this, guests are offered a journey back to the golden age of speakeasy tradition. The bar boasts over 60 whisky varieties, alongside classic and inventive cocktails by head barman Manel Frazão.

Snob
Rua de O Século 178
Lisboa
Portugal

Photography courtesy of Snob

Can Pa: Mallorca’s must-visit bakery

In a world of overcomplicated bakeries, Can Pa in Palma de Mallorca strips everything back to what truly matters: flour, fire and time. Opened by Xim Moyà and María Amengual, this minimalist bakery is a quiet revolution – an ode to slow, honest baking in a space designed with the same philosophy. Housed in a 19th-century building, Can Pa is pure, raw beauty. London-based designer Jasper Morrison has left the stone walls bare, the floors simple and the furniture understated. Above all, the bread here is a must. Moyà, a fourth-generation baker, relies on organic Mallorcan wheat, long fermentations and wood-fired ovens. As a result, the loaves have deep, complex flavours and a perfect crackling crust.

Can Pa
Avinguda de Joan Miró 37
Ponent
Palma
Spain

Photography courtesy of Can Pa

PNY Reims: a slice of modernist California in Grand Est

In the heart of Reims, where champagne houses and Gothic cathedrals dominate the skyline, PNY (Paris New York) has taken a bold step. Instead of following local traditions, it has transported a slice of 1960s California to northeastern France. Designed by Rudy Guénaire, this outpost of the cult burger brand swaps retro Americana clichés for a cleaner, more refined take on West Coast modernism. For instance, terrazzo floors, chrome details and pastel blue and yellow banquettes nod to mid-century diners without falling into kitsch. At the centre, a sculptural stainless-steel bar reflects the neon glow, channelling California optimism. However, for all its style, PNY is still about the burger. Grass-fed beef from Normandy, pillowy brioche buns and perfectly golden fries take centre stage. Finally, the “Return of the Cowboy” – a towering stack of crispy bacon, melted cheddar and house-made BBQ sauce – demands two hands and zero shame.