These posh properties promise the best seats for taking in the view.
By: Jenna Mahoney-AS SEEN IN BRIDAL GUIDE MAGAZINE-
One&Only Mandarina
This enclave of 105 canopy-top treehouses and cliffside, eco-chic villas is perched on a sprawling expanse where the jungle meets the Pacific Ocean on Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit. The rugged outdoors influences the activity menu. Nature experiences feature La Abuela, an ancient tree that plays a major role in the hiking and birder programing. Kayaking at the Estuary, a series of waterways rife with avian species and tropical flora, is also popular. And the spa has a partnership with green-beauty trailblazer Tata Harper. After an adventurepacked day, magic hour is best savored from Carao Mexican restaurant, set on a cliff (room rates start at $1,390;).
EHP Resort & Marina
Positioned on a bayfront point boasting the most spectacular sunset views, this marina-flaunting property in the glitzy beach town of East Hampton recently revealed a sumptuous refresh. Amenities include a trio of water-facing eateries including the aptly named Sunset Harbor, which daily hosts the evening show with refreshing cocktails and a dynamic Japanese-focused menu. Accommodations at the seasonal retreat are housed in individual clapboard cottages, studios and oversized suites located in a grand home called Magari Harbor House; all feature sleek interiors and kitchenettes. (room rates start at $1,049 a night)
Inn at Perry Cabin
Guests at this luxe historic inn are invited to the lush lawn that fronts the Miles River, a tributary in Maryland’s Chesapeake watershed. Cocktails, lawn games, and sometimes live music accompany the view—a most impressive streaking of the sky thanks to the sun setting just beyond the boats lining the property’s and neighboring docks. While lounging on chaises or in one of the gazebos is an excellent perch, level up by taking a sunset sail complete with a champagne toast and delectable catering from resort. Daytime activities include golf, spa and touring the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum located just next door (room rates start at $640).
Too Hotel
Like watching the sunset, the City of Light is synonymous with romance. And at this sleek new Parisian hotel the two are married for the ultimate happily-ever-after moment—watching the evening spectacular from an adults-only sky bar with jaw-dropping views of one of the most iconic symbols of the modern world, the Eiffel Tower. The 139-room hotel designed by Philippe Starck also flaunts a spectacular spa with a view on the 17th floor where a jacuzzi sits on a patio overlooking the River Seine (room rates start at about $238 a night and include breakfast).
Mauna Kea Resort
There are tropical retreats across the Hawaiian islands that embrace the ancient ways of the people and celebrate the circular relationship with the land, and there is The Big Island’s Mauna Kea Resort, a grand dame that celebrates all manner of Aloha culture. The hallways of the breezy, modern oceanfront building are lined with an unparalleled collection of traditional Hawaiian quilts, and much of the resort’s enormous art collection consists of pieces from across the archipelago. There are morning welcomes to the day on the beach, and an evening luau, which is hosted just as the sun sets over the ocean, is among the most revered (room rates start at $1,016 a night)
The Madrid Edition
Elevated modern hospitality meets the storied traditions of Spain at this centrally located hotel in the country’s capital. Ensconced in a Baroque facade near the Puerta del Sol, one of the city’s most celebrated sites, and just steps from a popular food market, the 200-room hotel is one of the only retreats in Madrid with a rooftop pool and bar area. The perch is not only a refreshing spot from which to view the city, it’s also an idyllic spot to raise a toast to the sunset. After appetizers and sangria, the adjacent restaurant Oroyo with its inventive Peruvian menu beckons for a lingering dining experience (room rates start at about $758 a night).
Fun Facts: Known as the land of the midnight sun, the Arctic Circle experiences no sunset (or sunrise) during summer months. Conversely, in December, the Winter Solstice, the entirety of the day is cloaked in darkness.
