Hush-Hush Hideaways: 11 Quiet Luxury Destinations
Forget the flashy hotspots. Instead of places to see and be seen by others, jetsetters are opting for “quiet luxury” by heading to high-end destinations with a low-key vibe and understated elegance.
This term applies to locations that provide a more relaxed but still vibrant setting. These destinations have the standard variety of dining options, outdoor spots, attractions and shopping ops, but they maintain a certain mystique.
1. Year-Round New England Charm: Martha’s Vineyard
While often recognized as a summer getaway, this New England island in Massachusetts is also a lovely year-round retreat, reachable only by air or boat.
Martha’s Vineyard consists of six towns. Its “up-island” portion involves the rural and western towns of West Tisbury, Chilmark and Aquinnah, while its “down-island” portion refers to the port towns of Tisbury (with its main village, Vineyard Haven), Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. Each town has distinct offerings, such as Aquinnah’s Gay Head Lighthouse and Oak Bluffs’ Arts District and Gingerbread Cottages, the cutest, coziest rentals you’ll ever see.
Consider Red Cat Kitchen, an artsy New American spot; Larsen’s Fish Market, a beloved family-run business; Chilmark Tavern, a rustic yet refined New American bistro, and Chilmark General Store, a popular hangout spot.
Hotels are also quite luxe, with high-rated reviews on Faraway Martha’s Vineyard, Edgartown Inn, Harbor View Hotel and Hob Nob.
2. A Wine Lover’s Paradise: The Finger Lakes Region
This upstate New York region reflects its 11 glacier-formed lakes, which can be experienced through companies offering waterside activities.
Many farms are located within the Finger Lakes, where it’s easy to pull over and pick up produce or other goods. Oenophiles can stop along the Keuka, Seneca and Cayuga Lake wine trails that dot the area, making it an unexpected hotspot for wine lovers. Craft breweries, cideries and distilleries also offer tastings.
Corning has a lovely Main Street area, and the Corning Museum of Glass has incredible pieces on view. Ithaca is surrounded by waterfalls (including a waterfall that runs right through the center of downtown!) and state parks, and its Downtown Commons is full of stores and eateries like the Moosewood Restaurant. For accommodations in the area, consider the Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa in Aurora, Finger Lakes Treehouse & Spa in Sodus or the Lake House on Canandaigua.
3. Mountain Luxury Beyond the Slopes: Aspen, CO
This Rocky Mountain town is known as a major ski destination, but thanks to its outdoor wonders, it can (and should!) be visited year-round. Maroon Bells is a breathtaking series of bell-shaped, wine-colored peaks standing above Maroon Creek Valley. It’s also easy to ski or mountain bike across Aspen’s four world-class ski resorts, including Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk and Snowmass.
Aspen is so much more than just a mountain resort town, made evident by the delicious dining options. The Wild Fig combines flavors from Italy, France, Greece and Spain, while Sway Thai offers modern takes on Asian cuisine. Stranahan’s Whiskey Lodge has a tasting room serving the distillery’s spirits and alpine-inspired bites.
The Aspen Meadows Resort’s West End Social has a large outdoor deck for après drinks and dining al fresco. The Little Nell, a ski-in, ski-out hotel at the base of Aspen Mountain, has a ski concierge. MOLLIE Aspen occupies a prime location on Paepcke Park with a year-round outdoor seating restaurant and rooftop pool and terrace.
4. Southern Elegance and Culinary Delights: Savannah, GA
Savannah is a treasured city straight from a storybook. It is known across the country for its antebellum architecture, horse-drawn carriages, and picturesque oak trees draped with Spanish moss. Even better? Savannah, one of the best places to live in Georgia, is full of fine dining, architecture and luxury hotels for those looking to get away from it all.
Forsyth Park is best known for its photogenic 1858 fountain, towering live oaks and pink and white azalea bushes. River Street is a waterfront row of former cotton warehouses turned shops and the elegant River Street Inn.
It should also come as no surprise that Savannah is a haven for creative entrepreneurs. The city is home to the Savannah College of Art and Design, where visitors can dine at Gryphon, which offers impressive lunch and brunch menus. shopSCAD sells student-made fine art and accessories. Satchel is known for its custom leather bags and accessories.
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room is a Savannah institution known for low-country southern cooking. Saint Bibiana is a modern Italian restaurant. Common Thread is a dinner venue inside a Victorian mansion with a separate vegetarian menu. When it’s time to kick your feet up, the Hotel Bardo Savannah is based in a former mansion in Forsyth Park. The Cotton Sail Hotel, Tapestry By Hilton, overlooks the Savannah River with a rooftop bar. The Thompson, a Hyatt property, has Bar Julian, a happening rooftop spot.
5. Gilded Age Glory: Newport, RI
Fans of HBO’s “The Gilded Age” might recognize some filming locations in this Rhode Island destination, once a prime summertime destination for America’s wealthiest families. Newport’s mansions now operate as museums. The Breakers is seen as the grandest of the Vanderbilt family’s Newport properties. Rosecliff, built for a silver mining heirless and modeled after Versailles’ Grand Trianon, is equally captivating. Newport’s Cliff Walk passes them, with a great panoramic view of the shoreline on the opposite side.
Sports lovers are no strangers to Newport. Tennis has a long history in Newport, where a tournament that would eventually become known as the U.S. Open was held. Today, the International Tennis Hall of Fame offers various exhibits, tennis programs and memberships. Newport is also the “sailing capital of the world,” with a legacy of hosting races, including America’s Cup, and many businesses offering sailing excursions.
The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar overlooks Narragansett Bay. The Black Pearl is adorned with nautical décor, and Aurelia at Castle Hill offers a six-course prix fixe menu with dishes incorporating local seafood and artisanal producers.
The White Horse Tavern reflects colonial Newport with its clapboard walls, gambrel roof and pediment doors, but its interior presents a contemporary culinary experience with an extensive wine list.
Waterfront lodging includes Weekapaug Inn, along the Rhode Island shoreline; Gardiner House, near the famous Thames Street; and the Castle Hill Inn, a grand Relais & Châteaux inn.
6. A Car-Free Island Escape: Mackinac Island, MI
Looking to unplug on vacation and return to a simpler time? Look no further than the marvelous Mackinac Island in Michigan. Situated along Lake Huron, this “Crown Jewel of the Great Lakes” is great to see in the spring, summer or fall. It’s reachable by ferry or by plane via Mackinac Island Airport or docking your boat in the harbor. Visitors can see this car-free island on foot, via a horse drawn carriage ride or by renting a bike.
Hotel stays are just charming. The Island House Hotel offers modern guest amenities alongside manicured gardens and cobblestone walkways and is within the boundaries of Mackinac Island State Park. The Grand Hotel offers golfing and gardens and has a Grand Hotel Stables that holds their beloved Hackney horses.
Don’t let the slower pace of life here fool you. Mackinac was made for foodies. The Carriage House restaurant at Hotel Iroquois offers dining al fresco. The beloved Chuckwagon prepares breakfast and burgers, and Watercolor Café mixes local art with good morning and afternoon eats. Inside the Bicycle Inn, Winchester’s Whiskey & Bourbon Room provides lunch and dinner, then turns into a speakeasy at night.
7. Lakeside Luxury: Lake Geneva, WI
This Geneva Lake resort town is dotted with Gilded Age mansions along the Shoreline Path, many built by well-to-do Chicagoans. Lake Geneva is stunning year-round, but during the summer months, tourists flock from all over to take in the scenery.
Downtown Lake Geneva is perfect for finding homewares or specialty items on dry land. Visitors can take a class at Lake Geneva Cooking School or go for tastings at wineries, breweries and distilleries. Lake Geneva is also an unexpected spot for foodies, with an impressive vegan food scene. And if you’re looking to get your feet wet, the scenery is just as splendid at Big Foot Beach State Park, with five miles of hiking trails and picnic areas or one of the town’s beaches. During summertime, take a tour of the Yerkes Observatory or on the Lake Geneva Cruise Line’s many cruises.
The Grand Geneva Resort and Spa offers a golf course, and the Geneva ChopHouse restaurant serves surf and turf options. The Geneva Inn is directly along the lake shore, while the Geneva National Resort & Club offers various dining and golfing experiences. Maxwell Mansion is a historic property with a fun apothecary bar and speakeasy.
8. Classic California Cool: Montecito
This Southern California town is a celebrity magnet — think Prince Harry and Meghan Markle — but it’s easy to blend into its hilly surroundings. Montecito’s main attraction is its stretches of coastline across beaches and points, which give it a classic California cool vibe.
Spend some time at Butterfly Beach, a beloved local spot, or see residential glitz through guided tours of two historic homes. Lotusland is an impressive botanical garden at the estate of Polish opera singer Madame Ganna Walska. Casa del Herrero, aka the “House of the Blacksmith,” is a prime example of Spanish Colonial architecture.
For shopping, Coast Village Road is a main strip lined with boutiques. The Upper Village has the San Ysido Village, a cottage collection of stores, and Montecito Country Mart is also a retail village with eateries and fashion and homeware stores. You can also go a little farther out with a short drive to nearby Santa Barbara.
After a day of exploration, kick up your feet at one of the many delicious dining options Montecito has to offer. The Stonehouse’s menu is amplified by its on-site harvested ingredients and wine list, and Tre Lune Ristorante is an Italian enclave offering traditional favorites. Rosewood Miramar Beach gets high marks, while San Ysidro Ranch remains an icon as its guests have included John and Jackie Kennedy. Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara also has its share of VIPs amid its Spanish Colonial Revival style.
9. Barrels of (Bourbon) Fun: Lexington, KY
Lexington, “The Horse Capital of The World,” is home to Thoroughbred farms and Keeneland, a landmarked racetrack hosting high-end sales of championship racehorses like the September Yearling Sale.
Based in Bourbon Country, bourbon distilleries within or near Lexington offer tours and tastings and are some of the best stops along the world-famous Bourbon Trail. Among them is Fresh Bourbon Distillery in downtown Lexington, which offers a sensory-based tasting and cocktail-crafting experience.
Lexington is one of the best places to live in the U.S., and it’s easy to see why. This Southern city has no shortage of fun things to do, and beautiful landmarks are located throughout the city. There are plenty of ways to spend a weekend getting lost in Lexington. The Kentucky Castle is a 110-acre estate and castle-turned-hotel with an on-property-grown farm-to-table restaurant. Epping’s On Eastside puts an elegant twist on scratch cooking, while Coles 735 Main features paintings from Kentucky artists, Italian cuisine, and a selection of over 130 bourbons, whiskeys and moonshines.
Lexington is known for its amazing public art and is a city full of hidden gems. Henry Dry Goods is known for its one-of-a-kind handmade designs, and Keeneland Mercantile carries a curated selection of artisanal goods and exquisite home decor.
10. High-End Hawai’i: Kauaʻi
You didn’t think we’d leave the Aloha State off this list, right? Hawaiʻi’s fourth-largest island is a natural gem, with five regions full of deep green valleys, gushing waterfalls and some areas only accessible by air or water. Kauaʻi is home to 50 miles of shimmering white-sand coastline with breathtaking beaches; the North Shore is home to Hāʻena Beach Park, with a gorgeous Mount Makana (Bali Hai) backdrop. Po’ipu Beach Park on the South Shore is great for snorkeling, and the East Side is nicknamed the “Royal Coconut Coast” for the region’s palm trees.
Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine can be sampled at Merriman’s Fish House and Roy’s Poʻipū Bar & Grill. Tidepools offers a stunning setting for dinner at the Grand Hyatt Kauai, complete with thatched-roof bungalows floating above a koi-filled lagoon. Merriman’s Kauai is a local seafood restaurant centered on regional Hawaiian dishes and Bar Acuda puts a Hawaiian spin on tapas.
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay on the North Shore is a pet-friendly, LEED-certified sanctuary with airy, nature-inspired rooms. Hōkūala Kaua’i – A Timbers Resort is a natural oceanfront amphitheater with rolling hills and a captivating coastline, plus The Farm at Hōkūala, a fruit orchard and organic vegetable garden. On the South Shore, The Lodge at Kukui’ula is where guests can head to The Farm to pluck flowers, tropical fruits, herbs, greens and vegetables for kitchen preparation.
11. A Desert Oasis: Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, a desert city east of Phoenix, is abundant in hotels and restaurants amid Camelback Mountain and desert landscapes. Whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway or somewhere to snowbird in the winter, scenic Scottsdale has it all.
Amid the foothills of Pinnacle Peak, the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Truth North has a variety of accommodations, including casitas and suites, and amenities, including two nearby championship golf courses and Southwestern cuisine.
Recently, Scottsdale welcomed Caesars Republic Scottsdale, the first non-gaming hotel from Caesars Entertainment in the United States. Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney’s Resort & Spa, features tennis and pickleball courts, an infinity pool, Asian-inspired spa treatments and Elements serving farm-fresh American cuisine with Asian accents.
When you work up an appetite, Scottsdale has no shortage of remarkable restaurants. Owned by former Food Network Chopped Champion Chef Cory Oppold, Course is a Modern American restaurant offering a five- or 10-course prix fixe dinner and a special “Morning Would” six-course prix fixe brunch. FnB features James Beard Award-winning Chef Charleen Badman’s sophisticated comfort food and Pavle Milic’s exclusive wine list with a variety of Arizona wine pairings.
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve offers extensive outdoor activities to visitors. Scottsdale is a Southwestern hub for the arts, and it is easy to see why: The list of things to do is nearly endless. Cultural lovers can wander along the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art or the Scottsdale ArtWalk. Taliesin West was Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and studio; this National Historic Landmark can be seen on guided tours.