WHAT YOU’LL FIND
JUST OUTSIDE:
Andros is a jigsaw
of islands divided
by tidal estuaries,
mangrove swamps, bays
and bights. The main island is
about the size of Delaware and is one of
the least populated areas in the Western
Hemisphere—so you have its barrier
reef, bonefishing flats, ivory beaches and
200-
plus blue holes almost to yourself.
DESIGN NOTES:
The lobby resembles an
Austin Powers movie set gone tropical:
Andros pine ra ers, batik upholstery,
handcarved wooden statue es, 1960s
photos (of the founding Birch family),
a coral block fireplace, a bar fashioned
from a wooden skiff, and every board
game imaginable.
ROOMWITH A VIEW:
One of two stand-
alone options here, Cabin 1 comes with
its own li le cluster of palm trees, in the
midst of which you’ll find a hammock
ideal for kicking back and gazing at the
sapphire bay.
BEST PLACE TO HANG OUT:
The outdoor
bar is the heart of the resort. Dive
masters fill in as bartenders when
needed, or in a pinch you can mix drinks
yourself. The bar menu was compiled
by guests and runs two dozen cocktails
long. If you drink them all in a week, you
get to add one to the list.
Small
Hope Bay
Lodge
ANDAZ
SHANGHAI
ANDROS,
BAHAMAS
SHANGHAI
DESIGN NOTES:
The signature elements of Hya ’s boutique mini chain
are all here, including lots of curvy blond wood and contemporary art.
Guest rooms are unclu ered, with the most notable features being the
iPad-shaped windows and spookily intuitive electronic toilets.
ROOMWITH A VIEW:
The XL King, a corner room available on floors
6
through 25, offers an impressive window onto the Xintiandi historic
district. However, very light sleepers may want to request a room at the
rear of the hotel—Shanghai is home to more than 2 million cars and
what sounds like twice as many horns.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND JUST OUTSIDE:
Xintiandi, known for the souped-up
shikumen
architecture of its bars and boutiques. The hotel is a short
walk fromHuaihai Zhong Road, one of the city’s blingiest strips, and a
10-
minute cab ride from the waterfront.
HOT PLATE:
Hai Pai, a low-key French-Chinese bistro with outdoor
seating, serves an addictive salade Niçoise, with duck leg confit and
steamed dumplings. But it also does a first-class cheeseburger and fries.
UNEXPECTED TREAT:
In a city where decent bread can be hard to find,
the hotel’s all-day French bakery-pâtisserie is both highly unexpected
and a very real treat.
HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM
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MAY 2013
31
SARA MAYTI (SMALL HOPE BAY LODGE)
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