European hotel pop-ups to know this summer

Defining a great hotel in 2026 isn’t straightforward. Openings are still celebrated for showstopping design and world-class spas, yet the most exciting addresses are creating experiences that extend far beyond a memorable turndown service. A new wave of exclusive brand takeovers, chef residencies and expert wellness activations are increasingly blurring the lines between hospitality, art and fashion. 

This summer, Europe’s leading hotels are offering an exceptional lineup of creative collaborations. From an artist-designed suite at one of Rome’s coolest boutique hotels to Burberry’s chic beach club takeover on the Athenian Riviera, plus a vibrant celebration of Moroccan culture in the heart of Soho, these are the European hotels worth checking into this summer.

Nine unmissable European hotel pop-ups

Michael McGregor’s Art Suite at Casa Monti

Rome, Italy

Casa Monti turned heads when it arrived on Rome’s hotel scene a couple of summers ago with its colourful, vibrant palette – think bold wallpapers, mosaic floors and artworks you want to touch. This summer, Athens-based artist Michael McGregor crossed the Mediterranean to reimagine one of the hotel’s 36 suites. Known for his eye-popping style, blending Impressionism with Fauvism, McGregor often uses hotel stationery as his canvas, but here his drawings spill across walls, sofas, lamps, curtains and framed prints. The result is an immersive gallery-like suite and a joyful interpretation of Rome, with nods to landmarks including Centrale Montemartini, Villa Medici and Palazzo Venezia. Make the playful suite your base to explore the Italian capital, then return for sweeping city views from the top-floor bar and a restorative session in the swish spa. casamontiroma.com

Party with the Chefs at Oku Bodrum 

Bodrum, Turkey

Design-led hotel group Oku has set a new standard for adults-only escapes across the Mediterranean with its collection of five-star hotels. Its eagerly anticipated Party with the Chefs series returned for its 2026 edition earlier this summer, with crowd-rocking takeovers already hosted at its Ibiza and Andalusia outposts. Yet it’s the Oku Bodrum – the group’s newest opening – takeover that we recommend setting your sights on in September. There, a lineup of renowned international and local chefs will come together to serve exceptional dishes against the backdrop of the shimmering Aegean, before the evening unfolds into a party beneath the stars. It’s the perfect spot for a dose of late summer sunshine, with soothing rooms dressed in earthy tones, and wellness experiences that include sunrise yoga sessions, breathwork workshops and traditional Turkish hammam treatments. okuhotels.com

Broadwick Soho x El Fenn

London, UK

Sitting at the buzzy crossroads of Broadwick and Berwick Street, this Martin Brudnizki-designed hotel is a popular hideout among locals thanks to its maximalist interiors and exceptional food and drink offering. Head up to rooftop bar Flute – a 1970s-inspired space with mirrored ceilings, cork walls and a striking gold bar wrapped by an outdoor terrace – to explore Marrakech hotel El Fenn’s seasonal residency. Bringing the spirit of Morocco to Soho, guests will find a colourful transformation, with artisan ceramics, signature striped lanterns, zellige tables and contemporary artworks curated by Hassan Hajjaj and Atay Atelier. The menu celebrates Moroccan flavours with batbout, lamb briouats and charcoal-grilled octopus, while DJs, live performances and cultural talks spotlight contemporary North African creativity. broadwicksoho.com

Burberry x One&Only Aesthesis

Athens, Greece

One&Only Aesthesis is a retreat on the Athenian Riviera where midcentury glamour meets beachfront luxury in a setting once favoured by the likes of Brigitte Bardot and Jackie Kennedy. This summer, Burberry has reimagined the hotel with its signature Check in turquoise tones inspired by the Aegean, appearing across sun loungers, parasols, golf buggies and a pop-up food truck – as well as bikes, boats and tennis courts all emblazoned with the British brand’s logo. Spend your stay skipping between the whitewashed villas, private pools, bougainvillaea-lined paths and a Guerlain Spa. If you’re venturing to the South of France this summer, you can also catch Burberry’s summer-long beach club takeover at the storied Hôtel Belles Rives in Cap d’Antibes. oneandonlyresorts.com/aesthesis/burberry

Oh My Cream x Beaumier at Les Roches Rouges

Saint-Raphaël, France

Sandwiched between the cliffs of the Estérel and the shimmering waters of the Mediterranean, Les Roches Rouges is a Riviera retreat where 1950s modernist design meets effortless coastal living. With its sea-facing terraces, private beach and state-of-the-art saltwater pool carved into the rocks, it’s the perfect place to unwind after long summer days spent under the Côte d’Azur sun. This September, the hotel is teaming up with French beauty concept store Oh My Cream and expert facialist Aurélia Del Sol, who will host a restorative wellness residency from 30 September to 4 October. Her signature treatment combines expert massage techniques with K-beauty products selected in collaboration with Oh My Cream. Expect a holistic facial treatment that acts deeply on tension and skin radiance. beaumier.com/fr/proprietes/hotel-les-roches-rouges

At the Table at The Peligoni Club

Zakynthos, Greece

Recognised as one of Greece’s most exclusive hangouts, The Peligoni Club delivers the ultimate island escape, with rustic-chic villas overlooking the Ionian Sea. While the family-run retreat is widely celebrated for its standout wellness offering – including open-air yoga, personalised training plans, first-class facials and watersports – its food and drink scene is just as much of a draw. New for this year, At the Table brings together independent restaurants, supper club hosts and recipe developers for a series of culinary takeovers. Cornwall’s Michelin Guide-recognised Four Boys launched the series, followed by veggie-focused food writer Sophie Gordon. Up next, supper club host Ranie Saidi will bring his grandmother’s Malaysian recipes to the island (1-6 September), before London-based cook James Holdsworth closes the season with an Italian-inspired feast (7-17 September). peligoni.com/eat-and-drink

Solar Sessions at UP, The Standard Ibiza

Ibiza, Spain

Enjoying a prime position in the heart of Ibiza Town, The Standard Ibiza offers a minimalist hideaway with a playful edge. Expect pared-back interiors softened by rattan chairs, marble bedside tables and overgrown potted plants, creating a calm escape from the island’s all-night energy. Come summer, the rooftop terrace UP is where the scene unfolds, with a weekly DJ residency bringing together international names and local talent through free-entry sets from 6:30pm until late. Arrive early and settle in at ground floor restaurant Jar for happy hour – the La Pera is our go-to, blending spiced white rum with pear, lime and chocolate bitters for a suitably island-inspired sip. standardhotels.com/en-GB/ibiza

Artists in Residencia at La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel 

Mallorca, Spain

Towering palms, ancient olive groves and sweet-scented citrus trees set the scene at Belmond’s La Residencia, a hillside hideaway on Mallorca’s west coast in the sleepy village of Deià. Spread across 16th-century stone buildings with green shutters, the property’s 77 rooms and suites offer a charming base for poolside afternoons, mountain hikes and long lunches across its four restaurants. Art sits at the heart of the experience, with a gallery and two artists’ studios providing a creative space for emerging talent. For the fourth edition of Artists in Residencia, the hotel has partnered with the Loewe Foundation, welcoming three finalists for two-month residencies to create new works inspired by Mallorca’s distinctive landscapes. Goldsmith and enamel artist Kaori Juzu has already completed her stay, ceramicist Deirdre McLoughlin is taking over the studios throughout July and August, and textile artist Dahye Jeong arrives in autumn. belmond.com/hotels/europe/mallorca/deia/belmond-la-residencia

LRNCE x Menorca Experimental 

Menorca, Spain

This September, Menorca Experimental welcomes Marrakech-based designer Laurence Leenaert – founder of lifestyle brand LRNCE and the beautiful riad Rosemary Marrakech – for a textile workshop residency (18 to 20 September). Guests will explore the brand’s signature approach to colour, pattern and craftsmanship with hands-on sessions inspired by Menorca’s artisanal heritage. Between workshops, slow days unfold across the 19th-century finca turned countryside retreat, from splashing in the pool and wandering through the vineyards to feasting on seasonal dishes made with vegetables grown in the onsite garden. Yogis can enjoy sessions overlooking the sea, while a calendar of expert-led retreats offers everything from full-day escapes to week-long immersions. menorcaexperimental.com