The Metropol Palace Hotel - Belgrade, Serbia

The Metropol has been the social and cultural hub of the Serbian capital since 1957, hosting, over the years, sunglass-wearing jetsetters from Sophia Loren to Jack Nicholson. After decades devoted to high-society gatherings, the hotel burned out in 2007, closing for five years of renovations by hospitality-design gurus MKV, known for their work on the Dubai Marine Club and Bern’s Hotel Schweizerhof. Preserving those long-admired period trimmings, MKV brought the rest of the decor into the 21st century with several coats of paint, mood lighting, a spa and an additional two floors of guest rooms. Now it’s back on the social calendar and the place to be seen in the capital for a new generation of scenesters.