The Asbury, New Jersey, USA

Although most summer getaways for New Yorkers entail trips up the Hudson River or out towards the Hamptons, The Asbury is making a strong case for luring visitors to New Jersey’s Shore, just a little over an hour outside New York City. As Asbury Park’s first hotel in over 50 years, the 110-room property is a fun-filled epitome of casual seaside charm. Located in a former Salvation Army brick building, there is a spacious swimming pool, a rooftop bar, an outdoor cinema on a separate rooftop lawn known as The Baronet and a backyard beer garden, all just mere paces from the beach. 

The hotel has been cleverly conceived by creative director and design consultant Anda Andrei, also the force behind New York’s 11 Howard property. Working with Salt Hotels, Bonetti Kozerski Studio and interior design firm Stonehill & Taylor, Andrei has created a carefree retreat, best suited for groups of friends and families. The myriad of room formats on offer range from spacious suites boasting both ocean and city views, king size rooms that come armed with generous daybeds that would suit both travelling families or pre-partying groups of friends, and four- or eight-person bunk bed rooms that tap into memories of camp stays or slumber parties. Mid-century style furnishings, colourful textiles and Malin + Goetz amenities maintain a level of elegance that design-forward visitors will appreciate. Downstairs, the lobby bar is vibrant with live music performances, while a sound booth, armed with a comprehensive library of cassette tapes and records, allows guests to revisit all the different ways we once listened to tunes – all in ode to the city’s longstanding musical heritage.