These days anywhere with a few prints on the wall and an iPod dock seems to lay claim to the title ‘Design Hotel’, but where to go if your demands extend beyond a token piece of vintage furniture and a monochrome colour scheme? Whether your fantasy hotel has unparalleled views or is known as the ultimate getaway, Running in Heels’ guide to the continent’s ten best design hotels should ensure you spend your stay in style.

The W Hotel in Barcelona

Designed for Sea Views: W Hotel, Barcelona – Spain

It may only have opened recently but the W Hotel on the bay of La Plaça Barceloneta isn’t one to hide its light under a bushel. Luxurious in the extreme, rooms with names like the ‘Marvellous Suite’ and the ‘Extreme Wow Suite’ boast every modern convenience conceivable, but it’s what lies outside that’s the major draw of this standout hotel. With the 26-floor Ricardo Bofill-designed property boasting floor-to-ceiling windows, guests can enjoy impressive views across the city and the spectacular coastline of Barcelona. And if the captivating view isn’t enough to beguile you to the strand below, the infinity-edge pool that looks out over the bay gives you another vantage point from which to lazily survey the city’s vibrant seaside and iconic skyline. Not that we’d recommend forgoing the opportunity to sample Barcelona’s hedonistic party scene – for a final glimpse of the city from celestial heights enjoy a glass of champagne at the rooftop terrace bar Eclipse before venturing into the decadent depths below. Doubles from €245 per night.

www.w-barcelona.com

Poolside lounging at the Adam and Eve

Designed for Lovers of Style: Adam & Eve Hotel, Antalya – Turkey

The accolades speak for themselves. Named the World’s Leading Design Hotel in 2007, 2008 and 2009; Europe’s Leading Design Hotel in 2009; and Best Design Hotel in 2007, the Adam & Eve hotel is nothing if not a showstopper. A hedge-shaped building with exterior walls coated in Astroturf, it stands beside the world’s longest pool (which is twice the size of an Olympic pool) and contains rooms featuring wall-length mirrors and Jacuzzis with interchangeable ‘colour therapy’ lighting – a feature which apparently aids relaxation but first and foremost looks appropriately flashy. With so many glamorous gadgets and gizmos to play around with it’s lucky there’s so much distraction to be found elsewhere. The hotel boasts an incredible 20 bars and restaurants, as well as golf courses, tennis courts, shopping facilities and a clientele that’s distinctly easy on the eye. And if you prefer design that’s slightly more classic? The historic attractions of Antalya lie nearby while the ancient city of Aspendos is also easily accessible. Doubles from 335 Turkish Lira.

www.adamevehotels.com

Technochic in Amsterdam

Designed for Technophiles: citizenM hotel, Amsterdam – Netherlands

A new concept, Amsterdam’s citizenM hotel will have technophiles aching to get on a flight to The Netherlands’ capital. Shadowed by an Andy Warhol painting, check-in takes place at personal kiosks in the lobby, where guests are asked to enter their lighting, music and temperature specifications before retreating upstairs to a room already attuned to their preferences. Once settled, Phillips MoodPads close to hand mean settings can be fine-tuned from the comfort of your bed. Communal areas are similarly impressive, with state-of-the-art office facilities available should you sadly be in the city for work, and a huge communal kitchen giving a homely feel to the futuristic designs found throughout. Set to expand the concept and design to other European cities, guests are invited to take a piece of the hotel with them before their next visit. Individual room key-cards double as keepsake luggage-tags and their personalised settings remain active until your next stay at a citizenM hotel. Doubles from €77 per night.

http://citizenmamsterdamcity.com

Icelandic elegance at the 101 Hotel

Designed for Art Lovers: 101 Hotel, Reykjavik – Iceland

101 Hotel in Reykjavik prides itself on its connections to the contemporary art world, much to the appreciation of guests who get to view its impressive collection. The hotel’s owner and designer, Ingibjörg S. Pálmadóttir, has been actively involved in the Icelandic arts scene since her graduation from the renowned Parsons School of Design in New York, and as a complement to the hotel she’s also opened the 101 Gallery nearby. With both the gallery and the hotel itself set in a trendy district of Iceland’s capital, the surrounding area is buffered by further museums and galleries, as well as the capital’s most stylish boutiques and bars. Doubles from 38,600 Icelandic Kronur.

www.101hotel.is/101hotel/

The home of Athens' fashionistas

Designed for Fashionistas: Classical 2, Fashion House Hotel, Athens – Greece

Forget Milan, Classical 2, Fashion House Hotel is the new favourite destination for Europe’s fashion elite. The Fashion Airways cafe on the ground floor certainly makes guests feel as if they have followed in the footsteps of timeless style icons, with a world map detailing the origins of influential figures such as Donatella Versace, Carolina Herrera and Donna Karan. All 115 rooms have been individually created by Greek fashion designers, stylists, photographers and artists and feature vibrant colour schemes and vintage pieces. Totally refurbished in 2008, the nine-storey glass building is located in the equally fashionable district of Monastiraki, moments from the sights of ancient Athens. As well as your bog-standard receptionists and barmen, professionals on hand at the hotel to ensure you’re looking and feeling your best include a fortune teller, stylist and even a guru should you need one. Doubles from €120.

www.classicalhotels.com/2fashionhousehotel/

Glorious views at the Hotel de la Paix

Designed for Breathtaking Views: Hotel De La Paix, Geneva – Switzerland

Perched on the shores of Lake Geneva, the largest freshwater lake in Western Europe, guests at the luxurious five-star Hotel De La Paix share sweeping views over Geneva with some of the city’s most illustrious residents – or at least wealthy. Phil Collins and Michael Schumacher are just two of the supremely affluent residents living in adjacent properties. But it’s not just the lake that makes the view standout – glance past it and you’ll be able to see Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe and another superlative feat of nature directly in front of your window. As well as the impressive views, the immediate area itself often has a powerful effect on visitors. During their stay in the area Lord Byron and Mary Shelley were inspired by similar views to exchange a series of ghost stories that ultimately led to the creation of Frankenstein. Doubles in superior-standard rooms from 435 Swiss Francs.

www.hoteldelapaix.ch/en/

The peace of the Latvian countryside

Designed for Nature Lovers: Annas Hotel, Annas – Latvia

Get away from the rat race and into the Latvian forest with a stay at the Annas Hotel. Located in the remote village of Annas, in Latvia’s north-eastern Alūksne region, the hotel is inspired by the beauty of nature and encourages its guests to engage with their surroundings rather than gadgets or impersonal mod-cons. Activities such as fishing, walking, skiing and cycling are just some of the simple outdoor pursuits available to guests, while the hotel’s in-house spa with sauna and pool offers refuge should Latvia’s at-times inclement weather prove too severe. Further sustenance is provided by the hotel’s restaurant, which concentrates on Latvian dishes and relies on locally sourced, sustainable produce. With so much on offer its appeal is obvious but there’s no need to worry about crowds disrupting the tranquil atmosphere – with just ten rooms in total Annas Hotel remains off the radar for the tour groups and stag parties that are increasingly making their way to the Baltic States. Doubles from 88 Latvian Lati.

www.annashotel.com

Lighten the mood: Nordic Light Hotel

Designed to Lighten the Mood: Nordic Light Hotel, Stockholm – Sweden

Scandinavia is renowned for its variations of light, from the Northern Lights and the lack of daylight in winter to the region’s almost-perpetual sunlight during summer. Drawing inspiration from this, Stockholm’s Nordic Light Hotel infuses the theme of light both natural and artificial into every aspect of the hotel. Guests at reception are greeted by art installations in the lobby, while in-house club nights hosted by some of the capital’s top DJs are famed as much for their futuristic displays as their hedonistic atmosphere. If a late-night session seems a bit much, have some drinks at the Light Factory bar and restaurant, home to Stockholm’s Absolut Ice Bar, before turning the lights off and retiring to bed. Doubles from 1,100 Swedish Kronor.

www.nordiclighthotel.se/en/

Fit for a princess in Croatia

Designed for History Lovers: Lešić Dimitri Palace, Korcula – Croatia

Formerly an 18th century palace, a stay at this historic hotel is as close to living like royalty as many of us are likely to get, but despair not – even if your stay is short the impression will be long-lasting. Situated on Korcula, Croatia’s sixth biggest island, the hotel is a short ferry ride from either Split or Dubrovnik, but a world away from more commercial resorts on the Adriatic. Guests can choose from six rooms housed in the former palace itself or from several medieval cottages on the grounds, the majority enjoying stunning views over the Dalmatian archipelago. Fully restored before its recent opening, the hotel has retained many of its original features and it’s easy to imagine previous incarnations of Korcula when staying in one of the rooms looking over the medieval streets of the picturesque Old Town. Exceptionally spacious, visitors’ residences boast numerous nooks and crannies and contain another thoughtful historic touch: interiors themed on the travails and travels of Marco Polo – the intrepid explorer is one of the many historic figures said to have lived on the island. Doubles from 1,300 Croatian Kuna.

http://lesic-dimitri.com/default-en.html

Adam and Eve-style relaxation in Turkey

Designed for Total Escape: Aman Sveti Stefan, Sveti Stefan – Montenegro

That even many Europeans would struggle to place Montenegro on a map is almost confirmation enough that this resort offers a total break from the crowds that descend on more recognised destinations. But there’s more to recommend this location than that. Enveloped by a natural barrier of cedar and pine forests, the hotel faces a pristine pink-sand beach and is frequently touted as one of Europe’s best hideaways. Surrounded on one side by a pink sand beach, another by an ancient cedar forest and the third by a pine forest, the hotel is frequently touted as one of Europe’s best hideaways, while still boasting every modern comfort. And it’s even got the royal stamp of approval. Queen Marija Karađorđević once used it as her summer residence and the 32 hectares of beautiful grounds that make up the estate are a haven of tranquility befitting of any lady in waiting. Double rooms from €380.

www.amanresorts.com/amansvetistefan/home.aspx