Where To Go In September

This September 17, Oktoberfest returns to Munich after a three-year hiatus and, naturally, there is a lot of excitement around it. Once you’ve partied hard in the city, drive out to the beautiful Bavarian countryside to cure any Oktoberfest hangovers with crisp mountain air and some relaxation. And there’s no better place to seek refuge and go slow than Das Rosso, a rustic-luxe farmhouse in the gorgeous countryside with a wabi-sabi approach to its interiors. Our favorite of the three cozy apartments is La Grande with its mezzanine bedroom, copper bathtub, characterful wooden beams, and views of Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak. There’s no TV or internet, just a library of books and the soundtrack of nature to enjoy from the comfy sunbeds on the lounging lawn — plus a studio for meditation and yoga.

Every year, new openings in the Scottish Highlands make us more and more eager to explore this stunning part of the UK — it’s the ultimate road trip. Start your journey at The Fife Arms, Ivan and Manuela Wirth’s sumptuous hotel in the Cairngorms National Park that’s packed with brilliant art (of course), quality whiskies and very decadent bedrooms. It’s the perfect base for exploring the majestic scenery that surrounds Braemar. Then, make your way to this summer’s coolest under-the-radar opening, Boath House, which is just over an hour away towards the northern coast in the bay of Findhorn. The new project from Sessions Arts Club, London’s most talked about restaurant opening of 2021, it’s a true bolthole for creatives with 10 bedrooms and a lodge, as well as a cafe, store, and studio set in its ancient walled garden.

A British county close to our hearts, Somerset is just magnificent in September and ripe for a weekend away. You might be lucky with some late summer sun, and have a better chance at scoring reservations at its various hotspot restaurants, not least Merlin Labron-Johnson’s Osip and The Old Pharmacy. Bed down at No.1 Bruton or At The Chapel, and you’re perfectly positioned to take in all the surrounding delights including Bruton’s independent boutiques such as Caro, Hauser & Wirth gallery on Durslade Farm, and very lovely walks around Alfred’s Tower or the Newt’s stunning gardens. Also nearby is Holm, the new countryside outpost from the boys behind London’s Salon and Levan restaurants, and Babington House.

The smallest of the idyllic Balearic Isles, Menorca continues to up the ante as one of the most alluring destinations in the Mediterranean. Much quieter and wilder than its neighbors, Mallorca and Ibiza, it’s the ideal spot for a slow September stay. Check into Menorca Experimental - we love the rooms with their dipping pools - for an agriturismo-style experience set in a 19th-century finca surrounded by soothing pine groves. Make sure to get a reservation at the newly opened Nonna Bazaar, a farm-to-fork dining experience in an equally stunning old Menorcan farmhouse. Add in a trip to the latest Hauser & Wirth outpost, a multi-arts center set on an islet off the capital Mahon, and you have yourself the perfect itinerary — in amongst lazy days swimming in the island’s many coves.

The pure variety of destinations within Italy will never cease to amaze us, with heavenly towns and villages to discover on every corner. This September, it’s all about gorgeous Puglia, which we love for its vine and olive-strewn landscape, slow approach to life, and fantastic food, wherever you go. Bag a room at Masseria Moroseta near Ostuni if you can, you’ll be quickly seduced by its wonderfully simple but chic spaces, collection of British bulldogs and Hockney-esque pool. Or if you’re in a group, stay at one of their villas in the area, which all have their signature interiors style — and you can still book a spot at one of their famed family-style feasts in their olive grove back at the Masseria. Carlo and his team will share all the best places, from restaurants to swim spots, to go during your Puglian adventure.

Like most of our most loved destinations in the Med, the Greek Islands are spectacular in September. This year, the go-slow island of Hydra stole our hearts with her rocky coves, timeless feel and low-key but elegant beach spots — and even an alfresco Jeff Koons exhibition. Start your day with coffee at The Pirate in the harbor, before hopping into a water taxi to Castello for lunch and lounging on the beach against the backdrop of an old fort. Later on, it has to be a Sunset bar for sundowners, followed by dinner with a modern Greek twist at Téchnē. Just remember, Hydra is car-free, so prepare to walk up and down a lot of steps…

New York has a unique kind of magic at any time of year, but as we teeter into autumn in September, it feels extra special. The sweltering heat should have tempered, but the scent of summer is still lingering in the air. It’s also one of our favorite times to explore what’s new on the restaurant scene, after being out of the city — try The Four Horsemen, a new natural wine bar and restaurant in Brooklyn that’s casual in all the right places. To cap it all off, head upstate for a long weekend for fresh Catskills air and an incredibly stylish stay at Inness.

84 Rooms recommends: Bavarian Stays, and Where To Go In October.