When we’re searching for garden inspiration, we of course turn to our Test Garden pros—along with home and garden shows, Instagram, and our most seasoned neighbors. But lately, we’ve been scoring innovative ideas surrounding edible gardening and flower gardening from a sort of unexpected place: hotels and resorts.
The typical traveler often factors in features like a property’s location, the number of beds in a room, and the on-site spa and restaurant to decide which place to book. However, you might want to start looking at the grounds, because there are some seriously stunning gardens hiding out at hotels and resorts around the world.
You need not be a frequent flier or have vacation time on the horizon to “visit” these spots, but you can always steal a few ideas for your own outdoor space. We’re here with your exclusive peek inside. And if you’d like to step inside these stunning images in real life, we’ll tell you where to find them and how to book.
ADARE MANOR
Adare Manor
County Limerick, Ireland
adaremanor.com
With this 19th-century castle, the 104 elegant guest rooms, a top-notch spa, and a Michelin-starred restaurant, might catch your eye at first—but the greenery is what helped give this property its name. The Irish translation of Adare is Áth Dara, which means "the ford of the oak tree." Oak trees join flowers, reflection pools, and sculpted shrubs in the 842-acre verdant woodland estate. Roses, clematis, wildflowers and more accent the green grounds with pops of color.
CASTLE HOT SPRINGS
Castle Hot Springs
Morristown, Arizona
castlehotsprings.com
Since it’s situated near the Sonoran Desert and Bradshaw Mountains, you would expect this 1,100-acre property to be dusty and brown. But as you complete the 50-mile drive from Phoenix, you’ll land at an intimate desert oasis that’s overflowing with life and color.
Alongside the 30 standalone bungalows and cabins (which act as the spacious guest rooms), you’ll spy more than 500 varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and florals planted in the ground and in greenhouses. The blooms are beautiful, but the real star at Castle Hot Springs is the culinary garden program—and the lead agronomist behind it, Ian Beger. The farm and restaurant teams work so in sync that Berger is listed on every menu next to the executive chef, pastry chef, and sommelier. Each night, guests are treated to a new five-course menu at Harvest restaurant that features the best produce from the garden beds that day.
CLIVEDEN HOUSE
Cliveden House
Berkshire, United Kingdom
clivedenhouse.co.uk
Built in 1666, this historic hotel offers panoramic views of the River Thames off in the distance. Look a little closer to the estate, and you’ll find 376 acres of formal gardens. You'll feel like royalty as you walk among the perfectly-manicured topiary, extensive floral displays, fountains, and sculptures. And you’re actually walking in the footsteps of them: Cliveden House has frequently acted as a hub for entertaining royalty and prime ministers. Stroll through the woodlands and you’ll find a majestic California sequoia tree, then for an active brain teaser, try to make your way through the 500-meter giant maze of hedges.
SHANGRI-LA PARIS
Shangri-La Paris
Paris, France
shangri-la.com/en/paris/shangrila
Talk about a backdrop: This beautiful hotel garden overlooks the Eiffel Tower River Seine, and the Champs-Elysées. Once the home of Prince Roland Bonaparte, the Shangri-La Hotel in Paris features a breathtaking garden wing that feels lush and luxurious.
When the weather is nice, the secret garden acts as home to the al fresco portion of indoor-outdoor La Bauhinia restaurant. Visit for tea time to sip and savor seasonal creations inspired by the pastry chef’s childhood while surrounded by a regal collection of shrubs, floral container gardens, and trees.
SENSEI LANAI, A FOUR SEASONS RESORT
Sensei Lānaʻi, A Four Seasons Resort
Lānaʻi City, Hawaii
fourseasons.com/sensei
Taking care of their guests and the planet is a top priority for this luxury resort. Tucked away on the Hawaiian island of Lānaʻi, the 24-acre property is densely planted with more than 450 different species of trees, scrubs, and flowers—many of which are native plants to Hawaii. Not only are the organic botanical resort gardens certified as a wildlife habitat with the National Wildlife Federation, they also act as a spiritual and educational hub for visitors. Take part in a forest bathing session to recharge, or enjoy a garden walk to learn more about how the 30 staff members help the exotic plants thrive.
HIDDEN POND LUXURY RESORT
Hidden Pond Luxury Resort
Kennebunkport, Maine
hiddenpondmaine.com
Nestled amid 60 acres of birch forest, spacious cottages and bungalows feel more like rural homes than part of a bustling resort. Since opening in 2008, two onsite gardens have been active: the farm and the chef’s garden.
At the farm, grab a pair of shears and a basket, then harvest anything you’d like to take back to your room (flowers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce—it’s all yours) to enjoy. The culinary team taps into the chef’s garden to pick peppers, eggplant, peas, onions, squash, chives, rhubarb, and fresh herbs to star in cocktails and in dishes for Earth at Hidden Pond, the resort’s farm-to-fork restaurant.
HOTEL VILLA CIPRESSI, BY R COLLECTION HOTELS
Hotel Villa Cipressi, by R Collection Hotels
Lake Como, Italy
hotelvillacipressi.it
Directly overlooking the stunning Lake Como, Hotel Villa Cipressi offers expansive views of the city of Bellagio. You’ll have plenty to capture your eye right outside your window, where you’ll find terraces overflowing with flowering plants. In spring, camellias, wisteria, and azaleas shine, and usher in gardenias, hydrangeas, and roses in garden beds come summer. Winter even has a lot to offer, as calycanthus, mahonia, and sarcococca come to life and perfume the villa with fresh scents.
BEAVERBROOK
Beaverbrook
Surrey, United Kingdom
beaverbrook.co.uk
For those seeking an escape from the bustle of London—about an hour drive away—you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option than Beaverbrook. The mansion’s 470-acre estate has almost as many gardens (five) as it has suites (14). That means you’ll have plenty of room to explore the grounds, which are spotted with everything from wildflowers and tulips to cherry blossom and crabapple trees. The kitchen garden supplies the restaurant with eggplant, asparagus, edible flowers, strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, and more, while the spa garden surrounds the serene space with herbs, plants, and an extra layer of tranquility.