La Tour Rose, Lyon, France

The exterior of La Tour Rose, tucked away in the heart of old Lyon, belongs to the Renaissance – the oldest of the three buildings that form the hotel dates from the 15th century. Inside, however, the owner Philippe Chavent, who describes himself as a ‘cook/aesthete’ has created a space that’s challenging and contemporary rather than safely old-fashioned. The stone walls and wooden beams of the old buildings are contrasted with modernist, edgy designer furniture and challenging artworks. Dark, rich colours and strong lines are the theme in the sitting area and bar, while the restaurant, a former chapel, is decorated more subtly the better to highlight the show-stopping food and world-class wine cellar (there’s even a special room just for wine tasting, and whole menus designed to complement particular bottles).

Bedrooms are dedicated to Lyon’s famed textile industry, with swagged silks on every conceivable surface, from ceilings to furniture. The common theme is where the similarity ends, though – each room is completely different in style, texture and furnishings from the next, from 1920s glitter to 21st century metallics to old Renaissance tapestries. There’s a cobbled courtyard, and a terraced garden with ornamental pools, waterfalls, and balustraded galleries.