Giardino Ascona
The Great Gatsby would feel in his element in this Relais & Châteaux property that's as glamorous as a Mediterranean villa but still fabulously modern. The luxury borders on decadence: the sheets are pure linen, ground-floor rooms have private gardens, and there's a landscaped pool area. Boasting two Michelin stars, Restaurant Ecco surprises with so-called "molecular" cuisine, which attempts to find new ways of cooking based on scientific experimentation. The results are delicious.
