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The Americano Teaches Us A Thing Or Two About Culture

Where: 518 W 27th St [map], New York, NY, United States, 10001-5505

The best way to explain the Hotel Americano's name is to point out a piece of artwork found in the lobby—a large photo montage of President Obama, sporting an afro, from his college days. "We want to feel like a New Yorker who isn't quite from New York," a heavily-accented Carlos Couturier (co-founder of Grupo Habita, above left) explained to us during our visit yesterday.

And they've succeeded. The 56-room hotel embodies that cool, effortless—heavily multicultural—essence of America without necessarily becoming Americana. From the minimalist rooms (low beds are as pervasive here as the concrete floors) to the sexy rooftop lounge and pool deck to the Bebel Gilberto-curated music playing overhead, there is a little bit of everything spread around this hotel.

For inside shots of the rooms and public spaces, click below!

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Guess Who's Getting the Very First Harrod's in a Hotel?

Where: Whitehall Place, London, United Kingdom, SW1A 2BD

Harrod's, the classic British luxury department store, is an icon of London. Aside from the main store in Knightbridge, there are Harrod's satellites in most of the terminals at Heathrow Airport, and there was even a small Harrod's shop onboard Cunard's Queen Elizabeth II. Until now, however, no Harrod's store has existed inside of a hotel.

The property that will debut the very first one in its lobby is none other than the Corinthia, the 5-star hotel near Trafalgar Square due to open April 16. £289 a night will get you one of the 294 rooms, or you could spend it on some of the logo-ed Harrod's bags that are popular the world over, and of course pick up some English Breakfast tea packaged in a Harrod's-green souvenir tin.

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