A definitive guide to the luxury publisher’s latest and most compelling new volumes, offering an immediate sensory escape to the world’s most exclusive destinations and cultural milestones.
True travel is never merely a matter of itineraries; it is an exploration of mood, heritage, and the distinct spirit of a place. For decades, luxury publisher Assouline has mastered the art of cultural mapping, transforming the traditional coffee table book into a portal for the sophisticated wanderer and a statement for the well traveled. As the summer season gets into full swing, the publishing house has unveiled a selection of striking new titles that capture everything from top tier hotels, untouched tropical coastlines and restored Mediterranean sanctuaries to significant moments in modern art.
For Saudi dwellers, Maison Assouline Riyadh brings the art of living well to Bujairi Terrace, creating a vibrant hub where culture, coffee, and design converge. Here, guests can browse the publisher's newest titles, sip on drinks at the gold-accented zero-proof bar, and enjoy light bites in the midst of a scene from Architectural Digest. The Diriyah location, with views over Wadi Hanifah offers the ultimate sensory escape for the city's design-conscious elite.
Whether you are planning a far-flung getaway, your next indulgent hotel stay or simply curating your home library, these nine recent releases offer the ultimate seasonal inspiration.
Baur Au Lac: A Legacy by the Lake
Location: Zurich
Chronicling more than 180 years of refined hospitality, this elegant volume by Vanity Fair writer James Reginato honors Zurich’s most distinguished lakeside sanctuary. The narrative traces the property’s journey from its 1844 debut under founder Johannes Baur to its modern status as a cultural epicenter, still managed by his descendants, the Kracht family. Reginato pulls back the curtain on the grand estate’s lush private parkland, its celebrated culinary venues like Marguita, and its famed open-air sculpture exhibitions. Brimming with rich archival imagery, the book celebrates a discrete haven that has seamlessly balanced uncompromising luxury with a star-studded guest list spanning European royalty to Hollywood legends.
Buy your Assouline here, SAR 570
Book your stay here
@bauraulac
Villa Treville Positano
Location: Italy
Perched precariously on the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, Villa Treville is a legendary estate that has long served as a magnet for the global creative elite. This new release chronicles the property’s journey from the private sanctuary of opera director Franco Zeffirelli to its current status as an ultra-exclusive boutique hotel. This beautiful book is an intimate look at its hidden stone pathways, lush jasmine-scented terraces, and highly private balconies overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Buy your Assouline here, SAR 570
Book your stay here
@villatreville
Quinta da Comporta
Location: Portugal
Part of Assouline's new Hospitality Collection, this linen-bound volume offers an intimate look into one of Europe’s most quietly celebrated coastal sanctuaries. Written by bestselling Portuguese author Margarida Rebelo Pinto, the book charts the transformation of the Comporta coastline through the vision of renowned architect Miguel Câncio Martins. Through striking and colourful images, this duck egg blue book captures a world where contemporary design, artisanal Portuguese craftsmanship, and the relaxed rhythms of the region's historic rice fields and white sands exist in perfect, understated harmony.
Buy your Assouline here, SAR 570
Book your stay here
@quintadacomporta
Morocco: The Kingdom of Golf
Celebrating over a century of elite sporting heritage, this vibrant volume by veteran golf journalist John Steinbreder outlines the North African kingdom’s deep-rooted connection to the fairways. The book highlights how a royal passion ignited in 1914 eventually bloomed into a network of nearly fifty world-class courses, many sculpted by design legends like Jack Nicklaus and Robert Trent Jones Sr. Published to coincide with the golden jubilee of the prestigious Hassan II Golf Trophy, the book chronicles the nation's strategic rise as a premier global tournament destination. Enriched by Ann Dokter’s original photography, the pages deliver an evocative, high-end tribute to a golfing destination that seamlessly marries sweeping landscapes with rich sovereign traditions.
Buy your Assouline here
SAR 570
Costa Rica Vida
Guided by editorial director Lale Arikoglu, this vibrant volume explores a tropical sanctuary where eco-conscious luxury and raw wilderness exist in exhilarating harmony. The narrative captures a deeply personal, chronological journey through misty jungle canopies, volcanic peaks, and the laid-back surf culture defining the nation’s signature 'pura vida' philosophy. Photographed by Oliver Pilcher, the brilliant pages illustrate the rich biodiversity and local communities that make this Central American destination a masterclass in environmental harmony. It stands as an essential, beautifully bound visual companion for the modern explorer seeking an immediate sensory escape to the world's most pristine coastlines.
Buy your Assouline here
SAR500
Pacific Islands: James Cook Voyages
Cambridge anthropologist Nicholas Thomas steers readers through the monumental 18th-century maritime expeditions that permanently redrew the global map. This title documents the first European encounters with the untouched landscapes of Tahiti, Hawaii, and New Zealand. Thomas breathes fresh life into early botanical discoveries while thoughtfully balancing the narrative with the crucial perspectives of the indigenous island communities who guided these journeys. Illustrated with spectacular archival artwork, the volume stands as both a gripping historical record and a beautifully bound celebration of Oceania’s enduring allure.
Buy your Assouline here
SAR 500
Malta Heritage
The sun-drenched and stories Mediterranean island destination finally receives the grand Assouline treatment in this stunning 312-page retrospective authored by luxury travel writer Mark Ellwood. This linen-bound volume peels back the centuries on a nation shaped by heavy Byzantine, Roman, and British influences, charting its evolution from a strategic maritime crossroads to a thriving contemporary creative hub. Through more than 150 vivid illustrations and photography, Ellwood masterfully captures the dramatic juxtaposition of the island's honey-hued ancient limestone walls against a backdrop of deep, brilliant cerulean waters.
Buy your Assouline here
SAR 500
Abu Dhabi Before 1971
Sourced directly from the UAE National Library and Archives, this book serves as powerful visual anthology preserves the everyday rhythms of an emirate on the brink of an unprecedented oil-driven boom. British historian and journalist Jonathan Gornall provides the elegant narrative framework, illustrating a resilient society deeply bound to maritime and desert traditions. Featuring an esteemed foreword by His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the rare imagery captures a fleeting era of quiet strength that ultimate laid the groundwork for a modern global nation. It serves as a deeply moving, beautifully bound testament to the foundational community spirit that continues to define the soul of the United Arab Emirates.
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SAR 5700
Venice: La Serenissima
Documenting more than fifteen centuries of maritime power and artistic triumphs, this hand-bound book presents a deeply anthropological look at Italy’s iconic lagoon city. Venetian historian Alberto Toso Fei constructs a vivid chronological narrative across sixty pivotal moments, tracing the republic's journey from its 421 CE foundations to the modern-day brilliance of the Biennale. A stellar visual archive pairs masterpieces by Canaletto with iconic, high-fashion photography from Helmut Newton and Cecil Beaton, capturing the city’s enduring social mystique. With a sophisticated introduction by architect Peter Marino, this luxury edition serves as an unparalleled collector's piece that explores the fragile, romantic soul of a living masterpiece.
Buy your Assouline here
SAR 5700
