When Drake dropped three albums in a single night this month — Iceman, Habibti, and Maid of Honour — the internet lost its collective mind. The music was predictably divisive (as Drake tends to be), but what caught my attention wasn't the beats or the bars. It was the hotels.
If you listen closely, Drake's new projects read like a luxury travel diary. The man name-drops properties with the specificity of someone who actually knows where the best suites are, which restaurants deserve your time, and which cities hit different after dark. So I did what any travel-obsessed person would do: I mapped his mentions and dug into what makes each property worth the lyric.
Bulgari Resort Bodrum, Turkey
"I'm in the Bvlgari in Turkey…and we ain't come here for no big teeth," Drake raps — and honestly, the Bulgari Bodrum deserves its moment. This ultra-luxury retreat sits on a private peninsula in Cennet Koyu, just outside Türkbükü on the Turkish Riviera. It's the kind of place where the Aegean stretches out endlessly from your terrace and the architecture feels like it grew organically from the hillside.
I've had clients return from Bodrum absolutely transformed — there's something about the light there, the water, the pace. The Bulgari specifically attracts a crowd that wants privacy without pretension. Think infinity pools carved into cliffs, a spa that takes its Turkish hammam seriously, and restaurants that source everything locally. If you're considering Turkey and want something beyond Istanbul, this is where I'd point you. The best time to visit is late May through early October, and booking through an advisor means access to breakfast inclusions and property credits that the hotel doesn't advertise publicly.
The Hazelton Hotel, Toronto
Drake's hometown loyalty runs deep, and The Hazelton is Toronto's answer to the kind of boutique luxury you'd find in New York or London. Located in Yorkville — the city's most polished neighborhood — it holds the distinction of being Canada's first Forbes Five-Star independent hotel. The interiors were designed by Yabu Pushelberg, which tells you everything about the aesthetic: warm but refined, with none of the cold minimalism that plagues so many modern hotels.
With only 77 rooms and suites (many with private balconies overlooking the city), The Hazelton maintains an intimacy that larger properties can't replicate. It's become something of a celebrity magnet — partly because of the location on Bloor Street near high-end shopping, partly because the staff understands discretion. If you're planning a Toronto trip and want a home base that feels properly luxurious without being sterile, this is where I'd book you.
Graycliff Hotel, Nassau, Bahamas
"I'm with the mob at Graycliff, twenty cigars…" When Drake mentions Graycliff, he's referencing one of the most storied properties in the Caribbean. This isn't your typical Bahamas resort — there are no waterslides or swim-up bars here. Instead, you get a 1740s mansion that once served as a pirate hideaway, now transformed into a 20-room boutique hotel with one of the world's largest private wine cellars.
The Graycliff Restaurant has been a Nassau institution for decades, and the property's cigar company produces hand-rolled cigars on-site (hence Drake's lyric). It's the kind of place where you dress for dinner and nobody rushes you. For clients who want the Bahamas but find the mega-resorts exhausting, Graycliff offers something genuinely different. I often pair it with a day trip to the Exumas — book a private boat excursion through Viator for swimming pigs and sandbar hopping without the crowds.
Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich
"Then it's back to Zurich for the OVO supremacy and the hotel amenities." The Mandarin Oriental Savoy is Zurich's oldest grand hotel, founded in 1838 and recently reimagined by Parisian designer Tristan Auer. It sits on Paradeplatz, steps from the legendary Bahnhofstrasse shopping street and the shores of Lake Zurich.
What I love about this property is how it balances heritage with modernity. The 80 rooms and suites feel distinctly Swiss — there's a restraint to the design that never tips into cold — while the service carries that Mandarin Oriental polish my clients always appreciate. Zurich isn't the most obvious European city break, but it rewards visitors who take time to explore the Old Town, eat well, and slow down. The Savoy makes an excellent base for exactly that kind of trip, and the breakfast alone is worth protecting time for.
The Toronto Connection: Beyond the Albums
Drake's relationship with Toronto hotels extends beyond lyrics. For the Iceman album launch, he commissioned a 25-foot ice sculpture in the parking lot of The Bond Hotel downtown — a stunt that eventually required the fire department when fans showed up with flamethrowers and sledgehammers. The music video for "What Did I Miss" features him cruising past the Fairmont Royal York, Toronto's grande dame hotel that opened in 1929 and still anchors the city's downtown core.
For clients heading to Toronto, I typically recommend The Hazelton for the boutique experience or the Four Seasons if you want something larger with exceptional family amenities. The Fairmont Royal York works beautifully for anyone who loves historic properties with modern updates. Each serves a different traveler, and I'm happy to talk through which makes sense for your specific trip.
What Drake's Taste Tells Us
Say what you will about the man's music, but Drake's hotel choices reveal someone who values character over flashiness. The Bulgari isn't the biggest resort in Turkey. Graycliff isn't the newest property in Nassau. The Hazelton and Mandarin Oriental Savoy are both boutique-sized by design. These are hotels chosen by someone who travels constantly and has learned that the best properties are often the ones that don't try too hard.
If any of these destinations are calling to you — whether you're drawn to the Turkish Riviera, curious about Toronto beyond Drake, or ready for a Bahamas trip that goes deeper than beach clubs — I'd love to help you plan it. Reach out here and let's start mapping your next trip together.