8 of the world's best new penthouse suites

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(CNN) — Your own private oasis, high above the fray. That's what luxury hotel penthouses offer guests who are willing to pay a premium for some height and a lot of high design.

Naturally, New York City is chock full of them. But there are also luxurious new penthouses in other, less expected corners of the globe. Here are eight in New York and beyond:

1. The Silo, Cape Town, South Africa

The penthouse at The Silo looks out at Cape Town's iconic Table Mountain.

Located in the elevator tower of a historic grain silo complex dating to 1924, The Silo hotel in Cape Town is as eye-catching as its stunning surroundings.

The updated tower's most intriguing new exterior feature is the bulging, geometrically faceted windows looking out on a city known for showstopping views. The tower sits atop part of the new Zeitz MOCAA, a contemporary African art museum that occupies the rest of the former industrial facility.

Ornate crystal chandeliers, contemporary African art, lush velvets and bold patterns add a plush, yet homey patina to the building's interiors.

The 2,012-square-foot, one-bedroom penthouse, located on the hotel's 10nth floor (topped only by a rooftop pool and bar), faces Table Mountain.

Nightly rack rates for the penthouse start at about $5,500 and go up to more than $10,000 during the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

2. The Whitby, New York

The Whitby's two-bedroom penthouse also features a spacious patio.

Occupying the entire 16th floor of The Whitby hotel in upper Midtown Manhattan, the 1,845-square-foot Whitby Suite features a vibrant mix of pattern, color and texture from designer Kit Kemp, who owns Firmdale Hotels along with her husband, Tim.

In the living room, vivid splashes of blue and red are enhanced by natural light pouring in through a wall of floor-to-ceiling glass, with a large, inviting terrace just beyond.

Oversized king headboards covered in lively prints dominate the suite's two bedrooms. In one of two full baths, a soaking tub sits in front of frosted windows that give way to clear views of the surrounding skyscrapers. A small kitchen and guest powder room are added bonuses.

The Whitby Suite starts at $10,000 a night.

3. Il Sereno, Lake Como, Italy

Il Sereno's fourth-floor penthouses have views of beautiful Lake Como.

Skyscrapers haven't cornered the penthouse market. On beautiful Lake Como in the Lombardy region of Italy, the all-suite Il Sereno Hotel offers two penthouses on its top floor four levels up.

Each one-bedroom penthouse suite has two bathrooms, a living and dining area and a terrace complete with a hot tub.

The hotel also features a restaurant by Michelin star chef Andrea Berton, a 60-foot-long lakefront infinity pool and two vertical gardens.

Designed by Milan-based architect and designer Patricia Urquiola, the hotel is a relaxed, contemporary departure from the faux renaissance and neoclassic styles popular around Lake Como.

Nightly penthouse rates start around $3,200 during low season and go up to about $4,500 during...

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