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The way we travel is changing and so is the way we choose our hotel stays. As more of us identify with the term traveler rather than tourist, we seek deeper travel experiences when visiting a new city. Boutique hotels, inherently more intimate due to their smaller size (maxing out at around 100 rooms) provide the sorts of local charms that larger hotels lack, articulated through a more curated hospitality directive. Design is a big focus, and they lean on a city’s history and specialties to help guide their approach. Boutique hotels also possess a community element—whether through more personalized guest experiences or by using spaces and dining environments to help blend local communities with hotel guests, giving you an even deeper sense of place.
Below, our favorite boutique hotels in the U.S.
El Cosmico, Marfa
Spread across 21 acres of campground in Marfa, El Cosmico’s accommodations range from vintage trailers to tents, teepees, and yurts tricked out in retro furniture and Southwest-inspired colors. The property also features a hammock grove, an outdoor kitchen and dining area, wood-fired hot tubs, and an outdoor stage for performances. Bikes are also available for rent to explore the town. Go during the Trans-Pecos Festival of Music + Love in September, which draws musicians like Cat Power and Angel Olsen.
El Rey Court, Santa Fe
Whether you’re road-tripping along Route 66 or simply in town to soak in the magic of Santa Fe, El Rey Court is worth a stop. The renovated and reimagined adobe motor inn, originally built in 1936, evokes that contemporary southwest vibe you’d find in Alexander Girard or Georgia O’Keeffe’s homes in the ’60s and ’70s. The 86 rooms, pool, and courtyard, as well as at the hotel’s bar, La Reina, which hosts live music throughout the week, are designed in Pueblo Revival style, which helps guests get into the hotel’s slogan, painted above the fireplace: “where fast lives slow down.”
Esmé & Casa Matanza, Miami
Esmé and its smaller sister property, Casa Matanza, have brought new energy to South Beach since their opening on the historic Española Way earlier this year. The two properties, designed together by Jessie Schuster, are set within eight buildings on the same street, connected by paseos. Jewel-toned interiors combine with a varied food and beverage scene—and an appealing pool—to offer a relaxing take on Miami just five minutes from the beach. Have dinner at The Drexel, the latest from the owners behind beloved Mandolin Aegean Bistro, then get drink at the Esmé rooftop and retire to bed, all without ever leaving the property.
Faraway, Nantucket
Conveniently situated in the middle of town with a large patio lined with rattan furniture, vintage umbrellas, and potted plants, Faraway is the place to see and be seen at all hours of the day in Nantucket—but especially at cocktail hour when patrons of the hotel’s stylish restaurant, Sister Ship, spill outside. In the rooms, the typical maritime stripes and white wicker furniture commonly associated with the island are replaced with maximalist wallpaper, chevron-printed fabrics, and rattan chandeliers. The quad room features two sets of bunk beds perfect for groups or, if booked with the adjoining queen or king room, are a great option for accommodating families.
Hotel Grand Stark, Portland
The growing hotel group Palisociety has opened the (pet-friendly!) Hotel Grand Stark in Portland’s bustling Central Eastside neighborhood. Its 57 rooms are punctuated with black and white photo prints and green furniture, while the communal spaces—notably the open-plan lobby featuring Grand Stark Deli and the Study Hall—welcome locals and visitors alike. (On weekdays, hotel guests can enjoy complimentary drip coffee and pastries, as well as complimentary beer and wine during social hour in the Study Hall.) After a long day sightseeing in the city or hiking nearby, order the mezcal-based Tuition Money cocktail at Bar Chamberlain, followed by the bar burger.
Hotel Magdalena, Austin
Situated on Music Lane in Austin’s vibrant South Congress neighborhood on the same land as a former motel owned by Willie Nelson, Hotel Magdalena is the latest Austin addition from the Bunkhouse hotel group. Similar to its long-beloved sibling hotels nearby, Saint Cecilia and San José, Hotel Magdalena charms with colorful decor and community-driven social spaces, hallmarks of the brand. The design ethos of the 89 rooms pays homage to Texas’s 1970s lake houses, while the shape of the pool is meant to echo Austin’s iconic Barton Springs.
Hotel Saint Vincent, New Orleans
Legendary hotelier Liz Lambert, formerly of Bunkhouse Hotels, worked alongside Larry McGuire and Tom Moorman to transform this 19th-century building into a playful 75-room boutique hotel in New Orleans’s Lower Garden District. Rooms are painted a soothing gray, with marbled wallpaper, stained glass windows, and colorful decor serving as delightful pops of whimsy. Once you’ve partied to your heart’s content, spend a laidback day browsing shops on Magazine Street, then park yourself at the hotel pool. Get Thai food for lunch at the property’s Elizabeth Street Cafe, then go to dinner at its Italian spot, San Lorenzo. A nightcap can be found at the sultry Chapel Bar, which is for hotel guests only.
Life House Lower Highlands, Denver
The boutique hotel group Life House operates a collection of hotels around the country. Its most enticing might be in Denver’s burgeoning Lower Highlands neighborhood, where the hotel’s ground-floor restaurant Wildflower has become a nucleus for travelers and locals alike. It recently secured a spot in OpenTable’s top 100 list for its vegetable-forward Italian fare (don’t miss the smoked Old Fashioned). With only 17 rooms, it feels more like a Western homestead than a hotel, with a few luxe bunkroom options that fit up to eight people—perfect for a group of friends. Yoga mats are provided in each room should you wish to flow with some SkyTing yoga, which streams on the TVs.
Post House Inn, Charleston
Just ten minutes from downtown Charleston is Post House, a seaside tavern and inn that blends historic charms with modern amenities in Mount Pleasant. The property, which features a ground floor tavern and bar with just seven stylish hotel rooms, teems with character and charm. It feels like a home-away-from-home with its playful placement of archival wallpaper, local art, whimsical fabrics, and vintage rugs. Marketed as a restaurant with rooms above, the tavern is the life blood of the property (and the neighborhood, in general), where locals and guests alike sit around enjoying oysters on ice as well as Southern classics like fried chicken and burgers.
San Francisco Proper, San Francisco
Not all Proper hotels are considered boutique given their 100-plus room count, but their smallest property, in San Francisco, with just 131 rooms and community-forward hospitality, earns it a spot on our list. The brand’s design partner Kelly Wearstler took her maximalist approach to new heights here, with color and patterns articulated on every wall, rug and piece of furniture. This playful ethos carries into the rooms, though the design of the property isn’t its sole highlight: the hotel is also host to Charmaine's, a stylish rooftop bar and lounge featuring fire pits and unbeatable views.
Silver Lake Pool & Inn, Los Angeles
L.A.’s Silver Lake neighborhood got its first modern hotel with the opening of Silver Lake Pool & Inn in 2019. The property was originally built as a motel in the late 1980s and has been carefully reimagined by Palisociety with an elevated pool deck, a coastal Italian restaurant, and 54 rooms that are unusually spacious for a boutique hotel. Mexican modernism defines the design ethos of the property, which is articulated through its use of natural and handmade elements, cactus gardens, earth tones, and open-air social spaces. The rooms are more California-inspired with handmade custom millwork, Moroccan tiles, and terrazzo nightstands and vanities.
Surfrider, Malibu
Surfrider is a former 1950s motel transformed into a 20-room boutique hotel on Malibu’s most coveted stretch of sand. Helmed by California-based architect Matthew Goodwin and his wife, Emma Crowther-Goodwin, the property feels like a really stylish friend’s California beach house. The lobby and upstairs library has homey living room vibes while the rooms are airy and bright, defined by natural materials like limestone and white oak. The Bellino linens provide the perfect invitation to crash into bed at the end of a long surf day. Didn’t pack your board? Don’t fret; the hotel has its own quiver for guests to borrow.
The Maker Hotel, Hudson
In the heart of downtown Hudson, The Maker is a stylish 11-room boutique hotel founded by the founders of global beauty brand, Fresh. The Maker is, as the name would suggest, an ode to Hudson Valley’s “makers” both past and present. Much of the custom-made furniture and decor found in the rooms and public spaces are made in collaboration with local creatives and are actually shoppable (you can even buy the hotel bed). While the hotel’s all-day café serves pastries and fresh bread, its restaurant offers upscale contemporary American fare using products from Hudson Valley’s local farms. Slip away to the lounge situated in a 19th century carriage house for a nightcap after dinner.
The Marlton Hotel, New York City
Charming and affordable is an improbable combination when searching for hotel stays in New York City, but The Marlton Hotel in Greenwich Village manages to break the mold. This historic 112-room property set just minutes from Washington Square Park was once a watering hole for names like Jack Kerouac and Julie Andrews. The rooms are small but filled with gilded beds, white monogrammed bedding, and marbled baths—and, given the hotel’s optimal location, you won’t be spending much time in your room. Downstairs, the stylish bar and restaurant is the perfect spot to grab coffee in the morning before heading out (continental breakfast is included in your stay). Wind down with dinner at the Parisian-inspired bistro or a nightcap upon your return.
The Siren, Detroit
Situated in Detroit’s historic 1920s Wurlitzer building, The Siren shows off much of its original Renaissance-style features like the travertine floors, original terracotta signs, and plaster ceiling details. The 106-room property, developed by the New York-based firm ASH NYC, features six food and beverage spaces, two retail shops, a barbershop, and a rooftop with panoramic views of downtown Detroit. Make time for a drink at Sid Gold’s Request Room, a piano karaoke bar, as well as Paramita Sound, a record shop with a small in-house bar and performance space.
Hotel Ulysses, Mount Vernon, Baltimore
Situated in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood, Hotel Ulysses is the latest opening from the ASH NYC team. This 116-room property, set in the historic Latrobe building, borrows from Baltimore’s rebellious spirit where spaces transport you between overlapping eras and influences. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the contrast between the hotel’s two F&B spaces. On the ground floor, Ash–Bar, the all-day café that serves up pastries, milkshakes, and homemade gelato references elements of streamline moderne. Meanwhile, the late-night drinking parlor, Bloom’s, is an exercise in maximalism, drawing influences from the fantasy of Art Deco movie palaces with kitschy mirrored surfaces flanked by crimson banquettes and plum velvet barstools.
The Manchester Hotel, Lexington, Kentucky
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Recently opened in the heart of horse country and the bourbon capital of the world, Lexington, Kentucky’s first high-end boutique hotel, The Manchester is bringing a cool new energy to Manchester Street’s Distillery District. Guest rooms evoke the rich hues of the Bluegrass with barrel vaulted plastered ceilings and leather detailing nodding to the city’s spirited culture and long history of equestrianism, while its public spaces, which were created for both guests and locals alike, feature a bespoke bottle shop with a curated selection of local bourbons and ryes, an ode to its historic neighborhood lined with bourbon distilleries, breweries, and bars.
Nine Orchard, New York City, NY
Located at the intersection of Chinatown and the Lower East Side, Nine Orchard is set in the century-old Jarmulowsky bank which had been empty since 2006. The building’s character has been thoughtfully preserved in an attempt to reintroduce the significant landmark to the neighborhood in the form of a 113-room hotel and culinary destination created in partnership with renowned New York-based restaurateur, Ignacio Mattos, of NYC stalwarts such as Estela and Astro Paradiso. The hotel’s F&B offering include Swan Room, a 52-seat lounge and cocktail bar situated in a former bank teller room, as well as Corner Bar, a warm space inspired by America’s legendary taverns.
The Georgian, Santa Monica, CA
A long-time fixture on the California coastline, The Georgian Hotel first opened in 1933, swiftly becoming a hotbed for Hollywood stars, such as Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe. While it has seen several iterations over the years, it was finally restored to its former glory, re-opening this past January with 84 rooms and suites and a revival of its former bar, The Georgian Room, where a 1919 Steinway is built into a custom rose marble bar, as well as the Sunset Terrace restaurant overlooking Ocean Avenue. The historic hotel also features a new art gallery, writer’s room, and library.
Tourists, North Adams, MA
Inspired by the classic American roadside motor lodge, Tourists is set on the banks of the Hoosic River in the Berkshires. Each of the 46 rooms offers a fusion of design and nature, using organic materials to create a quiet haven, where straight from your room you have access to the woodland trails, riverbank vistas, and sculptural art installations within the local area. As the hotel was co-founded by John Stirratt, the bassist from Wilco, you’ll find musical performances peppered through the hotel’s art and adventure calendar, along with craft courses, guided hikes, and cider and foraged cocktail pop-ups.
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