10 Boutique Hotels for Your Travel Bucket List
Get ready to add some new stamps to your passport.
Now that the world is starting to open back up, we’ve been getting the itch to travel again! How about you? To help you plan your next trip — or maybe just to encourage a little bit of daydreaming — we’ve rounded up a list of ten of the most swoon-worthy boutique hotels in some of our favorite destination cities across the globe.
So pack your bags, and let’s prepare for takeoff! The in-flight snack is eye candy, of course.
1. Henrietta Hotel, London
From the brain of French Interior Designer, Dorothée Meilichzon, the Henrietta Hotel in London’s Covent Garden neighborhood offers 18 Instagrammable guest rooms in lovely jewel tones, each with bold black and white washrooms offset by lovely pastels. The hotel also features a handsome on-site bar and restaurant “Da Henrietta” by famed duo Silvio Pezzana and Toto Dell'Aringa of Italian Supper Club.
2. G-Rough, Rome
Few things say “Rome” better than a 17th-century palazzo, don’t you agree? What was originally built as a family home in the 1600’s has been transformed by owner Gabriele Salini into “G-Rough” — a five-story boutique hotel where 400-year-old patinaed plaster and rough (hence the name) hewn timber ceilings can be found commingling with 1950’s modernist Italian furniture and contemporary art. To help give this space its new life Salini collaborated with Italian designers Giorgia Cerulli, Benedetta Salini, Vittorio Mango and Emanuele Garosci. It’s rustic meets refined, and distinctly Roman.
3. NEST, Tulum
With just nine individual guest rooms and a four-bedroom private villa, NEST has found a way to blend contemporary minimalist luxury with a natural simplicity that still speaks to the essence of the site’s ancient Mayan roots. The laid-back, boho-chic design scheme and warm neutral palette seamlessly blend with the surrounding white sand beaches and lush tropical foliage that have made Tulum and the rest of the Riviera Maya a sought-after destination. NEST is quiet and unfussy, yet still makes a statement with its tranquil and serene vibe.
4. Hotel Sanders, Copenhagen
Plant lovers, rejoice! If the lush living façade doesn’t immediately win you over, then the verdant common spaces of Copenhagen’s Hotel Sanders surely will. Located in the heart of the popular “Indre By” (Old Town), Hotel Sanders is the perfect home base to rest your feet throughout your exploration. After a long day of cycling around the city, you can relax by the lobby fireplace, sip a cocktail from TATA on the rooftop terrace, or enjoy a warm bowl of chicken miso soup from “Sanders Kitchen” in your well-appointed guest room. While it might not look very Danish beyond the furniture, the cozy aesthetic compliments of London design studio LIND + ALMOND will make you feel right at home.
5. The Henry Jones, Hobart
A row of converted warehouses along Hobart’s famed Hunter Street now make up The Henry James — an “art hotel” that mixes history with culture and luxury along the pristine Tasmanian waterfront. With around 20% of the Australian island state’s geography classified as a World Heritage site and some of the cleanest air on the planet (literally), you’ll be glad to throw open the shuttered windows and take in the views of the harbor. While it’s hard to compete with the natural landscape, inside offers an impressive collection of over 500 works of contemporary Tasmanian art nestled among stylish furnishings on a backdrop of reimagined industrial architecture.
6. Omma, Santorini
The Omma, which in ancient Greek translates to “vision,” certainly lives up to its name. Surrounded by nearly 360-degree views of the Santorini caldera and the southern Aegean Sea, Omma is a vision in white and dove gray framed by that world-famous sapphire blue. With no neighboring properties, the rounded white structures that make up the hotel’s grounds seem to rise organically from the earth. This theme continues in each of the 30 guest rooms where stairs, benches, desks, and window openings are all formed flush against the walls, constructed entirely of whitewashed concrete. The larger sea-view rooms boast luxe private terraces with jetted plunge pools, and the hotel also has the island’s largest infinity pool.
7. Riad Kheirredine, Marrakesh
Located within the walls of Marrakesh’s “Old City” medina quarter is the luxurious, 14-room Riad Kheirredine. Like much of Morrocco, Riad Kheirredine acts as a bridge that links the past with the present. Situated just a short walk away from the hustle and bustle of the city’s famous souks, this riad (a traditional Moroccan interior courtyard) has lush citrus gardens, marble patios surrounding two pools, a spa with a hammam, and a stunning terrace where guests can take in views of the neighboring Atlas Mountains while enjoying a rooftop meal from the on-site restaurant.
8. Beana Laponia, Meltaus
If you’re in the market for ski accommodations unlike any other, look no further than Beana Laponia, in Finland’s Lapland region. Described as a “wilderness hotel,” this 11-room boutique is located in a remote area north of the Arctic Circle, around 38 miles away from the nearest town. That means there’s nothing between you, the uninterrupted snow, and a front-row seat to the magical display of the Aurora Borealis. The name“Beana” is a Sámi word (the indigenous people from this area) meaning “dog” — a theme represented throughout the hotel’s décor, paying homage to the resident team of Siberian huskies available for private sledding excursions. After a long day in the snowy wilderness, warm up with a cocktail by the fire, surrounded by deep rustic woods and reindeer pelts.
9. Huka Lodge, Lake Taupo
Originally built as a fly fishing camp in 1924, Huka Lodge is one of New Zealand’s oldest, and perhaps most luxurious lodges. After undergoing a major renovation under the supervision of interior designer Virginia Fisher and landscape architect Suzanne Turley, the 17-acre property has been transformed into a lush oasis along the banks of the Waikato River. With notable figures such as Queen Elizabeth II (who has stayed here four times during her reign) signing the guestbook, visitors of Huka Lodge can expect the royal treatment as they relax in one of the hotel’s 25 suites, take in the views of the grounds, or enjoy a meal in the subterranean wine cellar.
10. The Warehouse, Robertson Quay
With a notorious history dating back to 1895, we can only imagine the stories held within the walls of The Warehouse hotel. The industrial facility sits on the Singapore River in Robertson Quay, and once served as the gateway to a popular red light district along a well-know trade route through the Straits of Malacca. Built during a time of secret societies, illicit underground activity, and liquor distilleries, The Warehouse is now home to 37 stylish guestrooms situated between the central business district and the Orchard Road shopping district — a cultural and commercial waterfront hub for visitors hoping to experience the culture and heritage of vibrant, modern-day Singapore.
11. (BONUS) Hotel Monaco, Pittsburgh
Last, but not least, the perfect local spot for a weekend staycation! Hotel Monaco is a funky mix of tongue-in-cheek artwork, chartreuse velvet, and Beaux-Arts architecture all rolled into one, with a hearty dose of Steeltown hospitality. If you’re feeling adventurous, borrow the hotel’s bikes and head to nearby Point State Park for a picnic lunch excursion complete with charcuterie and sparkling wine. Or if you’d rather “stay in,” check out the rooftop Biergarten for soft pretzels and a game of corn hole. End the day relaxing in your suite’s large soaking tub, and don’t forget to grab a late-night snack (24-hour room service) from The Commoner downstairs. This hotel is also super dog-friendly, so feel free to bring Fido along!
We hope this post has ignited your wanderlust as much as it has ours! Which destination cities are on your travel bucket list?
Leave a note for the Studio 1049 team in the comments below and tell us about it!