BY: ARTFUL HOTELS
Every great city has a hotel that captures its spirit—a place where design tells a story, where every object feels chosen, and where atmosphere lingers long after you’ve checked out. These are the spaces that define contemporary travel: not just where you stay, but how you experience a destination.
From New Orleans to Stockholm, Rome to Tokyo, we’ve gathered a collection of Artful-approved city hotels that embody creativity, comfort, and soul. Each one invites guests into a world of its own—some nostalgic, others boldly modern—all deeply rooted in their sense of place.
Southern charm with a cinematic edge
Housed in a 19th-century mansion beneath a canopy of oaks, The Chloe captures the romance of New Orleans with a contemporary twist. Its interiors layer vintage velvet with modern art, and the pool terrace hums with jazz energy. The bar and restaurant celebrate Louisiana flavors, while upstairs, rooms glow with soft amber light and local craftsmanship.
An urban sanctuary inspired by texture and tone
In the Colonia Roma neighborhood, Casa Tenue is a minimalist masterpiece that whispers rather than shouts. Stone, linen, and wood create a tranquil dialogue with the city outside. Light filters through woven screens, plants spill across the courtyard, and design lovers will appreciate every proportioned line and handcrafted detail.
Brutalist architecture meets tropical modernism
Chez Georges is a bold architectural statement softened by tropical light. The house—designed by Wladimir Alves de Souza in the 1970s—has been reborn as a guesthouse where Bossa Nova meets Bauhaus. Panoramic windows frame Rio’s dramatic skyline, while vintage Brazilian furniture sets the tone for long, languid mornings.
Maximalist design with a touch of delirium
From the team behind New York’s Bar Lizzie and Ruschmeyer’s, Hotel Ulysses feels like stepping into a surrealist novel. Velvet walls, jewel-toned corridors, and rococo lighting create a theatrical mood that’s pure escapism. Downstairs, The Coral Wig bar channels 1970s decadence—martinis, disco, and unapologetic glamour.
A maximalist ode to Mughal fantasy and Venetian flair
Designed by Marie-Anne Oudejans, Villa Palladio feels like stepping into a dream in red and white. Every surface is painted, patterned, and imagined with the precision of a fresco. The result is both regal and otherworldly—a fantasy that bridges East and West. Outside, palms sway, and the scent of jasmine drifts through the Rajasthani air.
The quiet benchmark for modern hospitality
Few hotels have redefined design travel like Ett Hem. Once a private home, it remains the standard for intimacy and detail—shelves filled with ceramics, flowers freshly cut from the garden, and meals served as if in a friend’s kitchen. Scandinavian minimalism softened by warmth; luxury made human.
Old-world glamour on downtown’s most cinematic corner
Beloved by artists, musicians, and film directors, The Bowery remains the archetype of Lower Manhattan cool. Velvet curtains, oriental rugs, and flickering candlelight create a mood somewhere between bohemian salon and 1920s speakeasy. The lobby bar remains one of New York’s most stylish living rooms.
A Roman palazzo reimagined through a lens of art and imperfection
Behind an unassuming façade near Piazza Navona, G-Rough celebrates the beauty of the unfinished. Patinaed plaster walls meet mid-century Italian design; vintage lighting glows over terrazzo floors. Each suite honors a modernist Italian designer—a concept that’s both intellectual and sensual, quintessentially Roman.
A vertical ryokan of serenity and ritual
Hidden behind sleek wooden lattice doors in central Tokyo, Hoshinoya redefines urban calm. Tatami floors, washi screens, and quiet hot spring baths transport guests into another rhythm—ancient and minimal, yet unmistakably modern. It’s a retreat that reminds you to breathe.
Sky-high tranquility above the city’s energy
Designed by André Fu, The Upper House is the epitome of quiet luxury. Natural materials, fluid lines, and panoramic harbor views create an atmosphere of meditative calm. The understated palette draws focus to light and scale—a sanctuary above the urban rush.
Where heritage details meet contemporary design in the heart of Mayfair.
In Mayfair, The Twenty Two transforms a Georgian townhouse into a refined urban retreat. Heritage details meet contemporary design—parquet floors, vintage fixtures, curated art, and warm textures. Each room feels personal and serene, while the lobby and bar offer intimate spaces. Historic elegance, modern comfort, and quintessential London style converge.
A landmark reborn with art, soul, and swagger
Housed in a 1920s Renaissance Revival landmark, Downtown LA Proper Hotel embodies Los Angeles at its most artful—historic, cinematic, and ever-evolving. Designer Kelly Wearstler layers Spanish Colonial detailing with bold contemporary artistry: hand-painted tiles, sculptural lighting, and tactile furnishings that feel both storied and modern. Once a private club and later a YWCA, the building’s past lingers in graceful arches and restored marble, now animated by LA’s creative pulse.
Ottoman grandeur meets global creative culture
Occupying the 19th-century Palazzo Corpi, Soho House Istanbul captures the duality of the city itself—east meets west, old meets new. Murano chandeliers hang over Anatolian textiles; courtyards hum with conversation and clinking glasses. It’s Istanbul at its most inspired and cosmopolitan, if you can snag a membership.
Industrial heritage redefined for a creative generation
In the former Paramount Pictures building, this Surry Hills hideaway celebrates craftsmanship and community. Exposed brick and brass mingle with greenery and terrazzo, while the café, Paramount Coffee Project, keeps locals buzzing. Upstairs, rooms open onto sunlit terraces—a masterclass in laid-back Australian design.
