Some people travel for the views. Others for the food. But for design lovers, the hotel is the destination. The scent when you walk in, the texture of the sheets, the way the light hits the walls. Every detail feels intentional. These are the places that make you want to redesign your entire apartment the second you get home.
Here are a few boutique hotels that prove good design isn’t just for looking at. It’s for living in.
Hotel Esencia in Tulum, Mexico
Tucked between jungle and sea, Hotel Esencia feels like an interior designer’s daydream. The palette is crisp white and terracotta, punctuated by woven textures and oversized greenery. Rooms open directly onto the beach, and the whole place feels like it was built to catch the light.
It’s the kind of space that makes minimalism feel warm instead of stark, a reminder that less can still feel like luxury.
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The Maker Hotel in Hudson, New York
If you crave character, The Maker delivers it in every corner. Housed in a series of 19th-century buildings, it’s layered with velvet, dark wood, vintage portraits, and the kind of moody lighting that makes you want to stay up late talking.
Each room has its own personality: bohemian, artist, or writer. The bar feels like a secret you want to keep to yourself.
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Villa Lena in Tuscany, Italy
Set on a hill surrounded by olive groves, Villa Lena brings a modern, artistic twist to the classic Tuscan escape. The interiors blend contemporary art with rustic charm: think pale pink walls, terrazzo floors, and mismatched furniture that somehow works perfectly together.
It’s part hotel, part artist residency, so you might find yourself sharing a bottle of wine with a painter or photographer as the sun sets over the countryside.
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Hotel Saint Vincent in New Orleans, Louisiana
Once a 19th-century orphanage, Hotel Saint Vincent now feels like a Wes Anderson set with a Southern twist. Think jewel tones, patterned wallpaper, and dramatic marble staircases. The pool is lined with striped loungers, and every corner looks like it was made to be photographed but still feels lived in and full of personality.
Even if you’re not staying overnight, it’s worth visiting for the design inspiration alone.
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Ett Hem in Stockholm, Sweden
Ett Hem translates to “a home,” and that’s exactly what it feels like: a home designed by someone with impeccable taste. Every room is filled with soft textiles, candlelight, and Scandinavian furniture that strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and warmth.
Guests are encouraged to treat the kitchen like their own and pour a glass of wine by the fire. It’s cozy, elegant, and deeply personal, the kind of space that redefines what hospitality feels like.
Book here
For the Love of Good Design
Design doesn’t just make a space beautiful. It makes it memorable. The best boutique hotels don’t shout; they whisper through the curve of a chair, the color of a wall, the scent of a room.
And if you leave with more photos of the lobby than yourself, that just means they did it right.
