The 20 Most Beautiful Hotels in America

A hotel is more than just a place to rest your head — it should also be a home away from home. Sure, amenities are a key part of the equation, but aesthetics can sometimes be just as important when you’re making life-long memories. After all, who doesn’t want to get a little design inspo for their own home or Instagram fodder on their next getaway? Whether you’re all about modern minimalism or vintage-inspired vibes, these are the best hotels for design in America. If you don’t see your favorite now, please let us know about it in the comments! We’ll be updating this piece with the hopes of covering every state and territory over the next year and then expanding out to other countries from there.

Go back in time to an era when air travel was truly luxurious and stylish at the TWA Hotel. Built in 1962 at the height of the jet set age, the former TWA flight center was designed by architect Eero Saarinen at JFK International Airport in New York City and now boasts 512 rooms. The designated landmark is pure Instagram bait, especially the 1958 Constellation airplane turned cocktail lounge. Pull up a chaise lounge at the infinity pool and its 10,000-square-foot observation deck with panoramic views of the runways.

Designed by none other than Kelly Wearstler, the striking 131-room hotel is housed in a landmarked, Beaux-Arts era flatiron building in the heart of San Francisco. Even the tiniest details will grab your attention here, from the striking wallpaper in the suites to the gallery walls in the rooftop bar restaurant and lobby.

A true Bohemian beauty, the Ryder Hotel was designed by Charleston local designer Courtney Bishop. The city’s coastal beauty served as the muse, which is evident in a relaxed yet sleek sophistication that permeates every room. Earthy hues make up the color palette, and hand-crafted furniture create the perfect, laid-back southern ambience. 

Midwestern sensibility meets modernism in this Minneapolis gem: an 1897 converted farm warehouse turned trendy hotel with a strong personality. While the exposed timber and brickwork is all original, the custom furnishings and local art are decidedly new, all while maintaining that sleek industrial feel.

In case the name didn’t give it away, it’s no surprise that Pharrell Williams is the mastermind behind this South Beach hotel. He tapped designer Ken Fulk to create this mood-boosting, playful space — think wicker furniture juxtaposed with pretty pastels and clashing prints with an art deco vibe. The pool and library are can’t misses for hanging out and snapping photos.

Talk about movie magic! Originally a movie theater from 1928 to 1958, the Hudson, New York, space was turned into an independent 27-room hotel designed by Architectural Digest-100 studio Workstead. They tapped the local community of craftsmen to recreate the space: custom brass light fixtures and beds in the guest rooms and a communal kitchen built by Rowland Butler, a Hudson local specializing in historical restoration. The lobby also boasts locally made furniture by Sawkille and upholstery prints from Zak + Fox.

There are New York City hotels — and then there’s Brooklyn’s The William Vale Hotel, which somehow manages to fit 183 rooms, a rooftop bar and restaurant helmed by Chef Andrew Carmellini, and a 60-foot long pool all in less than a city block. The interiors are the perfect mix of artsy modern meets serenity, thanks to terraces with greenery, local Brooklyn art hanging on the walls, and seamlessly integrated technology. The hotel’s public spaces always seems to be evolving, too. In addition to hosting rotating artist exhibitions and pop-ups with businesses, the fitness center just got a high design upgrade with 12 pieces of Freemotion state-of-the-art equipment, including treadmills, ellipticals, and stationery bikes that you can stream live and recorded iFit interactive workouts on. Some of the suites even have connected bikes right in them. Talk about try before you buy!

Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and San Joaquin Hills in Laguna Beach, California, this adults-only hotel has individually styled rooms. Designed by Studio Robert McKinley, the look is a nod to California’s first Spanish settlers, with stone vanities, vaulted ceilings, and showers with painted tiles providing major throwback vibes. A record player in every room adds a modern touch and a bit of artsy entertainment. 

Montclair, New Jersey, has been called the Brooklyn of New Jersey, and that’s very evident at The George, a former 1902 Georgian manor that has been transformed into a sophisticated space with worldly flair. Helmed by beauty mogul Bobbi Brown and her husband Steven Plofker, it was opened in 2018. Each of the unique 31 rooms feature decor personally picked by Brown herself on her travels that have taken her all over the world with a decidedly British flair mixed in with decorative accents. 

It’s hard to compete with the breathtaking views of Newport’s famous Cliff Walk along its shoreline, but The Chanler certainly can hang in that competition. If old world opulence is your thing, you’ll want to rest your head here. Each room in the 19^th century mansion is named for the royalty that serves as its muse, such as the Louis XIV and the English Tudor suites.

Some beachside hotels can take the theme a little too far, but not the Marram. The cool, casual retreat has just the right amount of seaside touches, like furniture made from reclaimed fishing boats and photographs by surf photographer Brian Bielmann adorning the walls. The ocean is just steps away from the 96-room getaway (see a room interior at the top of this story), and there’s a pretty pool and outdoor fire pit area, too.

Imagine the swankiest Southern-style guest house, and you have Maison de La Luz in New Orleans, Louisiana. Designed with Studio Shamshiri, each of the 67 suites in the renovated 1908 building in the city’s Warehouse District features original artwork. Upon arrival, guests are given a weighty, tasseled key that unlocks a striking private bar, helping you feel right at home right away. 

Boasting a couple of impressive firsts, The Ramble Hotel is the first hotel in Denver’s River North Art District and has the first outpost of speakeasy Death & Co outside of New York City. Inspired by 17th-century French salons, it melds that aesthetic with its artsy yet industrial neighborhood, giving it a totally unique feel. To curate artwork for its 50 guest rooms, the hotel partnered with a local arts organization to find pieces that would complement the painted wood-paneled walls, velvet upholstery, and brass light fixtures.

Nashville’s known for its music scene, and the Bobby Hotel plays that up in just the right way — think live music on their rooftop and Sunday drag brunch. Their bar is decked out with neon art and salvaged car parts, while the rooms feature quirky wallpaper, murals, and tufted headboards. Don’t forget to pet the hotel’s dog, adopted from the Nashville Humane Association, who is being trained to be an emotional support animal and will be donated to a U.S. veteran.

If you like your insomnia with a side of art, then this is the hotel for you. The hotel’s on-site art galleries are open 24/7, so you can get your fix anytime with the rotating roster of contemporary artists. The 156 chic hotel rooms also have original art as well as custom furnishings for a homey feel. If you still aren’t satiated, right next door is the Contemporary Arts Center.

Nautical nonsense has never looked so cool. Though the hotel is on solid ground, you’ll feel like you stepped onto a ship, thanks to details like nautical artifacts and porthole windows, not to mention the blue color palette, octopus wallpaper, and plenty of anchors, all juxtaposed with the exposed brick, a nod to the hotel’s past as the Fisherman’s Wharf historic Haslett Warehouse building. Its location is just as eye-catching, with views of the views of the San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

With a bi-level art gallery and carefully curated retail shop offering jewelry and decor that rivals the best museum gift shops, this hotel offers plenty to look at. The rotating exhibitions feature a mix of local and national artists, complemented with events like artist talks and classes. Located on a picturesque tree-lined street in downtown Charlottesville, the rooms are just as flawless as the rest of the hotel, with modern artwork and unexpected color palettes featuring lots of pink. 

“Keep Portland Weird” isn’t only the motto of this northwestern city; it’s also the motto of this hotel there. Originally built in 1908 as a hotel, the building housed a furniture manufacturer for 80 years before returning to its original purpose in 2021. Each of the 57 bespoke rooms feels as original as the city it calls home. A study hall just off the lobby only adds to the charm and would be the perfect place to take a work Zoom, if you’re still on the clock when you stay.

This delightfully chic boutique hotel was originally built as a school in 1889 and named after George Washington. As one of the oldest surviving schoolhouses in the country, it maintains it rustic appeal but with luxurious upgrades. Each of the 12 rooms are filled with antiques and custom furniture with no detail left unturned. In the winter, don’t miss the ski lounge for some apres-ski fun. 

Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg, the co-founders of beauty brand Fresh, teamed up with hospitality expert Damien Janowicz to create The Maker, an 11-room boutique hotel in downtown Hudson, New York. Furniture and decor was sourced from local and global artisans alike, with a striking art collection and a library curated in partnership with New York City’s famous The Strand Book Store. The European-inspired café features a glass conservatory and striking mural with a delectable, seasonal menu featuring local ingredients. The rooms also have themes, and you can select based on which creative personality resonates with you, from architect or artist to writer or gardener and beyond.