12 New Boutique Hotels to Visit This Year

New Orleans, Louisiana

This city may be home to many landmark hotels, but the Ace Hotel has become its contemporary flagship, while still revering tradition. Case in point: the property's clublike venue, Three Keys, which often hosts local jazz artists. Post-nightlife, head to the Stumptown Coffee outpost that adjoins the lobby, providing at-the-ready fuel for venturing across the city. acehotel.com

Dallas, Texas

A Texas-size renovation for this Beaux Arts beauty created not one but three lobbies that merge modern pieces (like Richard Serra prints) with rustic fireplaces. Christine Visneau curates works by local designers in the hotel's on-site shop, Commerce, and collaborated with heritage brand Stetson (headquartered nearby) on items such as The Renard, a hat sold exclusively at the store. "We want Commerce to show our visitors the designers who live in our city and how they weave into the history of the hotel and Dallas," she says. adolphus.com

Austin, Texas

Last year, celebrity hotelier Liz Lambert took over the Austin Motel—an iconic South Congress Avenue neighbor to her first location, Hotel San José, and a rare example of a 1930s motor court still standing. The throwback kidney-shaped pool and original marquee provide many an Instagram op. The guest rooms at the motel are playful, not spartan, set up with cushy tufted-vinyl beds and Lambert's status symbol, serape-print robes, all for a Tex-Mex take on seventies glam. austinmotel.com

Charlottesville, Virginia

Originally built in 1799, this once-neglected, multi-structure estate sitting on 100 pastoral acres caught the eye of co-owner Charles D'Angelo. "You can look out at the Blue Ridge Mountains, Monticello, and a private lake," he says. "These aren't things you can just build on a new property." The exteriors may be historic, but the interiors are all updated with jewel-toned elegance and no fuss. Book The Clifton's entire five-bedroom Collina Farmhouse for a full family getaway (rocking chairs on the porch included). the-clifton.com

Charleston, South Carolina

Mad Men style meets Lowcountry affability throughout this historic-district property. But it's in the wing chairs and gemstone-colored velvet sofas at the acclaimed Living Room bar where natives and city admirers connect. Indulge in a nightcap mixed by an ivory-suited bartender at the brushed-gold bar before turning in. thedewberrycharleston.com

New Orleans, Louisiana

Just a short drive from New Orleans' more trafficked tourist spots, The Drifter Hotel is decidedly away from the fray. Co-owner Jayson Seidman wanted to create a micro resort that would put its guests close to Mid-City's storied parks and restaurants. The serene, uncluttered rooms (only 20 total) with Oaxaca tile floors contrast with the lushly landscaped poolside scene and walk-up cocktail bar. "The whole space is intended to help you interact with the local community," says Seidman. "That's where the best travel experiences come from." thedrifterhotel.com

Durham, North Carolina

A mid-century modern shrine in primary hues, The Durham Hotel wows with its geometric design. The restaurant offers the best views of a swooping mezzanine that overlooks Cubist carpeting and chandeliers. Here, James Beard Award-winning chef Andrea Reusing serves dishes made with hyper-local ingredients. thedurham.com

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Colorfully wallpapered and furnished with finds from local thrift stores, eBay, and Etsy—including mustard-colored convex chairs and sculptural brass lamps—Dwell's 16 suites read eclectic collector, not vintage shop. Their opulent baths provide a modern counterpoint to the building's exposed limestone and brick. thedwellhotel.com

Florence, Alabama

From fashion designer Billy Reid to the Muscle Shoals Sound, each of the 10 swank suites in this upstairs hideaway speaks to the big names in this small town. In fact, GunRunner is one of only three hotels in the world with a sanctioned Frank Lloyd Wright suite, which references one of the architect's homes nearby. Next door, the Sam Phillips suite honors the famous Sun Studio founder and Florence native. In the common area, dotted with leather chairs, it is not unusual to see local musicians writing new material while bartenders test out fresh takes on cocktails at the bar. gunrunnerhotel.com

Nashville, Tennessee

Evidenced by the locally made apothecary items in the lobby shop, ceramics in the restaurant, art hanging in the hallways, and an in-house shop selling Barista Parlor coffee, the city's creative community came together to resurrect this Art Deco downtown monolith, designed to resemble the area's polished department stores of the past. The hotel's architect, Nick Dryden, wanted to create an experience where "visitors learn something integral about Nashville's culture and people that transcends the cowboy boots and honky-tonks." noelle-nashville.com

St. Pete Beach, Florida

In Santorini-style blue and white,
this beachfront resort's laid-back mood extends from its dog-friendly rooms to a license plate-covered dive bar overlooking the Gulf. The oceanside courtyard pool, encircled by palm trees and banana-yellow lounge chairs set under striped umbrellas, does indeed look like a picturesque scene straight out of an antique Florida postcard—
especially at sunset. postcardinn.com

Richmond, Virginia

Reflecting its location in Richmond's burgeoning arts district, the Quirk expands on co-owner Katie Ukrop's gallery space (attached to the hotel) by showcasing original work, even in the guest rooms. A crepe myrtle-inspired color scheme warms up the museum-like minimalism and historic details like the lobby's vaulted ceilings. destinationhotels.com