As more and more homogenous luxury chain hotels pop up across the globe, we increasingly crave accommodation that has individuality, personality and a certain je ne sais quoi. We asked you for your top tips on your favourite independent hotels, and the responses flooded in with recommendations ranging from small family-run operations to beloved time-honoured city institutions. Here is a selection that will enliven any city break this year.
Château Voltaire, Paris
A current obsession, Château Voltaire ticks so many boxes. Phenomenal location. Just 31 rooms. Bright, light and airy. Effortlessly cool without any pretence. The staff are cheerful and genuine. Bonus points for the perfect French omelette at its restaurant, Brasserie l’Émil. A 11/10 recommend. Website; Directions
— Rebecca Bullen, private client travel adviser, New York
The Imperial, New Delhi
Not just a hotel but a living, pulsating museum: Art Deco, Lutyens-style, end-of-colonial-reign architecture. The highly varnished bar tabletops have literal scars of British rule in India, including graffiti. The corridors stuffed with colonial-era artefacts contrast with hotel-chain standardised monochrome. Breakfast on the garden veranda overlooks strutting peacocks and the hum of a city waking up. Website; Directions
— Jan Randolph, economist, London
The Wilder Townhouse, Dublin
I am a regular visitor to The Wilder. I am always greeted warmly. The rooms are individual and comfortable (including a compact double that is ideal for the lone business traveller). Even the toiletries are from a lovely County Down company called FieldDay. When you go to your room, you may find a handwritten note, a little dessert and, on your pillow, a little book for bedtime and a chocolate. Breakfast is delicious too. Website; Directions
— Sarah Thompson, lawyer, Belfast
Omni Berkshire Place, New York
Omni Berkshire Place in midtown Manhattan. It has excellent customer service and does wonderful small things for guests, including a loyalty programme where you receive one free drink ticket a night and arrive to a beautiful cheese tray and half bottle of wine. Excellent bar too. Website; Directions
— Helen Hayes, asset management, Toronto
Hotel Helka, Helsinki
Conveniently located in the heart of the city, this hotel is special in that it has work by different contemporary artists on display, as well as some themed rooms. Staff are very friendly. They have a nice breakfast, a lovely bar area and, of course, a sauna, as you would expect in Finland. They also pride themselves on being inclusive, which is definitely something you feel when there. Website; Directions
— Matteo Morelli, senior consulting manager, London
Durrants Hotel, London
An elegant central-London gem near the Wallace Collection, managed by the same family for over 100 years. The service is impeccable, and front-of-house staff are terrific. The chic bars — the Spy Lounge and the George Bar — are not to be missed. Website; Directions
— Marie Veeder, London
The Fleming, Hong Kong
An independent hotel must have a distinct personality. The Fleming fits the bill. Crafting a classic personality from the greasy template of the Star Ferry must be deemed as victory of sorts. The inclusion of the ultra-expensive bistro on the ground floor reinforces the Fleming type of clientele. It has just 66 rooms, and you always leave feeling cosseted. Arguably, the hotel’s greatest success is to have sewn itself within the fabric of the local community. Website; Directions
— Teong Heng Sia, CEO of real estate development company, Malaysia
De L’Europe, Amsterdam
A classy independent and well-located hotel with great focus on detail, as well as pleasant, attentive staff and a very present GM. Great rooms with very comfy beds and great bathrooms. Nice breakfast. There are also great restaurants and a very special bar called Freddy’s — in honour of Alfred “Freddy” Heineken.
— Chris van Steenbergen, director, Antwerp
Palácio Príncipe Real, Lisbon
My favourite independent small hotel. A few years ago, Gail and Miles Curley, the charming proprietors, lovingly converted a 19th-century palácio into a luxury 28-room hotel. It’s located in the Príncipe Real neighbourhood, close to everything but away from the tourist crowds. The rooms vary but each possesses an attention to detail that only an independent hotel can offer. The engaging staff will direct you to their favourite local restaurants for evening dining. On sunny Lisbon mornings, breakfast in the garden is sublime. The magnificent garden has a generous-sized swimming pool that is actually usable for swimmers. Website; Directions
— Peter Zenneck, finance, London
Château Royal, Berlin
Small, 93-room hotel, with each room featuring different artworks by international artists and designers such as Peter Saville. Excellent wine selection, modern kitchen and superb bar experience right beside Unter den Linden and Brandenburger Tor. There is also a rooftop terrace overlooking the Reichstag, which is amazing in summer. In winter, you can head to the Kaminzimmer (lounge with open fire) — the best room in the city that nobody knows about. We stayed for our wedding and Christian, Alex and Matteo could not have been better hosts. Website; Directions
— Martin Kuper, restaurateur, Berlin
Singer Palace Hotel, Rome
A perfect hotel on a small street next to Via del Corso, and just a few steps away from the Trevi Fountain. It has great style and character, and feels more like a house than a hotel. Rooms are dressed with fresh flowers (different arrangements for each room), a bowl of fresh fruit, nuts and taralli. Bath amenities are from Italian brand Ortigia. The restaurant serves delicious Italian dishes and I wanted to steal the servers’ toile-printed aprons. The rooftop is a lively spot to bask in la dolce vita. But its best asset is the genuinely attentive service that makes you feel at home once you step in. Website; Directions
— Carolina Garcia, sales director, Washington DC
The Hay-Adams, Washington DC
The beds here are dreamily comfortable. Delicious breakfast either via room service or in the restaurant. Service outstanding. Many rooms look over the White House itself and others on to historic St John’s Church. A few smaller rooms are tucked away at the back off the street for those who want quiet. The Lafayette restaurant, overlooking the park and the White House, serves delicious lunch and dinner, although one’s head often swivels during lunch to watch the high-profile policymakers and advisers who parade through. Off the Record is the bar hidden downstairs where DC movers and shakers meet and party after office hours. Website; Directions
— Catharine Murdock, retired, Middleburg, Virginia, US
Lydmar Hotel, Stockholm
Unbeatable location, with views of the royal palace. The vibe is contemporary and cosmopolitan yet cosy. The restaurant has a living-room feel and serves a mix of Swedish and international cuisine. The staff are exceptionally friendly. Insider tip: guests can access the gym and spa at Grand Hôtel next door. Website; Directions
— Frederick Österberg, board chair, Dubai
Casa dos Guindais, Porto
A delicate and fantastic place to stay. Casa dos Guindais has only five studio apartments and is managed by the owners themselves, who are always enthusiastic about the story of their house (a stone building with more than 200 years of history). Website; Directions
— Francisco Aguiar, engineer, Luxembourg
Square Nine, Belgrade
This family-run hotel has hosted numerous celebrities and global high-end travellers. Designed by the Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld, it’s an exquisite place with an impeccable sense of personal luxury. It has two Michelin-recommended restaurants, an Augustinus Bader spa and the best beds and mattress ever. A hidden gem. Website; Directions
— Katarina Kostic, advertising, London
The Siam, Bangkok
A 38-room jewel in a historic part of Bangkok. A stay in this riverside hotel is akin to being a guest in a wealthy Thai family’s sprawling home complete with excellent service and surrounded by Asian antiques. Website; Directions
— Chin Huat Ong, writer, Kuala Lumpur
Les Toquées, Lille
This characterful building has six rooms, with high ceilings, parquet flooring and beautiful views over the canal. Fantastic breakfast. Wonderful terrace and garden. We really enjoyed it there. It is very small, though. Website; Directions
— Holger Kunz, lecturer, London
Grana, Oaxaca, Mexico
At Grana Bed and Breakfast, rooms are kitted out with straw bags and hats for using about town. An airy guest kitchen is stocked with teas and coffees to drink from local pottery cups. There’s yoga on the roof, a hearty breakfast, a beautiful courtyard and a quiet reading room. It is a sanctuary. Website; Directions
— Tamara Bell, entrepreneur, Toronto
Marktgasse Hotel, Zürich
Super central location in Zürich’s old town. Cosy rooms at a fair price, as well as a two-Michelin-starred restaurant and bar, Igniv. Website; Directions — Thomas Laubscher, finance, London
Riad No 37, Marrakech
A tranquil haven within Marrakech’s medina. Its neutral earthy interiors encourage total relaxation. Every aspect of the place seems curated. The staff are friendly and discreet, while the food, and especially the breakfast, brings the best of Morocco’s natural products to your plate. A gem! Website; Directions
— Alice Munnelly, writer, Copenhagen
Dorp, Cape Town
More than just a place of lodging, but a dorp (meaning “village” in Afrikaans) for creatives and oddballs where ideas are born and neighbourliness dominates on the terrace. It is all topped off with the most spectacular views of Cape Town and Table Mountain. Website; Directions
— Adriaan Louw, lawyer, Frankfurt, Germany
The Ivens, Lisbon
A pearl in the heart of Lisbon’s Chiado district. Amazing rooms, fantastic service and two incredible restaurants. A must if you are in Lisbon.
Website; Directions
— Pedro, CEO, Amsterdam
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