Bout Hed

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Best Boutique Hotel 2026

By Readers' Choice On 9/9/26 at 12:00 PM EDT

From spa weekends to city escapes, boutique hotels can turn a girls' trip into an experience. Newsweek is proud to recognize this year's 10 standout boutique hotels—selected by our editors and voted on by readers for their exceptional quality and distinctive excellence. Each has been officially recognized by Newsweek as one of the Best Boutique Hotels of 2026.

Winners of the 2026 Newsweek Readers' Choice™ Awards for Best Boutique Hotel were announced on October 21, 2026.

1. Bottleworks Hotel

Bottleworks Hotel

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Bottleworks Hotel occupies a former Coca-Cola bottling plant in downtown Indianapolis, part of the Bottleworks District. The property is near Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indiana Convention Center and Mass Ave. Its rooms reflect the building's industrial history, while the district includes restaurants, shops, entertainment and The Garage food hall.

2. Hotel Valley Ho

Hotel Valley Ho

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Hotel Valley Ho is a mid-century modern hotel in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona. The property has guest rooms, suites, pools, a spa, fitness center and restaurants. Its downtown location places it near Scottsdale's shopping, dining and nightlife, while attractions including Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and Camelback Mountain are nearby.

3. Hotel Emma

Hotel Emma

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Hotel Emma occupies a former Pearl Brewery building in San Antonio, Texas, along the River Walk. The hotel combines historic industrial architecture with guest rooms, suites, a library, restaurants and bars. It is near the Pearl district's shops and dining, with downtown San Antonio and the Alamo accessible nearby today.

4. The Goodtime Hotel

The Goodtime Hotel

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The Goodtime Hotel is in South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida, near Ocean Drive and the Art Deco Historic District. The property has 266 rooms, a pool, fitness center, restaurant and social spaces. It is close to the beach, shopping, dining and nightlife along South Beach and Washington Avenue today.

5. Castle Hill Inn

Castle Hill Inn

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Castle Hill Inn is on Ocean Drive in Newport, Rhode Island, overlooking Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The property occupies 40 acres and includes rooms in the historic Agassiz Mansion, beach cottages, beach houses and Harbor Houses. It is close to Newport's waterfront, beaches, scenic drives and historic attractions.

6. Wentworth Mansion

Wentworth Mansion

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Wentworth Mansion is a 21-room historic hotel in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Built in 1886, the property retains original architectural details and includes a restaurant, rooftop cupola and common areas. It is near Charleston's historic district, King Street, Colonial Lake, the Battery, museums, restaurants and other downtown attractions nearby downtown.

7. Hotel San José

Hotel San Jose

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Hotel San José is a bungalow-style boutique hotel on South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas. The property has rooms arranged around courtyards and offers an outdoor pool and garden areas. It is near South Congress shops, restaurants and music venues, with downtown Austin and Lady Bird Lake nearby for outdoor recreation.

8. Hotel Peter and Paul

Hotel Peter and Paul

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Hotel Peter and Paul occupies a former church, school, rectory and convent complex in New Orleans' Marigny neighborhood. The property preserves elements of the historic buildings while providing guest rooms and communal spaces. It is near Frenchmen Street, the French Quarter, live music venues, restaurants and the Mississippi River nearby.

9. The Ludlow Hotel

Bout 3

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The Ludlow Hotel is a boutique property on Ludlow Street in Manhattan's Lower East Side. It offers guest rooms and suites, a restaurant, bar and lounge spaces. The hotel is near Orchard Street shops, galleries and restaurants, with the East Village, SoHo, Chinatown and Brooklyn Bridge accessible from the neighborhood.

10. Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa

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Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa is in Calistoga, California, in Napa Valley. The property has guest rooms, suites, cabins, pools and spa facilities centered on a retro motor-lodge design. It is near downtown Calistoga, Napa Valley wineries, hot springs and outdoor activities, including hiking around Robert Louis Stevenson State Park.

FINALISTS The Dive Motel & Swim Club The Graylyn Estate Hotel Ketchum Perry Lane Hotel The Siren Hotel

About Newsweek Readers' ChoiceTM Awards

Nominees for Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards are selected through an editorial review process conducted by Newsweek editors. The editorial team identifies brands, destinations and services within each contest category based on editorial research and industry knowledge. Winners are determined through a public voting process hosted on Newsweek.com, where readers may vote once per category per day during the contest period.

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