Best Boutique Hotels in the US

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Five of my Favorite Hotels Right Now and Why

Bev holding a bourbon glass at the 21c Cincinnati Bar, one of the hotels on her list of the best Boutique hotels in the US.

July 2022

Bev’s Favorite Hotels Right Now and Why

“Where would you stay?” my friends often ask me when they go on vacation or business trips. You see, I am on a quest to find the best boutique hotels in the US.

They ask this because I often travel for work, and they know I desire a little more fun during my hotel stay. I tend to choose very distinct, unique hotels. Hotels that have their own personality. I avoid the cookie-cutter hotels, you know, the ones along the side of the interstate hoping to snag those road-trippers driving a little too late into the night. Or the hotels that cater to the business person, all business and no fun.

Hotels are not just a place to sleep for me. It’s an experience. From the moment I see the building, walk through the doors, and am greeted by staff until I leave the following day, I am gauging the hotel and what I like about the experience it gave me.

Below are my take on five of the best boutique hotels in the US, a few of my favorite hotels right now. I say right now because I will undoubtedly have more to add (see another new one I love by clicking here, The Bottleworks Hotel.) These aren’t in any particular order. They are all amazing in their own right, each giving me a unique experience.

Hallway with green walls and green plants at the Cottonwood Hotel

The Cottonwood Hotel, A Kimpton Hotel Omaha, Nebraska

The first hotel on my list of the best boutique hotels in the US is The Cottonwood Hotel. You can’t help but feel important when you arrive here. Historic, opulent, service is impeccable, and with bars and restaurants onsite. Along with the complimentary wine hour in the lobby, you never have to leave the hotel. 

 Bev’s Key Loves

  • You never have to leave the hotel 
  • A historic revitalized 1920s building
  • Unique
  • Gorgeous property
  • Friendly and helpful staff
  • Beautiful fabric headboards (ask for a room with this)
  • Multiple food and drink venues on site
  • Wine happy hour (This is a Kimpton service. Every Kimpton does this)
  • They make you feel special
The lobby with a Christmas tree and a painting and chairs at The Alluvian Hotel, another hotel on the list of best boutique hotels in the US.

The Alluvian, Greenwood, Mississippi

The second hotel on my list of the best boutique hotels in the US is The Alluvian. This hotel is in the middle of small-town America in the Mississippi Delta. A subsidiary of the Viking Corporation, it’s beautiful with southern charm and friendliness. 

 Bev’s Key Loves

  • The hotel rooms have doorbells!
  • Very clean
  • Local artwork on the walls
  • Southern hospitality
  • Giardina’s Restaurant, a historic restaurant with private booths
  • Spa services – excellent for a girl’s weekend
  • Amazing Old Fashioneds
  • The walkable downtown area with storefronts
A yellow penguin statue in front of artwork in the hallway at The 21c Hotel Cincinnati

The 21c Museum Hotel, Cincinnati, Ohio

The third hotel on my list of the best boutique hotels in the US is The 21c Museum Hotel in Cincinnati. The essence of the hotel is fun and quirky. The museum, the penguins—it’s just a fun place to stay.

 Bev’s Key Loves

  • It’s quirky! What else can I say? I love it
  • Penguins, yellow at this property, are the mascots, seeming to be standing guard and keeping their eye on you 
  • The bathroom tiles – body parts. They are unique to Cincinnati. You won’t find them at any other 21c property
  • Some rooms have heated floors in the bathroom
  • An art museum as part of the hotel
  • Restaurant, and a bar. I am partial to the bar (I had my first bourbon port wine mixed drink here, it smelled like Christmas)
  • Very walkable area. I was able to walk from across the river in Kentucky back to the hotel
Two boys standing in front of the Stanley Hotel Estes Park, another on the list of the best boutique hotels in the US.

The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

The fourth hotel on my list of the best boutique hotels in the US is The Stanley Hotel. Location is the main focus here but not the main reason this is on my list. Yes, being located at the Rocky Mountain National Park entrance certainly has a perk. HOWEVER, the hotel itself has a right of its own to be on my list. The historical building, tales of the past, ghosts, personal service, and the bar – all add to the lure of being a favorite. 

Bev’s loves

  • Location – The setting is idyllic at the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park
  • Historic – Take a tour and learn not only about the hauntings but of its beginning with the Stanley Family
  • The stories! From Stephen Kings being inspired here for his books The Shining and Pet Cemetery, Jim Carrey being scared by the “ghosts” during the night and asking for a different room, to the stories of Stanley’s era and the men camping on the grounds. So many stories are here
  • Ghosts – oh yes, they talk about their spirits. From the moment I check-in, they have ghost stories to tell. Take a ghost tour; they are tons of fun. Never the same twice. (Yes, I’ve done this multiple times.) Check out more ghostly hotels here in my blog.
  • The historic building with beautiful interiors and recently updated rooms BUT they also have the lodge adjacent to the main building. Very new and some rooms with TWO KING beds. (Not just double beds).
  • Whiskey bar (You can see another awesome hotel with great whiskey here!)
  • Easy access to Rocky Mountain National Park
  • Visit in the right season, and you may see elk on the property
  • I love the old elevator
  • They let you roam; that’s right, you can wander and take photos all over the property
The massive wood lobby with chairs in the foreground of the Crossroads Hotel, a wonderful addition to the list of best boutique hotels in the US.

The Crossroads Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri

The fifth hotel on my list of the best boutique hotels in the US is The Crossroads Hotel. I LOVE this lobby; so unique, cavernous, and modern—a good story on the history of the building, a fantastic Italian restaurant onsite, and an art display.

 Bev’s Key Loves

  • The lobby is unique, minimal, with lots of wood, cavernous, and gorgeous
  • Historic (see a theme here? I love historic properties)
  • Stories of the history of the building built into the design of the hotel (think mob boss and PBR beer) 
  • Lazia Restaurant, is an old-world Italian restaurant complete with aperitifs while you wait for your table
  • KC Bourbon and PBR in the rooms
  • Local KC artisans work displayed and incorporated into the design elements
  • Art display in the lobby
  • Smart TV’s (they have their time of need, for sure)

I do not mention the beds or bedding as they are fabulous in all of these hotels. Wi-Fi isn’t something I’ve had to worry about at these hotels either.

Please let me know if you have any hotel suggestions for me. I am always open to learning about new places to try!

FIVE BEST HOTELS from Bev’s Picks

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