The 10 Best New Boutique Hotels

Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills

Completed in 2014, the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills is one of Tokyo's newest luxury hotels. It was built in the top floors (47 through 52) of the Toranomon Hills skyscraper, with enormous windows overlooking the city. Cleverly placed telescopes and a sophisticated rooftop bar are excellent ways to take in the sights. Like all Andaz properties, this hotel has an open-concept lobby, and "hosts" take the place of traditional front-desk agents and concierge staff. The 164 luxurious guest rooms have free minibars, large soaking tubs and plenty of closet space.

Refinery Hotel, New York City

Refinery Hotel, a stylish urban boutique hotel in New York's Garment District, opened in May 2013 in a historic building that was once a tea salon and hat factory. The property's past inspired its present industrial-chic design, and small details such as decorative milliner's tools pay homage to the building's former function. In the lobby, cool, white stone and Gothic arches are contrasted against colorful contemporary art, while in the 197 rooms, a minimalist black-and-white motif is warmed up by oak hardwood floors. Features include a fitness center, a lobby bar (named for the historical tea salon's owner), the Parker & Quinn bistro and a cool rooftop bar. 

Hotel Hugo, New York City

The Hotel Hugo is a stylish, upscale, 122-room boutique property located on the far west side of SoHo in the newly coined Hudson Square neighborhood. Architect Marcello Pozzi's design pairs a downtown industrial style with sleek maritime-inspired interiors. Rooms are finished with polished walnut, shiny chrome fixtures and Hudson River views, evoking the feeling of staying on a ritzy Italian yacht. A rooftop bar and nightclub delivers 2 floors of lounge space and panoramic city and river views.

The Peninsula Paris

The 200-room Peninsula Paris, located in the 16th arrondissement near the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Elysees, is one of the city's top luxury hotels, priding itself on offering personalized service with the help of 600 staff members. It reopened in 2014 after a 4-year, multimillion-dollar restoration. The historic property offers guests opulent interiors and several dining and drinking options, including a rooftop restaurant with beautiful panoramic views of the city. The rooms, which are some of the largest in Paris, feature elegant decor in neutral tones and a bounty of high-tech details, including tablet-operated lights, temperature and valet calls.

The Redbury South Beach, Miami

With a spacious rooftop pool offering incredible views, a restaurant with a bold Mediterranean menu, and 69 large, contemporary guest rooms, the Redbury South Beach is a beautiful, upscale boutique hotel located right in the center of South Beach. Decorated in a bright art deco style, with clean lines and lovely outdoor spaces, this property, which opened in December 2013, offers guests direct access to the beach, as well as a wide variety of restaurants, shops and entertainment options within walking distance. 

The Cove Eleuthera, Bahamas

Far, far removed from the crowds of Nassau is the Cove Eleuthera, a 40-acre boutique resort on Eleuthera Island. The property, which opened in 2013, is a hot spot for celebs seeking privacy and features a jaw-dropping infinity pool and cliff-side bar sitting between 2 man-made pink-sand beaches. The 150 chic rooms have white decor, and enormous villas with private plunge pools and state-of-the-art kitchens are also available.

Janas Hotel, Sardinia, Italy

Opened in 2014, the Janas Hotel has 14 airy rooms in the center of Villasimius. Breakfast, which is served in a sleek room with a bar and outdoor seating on an adjoining terrace, is included in the room rates. Guests staying in superior deluxe rooms get exclusive use of the rooftop whirlpool. Wi-Fi is free, but there's a charge for parking. 

ME London

The 157-room ME London is a design hotel that opened in 2013 in a prime location right on the Strand. From the dark lobby to the chic, minimalist rooms, there is an artistic and exclusive atmosphere to the hotel. On-site restaurants, lounges and bars — including a trendy rooftop bar — are destinations in their own right, attracting both locals and visitors. Tech-savvy rooms have cool and functional bedside lighting controls, along with luxurious bathrooms.

Nayara Springs, Costa Rica

Luxurious in every way, the 16-room, adults-only Nayara Springs is the top resort in the area for couples who are seeking romance and privacy — but who can do without volcano views. Large, rustic-luxe rooms have a bevy of amenities (minibar items, international calls) and gadgets (Bluetooth music players, espresso machines) included in the room rate. Its nearest competitor is the Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens, which happens to be its family-friendly sister property next door (volcano views are available there), but Nayara Springs, opened in 2013, is certainly more upscale and modern.