FT readers: your favourite independent hotels in the world’s great cities

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 to share your favourite independent hotels, and the responses flooded in with recommendations ranging from small family-run operations to beloved time-honoured institutions. Here is a selection that will enliven any city break this year.

Château Voltaire, Paris

A bed in a plain white room at Paris’s Château Voltaire, with a small square portrait of a man from the Middle Ages on a wall — ‘Ticks so many boxes’: Château Voltaire

The hotel’s Brasserie l’Émil, with a row of darkwood tables and chairs, a black and white tiled floor and seats against a marble counter over which hangs a row of globe lamps — The hotel’s Brasserie l’Émil © François Halard (2)

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. An 11/10 recommend. Website; Directions
— Rebecca Bullen, private client travel adviser, New York

The Imperial, New Delhi

The Imperial hotel’s whitewashed, Art Deco-style buildings, with palm trees and bushes in the courtyard — ‘Not just a hotel but a living museum’: The Imperial

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

One of the rooms at The Wilder, with a floral-patterned sofa, cluster of circular mirrors on the wall and a burgundy-velvet chair — One of the rooms at The Wilder

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

A small terrace overlooking midtown Manhattan at the Omni Berkshire Place hotel — The service at Omni Berkshire Place makes it the place to stay for one reader whenever she visits New York

This hotel in midtown Manhattan 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

Armchairs and a bed in a pink-hued room in Hotel Helka — One of Hotel Helka’s rooms

The 1920s white facade of Hotel Helka — The hotel is housed in a 1920s building in central 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

The brown and white Georgian facade of London’s Durrants Hotel — Durrants has been run by the same family for over a century

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

The bistro in Hong Kong’s The Fleming, with patterned smooth concrete walls, large windows and globe lamps — The bistro in Hong Kong’s The Fleming

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

The facade of Amsterdam’s De L’Europe hotel: a historic red-brick building at the side of a canal — The Dutch capital’s ‘classy and well-located’ De L’Europe hotel © Andy_Tan

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

The foliage-surrounded pool at Lisbon’s 19th-century Palácio Príncipe Real, with the pink facade of the hotel itself behind it — The pool at Lisbon’s 19th-century Palácio Príncipe Real

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

A room in Berlin’s Château Royal; behind the bed is a blue wall on which hangs an abstract artwork — Each room in Berlin’s Château Royal features work by a different artist or designer © Felix Brüggemann

A detail of the Château Royal’s mid-century style restaurant, with a woman holding a plate walking past a white neon artwork that reads “Hurrah, Die Butter Ist Alle” — The hotel’s restaurant © Felix Brüggemann

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 bar space in the Singer Palace Hotel with large windows overlooking central Rome, green, yellow and orange velvet chairs, stools and banquette and walls covered with a trompe l’oeil of ivy — The colourful Singer Palace Hotel © Stefano Pinci

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

A beige-toned room in The Hay-Adams hotel, look over the White House and the Washington Monument — Many rooms in The Hay-Adams look over the White House © kip dawkins

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

A room in Stockholm’s Lydmar Hotel, with a red velvet sofa, modernist black leather seat, ceiling to floor brown curtains and a chandelier-style lamp perched on a tall metallic stand — ‘Contemporary and cosmopolitan yet cosy’: Lydmar Hotel

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 bed in a room in Casa dos Guindais, with a pale-wood floor and a wall made of up of large, irregular soft-brown bricks — Casa dos Guindais is an 18th-century building with five studio apartments

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

The spa pool in Square Nine, with a rough white-stone wall — The spa pool in the Isay Weinfeld-designed Square Nine © Matthieu Salvaing

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

Huge plants growing from a pool in a glass-ceilinged space in Bangkok’s The Siam hotel — ‘Akin to being a guest in a wealthy Thai family’s sprawling home’: The Siam © Hasselblad H4D

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

The airy, high-ceilinged restaurant in Lille’s Les Toquées hotel, with tables and chairs on parquet flooring and leather banquettes around the wall — The restaurant in Lille’s Les Toquées hotel

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

The courtyard of Grana B&B, surrounded by a stately white and red 18th-century building — The courtyard of Grana B&B © Camila Cossio

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

A spacious room in Zürich’s Marktgrasse Hotel, with parquet flooring, plain white walls a large bed and an open iron-framed wardrobe — ‘Superb Old Town location’: Zürich’s Marktgrasse Hotel

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

The open-air pool at Riad No 37, surrounded by smooth pale beige walls and with large cacti in terracotta pots flanking large cushions — The pool at Riad No 37

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

A lounge in Cape Town’s Dorp hotel, with large plants flanking pale brown velvet sofas and chairs — Cape Town’s Dorp hotel © Claire Gunn

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

Rows of arch-shaped windows in the pink 19th-century facade of Lisbon’s The Ivens hotel — ‘A pearl in the heart of Lisbon’s Chiado district . . . © Francisco Nogueira/francisconogueira.com

A room in The Ivens hotel, with two modernist brown leather chairs in front of a blondwood double bed, a patterned green carpet and a ceiling covered in prints of plants — . . . with amazing rooms’: The Ivens © Francisco Nogueira/francisconogueira.com

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

Tell us about your favourite independent hotel in the comments below. And follow FT Globetrotter on Instagram at @FTGlobetrotter

Cities with the FT

FT Globetrotter, our insider guides to some of the world’s greatest cities, offers expert advice on eating and drinking, exercise, art and culture — and much more

Find us in London, Tokyo, New York, Paris, Rome, Frankfurt, Singapore, Hong Kong, Miami, Toronto, Madrid, Melbourne, Copenhagen, Zürich, Milan and Vancouver

FT readers: your favourite independent hotels in the world’s great cities

Cities with the FT

Promoted Content

Follow the topics in this article

Comments