What makes a hotel a "city hotel" in this collection?

Each property is shortlisted for a genuinely central location and the character to match — a design-led or historic building, a notable restaurant or bar, and the service that turns a city break into a stay. The address does half the work; the experience does the rest.

Which cities does the collection cover?

The edit spans continents — European hubs including Amsterdam, Vienna, Barcelona, Lisbon and Athens; Asian cities including Hong Kong and Chiang Mai; the Americas from San Francisco to Cartagena; and the southern hemisphere from Auckland to Sydney.

Are city hotels good for short breaks?

Yes — that's their purpose. Central positions keep transfers short and put museums, restaurants and landmarks within walking distance, so a two- or three-night stay loses no time to logistics.

Do these hotels have rooftop bars or restaurants?

Many do. Several properties carry rooftop terraces, notable bars and Michelin-recognised restaurants — details are on each property page.

City Hotels

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Introducing City Hotels

A good city hotel is a base and a refuge at once — central enough to walk out into the noise, calm enough to retreat from it. Our editors shortlist for both: a location that puts the city at your feet, and the design and service that make the room worth returning to between museums and meals.

The edit circles the globe. In Vienna, Hotel Sans Souci sits in the MuseumsQuartier with the city's longest hotel pool; in Amsterdam, Hotel TwentySeven holds sixteen neo-Baroque suites on Dam Square above the Michelin-starred Bougainville. Athens brings 18 Micon Str, a design hotel carved from a 1950s Psiri warehouse; Rovaniemi brings Arctic Light, the city's 1949 civic hall reborn under Paavo Tynell lighting. Further afield, The Pottinger anchors Central Hong Kong, and Hotel Quadrifolio occupies a colonial residence in the old town of Cartagena.

Climb up for the view, wander out for the culture, or never leave the room. The edit below carries the city hotel for it.

Browse on Map — City Hotels

Explore 61 exceptional boutique hotels from the City Hotels collection around the world. Click a pin to discover each property.

Exquisite City Hotels

Arctic Light Hotel — Finland, Rovaniemi
Arctic Light
The 1949 former Kauppalantalo of Rovaniemi, redeveloped by the Gröhn family in 2015 as a 57-room boutique hotel — Paavo Tynell lighting…
Price for 1 night from
€135.30
4.6 (18)

The Serras Hotel — Spain, Barcelona
Serras Barcelona
A 28-room boutique hotel on Barcelona's waterfront, in the building that held Picasso's first studio, with a rooftop pool and bar overlooking Marina…
Price for 1 night from
€218.00
4.6 (18)

China, Hong Kong
The Pottinger
A 68-room heritage boutique hotel on historic Pottinger Street in Central, themed around the photography of Fan Ho, with serious dining and a…
Price for 1 night from
€225.60
4.6 (18)

Austria, Vienna
Hotel Sans Souci Wien
A 71-room hotel in Vienna's MuseumsQuartier with interiors by Studio yoo London, the city's longest hotel pool, and the 1858 stage of Strauss's…
Price for 1 night from
€264.80
4.6 (18)

Colombia, Cartagena
Hotel Quadrifolio
Intimate colonial residence in the heart of Colombia's Caribbean coast
Price for 1 night from
€267.20
4.6 (18)

Netherlands, Amsterdam
The Toren
The Toren — 40 rooms in two 1618 canal houses on Amsterdam's Keizersgracht, UNESCO Canal District. Theatrical baroque interior by Wim van de…
Price for 1 night from
€286.50
4.6 (18)

Portugal, Lisbon
Corpo Santo Lisbon Historical Hotel
A historic five-star hotel in Lisbon's Cais do Sodré, built around a preserved stretch of the medieval Fernandina Wall and artefacts found…
Price for 1 night from
€299.20
4.6 (18)

Netherlands, Amsterdam
Hotel TwentySeven
Hotel TwentySeven — 16 neo-Baroque suites on Amsterdam's Dam Square, Two Michelin Keys, 1-star Bougainville restaurant, Eric de Toren's dream…
Price for 1 night from
€632.60
4.6 (18)

Hotel Grand Windsor — New Zealand, Auckland
Fable Auckland
Downtown Auckland’s bustling and vibrant main street, a stone’s throw from the beautiful harbour, CBD and directly out the front…
Price for 1 night from
€75.80
4.6 (18)

Laos, Vang Vieng
Riverside Boutique Resort
A 34-room riverside hotel on the Nam Song in Vang Vieng, each room themed on a different Lao ethnic group, set against the karst mountains, with a…
Price for 1 night from
€90.80
4.6 (18)

Greece, Athens
18 Micon Str
18 Micon Str. — 15-room design hotel in a 1950s Psiri warehouse, opened 2017 by Minas Terlidis and George Tsoukalas, with floor-to-ceiling…
Price for 1 night from
€100.50
4.6 (18)

hotel-zetta-bhc — United States, San Francisco
Hotel Zetta
Where innovation meets indulgence, Hotel Zetta is San Francisco’s go-to for stylish travelers seeking design-forward digs, a creative spark…
Price for 1 night from
€105.70
4.6 (18)

Frequently Asked Questions about City Hotels

: Each property is shortlisted for a genuinely central location and the character to match — a design-led or historic building, a notable restaurant or bar, and the service that turns a city break into a stay. The address does half the work; the experience does the rest.