Small and New. Two of our absolute favorite things collide in this list with twelve of the tiniest hotels added to our selection in 2023.
Our 2023 retrospective rolls along. First we showed you our picks for the Best New Hotel Designs of 2023. Then we put together the Most Popular New Hotels of 2023 according to you. Now it’s time for something we can all agree on: the newest Tablet hotels with the fewest rooms. There were no shortage of options for this list; we add hotels with under 10 rooms all the time. Thanks to their intimate size and the likelihood that they’re owner-operated, they tend to be overflowing with the kind of unique personality we’re suckers for.
Riad No. 37
Marrakech, Morocco
Unlike the vast majority of riad hotels, No. 37 is visibly Scandinavian in its design inspiration, constraining its color palette to cool neutrals and warm browns, providing a subdued background that maximally contrasts with the ornamental carving and woodwork. The hotel’s eight rooms hold a maximum of 16 guests, and it’s an adults-only hotel — both ensure that the atmosphere is always tranquil.
Hofke van Bazel
Kruibeke, Belgium
Chef Kris de Roy worked in multiple Michelin-starred kitchens along the way to opening his own establishment, and in 2013 his own Restaurant Hofke van Bazel was awarded a Michelin star of its own. As you will have gathered from the context, though, Hofke van Bazel is more than a restaurant — following the European tradition of chef-driven destinations, it’s a 5-room luxury boutique hotel as well.
Pa.te.os
Melides, Portugal
Pa.te.os is a celebration of indoor-outdoor living. It’s no ordinary hotel but a collection of four modernist concrete houses designed by architect Manuel Aires Mateus, set just inland from Melides, on the Alentejo coast. They’re built around loosely enclosed courtyards, and the rooms are separated from their outdoor counterparts by fully retractable glass walls.
Andaru Collection Niseko
Niseko, Japan
A glance at Andaru Niseko’s villas and it’s clear you’re in for something unusual. Architect Koichi Ishiguro was inspired by the traditional dwellings of the indigenous Ainu people, and if the end result has something in common with Alpine A-frames, it’s no accident — Niseko is a popular winter destination, and these two-story villas stand tall above even the deepest snowfall.
Pnoēs Tinos
Tinos Town, Greece
A nearby alternative to busy Mykonos is the island of Tinos, practically undiscovered in mass-travel terms. And while Pnoēs Tinos will raise the island’s profile, it’s not likely to disturb the local tranquility — this ultra-stylish retreat comprises a mere three villas. They’re the work of the Greek firm Aristides Dallas Architects, and they’re a very modern evolution of the classic Cycladid white-on-white look.
The Collective at Woolsery
Woolsery, England
The Collective is no ordinary hotel, but something more like a southern Italian “albergo diffuso” in the North Devon village of Woolsery. It encompasses the Farmers Arms pub, the neighboring chip shop, the J. Andrew Shop & Post Office, the nearby Birch Farm, plus 7 overnight cottages, rooms, and suites divided amongst the property, each one with its own distinct personality.
Lùme
Siracusa, Italy
Ortigia, the historic heart of the city of Siracusa, is the setting for Lùme, a six-bedroom boutique bed and breakfast owned by a Parisian hotelier. At this size, it’s a relatively simple matter to furnish a hotel with the warmth and intimacy of a private home; what’s more remarkable is to combine that feeling with the sophisticated stylishness that’s on display at Lùme.
Bask & Stow
Byron Bay, Australia
Australian hotels do a lot of things well, but perhaps nothing lies more squarely within the national expertise than this sort of laid-back, effortlessly chic seaside escape. Bask & Stow is a few minutes’ walk from the main drag of Byron Bay. The neighborhood provides the low-key, residential vibe, and Bask & Stow is nowhere near large enough to spoil it, with just five suites and a stand-alone three-bedroom cottage.
La Maison du Passage
Martignargues, France
A few miles to the west of Uzès, nestled into a hillside that shields it from the mistral winds, is the picturesque village of Martignargues, a settlement with thousands of years of history. It’s here, at the foot of the Cévennes mountain range, that you’ll find La Maison du Passage, a thoroughly tranquil and exceedingly characterful six-room bed and breakfast set right on the little village square.
Hemma
Aubonne, Switzerland
Americans who regularly confuse Switzerland and Sweden will be further confounded by Hemma, a thoroughly Scandinavian boutique hotel in Aubonne, not far from the northern shore of Lake Geneva. It’s a unique mix of Swiss Alpine architecture and Swedish coziness, and the interior design style of its five rooms is marked by the visual simplicity beloved by both cultures.
Casa Duro
Dallas, TX, USA
On Lower Greenville Avenue in Dallas is something genuinely surprising: a restaurant, Sister, and a café, Duro, both “Italianish” in concept, and both by the small but highly regarded Duro Hospitality Group. And upstairs from both is Casa Duro, a three-room guest house, or a trio of apartments, by the same owners, where their appetite for Italian culture is allowed to run wild.
Kerem Luxury Beachfront Villas
Koh Samui, Thailand
Life at Kerem Luxury Beachfront Villas is as tranquil as can be. Set on a hillside, at the end of a peninsula, overlooking a private beach, Kerem comprises a mere four villas: two beachfront villas and two terrace villas, set a few steps up the hill. All of them are luxuriously self-contained, with three full bedrooms, private pools, plentiful living and lounging space, and full kitchens.
Mark Fedeli is the hotel marketing and editorial director for Tablet and Michelin Guide. He’s been with Tablet since 2006, and he thinks you should subscribe to our newsletter.