What is the most whimsical boutique hotel in New Orleans?

Hotel Saint Vincent is the pick for New Orleans, set inside a red brick building from 1861 in the Lower Garden District that once served as an infant asylum. The interiors blend art deco, midcentury, and 20th century Italian influences, with bathrooms lined in pink and red tile and custom psychedelic wallpaper against moody, dark rooms. The Chapel Club bar adds neon signage and a hot pink velvet bar, and there's a courtyard pool under sky blue verandas.

Are there boutique hotels set inside a Victorian mansion?

The Madrona Hotel occupies an 1881 Victorian mansion in Healdsburg, California, restored in line with the Aesthetic Movement's belief in art and beauty for their own sake. Original antiques mix with bold new wallpaper and sculptural lighting throughout the gabled house and its wraparound porches. It's one of ten boutique hotels featured in Opulist's roundup of whimsically designed stays.

What is Ulysses Hotel in Baltimore known for?

Ulysses Hotel fills a 1912 apartment building in Baltimore's Mount Vernon neighborhood with a maximalist mix of Art Deco movie palace glamour, Victorian detail, and 1920s ocean liner style. Rooms feature canopy beds, hand-beaded lampshades, and flamingo motifs throughout. There's also a mirrored cocktail lounge designed to feel like an early disco.

How can I book a whimsical boutique hotels?

All ten hotels in this roundup, including Hotel Saint Vincent in New Orleans, The Madrona in Healdsburg, and Ulysses Hotel in Baltimore, are bookable through Opulist's Journey rewards partnership. The collection spans locations from Martha's Vineyard's Faraway hotel in Edgartown to Anna & Bel in North Philadelphia. Each property was chosen for playful, unexpected design rather than a strictly minimalist or corporate look.

Where can I find a maximalist hotel with playful, unexpected design?

For maximalist design with a sense of humor, Ulysses Hotel in Baltimore's Mount Vernon and Hotel Saint Vincent in New Orleans' Lower Garden District both deliver, layering bold pattern, saturated color, and unexpected detail into historic buildings. The Madrona Hotel in Healdsburg takes a similar approach inside an 1881 Victorian mansion, pairing original antiques with sculptural lighting and bold wallpaper. All three appear in Opulist's list of ten boutique hotels designed with whimsy.

Boutique Hotels Designed with Whimsy

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August 21, 2026 · by Opulist

Good design comes in a lot of shapes and sizes. There's the sleek and elevated kind. The simple and safe kind. The kind meant to shock you. And then there's the kind that makes you smile the second you walk in, the lighthearted, unexpected, delight-first kind. Call it whimsy.

These ten boutique stays prove that good design doesn't have to take itself so seriously. Playful color, unexpected detail, and a sense of humor go a long way.

This intimate corner feels like a hushed conversation in a secluded Parisian salon, defined by the rich interplay of tactile cane, plush velvet, and timeworn plaster. The soft glow of a single candle against the textured walls creates an atmosphere of effortless, old-world elegance. — Hotel Saint Vincent – New Orleans, LA

Hotel Saint Vincent occupies a red brick 1861 building in New Orleans' Lower Garden District that once housed an infant asylum. The interiors mix art deco, midcentury, and 20th century Italian influences, with moody dark rooms giving way to bathrooms lined in pink and red tile and custom psychedelic wallpaper. The courtyard pool sits under sky blue verandas, and the Chapel Club glows with neon signage and a hot pink velvet bar.

A masterclass in eclectic layering, this light-filled parlor balances moody, oversized art with the plush warmth of a velvet settee. The space feels like a private residence of a world-traveling collector, offering a sophisticated yet lived-in atmosphere that invites long conversations by the fire. — The Madrona Hotel – Healdsburg, CA

The Madrona sits inside an 1881 Victorian mansion in Healdsburg, restored with a nod to the Aesthetic Movement's belief in art and beauty for their own sake. Antiques original to the property mingle with bold new wallpaper, sculptural lighting, and saturated color throughout the gabled house and its wraparound porches.

A masterclass in maximalism, this sultry corner envelops guests in layers of dusty rose, ornate gilt accents, and rich, eclectic patterns. It feels like a secret, storied retreat within a grand estate, perfect for hushed conversations and late-night dreaming. — Ulysses Hotel – Baltimore, MD

Ulysses Hotel fills a 1912 apartment building in Baltimore's Mount Vernon with a maximalist mix of Art Deco movie palace glamour, Victorian detail, and 1920s ocean liner style. Expect canopy beds, hand-beaded lampshades, flamingo motifs throughout, and a mirrored cocktail lounge with the feel of an early disco.

This cozy, eclectic hideaway feels like a private library in a storied European townhouse, wrapped in warm terracotta tones and punctuated by a witty collection of art. The dramatic, arched floor lamp casts a golden glow over plush upholstery, creating the ultimate sanctuary for slow sips and deep conversation. — Anna & Bel – Philadelphia, PA

Anna & Bel transformed an 18th century former women's asylum in Philadelphia's Fishtown into a warm, curved retreat with sage, terra-cotta, and amber tones throughout. Original brick walls and wood beams stay exposed, and a courtyard pool framed by a wraparound balcony echoes the balconies of New Orleans' French Quarter.

A masterclass in playful maximalism, this bedroom marries bold patterns and rich textures to create a space that feels both high-fashion and deeply comforting. The scalloped details and vibrant grasscloth walls evoke the spirited, curated charm of a quintessential English boutique stay. — Crosby Street Hotel – New York, NY

Crosby Street Hotel brings Kit Kemp's signature maximalism to SoHo, with a gallery-like lobby anchored by sculpture from artists like Fernando Botero and Jaume Plensa. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the rooms with light, and no two are alike, each layered in bold pattern, color, and Kemp's playful custom textiles.

A masterclass in maximalist storytelling, this room wraps guests in a rich tapestry of exotic prints, velvet textures, and warm, glowing sconces. It’s a curated treasure trove that feels like a glamorous, film-set sanctuary from another era. — The Lafayette Hotel and Club – San Diego, CA · Photo by The Lafayette Hotel and Club First image via Opulist

The Lafayette Hotel channels the grand hotels of the early 1900s inside its restored 1946 building in San Diego. The lobby is gilded with plastered crown molding, vintage checkered marble floors, and crystal chandeliers under a glass atrium, while the rooms carry a botanical, slightly gothic wallpaper throughout.

An expertly curated slice of modern coastal luxury, where playful scalloped details and a punchy apricot sofa meet the quiet sophistication of bone-inlay craftsmanship. This space feels like an eternal summer afternoon, blending eclectic textures with a lighthearted, high-design sensibility. — The Georgian – Santa Monica, CA

The Georgian returned its 1933 Art Deco building on Santa Monica's Ocean Avenue to its original turquoise glory. Inside, original crown moldings, medallions, and archways pair with burnished brass, plush velvet, and imported Italian marble for a look designers call Havana Art Deco.

This thoughtfully composed suite blends residential warmth with high-design precision, featuring a palette of forest greens and soft blues against rich oak millwork. The sun-drenched nook invites long mornings of slow living, offering a sophisticated retreat that feels both elevated and deeply personal. — Hotel Bardo – Savannah, GA

Hotel Bardo reimagines an 1888 Victorian mansion in Savannah through what its designers call deliberate maximalism, layering saturated color and playful pattern against preserved historic detail. A palm-lined courtyard pool evokes an Italian lido, and a tucked away pink room glows under a pink glass chandelier.

This suite is a masterclass in soft-focused luxury, where plush quilted textures meet a sophisticated palette of rose and sage. It feels like a quiet, high-fashion retreat designed for indulgence and afternoon dreaming. — Fouquet's – New York, NY · Photo by Fouquet’s

Fouquet's brought its Parisian roots to Tribeca through designer Martin Brudnizki, who dressed the hotel in Art Deco inspired lavender and pistachio tones. Custom Toile de Jouy wallpaper, parquet floors, and violet marble bathrooms give the rooms a residential, distinctly French feel.

An architectural masterpiece defined by its grid-patterned woodwork and a whimsical light installation that mimics floating petals. The space expertly balances precision with soulful textures, blending high-wattage chrome accents with the grounded warmth of vintage textiles and natural cane. — Faraway Martha's Vineyard – Edgartown, MA

Faraway Martha's Vineyard reworked the historic Kelley House into a mid-century inspired retreat with a warm, sandy palette and a botanical touch throughout. Floor-to-ceiling drapery reveals oversized cabinetry stocked with curiosities, and a fluted marble fireplace anchors the double-height lobby.

Whimsy might be the hardest kind of design to pull off well. It asks a space to be beautiful and a little bit fun at the same time, and every one of these ten manages it.

All ten hotels are bookable through Journey, our rewards partner for boutique and independent stays. Members earn points on direct bookings, plus perks like member rates, suite upgrades, and personalized recognition at the kinds of hotels worth being a regular at. Get your complimentary Journey membership here and start earning points on stays like these.

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