#1  The Standard Brussels, Brussels

Few European cities are as cosmopolitan as Brussels: more than 40 percent of its residents are foreign nationals. The Belgian capital also boasts the highest proportion of young people in the EU, beating even Paris and Dublin. The perfect ingredients for a vibrant city experience. Sights, museums, galleries, and restaurants are all within easy walking distance. From the office and high-rise district of "Quartier Nord", it’s a 20-minute stroll to the historic Grand-Place. In May 2025, the trendsetting "Standard" group opened its thirteenth property worldwide here - a 200-room hotel (doubles from around €180). The highlight: "Lila29", a rooftop restaurant on the 29th floor offering a cinematic panorama and Iberian-style sharing plates. On the ground floor, the main restaurant "Double Standard" connects to the "Greenhouse" - a striking glasshouse space also used for events. Further "Standard" openings are planned for Lisbon and Dublin in 2026 and 2027.

#2  The Welbeck, London

Behind its Edwardian façade, this hotel was already a whispered insider tip back when it still operated as the Holiday Inn. Following a complete renovation, it has been shining anew as "The Welbeck" since early 2025. The 164 stylishly compact rooms (from around £260) offer everything you need and nothing superfluous. Most, however, don’t come with much of a view. For a proper London outlook, go for a front-facing room on one of the upper floors - ideally with a number ending in 73 to 77. The central location in the elegant Marylebone district is a privilege in itself: tranquil yet undeniably urban. Oxford Street, London’s famed shopping artery, is just a short stroll away. Those who prefer to stay in after a day of sightseeing or shopping can enjoy light bites late into the evening at the relaxed hotel bar. A freely accessible photo booth, complete with vintage props like top hats and stick-on moustaches, ensures guests leave with delightfully original memories. The Welbeck has only one drawback: it’s often booked up early.

#3  Cristine Bedfor Guest House, Málaga

After Mahón (Menorca) and Seville, former journalist Cristina Lozano has now opened her third guest house - this time amid the maze of narrow, Moorish-inspired lanes in Málaga’s old town. As with her sister properties, Lozano’s guiding philosophy is to offer guests a key to the authentic local experience - whether in the homey communal spaces with a small bistro or through visits to friendly artisans, artists, and fashion designers. Even in select restaurants around the Andalusian city, the charming hotel team opens doors and ensures "Bedfor" guests are warmly welcomed everywhere. The three dozen rooms (from around €200) are more lively in design than in the previous houses - thanks to the touch of young Spanish designer Marta de la Rica. She boldly combines colors and patterns, drawing inspiration from Andalusia’s rich cultural palette, and layers it all with thoughtful details in art, textiles, and vintage furniture.

#4  The Hoxton Vienna, Vienna

At the northern end of the city park, in the former headquarters of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, stands the "Hoxton Vienna". The modest postwar office building forms a striking contrast to Vienna’s classical and Art Nouveau architecture, reinterpreting mid-century aesthetics with confident style: terrazzo floors, vintage furniture from the 1940s, and textiles and ceramics in the colors and geometric patterns of the Wiener Werkstätte. On the ground floor, the restaurant "Bouvier" serves French bistro cuisine, while one level below, the underground bar "Salon Paradise" offers live jazz. Up on the roof, a chic cocktail bar and small rooftop pool invite relaxation - with views of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Of the 196 rooms (from around €180), most measure only 15 to 19 square meters (the smallest, aptly called "Shoebox", are even more compact). Those seeking a bit more space should opt for the "Roomy" category.

#5  Park Lane, Copenhagen

Twenty minutes by taxi or train from the city center, in the peaceful, upscale suburb of Hellerup and right beside the leafy Øregård Park, the elegantly understated "Park Lane" appeals to travelers who see a bit of distance from the urban buzz as an advantage. The graceful white building once served as a private members’ club, later as a cinema, and now houses 69 guest rooms (from around 2400 DKK), a restaurant, and a wine bar - all in a calm Scandinavian chic of soft cream and earthy tones. The suites on the first floor impress with high stucco ceilings and spacious bathrooms, while the rooms on the third and fourth floors offer views over Hellerup’s villas. Breakfast is sublime, the team warm and attentive, and of course, bicycles are always available for guests.

#6  Stockholm Stadshotell, Stockholm

The "Stadshotell" is more than just a hotel. A group of creative minds led by Swedish entrepreneur Fredrik Carlström has transformed the 150-year-old building in Södermalm into a small universe of Scandinavian craftsmanship and (retro) design. No two of the 32 rooms (from around 3800 SEK) are alike, yet all revive the spirit of the Arts & Crafts movement from the building’s founding era. The aim: not just to welcome overnight guests but to bring the local community into the house - for coffee, business lunches, or dinner with friends. And you can feel it: in the lounge, the bar, the two restaurants - one in the former chapel, the other with a terrace in the courtyard - Stockholm meets the world. It’s an exchange, lively and invigorating. And an atmosphere found nowhere else. As the "Financial Times" put it: "A living room for the city."

#7  Kimpton Bem, Budapest

With Kimpton Hotels, you know what to expect: a colorful, playful look with local flair. That brand DNA also defines its first Eastern European location, the "Kimpton Bem Budapest" on Bem József Square. Behind the neoclassical façade of a former barracks on the Buda side, Dutch interior designer Marcel Wanders was free to unleash his creativity. His flamboyant interiors are rich in folkloric symbols and historical references—capturing the culture and spirit of the Danube city. The lobby’s focal point is a large deer sculpture referencing the Csodaszarvas, a key figure in Hungarian mythology. The "Kimpton Bem" features 127 rooms (from around €210), the Mediterranean restaurant "Agos", the rooftop bar "Fennen", and a small spa with sauna and gym. But the real highlight is the service led by General Manager Attila AE Domby: a team passionate about their hotel and an energy that accompanies guests from check-in to breakfast.

#8  The Social Hub Rome, Rome

Opened in spring 2025, the new hotspot in the San Lorenzo district, near Roma Termini station, has quickly made a name for itself as the "cool kid" of the Eternal City’s hotel scene. The property combines 392 functionally modern rooms (from around €220) with extensive co-working spaces, a fitness area, rooftop pool, and public parkland. Regular community events fill the calendar - from yoga and Zumba to pottery and ceramics workshops. With its headquarters in Amsterdam and twenty locations across Europe, "The Social Hub" aims to connect creative locals with laid-back global travelers. The complex also includes the historic railway customs house, now home to the Accademia Italiana for Design, Fashion, and Photography.

#9  Hôtel Grand Coeur Latin, Paris

Paris has no shortage of hotels that strive, sometimes too visibly, to achieve that effortless elegance which instantly envelops guests in a sense of grandeur. The "Grand Coeur Latin", in the heart of the 5th arrondissement, pulls it off seemingly without trying - perhaps because it doesn’t make a show of effort but simply does the ordinary exceptionally well. During renovations in recent years, workers unexpectedly uncovered remnants from the Roman era, which then inspired the interior design: warm terracotta tones and arch motifs, echoing Roman aqueducts, run throughout the property. The 75 rooms (from around €330), some overlooking the quiet courtyard, are spread across seven floors. But the true highlight lies below ground: a stylish spa with a 15-meter heated pool - perfect for unwinding after long city walks. Just a few steps away: the Jardin du Luxembourg.

#10  NOT Hotel, Athen 

The concept “No Ordinary Things”, which also gives the hotel its name, sets the tone for a truly exceptional hospitality experience. Here, the art of Greek hospitality merges with the multifaceted, over 200-year history of the building complex, creating a journey through time. Once a brothel, a horse stable, a barracks for English soldiers during World War II, and a film studio in the 1970s, the complex later fell into disrepair, until it rose like a phoenix from the ashes to new life. Today, it presents itself as a unique retreat in the lively Kerameikos neighborhood, close to the well-preserved Temple of Hephaistos and about a 25-minute walk from the Acropolis. The 21 rooms (from around €320) feature exposed stone walls, vintage furnishings, and thoughtful design details, arranged around a charming courtyard with olive trees and an outdoor pool.

#11  The Hoxton Florence, Florence

Founded in London’s East End in 2006, the Hoxton group has become one of the most dynamic players in international hospitality. It transforms parking lots into urban hideaways, gives historic buildings new life, and infuses modern architecture with fresh energy. Each property reflects the character and spirit of its surroundings - at prices that attract a young, vibrant clientele. In spring 2025, the seventeenth Hoxton opened: "The Hoxton Florence", just north of the city center near Piazza della Libertà. Mixing Renaissance splendor, postmodern architecture, and contemporary flair, the hotel spans a 16th-century palazzo and an adjoining wing designed in the 1980s by Florentine architect Andrea Branzi. Preserved ceiling frescoes, travertine mosaic floors, and whitewashed walls merge harmoniously with Memphis-inspired wardrobes and boldly striped lamps. At the heart of the 158-room property (from around €255), with its restaurant and wine bar, lies a lush courtyard for eating, drinking, and relaxing - also a favorite among locals.