Hey (HAP)pers,
Today’s issue of Hotel Espresso by HAP features one of our most meticulous selections of the year.
Ten boutique hotels. The kind Senior Editor Britney Eschelman and I couldn’t stop thinking about—so we turned it into both a list AND a HAP Radio podcast (because some places demand more than a paragraph).
From Montana’s splashiest debut to a Sahara fortress, our sacred “Where to Stay in 2026” curation starts here. ⬇️
- HAP Founder, Brandon Berkson 💛
Brandon’s Picks (CEO & Editor-in-Chief) ✍️
La Valise Mazunte (Mazunte, Mexico)
Perched on a cliff with sweeping views of the glittering Pacific, La Valise Mazunte sits near the laid-back Oaxaca town of Mazunte. The property features horizon-melting infinity pools, a private beach dotted with palapas, and villas with balcony-framed vistas. Its standout, though, is architect Alberto Kalach’s Villa Pentágonos—a hexagonal Brutalist masterpiece offering panoramic ocean views, its own infinity pool, and undeniable design pedigree.
Jacumba Hot Springs (Jacumba, California)
A mystical oasis less than 90 minutes from San Diego, Jacumba Hot Springs sits atop a desert vortex, making it feel exceedingly spiritual. The 20-key hideaway flaunts three mineral pools; the standout is the Echo Room, a circular tub with a sky-gazing oculus overhead. The friend group behind the hotel didn’t just buy the property—they snapped up the entire one-horse town of Jacumba, the manmade lake, the boulder-studded mountains, and an old bathhouse now reimagined as a ruinous venue for concerts and weddings. (Also, the branding here impresses all with a penchant for powerful creativity.)
De Plesman Hotel (The Hague, Netherlands)
While war criminals face judgment at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, travelers can ensconce themselves at one of the Netherlands’ most design-forward boutique hotels. De Plesman occupies the former KLM headquarters and still showcases its aviation pedigree—original KLM reception desks, a vintage revolving door, and an austere concrete façade all remain. Inside, warm shades of brown and burnt orange mingle with abstract patterns, complemented by more than 500 artworks, including pieces on loan from Beelden aan Zee, the city’s esteemed sculpture museum. The property comprises 103 guestrooms and 19 serviced apartments for extended stays.
La Tour d’Ole (Dakhla, Western Sahara, Africa)
La Tour d’Eole is an eco-minded escape on Dakhla Bay, set on El Argoub beach with 300 days of wind and its own water sports academy for kitesurfing, windsurfing, and wing-foil. Its 45 rooms—bungalows, suites, and villas—are sustainably built, many with ocean views, and villas come with private pools. The spa offers Berber massages, yoga, and a Zellige-tiled hamam, while the heated geothermal infinity pool overlooks the lagoon. All-inclusive dining (drinks extra) leans hyperlocal and organic, with oysters from two kilometres away, lagoon-caught fish, and Moroccan–French plates by chef Ali Timouni.
Kurulu Bay (Ahangama, Sri Lanka)
Ahangama is a bohemian town on Sri Lanka’s southern shore, home to a medley of expats who traded hustle and bustle for yoga classes, Ayurvedic healing, and surfing sessions. Kurulu Bay is a 15-key stay that’s a short drive from Ahangama, set on the shimmering Lake Koggala, with an atmosphere where chirping birds soundtrack a tract of land kitted out in leafy treehouses, garden-gazing suites, and four cottages. The spa’s sensational Ayurvedic treatments tantalize all who opt in: the Kurulu Calm massage relieves tension in the body and mind by targeting stress, hot bundle therapy eases aches and pains, and hormones are said to receive healing via one of the in-house Marna Points sessions.
Nestled in Georgia’s quiet foothills, Quercus is an all-inclusive, adults-only retreat built around a 360-degree working ranch and closed-loop agricultural program. Its four standalone cottages feature Visconti di Modrone family antiques, wood-fired saunas, cold plunges, and in-room red-light therapy. At the center is Uberto, a 30-seat tasting-menu restaurant from Michelin-starred Chef Ryan Smith, with activities spanning foraging, garden tours, kayaking, and equestrian experiences.
Britney’s Picks (Senior Editor) ✍️
One&Only Moonlight Basin (Big Sky, Montana)
One&Only’s debut U.S. resort is making serious waves. The ultra-luxury brand chose Montana—specifically a 240-acre stretch within Moonlight Basin, framed by 17,000 acres of protected wilderness—for its first American outpost, signaling a major move west. The property’s 73 rooms, suites, and private cabins (many with hot tubs) channel the region’s rugged beauty through Olson Kundig’s signature lens: floor-to-ceiling windows, fireplaces, and woodsy tones that melt into the landscape. It’s the American West, but elevated to One&Only heights.
Hôtel Massé (Pigalle, Paris, France)
Billed as “a refuge in the heart of Pigalle,” Hôtel Massé nails that effortlessly chic French-girl aesthetic—quiet, unfussy, and impossibly cool. Here, mornings begin with fluffy croissants and a quiet appreciation for the minimalist interiors—punctuated with art that carries that certain je ne sais quoi. A petite gym adds a dash of well-being, and the hotel’s cocktail bar, Trente—open until 2 a.m.—beckons guests drifting in after concerts at La Cigale. It’s an urban hideaway that still plugs you into the pulse of Parisian life.
Hotel No Vacancy (Kansas City, Missouri)
Set in the heart of Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District, No Vacancy has been a creative magnet since its July 2020 debut, blending eclectic design with the neighborhood’s infectious artistic energy. Surrounded by studios, galleries, and indie businesses, the boutique stay has evolved into a spirited gathering place for locals and travelers alike. Its latest chapter is Le Lounge, a swanky cocktail bar and stylish lobby hangout that brings project mastermind Spencer Sight’s design-first vision to life.
The Brecon (Adelboden, Switzerland)
Think Slim Aarons’ ‘80s Swiss ski scenes brought to life. Set in a 15th-century pocket of the Bernese Oberland region, The Brecon is a family-owned, adults-only inn that feels like a stylish friend’s alpine hideaway—fitting, since the owners have spent 40 years in this corner of the Alps and built the concept around the way they host their own mountain home. The former chalet leans into grown-up coziness with fashionable interiors, fresh seasonal cooking, free-flowing cocktails and local wines, plus rooms stocked with complimentary minibars and Aesop amenities.
The Brecon - PC: @michaelsinclair
For the Comments Section 💬
If you could only pick one hotel from this list to visit in 2026, which would it be and why?
What’s one hotel *not on this list* that you’re aiming to stay at in 2026?
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