7 boutique hotels so under the radar, they likely won't pop up on your next Google search

A newcomer to Mexico’s incredible selection of design-led boutique hotels, Casa Yuma is located in Puerto Escondido, minutes away from Los Naranjos Beach and the lively village of La Punta. 

Those staying at this serene property can expect long days in the golden sun, listening to the soundtrack of swaying palms and the gentle crash of waves against the shore. 

Further immersing guests in Casa Yuma’s earthy surroundings, architect Ricardo de La Concha incorporated local, eco-friendly materials including Chukum, a native Mexican material of vegetal concrete crafted from tree resin and limestone, along with Oaxacan brick and local woods. 

Inside, the 25 rooms boast spectacular ocean or mountain views, complemented by a clean, neutral colour palette. Look out for the chic ceramic lamps signed by renowned ceramicist, Amande Haeghen.

Continuing its celebration of Mexican culture, the restaurant at Casa Yuma—which is open to the public—faces the Pacific Ocean and serves traditional, family-style cuisine from the Oaxaca region, such as tamales and the fresh catch of the day, accompanied by mole sauce. 

If you’ve fallen in love with Lisbon, drive 45 minutes from the city to the beach town of Sintra and have your heart stolen by Marqi.

This 1980s-mansion-turned-hotel has drawn Europe’s cool crowds like moths to a flame, with its opulent furnishings and gold plating, retro mid-century interiors, luscious gardens adorned with exotic plants and a turquoise swimming pool that looks like something out of a Slim Aarons photograph.

The hotel was opened by Danish photographer Mikkel Kristensen, who has generously filled the hotel with collectable furniture he’s collected from his travels.  

Marqi’s eight spacious rooms and suites are basic but stylish, keeping to the property’s retro aesthetic with shagpile rugs and bold colour pops. Tucked away on a residential hillside near Sintra, the hotel is a short stroll from the wild waves of Portugal’s breathtaking Praia Grande. 

Tatler tip: Marqi has a hidden club, Nando’s—named after the house’s original owner. It occupies a room he once used as a private discotheque. Kristensen redecorated the space with chic bouclé chairs and a marble bar, and only opens this discreet space when the mood or occasion calls for it.

The word nirjhara is Sanskrit for waterfall—which is fitting, as this boutique hotel sits directly opposite one. It’s also surrounded by cascading rice paddies, rivers and tropical jungle. 

Yet despite its lush surroundings, it’s just a short 20-minute drive from the lively neighbourhoods of Canggu, Pererenan and Seseh, where you'll find some of Bali’s best restaurants, cafés and bars. 

Nirjhara’s 25 villas, including seven elevated canopy suites, are dressed in timber, rattan and stone sourced from across the archipelago. 

The hotel encourages an authentic, slow approach to Bali—every guest gets a bike to explore the neighbourhood, private surf lessons can be arranged and its restaurant, Ambu, sources ingredients from the best farms and producers in the region.

With citrus-hued parasols and ’70s-inspired decor, Palm Heights in Grand Cayman is the secret go-to boutique hotel for Hollywood’s most stylish set. 

It’s where Chloë Sevigny’s friends threw her a bachelorette party, and where Emily Ratajkowski and musician Moses Sumney rang in the new year. Bella and Gigi Hadid, and Hailey Bieber have also been guests at Palm Heights. 

Yet despite the steady flow of A-list guests, Palm Heights is more intimate and understated than one would expect. Think of it as a Beverly Hills Hotel or Chateau Marmont for a new generation—only here, it’s on a stretch of sugar-white sand of Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach. 

The boutique hotel houses 52 suites, three restaurants—including the famed Tillies, which serves classic Caribbean cuisine—and The Coconut Club, a stylish al fresco bar with killer sunset views. 

Last summer, Palm Heights unveiled The Garden Club, a 60,000 sqft wellness space that’s primarily outdoors. “I would describe the space as a tropical Versailles,” says Dong-Ping Wong, the New York-based architect whom Khalil enlisted to collaborate on The Garden Club’s design.

A year ago, Villa Mabrouka, the last private home of Yves Saint Laurent in Tangier, Morocco, reopened as an intimate 12-suite boutique hotel. 

It was a passion project of British designer Jasper Conran, who spent four years redesigning and transforming the property. 

Many of the original design elements are preserved from the villa’s “Yves era” including the carved wooden doors, floor-to-ceiling window frames in hues of blue and green, and the grounds’ enchanting gardens, which are sure to put guests under the villa’s spell. 

Also spellbinding is the hotel’s views of the Strait of Gibraltar and the North Atlantic, which guests can enjoy from one of two swimming pools, or on the terrace with a drink in hand. 

The Parker is the kind of place one envisions the darlings of Hollywood’s golden era spending their days off, lounging by the pool in oversized shades and headscarves with a strong cocktail in hand. 

It is, in three words, a California classic, and about as close to Alice’s wonderland as you can get; think sprawling gardens, a giant chess set, tasteful pops of bright colour and countless curiosities to explore. In the evenings, a firepit shrouded by palm trees is set alight which creates a truly magical setting under the stars. 

We particularly love The Parker Palm Springs’ Mini Bar. Hidden behind bright blue sliding doors in the hotel lobby, you’ll find a pocket-sized bar—but what it lacks in size it certainly makes up for in grandeur; from the gold swivel chairs to the tropical wallpaper to the wall-to-wall selection of premium pours.

Tatler Tip: If travelling in a group—families, two couples or a group of friends—request to get neighbouring villas that can be connected by a gate in the backyard.

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