Must-see hotels in Southeast Asia

  • Warehouse

    Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

    If the location on the main road makes you think twice about booking this hotel, stop thinking and just book! Touted as one of the hottest openings in…

  • Temple Tree

    Pulau Langkawi

    On the adjoining plot to Bon Ton, sister hotel Temple Tree raises the stakes with a collection of antique structures relocated from various points in…

  • Bamboo Cottages & Restaurant

    Phu Quoc Island

    Run by a friendly family with a coterie of cheeky dogs, Bamboo Cottages has Vung Bau Beach largely to itself. The focal point is an open-sided restaurant…

  • Otu Hostel

    Yogyakarta

    Raising the bar in standards for Yogya's hostel scene is this popular backpacker that features a contemporary, designer aesthetic and luxurious plunge…

  • Majestic Malacca

    Melaka City

    Claw-foot tubs and polished four-poster beds are just some of the trappings at this regal hotel. The bar, library and dining areas groan with nostalgia …

  • On the Rocks

    Bukit Lawang

    More on the hill than on the rocks, the 10 ‘tribal’ huts here verge on being luxurious in a rustic way. Each hut has a verandah and sunken bathroom, and…

  • Phu Chaisai Resort & Spa

    Chiang Rai Province

    On a remote bamboo-covered hilltop, this resort is the most unique place to stay in the Mae Salong area. The more you pay, the bigger your bungalow and…

  • Verde View Villas

    Puerto Galera

    The views from this hilltop property 1.5km east of Sabang are nonpareil. Four luxurious pool-front rooms boasting Apple TVs stare straight at magnificent…

  • Lumba Lumba

    Aceh

    Behind the diving centre of the same name, Lumba Lumba offers some of the best-quality accommodation in Gapang. Wood-decked cottages have tiled rooms,…

  • Daluyon Resort

    Sabang

    The winner of numerous sustainability awards, the Daluyon goes to show that luxury doesn’t have to come at the expense of the environment. Inside the…

  • Niki Peucang Lodge

    West Java

    If you want to get away from it all, this wonderful spot is the place to come. Surprisingly smart given its remote location, it has a good restaurant and…

  • Diniview

    Boracay

    High up the green valley behind Diniwid Beach, these five private hillside villas look ready for an architectural magazine photo shoot. The owner has…

  • Hotel Old Cinema

    Kampot

    A derelict 1930s Chinese cinema – one of Kampot's modernist architectural icons – has been lovingly restored and turned into a boutique hotel. Rooms are…

  • Cocoon Boutique Hotel

    Manila

    This is QC's most chic address for the wannabe hipster in you. The rooms are fit for the pages of Wallpaper*, with beautiful 3m-long recycled-hardwood…

  • 45 Lekiu

    Melaka City

    Sleeping four, this gorgeously restored shophouse has kept the big old beams and original exposed brickwork but has been updated with stylish contemporary…

  • Sailing Club

    Mui Ne

    An intimate beach retreat with superb attention to detail, the Sailing Club (formerly the Mia) has gorgeous bungalows built from natural materials…

  • AriyasomVilla

    Thanon Sukhumvit

    Located at the end of Soi 1 behind a wall of tropical greenery, this beautifully renovated 1940s-era villa is one of the worst-kept accommodation secrets…

  • Amarela

    Panglao Island

    This classy beach getaway is run on environmentally sound principles. It's so boutique it has its own art gallery and library. Rooms with polished…

  • Lloyd's Inn

    Singapore

    A short stroll from Orchard Rd is where you'll find this spread-out, minimalist boutique hotel. Eight types of rooms each engage with nature in different…

  • Secret Paradise Resort

    Port Barton

    Stress seems to slide away at this tranquil hideaway, on a pretty mainland bay one hour by boat from Port Barton. The British owners, dedicated to…

  • Attrus B&B

    Johor Bahru

    Opened in 2019, this top pick for both the budget- and style-conscious features comfy, twin- and queen-size bunk beds with plush linens and privacy…

  • Beach Guest House

    West Sumatra

    Run by a friendly, energetic local couple, Fifi and Jack, this hostel and cafe is Danau Maninjau’s backpacker central. Bunk in the four-bed dorm or go for…

  • Island Lodge

    My Tho

    It's hard to imagine a more tranquil place than this intimate island hideaway. The occupants of its 12 rooms are cheerfully attended to by professional…

  • Village House

    Sarawak

    Tucked away in the quiet Malay village of Santubong, this place exudes serenity. Rooms with belian (ironwood) floors and four-poster beds are arranged…

  • Flip Flop Hostel

    Sumatra

    One of south Sumatra's best hostels, Flip Flop is an immaculate multilevel space that's lovingly decorated with vibrant furnishings, murals and pot plants…

  • Bohol Coco-Farm

    Panglao Island

    The best base for backpackers in Panglao, if you don't mind being inland, with nipa huts that are entirely appropriate for the rustic setting. There's a…

  • Hue Riverside Villa

    Hue

    A short walk from decent restaurants, Hue Riverside Villa combines five whitewashed and red-brick bungalows with a relaxing and breezy shared garden and a…

  • Kandawgyi Hill Resort

    Pyin Oo Lwin

    Boasting a splendid setting, five of the 15 rooms are inside a 1921 British-era house that was British Military Intelligence HQ after World War II. The…

  • Nina’s Bungalows

    Banyak Islands

    The Banyak hot spot for backpackers at the time of research, Nina's comprises five spacious, thatched bungalows with hammocks swinging on shady porches…

  • D’Lagoon Chalet & Restaurant

    Pulau Perhentian

    Family-run D'Lagoon is the sole property on a tranquil bay, Teluk Kerma, with fine coral a short swim from the beach. Accommodation ranges from camping…

  • Hotel G Yangon

    Yangon

    When it comes to affordable, trendy lodgings in Yangon, there's little competition for Hotel G. The standard 'Good' rooms are snug but strikingly…

  • Hotel@Tharabar Gate

    Bagan

    Stroll through lush, flower-scented gardens filled with moss-stained statues, dip your toes in the warm and inviting pool, and relax with a cocktail on…

  • Qi Palawan

    El Nido

    The husband-and-wife-run Qi Palawan is a beautiful top-end option on El Nido's remote east coast. Eight stand-alone bungalows dot the lush grounds; the…

  • Bravo Surf Resort

    Siargao

    Young, Spanish-owned Bravo has become one of GL's happening spots. This is thanks in part to its attractive, closely spaced nipa-roofed cottages with…

  • River Cottage

    Ho Chi Minh City

    Set in verdant gardens on the banks of the Saigon River, this hotel is a uniquely peaceful retreat from the energy of the city. Eight rooms – some…

  • Vicky's Place

    Coron Town

    This quiet budget option on luscious Maricaban Bay, run by eco-conscious local dive instructor Brenda, is a wonderful place to chill out. She maintains a…

  • Sojourn Beds & Cafe

    Taiping

    In a high-ceilinged 1930s shophouse, cheerful Sojourn has four-bed dorms with pod-style bunks – that means more privacy and less rocking from the top bunk…

  • Tamarind Guesthouse

    Ayuthaya

    Service couldn't be friendlier at this guesthouse within an attractively and creatively modified wooden building. Hidden in a backstreet across from Wat…

  • Hotel Puri

    Melaka City

    Why merely tour one of Melaka's heritage buildings when you can stay overnight in one? Inhabiting a superbly renovated 1822 Peranakan mansion, this hotel…

  • Six Degrees

    Jakarta

    Run by a helpful and friendly team, with good info on the local Cikini area (just south of Merdeka Square), Six Degrees rightfully remains popular with…