Hotels Above Par

Hotels Above Par Digital & print magazine featuring above-par boutique hotels. Vetted by editors from NYT, Vogue & more. Founded by Brandon Berkson with 450K+ insiders.

Conceptualized by boutique hotel pundit and enthusiast, Brandon Berkson, Hotels Above Par is an expert-curated guide with under-two-minute articles designed for the hip traveler who is short on time. The guide has garnered a strong community of hotel and travel lovers, who use it for a variety of reasons, including as a source of inspiration for future trips, as well as a place to celebrate and su

pport hotels. Since its inception in April 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, Berkson has significantly grown the guide’s following. Its success has seen content expand past hotels to restaurants, destinations, and other travel-related topics. Every story encompasses Berkson’s vision: A look into the coolest, unique, trendy, and boutique-oriented hotels and experiences across the world, which can be read in less time than it takes to brush your teeth. With Hotels Above Par’s rapid growth, Berkson has selected top-line, travel-expert journalists to write articles, each one bringing a new perspective and form of punditry to the guide. When asked about what’s to come, Berkson will tell you, “this is just the beginning.”

So, with that, we invite you to come explore the world’s hottest and unique hotels, destinations, restaurants, and travel experiences with us.

GLOBAL CONVENIENCE is a floating public artwork by Puncture Design, created by Trevor Wheatley and Cosmo Dean for Waterf...
06/18/2026

GLOBAL CONVENIENCE is a floating public artwork by Puncture Design, created by Trevor Wheatley and Cosmo Dean for Waterfront Toronto. Installed in Harbour Square Basin on Lake Ontario, the piece reimagines the everyday corner store as a symbol of the cultural exchange that connects Toronto to cities around the world.

Created to coincide with Toronto’s run as a FIFA World Cup Host City, the artwork places this familiar neighborhood fixture at the water’s edge—where people, goods, and ideas have long converged. A familiar shape, just floating somewhere new.

GLOBAL CONVENIENCE is a floating public artwork by Puncture Design, created by visionaries Trevor Wheatley and Cosmo Dea...
06/18/2026

GLOBAL CONVENIENCE is a floating public artwork by Puncture Design, created by visionaries Trevor Wheatley and Cosmo Dean for Waterfront Toronto. Installed in Harbour Square Basin to coincide with Toronto’s run as a FIFA World Cup Host City, the piece reimagines the everyday corner store as a symbol of global exchange—placing it right at the water’s edge, where people, goods, and ideas have always met. A familiar shape, just floating somewhere new.

New Orleans has a rare knack for turning history into hospitality, and you don’t need a luxury budget to experience it. ...
06/17/2026

New Orleans has a rare knack for turning history into hospitality, and you don’t need a luxury budget to experience it. These neighborhood design gems—housed in repurposed parochial schools and historic churches—deliver genuine architectural personality for under $250 a night. Proof that a distinct sense of place shouldn’t require a premium.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for more standout boutique stays worth adding to your list.

Set on Bentonville’s historic square, The Compton is a 142-room boutique hotel shaped by the Ozarks and named for conser...
06/16/2026

Set on Bentonville’s historic square, The Compton is a 142-room boutique hotel shaped by the Ozarks and named for conservationist Dr. Neil Compton. 

A limestone-lined atrium and skylights set the tone, while rooms lean calm and grounded with natural materials and local touches. It’s equal parts stay and springboard—home to Onyx Coffee Lab, the Tuscan-inspired Sestina, and a Cycling Concierge built for getting straight onto the trails.

Comment “ARKANSAS” and we’ll send you the full review.

The Lakefront Edit: Premier Getaways Within Reach of NYC.A world away is closer than you think. Spanning the quiet reach...
06/15/2026

The Lakefront Edit: Premier Getaways Within Reach of NYC.

A world away is closer than you think. Spanning the quiet reaches of New York to the European charm of Quebec, this is our definitive edit of the region’s most distinguished lakeside hotels. Tailor-made for a swift but significant reset, these above-par escapes promise immaculate design, serene water views, and a sophisticated antidote to city life.

Comment “LAKE” for the full roundup and map.

Evok Collection Unveils Brach Roma for 2027, a Legendary Nightlife Spot Reopens 1,100 Feet Above Manhattan, and World Gi...
06/14/2026

Evok Collection Unveils Brach Roma for 2027, a Legendary Nightlife Spot Reopens 1,100 Feet Above Manhattan, and World Gin Week Goes Global.

I’m Ruby, HAP’s News Editor. Each week, I highlight the travel, hotel, and lifestyle stories catching our Editor-in-Chief Brandon Berkson’s eye—and what should catch yours too. Have an above-par piece of news? Pitch me at [email protected]

Comment “HAP” to sign up for our free weekly newsletter where I share everything buzzy in hospitality
and travel that I’m pitching my boss.

06/14/2026

KNICKS IN 5 BABY

If you are experiencing travel fatigue from the usual Mediterranean rotation, Scandinavia is the antidote. The region is...
06/13/2026

If you are experiencing travel fatigue from the usual Mediterranean rotation, Scandinavia is the antidote. The region is quietly putting out some of the most compelling hotel architecture in the world right now—from glass cabins suspended over the Arctic to a 19th-century castle reimagined with pool-club energy. Slide through for the properties defining Northern Europe’s design renaissance.

Comment “HOTELS” to subscribe to our weekly newsletter for more exclusive hotel discoveries and local travel insights.

If you are experiencing travel fatigue from the usual Mediterranean rotation, Scandinavia is the antidote. The region is...
06/13/2026

If you are experiencing travel fatigue from the usual Mediterranean rotation, Scandinavia is the antidote. The region is quietly putting out some of the most compelling hotel architecture in the world right now—from glass cabins suspended over the Arctic to a 19th-century castle reimagined with pool-club energy. Slide through for the properties defining Northern Europe’s design renaissance.

Comment “SCANDINAVIA” to subscribe to our weekly newsletter for more exclusive hotel discoveries and local travel insights.

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