The Best Boutique Hotels To Book In Orlando Florida

Away from the theme parks, Orlando, Florida, is a popular tourist destination with many buzzed-about boutique hotels. Whether you’re after downtown luxury, a lakeside urban spa or Arnold Palmer-level golfing, here’s our pick – bookable on Culture Trip.

1. Sonder Wellborn, for period heritage

Hotel

A leafy garden with a fountain, a variety of seating, tables and cocktail truck at the Sonder Wellborn

Gables, sash windows and a wraparound porch welcome you to this boutique hotel in Orlando. In the Downtown area, it’s set in and around an 1883 Victorian home. There are nods to its heritage in some of the rooms, including period fireplaces, antique dressers and freestanding baths. It’s the leafy garden that sets this place apart from other Orlando boutique hotels, though. There’s a craft cocktail truck here that serves drinks with names like Jeepers Creepers.

2. The Delaney Hotel, for high-tech facilities

Hotel

The rooms at this Downtown Orlando boutique hotel are high spec. They come with 55in LED televisions, digital concierges, bathroom mirrors with integrated clocks, mobile keys and in-room tablets, which you can use to order from the on-site restaurant, Delaney’s Tavern. The drinks menu here features microbrewed beer and craft cocktails, and the food offering includes New American cuisine, such as tacos and pulled-pork sandwiches.

3. Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando, Autograph Collection, for culture lovers

Hotel

In Downtown, the luxurious Grand Bohemian Hotel is the last word in opulence in the city. The 247 guest rooms and suites are lavish, with lush velvet drapes, oversized bathtubs and wood furnishings. Awarded the prestigious AAA Four Diamond rating, it has many amenities, including the Grand Bohemian Gallery, in-room spa treatments and massages. Also, the red-and-black Bösendorfer Lounge has a grand piano.

5. The Inn at Cocoa Beach, for days spent surfing

Hotel

An overhead view the outdoor lounger-flanked pool and garden, with a beach in the background, at the Inn at Cocoa Beach

For beach bums who can’t manage a day out of the water, the Inn at Cocoa Beach, 18mi (29km) from Downtown, is right on the water’s edge. A stay in this surfing paradise means you can lose yourself out on the waves – after a trip down the road to the world-famous Ron Jon Surf Shop – or, if you prefer, in the comfort of your local craft-designed room.

6. Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge, for peerless golfing

Resort, Spa Hotel, Lodge

People dining outside on a covered terrace along the golf course at the Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge

This resort, once owned by legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, caters to the active and the relaxed traveler. For the five-iron folk, Bay Hill is one of the most beautiful and challenging PGA golf courses that incorporates 27 holes along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Meanwhile, for those who might prefer to stay in the clubhouse while family members play the green, Bay Hill offers the signature version of the Arnold Palmer cocktail.

7. Lakeside Inn, for a spacious veranda

Hotel

Two Adirondack chairs overlooking Lake Dora at the Lakeside Inn

The Lakeside Inn is a cool spot to get out of the Florida sun. Pull up a wicker chair on the veranda and watch as the sun sets over Mount Dora village and Lake Dora. When hunger strikes, the inn has several dining options, including the Beauclair Dining Room for Southern dishes and the cozy and casual Tremain’s Tavern.

8. Edgewater Hotel, for urban exploring

Bed and Breakfast, Hotel

A colorful corner room at the Edgewater Hotel, complete with antique furniture, including a settee and vanity, and an area rug

A landmark on the Orlando hotel circuit, the Edgewater Hotel opened in 1927 as one of the most technologically advanced hotels at the time, and the current owners have strived to retain that ambience. There are antique touches, such as the original washbasins and the 1920s Otis elevator. For the urban explorer, the hotel lies on the doorstep of the 22mi (35km) West Orange Trail, and the Chef’s Table at the Edgewater is a great spot to dine in the evening.

9. Castle Hotel, Autograph Collection, for local designers

Boutique Hotel, Hotel

A guest room with two pillowy queen beds with elaborate wooden headboards, a desk with an ergonomic chair, heavy drapery and a TV at the Castle Hotel

The Castle Hotel, a Marriott-operated boutique hotel on Univeral Boulevard – and within touching distance of the main theme parks – showcases local design skills in the rooms. Enjoy a relaxing stay with elegant marble bathrooms and pillow-top mattresses. In addition, there’s the Antler’s Lounge, a social hub for mingling and cocktails.

Looking for something different? Treat yourself to a stay at one of the best hotels to book in Orlando for every traveler, the best luxury hotels in Orlando, or enjoy some fun with the whole family at one of the best family-friendly hotels in Orlando – now bookable with Culture Trip. For more incredible places to stay in Florida, check out our guide to the best hotels in and near Winter Garden, Florida, bookable on Culture Trip.

Sarah Holt contributed additional reporting to this article.

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