100 boutique hotels for under £100: Europe – south-east, east and north

20 stylish places to stay in sunny resorts and cool cities in Greece, Turkey and some of Europe's less-visited countries.
See hotels in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal | the UK | the Americas | Asia and Australasia | Africa and Middle East | readers' tips

Hotel Zorzis, Santorini

The palm-fringed curvy pool's the thing at this simply styled, whitewashed hotel with views up to the barren rocky peaks of the famously pricey volcanic island. It's not a ground-breaking design hotel, but it has charm, with its jolly white dining room, and powder-blue shutters. Just ignore the tacky sign on the front of the building.
• + 30 228 608 1104, santorinizorzis.com. Doubles from £58

Syrou Melathron, Syros

There's a feeling of grandeur at this impressive 19th-century mansion, which makes the reasonable price all the more pleasing. The interiors boast some impressive ceiling paintings and antique plasterwork, and are full of light and space. What sets it apart is the wonderful roof terrace that overlooks the island capital, Ermoupolis, and the Aegean sea beyond. There's no restaurant, but a clutch of good fish tavernas lie within easy walking distance.
• +30 228 108 6495, syroumelathron.gr. Doubles from £61 B&B

Little Swallows, Pelion

Ornate carved Flemish beds, a light grey lounge with stained glass windows, and high, timbered ceilings, bring a bit of glamour to the 10-room Little Swallows B&B. The green hilly Pelion peninsula is a million miles from the overdeveloped resorts on some Greek islands; this area has sheltered beaches, hill walking and pretty villages. Nearby at Milies is a sweet narrow-gauge railway for a two-hour trip over viaducts and by the sea.
• i-escape.com. Doubles from £88 B&B

Hotel Glaros, Naxos

The sea practically laps at the lobby here on the long sandy beach of Saint George. Rooms are neat and simple, with whitewashed walls, contemporary furniture and a pleasing, chintz-free feel. The gleaming terrace, complete with handmade furniture in local marble and white cement, is the perfect spot for breakfast, or sunset beers. There's no restaurant, but Naxos town is an easy walk along the beach, and staff will happily offer recommendations.
• +30 228 502 3101, hotelglaros.com. Doubles from £66 B&B (two night min)

Azur Hotel, Çıralı

This hotel is a collection of little bungalows and lodges, set in a wonderful garden full of tropical fruit trees. Çıralı's 3.5km sand and pebble beach is 200m away.
• +90 242 825 7072, azurhotelcirali.com. Doubles from £83 B&B

Villa Ruya, Gurece

Tucked away in the wooded hills of the Bodrum peninsula, the sleek four-room Villa Ruya is testament to the architectural training of the owners, Iskender Isik and his wife Zuhal. The pension is cleverly laid out, with hidden terraces that give views over the hills to the sea and chic coffee-and-cream bedrooms that feel cool and airy even on the hottest days. The village of Gurece lies at the heart of the peninsula, and the sandy beaches at Turgutreis and pretty fishing port of Gumusluk are around 15 minutes' drive.
• +90 252 348 3199, kucukvebutikoteller.com. Doubles from £54 B&B

Fidanka Houses, Kalkan

Timber-built rooms, created from reclaimed, century-old cedar trees, are decked out with vibrant Turkish kilims and fabrics. But it's the outside areas that are the real joy: terraces overflowing with flowering shrubs, trees and climbers; hibiscus and bougainvillea, fig and citrus trees; and a good-sized pool gleaming in the middle of the greenery. The picturesque old village of Kalkan is 10 minutes, by boat taxi, or a 20-minute walk. Just tipping over the £100 mark in high season, Fidanka still represents an absolute bargain in one of Turkey's priciest resorts.
• +90 242 844 2415, fidanka.com. Doubles from £78 B&B low season, £112 in high summer

Hotel Juliani, St Julian's, Malta

A traditional seafront townhouse has been converted into a stylish 44-room hotel. Bedrooms are in cool blues and white. Some have views over Spinola Bay, but it may be worth going for a cheaper courtyard-facing room and enjoying the views from the gorgeous rooftop bar and pool. If you fancy a change from Mediterranean fare, the in-house Zest restaurant offers pan-Asian cuisine.
• +356 2138 8000, hoteljuliani.com. Doubles from £66

Kelly's Hotel, Dublin

In the heart of Dublin's "Creative Quarter", Kelly's Hotel has the best of the city on its doorstep. It's upstairs from popular pub Hogans, as well as top restaurant l'Gueuleton (where breakfast is served). The hotel feels like a chic labyrinth – an indoor bridge adorned with stained glass takes you from the residents' bar to the rooms, which are stylish and modern.Some even overlook the striking gothic spires of St George's Street Arcade.
• +353 1 6480010, kellysdublin.com. Doubles from £60 B&B

Made In Louise, Brussels

Made In Louise, in an 18th-century Brussels building, is decorated in muted shades of black, white and grey. With 48 rooms it's on the big side of boutique, but still has an intimate feel.
• +32 2 537 40 33, madeinlouise.com. Doubles from £78 B&B (weekends and low season)

Diamonds and Pearls, Antwerp, Belgium

Steep narrow stairs in this tiny historic B&B in the old centre of Antwerp lead to five spacious rooms (one with a balcony) with comfy beds and smart bathrooms, all made more interesting with cool touches including antique chandeliers. Breakfasts are excellent, and you are well-placed for a huge range of bars and restaurants.
• +32 4 97 428 369, guesthouse26.be. Doubles from £74 B&B

Hotel V, Amsterdam

Experience Amsterdam like a local at this contemporary hotel in a 19th-century listed building. Between trendy De Pijp and the canal district, it's stylish but welcoming, with 48 compact rooms, individually decorated with grey, black and dark-wooden features, and Auping designer beds. Bathrooms have rain showers and guests can access free Wi-Fi. Breakfast is served in the grand lobby, decked out with cowhide wall patches and a circular copper fireplace.
• +31 20 662 3233, hotelv.nl. Doubles from £78 B&B

ArtHotel Billie Strauss, Nabern, Germany

At the foot of the Swabian Alps in Baden-Württemberg is a hotel-cum-art gallery. The hotel is in one half-timbered building and the owners' wine bar is in another. Zaha Hadid has designed a "habitable sculpture" to join the two, containing additional hotel rooms. For now, there are 13.
• +49 7021 950 590, arthotelbilliestrauss.de. Doubles from £91

Michelburger, Berlin

Berlin does a joyful line in fun style hotels, but the Michelburger is pick of the bunch for its brilliant touches such as The Big Lebowski played on a loop on tellies at the end of each corridor, and giant rooms with bunkbeds that manage to be hip, for groups of mates. The bar is lively even late at night. Breakfast is in a cool space of white tiles and mismatched chairs, bedrooms have patterned wallpapers and designer lights hanging from colourful exposed wires. Even the website is out of this world, more of a space cartoon.
• +49 302 977 8590, michelbergerhotel.com. Rooms from £70

Hotel Daniel, Vienna

Vines, a veggie patch and a vintage silver trailer out front, a buzzy bakery full of pot plants and signs suggesting you ditch your tie inside – this place is teeming with quirks. Bright white minimalist rooms come with giant green lamps dangling above the pillow, industrial-look ceilings and invitations to nick the toiletries. Larger rooms have hammocks.; all have shower cubicles in open view – it's not for the prudish.
• +43 190 131 400, hoteldaniel.com. Doubles from £78

Brody House, Budapest

This über-cool spot in the "palace quarter" of the Hungarian capital, has eight rooms decorated in a shabby-meets-decadent style: distressed walls, freestanding baths and original artworks (for sale). The house is also a members' club with a stylish bar hosting literary events.
• +36 1 266 1211, brodyhouse.com. Doubles from £61

Vander Urbani Resort, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Open any issue of Elle Deco and you'll see that grey is hot. This hotel has taken it to the max, with grey padded walls, grey furnishings, walls, slate bathrooms … and some lilac and purple for good measure. It works. Frette, Moroso and Molton Brown are the brands here, and the restaurant does things with foams and flowers. So it's hip, if just over the £100 mark.
• + 386 1200 9000, vanderhotel.com, Late-deal doubles from £108

Deminka Palace, Prague

Tucked in behind the National Museum, this 31-room art-nouveau building throws its trump cards around early: the entrance hall is all chandeliers and floral-patterned vaulted roof. Magisterial double doors that ought to be in a Renaissance palace open to wooden floors, and eye-popping feature walls and furry faux-velvet box stools. It's humbly comfortable rather than opulent, but with glorious glimpses of the grandeur suggested by the name.
• +420 224 210 281, deminkapalace.com. Doubles from £73

Icelandair Hotel, Reykjavik

This fun, funky hotel is in the city's up-and-coming harbour district. The rooms are furnished with a mix of modern design and salvaged objects, and all furniture and fittings were made in Iceland. The buzzy bar (slippbarinn.is) serves delicious "craft" cocktails from a changing menu.
• +354 444 4000, icelandairhotels.com. Doubles from £85

Hotel Alexandra, Copenhagen

In this notoriously expensive city, the Hotel Alexandra, a classic building once full of apartments, has budget rooms for anyone willing to squash into a small double bed (150cm). It'd be worth the snuggle as it has the sort of interiors you'd dream of in the Scandi design capital: designer lights, pale hues, mid-century furniture (the hotel website feature mini essays on Danish design and the social significance of the chair – they take this stuff seriously).
• +45 337 44488, hotelalexandra.dk. Doubles from £106 but exchange rates can improve, so it's sneaked in!