15 incredible Black-owned hotels in the US and beyond

Black History Month is a time to reflect on the immeasurable impact that African Americans have had on the history and culture of the U.S. and the world. It’s a time to celebrate, learn and consciously support underrepresented groups, such as Black-owned businesses, particularly in the tourism sector.

Whether looking for one of the best Black-owned restaurants in the U.S. or the best Black-owned hotels here and abroad, you’re in the right place.

Related: A Black history road trip through North and South Carolina

What is Black History Month?

Since 1976, the accomplishments and contributions of African Americans have been celebrated each February under the official presidential designation of Black History Month. Canada also observes Black History Month in February, while the U.K. and Ireland celebrate in October. The event’s roots date to 1926, when Carter G. Woodson, the “father of Black history,” launched Negro History Week to coincide with the birth dates of President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

Although it no longer exists, in 1871, the Wormley Hotel made history as the first Black-owned hotel in the United States. It was ahead of its time, becoming the most upscale and popular hotel in Washington, D.C. This pioneering establishment paved the way for the unique experiences that await you in Black-owned hotels today. Its legacy, along with the fact that only 2% of U.S. hotels are Black-owned, underscores the historical significance and resilience of the Black community in the hospitality industry.

The hotels on this list are not just accommodations; they are unique experiences waiting to be discovered. From private homes transformed into boutique hotels, to award-winning luxury properties and distinctive resorts with rich and unique histories, each stay promises to be a memorable adventure, offering a unique perspective and a chance to connect with the rich history and culture of the Black community.

Across the globe, here are several Black-owned hotels you can visit.

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Akwaaba Mansion, in Brooklyn, New York, and about a 15-minute drive to lower Manhattan, is in an Italianate former mansion originally built in the 1860s. There are actually three Akwaaba Mansions, including this one. The other two are Akwaaba Philadelphia and The Mansion at Noble Lane in Pennsylvania’s Poconos.

This particular bed-and-breakfast features just four guest suites, each with a unique theme and decor. Visitors can relax in the guest library, game room and secluded garden with a glassed-in sun porch. As for that breakfast, Akwaaba Mansion serves hearty Southern fare, and guests can also enjoy afternoon tea.

Each suite is equipped with a king-size bed, dresser and seating area, plus a spacious private bathroom. Akwaaba has custom bathroom toiletries made by local artisans that are also available for sale at the on-site shop. Rooms can accommodate up to three adults or two adults and one child.

Rates at Akwaaba Mansion, Brooklyn, New York, start at $225 per night for double occupancy.

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The Ivy Hotel is a mansion turned boutique hotel in Mount Vernon, in the heart of Baltimore. There is a spa on the property where guests can indulge in services like an Ayurvedic facial massage or lemon verbena body treatment.

The hotel’s only dining outlet, Magdalena, combines European culinary traditions with Maryland soul. Dishes include marinated swordfish, pork with beans and barbecue carrots.

Each of The Ivy Hotel’s rooms and suites is uniquely decorated and features a fireplace, heated bathroom floors and plenty of natural light. Canopy beds are draped with delicately patterned fabrics, and walls are painted in bright, yet calming colors.

Rates at The Ivy Hotel start at $720 per night for double occupancy.

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The Oak Bluffs Inn in Martha’s Vineyard has been owned and operated by Rhonda and Erik Albert for over 20 years. The Inn has just 10 rooms, each uniquely decorated with elegant white Frette linens, colorful throw pillows and wall art for a truly beachy feel. Architect Mark Hutker renovated the inn to resemble a lighthouse before the Alberts purchased the former private mansion in 1998.

Room rates include continental breakfast (offered from May through October), along with complimentary snacks and beverages. Other high-end touches include Aveda bath products and the use of cozy fire pits.

The Inn is within walking distance of the beach, shops and restaurants, though guests can also take advantage of bike pumps and racks if they want to get around on two wheels to such local favorites as Fishbones and The Lookout.

Rates at the Oak Bluff Inn start at $175 per night.

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Salamander Resort & Spa is in Middleburg, Virginia, just a one-hour drive from Washington, D.C. Of the 340 acres that the property rests on, 25 acres are dedicated to equestrian activities such as horseback riding and a 14,000-square-foot stable.

The resort also has a spa where guests can enjoy treatments like sound therapies and couples massages. There are plenty of activities for visitors to enjoy on the property, such as zip lining and nature hikes, along with a dining program that includes a multi-experience cooking studio. Harrimans Virginia Piedmont Grill is the main restaurant, where diners can savor locally sourced dishes like grilled octopus and Hudson Valley foie gras.

Each of the 168 rooms and suites at Salamander Resort & Spa comes with an outdoor patio or balcony and soft amenities like terrycloth bathrobes. The decor pays homage to the seasons and equestrian life with warm colors and hints of blue and green, along with fun touches like stirrup motifs on the linens. Salamander Resort & Spa is also pet-friendly and offers ADA rooms.

Rates at Salamander Resort & Spa start at $476 per night.

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Clevedale Historic Inn and Gardens is a bed-and-breakfast located less than 30 minutes from Greenville, South Carolina. It was originally built and owned by a descendant of President Grover Cleveland and was once a 440-acre farm. Current owners Pontheolla and Paul Abernathy purchased and renovated the property in 2012.

It has since welcomed guests to its four distinctive accommodations, like a vintage 1947 train caboose in the property’s verdant garden. It’s also a popular wedding venue, so you might spot a bride getting ready in the elegant Westmoreland Bridal Suite. Room rates include a full Southern breakfast, so come hungry.

For guests looking to venture off the property, activities and attractions nearby include the Spartanburg County Regional Museum of History and Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve for nature walks. Guests who book directly receive access to the inn’s digital guest companion, which includes additional recommended itineraries and local restaurants to experience during their stay.

Rates at Clevedale Historic Inn and Gardens start at $378 per night for double occupancy and require a two-night minimum stay.

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In East Nashville, Urban Cowboy is a boutique hotel housed in a historic Victorian mansion exclusively for guests ages 21 and older. The hotel is thoughtfully designed with chevron-patterned floors and wall paneling in the public spaces and rooms. Decor choices draw the eye to various focal points and exude an obvious country rockstar theme. Urban Cowboy is a unique redoubt that attracts a laid-back clientele ready to kick back with some delicious cocktails and good music.

Each of the eight suites in the former Victorian mansion that comprises the main part of the property comes with Instagram-worthy features like clawfoot tubs (the one in the Tower Suite is even made of beaten copper), high, gabled ceilings and vibrant decor. Room styles range from over-the-top Victorian to a driftwood-chic-meets-heyday-Burt Reynolds in the Captain Suite.

Out back, Public House Bar & Restaurant serves colorful craft cocktails and piping-hot woodfired pizzas by the folks from Roberta’s, so expect to settle in and make new friends over a hospitable Southern supper.

Room rates at Urban Cowboy Nashville start at $306 per night for double occupancy.

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Hilton Cabana Miami Beach is on a stretch of the aptly called “Millionaires Row” that runs along Collins Avenue. It’s just north of the famed and high-energy area of South Beach. The hotel has a private beach, as well as two oceanfront pools with plenty of poolside cabanas.

In addition to room service, enjoy fresh seafood and Caribbean dishes at Allison Restaurant. Also, Allison Bar overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and offers classic cocktails with prime views. Beach and pool service is also available, serving seafood, salads, sandwiches and cocktails.

The hotel offers connecting rooms, making it a great option for family travelers visiting Miami. Guest rooms feature ceiling fans, seating areas and desks, with some also having a balcony or ocean view. Soothing shades of yellow, blue or orange bring pops of color to otherwise simply-decorated rooms and suites.

Rates at Hilton Cabana Miami Beach start at $221 or 66,000 points per night.

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La Maison in Midtown is a bed-and-breakfast in Houston near the city’s thriving Theater District. The inn offers the option of either a full Southern or continental breakfast. There are restaurants nearby for guests who want to venture out for other meals. Gloria’s Latin Cuisine, which serves El Salvadorian cuisine, and Chinese restaurant Wanna Bao are both within walking distance.

The hotel was built in 2010 and contains just seven luxury, contemporary-style guest rooms decorated in elegant jewel tones with dark wooden furnishings. Some feature impressive pieces like four-poster beds, while others have balconies for enjoying the fresh air. Private spa-style bathrooms with plush bathrobes, premium bedding and access to conference rooms for business meetings are other amenities.

Rates at La Maison in Midtown start at $199 per night.

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The Nopsi Hotel was originally built in the 1920s and is the former headquarters of the New Orleans Public Service Incorporated. As such, it’s listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The hotel is in the Warehouse District, just outside of the French Quarter, so it’s convenient for first-time visitor fun, as well as for seeing the city’s other neighborhoods.

Public Service, the hotel’s main restaurant, pays tribute to the hardworking fishermen of the Gulf Coast. Diners can expect seasonal dishes with locally sourced ingredients, such as oysters and causeway shrimp. There is also a rooftop bar by the pool called Above the Grid that is open year-round and serves cocktails and small bites. Henry’s Gin Bar, with its gorgeously lit marble counter, serves one of the city’s iconic cocktails, the Ramos gin fizz.

Guest rooms are classically designed with sophisticated beiges and browns, with threads of color in the form of navy blue seating or patterning on the bedding. An added bonus? Guests are treated to complimentary coffee and tea service every day until 10:00 a.m.

Rates at the Nopsi Hotel start at $127 per night.

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On Grand Anse Beach in Grenada, Spice Island Beach Resort is a luxury all-inclusive resort owned and operated by the Hopkin family and founded by Sir Royston Hopkin. Grenada, which is in the West Indies, is known as the “spice island” because its top exports are spices like cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.

While here, guests can enjoy water sports like paddleboarding, kayaking and snorkeling, plus tennis, biking and more. Or, just relax by the beach and its sun-kissed waters.

Among the dining outlets, Oliver’s Restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner and serves Caribbean Creole fare. Sea and Surf Terrace and Bar is open for lunch and serves international dishes, as well as a Sunday buffet.

Guests can pamper themselves at the award-winning Janissa Spa with treatments such as a sea salt body scrub or reflexology massage or relax with various yoga classes taught on the property.

There are just 64 guest suites, each featuring a balcony or patio, Nespresso machines and Molton Brown bath amenities. Each room is designed with the view and scenery in mind, with expansive windows to bring in natural light, calming white and cream colors, four-poster beds and splashes of vibrant colors suited to the Caribbean setting.

Rates at Spice Island Beach Resort start at $1,270 per night based on double occupancy.

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In addition to the incredible interior design of owner Meryanne Loum-Martin, Jnane Tamsna is known for being the only Black woman-owned hotel in Morocco.

Spread across five houses, the boutique hotel has five pools, a tennis court and a restaurant that serves local dishes with a tailor-made daily menu that highlights Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine. Guests can arrange to enjoy a number of activities on the property, including magic classes for children and cooking classes so they can bring Moroccan flavors back home with them.

The 24 rooms at Jnane Tamsna are homages to traditional North African and Arabic styles, with handcrafted wood furniture, African art, colorful textiles and wildlife prints. Some even feature fireplaces for chilly nights.

Rates at Jnane Tamsna start at $212.

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La Creole Beach Hotel and Spa is on the small Caribbean island (and French territory) of Guadeloupe. The island is a longtime favorite of adventure seekers looking to spend time in the great outdoors and take their chances with attractions like the mildly active volcano of La Soufriere. For those who prefer to spend their time outdoors on the beach, take your pick of strands with gold, white or black sands.

La Creole Beach Hotel and Spa is set in a tropical park and features a jazz club, as well as several restaurants and bars. Guests can find local cuisine at Le Zwag and more international fare at Le Route Des Epices. Spa enthusiasts can book unique treatments at La Creole Spa, like balneotherapy, a bath of mineral spring water with essential oils and soft lighting traditionally used to ease chronic illness.

Travelers of all ages are welcome, and there’s even a kids club for children between the ages of 4 and 12. There are also tennis tables and a place to enjoy water sports like jet skiing and stand-up paddle boarding.

Guest room decor is uncomplicated, with clean white linens and colorful details in the form of pillows and seating. Each room has an individual air conditioning unit and large French windows for gorgeous garden and sea views, plus Caribbean breezes for cooling off.

Rates at La Creole Beach Hotel and Spa start at around $175.

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Celestine Bed & Breakfast is a family-run establishment in Pensacola, Florida’s historic North Hill district. The landmark 1880 home effortlessly combines southern hospitality and modern accommodations, including private en suite bathrooms. Although a small bed-and-breakfast, Celestine has the conveniences of a traditional hotel, such as Wi-Fi, plus extras like delicious welcome drinks, turndown service upon request and a free 24-hour snack pantry. What truly sets it apart is the personal touch and attention to detail, ensuring that every guest feels valued and cared for, making you feel right at home.

Celestine Bed & Breakfast is named after Celestine Elizabeth Tolliver Harrison, the owners’ great-grandmother and family matriarch. Each guest room is named after one of Celestine and her husband Buster’s children. Throughout the home, guests will find pieces of their family’s history intertwined with the area’s history.

Rates at Celestine Bed & Breakfast start around $240.

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Hotel Sages, a stunning property, is the brainchild of co-owners Savina and Angelica ​​Espiritu. It’s strategically located in the heart of Canggu in Indonesia, offering a perfect blend of tranquility and accessibility.

The hotel is a luxurious accommodation for those looking for respite, offering nine beautifully designed suites focused on wellness and bespoke experiences such as sunrise yoga sessions, romantic flower baths, temple visits or cultural workshops. The hotel also specializes in wellness retreats, making it an ideal place to indulge in nature, unplug and recharge.

Rates at Hotel Sages start at $81.

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In the era of Jim Crow, there were few places where Black people could find lodging or dine in the South. The Magnolia Inn in Greensboro, North Carolina, was a rare gem, one of the select few that welcomed Black travelers, including esteemed celebrities like Gladys Knight, Ray Charles and Jackie Robinson. Its appearance in multiple editions of “The Green Book” underscores the exclusivity of the inn, which remains the only listed hotel still in operation.

Four beautifully curated rooms draw inspiration from the 1950s and 1960s and famous past guests like James Baldwin. The rooms have been modernized, with amenities such as walk-in showers and king-size beds.

Rates at The Magnolia Inn start around $225.