Fodor's Expert Review Cotton House Hotel

First a sumptuous family home, this 1879 property was bought in 1961 by the city's Cotton Producers Guild and then became a hotel in 2015; it's now part of Marriott's boutique Autograph Collection and has been redesigned by Lázaro Rosa-Violán with scrupulous respect for the original features of the building: coffered ceilings, geometric parquet floors, and Frank Lloyd Wright–like touches of modernism. The eye is drawn to the wrought-iron spiral staircase, suspended—not anchored—top to bottom. The five levels of room luxury (Panama, Madras, Cotton, Egyptian Cotton, plus the suites) offer king-size beds, minimalist decor with cotton flower motifs, Nespresso machines, bathrooms with Ortigia amenities, and fluffy robes. The Gossypium concierge service will cater to your every need.