The best boutique hotels in Jaipur

What is it: A restored 300-year-old haveli, now a 15-room boutique hotel, located at the intersection of the city’s busiest markets

Why go: Staying here very much feels like cosplaying the invited guest of a well-heeled relative. The haveli itself is true-blue authentic Rajasthani – cusped arches, carved jharokhas, old-school jaalis and all – a layout that harks back to Jaipur’s earliest days as a planned city. The location’s another perk. While it does have a sanctuary-like feel despite being located in one of the busiest parts of town, there’s an unexpected joy in stepping out early and watching the city wake, with shopkeepers lifting shutters, sweeping storefronts, and arranging their wares before crowds arrive.

The rooms, on the first and second floors, are stuffed with heritage-style furniture upholstered in block prints and local textiles. There’s an open-to-sky nook once meant for sleeping outdoors, plus a rooftop that has a pool ideal for a cool plunge on a hot day. The ground floor has open seating, a restaurant, and a bar. The food’s simple, hygienic, and comforting. 

Time Out tip: They do wonderful walking tours of the city. If you want one, make sure the Phool Mandi (flower bazaar) is included. You’re also a short walk away from all the best bits: City Palace, Hawa Mahal and Albert Hall Museum.

Price: ₹12,000-₹18,000 per night

Address: 782, Churukon Ka Rasta, Chaura Rasta, Modikhana, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302003

What is it: An artwork-heavy hotel designed in part as an ode to Lord Krishna

Why go: With a name like Laalee, you’d expect a riot of red, but while the colour does make appearances throughout the hotel’s palette, for co-owners Shan Bhatnagar and his wife Devyani, red runs deeper. It symbolises love, and it really is love all the way in this hotel, from the painstakingly painted lions at the entrance to the passion for family recipes brought alive in Devyani’s kitchen. 

You’ll find pichwai motifs galore, plus plenty of other cool stuff to gawk at: Shreenathji imagery, a fountain, a double-height lobby full of rare artefacts. The theme echoes across the rooms, which lean towards five-star luxury with an Indian soul, done up in Good Earth linens and stocked with Kahnoon crockery. 

Time Out tip: More on Devyani’s fantastic menu, which draws on rare Kayastha recipes. Don’t forget to sample the gram-flour samosas and the masala chaat. If you’re in the mood to sample a wicked cocktail, head to Native Cocktail Room next door. 

Price: ₹9,000-14,000 per night

Address: 22, Lane No. 1, Gopalbari, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302001

What is it: A restored haveli deep inside Johri Bazaar (meaning jewel market) in the old city, with five jewel-themed suites

Why go: In a city full of sprawling palaces, The Johri feels secretive, intimate. Location plays a big role – it’s deep inside an ancient, hectic marketplace. Cars can’t enter, there’s no valet parking, and if you’re unfamiliar with the area, you’ll need assistance finding the place, which is slipped into one of the slimmest lanes of the bazaar. 

Each of the five rooms is named after a gemstone and styled accordingly: Manek (Ruby), Neelam (Sapphire), Panna (Emerald), Moti (Pearl) and Sona (Gold). All overlook an inner courtyard and feature details lifted straight from the bazaar outside, like arched entrances, stone brackets, lime-plastered walls and block-printed textiles. If you happen to book mid-January, you’ll catch front-row views of the city’s kite festival. 

Time Out tip: Don’t even think of skipping the in-house restaurant. Though fully vegetarian, it’s achieved somewhat of a cult status in the city. The menu focuses on hyperlocal ingredients but with global sensibilities. Fabulous cocktails too.

Price: ₹18,000-₹30,000 per night

Address: 3950, MSB Ka Rasta, Johri Bazar, Ghat Darwaza, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302003

What is it: A 225-year-old family-residence-turned-heritage-hotel, located in a slightly out-of-the way stretch of the city while still remaining close to the best stuff

Why go: This one is so achingly picturesque that you may get a sinking feeling that you shouldn’t even be here. Handpainted murals, mirror-clad ceilings, a mosaic floor, bougainvillea at every turn…it’s gobsmackingly resplendent, especially post-sunset, when they bring out the candles.

Rooms vary in size and shape but stay loyal to old-world elegance. You’ll see antique furniture, carved detailing and generous proportions in every room. The deluxe suites sport pink-toned walls, high ceilings, four poster beds and freestanding bathtubs. The Sheesh Mahal suite is a vision of mirrored mosaic. The pool, especially, is a standout, set within manicured gardens and tall palms. 

There are several dining spaces to pick from, including by the poolside, in the main restaurant, and a courtyard or two. Expect classics like laal maans and ker sangri, as well as simple Western plates. 

Time Out tip: Book a private dinner by the pool or at the restored stepwell.

Price: ₹20,000–₹35,000 per night

Address: Jorawar Singh Gate, Gangapole Road Near, Gangapole, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002 

What is it: A former jeweller’s home reimagined by Lebanese designer Nur Kaoukji and hotelier Abhishek Honawar, and one of Jaipur’s cooler boutiques-slash-homestays

Why go: You’ve heard of Japandi. Now get ready for Jaipandi – Jaipur meets Scandi. Across the five rooms in this hotel, you’ll find the clean lines of typical Nordic design offset by traditional local elements, like handblock prints, terrazzo floors, palm tree motifs, and grandmother trunks. 

The hotel encourages a mid-century feel: instead of a grand lobby, you walk into a living and dining space that feels relaxed. There are no televisions in the rooms, but there is a tiny library. The in-house café’s simple, with organic comfort food like couscous upma and ragi dosa. It’s also wonderfully located, with great restaurants just a step away.

Price: ₹8,000-13,000 per night

Address: House No 28, Shivaji Nagar, Civil Lines, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302006

What is it: A glamping resort an hour outside of Jaipur offering a host of adventure activities 

Why go: Teela’s for the folks who’ve done one fort too many in the city proper. Manicured gardens give way to dunes and desert shrubbery here, and everything’s exacerbated by the fact that you’re in a tent, though it’s probably one of the more luxurious ones you’ll have been in. Called ‘Moon Domes’, they’re circular, with lush beds, curated toiletries, a stocked minibar, a kitchenette, a lounge, and an attached bathroom. 

Teela’s about more than glamping, though. If you’re sick of doing touristy stuff, you can unwind here while still having a fun, packed day: walks, treks, ATV off-roading, barbecues, jungle kitchen sessions, and more. All the camping basics but with more comfort than usual. 

The restaurant here, Rait, is great too. Guests are ferried back and forth between their tents and the restaurant via jeep. 

Time Out tip: I’d say it’s best to avoid this place during the summer months. The domes tend to get extremely hot, despite the air conditioning. 

Address: NH11C, Jaipur-Delhi Highway

Price: ₹15,000-22,000 per night

What is it: A 90-year-old bungalow in arguably the poshest part of the city

Why go: This one’s all about quiet luxury, given its location, which is along a leafy, peacock-filled stretch of Civil Lines, right next to the Governor’s house and in the same lane as the Chief Minister’s residence. Modern royalty. 

The bungalow’s lived many lives. It began as a guesthouse for Jaipur’s royals and British officers, then became a stable, later a marriage garden, and now, a boutique hotel with personality to spare. The owner’s grandfather was a poet, philosopher, writer and journalist; his wife authored Dadi Ki Rasoi, a cookbook that still inspires the kitchen today. If you don’t mind the enthusiastic five-star price tag, Rosé Amer offers exclusivity with only eight suites and absolutely no flashy marketing. It’s also great for group getaways, with some interconnecting rooms.

Everything you see justifies the price tag immediately: a double-staircased lobby with frescoed ceilings, rooms done up in pistachio and pink with crystal chandeliers and four-poster beds, a sprawling garden with a gorgeous pool, you name it. 

Time Out tip: The neighbourhood is full of boutique stores, including crockery by Namrata Kedia and hand-block apparel from Suavasa, Mayori and Suprint. Don’t miss out. 

Address: 7, Sawai Pratapsingh Rd, Madrampur, Civil Lines, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302006

Price: ₹40,000 per night