It seems that almost every hotel that isn’t incredibly huge classifies itself as a boutique hotel these days, which has led to some confusion about what the term “boutique” actually means in regards to hotels. But unlike the open-interpretation of luxury, the definition of what makes a “boutique” hotel, is quite clear. First of all, a boutique hotel has to be small. Hospitality professionals from around the world agree that for any hotel to be considered boutique, it shouldn’t have any more than 100 rooms. However, this doesn’t mean that it should be too small. If it has less than 10 rooms, it can’t be classed as a boutique either. The small, intimate size of a boutique hotel produces a feeling of warmth and ambiance. Some travelers enjoy the wonderful atmosphere and compact size of a boutique hotel. So what are the top 9 boutique hotels in the United States?

1. The Mercer, in New York City, sets the gold standard for boutique hotels, using designs from Christian Liaigre and a restaurateur named Jean-Georges Vongerichten who offers sirloin steak and shiitake mushrooms. Huge windows and high ceilings provide a more open feeling to the seventy five rooms that make up this hotel. The lobby on the first floor has a stunning full length wall-based library, too.

2. The Hotel Burnham, in Chicago, was named after Daniel Burnham, the designer who created the Flatiron building of New York City. It is the result of $27.5 million being put into renovating the 111 year old Reliance building. Interior designer Susan Caruso was used to transform the offices within into beautiful guest rooms.

3. The Watermark Hotel, in San Antonio, sports stunning arched windows looking over the Riverwalk of this city. Boasting of a 17,000sq foot facility for spa relaxation and 19 exclusive rooms, the building provides hydrotherapy tubs for those in need of deep relaxation, making it a great choice for the top 9 boutique hotels in the United States.

4. The Hotel Andra, in Seattle, has a Scandinavian design using blond wood in a city known for its gray tones. The location is surrounded by restaurants, galleries, boutiques and more, and the rooms are embellished with goose-down duvets and alpaca fur headboards.

5. The Hotel Derek, in Houston, offers stunning wing-back chairs and cowhide rugs for a mixture of Texan and European style. The business lofts provide work alcoves with flat-screen computers and over-sized desks.

6. The Jefferson, in Washington, D.C., is another fantastic addition to the top 9 boutique hotels in the United States, offering a stunning collection of rare Jefferson manuscripts and antiquarian books. The hotel provides residence for Capitol Hill lawyers.

7. The Inn at Irving Place overlooks Gramercy Park and has twelve cozy rooms to its name, packed with incredible internet and stunning antiques.

8. The Glenn Hotel, in Atlanta, offers rooms furnished with Wi-Fi, Aeron desk chairs and plasma TVs. The hotel also hosts Atlanta’s only rooftop bar, which provides brilliant views of the skyline in downtown Atlanta.

9. The Hotel Lucia, in Portland, Oregon, is full of dark leather couches and stunning original prints by the Pulitzer Prize winner, David Kennerly. Rooms feature king-size mattresses and access to a VIP concierge.