Hotel Monterey Kyoto

You’ll either love or hate the design here. The lobby of black marble and mirrors, crystal chandelier, and Renoir and Hendricks originals looks more like the entrance to a Bubble-era nightclub than a hotel. The odd design continues in the guest rooms, with burgundy and cream stripes conveying the look of an upmarket Punch ’n’ Judy booth. Beneath the quirky surface is a great hotel, with comfortable rooms, helpful staff and, for girls, a ganbanyoku hot stone spa.