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nstead of Berlin or Munich, FREIgeist chose a few off-the-beaten-path locations, like the historic university town of Göttingen, for its first boutique hotels. The brand’s name is German for “free spirit,” and that’s exactly who the FREIgeist Göttingen Innenstadt aims to attract with its eclectic mix of modern design, creative influences, and laid-back atmosphere. The elegant brick building by Hannover-based architecture firm Ahrens & Grabenhorst Architekten is sleek and understated, but inside, the interiors by Frank Kassner are full of vibrant, unexpected details like Basquiat-inspired street art, colorful Moroccan tiles, and bespoke carpets by the Barcelona-based Nani Marquina.

The Nordic-style rooms are comparatively pared down, with pale oak flooring and custom-built furnishings, including upcycled pieces, like luggage racks made of reclaimed wood. Soundproofed floor-to-ceiling windows reveal views of the park below, and amenities include Danish sound systems and airy bathrooms stocked with natural products by L:a Bruket. Top-level suites feature extras like freestanding Vallone tubs and espresso machines. A spacious rooftop terrace with hammocks and lounge furniture opens to the indoor fitness center and sauna; downstairs, the Herbarium bar offers signature drinks made with ingredients from the vertical garden on the back wall, and the adjacent restaurant, INTUU, specializes in Japanese–South American fusion dishes. In keeping with the free-spirited ethos, the breakfast buffet stays open until two in the afternoon on weekends.