21c Museum Hotel Durham

The place

An Art Deco building in the center of Durham that happens to be a museum. Or a hotel — 21c never quite chooses. More than 10,000 square feet of exhibition space run through it, holding 2,000 pieces of contemporary art.

The 125 rooms and suites stay out of the art's way: white and neutral, crisp modern furnishings, light everywhere. Sumptuous bedding, Malin + Goetz toiletries, a TV and free wifi, the essentials handled quietly.

A spa with a sauna, a steam room, and treatment rooms sits alongside a modern fitness center. At Counting House, chef Stephanie Klos builds a seafood-driven menu from local produce.