Paragon 700 Boutique Hotel & SPA.

In a city famous for its blinding white lime-washed walls, Paragon 700 stands out for its bold Pompeian red facade. Occupying the 18th-century Palazzo Rosso, the hotel is a meticulous six-year restoration project that balances raw historic bones with an eclectic, globe-trotting aesthetic. Inside, soaring vaulted ceilings and original frescoes meet contemporary art and curated flea-market finds. The 11 rooms and suites are distinct, but the real drama happens below ground, where a former water cistern has been repurposed into a moodily lit spa complete with a Himalayan salt wall. Outside, a rare private garden and swimming pool offer a quiet sanctuary just steps from the bustle of Piazza della Libertà. For a drink, the 8.5-meter stone bar—clad in antique Argentine tin—is the local high-water mark for design-forward Puglia hospitality.