About
The build delivers exactly what you expect from a modern Modular: it’s detailed, varied, and packed with small stories. Honestly, this is one of those sets that deserves a dedicated “Did you find it?” post, there are so many hidden details and clever references that it could easily fill an entire feature on its own.
The ground floor houses the hotel reception and the art gallery, complete with sculptures and paintings that nod to other buildings in the modular lineup. Upstairs, you’ll find guest rooms with distinct furniture, a suite with its own bathroom, and a beautifully integrated spiral staircase that becomes one of the model’s standout features.
The façade is elegant and slightly asymmetrical, with curved balconies, refined window work, and a restrained colour palette that looks fantastic in a city display. The building experience flows smoothly, alternating between façade work, interiors, and structural techniques, which helps avoid any sense of repetition. Some fans note that a few interior areas feel a bit compact for the overall footprint, but it never detracts from the quality of the set.
Minifigure review
The set includes seven minifigures, representing hotel staff, guests, and characters connected to the art gallery. The selection fits the theme perfectly, with well-chosen accessories such as suitcases, artworks, tools, and drink elements. The prints aren’t groundbreaking, but they work well in context and add plenty of life to the building, making it easy to create multiple small stories across the modular layout.
Box design
The box follows the premium Modular Buildings presentation, featuring a dark background and a clean, front-facing image of the completed building. The back showcases close-ups of the interiors, minifigures, and architectural details. It’s a large, sturdy box designed to protect the many parts and sub-assemblies, and it will also appeal to collectors who like to keep their packaging.
Instruction manual
The instruction manual is thick, printed on high-quality paper, and includes the usual editorial content for this line: design insights, hidden references, and commentary from the designers. The building steps are clear and well organised by floor, making for a long but very enjoyable build. A digital version is also available via LEGO Builder, which is especially helpful for zooming in on denser sections.
So…
The 10297 Boutique Hotel is a strong, elegant modular with plenty of personality. It may not be the tallest or most complex building in the lineup, but it more than makes up for that with a distinctive façade, an engaging build, and excellent ties to the wider Modular universe. It’s a great choice both for experienced modular collectors and for anyone looking to start the series with a refined, visually striking model. For me, as my very first modular, I completely fell in love with it, and now I can’t stop thinking about which one to get next.
