People always ask me, where they should stay when visiting Brighton. So, here are five great boutique hotels in Brighton I’d highly recommend for your next weekend at the seaside for any budget, tastes and group size. Enjoy!
1 Artist Residence. I recommend this Brighton hotel the most. Like its other hotels in London, Cornwall, Oxfordshire and Bristol (coming soon), it’s playful and fun. It feels like you’re staying at your stylish artist friend or eccentric relative’s house – there’s a lounge filled with comfy chairs and sofas, a chilled-out dining room decorated with art, where you can work on a computer, meet friends for a drink (they have a bar) or just relax.
The rooms feel like bohemian apartments, with vintage furniture, eclectic rugs, and cool art. They also have a separate apartment downstairs if you want to stay with friends.
(Personal note: We stayed here on a wedding anniversary night and loved the playful ambience, that we could get a cocktail before and after going out for dinner.)
2 Selina on Brighton seafront. This is a place where “Grown-up travellers who pine for the relaxed community vibe of their hostelling days will feel very at home,” says The Telegraph. It’s an unpretentious, stylish budget hotel (you can get a double room from £50 and a family room from £60 in low season). I love its light and modern design, and the cosy café with sea views – which turns into a ‘hidden’ Mexican restaurant by night.
There are lots of places to sit if you want to work on your computer, and they also host DJ nights. You check in via an app and at reception can sign up for activities – think paddle-boarding, yoga, or even a beach clean. There are also plans to open a co-working space in the future.
3 The Oriental on Oriental Place is located inside a lovely Regency townhouse along a pretty but overlooked, street lined with beautiful architecture in the backstreets near the West Pier. It’s in a nice area, close to cosy cafes, romantic restaurants (like The Gingerman I talk about here), little shops, and it’s central so you can get around town easily.
The rooms might look a little dated style-wise – but they’re clean, comfortable and cheap (doubles are £100 a night in summer – but they will beat any internet rates you find if you call them). I love that they put little baskets of old-fashioned sweets in each room!
There’s also a tiny bar for cocktails (try the Oriental: lychee liqueur and vodka with a dash of Tabasco) and board games. Oh, you can also bring dogs.
4 Drakes is a great option for a splurgy weekend – some of the best rooms have freestanding baths facing floor-to-ceiling windows, so you can splash around while enjoying the twinkly lights of the pier. It’s also well located near the centre of town, has a clubby cocktail bar downstairs, and a great restaurant (I haven’t tried it but I’ve heard recommended). The catch: The location isn’t perfect. Although it’s on the seafront, it’s on the main road so it can be noisy, and breakfast isn’t included.
5 You might also consider renting an Airbnb in Brighton. This way you’ll instantly feel like a local, you’ll have a kitchen and living room if you want to cook or stay in and watch films, and you’ll have extra space if you have children or other people on holiday with you.
You’ll save money and there are many amazing apartment rentals in Brighton and Hove, especially on Airbnb and Vrbo. If you want to narrow down your search, look for places in Seven Dials, Preston Park, Kemptown, and Brunswick Town, since these neighbourhoods are all lovely and central.
I’d love to hear where you stay when visiting Brighton. If you live here, which hotels do you suggest to friends?
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