Sometimes known as ‘London by the sea’, this hip and happening South coast city continues to surprise and intrigue its many visitors. Easily one of the best-loved seaside cities in the UK and definitely the most fun, Brighton is the place to head to on a sunny Bank Holiday.
It also happens to have a pretty fabulous collection of unique hotels – whether you have deep pockets for a beautiful upscale boutique or a shoestring budget for a kooky and fun guesthouse there seems to be something for everyone.
From our collective many visits to this wonderful seaside city, here is our choice for the best cool and unusual hotels in Brighton, England (in no particular order)…
1. Hotel Pelirocco – this fun, quirky and pop-cultured themed spot is one of the coolest hotels to stay in Brighton
Claiming to be England’s most rock n’ roll hotel, from the moment you enter the 4-star and exceptionally rated Pelirocco Hotelyou’ll realise they do things a little differently. This truly striking unique and hip Brighton boutique hotel has earned itself a reputation for being the premier pit stop for everyone from DJs and rock stars to actors and comedians.
All of the 19 stylishly themed rooms at this very hip Brighton hotel are inspired by pop culture, music and glamour – ranging from the kitsch and unusual to the tongue-in-cheek erotic.
One of the rooms is designed to look like a space-age capsule and another features a pole and mirrors on the ceiling, promising the ultimate naughty weekend away.
For those seeking even more entertainment, downstairs you’ll find communal high-tech games, a very popular funky cocktail bar and even private karaoke lounge – rock n’roll indeed!
2. Hotel Una – unique and stylish retro-themed luxury perfect for Instagrammers and couples
One of the most popular and highly rated boutique hotels in Brighton, the centrally located 4-star Una Hotelis a chic upscale hotel promising a mixture of high design and a homely atmosphere.
As well as a fabulous onsite cocktail bar, all the stylish retro/modern rooms have a unique layout and design and many have more in common with private apartments.
No expense is spared at this chic Brighton abode and only furnishings with the highest standards are chosen – think organic woods, natural fabrics, flat-screen TVs and lashings of contemporary art. Stand-out rooms offer luxurious extras such as whirlpools, sumptuous free-standing soaking tubs and a super-king sized bed.
Little details are very important here and champagne and strawberries, cake, rose petals and even balloons are available if required promising an ultra-romantic Brighton break!
To book, check prices or availability for Una Hotel
3. Square Hotel – a sleek, chic, and intimate boutique hotel
The name of this unique and contemporary Brighton accommodation is something of a misnomer, this gorgeous Brighton boutique hotel is anything but square! In fact, this intimate boutique hotel offers immaculate chic and sleek interiors and a fashionable central location.
Cool, stylish and about as far away as you can get from the traditional Brighton B&B, opt for the 4-star exceptionally rated Square Hoteland you’ll find yourself having a very hip version of a seaside getaway.
Its pièce de résistance is their ultra-luxurious penthouse-style suite, but get this – it’s located in the basement! Very unique! Another room even contains a state-of-the-art ‘Cocoon massage chair’ ensuring that you cannot help but unwind on your Brighton seaside break.
To book, check prices or availability for Square Hotel
4. Artist Residence – a cool, eclectic, artsy and very Instagrammable boutique hotel located opposite the famous West Pier
Newly refurbished, the very cool and highly rated Artist Residence– located in a fabulous location overlooking the early 19th-century residential development Regency Square – has beautifully evolved from a quirky Brighton hotel to one of the most creative and stylish boutique hotels in the seaside city.
Each of the 23 rooms have been individually designed with reclaimed industrial chic decor complete with bare wooden floorboards, exposed brick walls, cool graphic artistic details and huge comfy beds.
I loved the cute little details too – in our room 1920’s music drifted from a retro Roberts radio, an amenities tray with kettle, teapot, and caramel bars sat tucked away in a corner and eco-friendly BeeKind toiletries awaited us in the newly refurbished bathroom.
The whole place exuded charm and character but without the expense of taste, which is not an easy feat to pull off! Add in ornate balconies complete with fine sea views, a young team of affable staff, a hip cocktail bar, and two highly regarded restaurants and et voilà – you have an absolute must-stay! I loved this place!
5. Cavalaire Guest House – a cute, eclectic and colourful independent guesthouse that has been rated Brighton’s favourite little place
Victoriana meets contemporary quirky in this hip, colorful, and cheerful boutique hotel. Located just10 minutes’ walk from Brighton’s famed seafront, the Brighton Dome, Royal Pavilion and the Theatre Royal are all within walking distance,
The rooms are full of quaint touches like four-poster beds, sloping ceilings and antique fireplaces, and some have views of the sea. Guests can pre-order breakfast, which comes with homemade bread and delicious options like full English, and vegetarian and vegan options.
There’s a fab pub just down the road for meals and each room has a concierge book with recommendations for local food and drinks as well as sightseeing. A limited number of private parking spots are available, though these do have to be reserved in advance.
All in all this lovely guesthouse makes a great base to explore this quirky, historic city, which is why visitors have chosen it for a 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice award.
6. One Broad Street – a chic and trendy small boutique hotel set in the heart of vibrant Brighton and close to top attractions
Mingling industrial chic with natural biophilic decor, this boutique hotel is just a stone’s throw from the pier and beach, and close to the city centre and the famous Lanes where you can shop, eat, drink and drink in the past and lively present.
Tech is part of the hotel concept, from digital check-in, safe key code locks and smart TVs to the in-room tablet with lots of local knowledge about what to see and do and where to eat and drink.
The guest rooms are equipped with comfortable beds, walls of exposed brick and reclaimed natural materials, artisanal furnishings and a small kitchenette. The courtyard suite has room for up to four and a private terrace, while the loft suite with its quaint sloping ceiling offers more space and privacy.
7. MyBrighton – a fun, futuristic and funky hotel which makes the perfect base for partying Millennials and Gen Z
The highly-rated 4-star MyBrightonpulls out all the stops to provide the ultimate funky Brighton hotel experience. Reflecting its trendy central North Laine surroundings, the unique Brighton accommodation offers a heady mix of bespoke artwork, bright space-age interiors and cutting-edge technology.
From the bright futuristic lobby to the ultra-modern urban cocktail lounge, all the decor at MyBrightonis funkily bold and as easily as hip as the Brighton locals which surround it.
Expect flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi and stylish sound systems in all of the rooms, but if you really want to impress, opt for an upgraded room and you’ll find floor-to-ceiling windows and four-poster beds or a serene ‘Artist’s studio’ – two of which have very funky circular beds!
Very retro cool! Easily one of the best boutique hotels in Brighton, other hotel highlights include a contemporary bar, an Indian restaurant, a hip artisan coffee shop and even an afternoon tea service – delightful darlings!
To book, check prices or availability for MyBrighton
8. Snooze Guest House – the quirkiest guest house in Brighton perfect for a cool and unique Brighton break
The award-winning and exceptionally rated Snooze Guest Houseis housed in an elegant Georgian townhouse in the vibrant Kemp Town district.
The reception/breakfast room at this ultra-cool Brighton guest house is a pure explosion of colourful kitsch – vintage movie and music memorabilia is crisscrossed with bright pop art, retro furniture and even a graffiti-style mural on the ceiling. My suite was a spacious loft room with a raised bed adorned in leopard skin print and surrounded by brown beige walls accented with bright pop art.
From the cute Love Heart sweets and Brighton Rock left out on the bedside table to the monochrome mosaic bathroom, each detail was perfectly thought out, all with an unmistakable sixties/seventies retro vibe.
All the rooms are individually decorated and take inspiration from cult films and vintage popular culture – Boogie Nights, Mad Men, Goodfellas, Quadrophenia the list goes on. I even spotted a room that reminded me of Coronation Street’s Vera Duckworth’s front room circa the 1980s. Genius.
9. Drakes – seriously stylish celebrity haunt in the form of one of Brighton’s best seafront boutique hotels
Voted one of the ‘Top 50 New Boutique Hotels in the World’ by Conde Nast, the 4-star and very highly rated Drakes Hotel is proof that most good things come in small packages!
The narrow sea-front townhouse has captured the hearts of so many of its guests and has even seen the likes of Kylie Minogue, Woody Allen and Fatboy Slim through its doors.
With a splash of Indochine French colonialism and a touch of decadence, the romantic bespoke rooms at this trendsetting Brighton hotel come complete with huge beds, Egyptian cotton linens, flat-screen televisions, raised soaking tubs and mostly sea views.
Head to the basement of this chic Brighton boutique hotel for fine dining and delicious cocktails whipped up by an award-winning barman. Fabulous!
To book, check prices or availability for Drakes Hotel
11. Hotel Du Vin – a chic, glossy and award-winning boutique hotel with superb design features
Beautiful, chic and one-time winner of the UK’s favourite hotel is the highly-rated 4-star Hotel Du Vin, Brighton’s version of the small chain of ultra-hip hotels. Perfect accommodation for the style conscious, this trendy Brighton boutique hotel seamlessly fits in with Brighton’s more upmarket aspirations.
All 37 of the upscale rooms are exceptionally spacious and come with custom-built beds, crisp Egyptian bed linen, enormous walk-in monsoon shower and stand-alone bathtubs.
With a nod to its seaside surroundings, you’ll also find driftwood decor and a handy end-of-pier telescope, perfect for getting a closer look at the nearby coastline. Only a stone’s throw from the beach and housed in a beautiful gothic revival building – do you honestly need any more reasons to stay?
To book, check prices or availability for Hotel Du Vin
12. Malmaison – a cool and modern hotel offering Instaworthy views set on Brighton Marina waterfront
The highly rated Malmaison Brighton is located right on the marina and the view from one side of the hotel is filled with yachts and boats as well as the sea. The beautiful boutique hotel in Brighton has a range of rooms that either face the marina or inland towards the townhouses of Brighton.
The rooms are all stylishly decorated and modern with coffee makers, and rainfall showers and some rooms can easily add an extra bed for small children.
There is the Chez Mal Brasserie which serves modern French food with American and Asian influences while the Chez Mal Bar is perfect for a coffee break, meeting friends or enjoying a stylish cocktail while watching the sea.
13. Brighton Harbour Hotel and Spa – a chic upscale spa hotel located along Brighton’s world-famous promenade
The highly-rated Brighton Harbour Hotel & Spa is a modern, luxurious hotel right alongside Brighton beach. With 79 rooms, the hotel looks like a 19th-century hotel but has all the best amenities inside. These include carafes of gin or sherry and coffee machines as well as rain showers.
The award-winning Jetty restaurant is perfect for daytime or evening meals while the HarBAR is a popular cocktail bar even for people living locally.
The gorgeous Brighton abode also has its own spa, the HarSPA with treatment rooms, sauna and steam rooms, Scandinavian hot tubs and even a hydrotherapy pool to wash away the day.
14. The Ginger Pig – trendy boutique-style rooms located over a much-loved gastropub
The exceptionally rated Ginger Pig is just two minutes from the beach as well as many of the most famous attractions in Brighton.
The hotel has a timeless, British pub look about it and inside is a very modern boutique hotel. There are just 11 suites, each with features such as oversized showers or stand-alone bathtubs as well as Royal Warrant ‘Hypnos’ mattresses for the best possible night’s sleep.
Use the coffee machine in the room or even sample their own premixed ‘Ginger’ cocktails specially designed for the hotel. The hotel offers a comfortable and convenient place to explore Brighton where staff make you feel special.
To book, check prices or availability for The Ginger Pig
15. Guest and the City – a cool, funky and reasonably priced boutique in the hip Kemptown area
The exceptionally rated 4-star Guest and the City is a trendy B&B that is different from the classic British idea of the bed and breakfast and is in the Kemptown area of the city. Just off Brighton Beach and a short distance from the Brighton Pier, the B&B has comfortable and chic rooms characterised by stained glass.
There are four types of rooms available, all with tea and coffee facilities, Egyptian cotton bedding and power showers. The two feature rooms have balconettes to enjoy a relaxing drink and enjoy the views.
There is a special breakfast room serving locally sourced goods and offers Full English or continental style breakfasts.
16. Charm Hotel – a family-friendly boutique hotel with quirky-chic design details
The exceptionally rated Charm Hoteloffers boutique luxury when you are visiting Brighton. The building is over 200 years old and the classic exterior fronts a stylish interior full of high-quality rooms.
Each room has been refurbished to offer a VIP hotel experience including original artworks, flat-screen TVs and even seating areas with sea views for some.
The boutique hotel is located in Kemptown close to the pier and Brighton’s main shopping area. The breakfast includes locally sourced products and there is both Full English and continental options available. The hotel is also close to many top-quality restaurants and bars for evening meals and drinks.
17. Sea Spray Hotel – a funky eclectic Brighton boutique hotel located in a great central location on the city’s seafront square
One of the boutique hotels in Brighton which is perfect for those on a budget. With funkily-themed rooms the exceptionally rated 4-star Sea Spray Hotel really is the last word in stylish sea-side fun and affordability!
Choose from one of the 20 themed rooms – the Elvis room comes with guitar and memorabilia, the Moroccan room is adorned with Eastern drapes and a Fez hat and in ‘Boudoir’ expect a four-poster bed and lashings of red velvet.
All of the rooms at this fun and funky Brighton stay are very reasonably priced but if you’re looking for a bit more luxury then opt for an upgraded room some which come with their own whirlpools or private courtyard.
There’s even an onsite spa offering everything from facials and saunas to clairvoyance – wow!
My first true adventure began as a six month voyage around South East Asia as a fresh faced backpacker and ever since I’ve lived a semi nomadic existence, clocking up visits to over 40 countries. I’m a lover of US Road Trips, deserted beaches bathed in warm glow of a sunset, Cuban mojitos, travel destinations far away from the tourist crowds and all things Scandinavian – from cloudberry liquors to Nordic noirs. When not wandering the world and running Global Grasshopper, you’ll find me walking my rescued Greek street dog in leafy South West London, strolling around the Brighton Lanes on random day trips, hunting for photogenic landscapes or daydreaming about my favourite places; Havana, Copenhagen, Italy, Laos, California and the surreally beautiful landscapes of a wintry Iceland.
These are all so unique and gorgeous. And reasonably priced too. Looks like a trip to Brighton isn’t completely out of the question! Thanks for sharing!
The Hotel du Vin looks amazing, people have told me about this before – not so sure about having a bath in the room itself, but looks so luxurious… almost want to pop down to Brighton just to try it out!
Ironically, I stumble upon this article shortly after reading an article elsewhere regarding the city of Brighten and the various festivities and events that occur there. I find this city to be rather interesting, and to have a nice list of hotels to compliment the list of various events and things to see there is just great! Thanks for this!
They all look really stylish, great list!
I will definitely try Neo Hotel once I get there, looks very stylish!
Great choice of hotels, they all look really interesting!
Thanks Tegan!
These are all so unique and gorgeous. And reasonably priced too. Looks like a trip to Brighton isn’t completely out of the question! Thanks for sharing!
I’m in love with the Sea Spray Hotel I just love the colors and the way the look of that room makes me feel
These hotels look like paradise to stay at! I’ll have to check them out on my next Brighton visit.
Hotel square looks peaceful and a restful place to go. Simple and elegant.
The Hotel du Vin looks amazing, people have told me about this before – not so sure about having a bath in the room itself, but looks so luxurious… almost want to pop down to Brighton just to try it out!
Thanks you definitely should!
Ironically, I stumble upon this article shortly after reading an article elsewhere regarding the city of Brighten and the various festivities and events that occur there. I find this city to be rather interesting, and to have a nice list of hotels to compliment the list of various events and things to see there is just great! Thanks for this!
Thanks for your comment Chris, it’s a great city and I should know it’s my home town!
I will definitely try Neo Hotel once I get there. The hotel is very stylish and feels like home. Thanks for posting!