Bristol, or Brizzle as the locals lovingly call it, is one of the best destinations to explore the southwest English countryside without abandoning the cosmopolitan landscape entirely. This quirky, cool and eclectic city is a heady mix of art, architecture, culture, creativity and history with a stunning harbourside and rich heritage.
Famous for its Georgian architecture, scenic harborside and fascinating role in Britain’s maritime legacy, there’s much more to Bristol than meets the eye. Visitors adore this southwestern English city for its warm and friendly community, proximity to the countryside, and vibrant and hip neighbourhoods.
Bristol is brimming with unique boutique hotels filled with creative details, historic B&Bs and heritage sites remodelled as luxury accommodations, so travellers are spoiled for choice. Here are our favourite cool and unusual hotels in Bristol, England (in no particular order)…
1. Hotel du Vin Bristol – cute boutique-style hotel with a garden perfect for romance and couples
Hotel du Vin ranks amongst Bristol’s most elegant boutique hotels, renowned for its distinct blend of traditional hospitality and modern comforts all set within a romantic atmosphere.
Travellers who want to position themselves in the City’s heart will find Hotel du Vin ideally located to enjoy popular attractions within walking distance, including Bristol Old Vic, Cabot Circus and Clifton Village.
The interiors strike the perfect balance between traditional and modern with 18th-Century accents combined with a contemporary loft-living aesthetic.
There are 40 exquisitely designed accommodations featuring sprawling lounging spaces, finely crafted furniture, Egyptian cotton linens, and luxurious beds. The bedrooms and suites are equipped with air conditioning, smart appliances and a well-stocked minibar.
- To book, check prices or availability for Hotel du Vin
2. Moxy Bristol – a sleek and cool modern hotel with heaps of funky design details perfect for partying Millenials and Gen Zs
This boutique hotel is a digital nomad’s paradise with impressive facilities like high-speed WiFi, large workstations, laid-back social spaces, and an abundance of charging points throughout the premises.
Moxy is home to an extensive lineup of 214 rooms, including standard rooms, double rooms and luxury suites, accommodating travellers with different needs and budgets. The rooms feature ensuite bathrooms, 42-inch Chromecast TVs, smart appliances and fine linens.
Guests enjoy access to a 24/7 onsite eatery, a games zone and a chic coffee shop that serves as a cocktail bar at night.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Moxy Hotel
3. Number 38 Clifton – a design-led, ultra-stylish guesthouse with Instagrammable features around every corner, perfect for a romantic retreat or business break
Number 38 is an elegant Georgian venue, overlooking the verdant vistas of Clifton Downs in the front and sweeping views of the cityscape from the back. This centrally located establishment is set in a recently renovated Georgian home featuring 12 tastefully appointed guest rooms decked out with all the modern amenities you could ask for.
Perched high above Bristol with picture-perfect scenery, this lovingly curated hotel offers decadent comforts for luxury-minded travellers. Number 38 aims to provide a much-needed reprieve from Bristol’s commercial hotels by delivering home-like comforts with personalised care.
The guest rooms are equipped with indulgent 100 Acres bath amenities, Hypnos pocket-sprung mattresses, comfortable waffle dressing gowns and slippers, Smart TVs, minibars, in-room refrigerators, and Roberts radios.
- To book, check prices or availability for Number 38 Clifton
4. Mollie’s Motel & Diner Bristol – a modern yet quirky hotel with a funky, old-school American theme
Mollie’s Motel and Diner is popular for its bright and colourful aesthetic, super-charged social scene and an extensive variety of luxe accommodations.
Home to 123 guest rooms and suites designed by the prestigious Soho House, Mollie’s is more than your average hotel. It’s a vibrant and thriving community characterized by friendly workstations, fixing your own coffee blends, and enjoying cocktails in the inviting lobby.
The perfect getaway to enjoy the best of Bristol city and the heart-warming Gloucestershire country, Mollie’s will keep you comfortable, well-fed and soaked in extravagance. The upscale guest rooms feature rich textures of natural oaks, indulgently dreamy sleep stations, and spa-like ensuite bathrooms with rain showers.
Mollie’s Diner is a typical American-style retro food joint featuring quirky Cadillac booths and an extensive menu of diner classics.
- To book, check prices or availability for Mollie’s Motel and Diner Bristol
5. CoalShed – a funky, industrial-chic hotel with colourful details and impressive eco-friendly credentials, perfect for a quirky friends’ getaway
This contemporary accommodation garners attention with its impressive eco-friendly commitments. For instance, the guest rooms all have a natural limewash paint, which gives them a richly detailed texture.
The entire premises have been decorated with chemical-free paints and sustainable design accents to enhance comfort and convenience. Guests can explore 5 elegantly furnished bedrooms, spacious loft-style apartments or rent the entire ground floor for a wedding party or corporate retreat.
Guests who rent the ground floor will have access to the entire warehouse, featuring five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, a bunk room, and a communal area with a pool and sports facilities.
- To book, check prices or availability for CoalShed
6. Avon Gorge by Hotel du Vin – a beautifully luxurious four-star hotel with elegant historic touches
The Avon Gorge Hotel is a fabulous addition to Bristol’s vibrant lineup of elegant boutique hotels, boasting a divine location overlooking the stunning Avon Gorge and the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
The interiors and hospitality culture of Avon Gorge reflect the traditions upheld by the prestigious Hotel du Vin – reinvented with a modern flair.
The sprawling interiors exude a luxurious contemporary vibe while beautifully preserving some historic accents, such as the grand marble staircase, stained glass windows and original steam pumps.
Guests with a penchant for Bristol’s Georgian architecture and colourful rooftops can explore rooms with panoramic views of Clifton Village. The onsite White Lion Bar is a popular local hangout spot with an expansive terrace to enjoy picture-perfect views of Somerset’s rolling hills.
- To book, check prices or availability for Avon Gorge by Hotel du Vin
7. The Berkeley Square Hotel Bristol – a city centre hideaway with a great bar, high-end touches plus loads of cool and unusual touches
The Berkeley Square Hotel is nestled in the beating heart of Bristol’s quaint Georgian Square, surrounded by popular attractions, iconic landmarks, eclectic bars and fine restaurants.
Travellers will find themselves surrounded by art, culture and retail the moment they step outside the hotel, faced with an abundance of options to explore the city.
This luxury establishment offers a wide array of guest rooms and suites, serving solo travellers, honeymooners, families and corporate clients with unmatched service standards.
The Club King rooms are a popular choice amongst comfort-driven guests, while the double rooms are ideal for families and large groups seeking additional space.
Berkeley Square is also home to Clifton’s finest award-winning restaurant, The Square.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Berkeley Square Hotel Bristol
8. Bristol Harbour Hotel & Spa – a beautiful, historic hotel finished with astonishing attention to detail and offering unparalleled comfort
Nestled in the vibrant historic quarters of Corn Street, Bristol Harbour Hotel and Spa is housed in a magnificent 19th-century building and the former site of the Lloyds and Midland Bank.
The hotel has done a masterful job at reinventing the interiors without dismantling its unique character and the soul of the building.
For instance, the bank’s vaults have been repurposed as a world-class subterranean HarSpa, while the former office of the bank manager has been converted into the Gold Bar, a speakeasy-like establishment serving flavourful cocktails.
The Bristol Harbour features 42 luxuriously appointed bedrooms and suites, and travellers are welcomed with complimentary decanters of sherry and gin served in their rooms. The onsite Kitchen Bar & Terrace is one of Bristol’s popular spots for seafood and alfresco dining.
- To book, check prices or availability for Bristol Harbour Hotel and Spa
9. The Queens Chew Magna – a cute and colourful traditional-style hotel with an on-site restaurant and bar
This upscale establishment offers four recently refurbished family-friendly bedrooms featuring comfortable beds and tasteful interiors.
The B&B-style guest rooms have a cosy home-like atmosphere, accentuated with luxury bedding, fine linens, beautifully crafted furniture and gorgeous period-themed accents.
Guests can enjoy complimentary spreads of continental breakfast, while lunch is a lighthearted affair of delectable bites and indulgent meals served with coffee. The onsite pub offers an extensive menu of rare wines, locally crafted beers and inventive cocktails.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Queens Chew Magna
10. Cove West India House – a sleek, modern apart-hotel close to the centre of Bristol with an impeccable finish
The West India House is home to well-appointed apartments, including studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom accommodations.
You can pick a sprawling two-bedroom apartment with a stunning harbour front view or opt for a Cityview accommodation to soak up the charm of Bristol’s Georgian architecture.
These fully-serviced apartments come with smart appliances, state-of-the-art kitchens, expansive workstations, luxurious king-sized beds, complimentary WiFi, and fine linens.
- To book, check prices or availability for Cove West India House
11. Berwick Lodge – opulent manor house hotel surrounded by 18-acres of land and offering sumptuous accommodation
Situated on the city’s fringes, Berwick Lodge is a secret getaway hidden in the heart of a sprawling 18-acre parkland with breathtaking gardens. This splendidly serene location is a popular choice for destination weddings, corporate retreats, conferences and classic English tea parties.
Staying at the Berwick Lodge is a leisurely and indulgent experience for holidaymakers anxious to get away from the metropolis noise and unwind in the countryside.
The Lodge has an impressive selection of elegantly furnished luxury rooms decked with modern amenities and comfortable bedding – not to mention an abundance of character and charm.
Guests enjoy dining at the in-house fine dining establishment: a 2AA Rosette restaurant specialising in modern British cuisine.
- To book, check prices or availability for Berwick Lodge
12. SACO Bristol – Broad Quay – bright and airy modern apartments boasting an excellent location available for holiday rental
The Service Apartment Company (SACO) presents cosmopolitan travellers with yet another collection of luxury apartments to enjoy independence and home-like privacy in the heart of Bristol City Centre. There’s a wide variety of options to explore, ranging from studio apartments and 2-bedroom lofts to sprawling 3-bedroom penthouses.
These upscale holiday apartments attract leisure and business travellers alike with its well thought out combination of tech-savvy amenities and unmatched comforts.
Guests enjoy state-of-the-art kitchens, luxuriously appointed bedrooms, spacious lounging areas, and dining areas. Some apartments come with expansive terraces and balconies.
Travellers planning an extended stay appreciate the convenience of full home entertainment systems, fully-equipped workstations and functional kitchens.
- To book, check prices or availability for SACO Bristol
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Beth was born under a wandering star, with drama in her veins and ink in her pen. After stints studying theatre in Dublin and Utrecht she used her creative streak to see as much of the world as she could on as little money. She toured Italian Schools with a children’s theatre troop, lived as an au-pair in both Rome and Washington DC, explored the British countryside, worked her way through much of Europe, Salsa danced in Cuba and road tripped down America’s west coast where she discovered her spiritual home; Portland, Oregon. In between adventures she resides peacefully with her family, cats and ukulele.