So you’re coming to Bristol? Excellent choice! But where to stay? Sure, we’ve got Inns of the Holiday and Premier variety, but wouldn’t you rather round off your ventures in the city by staying somewhere special? I’ve put together a list of local boutique hotels in Bristol that are sure to make your stay memorable, rather than mediocre.
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Best boutique hotels Bristol
Brooks Guest House
Best for: city glamping
St Nicholas St, Bristol BS1 1UB
This four-storey boutique hotel, located smack bang in the heart of the Old City, opposite St Nicholas Market is one of the best boutique Bristol hotels and a cosy place to base yourself for a city adventure.
For a quirky Bristol hotel stay, opt for one of the silver airstream ‘Rooftop Rockets’ – a gleaming retro aluminium caravan with all the lux of a modern hotel room (TV, DVD player, iPod dock, disco-colour LED mood lights and free WiFi etc), sat on an astro turf garden on the hotel’s roof.
The 20ft Rocket is the best option for families with one or two children – it’s the largest on offer, with a 5ft Double bed at one end and a seating area at the other which can convert to two single beds for two children up to 13 years, plus a micro bathroom. From your Bristol skyline bolthole, you have a prime viewing spot over the city’s spires and rooftops as well as access to the hotel lounge, courtyard garden and honesty bar, like other hotel room-dwelling guests.
If you’d rather a ‘normal’ hotel room, there are a choice of double, king, twin and triple bedrooms with ‘demisting’ bathroom mirrors and Hangsgrohe power showers.
Breakfast (included) features a scrummy choice of free-range local produce, and post Covid-19, can be ordered in a picnic style hamper, either to your room, or to the courtyard where tables are positioned two metres apart.
From the hotel you’re within walking distance of Bristol Shopping Quarter, many bars and restaurants, the Harbourside and Bristol’s best family attractions.
Travelling here: Bristol Bus Station is just minutes away, Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station is a 10 – 15 minute walk, or a short taxi ride.
Click here to check the latest prices at Brooks Guest House
Number 38 Clifton
Best boutique B&B Bristol for: a child-free night away
38 Upper Belgrave Road, Bristol, BS8 2XN
One of the fanciest boutique hotels in Bristol – save this stylish luxury stay for a kid-free weekend away (they don’t accommodate children under 12). Located in upmarket Clifton, this double-fronted Georgian merchant’s townhouse has twelve gorgeously decadent bedrooms to choose from (although the loft rooms here are the business).
Each bedroom has its own individual character, with some suites offering views over the vast green parkland of The Downs on one side, while others peer over sloping rows of terraced houses and distant Mendip hills on the other.
Bedlinen and toiletries are top speck, there are waffle dressing gowns and slippers to slink into after a soak in a glamorous double-ended bronze and chrome bath, and a mini bar with a difference – you won’t find the huge overpriced mark-ups of corporate hotels here). It all feels wonderfully indulgent.
The decor is a mix of original Georgian features, contemporary, antique, and artistic furniture with a subtle maritime flavour (a nod to Bristol’s seafaring past). Art lovers will enjoy works by Stokes Croft artists and the David Hockney in the downstairs toilet. Communal chill-out areas include a cosy lounge with log-burner and a pretty outdoor terrace with city views that is perfect in summer.
Begin the day with delicious cooked breakfast or lighter alternatives such as scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, fresh fruits and granolas (all ingredients are as fresh and locally-sourced as possible), before heading out to Clifton Village for a mooch in independent cafés, a spot of boutique shopping, or take a short stroll down to marvel at Clifton Suspension Bridge. For anyone in need of some serious R&R, Number 38 also organise spa breaks in conjunction with The Lido.
Travelling here: Nearby Clifton Down station (10 minutes’ walk) is on a branch line that connects with Bristol Temple Meads.
Click here to see the latest prices at Number 38 Clifton
Artist Residence Bristol
Best boutique hotel in Bristol for: art lovers
28 Portland Square, St Paul’s, Bristol BS2 8SA
Artist Residence Bristol is situated on Portland Square in St Pauls (near the ‘wedding cake church’, just five minutes from Stokes Croft and Bristol city centre. A former boot factory, the hotel has been very recently transformed with the help of local artists, into one of the hippest hotels in Bristol.
From industrially-styled nooks, to hideaways with a splash of bohemian luxe and a split-level, view-heavy retreat, the bedrooms are all eclectically-decorated, yet not compromising on comfort. Creative guests will love gazing at the urban, pop, and abstract art, photography and neon installations hanging harmoniously across the old walls.
Along with 23 bedrooms, there’s a coffee shop, bar, kitchen, event space and garden. For eating and drinking, The Clubhouse will be a buzzing community hub open to all, with a relaxed atmosphere, a laid-back menu (including some snazzy cocktails) and a programme of cultural events.
Berkeley Suites
Best hotel in Bristol for: a self-contained stay
Housed in a grade II* listed Georgian building, just off Clifton Triangle, these five luxury suites are more akin to serviced apartments than a boutique hotel. Spruced up with fresh, funky decor and lavish hand-crafted furnishings, rooms all have a state of the art projection cinema and sound system, a phenomenally comfy bed, video painting installation, kitchenette, dining space, Delonghi espresso coffee machine (with milk frother!) and a Roberts radio.
You’re in a great position to explore Bristol from here – the beautiful parkland and epic panoramic city views of Brandon Hill and iconic landmark, Cabot Tower, are just a stroll across Berkeley Square. Clifton Village, Park Street, the city centre and Harbourside are all within easy walking distance (although you’ll need some puff to get back up hilly Park Street!)
Guests staying at Berkeley Suites get complementary use of Nuffield Fitness & Wellbeing Centre (300m away), with its swimming pool, sauna and gym. Visitors after a serious pampering sesh can contact reception about combining their stay with a trip to Thermae Bath Spa. Or if shopping is more your bag, chat to them about their Harvey Nichols ‘shop and stay’ package. Night owls can also make the most of guest access to trendy members’ club, The Square at Berkeley Hotel next door.
In terms of food and drink, the suites’ kitchenette comes with convection hobs, a microwave oven, fridge/freezer, sink, dishwasher and food preparation area. However, if you can’t be bothered to cook, next door’s Square Kitchen menu is also available to order to all Berkeley suites guests and is delivered to your door, to be enjoyed from the comfort of your own bed.
Travelling here: Hotel parking spaces are available for £17.
Click here to see the latest prices at Berkeley Suites
Bristol Harbour Hotel and Spa
Best boutique hotel in Bristol for: onsite spa
53-55 Corn St, Bristol BS1 1HT
On historic Corn Street, housed in two adjoining former 18th century banks, is Bristol Harbour Hotel. The name is a slight misnomer, as you can’t actually see Bristol Harbour from here, although it’s not far away! As boutique hotels in Bristol go though, it’s a great addition in my opinion, thanks to its onsite spa.
There are 42 bedrooms including 3 suites, an award-winning restaurant, cocktail bar and subterranean spa with pint-sized pool, sauna, steam room and plenty of pampering treats on offer. Browsing through the gift vouchers available from Bristol Harbour Hotel, I can happily say I’d take any of them right now! A HarSpa facial? Yes please. Foot and leg pamper? Hell yeah. Local gin tasting experience? Where do I sign..?
The corner suites feature freestanding roll-top tubs, grand furnishings, high ceilings and large windows which peer over at St Nicholas Market. There are little luxuries in the bedrooms too, such as Nespresso coffee machines, White Company toiletries and complimentary gin and sherry.
Children can use the swimming pool and relaxation areas within the Spa at certain times.
Click here to see the latest prices at Bristol Harbour Hotel and Spa
Avon Gorge Hotel du Vin
Top Bristol hotels for iconic views
Sion Hill, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4LD
The Hotel du Vin Avon Gorge will always hold a special place in my heart as it’s where I went into labour with my first child! Perched on the edge of Bristol’s spectacular gorge, with bedroom windows, a terrace and a restaurant overlooking Clifton Suspension Bridge, the Avon Gorge Hotel Bristol (or Clifton Gorge hotel as non-locals might know it) has long been known for its enviable position in the vista-marvelling stakes. I’d say the views here are the best of all the boutique hotels in Bristol. Following its multi-million pound refurb by Hotel du Vin, this hotel now has the interior swank to help it live up to surroundings.
Interiors are dark and sophisticated, with the occasional pop of colour, dark wooden furniture and artwork that’ll make you do a double-take. 55 of the bedrooms have Gorge-facing views (the rest look back towards pretty Clifton Village) and come equipped with Nespresso machines and Occitane toiletries. For an extra-treaty stay, go for the Laurent Perrier Executive suite to sip bubbles in twin roll-top baths while peering out at Brunel’s Bridge.
The dining room, now wall-to-wall glass to make the most of those magnificent views, serves up the customary Hotel du Vin classic french dishes. There’s also a large outdoor terrace – the perfect spot for al fresco drinks in summer.
Being a ‘hotel du Vin’, it goes without saying that there is an extensive and eclectic wine (and cocktail) list. Start the night off or retire to the cosy lounge for an aperitif or late-night tipple. For more casual fare, the White Lion Bar has a more relaxed, pub-like atmosphere with gastro style dishes.
You’re perfectly placed here to explore the boutique shops and pretty Georgian architecture of Clifton, venture across the bridge to Ashton Court Estate or wander along the preposterously scenic route to the Downs.
Click here to see the latest prices at Avon Gorge by Hotel du Vin
Hotel du Vin Bristol
Best boutique hotel for: city centre location
The Sugar House, Narrow Lewins Mead, Bristol, NS1 2NU
Hotel du Vin’s Old City address is one of the longest-standing boutique hotels in Bristol city centre. This converted 18th century sugar warehouse is made up of several buildings all knocked together, it’s something of an upmarket rabbit warren, with 40 bedrooms, dark furnishings, wood panels and open brickwork.
Each bedroom is named after a different wine or vineyard, with the best undoubtedly being Veuve Clicquot – a split-level mezzanine room with a huge bed, lounge and side-by-side roll-top baths.
I’ve had a couple of scrumptious, atmospheric candlelit dinners in the bistro, followed by a nightcap in the bar, or if you’d rather head out, you’re within walking distance of theatres, shopping, restaurants and attractions.
Click here to check the latest prices for Hotel du Vin Bristol
The Bristol Wing
Best Bristol hotels for: budget stays
9 Bridewell St, Bristol BS1 2QD
Previously Bridewell Police HeadQuarters, boutique hostel The Bristol Wing has been lovingly-refurbished and now boasts homely rooms, a welcoming vibe, walls decorated with eclectic art, an impressive 1920s cage lift and ethical credentials that are rare to find.
As a ’boutique hostel’, rather than a bonafide boutique hotel, the upsides are that it’s a brilliant budget option in a great location. You’re a short walk away from the bus station, shops, many of Bristol’s best family attractions and the Harbourside. Potential downsides are a lack of privacy or quiet – think of it more as a bustling place to stay, with audible sounds of buzzing city life outside and space that happily lends itself to congregating guests.
Those travelling with children in tow will want to opt for the private family rooms upstairs with twin/double bed and 3 bunks plus en-suite toilet, basin and shower. A travel cot can be added to the room on request and children under two stay for free. There are also shared dorms and private doubles available, some of which are en-suite, others which share bathrooms. Downstairs, you’ll find an open-plan reception, sitting room/common room filled with books and help-yourself coffee and tea and kitchen. Continental breakfast is served in the latter and includes breads, jams, yoghurts and fruit, plus gluten free and vegan options available, to set you up for the day.
There’s also free WIFI, free laundry and self-catering facilities, board games and a widescreen HD TV with some very cosy sofas to plonk yourself down in.
Staying here will automatically boost your social conscience as a small contribution from your room rate goes towards The Bristol Wing’s work with homeless people. The hostel is owned and managed by YMCA Bristol, and they offer 9 single rooms to young homeless people for free as well as 1-2-1 support.
Click here to check prices at The Bristol Wing
Boutique hotels near Bristol
Berwick Lodge
Best luxury hotel near Bristol for: opulent bedrooms and M4/M5 proximity
Berwick Drive, Bristol BS10 7TB, England
A 14-bedroom Edwardian mansion set in enchanting gardens 6.5 miles north of Bristol, Berwick Lodge fuses classy English country house with Anatolia vibes thanks to its Turkish/English owners.
Bedrooms are luxuriously-decorated and come with rich upholstery, big beds, impressive bathrooms and views over the gardens, Bristol Channel and South Wales. The suites, Troya in particular, will make your jaw drop (and it won’t surprise you to learn celebs frequently choose this one when they stay!)
In-room beauty treatments, such as massages and facials are on offer, making it a great hotel for a special stay, although you’re only 5 minutes from the M4/M5 motorway here (you can hear it’s distant hum), if you’re looking for a lovely, yet convenient stopover. If you’re travelling with children, extra beds can be provided in the bigger rooms, kids can be catered for in the restaurant and there are cots available.
Outside, there are 18 acres of landscaped gardens (tended to by Prince Charles’ former Highgrove gardener) and woodland to explore, before curling up in the lounge (next to an open fire in cold weather) and tucking into a wicked afternoon tea. Or save your appetite for an 8-course tasting menu (with optional wine flight) in the award-winning AA Rosette Hattusa restaurant.
The city is but a whisper away, with Wild Place, Aerospace Bristol and Blaise Castle Estate a 10-minute drive away.
Travelling here: For Sat Nav use BS10 7TB and then take the private lane to the right of the Sports Ground, which is at the bottom of Berwick Drive. If you’re planning on arriving by helicopter (!), the hotel has a helipad for arrival which can be used for a £75 landing fee.
Click here to check latest prices at Berwick Lodge
Thornbury Castle
Best luxury hotel outside Bristol for: regal fantasies
Castle Street, Thornbury, Gloucestershire, BS35 1HH
Luxury hotels in Bristol don’t come much grander than Thornbury Castle. Fulfil your days-of-yore royal dreams and book a stay in this magnificent 16th century castle, once owned by King Henry VIII (you can even sleep in the room he once shared with Anne Boleyn).
Inside oozes ancient Tudor grandeur – ginormous open fireplaces, oak panelling, suits of armour, a dungeon dining room (open May-Sept), four-poster beds, ornate carved ceilings, heavy regal fabrics and heavy stone walls – blended with luxurious modern touches. For maximum castle-y features in your bedroom, opt for a deluxe double or a deluxe suite.
While there’s no actual spa to speak of, it’s possible to treat yourself to a pampering session in your very own bedchamber- there are a number of glorious-sounding in-house massages on offer bookable with their affiliated Vicarage Farm Holistic Therapy Centre.
Outdoors there’s a vineyard, walled gardens and the chance to soak up some of the atmosphere of country life in Tudor England with activities such as archery, falconry and croquet on offer.
With a choice of four dining rooms, its very own vineyard and kitchen garden, expert sommeliers, decadent afternoon tea and culinary events throughout the year, it’s also a unique foodie treat.
Children aged eight and over are welcome. Dogs £15 per night.
Travelling here: The nearest station is Bristol Parkway (and then it’s a 25 minute taxi ride), or there is free parking at the hotel. Central Bristol is a 30-minute drive.
Click here to check the latest prices at Thornbury Castle
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