5 Best Hotels in Brighton, The Southeast

It's easy to miss the low-key sign for this elegant, modern hotel tucked away amid the frilly houses on Marine Parade, but it's worth the trouble of finding, because everything is cool, calm, and sleekly designed. The lobby is dark and sophisticated, while each guest room has its own style, with handmade wallpaper, firm beds covered in luxurious linens, and art everywhere. Some "feature" rooms have quirky touches, including claw-foot tubs looking out to sea. Rooms with sea views are much more expensive than the others, but what's the point of a seaside hotel without a sea view? The hotel's excellent fine dining restaurant Dilsk has a big local following for its Modern European cuisine. 

The city's most famous hotel and a seafront landmark, the Grand Brighton is a huge, Victorian wedding cake of a building dating from 1864. It's both imposing and elegant, with high-ceilinged public rooms richly decorated with enormous chandeliers and plenty of marble. Having afternoon tea here is a Brighton tradition, and highly recommended. The spacious bedrooms are light-filled and traditional, with luxurious fabrics, white linens, and large bathrooms. Prices vary significantly depending on season and even day of the week (a weekend stay in summer often costs twice as much as a weekday one), so search the website for deals.

In the Lanes area, this outpost of a snazzy boutique chain has chic, modern rooms. Pampering touches include Egyptian linens and large "monsoon" showers. The more expensive rooms have luxurious roll-top baths and wonderful sea views. The bistro restaurant offers classic fare that makes use of local seafood, and the wine list is excellent. Room prices fluctuate wildly day to day, and are significantly higher in summer than other times of year; check the website for the best rates.

Here the imaginations of designers have been given free rein, and the result is a vicarious romp through pop culture and rock and roll in guest rooms with wildly original themes. There's the leopard-print pinup parlor, a Muhammad Ali boxing ring room, and a Caribbean dub and reggae room. Some rooms are inspired by legendary singers, from David Bowie to Dolly Parton. This place is so over-the-top, you'll either love it or hate it with equal passion.

With a casual elegance that typifies Brighton, this Regency-era boutique hotel sits close to the seafront, with rooms that are cleverly fitted into the old building. Some rooms have slanted ceilings and tiny bathrooms, but they make up for those deficiencies by having lots of light and soothing decor in shades of taupe or dove gray. There's no restaurant, although breakfast is served and cooked fresh to order. The cool bar downstairs is popular with young locals and can get quite loud, so ask for a room well away from it if you're a light sleeper.