The best hotels in Bristol

This hotel is housed across two former Victorian banks. It features a host of period touches and is a luxe establishment in a great location between the harbour and town centre. Its rooms and suites are sumptuously decorated with colourful textiles, and all offer free wi-fi, iPod docks, tea and coffee-making facilities, and – best of all – decanters of gin and sherry. A basement spa has been added to the already impressive services; it includes a lushly-styled cocktail bar and an eye-popping banquet hall.

This elegant boutique hotel on Belgrave Road places you right next to the Downs and just on the edge of the busy Whiteladies Road area and Clifton village. The interiors are classic British heritage – as befits a Georgian townhouse – but filtered through a modern lens. So while there’s a whole lotta velvet, there are also clean lines, uncluttered spaces and a general feeling of airy spaciousness.

Possibly Bristol’s most iconic hotel (or certainly, drinking spot), the Avon Gorge Hotel is where you’ll find *those* views of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Sadly, it was once a little too happy to trade solely on that virtue while the rest of the building was left a little lacklustre. But happy days are truly here again thanks to a thorough revamp by Hotel du Vin which has turned the rooms into the plush, vintage-inspired abodes they deserve to be and significantly improved the restaurant and bar areas. We say: well worth a visit – and now not just for the view of the bridge.

The first thing to note about Mollie’s Motel and Diner is that it is outside the city centre. It’s actually just north of Bristol, close to the Cribbs Causeway shopping complex and the brilliant Wild Place Project. Don’t be dissuaded though – this is a fun, modern and bright place to stay which is easy to access from the M5. The selling point is all in the name: while the plain-and-functional rooms won’t set Instagram on fire, the American diner and retro exterior are delightful. Book in here if you’re a fan of proper burgers, extra-large shakes and all things Americana.

You should know what to expect with a branch of the Hotel du Vin chain: chic, classy decor in an interesting building. Bristol’s certainly doesn’t disappoint. It’s set across a series of restored, Grade II-listed eighteenth-century warehouses, and boasts some curious features, like a loft mezzanine and a rolltop bath here and there. But whatever room you find yourself in, upscale amenities abound: free wi-fi, flatscreen TVs, iPod docks, rainfall showerheads and Nespresso coffeemakers are all standard. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Hotel du Vin without a beautiful bar and bistro restaurant.

If you want to bag some seriously cool, seriously offbeat Bristol accomodation, head to the rooftop of this boutique hotel. There, you’ll find a series of 1950s aluminium caravans updated for the twenty-first-century with free wi-fi, flatscreen telly and DVD players, along with tea and coffee-making facilitie. The white, wood-panelled rooms below them are fresh and bright, and with iPod docks, and all come with free breakfast, access to an honesty bar, courtyard garden and lounge.

Fancy pretending you’re a member of the aristocracy? This highly affordable nineteenth-century redbrick villa could just be the place. It’s set amid an 18-acre stretch of woodland and landscaped gardens, and has 14 traditional and individually-styled rooms. They feature ornate furniture, rich textiles, and opulent marble bathrooms with heated mosaic floors, some with clawfoot, free-standing tubs and fireplaces. Our favourite? The Troya room, whose elevated superking-sized bed is created from a church pulpit. Breakfast and wi-fi are complimentary.

The Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel is a bit like Bristol itself: a mash-up of old and new with an eye on whatever seems to be the most fun. The hotel itself is housed in a grade II listed building but the design inside is inspired by the city’s famous street art scene. Right in the centre of Bristol, the location gives you great access to the Waterfront, Cabot Circus and the lovely shops and bakeries of Christmas Steps. It’s also easy to walk (or bus it) up Park Street towards Clifton Village and its boutique shops and artisan cafes.

We’re big fans of the Bristol Hotel’s brutalist-style exterior – and the interiors are a bit of retro alright too. The hotel’s setting is also a big plus: it’s right beside the Waterfront and only a short walk from the bottom of Park Street. Try to bag a room with a harbour view for the best experience. Wi-fi, parking and a fitness centre are all included.

This pretty little hotel resides in a Georgian townhouse close to Clifton Village. If its own changing displays of artworks get you in the mood, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery and the RWA are just a short stroll away. Prices are reasonable for fresh and fuss-free rooms with free wi-fi, a decanter of sherry, tea and coffee-making facilities, fruit and homemade biscuits. Guests also have access to a members’ club with a pretty cocktail bar in the basement, and a breezy restaurant with outdoor terrace.