Fodor's Expert Review Southernhay House Hotel

Located close to the cathedral on the elegant Southernhay, this graceful Georgian hotel with a secluded garden was originally built for a merchant of the East India Company in 1815, hence the paintings commemorating the Battle of Waterloo (fought in the same year) and the names of the spacious and elegantly furnished guest rooms—Silk, Cotton, Ivory, Spice, and Opium, etc.—that recall some of the merchandise that made the company's fortune. The public areas have the atmosphere of an intimate club, and the whole hotel has an understated, boutiquey feel. There's a limited but satisfying menu in the airy restaurant, and there are also snacks available in the bar along with an impressive list of cocktails. There's no hotel parking, but plenty of public spaces nearby.