![The Bull Hotel](https://www.thehotelguru.com/_images/a3/6c/a36c11656b0bc7ad08fbae536b95d941/600x422.jpg)
It’s not all family hotels and seaside B&Bs in Dorset – although there are plenty of those, and good ones, too (see our full range here). We’ve found a great range of boutique properties, all of which are an intimate size and have a strong sense of style and individuality. Almost all of the best boutique hotels in Dorset are privately owned and pride themselves on their local sourcing and personal touch. Some have terrific sea views; others are tucked in pretty villages or smart towns. And not all are expensive!
Luxury boutique hotels
![The Priory Hotel](https://www.thehotelguru.com/_images/6e/8b/6e8b02d2d479b7bee47fb3019a7f8941/600x422.jpg)
- Opt for a sea-view room at No 98 Boutique Hotel, in the centre of popular Weymouth. Rooms are breezily decorated in shades of white and nautical blue, and have a light, spare, contemporary style. It’s breakfast-only but plenty of restaurants are just a stroll away.
- In the smart area of Canford Cliffs in Poole, The Plantation has a semi-colonial feel with bright fabrics, dashing wallpapers and an exotic conservatory restaurant. There’s a charming garden with wooden gazebos, too.
- By contrast, the 16th-century Priory Hotel in Wareham has a classic English style with flagstone floors, exposed beams, polished antiques and dreamy gardens sloping down to the River Frome. The stone-vaulted dining room is wonderfully romantic. Choose one of the bedrooms leading directly out to the gardens.
For great value
![Dorset House](https://www.thehotelguru.com/_images/6a/13/6a13328412317c4528f3a02f6b9927d1/600x422.jpg)
- For a jolly and fun experience, take a look at The Bull Hotel in Bridport. The bold blue exterior gives a clue to the bright colours to expect inside, alongside striking wallpapers and vintage furnishings. There’s a choice of two restaurants plus excellent cocktails in the bar.
- The 10-room Lyme Townhouse in the centre of Lyme Regis offers airy and simple rooms with crisp contemporary furnishings. There’s a bright breakfast-room and plenty of restaurants nearby.
- Also in Lyme Regis, Dorset House is a handsome whitewashed Georgian building that’s been carefully modernised to offer just five rooms in cool contemporary shades, with stripped floorboards and vintage furnishings. Some rooms have sea-views plus there’s an honesty bar.
Best boutique hotels on the coast
- If you prefer a Dorset boutique hotel by the coast, take a look at the Seaside Boarding House, between Lyme Bay and Chesil Beach. This property has nailed the Cape Cod look with its white clapboard exterior, while bedrooms mix vintage and recycled furniture, often with a nautical theme. All have full or partial sea views, some with window-seats.
- Also with fabulous sea views – this time over Lyme Regis and the Cobb – the cliff-top Alexandra Hotel has an elegantly relaxed style with statement wallpapers and stripped-wood floors. There’s a choice of two restaurants plus a garden with path down to the beach. Heavenly.
- If you prefer to be out of the crowds but still near the coast, the Limestone Hotel in West Lulworth – a village just a 10-minute stroll from the coast and the stunning Lulworth Cove – is worth considering. With just 10 rooms – all light and chic – it feels peaceful and private, and there’s a charming garden as well as a well-regarded restaurant.
Still not sure which to book?