2 Best Hotels in Southampton, The South

Staying at this snazzy modern five-star hotel directly on the marina is like staying on a cruise ship (or perhaps a super-yacht) without ever leaving land, a design theme reinforced by tiered balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows. Among the amenities are an excellent spa, a penthouse bar with roof terrace, a heated indoor pool, a free shuttle to the cruise terminal, a cinema, and a seafood-oriented restaurant, The Jetty, that's considered one of the city's best. Rooms, some with balconies overlooking the marina, come with pampering touches like 400-thread count sheets and Nespresso coffee machines. 

On a quiet street across from Mayflower Park, this snug hotel in two converted town houses is set into the city's medieval walls and has a funky but chic aesthetic in guest rooms and public areas. Downstairs is the deli-bar, an Edwardian parlor with an open fire, leather armchairs, and wood tables topped with pots of live herbs, where you can get lunch or supper. An offshoot of the Pig, the noted nearby restaurant with rooms in the New Forest, the deli shares the mothership's commitment to locally sourced ingredients that change daily. A Continental or hot breakfast is available but costs extra.