Minutes from the cathedral quarter, Deborah Clark and Anthony Orchard combine heritage and urban cool at their luxury town house hotel. The Grade II* listed Georgian mansion has a growing reputation for its lively cocktail bar; the all-day seasonal menu, including such dishes as star anise pork fillet, aubergine, shallots, pear, can be taken on the ironwork garden veranda. Individually decorated with prints and antiques, bedrooms have a handmade bed, top-notch entertainment (large TV, radio, an iPod docking station); two have a free-standing in-room roll-top bath. For breakfast: creamy porridge, fruit compotes, freshly baked pastries; a stack of pancakes with streaky bacon and maple syrup.