Dog-Friendly Hotel Review: Malmaison Brighton Marina
Malmaison Brighton is a modern hotel with stunning views of Brighton Marina throughout the hotel, with the cliffs on one side and a panoramic view of the boats on the other. It’s a multi-purpose hotel: perfect for those wanting the buzz of Brighton and the quiet of the cliffs in a whole world of its own with a great workspace in the daytime and a fun bar space at night overlooking the marina. It also gets extra bonus points for the free parking.
It’s a popular space for weddings and hen parties – as advertised in our Wedding Directory. You’ve got the Marina views for the wedding photos, a huge bar, terrace and lounge area for guests to mingle, plus the addition of affordable and stylish rooms for guests. The fun doesn’t need to leave the building.
I stayed at the Malmaison Brighton on a stormy Sunday with my partner and my dog, Scruffy. There were multiple options of what we could have done – an undercliff walk to Saltdean, a promenade walk to Sea Lanes, a Sunday roast at one of Kemp Town’s many pubs. But we opted for an afternoon wander on the Marina itself, beginning with a pint at Malmaison’s Chez Mal Lounge Bar overlooking the boats, finishing with a pint by the roaring fire at the Master Mariner and reading a book in the cosy bed for the rest of the evening whilst the storm passed us by.
View from the Malmaison Brighton Terrace
City Girl Rating: ★★★★★
Location: Malmaison Brighton Marina, 11 Mermaid Walk, Brighton Marina, Brighton, BN2 5WA
Room Type: Club Deluxe Seaview Room
Average Price: £150 (two guests, including breakfast)
Pet Fee: Dogs can stay for £20 per night (subject to hotel approval)
Check-in + Check-out Times: 3pm - 11am
Closest Train Stations: Brighton Station (10-minute taxi or 20-minute bus ride)
Parking: Free Parking. See full info here.
Bonus points: Stunning marina views, stylish rooms with mood lighting, Nespresso machines, and plush beds; Chez Mal brasserie offering delicious food and cocktails; lively marina location with bars, restaurants, and shops on your doorstep.
Perfect for: A stylish seaside getaway, romantic weekends, or exploring Brighton with modern comforts.
The Location
Located in the heart of Brighton Marina, Malmaison Brighton sits on the higher floors overlooking the boats, restaurants, bars and sea wall. For those new to Brighton and unaware of its layout, the marina sits on the left side of the vibrant Palace Pier. It’s surrounded by concrete grey walls capturing the sea to create a whole world within itself.
There are, of course, boats of all sizes – with the exception of large super yachts – that you can pass a lot of time gazing at. And a boardwalk overlooking the rows of boats that house a whole range of restaurants, including Pizza Express, Five Guys, Nandos and Aydo, known for its delicious Turkish cuisine and boujee setting.
Tucked behind the famous boardwalk are two Brighton Girl local recommendations: the Master Mariner, a traditional pub with a roaring fire and a terrace overlooking the water; and Bella Napoli, a family-run Italian restaurant. Both are dog friendly, but Bella Napoli ask that you call in advance as some days are too hectic for dogs.
Ther are also lovely beach walks that you can do directly from the hotel. You can either take the 45 minute walk towards Palace Pier and central Brighton, passing the iconic Sea Lanes complex with an outdoor swimming pool, cafe’s, a sauna and a bar. Or walk towards Saltdean Lido on the undercliff walk and watch the waves crash as you walk towards the seven sisters.
The Room: Club Deluxe Sea View Room
We stayed in the Club Deluxe Sea View Room on the second floor, overlooking the marina. It was a large room with a king-sized bed, a modern en-suite with a high-pressure shower head, and door that opened to a shared terrace to watch the boats go by. The terrace itself used planters and tables to divide each room’s section.
The highlights:
The Marina View Terrace that allowed you to have your own private experience. Though it was a stormy night when we stayed, we loved pulling the yellow chairs together and watching the storm pass over the marina with cold beers from the bar.
Waking up to the Marina View is a perk in itself. We loved watching the boats go by from the comfort of our huge bed.
Bedding that you sink into. The size of the bed was fantastic, but the bedding itself was a real treat. They have truly perfected the sofa, plumped, swallow-you-whole feeling that only hotels can seem to be able to do. We slept for 12 hours.
A perfect water pressure shower that’s really easy to use – quite literally the press of a button.
The Facilities
Malmaison Brighton has been thoughtfully designed to cater to both leisure and business travellers, with “work hard play hard” posters peppered around the hotel.
Highlights include:
Dog-friendly perks such as water bowls, special dog beds in the rooms, multiple sofa opportunities for dogs to have a snooze and staff you love their canine guests
Business-friendly amenities such as meeting rooms, spacious lounges, booths with multiple plug points, high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and great areas for video calls
A huge bar, lounge, terrace and restaurant area offering delicious food, drinks and a lovely space to chat – whatever the mood you’re in
Event Spaces from private dining rooms to function suites, providing versatile spaces for weddings, parties, and corporate events, all with the picturesque marina as a backdrop
Breakfast at Malmaison Brighton Marina
Malmaison Brighton kindly gifted us breakfast to give us the full experience. As dog guests, we sat in the Chez Mal Bar area, rather than the restaurant area where the breakfast is usually held. The staff were incredibly accommodating, seating us in a booth right next to the marina view – where we stayed working for the rest of the morning.
The breakfast experience was made up of a continental buffet and cooked-to-order menu. The buffet itself was a fine spread of pain au chocolates, toasts, yoghurts, fruits, juices (cloudy apple being a top choice) and a coffee machine offering different styles of coffees. Soya and Almond were the non-dairy milk options.
For context, I’m wheat intolerant and allergic to cow’s milk; a fact that they were incredibly accommodating of with full allergy lists and checks. I had a gluten free and dairy free Egg’s California with extra bacon (a.k.a. bacon, poached eggs and avocado on gluten free toast without the hollandaise). My partner had creamy scrambled eggs and salmon without the bread. Both breakfasts were devoured and relayed as some of the nicest hotel cooked breakfasts we’ve had in a while.
Drinking and Dining at Malmaison Brighton
Another selling point of Malmaison Brighton its large restaurant, bar and lounge area with floor-to-ceiling windows and terraces overlooking the marina. It’s perfect for romantic meals, lunch meetings to impress clients, huge work parties and weddings.
Drink Selection: At Malmaison Brighton's Bar & Grill, the drink selection is both extensive and thoughtfully curated – see my delicious Nojito in the pictures above. The bar offers a variety of classic and innovative cocktails, such as the Pornstar Martini, Rossini Bellini, Salted Caramel Espresso Martini, and Negroni Classic, each priced at £12. Additionally, the wine list features a diverse range of options to complement any meal, and a selection of beers and non-alcoholic beverages ensures that all guests find something to their liking.
Bar Food: The bar menu at Malmaison Brighton includes a variety of dishes designed to satisfy a range of tastes. Guests can enjoy options such as New York Strip Steaks with homemade steak sauce, as well as other classic and seasonal dishes that blend French style with generous British portions and modern American and Asian influences.
Restaurant Menus: The Bar & Grill offers a contemporary dining experience with a focus on prime grass-fed British beef, hand-cut and expertly matured for full flavor. The à la carte menu features a variety of starters, salads, steaks, burgers, grills, pasta dishes, and sides. They also offer a Sunday Lunch menu, Afternoon Tea, and a selection of desserts to complete the dining experience.
Deals: You can also find a range of deals every day that offers a great quality experience at lower prices. This includes a 50% Off Steak Night every Thursday (from £13), Happy Hour that takes place from 3-7 Monday to Thursday, and an express 30 minute three-course-meal for just £19.50 Monday to Friday.
Accessibility
Malmaison Brighton Marina strives to provide an inclusive and comfortable experience for all guests, with several features designed to support accessibility needs.
Accessible Rooms: Malmaison Brighton offers accessible rooms with step-free access, wider doorways, and adapted bathrooms featuring grab rails and other amenities. Guests are encouraged to contact the hotel in advance to ensure the most suitable room is reserved.
Public Areas: The hotel provides step-free access at the main entrance, lifts serving all floors, and spacious layouts throughout its public spaces. Accessible toilets are available in the communal areas, and clear signage ensures easy navigation.
Dining Accessibility: Chez Mal Brasserie and Bar are fully accessible, with a thoughtful layout to accommodate mobility devices and a team of attentive staff ready to assist with seating or other needs.
Parking: There is free parking at the Marina Car Park, with designated areas for blue badge parking.
Additional Support: Malmaison staff are trained to assist guests with accessibility needs, offering a welcoming and hassle-free experience. If additional equipment or services are required, the hotel is happy to make arrangements with prior notice.
For more detailed accessibility information or specific requirements, guests are encouraged to contact the hotel directly.
Book your stay at Malmaison Brighton through their website and find out more about hosting your wedding or hen party there through our Wedding Directory.
Reviewed by Pippa Moyle
Disclaimer: We were gifted this stay, the Nojito and breakfast in exchange for an honest review.