Mr & Mrs Smith

The in-room massage service at Drakes is brilliant. For good Thai food go to Tooka's café - it is a scruffy building but all the effort is put into the food. The tapas at Ole Ole nestled in the Lanes is worth a taste. For breakfast try Bill's or Cote Brassiere, both less than 10 minutes from the hotel. There is a branch of Pho, the Vietnamese street food kitchen; awesome noodle soups to fuel up on especially if the weather is challenging.

What an incredible place: beautiful views of Brighton Pier and only a short walk to the Lanes. We had dinner at FishyFishy, the restaurant co-owned by Dermot O'Leary. The food was exceptionally good, we feasted on oysters, king prawns, fishcakes and fish pie. The staff were all incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, wine and the area. Reasonably priced food, locally sourced in a beautiful setting. What more could you ask for?

Our only complaint is that 24 hours was not enough time to enjoy Drakes, so we will be booking a longer stay asap. From the friendly booking, my birthday treat had a good feel – the pre-arrival phone call was a nice touch, and then we were greeted by Syree, who throughout our stay totally impressed us by nothing being too much trouble and her friendly efficient manner. Drakes is just lovely: well designed and the finishing touches really just make it. I can't stop saying to people how nice it was and that they should stay or go for a enjoyable cocktail. And will be nice to see the Terrace open for seaview drinks. Also updated Facebook etc the word is out. Cheers.

Loved, loved, loved Drakes! The hardest decision we had to make was which cocktail to choose when we arrived, before checking out our room with the downstairs bathroom and beautiful White Company smellies. We found a fab place for lunch, too - Alfresco, on the beach. It's designed like a boat, so the restaurant looks right over the sea, and is just fab for a little crabcake and glass of rose before hitting the North Laines for some vintage and boho shopping.

Had the most amazing weekend away at Drakes in Brighton. Perfect place to do not all that much. Do book early though if you want to eat in the restaurant at the hotel. We missed out due to a long waiting list, although more than made up for it at the Gingerman (+44 (0)1273 326688). The Pub du Vin (+44 (0)1273 718588) is also fantastic if you are after a Sunday lunch and a warm fire. Top tip: remember there are two areas called 'the Lanes' and not just one. My partner was distinctly unimpressed with me when we returned home to realise that we had missed half of what was on offer.

A short walk from the hotel at 11 Black Lion Street is one of Jamie Oliver's new Jamie Italian restaurants (+44 (0)1273 915480). The concept is straight-forward Italian food served in modern surroundings. If the queue outside the door is anything to go by (they don't take bookings) then even after four months of opening, the people of Brighton are still enjoying the place. The food was lovely, the service excellent, with the added bonus of Jamie's friend and mentor Gennaro Contaldo walking the floor, happily signing copies of his books. If you want to see something out of this world and truly spectacular then you must visit Choccywoccydoodah (+44 (0)1273 732232) at 27 Middle Street where you will find the most amazing chocolate creations, such as life-sized chocolate dogs in the window! Well worth a visit, even if you only come away with a small bag of chocolate buttons.

Momma Cherri's Shack exceeded all my expectations for dinner. Since Gordon Ramsay had turned it around I didn't expect it be a Kitchen Nightmare any longer, but I was scared that it might be resting on its laurels and 'cashing in' having moved to much larger premises since the broadcast. My fears were unfounded - we stayed in Brighton for a week and ate in 20+ establishments and this was the best overall experience. Food (recommed catfish goujons and vegetable pastry) was spot-on, service was just the right kind of attentive and the music was perfectly matched. There is a selection of offbeat American beers and American cocktail pitchers. Momma clearly puts her soul into the decor too, for example there were collages of her press and of Obama's campaign. Highly Recommended.

A fantastic location in a Brighton that has changed a lot over recent years. However, fret not, if you still hanker for a touch of 'kiss me quick' there is a great little mini golf course opposite the hotel! Stroll further down the seafront and onto the boardwalk, and Jack & Linda Mills Smokehouse is not to be missed. The finest, freshest smoked seafood we'd ever tasted. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for English's of Brighton, at 28 East Street. Resting on its laurels would be a kind epitaph...

Small but perfectly formed. I have stayed a few times in the single attic room which looks out over the sea. No good for couples as it’s a large single bed, but if you’re flying solo it’s a perfect little haven.

Pack your trunks and take a dip in the channel before taking breakfast at Drakes. Afterwards, for a more relaxed and less touristy shopping experience, head for the back lanes, beyond North Street.

We noticed a fish restaurant called Love's on the net, which is close to Drakes, literally five minutes walk on St James Street, which runs behind the hotel. However, it has recently appeared on Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. Based on this we thought if it's good enough for Gordon, now it'll be good enough for us! We were certainly not disappointed. The restaurant itself is very bright and modern. We arrived quite early and within an hour the restaurant was full, with a great atmosphere. The food was lovely; we definitely recommend the mussels. We had cocktails and the service was fantastic. Overall, we had a great night in there and felt thoroughly welcomed.