Mollie's Diner Bristol

If you haven't heard of Mollie's already, this budget-luxe concept from the Soho House Group reimagines the ol' trope of an American road-side motel and diner, into a thoughtful and stylish space that - yes - is less expensive than a boutique hotel, but still delivers a curated experience.

There are three Mollie's locations and the Bristol branch offers a bit of country and city. Technically in the countryside, it's close to the M5 and therefore good for breaking up a long trip or pulling over for lunch or dinner - which is exactly what you'd expect from a motel. However, it's still close enough to Bristol city centre to easily venture to for an experience. 

The space is light, airy and full of buzz with triple height ceilings, wooden panelling and some really fun design touches. For example, seating booths are not only cosy but modelled on 1950s Cadillacs, tapping into the whole Americana vibe. You can also sit at the polished bar on a trendy, mid-century-inspired bar seat and watch the chefs in the open kitchen work their magic. In the summer (or even when it's a little cooler) the heated terrace is a fab spot for a drink or more outside. 

As for the menu, things kick off at 6.30am so you can head down here for an indulgent breakfast before setting off on the rest of your trip. The 'light and easy' section includes loaded banana bread with coconut yoghurt, pumpkin seeds and raspberries, while the classics include buttermilk pancakes with bacon, butter and maple. 

Across the all day menu you can enjoy the likes of burgers such as The New Yorker with aged double patty, American cheese, chimichurri mayo, steak sauce, house relish and pickles, alongside plates like mac 'n' cheese or pork belly with BBQ rub, apple and cabbage slaw. It wouldn't be a diner without a selection of creamy milkshakes and Mollie's doesn't dissapoint with flavours like Coke float, oreo and salted caramel.