Brighton is one seaside resort where you're never short of fabulous hotel choices - from the old-school opulence of the Grand to the cutting-edge chic of Hotel du Vin. However, the area around North Laine, although choc-a-bloc with bohemian shops, bars and galleries, has been strangely devoid of hotels - until now!

This month sees the arrival of myhotel Brighton to the recently regenerated Jubilee Street. Spread across four floors with two event spaces, a restaurant and bar, the hotel is the shared vision of company founder Andy Thrasyvoulou and New York designer Karim Rashid. So how would Andy describe his latest creation? 'A hotel where Freddie Mercury might have met the Maharishi,' he insists. So you can rest assured this boutique newcomer to the area is in keeping with its beautiful, bohemian surroundings.

The hotel prides itself on its very unique architecture and atmosphere. The stunning lobby houses a monolith-size crystal and an impressive aquarium, both designed to make guests feel immediately soothed and relaxed. The ground-floor bar is decorated with gold leaf, complemented by a blue terrazzo floor and polished pewter tables - so it's the perfect place to sit back and admire your purchases after an afternoon of browsing and buying in North Laine.

Rashid's signature curves and free-flowing lines are very much in evidence throughout the design of the bedrooms - while each room boasts an integrated sound system, flatscreen TV and laptop stations, alongside funky artwork. Meanwhile, the third floor houses several larger suites and penthouses, each created by local designers.

Oh, and myhotel harbours another great selling point that sets it apart from many other Brighton hotels: its own underground car park with space for up to 25 cars. This is an absolute godsend, as anyone who's ever tried to find a parking space in the city will testify!

Double rooms at myhotel Brighton start from around £140 per night. For more details, go to www.myhotels.com.