An electroless nickel plating solution and a method of using the same is described. The electroless nickel plating solution comprises (i) a source of nickel ions; (ii) a reducing agent; (iii) one or more complexing agents; (iv) one or more bath stabilizers; (v) a brightener, said brightener comprising a sulfonated compound having sulfonic acid or sulfonate groups; and (vi) optionally, one or more additional additives. The use of the sulfonated compound brightener results in a bright electroless nickel deposit on various substrates having a high gloss value.