It’s been a while since I visited Edinburgh and with all the travel uncertainty this summer, a hassle-free city break in Scotland seemed more appealing than ever. That being said, for our first jaunt out of lockdown, it had to be done in style!
We booked two nights at the gorgeous Kimpton Charlotte Square Edinburgh, where we fully intended to wine, dine and spa, and take the time to rediscover the Scottish capital.
Kimpton Charlotte Square Edinburgh elegantly sprawls across seven Grade II listed Georgian townhouses (built in the 18th century by Scottish architect Robert Adam) and overlooks one of the prettiest private garden squares in the New Town.
Checking In
Arriving at the discreet arched entrance, leading on to a cosy vestibule with an open fireplace and travel artefacts, you immediately feel like you’re staying at a boutique private residence (although it’s actually quite big with 181 rooms and 18 suites).
The hotel’s award-winning designers, Goddard Littlefair, have created a truly atmospheric space, enhancing the building’s original features with opulent colours, plush furnishings and pop art prints of British music icons – we spotted George Harrison, Amy Winehouse and Sid Vicious.
The hotel’s upscale reception rooms – the Map Room, the Salon and the Library – all have the feel of an intimate clubhouse with stunning peacock blue walls, ochre and burnt orange velvet seats and shelves full of books.
The Room
At check-in we were kindly upgraded to a spacious Deluxe Room on the first floor with a view over George Street. The room felt homely and calm with a natural palette of beige, ink blue and dark wood with a tan leather sofa and a cool gallery wall.
The king-size bed was extremely comfortable with high quality linen and plump cushions and there was also a large flat screen Smart TV, mini fridge with complimentary still and sparkling water and tea and coffee service with refined china cups.
A thoughtful Kimpton touch was the ‘tuck box’ replenished daily with Scottish snacks like the famous Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer and Mackie’s Potato Crisps (one day the flavour was haggis). We were also delighted with the complimentary pouch of fresh ground Brazilian coffee by local roastery Santu Coffee, accompanied by a ceramic dripper and paper filters.
The bathroom was small but nicely designed with a wood-panelled bathtub and excellent shower with grey metro tiles, a powerful heated towel rail and soft, fluffy towels. I was particularly excited by the range of gorgeous full-size bath products designed exclusively for Kimpton Hotels by by renowned perfumer Azzi Glasser. Master Vetivert from The Perfumer’s Story by Azzi has an invigorating, aromatic scent and the superior quality makes them very special.
For the ultimate relaxation, the hotel’s spa is an absolute must. The perfectly-heated swimming pool is ever so peaceful and there’s also a sauna, steam room and gym, plus treatments using products by Ishga and La Rue Verte, infused with CBD.
After unwinding in the spa, we headed to the bar for the hosted social hour, where complimentary wines and soft drinks are served to guests from 5pm to 6pm. It’s a lovely way to start the evening and definitely worth returning early for.
Dinner at BABA
For dinner, you can either enjoy a six-course tasting menu by Aizle in the Garden Room or go for sharing plates at the popular Levantine-inspired BABA. We made a reservation for an early dinner in BABA and were seated at a bright table overlooking George Street.
BABA – from the team behind Glasgow’s Ox and Finch – has a casual yet romantic vibe with distressed teal walls, jewel-like tiles, Persian and Afghan rugs covering the walls and plush aubergine leather banquettes. It’s reasonably priced for a hotel restaurant and is a real local favourite, so it can get busy.
The tempting menu features an array of colourful mezze, charcoal-grilled meats and intricately-spiced vegetables, paired with aromatic cocktails and eastern Mediterranean wines.
Everything we tried was fantastic and our favourites were BABA Ganoush with charred flatbread, tender and rich Corn-fed chicken leg with gem lettuce, merguez and cashew nut butter, spicy Slow-cooked lamb shoulder with ptitim (giant cous cous), rose harissa, preserved lemon, mint and pomegranate and moreish Cauliflower shawarma with ras-el-hanout, tahini and rose.
Breakfast
Each morning, we started the day with breakfast in the Garden, a leafy central courtyard resembling an orangerie in a country house, filled with trees, plants and rattan peacock chairs. In line with Covid guidelines, the breakfast buffet has been replaced with table service from the cheery, helpful team.
First to arrive is a set continental plate of mini pastries, granola with natural yoghurt and fresh fruit salad, plus a choice of tea or coffee and delicious freshly-squeezed juice. You can then pick a hot item from the menu including a Full Scottish breakfast, Avocado toast, Belgian waffle and Eggs Benedict.
I wish I could be more enthusiastic about the breakfast, but with limited options, food temperature issues and long delays on the first morning, it didn’t live up to expectations. Our stay came at a challenging time for hospitality, so perhaps the offering may change again as normality returns.
Kimpton Charlotte Square is a beautiful hotel that is well worth a stay, as it has the ambiance of a chic design hotel with all of the IGH perks. Any small issues we encountered during our stay were swiftly resolved by the professional, efficient team and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there.
Read more about BABA and some other top restaurants and cafes in my guide on Where to Eat Out in Edinburgh.
For more information and booking, visit: www.kimptoncharlottesquare.com
All photos by Cherie City
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