Edinburgh has become one of my favourite cities for a stylish weekend break. Not only is it a beautiful city with incredible architecture and (mostly) free national museums, but there are so many new hotel and restaurant openings to discover.
On my recent trip, I just had to stay at Eden Locke, the debut outpost of Locke aparthotels in Scotland. Staying at a Locke apartment means more space and home comforts than your average hotel, topped off with Insta-worthy interiors.
I’ve previously stayed at Kingland Locke in Dalston and Leman Locke in Aldgate and loved the vibe of both London properties, so I was excited to see how Eden Locke would compare.
Location
Eden Locke has a typically Scottish sense of understated elegance, set across an 18th century Georgian mansion on prestigious George Street in the New Town (a UNESCO Heritage Site). It’s perfectly located among Edinburgh’s high end shops and restaurants and is within walking distance of the verdant Princes Street Gardens, Scottish National Gallery and St Andrew Square. The Old Town and Waverley Station are around 15 minutes on foot.
Design
Like most Locke properties in the UK, Eden Locke has been designed by acclaimed New York architects Grzywinski+Pons. They have expertly transformed a rather sober building into a dreamy, pastel-hued sociable residence. There is a subtle tropical feel to the public areas with wicker chairs and sprawling plants, plus highlights of gold and striking mustard that can be found throughout.
Arrival
It instantly feels like a cool place to stay, as you walk into the light-filled, open-plan pistachio and vanilla coffee bar and lounge. The reception desk is seamlessly perched at one side of the bar and there are plenty of smiling, friendly staff on hand to welcome guests and store luggage – we never noticed any queues.
Mayvn Cafe
Before heading out for lunch at the brilliant Noto, we had a quick caffeine refuel at Mayvn Cafe, Eden Locke’s third wave coffee shop, natural wine bar and co-working space by local experts, Common. It’s also a port in the storm for Edinburgh locals, who flock here for the excellent coffee, juices and pastries and laptop-friendly atmosphere.
The Studio
Our first floor Mezzanine Studio was a real gem with large Georgian windows flooding the space with natural light, perfectly showing off the pretty two-tone pastel walls. The homely, open-plan lounge features Locke’s signature L-shaped sofa in an attractive pistachio shade with a bright coral lamp, shaggy rug and a large Smart TV with Google Chromecast and Apple box.
The Kitchen
The powder blue kitchen has all the designer essential for a long or short stay with a marble dining table, handy dishwasher, washer/dryer, fridge/freezer, oven/hob and gold cooking utencils. There’s also a kettle with ground coffee and Field Work Teas and fresh milk in the fridge.
The Bedroom
The bedroom on the upper floor feels cosy and slightly separated with a comfortable double bed with a torteoiseshell padded headboard, a colourful wool throw, luxurious waffle bathrobes and slippers and plenty of storage space.
The Bathroom
Contrasting the pastel aesthetic with touches of bold mustard, the bathroom is sleek and well-sized with a powerful rainfall shower, fluffy cotton towels and Kinsey Apothecary bath products.
Eden Locke has 72 studios and suites in various sizes, but it’s worth booking a brighter studio on the front of the building.
There is no gym or spa, however every apartment has a yoga mat and the hotel has a partnership with East Side Yoga and fitness app Fiit, so you can sign up for 30 days free access to over 700 online workouts.
Eden Locke is a fabulous base for exploring Edinburgh, especially if you’re looking for a home away from home. I would definitely stay again and am keen to check out Locke’s upcoming openings in Berlin, Copenhagen and Paris.
For more information and booking, visit: www.lockeliving.com
For more Edinburgh travel ideas, read my reviews of:
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