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 Edinburgh travel ideas, read my reviews of:
On my recent trip to Edinburgh with my mum, I wanted to find somewhere fabulous for us to have a relaxed, memorable lunch. I remembered spotting Noto last year and discovered it had been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand and was Marina O’Loughlin-approved, so we just had to try it.
Noto is a stunning restaurant in Edinburgh’s New Town, nestled among some of the city’s foodie hotspots on cobbled Thistle Street. It’s the more casual offering from acclaimed Scottish chef Stuart Ralston – chef-owner of Aizle, a six-course tasting menu restaurant at the stylish Kimpton Charlotte Square.
Noto takes inspiration from Stuart’s time spent living and working in New York and is named after his friend, the late food photographer Ben Noto. An enigmatic line drawing of Noto welcomes you inside and sets the mood for a convivial, enjoyable meal.
Inside, the restaurant feels both urban and rustic, decorated in natural, earthy tones with simple walnut seating, twisted twig sculptures, dried wild flowers, exposed bulbs and tall windows letting the daylight stream in. It’s been named one of Scotland’s most beautiful restaurants by Condé Nast Traveller and it’s easy to see why.
Noto offers a tempting menu of small plates and larger sharing dishes with Mediterranean and Asian influences, using the finest local Scottish produce. While some neo-bistros can feel restrictive, there is a plenty of choice here and the freedom to order exactly what you fancy. It’s also worth noting that the full menu is served in both the dining room and the adjoining bar.
Shortly after ordering, our drinks arrived with frosty glasses and we started grazing on some freshly-baked Company sourdough, served with an enormous mound of velvety local butter topped with delicate wisps of roasted chicken skin.
This was soon followed by the most decadent Anster croquette and truffle. These little flavour bombs were ever so crunchy and potent with a generous covering of finely-shaved Anster, a tangy artisan cow’s milk cheese made in Fife.
Because one cheese dish just isn’t enough, we also ordered Burrata, romesco, chilli, toasted sourdough. The creamy, top quality burrata was perfectly complemented by the rich, nutty and slightly piquant romesco and the sourdough tasted even better when toasted and rubbed in olive oil and sea salt.
We were keen to explore the menu’s Japanese influences and couldn’t resist the Chicken yakitori, umeboshi, egg yolk. The skewers of marinated chicken thigh were succulent and nicely charred, topped with spring onion, sesame seeds and sticky Japanese plum. The egg yolk cured in soy sauce made them even more satisfying.
The most complex dish we tried was Aubergine tonkatsu, kimchi and pickled ginger. The aubergine managed to retain its flavour through the crunchy panko coating and was elevated by the tangy, fragrant flavours of chunky kimchi, refreshing pickled ginger, sesame and Japanese mayo with a dusting of togarashi.
It’s essential to leave room for dessert, as you won’t want to miss the heavenly Chocolate, miso, hazelnut. Smooth Michel Cluizel dark chocolate ganache sat atop a malty, gooey miso caramel and toasted whole hazelnuts, finished with a scorched whirl of light-as-air Italian meringue. It was quite spectacular and a real treat for chocolate lovers.
Equally delicious but much lighter was the delicate, spring-like Wye valley rhubarb, diplomat and pink peppercorn. The buttery shortbread pastry case was filled with an airy diplomat cream studded with vanilla seeds, a refreshing rhubarb sorbet and pretty meringue candy sticks.
Lunch at Noto was an absolute delight and everything from the food to the style of the restaurant felt soulful, modern and well-considered. If you’re visiting Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival or a weekend break (be sure to stay at nearby Eden Locke), Noto should be at the top of your list.
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 IHG perks. Any small issues we encountered during our stay were swiftly resolved by the professional, efficient team and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there.
Edinburgh has become a leading food destination with so many exciting places to eat, whether you’re in the mood for Swedish cinnamon buns, a Montreal-style pastrami bagel, Levantine baba ganoush or a creative tasting menu.
Edinburgh’s food scene has an international outlook, but with a strong focus on exceptional local produce and Scottish heritage flavours, so you’ll definitely have the change to indulge in haggis, game, seafood and whisky.
Here are some top places to add to your Edinburgh list…
Noto
Noto is a stunning restaurant by renowned Scottish chef Stuart Ralston in the heart of the New Town. It takes inspiration from Stuart’s time living in New York and is named after his friend, the late food photographer Ben Noto.
This Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant is a relaxed affair with urban rustic interiors in earthy tones – in fact, it’s been named one of Scotland’s most beautiful restaurants by Condé Nast Traveller.
Noto offers an exciting menu of small plates and larger sharing dishes with Mediterranean and Asian influences, using high quality Scottish produce. We ordered a selection of small plates to share, including moreish Anster croquette and truffle, fresh burrata with romesco, chilli and toasted sourdough, aubergine tonkatsu and chicken yakitori, umeboshi and egg yolk.
Desserts were also dazzling and worth leaving room for. We enjoyed an indulgent chocolate ganache with caramel miso, Italian meringue and hazelnut and a pretty Wye valley rhubarb, diplomat and pink peppercorn.
Six by Nico
If you’re in Edinburgh for the Fringe, then it’s only appropriate that dinner should come with a touch of theatre. Six by Nico is a game-changing restaurant that re-invents itself every six weeks with a brand new six-course tasting menu.
Chef Nico Simeone draws on his own personal experiences and memories when creating a menu, which have previously included Circus, Sicily, The Alps and most notably The Chippie – a tribute to his Italian grandparents who owned a chip shop.
Nico opened his first restaurant in Glasgow with the ambition of making fine dining more accessible, casual and fun. The concept proved so popular that Six by Nico restaurants soon followed in Edinburgh, Belfast, Liverpool, Manchester and now London’s Fitzrovia and Canary Wharf.
Happily, our visit coincided with the Cooking Shanghai menu with flavours inspired by the stylish city’s vibrant street food, heritage dishes and haute cuisine.
The first dish was an explosion of umami tastes with a fluffy Char siu pork mantou steamed bun with chilli oil, crispy ginger and pickled mushroom, followed by the intricate and rich Dengzhou chicken with fennel, shimiji and onion crumb. Mushroom Medicine with enoki crackling, king oyster and cep pancake was a revelation – I’ve never experienced a mushroom dish with so much depth and wondrous flavours.
Cod and peanut sauce with buckwheat noodles and puffed rice was succulent and high quality but extremely oversalted and Black beef with and broccoli with choy sum, pickled ginger and ox cheek potsticker played it safe but was definitely tasty.
I personally found the earlier courses the most thrilling, however it all ended beautifully with the appropriately named A Matcha Made in Heaven – a subtle and fragrant matcha and lychee custard with fresh raspberries and white chocolate.
Six by Nico is one to keep an eye on, as the menu is so radically different and intriguing each time. It’s a hot ticket in Edinburgh, so be sure to book ahead with some flexibility for dining times – I had the stalk the website booking page for almost a week to score a table!
BABA
BABA is a stunning, Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant and cocktail bar on the corner of George Street at Edinburgh’s luxurious Kimpton Charlotte Square.
Head Chef David Barnett offers a journey through the Levant with vibrant mezze, charcoal-grilled meats and intricately-spiced vegetables, paired with fragrant cocktails and eastern Mediterranean wines.
The restaurant is simply gorgeous with harmonious interiors contrasting the building’s original Georgian features with distressed teal walls, jewel-like tiles, Persian and Afghan rugs covering the walls and plush aubergine leather banquettes.
It’s also full of atmosphere, whether you’re sitting in the light-filled main dining room or one of the cosier, romantic dining spaces – The Library, The Salon and The Map Room – sprawling across the hotel. Luckily, we were staying there, so we could simply roll up to our room after dinner.
We started with a few mezze dishes to graze on – indulgent, curried Cauliflower fritters with zhug and creme fraiche and smoky, moreish BABA ganoush studded with pomegranate seeds and fresh mint.
From the grill, we loved the tender, rich Corn-fed chicken leg with gem lettuce, merguez and cashew nut butter and the deliciously piquant Slow-cooked lamb shoulder with ptitim (giant cous cous), rose harissa, preserved lemon, mint and pomegranate.
Another must-order side is the sumptous, aromatic Cauliflower shawarma with ras-el-hanout, tahini and rose.
Hawksmoor
Steak connoisseurs may already know what to expect from Hawksmoor, since it’s already in London, Manchester and New York, however the Edinburgh outpost is something to see. Its location is truly spectacular, housed in the Grade A-listed former Royal Bank of Scotland headquarters, overlooking elegant St Andrew Square. It’s also in good company with neighbouring Dishoom, The Ivy, Harvey Nichols and the soon-to-open Gleneagles Townhouse.
The enormous 1930s neoclassical banking hall has a buzzing, clubby feel with cosy leather booths, an open kitchen, private dining room and an intriguing wine room at the centre. Hawksmoor is known for using the best local produce, so here you can expect fresh seafood from around the Scottish coast and beef from native breed cattle on both sides of the border.
The Half grilled chicken was ever so tender and succulent with a tangy Béarnaise sauce and a side of moreish Buttered Jersey Royals.
I also enjoyed the classic Hawksmoor hamburger with Ogleshield cheese, which was smoky and juicy with tiny pieces of bone marrow and punchy mustard. On the day we visited, the fryer broke down, so I was offered a side of Mac and Cheese instead of the usual chips, which didn’t upset me in the slightest! It came bubbling hot in its own cast iron pot and was gooey and rich with flavourful raclette and a hint of nutmeg.
Be sure to leave some room for dessert, as you don’t want to miss out on the heavenly Sticky toffee sundae!
Greenwoods
Brunch, but make it Dutch at Greenwoods! This cosy coffee shop was established in Amsterdam in 1988 and just last year, Scottish general manager Jen Nelson returned home to open a third outpost in Edinburgh New Town.
Classic brunch dishes are served all day, along with traditional Dutch apple pie and an afternoon cream tea. There are also plenty of vegetarian and vegan dishes, including the Full Vegan Breakfast, Eggs Greenwoods with charred broccoli and white miso aioli and a Banana Bread Tumble.
We loved the indulgent Eggs Benedict and the creamy Scrambled Eggs with roasted herb tomato, mushrooms and an enormous wedge of home-made soda bread toast. Both dishes were very filling and packed with flavour – a side of moreish, home-made hash browns is also a must.
Tea is often be an after-thought, but at Greenwoods, the loose-leaf tea is strong and full-bodied, served in an elegant silver pot. I’m already plotting my return to try some of that tempting apple pie.
I.J Mellis
Iain Mellis opened his first cheese shop, I.J Mellis, on Edinburgh’s historic Victoria Street 28 years ago, offering the chance to discover a wide range of farmhouse cheeses made using single herd milk. There are now three Mellis cheesemongers in Edinburgh, as well as Glasgow, St. Andrews and Aberdeen.
The cavernous original shop, halfway up historic Victoria Street, is well-located near the Royal Mile for some tasty shopping or a light lunch while exploring the Old Town. Let the knowledgeable staff recommend some delicious artisanal Scottish and international cheeses and pick up some tempting provisions like home-made jams and pickles, freshly-baked bread, haggis Scotch eggs and sausage rolls.
Some of the stores have a cheese bar tucked away at the back, where you can get stuck into a crispy sourdough toastie oozing with top notch cheese. For the full experience, book a table at the Morningside Cheese Lounge and enjoy a Welsh rarebit, French onion soup and a cheese and charcuterie board paired with a glass of wine.
Mary’s Milk Bar
Some of the best ice cream in Scotland can be found at Mary’s Milk Bar at the foot of Edinburgh Castle on the historic Grassmarket. This dreamy, Instagram-worthy, pastel-hued gelateria and chocolaterie not only looks the part but it has serious credentials.
Owner Mary Hillard studied at the prestigious Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna and makes all of the ice cream and chocolate fresh every morning until 11am. The flavours change every day and follow the seasons, so there is always something new to try.
On our visit, they included delights such as cherry mascarpone, white chocolate and thyme, walnut and cinnamon and nectarine and rosemary.
We tried the milk and honey ice cream and it was unbelievably velvety and smooth, studded with little flecks of fresh honeycomb. A trip to Edinburgh wouldn’t be the same without a visit to Mary’s!
Archipelago Bakery
This petite bakery and cafe on Dundas Street is a real neighbourhood favourite where locals stop by to pick up freshly-baked bread and meet up over coffee and cake. Everything is made in-house at Archipelago Bakery using organic flour and local produce and there are plenty of vegan and gluten-free options.
We started the morning with tea and toast, flaky croissants with raspberry jam and a slice of scrumptious apricot and cardamom iced loaf cake.
It’s such a cute place with friendly staff and I’d definitely go back again for lunch to try the spanakopita and fresh salads or a warming home-made soup.
Söderberg
You may know this fabulous Swedish coffee shop and bakery from London’s Berwick Street, however Söderberg was born in Edinburgh and now has seven outposts across the capital.
At Söderberg Pavilion, the flagship cafe at the heart of the Quartermile, you can sit on the spacious terrace and graze on sourdough pizza, open sandwiches, baked eggs, Swedish waffles and Mazarin tarts. Unlike its other shops, the Pavilion is open late for dinner and cocktails.
We visited the Stockbridge cafe for an afternoon refuel of a fluffy and aromatic Cardamom bun and a Savoury scone covered in nigella seeds with an excellent flat white coffee and a pot of Earl Grey tea.
La Barantine
While Scotland may be famous for its coconut macaroons (and you should definitely try them), it’s all about colourful French macarons at La Barantine.
Owners Céline and Vincent left their boulangerie in northern France over a decade ago to live out their Scottish dream and open their first cafe in the Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh. They now have four charming bakeries and cafes across the city, including the one that caught my eye walking up pretty Victoria Street.
It’s the ideal spot in the Old Town to enjoy a breakfast formule of coffee, baguette and a croissant or a light lunch of soup, freshly-baked quiche or a filled baguette. The patisserie counter is impossible to resist and I highly recommend a slice of the heavenly Flan Framboise.
Have you visited Edinburgh recently? Where are your favourite places to eat?
Edinburgh is the city break destination that has it all – arts and culture, fine dining, great shopping and stylish boutique hotels. A convenient way to travel to Edinburgh is by train and with a little advance planning, you can access low cost train fares. When I lived in Scotland, I became a train travel pro and found that early booking and off-peak travel is the best way to find discounted train tickets.
Here are a few of my favourite spots for a perfect visit to Edinburgh…
Stay
The Glasshouse is one of Edinburgh’s most stylish five star hotels with a lavender-filled private roof terrace and each room boasting its own balcony. The Glasshouse was voted ‘Best hotel to get naked in’ and with special touches such as Egyptian cotton sheets, a complimentary decanter of Whisky, suites with private jacuzzis and a decadent room service breakfast, it’s easy to see why!
Eat
Wedgwood the Restaurant brings casual fine dining to Edinburgh’s Old Town and was awarded Restaurant of the Year 2011 by SLTN. Co-owner and head chef Paul Wedgwood began his career in the Lake District and worked at various gastropubs and Michelin star restaurants before opening Wedgwood the Restaurant with his partner Lisa.
The innovative menu focuses on the finest Scottish meat, game and fish with Asian and Mediterranean influences. The set lunch menu is good value and perfect for posh refueling during a day of shopping or exploring the city.
Cafe Andaluz is a favourite tapas restaurant of mine from living in nearby Glasgow for four years and the Edinburgh sister restaurant is just as romantic and authentic. The Moorish interiors bring a bit of Andalucia to George Street and the menu is full of delicious tapas, paellas and fresh seafood. Be sure to leave room for the delicious Crema Catalana.
Drink
Bramble is a discreet basement bar that you could easily miss, but should definitely know about. The dark and cavernous speakeasy is like a maze with intimate snugs where you can sip cocktails undisturbed. Bramble attracts an ‘in the know’ crowd who come for the potent, expertly-mixed cocktails and louche atmosphere.
Shop
Princes Street is Edinburgh’s main shopping street, featuring the famous department store Jenners, but there are plenty of independent boutiques to visit. Find niche brands such as TBA, American Retro and Milly at Fifi Wilson in Bruntsfield and hand-made pieces at graduate fashion shops Totty Rocks and Godiva.
For more traditional accessories, visit the Tartan Weaving Mill, a tartan megastore featuring the patterns of all Scottish clans. It’s a great place to pick up a woolen scarf, but for something more bespoke and stylish, try Howie’s 21st Century Kilts.
Foodies will love I.J Mellis Cheesemongers offering a good range of Scottish cheeses and Demijohn, the next door ‘liquid deli’. Sample fine Whiskys, olive oil and balsamic vinegar and fill a bottle with naturally flavoured spirits – the sloe gin and spiced rum liqueur are particularly delicious.
Is Edinburgh your favourite Scottish city break? What are your top tips for a perfect weekend in Edinburgh?
The Glasshouse, Edinburgh’s leading boutique hotel invited a small group of bloggers to come stay for the night and explore the city. bmi, British Midland International kindly flew us out from London Heathrow to Edinburgh International and gave us access to the super-exclusive London Room and the Business Lounge on the way back. But more about the wonderful, stress-free flights later…
The Glasshouse Edinburgh is one of the Scottish capital’s most desirable five star hotels and has an enviable location, at the foot of Carlton Hill, just five minutes from Princes Street and Waverley Train Station.
Location
Subtly tucked behind the beautiful facade of the former Lady Glenorch Church, The Glasshouse is anything but traditional with wall-to-wall windows, sleek interiors and a chic private roof terrace that stretches two acres and has views of the rugged Edinburgh hills.
The Suite
We were each assigned a Suite on the third floor, which were all named after a type of whiskey. There are 18 suites at The Glasshouse and they are all on the same floors as the roof terrace and the snug. One of the two Deluxe Suites even has its own private jacuzzi and sauna.
My suite was huge and designed in neutral shades with touches of dark wood and floor to wall-to-wall windows. The wooden screen and sections off the living quarters and best of all, the TV actually swivels around, so you can watch in bed or lounging on the huge leather sofa.
The Glasshouse really make you feel at home with everything could possibly need to relax – a CD player, music library, stack of magazines and free WIFI.
The bathroom was quite spectacular with two separate wash areas and powerful underfloor heating. The main part of the bathroom featured a separate bath and walk-in shower and was stocked with a selection of generously-sized bathroom products by Highland Aromatics. The second room acts as a dressing room with a double sink, huge wardrobe and a large mirror.
Another nice touch was a mirror station with a high chair made for styling hair or applying make-up.
But the real highlight of the stay was the huge balcony overlooking Edinburgh City. It was furnished with Philippe Starck furniture – perfect for summer sunbathing or sampling whiskey in the evening.
A stay at The Glasshouse is certainly a boozy one, with a complimentary decanter of fine whiskey in the room, a mini-bar and a well-stocked honesty bar in the snug.
A Welcome Treat
When we arrived back at the hotel after our afternoon boutique tour with Frances of Destination Edinburgh, the Glasshouse had treated us to a chilled bottle of Prosecco, a large bottle of mineral water and a delightful plate of chocolate truffles, biscotti, Scottish tablet and grapes.
Turndown
The bed was also turned down with slippers placed at one side. The king-size bed covered in monogrammed Egyptian cotton was out of this world, literally like floating on a cloud and I only wish I’d spent longer under the duvet.
Breakfast
The bed was so incredibly comfy that I accidentally slept in and awoke to a decadent room service breakfast – absolute bliss!
The Eggs Benedict (made with Parma ham) and pastries were delicious and everything was neatly presented with small pots of jam and a little silver dome of butter.
Surprisingly, The Glasshouse doesn’t have a restaurant, but there is a good room service menu and meals can be taken in the snug or on the roof terrace. There are plenty of excellent restaurants to try in Edinburgh, or you can be really decadent and dine on your balcony, without ever having to leave the room.
Before leaving, we were treated to a wonderful lunch of home-made Artichoke Soup with Roast Pork and Waldorf Salad sandwiches in the snug.
Every year, The Glasshouse has won awards, including ‘Best hotel to get naked in’ by Opodo, and has been voted one of the Top 50 Hottest Hotels in the World by Conde Nast Traveller.
The Glasshouse certainly lives up to its reputation as an ultra-seductive hotel and as exciting as Edinburgh is, you really just won’t want to leave.
Rooms and Suites at The Glasshouse are priced from £165 to £245 (inclusive of VAT and a Continental breakfast).
Leading airline bmi, British Midland International flies from London Heathrow to Edinburgh seven times daily. Economy fares are available from £51 one way (£87 return), including all taxes and charges.
Chérie City was a guest of The Glasshouse and BMI.
But, if you’re more about cocktail hour than sipping on firewater, Ediburgh’s renowned North Bridge Bar has launched a special limited edition whiskey cocktail.
To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee Year of Edinburgh’s Royal Military Tattoo, Head Barman Andrew Watson has created the Royal Military Tattoo cocktail – a delicious mix of handmade Scottish tablet muddled with lemon and lime wedges, stirred with crushed ice and topped with Drambuie and Talisker, a 10 year old malt whiskey.
Priced at a reasonable £7, the cocktail will be available until the end of August.
Located within The Scotsman Hotel, one of Edinburgh’s leading luxury hotels, The North Bridge Brasserie & Bar is the perfect place to come and try some whiskey, as it stocks over 70 rare single malts.
The brasserie is also running a special Festival Dining menu of two or three course for lunch, pre-theatre and dinner.
The Tattoo’s 60th anniversary is set to be particularly spectacular this year, with performers from all over the world, including pipers, gymnasts, singers, dancers and a motorcycle display team. All of this set against the backdrop of the incredible Edinburgh Castle.
For more information about the Royal Military Tattoo cocktail and Festival Dining, visit: www.northbridgebrasserie.com
Fashion hotels are spreading like wild fire and any designer worth their salt has translated their style DNA into interiors and furnishings.
It seems like a no brainer that fashion designers should try their hand at designing hotels. They have commercially proved their innate sense of style and obsessive eye for detail and are already tuned in to their customers’ dreams and aspirations. Plus having a fashion designer on board makes hotels just that little bit more desirable for style conscious travellers.
Claridges, London
Diane Von Fürstenberg is the latest designer to get the interiors bug, as she has redesigned twenty rooms and suites for London hotel Claridges, due to be unveiled in June 2010.
While Diane is the embodiment of all things New York and glam, she has revealed that some of her past collections have been inspired by the hotel’s Art Deco grandeur. There’s no word yet on how the rooms will appear, but my bet is on bold prints and vibrant colours, a copy of her new Proud to be Woman compilation CD and perhaps a remodelled ‘wrap dress’ bathrobe.
Maison Moschino, Milan
Over in Milan, after two years of development, Maison Moschino has finally opened on the Viale Monte Grappa. The surreal, romantic hotel is an ode to Moschino’s design philosophy and is just as flirty, vibrant and striking as their collections.
Designed by Rosella Jardini and the Moschino creative team, the four-storey hotel is located in an old neoclassical railway station dating back to 1840, and offers 54 individually designed rooms and 15 suites. Most of the rooms have whimsical names like Clouds, Rose, Little Red Riding Hood, Sweet and Dress.
The hotel has a theatrical, Alice in Wonderland vibe, with oversized teacup tables, suspended flying bees, handbag lamps, a red dress bed and a surreal four-poster bed overgrown with trees. The room on my wishlist would be the one with a bed of roses and petal-covered chandelier.
The super cool Clandestino restaurant is typically on-trend and innovative with chef Moreno Cedroni’s unusual creation of ‘colourful sushi’. Breakfast is presented as a ‘Mos kit’ – a combination of 4,6 or 8 seasonal combinations inside a ceremonial lacquered box. The restaurant goes through to a garden terrace and the hotel also provides a bar, spa and gym.
Maison Moschino is like the ultimate fashion fantasy world and would be best suited to travellers who like their hotels with modern, ironic touches and an artistic concept rather than traditional luxury.
Hotel Missoni, Edinburgh
Many fashion hotels are as reassuringly as expensive and exclusive as their catwalk looks. As much as I long to, I think I’ll have to befriend a mysterious benefactor before booking into the Armani Hotels in Milan and Dubai, Donatella’s Palazzo Versace, Ralph Lauren’s Round Hill House in Jamaica, Oscar de la Renta’s Tortuga Bay in the Dominican Republic or the chic Bulgari Resort in Bali.
However, don’t be disappointed, as there are equally cool fashion hotels almost on city break route. Hotel Missoni in Edinburgh’s Old Town has been on my hotel wish list since it opened last summer and I’m determined to pay a visit this year.
The seven-storey hotel on George IV Bridge is a vibrant combination of Italian style and Scottish heritage, with Charles Rennie Macintosh chairs and staff wearing custom-made Missoni kilts.
The 136 colour bursting rooms and suites were designed by Rosita Missoni and feature the label’s signature bold patterns and textiles. The rooms include everything you could want for a comfortable stay and they seem to considered how annoying and inhospitable it is to experience a minefield of hidden extras.
All rooms include two items of laundry, local calls, movies, high speed internet, the entire contents of the mini bar and the use of an iPod dock, Nespresso machine and Missoni bathrobe and slippers.
The top floor suite, Rosa, has the best views of the city, overlooking the castle and Rosita Missoni stays there whenever she’s in town.
Hotel Missoni’s first floor restaurant Cucina, a collaboration with Giorgio Locatelli, has become popular with locals and serves up seasonal, contemporary Italian dishes, created by head chef Mattia Camerani.
The bar serves Vestri hot chocolate (exclusively from the renowned Florence chocolate shop) and claims to have the most authentic Italian coffee menu in Edinburgh.
Hotel du Petit Moulin & Hotel Bellechasse, Paris
Over in Paris, Christian Lacroix rules with two bijou residences – Hôtel du Petit Moulin, a former bakery in the Marais and Hôtel Bellechasse on the Left Bank.
Christian Lacroix’s elaborate, theatrical style is stamped all over the two hotels and the individually designed rooms feature painterly scenes, astrological motifs and vibrant illustration. The hotels are odes to diverse academic and cultural influences that have inspired his many collections over the years.
The hotel has a homely, intimate atmosphere and guests can mingle in the exclusive, private bar. At the Hôtel du Petit Moulin, Lacroix’s personal favorite is room 301 – the gold-and-black suite painted with a trompe l’oeil night sky.
At the Hôtel Bellechasse, jewel shades reign alongside sumptuous velvet drapes and beautifully illustrated ancient monuments, insects and playing cards. The dining room is one of the most ornate in Paris and the hotel is just a short walk from the museums and galleries along the Seine.
Lacroix’s decadent hotels would be perfect locations for romantic trips to Paris and a totally unique fantasy experience. With the departure of Christian Lacroix from the fashion world, it really would be like living in a time gone by.
