 Edinburgh city centre and Princes Street hotels set the benchmark...just ask J Lo!
In a city with accommodation as diverse as Edinburgh's, you wouldn't expect the high-end of the market to be one-dimensional, surely? Ask the locals about expensive and luxury hotels in Edinburgh and almost everyone will mention the names Balmoral and Caledonian Hilton...and rightly so. These Princes Street hotels hold as important a position in the foundations of Edinburgh's reputation as the Castle itself. When it comes to 4 and 5 star hotels in Edinburgh, it's like watching a film starring George Clooney and Leonardo Di Caprio. You have the older, wiser virtuoso admirably challenged by the slick, versatile upstart....and they both look damn fine. The established Princes Street hotels and esteemed hotels such as The Witchery by the Castle, the George Hotel on George Street and the extremely popular Edinburgh Residence have been tested in recent years by up-and-coming, modern hotels such as the Glasshouse, Le Monde and Hotel Missoni, which have been wowing guests with their contemporary flair, lavish decor and exceptional service. Â I'll be completely honest with you. When it comes to 4 and 5 star hotel accommodation, Edinburgh is the most expensive city in the country. Throughout the 3 weeks of the Edinburgh Festival in August, on big rugby weekends and over New Year, around 90% of rooms are snapped up at ridiculously high prices. Â The Balmoral hotel, at 1 Princes Street, 0044 (0) 131 556 2414, with its iconic clock tower, is as much a tourist attraction as it is a hotel and has attracted stars from Jennifer Lopez to J.K. Rowling. The Michelin-starred restaurant, stylish Brasserie and esteemed spa are as impressive as the castle views from the bedrooms. When someone mentions Princes Street hotels, the Balmoral is the first one that springs to mind. Â The Caledonian Hilton hotel, at Princes Street (West End), 0044 (0) 131 222 8888, was once an Edwardian railway hotel and has a dark towering facade that draws the eye upwards. In the past few years 89 rooms have been refurbished and the hotel's leisure facilities are to be upgraded this summer. Counting Sean Connery amongst its highly-satisfied customers, the Caledonian Hilton at the West End of Princes Street is the West End. Ever counted sheep in a 16th century suite? My guess is no. I certainly haven't. This is one of many reasons why the Witchery by the Castle, at 352 Castle Hill, 0044 (0) 131 225 5613, is so special. Take your own kitchen, awesome antiques, lashings of leather, ceremoniously Gothic design, dim the lights and you have your own rather mythical lodgings at the Witchery. Oh, and the Castle is next door by the way... Â
Whether you call it quirky or simply unique, the Edinburgh Residence, at 7-9 Rothesay Terrace 0044(0) 131 226 3380, is without doubt one of the most popular and idiosyncratic hotels in Edinburgh. They have a self-service 'honesty bar' for Pete's sake! A concept that really shouldn't work in Scotland. If you like the idea of sleeping on a fold-down bookcase and being served your meals in your suite rather than in a restaurant, you've found your hotel.
Ask the locals about 'Le Monde' and some of them will say, 'it that Italian?' but most of them will tell you about a trendy, themed bar and restaurant on George Street. Not too many people know that the building at 16 George Street 0044 (0) 131 270 3939, also houses elaborate suites inspired by living quarters such as New York apartment lofts and Russian palaces. Couple that with a cosmopolitan-themed bar (not the magazine) and restaurant to rival Epcot and you have an uncompromising ode to the world. |
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