Luxury Hotels of the World: The Scotsman Hotel in Edinburgh

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During our time in Edinburgh, we selected the historic The Scotsman hotel’s Headline Suite to enjoy during our time in Scotland’s capital. Situated inside the former headquarters of the The Scotsman, Edinburgh’s newspaper, this luxury hotel has distilled unique Scottish hospitality and charm down to a science inside of a gorgeous Baroque building built in 1905. Everything from the room itself to the service we received throughout our stay made our experience here a wonderful one. Directly across from the train station and only 15 minutes from Edinburgh Castle, The Scotsman hotel is one of Scotland’s most welcoming and indulgent hotels.

The Scotsman Hotel in Edinburgh

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Address: 20 North Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1TR
United Kingdom
Staff Helpfulness & Friendliness: 5/5
Cleanliness: 5/5
Room size: 4/5
Room Amenities: 4/5
Room and Bed Comfort: 5/5
View from Room: 4/5
Complimentary Wifi: Yes
Internet Service Quality: 5/5
Pool: N/A
Spa: N/A
Proximity to Other Points of Interest: 5/5
Valet Parking: No

Built in 1905, the building that now houses The Scotsman hotel was original home of Edinburgh’s newspaper, The Scotsman. Located just 15 minutes from Edinburgh Castle, and right at the nexus of Edinburgh’s Old Town and modern day Edinburgh, it’s the perfect location for exploring one of Europe’s most enchanting cities.

The Scotsman sits directly across from Edinburgh’s train station, making it one of the most conveniently located luxury hotels in the city. We arrived by train and simply had to walk across the street to arrive at our hotel, and although we were so close to the station, we didn’t hear any street noise from our suite that faced the transit hub. In fact, our room must have been sound proof, as we didn’t hear anything outside our room at all during our stay, which was so peaceful.

The Room itself was beautiful, comfortable, and well appointed. We stayed in the Headline Suite, which overlooked the city and had a separate sitting area and living room, as well as a large bedroom, expansive closets, and a large 2-room bathroom. Decorated in greyscale, the room was boldly and modernly decorated, which was a gorgeous juxtaposition to the ornate Baroque exterior of the hotel. The blankets and bedding in the room were handmade here in Scotland, which was a beautiful homage to Scotland’s incredible textile traditions.

Headline Suite at The Scotsman Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland

Our only disappointment with the hotel was the attached restaurant, Grand Café, which while a very beautiful venue, served us the most bland food we had in all of the United Kingdom. I was wildly disappointed in my breakfast, which was supposed to be the Eggs Royale, which was served to me just as a single piece of toast, a bare poached egg, a few dry mushrooms, and some green garnish. The server said they were “out” of the rest of the meal, which was supposed to include smoked salmon, caviar, spinach, and hollandaise sauce, and we were not offered any sort of substitution despite not receiving most of our meal. We were very disappointed that this was considered acceptable by the staff. If you’re hungry in Edinburgh, there are quite literally dozens of better places to eat nearby, including The Ivy Edinburgh, Angels with Bagpipes, Oaxaca Mexican, and many more. Definitely pass on the café’s shoddy dining.

Everything else about the hotel was positively spectacular. The hotel staff were so kind and welcoming, and helped us make a few last minute preparations for our vow renewal the following week on the Isle of Skye, they gave us directions and recommendations of things to do nearby, and Barry, one of the hotel employees, made a point to remember our names and check in on us regularly to make sure we were enjoying our stay in the city to the fullest, which made us feel very valued and cared for.

Overall, we absolutely loved this hotel. The Scotsman hotel’s staff treated us like old friends from the moment we walked in the door and remembered our names throughout our stay. Our room was lovely, comfortable, and peaceful. The location of the hotel was so convenient and was the perfect place for us to walk or bus to iconic places like Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Botanic Garden, Scottish National Gallery, Arthur’s Seat, Old Town, the Royal Mile, and so much more. If you’re looking for a great place to stay in Edinuburgh, The Scotsman has everything you need, (plus a free dram of Scottish Whisky each day of your stay) – just steer clear of the attached café and enjoy much better food elsewhere.

xAnnie Fairfax
Follow Me for More: @AnnieFairfax

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