Edinburgh hotels

For decades, this imposing sandstone building was home to the national newspaper, whose name is embossed in gold on the ornate sandstone exterior. From here, you can survey the city for your own stories, with Waverley Station and the National Galleries nearby, and the Royal Mile just above.
It’s an enduring landmark and one for traditionalists, who will love original details such as the green-and-white marble staircase and stained glass windows. Where the clatter of typewriters once rung out is now all peace and quiet, with offices transformed into wood-paneled bedrooms in dairy whites and grays.
Eating here can be a real event, with the Grand Café set among the soaring columns of the 1905 original, though items such as garlic and chervil gnocchi would doubtless confuse those Edwardian reporters. The Hide, with its leather banquettes and chandeliers, is more intimate, for snacks and cocktails and adds to the Scotsman overall historic charm.

A playful addition to the city’s landscape, this is a unique hotel in Edinburgh with a sense of fun – as you’d expect from Sir Richard Branson. It’s set within the Victorian-era India Buildings in the Old Town, with a beautifully preserved glass cupola and a library lounge that has an interesting collection of quirky books and artworks.
Design-wise, there’s the obligatory Virgin red, of course, but also lots of blonde wood and Moroccan rugs, while the bedrooms are mostly individually designed. To pick a couple of favorites, Edward’s Suite has steps from lounge to bedroom and views over Cowgate, while another is inspired by Branson’s Marrakech riad, with thick fabrics and metal lanterns.
The restaurant and bar, meanwhile, are destinations in themselves, for cocktails such as Breakfast in the Highlands (whisky, sherry, and honey) and plates such as lobster thermidor, Jerusalem artichoke and summer truffle, and pineapple and Madagascan pepper.

Sign up for a walking tour of Edinburgh’s historic sights and The Balmoral will be one of the places pointed out. Locals have been checking their watches against the time on the 190ft clocktower for decades; it’s an edifice almost as famous as some of the hotel guests over the years.
But despite its history, it’s always moved with the times, with bedrooms refurbished using colors inspired by Scotland’s heather-strewn countryside, and additions such as a dedicated whisky bar that are great for a rainy day. There’s a fine-dining restaurant in the basement for artful, jus-drizzled plates, but I prefer the lighter brasserie upstairs with its French-Scots menu (roast duck with beetroot, tartiflette, ice-cream profiteroles).
As for bedrooms, it’s worth spending more for one with views of the castle or Old Town – after all, this is a hotel for a special occasion. Meet you in the palm court for tea.