What it is

A Georgian-era hideaway transformed into an ultra-chic hotel and members club with a rooftop bar, ornate courtyard restaurant, and a gym and spa in a subterranean bank vault.

What it isn't

Low tech. Despite the hotel’s storied provenance, the on-site spa has embraced everything from cryotherapy to infrared saunas.

What we think

Storybook stays are practically required in Edinburgh, where the architecture leans heavily into downright fanciful medieval and neo-classical aesthetics. So we love that even the starter room category here is worthy of a Robert Louis Stevenson fever dream. At 312 square feet, Nook Rooms are adorned with thick antique rugs topping the wood floors, brass beds, and plushly tufted velvet chairs. We love the Master Bedrooms for their canopied beds, crown molding-lined ceilings, and clawfoot tubs, plus prime overlooks of St. Andrew Square, created circa 1772. Either way, you’ll be treated to Gleneagles Blend Origin Coffee; Leith’s Pekoe Tea; zippy free wifi, movie rentals, and sundry magazines; robes and slippers; and freestanding tubs (and robes and slippers) perfect for some self-care time as the drizzle pitter-patters on the windows.

You're here because

You’ve got a thing for rooftop bars, but this one is a true showstopper—thanks to Georgian-era statues lining the terrace and local smoked salmon, cheddar and charcuterie on the snack menu.

The Moment

Bellied up to the curved bar under the gilt carved ceilings of The Spence restaurants, it’s no wonder you have a hankering for style.

Restaurants & Bars

The Spence - An all-day restaurant in Edinburgh, serving a menu rooted in classics with a modern twist, morning, noon and night.

Lamplighters - A rooftop bar with sweeping views over Edinburgh with locally inspired beverages.

Location

Directly across the street from St. Andrew Square, a two block walk from the National Galleries of Scotland—where the collection includes works by Titian and Botticelli.