Nestled in a row of chic Georgian townhouses on one of Edinburgh’s posh blocks, the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel serves up stylish comfort, modern amenities, and an irresistible mix of midcentury glamour and local flair.
"Colorful townhouse hotel with feel-good weekend flavor This is a Penguin Classic of a hotel—part Arthur Conan Doyle, part Muriel Spark, and set designed with real attention to detail: with prints, maps, and memorabilia in the blue drawing rooms riffing on the golden age of travel—the kind of salon that explorers such as David Livingstone or Mungo Park would be at ease in, peering out onto the square from behind velvet drapes. Polished banisters lead upstairs to the bedrooms—go for one in the original townhouses for the fireplaces and high ceilings. All are designed in a well-upholstered Edwardian style, embellished with succulents, letterpress-style illustrations, and record players—and if you’re lucky a copy of Ziggy Stardust. The subterranean spa continues the foliage theme seen in the hotel’s central sky-lit ‘garden’ restaurant, with a living wall that's home to lavender, fern, and eucalyptus. With a strong focus on results, facial treatments begin with a full assessment of your skincare hopes and hang-ups and culminate with a very deep cheek (and arm and leg) massage. Post-treatment, make a beeline for a session in the UK's first sound wellness room. Address: 38 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4HQ Price: From around $268 per night"
"Tell us about this place: Where is it, and what does it look like? We want all the details. Located on one of New Town's swishest blocks, this branch of the Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants brand elevates the best of midcentury style to grand potential—but there's enough 21st-century mixed in for it to be stylish and elegant, rather than a throwback. With the design-driven, luxury boutique feel a mile away from American corporate chains, Instagrammers will be in heaven—and that's before they find out it won both Brand Hotel of the Year and Style Hotel of the Year at 2018's Scottish Hotel Awards. (It was just reopened after renovations in late 2017.) However, you might miss if it you walked by it—signage is scarce, and the hotel is made up of seven interconnected Georgian townhouses. Sounds swanky—and thanks for the heads-up. And how about the guestrooms? The 199 rooms (including 18 suites) are both stylish and cozy, with hipster accents complementing traditional touches; for example, trendy hand-drawn prints featuring local wildlife hang above beds decked in tartan throws and pillows. The interior design tries to combine the midcentury glamour of travel with Scottish hospitality, and it's wildly successful. Despite the corporate background, there's not a lot of branding: a bright red, vintage-look telephone, knit tea cozy, and treat box are hallmarks of the Principal Hotels brand, but they're so charming that you can't argue with them. Standard rooms are just as stylish as the fancier rooms, but upgrade for perks like roll-top baths and record players, as well as decadent beds with handmade mattresses. Throughout, the thoroughly modern bathrooms have anti-fog mirrors and fluffy robes. Oh, those are fun features. Now, give us the download on the F&B. What can we expect? Guests won't be tucking into anything incredibly hearty here—dinner is best taken outside the hotel—but starting the morning with breakfast in conservatory-like The Garden is a treat (especially on sunny days). Enjoy eggs cooked to order, fry-ups, or lighter continental fare under a glass roof, hanging plants, and basket pendant lights. Later in the day, it's also an excellent place to come back for Twilight Tea or one of the inspired botanical cocktails. Those coming back from a late night will be pleased to find room service open 24/7. Excellent—and, we'll be sure to take you up on that Garden suggestion. How did you find the service, start to finish? Relaxed; everyone seems to enjoy their jobs. They tend to be on the young side, so guests looking for nightlife, live music, and pub spots won't be disappointed. However, a few finer points—leaving cleaning room doors open—stand to be improved. Noted. What about the surroundings? Does the hotel fit in, make itself part of the scene? Largely inconspicuous from the street, the hotel fits right into the neighborhood, as does the clientele, which tends to be just as well-heeled and stylish as the New Towners that roam the area. There's plenty of everything close at hand, with the main shopping streets, attractions, swank cocktail spots, and excellent restaurants a few minutes' walk away. The spa, with an entrance on Rose Street, had a £1.27 million (about $1.7 million) renovation that's resulted in a beautiful space Edinburghers flock to for a special treat. Lovely. Is there anything you'd change? BABA, the Middle Eastern restaurant, feels a little overworked on the aesthetics front, but the food is good. Got it. Tell us what we missed! The wellness center is truly exceptional; it was renovated along with the rest of the hotel and now boasts a full range of classes (spin, Muay Thai, yoga), a mood-lit pool, and sauna and steam room. There's also a charming library that's delightfully eccentric, complete with brass-fringed club chairs and wall of books you're welcome to peruse. Also on the lobby level, a corner shop sells downloadable newspapers and magazines, snacks, and classic Penguin paperbacks. All very noteworthy features. So, bottom line: Worth it? Why? Absolutely—this is a stylish but relaxed hotel designed for well-heeled guests keen to take full advantage of Edinburgh's culture and nightlife." - Krystin Arneson
"Located on one of the swishest blocks in Edingburgh's New Town, this member of the Kimpton brand elevates the best of midcentury style to grand potential—but there's enough 21st-century mixed in for it to be stylish and elegant, rather than a throwback. With the design-driven, luxury boutique feel a mile away from American corporate chains, Instagrammers will be in heaven. However, you might miss if it you walked by it: Signage is scarce, and the hotel is made up of seven interconnected Georgian townhouses. The 199 rooms (including 18 suites) are both stylish and cozy, with hipster accents complementing traditional touches; for example, trendy hand-drawn prints featuring local wildlife hang above beds decked in tartan throws and pillows." - Ramsay Short
"Peace and quiet are not your usual city-break accoutrements, but this lovely Kimpton property, away from the bustle on Edinburgh’s discreet Charlotte Square, breaks the rules. This is the most charming, intimate Edinburgh bolthole more akin to a chic, low key members’ club. It’s a mishmash of velvets and hanging tapestries, against a rich colour palette of blues, golds and reds in the hotel’s fabulous restaurant Baba, which is a much welcome change from the eurocentric dining options most Edinburgh hotels offer."
"There's the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, made up of seven interconnected Georgian townhouses on one of the New Town district's swishest blocks and perfectly located for resting weary bones after a climb up to Arthur's Seat."
