It can be tricky to find a nice boutique style hotel outwith the main cities so when I heard about Hotel Colessio in Stirling, Scotland, I had to check it out.
I actually discovered the hotel when I was in Stirling a few months back for a wedding and I passed it on way up to the castle. The beautiful building took me by surprise. It’s an impressive Victorian design adorned with classical columns and ornate features.
I booked in to spend a Friday night at the hotel ahead of a Saturday morning drive up to Glencoe but my plan was scuppered due to the discovery of a flat tyre just before I was about to set off from Glasgow to Stirling. I ended up getting to the hotel pretty late and a bit grumpy but the friendly welcome from the receptionist did help to elevate some of that stress.
I was allocated the Forth Suite, a spacious room on the second floor of the hotel with a king-sized bed, a separate sitting area, a workspace and a huge marble bathroom, complete with separate shower and bath.
My one gripe about the room was the TV. It was hard fixed into the corner of the wall so if you were on the bed or at the desk area it was hard to see it. A simple swing bracket would make a whole host of difference here.
I had booked a table in advance for dinner in their Grill but due to my late arrival, I decided to switch this to a meal from the room service menu as I wanted a chill night instead. I went for the house burger and fries and it did not disappoint!
After dinner, I got comfy on the huge bed and settled down for a night of Netflix catch-ups on my iPad. I don’t remember actually dozing off but I know that when I woke up I felt fresh and had enjoyed my night’s sleep.
Breakfast was included in my stay and (honestly), it was a tad disappointing. I’d have liked to see some nicer bread options (I only saw standard white or brown bread) and perhaps a larger selection of fruit and pastries on the continental side of things. It was a tad basic looking. There was a menu to order hot items too but I was wanting to find a garage to get my tyre sorted so I skipped on those.
If you’re visiting Stirling to see the castle and the other delights of the old town then Colessio is the perfect base for you. It’s located right on the Castle hill and will take you only 10 minutes to walk up to the gates.
Colessio is also the ideal spot for a quiet night away with the other half and if you’re not stuck on dates they have some great offers on their website.
Hotel Colessio, 33 Spittal Street, Stirling
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