The Edinburgh Grand Hotel Review

Ever since Harvey Nichols opened the doors of their first Scottish store on St Andrews Square, Edinburgh, the area has seen a raft of new development with big brands from the world of fashion, food and hospitality falling over themselves to secure a home on the square.  Earlier this year big London food players The Ivy, Dishoom and Gaucho moved in, but it was the opening of The Edinburgh Grand that caught my attention.

Taking up home in a magnificent neo-classical building that was the former global headquarters of RBS, The Edinburgh Grand is, in my opinion the new jewel in Edinburgh’s hospitality crown.  Consisting of 50 individually designed apartments, this property is beautifully understated.  Last week I had the opportunity to stay in one of their one-bedroom grand apartments for the evening and there was not much that I didn’t love about the place.  It’s luxurious, cosy and homely at the same time, really quite different to the usual luxury hotel offering in the city.

Location wise, you can’t get much better than The Edinburgh Grand either, it’s only a 3-minute walk from the train station and the tram goes right past the front door of the property which makes getting around the city easy.  Edinburgh is in fact a very compact city, so I’d recommend heading off to explore on foot as you seen much more that way.

I know that some of you like all of the trimmings that come with a full-service hotel (breakfast, 24/7 room service etc), but I personally prefer an apartment.  I like to have access to a kitchen, I like to have a comfy sofa to stretch out on and watch some tv and I like the extra space.  I was staying in room 202 (highly recommended), which offered views to the front across the square and down the side to Princes Street.  The decor was 100% to my taste too.  It blends modern amenities with original features seamlessly and in terms of comfort was unbeatable.  I slept right though without waking once (although I’m sure the red wine that I enjoyed in their bar may have helped) and was impressed by the high-quality finishing’s and fittings.  There was even a Bose Bluetooth speaker in the living room which offered crystal clear sound and meant that I could stream my music from Spotify as I was getting ready.

If you’re staying over and fancy heading out for a spot of food, then there’s no need to venture very far as there is a Hawksmoor steakhouse located on the ground floor (entrance is just to the side of the reception).  If you’ve not been to a Hawksmoor before then you really are missing out and you should check it out, even if you’re not staying at the Grand.  Get the lobster to start and make sure you enjoy a steak for your main.  Delicious!

I’m honestly struggling to find a bad thing to say about to say The Edinburgh Grand, it’s a lovely place and in a great location.  If you’re visiting Edinburgh then it should be at the top of your list of places to stay.

For more information on The Edinburgh Grand and to book, lateralcity.com/property/the-edinburgh-grand