There’s nothing worse than heading away on a luxury city break and staying in a hotel miles from everything. When you book a holiday to travel and tour a new destination, you want to be close to the sights. Who wants to walk forever to reach the best shops, or trek for miles to see the best attractions? So when you find a luxury hotel in the very centre of a city, it’s always a great start.
The Rutland Hotel in Edinburgh is one such establishment, sitting on the north west corner of Princes Street Gardens. From here, everywhere is accessible within minutes; the delights of the gardens and their ancient cemetery, the shopping along Princes Street, the castle perched loftily on the dormant volcano, and infamous Rose Street, legendary for its pub crawls, are all just minutes away.
As hotels go, the Rutland is something to behold. From the outside it’s an interesting layout, with the restaurant and bar taking up the first two floors on the northern side. The entrance to the hotel is found on Rutland Street itself, and as I stepped inside I was taken aback. It certainly wasn’t quite what I’d expected. The lobby is elaborately decorated in bold, dark colours, with fabulous orchid displays and ornate throne-style chairs in rich upholstery. Upstairs, our room was every bit as fanciful, with a large carved bedstead dominating the centre of the room, and a chandelier taking up ceiling space. It is by far one of the ‘dressiest’ rooms I’ve stayed in. But its real feature isn’t what’s in the room, it’s what’s outside – this room is one of two in the Rutland known as the Castle rooms, and as well as the royalty theme running throughout, they also have simply outstanding views of Edinburgh Castle from their panoramic windows.
Most of the other rooms in the Rutland are less extrovert in design while still retaining a fresh, colourful appeal. But I imagine that these Castle Rooms would be first choice for hen parties and brides-to-be, as well as those travellers who just want a glimpse of Edinburgh’s most iconic landmark from their bedroom. And while the view is wonderful during the day, the dark nights bring views of the Castle lit up in all its glory.
The hotel is more than comfortable. The hallways and corridors follow the same dark décor, but it’s rich rather than overwhelming or subdued. Sporadic Beckham-style thrones adorn occasional nooks and crannies, and contemporary wallpaper adds a decadent touch. On the ground floor, your bedroom key card grants access to the bar as well as the Kyloe restaurant, one of the hottest eateries in the Capital, and with a young team running the establishment we were looked after on our stay with a pleasant youthful enthusiasm.
The Rutland Hotel is ideal for a luxury city break in Edinburgh. It’s got everything you’re looking for in an inner city property, as well as that all important location, location, location. The next time you’re planning a trip to Scotland’s capital, give serious consideration to booking your room here.
For other great ideas about luxury travel in Europe, check out our hotel reviews here.
