The Bonham, Edinburgh

...With a little research on the Internet the lure of a luxury boutique four star 48 room hotel set in a quiet road with a short walking distance into the center of Edinburgh plus the title of Hotel of the year for Scotland was all we needed to decide the venue of our one night of luxury.
.
We took a taxi for the third of a mile from Waverley station to a very quiet, what seemed like residential, road and stopped outside a Victorian town ...
...the contemporary décor seen through the bay front windows gave a hint of what the inside had to reveal.

We booked a superior double room and were shown up to a large room at the back of the hotel with a wonderful view of the Bridge of Forth, and no sooner had the porter closed the door but the kettle was put on for coffee. Just as we settled back with our cups of coffee and biscuits the banging began, after a quick call to reception ... more

Most hotel rooms are not places you want to spend any amount of time in. Last April we needed to get away for a night and just wanted to chill out in luxury. We wanted something different from a room with chintz curtains and matching bedspread. With a little research on the Internet the lure of a luxury boutique four star 48 room hotel set in a quiet road with a short walking distance into the center of Edinburgh plus the title of Hotel of the year for Scotland was all we needed to decide the venue of our one night of luxury.
.
We took a taxi for the third of a mile from Waverley station to a very quiet, what seemed like residential, road and stopped outside a Victorian town house, even from the outside the stylish bold colours of the contemporary décor seen through the bay front windows gave a hint of what the inside had to reveal.

We booked a superior double room and were shown up to a large room at the back of the hotel with a wonderful view of the Bridge of Forth, and no sooner had the porter closed the door but the kettle was put on for coffee. Just as we settled back with our cups of coffee and biscuits the banging began, after a quick call to reception it turned out there was building work going on in the house next door. We asked for another room and were shown an alternative, which was a downgrade and after putting my case strongly was shown a similar room to the one we had but with no noise.

The rooms are huge, spotlessly clean and luxurious. Huge beds, with plenty of pillows, each room is slightly different. Ours had white linen on the bed with a beige and black theme, all very comptemory in design but with the original features such as the sash windows, cornices and tall ceilings. Our room had two comfortable modern overstuffed armchairs which we sank into to read our books and plenty of coffee and tea to while away the afternoon. There was a well stocked mini bar (what hotel doesn’t have one?) but this one was high tech, lift any item off their black mat longer than 30 seconds and it immediately makes a charge on the computer in reception! Flicking the 55 channels of the TV amused us for a short while but the keyboard enabling us access to e-TV was missing. We were here to chill and didn’t fancy ringing down again.

The bathroom didn’t disappoint either. Large spacious and decorated in black marble with a huge cast iron bath that had room for two and room to spare plus toiletries by Molton Brown and supplied in huge pump action containers which were much nicer than those annoying little bottles and tiny bars of soap. As a bonus there was an amazing separate shower. The only down side to the bathroom was that there were no towels and only one bath robe was provided again a call to reception to rectify this only resulted in towels for one being brought up.

After the most comfortable quiet night in a hotel we ventured down to the Restaurant for breakfast. My hopes were high, but I was to be disappointed in the California breakfast influence. The set breakfast was limited to a selection of cereals, fruit and croissants. A cooked breakfast could be ordered as an extra. I did notice another guest with the some tastes as mine and have to say it looked a little on the lean side and the portions looked a little lonely on the plate. My request for cream with my coffee seem to be an exception as by the time some was found the coffee was cold.

I would stay here again if I wanted to have a romantic or chilled stay because it was clean, luxurious, quiet and walking distance to the centre of Edinburgh. I would make sure that the room had been properly serviced though. The lack of a gym and swimming pool did not put me off but might others, so be warned.

Yes it was expensive but I think we would have spent more money flying to Paris and besides Edinburgh is just as beautiful it not more so. Doubles rooms £158-198 but before you faint there are lots of special deals around and I believe Lastminute.com sometimes has offers for the Bonham.

 

...less