Hotel Review: Gleneagles Townhouse
Last weekend I headed up to Edinburgh for the weekend to check out Gleneagles Townhouse, the brand new sister property of famed Gleneagles (one of Scotland’s most iconic luxury hotels, which I had stayed at a couple of years ago and loved). I was interested to see how the much more intimate townhouse hotel would compare with the original Gleneagles property: housing only 33 bedrooms, and located in a completely different setting to the original countryside pad, the Townhouse provides guests with a much more boutique feel than its big sister. Read on for my full review below.
First impressions: 5/5
Overlooking leafy St Andrew Square, the hotel is located in the heart of the city, a mere few minutes’ walk from Waverley train station, and within easy walking distance to some of Edinburgh’s most famous sights. Housed in the former Bank of Scotland, the historical building has been restored into an elegant hideaway that oozes timeless, old-school glamour. Step inside and you’ll immediately be bowled over by the attention to detail: designed by the same Ennismore team behind the original Gleneagles, the hotel is a sight to behold around every corner. The reception features the building’s original tiled flooring, and a grand, sweeping staircase leading up to the private members’ club on the first floor - however, most guests arriving at the Townhouse are ushered into The Spence (Scottish for ‘larder’), the property’s all-day restaurant which is also open to the public and acts as the thriving hub of the hotel. Situated underneath the original building’s vast dome, the restaurant has soaring ceilings and is flooded with natural light…but more on that later.
Onto the bedrooms: the hotel has three room categories, ranging from Nook bedrooms to larger Master rooms (we stayed in the latter). These spacious rooms boast high ceilings, views onto St Andrew Square, and plush furnishings in rich tones of blue and green, offset by pale pinks: expect velvet headboards or sweeping canopied bedsteads, antique rugs covering the dark wooden floors, and panelled walls painted in mint green. Rooms feature deep armchairs to kick back in, and huge flat-screen TVs with impressive movie libraries to make your way through. Marble-floored bathrooms are just as spacious and each boast freestanding tubs and walk-in showers tiled in green. All of the mod-cons you could want have been thought of: coffee, tea, and homemade flapjacks will be there to welcome you upon arrival, while hair straighteners and vanity kits are tucked away in the drawers in case you left these at home.
Hotel guests also have access to the Townhouses’s wellness centre, which is secreted away downstairs. Occupying the bank’s original vaults, you’ll find a surprisingly chic space, boasting state-of-the-art facilities, such as a cyrotherapy room, reformer pilates studio, and expansive, fully equipped gym. Calming treatment rooms where you can receive Dr Barbara Sturm facials and Tata Harper body treatments are also hidden away here.
Food and drink: 5/5
The hotel’s main restaurant The Spence is open all day, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between. Seated under the building’s vast dome, this is easily the beating heart of the hotel, and you’ll find it thriving with diners round the clock. A snazzy circular bar sits at the centre of the room, surrounded by cocooning velvet booths in deep mauve; meanwhile, marble-topped tables and scalloped wall sofas in pale green line the perimeter of the room. Baby pink napkins add a dash of colour, along with artworks framing the walls, while impressively arched windows flood the room with natural light. There’s an open kitchen to the side, and a nook with poser tables and velvet window seats to be filled by walk-in diners. There’s an undeniable buzz in the restaurant all day, with a constant thread of visitors popping in at all hours; the space is as welcoming as it is beautiful, so much so that you could easily while away a couple of hours here and allow a lunch sitting to blend into dinner.
On our first evening, we had dinner at The Spence and everything we ate was delicious. Expect refined, elegant dishes that are still hearty enough for you to feel satisfied: start off with bacalao beignets and crumpets topped with crab, followed by creamy burrata, and artichokes served with almond cream (both as beautifully plated as works of art). Follow this with roast chicken to share or fresh Scottish salmon, along with as many of the delicious vegetable side plates as you’d like. Make sure to leave room for dessert, when an impressive trolley is proudly rolled out, and guests can choose from cheese, chocolates or homemade patisserie; if you prefer, you can also order hot puddings on the menu, or home-churned ice cream before rolling yourself to bed.
The following morning, you’ll be treated to just as indulgent a breakfast. Choose as many homemade pastries you’d like (fluffy cardamom buns and frangipane bostock sit alongside freshly baked croissants on the kitchen counter), washed down with coffee and fresh juice shots. The greatest challenge you’ll encounter is picking what you’d like from the menu, which features possibly the best breakfast offering I’ve laid eyes on: fragrantly spicy shakshuka, eggs however you like them with Scottish smoked salmon, or homemade vegan pancakes made with oat milk and served with blueberries, caramelised banana and vegan toffee. But my favourite thing about Gleneagles Townhouse? If you’re someone who prefers a lie-in on a weekend, they also serve an all-day brunch menu that has a mix of breakfast and lunch classics, so you can tumble out of bed as late as you’d like and there’s no chance of going hungry.
Meanwhile, if you prefer a more intimate setting, hotel guests are welcome to head upstairs to Lamplighters, the rooftop bar that’s open to residents and club members only. Curl up on velvet sofas in pale pink and blue, and choose small bites and drinks from the menu: outside on the terrace, the building’s famous six statues lord above the square, each inspiring one of the Townhouse’s signature cocktails.
Comfort and service: 5/5
Service throughout the entire hotel is impeccable from the moment you arrive. We couldn’t have felt more looked after during our stay: expect efficient and polite service in every area of the hotel, with staff in the restaurant being particularly friendly, and taking the time to engage in cheerful conversation at every meal.
Overall, we loved our stay at Gleneagles Townhouse and will be racing back to Edinburgh as soon as we can (I’m trying to find an excuse to head back to the city just so I have a reason to return). I even preferred the Townhouse to its older sister Gleneagles: thanks to the hotel’s boutique nature, you’ll feel extremely well looked after here, and despite being a city hotel, escaping here still feels like you’re hitting the ‘reset’ button (apart from the buzzy restaurant, most areas of the hotel are incredibly quiet and calming). Thanks to the hotel’s envious location, you’ll also be mere minutes from some of the city’s best sights from this prime location (you can read my Edinburgh guide for recommendations).
I can’t think of a better hotel to stay at in Edinburgh: marrying timeless elegance and contemporary glamour, Gleneagles Townhouse provides the unabashedly luxurious escape that the city was previously missing. Add this one to your list - you can thank me later.
This was a press stay - all opinions are my own.
