The Scottish capital can be easily explored on foot, passing from the Gothic Old Town crossed by the Royal Mile, to the new town with its Georgian buildings. The ideal address to feel at the center of it all? The Market Street Hotel with its rooftop champagne lounge.
In Edinburgh, everything is within walking distance. Whether you go from Holyrood Palace to Edinburgh Castle (where the Stone of Destiny is kept, an integral part of the English coronation ceremonies, including that of Charles III) along the Royal Mile, whether you climb Calton Hill for a panoramic view of the city, whether you walk along the Water of Leith, the verdant path along the river that runs through the city, whether you choose to explore two of its most pleasant neighborhoods, Stockbridge and Dean Village, with houses, terraces and gardens that make you think of Notting Hill or Sloane Street, or whether you enjoy the flowers and plants of the Royal Botanic Garden, you can make the most of all the time available without having to worry about wasting it on boring trips.
But despite this, staying in a strategic address remains essential . Like that of the Market Street Hotel , right on the dividing line between the Old and New Towns. Affiliated to the Design Hotels network , which brings together over 300 independent hotels in 60 countries, the Scottish hotspot, with its white facade that reflects the city’s characteristic Craigleith sandstone, is a pleasure both to stay at and to stop at the Nor’ Loft, the rooftop champagne lounge . The champagne list includes around twenty prestigious brands, and the cocktail list is equally long. The open kitchen works all day, and the evening, with the fireplaces lit, is particularly cozy. The ladies’ bathroom holds a pleasant surprise: a very long dressing table lit up like the dressing rooms of theater dancers, to do your makeup to perfection and feel like a showgirl! The furnishings of the rooms are characterized by formal cleanliness and contemporary design, with tartan inserts in homage to the local culture, and the staff is attentive and kind.
Some tips: both Holyrood and the castle/fortress that dominates the city are not particularly interesting and only open a few rooms to the public where you cannot photograph anything. The only visitors for whom it might be worth paying the high price of the ticket to Holyrood are the devotees of Mary Stuart : to realize how small the room of the sovereign actually was where the Scottish nobles (led by her husband Lord Darnley) broke in to assassinate her secretary Davide Rizzio (the scene seen in «Mary Queen of Scots» with Saoirse Roinan). Rather, it is worth a visit to the imposing Stirling Castle, an hour from the city, near which William Wallace (the hero of «Braveheart») won a famous battle and where Elizabeth’s rival was crowned.
Two shopping addresses not to be missed: the independent bookshop Toppings & Co and 21st Century Kilts , for a tailored version of the traditional Highland outfit: this is where Lenny Kravitz, Robbie Williams and Richard Branson had their outfits made. For Sara Izzi, a travel enthusiast and founder of the website The Lost Avocado, who has lived in Edinburgh for a few years, among the restaurants to try are: The Little Chartroom, Eleanore, White Horse Oyster Bar, Tymberyard, The Spence, The Scran & Scallie, The Outside, Dishoom, Baba, Kanpai sushi.