Tigerlily Edinburgh

I’m not really one for writing reviews of hotels I have stayed in. I find hotels are extremely subjective and personal. One man’s hostel is another man’s (or woman’s) palace depending on what you look for in a holiday. But this place – well I really couldn’t resist.

For the most part I was in charge of selecting the hotels we stayed at for our trip to the UK. And this place was the best we have stayed at so far. By a country mile.

From the entryway, planted with real tiger lilies through to the beautifully renovated bar and restaurant, the first impressions of this hotel and insanely good. The location is fabulous too – about 15 minutes walk from the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle on a street lined with bars, restaurants and posh shops in old Georgian terraces.

The hotel itself is also in a renovated terrace and is spectacular. There is no other way to describe it. You enter through the bar, which is a combination of traditional silver and pale blue rococo style wallpaper, mirrored tile mosaic walls and splashes of pink upholstery. The sitting area is made cosy with an open fire and a spectacular Venetian mirror and the comfiest of couches and armchairs, perfect for one of Tigerlily’s signature cocktails or a warm rich hot chocolate as part of afternoon tea.

The hotel itself has only 33 rooms so it’s small enough to be exclusive and to have personalised service but large enough to deliver all the luxuries you expect staying in one of Edinburgh’s Premier hotels.

Our room was amazing. The vibrant colours and mirrored mosaics of the public areas make way for a soothing neutral colours and furnishings. We stayed in a Luxury Double which was huge – plenty of space for a large king size bed, a proper sitting area, a full wardrobe and a desk as well as all my luggage (and with 4 weeks of travelling I have lots of luggage). The room is furnished in beiges, creams and browns with the odd splash of colour reminding you of the downstairs flair and frivolity.

The bathroom is also divine – the plush towels and bathrobes, the rainwater shower and the huge space filled with The White Company toiletries. It’s really a dream bathroom. It would be tempting to spend all your time in your room on the lush king bed but with the fabulous world of Edinburgh at your feet it’s a wrench to leave.

Once you have experienced the delights of one of Great Britain’s most beautiful cities (I can recommend Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile as well as just meandering to enjoy the sights of the Old Town), I’d highly recommend a brisk walk back to the hotel and settling in for a cocktail or two by the fire in the bar. It’s a really popular place – and with good reason. The atmosphere is hip and cool but the reception is warm and the cocktails fabulous.

And without doubt you’ll get hungry after all that walking, shopping and sightseeing so remember to book a table at the restaurant. You won’t be disappointed. The scallops with pea puree and pancetta – if they are on the menu – will knock your socks off. They are huge, full of flavour and fabulous. The Swordfish Nicoise was also a hit with the fish beautifully moist and the flavours modern. The service is unobtrusive and smart and the wine list is full of fabulous international gems, including even a few beauties from Australia.

After a truly restful night’s sleep (no doubted helped along by a bottle of sensational Italian Pinot Grigio with dinner) it’s back downstairs for a grand breakfast. The Eggs Benedict was superb, the Full Scottish a hands down winner. The coffee is proper espresso, not always easy to find, and the tea is – well great. A fabulous start to another wonderful day in Scotland.

Tigerlily
125 George Street
Edinburgh EH2 4JN
www.tigerlilyedinburgh.co.uk

Photos courtesy of Tigerlily