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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Edinburgh

44 replies

ginislife · 12/07/2021 11:26

Best central hotel please. Ideally with a spa. Reasonable cost as I looked at The Balmoral but too expensive for 3 nights

Also best restaurant please. Unlimited budget for this as I'd love to go to a Michelin starred place

Do you have to book to go into attractions ? What's happening with restrictions ? We're going on 9 August

Thanks all

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 12/07/2021 12:19

Best is subjective but if you want one with a spa it won't be cheap! You can get day passes to some of the spas if that would be an option then stay elsewhere and have more choice of hotels.
Hotels with spas: The Sheraton, The Caledonian, Apex Waterloo Place, MacDonald Holyrood, Kimpton Charlotte Square. They're all central but there's others such as Norton House and the Dalmahoy but they're out of town and not well linked by public transport.

I'm not 100% sure who still has a Michelin star but if money is no object then I would look at The Kitchin, No.1 at the Balmoral, 21212, Martin Wishart, The Witchery, Condita.

As it stands at the moment you will need to book attractions. I think there's an update due tomorrow but the plan currently is for all major legal restrictions to be lifted on 9th August but I think we would still be in "level 0" at that time so not completely back to "normal". www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53166816

Original poster
ginislife · 12/07/2021 12:22

@emmathedilemma thank you, very helpful. I'd looked at 21212 but the menu seemed a bit odd - not very descriptive. Maybe eat at The Balmoral but not stay there then 😂

OP posts:
IHaveBrilloHair · 12/07/2021 13:08

Dd and her Bf are eating at 21212 on Wednesday.
They haven't been before, it was a last minute change from The Kitchin given what's recently come out about it.
My friend and I cancelled our August booking, but we've changed to Martin Wishart in September.
I can let you know what Dd thinks after they've been if you like?

emmathedilemma · 12/07/2021 14:07

I've eaten at 21212 a number of years ago and whilst it was nice it was a bit strange and i'm glad i wasn't paying! I'm more of a decent square meal sort of girl than all these little bits of food painted on plates though. I've been to places like Timberyard and The Honours (now closed) and I came home hungry!

areyouadogperson · 12/07/2021 16:23

You need to book everything for Edinburgh at the moment and well in advance. Don’t leave it to the last minute as you’ll be disappointed. We were there a couple of weeks ago and tried to change a dinner reservation 2 days before. Couldn’t change the time as we wanted so tried to book something else. There wasn’t anywhere left to decent to book for food in the evening.

3dogsnorth · 12/07/2021 16:29

Not Michelin but would def recommend Dishoom if you like Indian food

IHaveBrilloHair · 12/07/2021 18:42

Oh yes definitely book.
Dd has booked the chocolate cafe, the zoo, 21212 as I said, a couple of bars for an evening out, everything needs to be booked.

Chemenger · 12/07/2021 19:01

Slightly out of the centre of town but Prestonfield is lovely, the restaurant is called Rhubarb and it’s beautiful with great service. The hotel cannot be described as economical but it’s a fabulous experience. 21212 would be my last choice amongst the Michelin starred options. It’s years since we went but it was underwhelming. The choice is very limited and if you’re unlucky you could end up with a meal you wouldn’t normally choose. Dishoom is nice, but it’s a chain, so not very Edinburgh specific. I quite like the restaurant in Harvey Nichols, it has a great view. The Lookout on Carlton Hill looks interesting, I haven’t been but it’s definitely on my list to try.

IHaveBrilloHair · 12/07/2021 19:10

Oh god I'm worried now, 21212 was all I could get last minute.
I really hope they like it.
Horrid Tom Kitchin

marchduck · 12/07/2021 20:00

We've just had 3 nights in Edinburgh, we stayed in The George which was lovely, but it doesn't have a spa
We loved Dishoom
Have a great trip Smile

Naaaaah · 12/07/2021 20:07

Fishers in the City is lovely. Nicos too, although I suspect they'll both be fully booked up.

Original poster
ginislife · 13/07/2021 08:06

Thanks all. I'm kind of hoping by 9 August there will be a bit more normality but maybe not ?? We've looked at The Bonham, Black Ivy and The Scotsman as hotels......

OP posts:
reprehensibleme · 13/07/2021 08:25

The only decent meal I've ever had at the Witchery was the fixed price theatre supper - very style over substance and reliant on tourists, not return business. Wouldn't go the The Kitchin after recent revelations.

We like Bon Vivant, Gardeners Cottage (would like to try The Lookout too). Friends have raved about Fhior and Le Roi Fou.

For hotels, Prestonfield (good restaurant too, but no spa)

FelicityPike · 13/07/2021 08:36

@ginislife

Thanks all. I'm kind of hoping by 9 August there will be a bit more normality but maybe not ?? We've looked at The Bonham, Black Ivy and The Scotsman as hotels......
I suppose it depends on what you mean by “normality”. You would always have to book for these kinds of places and attractions in Edinburgh anyway.
areyouadogperson · 13/07/2021 13:15

@ginislife

Thanks all. I'm kind of hoping by 9 August there will be a bit more normality but maybe not ?? We've looked at The Bonham, Black Ivy and The Scotsman as hotels......
August and Edinburgh is busy. All months are. It's still the Scottish school holidays then. Don't risk by not booking.

The new shopping centre is newly opened and is attracting a lot of visitors alone.

Original poster
ginislife · 13/07/2021 23:16

We've booked The Radisson on the Royal Mile in the end as I stayed there 2 years ago and it was nice. I've booked afternoon tea at The Balmoral and dinner at The Witchery (I hear what you're saying about style over substance but I've always wanted to go and all the Michelin starred restaurants were booked up)

OP posts:
IHaveBrilloHair · 14/07/2021 19:34

I got a report back from Dd with photos today.
I'll definitely be going to 21212 ASAP, it looks amazing and they loved it.

rookiemere · 14/07/2021 19:37

The Bonham is lovely- never stayed but I'd rate it highly for food and decor.
Sheraton has an amazing spa, but I'd be gutted if it wasn't open for you.
Six By Nico is a great dining experience, usually booked out but you might get a cancellation.

whataboutbob · 15/07/2021 20:40

@reprehensibleme what were the revelations re Kitchin? Ate at the Gardeners Cottage a couple of weeks ago, nice meal and good service but maybe a bit overpriced. Decided not to go to the Witchery after reading the reviews of Tripadvisor.

sofiathe2nd · 15/07/2021 21:18

The Bonham is my favourite Edinburgh hotel I think. Also like The Balmoral but normally way out of my price range.

Favourite Michelin restaurant is Martin Wisharts, never had a bad meal there

areyouadogperson · 15/07/2021 22:17

[quote whataboutbob]@reprehensibleme what were the revelations re Kitchin? Ate at the Gardeners Cottage a couple of weeks ago, nice meal and good service but maybe a bit overpriced. Decided not to go to the Witchery after reading the reviews of Tripadvisor.[/quote]
Bullying and intimidation allegedly in his Edinburgh restaurant as well as the scan and scallie.

I’ve seen him out and about before. I sat in a booth next to his at Amarone on George Street. He was a complete twat.

whataboutbob · 15/07/2021 22:24

Thanks @areyouadogperson- would never have guessed from his appearances on Masterchef!

IHaveBrilloHair · 16/07/2021 17:03

This is his latest update.
That's an awful non apology.

Edinburgh
whataboutbob · 16/07/2021 20:07

Looks like it’s been penned by some damage limiting PR person.