Edinburgh Minto Hotel

Edinburgh Minto is mid-range, and not upscale by any means, but it does have a charming boutique flavor that comes through in its thoughtful decor and design. The public areas and rooms feature generally muted colors of beige and brown, with splashes of red and purple, colorful abstract art on the walls, and exotic art pieces placed here and there. The hotel draws a few business travelers because of its meeting rooms, but its clientele is mostly tourists. They gather in the restaurant, bar, TV room, and on the outdoor terrace. A small back lawn and garden area has a patio, trees, shrubs, a fountain, and tables and chairs. Service is friendly and attentive, and the staff is always eager to offer tour assistance and sightseeing advice, and to comply with small requests.

Edinburgh Minto Hotel is on Minto Street in Newington, a largely commercial area with restaurants, businesses, and student housing and nightlife for those studying at nearby Edinburgh University. Minto Street leads directly into Edinburgh's Old Town. It's about a 20- to 25-minute walk north to the main sights like the Grassmarket, the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street, and Waverley Station. By car the sights can be reached in five to 10 minutes, depending on traffic. A bus stops a half-block south of the hotel, with service to the Old Town area. The green expanse of the Meadows park is about a 10-minute walk north. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is a 10-minute drive north. Edinburgh Airport is a 25-minute drive west of the hotel.    

The Minto has 22 non-smoking rooms and suites on two floors, serviced by an elevator. The individually decorated rooms have a minimalist and spare feel, but with dashes of boutique style. The color palette is beige, brown, and white, with a piece or two of colorful abstract art on the walls, which livens things up. Some of the rooms have views of Arthur's Seat mountain peak. Beds are comfy, with thick duvets and cotton-rich sheets. Some double beds are two single beds pushed together, which is common in Europe, and allows the beds to be made up as two separate beds if that's what guests want. Rooms are clean, and have no unpleasant smells or noise. All rooms come with desks, hairdryers, irons and boards, coffee/tea makers, free Wi-Fi, and 22-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. The TVs are small, and many are wall-mounted and far from the beds, so it's sometimes difficult to see the screen. Rooms do not have minibars, mini-fridges, or in-room safes, but the reception desk has safe-deposit boxes for valuables. Some suites have sofas. Rooms do not have air-conditioning; room windows open, and the hotel will provide fans. Some of the twin rooms are small. Bathrooms are mostly small but clean and functional, with good-quality bath products. Some rooms have only showers, no tubs.

As a small 22-room hotel, the Minto has no fitness or spa facilities, nor does it have a business center or public computer for guests' use. The Minto serves an ample breakfast (for a fee) with continental items like cereal, fruit, and baked goods, plus hot Scottish fare like eggs, bacon, black sausage, and hash browns. The dinner restaurant serves good, traditional Scottish fare and contemporary cuisine. Lunch is available in the bar and lounge, featuring a wide array of liquors, cocktails, beer and wine, plus a big-screen TV for live sports, and outdoor terrace seating in warm weather. The hotel has meeting and function space, which is somewhat unusual in a hotel of this size, and can host conferences and weddings. The hotel also has a TV lounge, a 24-hour front desk, and offers baggage assistance. Free parking is available on a first come, first served basis. There is additional free parking on the streets surrounding the hotel.