Le Monde Hotel Edinburgh

Le Monde throws together an eclectic mix of styles. Like many properties in the city, it’s an attractive Georgian building in traditional Edinburgh stone. On entering through the large front door, guests come to a small lobby, decorated in a dark and opulent style. There are black leather winged and button-backed armchairs, an unusual reception desk with curved wooden drawers, black leather inlay, and an ornate gold clock sitting on the top. A large, gothic, candelabra sits on the coffee table, and a wooden bookcase is filled with ancient-looking leather-bound books. On the
wall, gold-framed black and white photos of various world cities give a hint of the hotel's theme. On the other side of the hall, there’s a relaxed lounge area, bustling with people of all ages. Going further into the property reveals a more modern twist. A cool, open-tread staircase with a glass banister leads guests up to one of the bars, which is a bright and trendy space. Add to this the individually-designed rooms and Le Monde certainly feels like a quirky, but
stylish, retreat.

Le Monde is well placed for seeing all the sights of Edinburgh. Situated on bustling George Street, which runs parallel to the famous Princes Street, there are countless bars, restaurants, shops, and nightclubs within a stone’s throw of the hotel. For tourists wanting
to see all the major attractions, it’s a short walk to everything from here.
Princes Street Gardens and the Scottish National Gallery are a five-minute walk, it’s a 10-minute walk to Edinburgh Castle and the beautiful St Giles' Cathedral, and 15-minute’s walk to the National Museum of Scotland. For getting further afield, both the bus and train stations are within a seven-minute walk. There isn't any parking on-site.

Guest rooms in Le Monde are all individually designed and themed around a different world city. The decor, furniture, and artwork in each room is all based on its namesake. It’s executed well, with real attention to detail and high quality fittings throughout. All rooms have air-conditioning and climate control, free Wi-Fi, a DVD player, minibar, hairdryer, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, free newspapers, a safe, bathrobes, Egyptian cotton sheets, and tea- and coffee-making facilities.
Upgrading to an Executive Room means guests also have an iPod docking station and more space. The Junior Suite is larger still, with a separate lounge area. Some also have high-tech extras like a touch-pad lighting system. Bathrooms are large, clean, and modern. Most have light cream tiling with feature walls in a pebble tile. Bathrooms in the suites are extra special -- some have large, sunken baths, and New York has a huge double shower. Most rooms are
surprisingly quiet, given the busy street outside, but some do hear noise from the nightclub in the evening.

The hotel offers free Wi-Fi in public areas as well as guest rooms, 24-hour room service, and meeting rooms for business travelers. There’s no car parking or fitness center here, but both of those are
hard to find in any Edinburgh hotel. Opportunities for eating, drinking, and dancing are where this place excels. Hotel guests get free entry to the Shanghai nightclub in the basement. As the name suggests, the club is Chinese-themed. Sleek, minimalist furniture and Asian-inspired wall murals give the place a cool vibe. It's popular too -- both tourists and locals flock here
in large numbers. There are also two lively bars. The Sky Bar serves breakfast, afternoon tea, and classic evening cocktails in an elegant and glamorous setting. In Dirty Martini, guests can take in live music or stand-up comedy in a lavish setting -- there are velvet-covered chairs and a candle-lit lounge. The Library is a relaxed space where freshly-made coffee is served and there are comfortable leather armchairs, bookcases, and cozy fireplaces. The food served
in the restaurant is unmistakably Scottish -- the menu is punctuated with mentions of haggis, whiskey sauce, and Scotch beef. Breakfast is not included in the room price but it’s fairly-priced and delicious, with a range of cooked options on offer, including freshly-prepared Scottish porridge.