The Place

The Place is housed in three grand Georgian townhouses, built between 1800 and 1804 for prominent citizens of Edinburgh. Some rooms retain the houses' original fireplaces and cornice work, and one building has grooves carved in imitation of ancient Roman and Greek architecture. The stylish lobby bar -- with its neon-lit mirrored bar, fireplace, and colorful chairs -- is a popular spot for drinks, while the airy and elegant restaurant -- decked out with hardwood floors, large original windows, clean-lined chairs, and deep blue walls -- serves good, casual cuisine. Note that the hotel does not have an elevator. As an atmospheric boutique hotel, the Place is especially popular with couples, who like the intimate setting and location near shopping, within walking distance of the Old Town.

The Place is located on York Place, at the east end of the famous Queens Street, in the heart of Edinburgh's New Town. The surrounding area is filled with numerous restaurants, pubs, nightclubs, movie theaters, and playhouses. One of the city's fanciest neighborhoods is also nearby, home to many elegant boutiques and fine-dining restaurants. The St. James Shopping Centre is a block-and-a-half away, the John Lewis department store a little further, and Saint Andrew Square, Harvey Nichols department store, and George Street shopping just a few steps past that. Princes Street and the Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station are a five-minute walk away, and the Princes Street Gardens and the Scott Monument are a 10-minute walk. In addition to all these New Town sights, the hotel is still walking distance from Old Town attractions, with St. Giles Cathedral, the Royal Mile, and Edinburgh Castle all within a 15-minute walk. Edinburgh Airport is a 20-minute drive. There is parking nearby, for a fee. The T50 tram, with service to and from the airport, stops just across from the hotel.

Spread across three three-story Georgian townhouses, the 47 non-smoking rooms at the Place come in a variety of sizes, which is mostly due to the buildings' historic status. Despite being in an historic boutique hotel, the rooms at the Place are somewhat less atmospheric than might be expected; they have a contemporary, generically stylish look, with beige, white, brown, yellow, maroon, and violet hues. They're not especially warm or design-conscious, but the furnishings are clean-lined and in line with contemporary tastes. Some rooms have original fireplaces (non-working) and cornice work. Most get good natural light through large windows or skylights. Most are spacious, while others (mostly basement and attic rooms) are small. Some have views of the Firth of Forth, with a view of the bridge and Leith Harbour. All have coffee/tea kettles, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs, but lack in-room safes, mini-bars, or mini-fridges. The bathrooms aren't large, but are clean and well-lit, with white tilework, large counters, high-end toiletries, and walk-in shower stalls.

The hotel restaurant serves upscale casual cuisine with menu items like burgers, fish and chips, cheese & chutney sandwiches, crab spaghetti, and spicy scrambled eggs. Pre-theater dining is available. The bar has an extensive array of beer, wine, liquors, and cocktails, and features whiskey tastings. The breakfast (for a fee) includes a cold buffet (breads, cheeses, cold cuts, cereals, yogurt, etc.) and cooked-to-order hot items like Scottish breakfast, eggs on toast, smoked salmon, and grilled kippers. The Place has a 24-hour front desk with concierge service. Limited parking is available at a nearby public lot for a fee.