Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel History and Reviews, Located on one of the swishest blocks in Edingburgh’s New Town, this member of the Kimpton brand elevates the best of midcentury style to grand potential—but there’s enough 21st-century mixed in for it to be stylish and elegant, rather than a throwback. With the design-driven, luxury boutique feel a mile away from American corporate chains, Instagrammers will be in heaven. However, you might miss if it you walked by it: Signage is scarce, and the hotel is made up of seven interconnected Georgian townhouses. The 199 rooms (including 18 suites) are both stylish and cozy, with hipster accents complementing traditional touches; for example, trendy hand-drawn prints featuring local wildlife hang above beds decked in tartan throws and pillows.
What it is
Tucked within seven Georgian-era townhouses that flank a historic garden, with artful interiors, an indoor pool and spa, and a buzzing Middle Eastern boîte.
What it isn’t
Unattractive. Every inch of the place is Instagrammable, including The Garden, a bar and restaurant within a lush greenhouse dotted with an abundance of plants.
What we think
Kimpton is known for being the arty cool kid in the IHG stable, and it’s more than earned the accolade at this Edinburgh outpost. Guest rooms here were designed as if for a modern Winston Churchill, with leather-wrapped headboards and Chesterfield sofas, gallery walls of art, Deco-inspired lighting and Kimpton trademarks (yep, you’ll spy a yoga mat in your closet for post-haggis stretching). Amenities are luxe, including rainfall showers, Nespresso machines, marble-tiled bathrooms and custom-made toiletries by cult Brit brand The Perfumer’s Story. To truly feel like you live here, book a Townhouse Suite, which starts at 796-square-feet and has its own living and dining spaces, or splurge on No. 33 at Charlotte Square, a hotel-within-the-hotel with its own entrance, multiple bedrooms and a drawing room, plus an over-the-top Scottish breakfast (paging Sir Churchill!) each morning.
You’re here because
You have to have a pool, or it’s not vacay. Plus, the spa has thoroughly chillaxing treatments like Hebridean sea salt and seaweed body wraps.
The Moment
Science is on the menu at Aizle, where the six-course tasting menu transforms, as if in puffs of a magician’s smoke, constantly. Chef Stuart Ralston competed on the Great British Menu 2021 and it shows, from the house-made aged kombucha cocktails to the just-churned butter.
Restaurants & Bars
THE GARDEN – a lovely place in the courtyard for fresh cocktails, lush plants, and twinkly lighting that encourages another round—or two.
BABA – At Baba, Scottish and Middle Eastern traditions unite in shareable mezze and charcoal-grilled entrees.
Location
Just down the hill from Edinburgh Castle, within a UNESCO World Heritage Site neighborhood known as New Town (despite the fact that it’s very, very old). A 15 minute walk away: the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, where the red sandstone 1882 structure houses more than 3,000 paintings and sculptures; look for Mary, Queen of Scots, painted in 1587.
Kimpton Charlotte Square – Design-driven comfort on the edge of New Town.
Spread across seven Georgian townhouses overlooking Charlotte Square, this branch of the Kimpton hotel group combines contemporary comfort with a mid-century travel theme. Vintage suitcases and retro bicycles greet arrivals at the entrance and the spacious guest lounges are kitted out with reproductions of antique maps and velvet-upholstered chairs. Rooms come with hand-drawn prints of local wildlife and tartan throws and pillows, with the pricier ones also featuring free-standing tubs, record players, and handmade mattresses. Diners can choose between the Middle Eastern Baba restaurant and contemporary continental fare at the all-day The Garden bistro. A mood-lit pool, well-equipped gym, and terrific spa are icing on the cake, and the service is friendly, efficient, and informal.
Kimpton Charlotte Square – Location
- Address: 19-21 George St.
- Area: Very central location just off Charlotte Square, facing busy Charlotte Street and George Street. This is a UNESCO-protected neighborhood – a walkable grid of lanes and wide streets lined with stately Georgian architecture and numerous high-end shops as well as pubs, bars, and restaurants, all within easy walking distance. Bustling Princes Street with its trams and bus connections is a 2-minute stroll (150m), while the Royal Mile with its many attractions – including Edinburgh Castle – is a 15-minute walk (0.7 mile) past the Scottish National Gallery and up The Mound, a gentle uphill incline.
- How to Get There: From Edinburgh Airport, take the tram (about 30 minutes) either to the West End stop (0.3 mile) or the Princes Street stop (0.4 mile), or take an airport shuttle or Uber/taxi directly to the hotel (8 miles).
- Private Transfer: We use and recommend Welcome Pickups car service. Booking through a private car service will cost only a bit more than a taxi – about £40 from Edinburgh Airport – but can be worth it to avoid the long taxi queue and for the convenience of paying ahead.
- Handy to: Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street Gardens.
Kimpton Charlotte Square – The Basics
- Ages: While more of the guests tend to be couples or travelers on a city break, families with children are welcome.
- View: Some of the rooms look out over the Charlotte Square and Albert Memorial, while others have partial views of Edinburgh Castle or face the bustling George Street.
- Private Pools/Jacuzzis: No private pools or jacuzzis.
- Laundry: In-room laundry service.
- Parking: Parking on-site has to be booked in advance and costs £30 per day.
- Extras: Turn-down service in the suites, complimentary bicycles for guest use, 2 comfortable lounges decked out with replica antique maps, guest library, corner-shop with downloadable newspapers and magazines, and taxis from the airport arranged on request.
- When to Book: Reserve 2-3 months in advance for the summer high season (May to September) as well as the Christmas/New Year period. A couple of weeks in advance for the rest of the year.
- How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
- Phone: +44 131 240 550
- Email: reservations@kimptoncharlottesquare.com
- Website: kimptoncharlottesquare.com
Kimpton Charlotte Square – Amenities
- Pool: There’s a 12m mood-lit pool in the basement (6.30am-10pm Mon-Fri, 7.30am-8pm Sat & Sun). Children under 16 may use the pool between the hours of 7am and 9am and 4-8pm while accompanied by an adult.
- Spa: The terrific spa has a steam room and sauna and offers a full range of treatments, from OSKIA facials and Ishga (Outer Hebrides seaweed-based products) body wraps to hot stone massages and various beauty treatments. Guests who’ve booked treatments have use of all spa facilities at all times; otherwise, spa use is limited to set hours.
- Fitness Center: Well-equipped gym (6.30am-10pm Mon-Fri, 7.30am-8pm Sat & Sun), complete with studio space for yoga, bootcamp, and other group classes.
- For Disabled Guests: Several rooms are fully adapted for guests with limited mobility; all rooms come with hearing loops and Deafgard vibrating pillow alarms. There are also accessible exercise facilities and common spaces.
- For Families: Baby cots and extra beds available. The Garden has a kids’ menu while Baba has a selection of mezze appealing to kids. Both restaurants have high chairs.
Kimpton Charlotte Square – Food and Drink
- Restaurants: Baba (noon-3pm & 5-10pm) is locally known for its inventive Middle Eastern cooking with Scottish influences and ingredients and charcoal-grilled meats. Small plates for sharing, buzzy and casual atmosphere. Open to non-guests and reservations a good idea for dinner. $$. • The Garden (11am-late) is a conservatory-like space with wicker furniture, a glass roof, plenty of hanging plants, and lots of natural light. It’s a stylish setting for light continental fare, hearty breakfasts cooked to order, and ‘twilight tea’ – a selection of nibbles and cakes along with cream tea (noon-9pm). Open to non-guests; dinner reservations. $$.
- Lounges/Bars: Baba Bar specializes in original cocktails to complement their Middle Eastern dishes. Try the olive oil negroni or pistachio margarita. Open noon till late. • The Garden Bar is attached to the eponymous restaurant and serves seasonal cocktails such as elderflower Collins and peach and vanilla spritzes as well as a good selection of whiskies and classic whisky cocktails. DJs and live entertainment most nights. Open 11am till late.
- Breakfast: £15.95 per person. A full spread of cereals, fresh fruits, bread, and juices, as well as hot dishes (full Scottish breakfast, egg dishes) cooked to order and served at The Garden from 6am to 10.30am. Guests can also choose to have breakfast in their rooms.
- Room Service: Extensive menu of pizzas, sandwiches, and mains available from The Garden from 11am to 10.30pm; limited menu available from 10.30pm to 5am.
Kimpton Charlotte Square – Rooms
- Room Types: City Single • Standard Double • Superior Double • Deluxe Double • Junior Suite • Signature Suite • Townhouse Suite • List of all Rooms
- Smoking Rooms: Kimpton Charlotte Square is 100% smoke-free.
- Best Room: The Townhouse Suite is the most spacious on offer, with an open-plan living and dining area, complete with a working fireplace and a palatial bathroom with a deep soaking tub and walk-in rain shower.
- For Families: No family rooms per se but most rooms and suites can accommodate extra beds and cots.
Kimpton Charlotte Square – Local Transport
- Walking: Getting to the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle requires a 15-minute walk (0.5 mile) with a couple of gentle uphill sections, while the Scottish National Portrait Gallery (0.7 mile) and the Scottish National Gallery (0.5 mile) are both nearby. Numerous restaurants, cafes, and bars dot the streets of New Town and are right on your doorstep.
- Bus: From the nearby Princes Street bus stops (0.2 mile), buses 22, 34 and 35 run to Leith (for the Royal Yacht Britannia), while bus 30 takes North Bridge south, past Holyrood Park (for Arthur’s Seat). From Hanover Street (0.4 mile), bus 6 crosses the Royal Mile and runs to Holyrood Park, Holyrood Palace, and the Scottish House of Parliament.
- Tram: The nearest tram stops are West End (0.3 mile) or Princes Street (0.4 mile).
- Taxis, Uber: Taxis charge around £20 from the airport to the hotel, while Uber charges around £15.
Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel History and Reviews Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel History and Reviews Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel History and Reviews
