A real touch of class in Edinburgh’s West End
THE BONHAM HOTEL IS UNDENIABLY ONE OF THE CITY’S MOST STYLISH HOTELS, AND RIGHT AT THE HEART OF THINGS
AFTER a slightly longer and more painful journey than expected, the Bonham Hotel in Edinburgh offers the kind of luxury every tired traveller hopes to see. Tucked away on a leafy crescent in the city’s trendy West End district, the location offers a perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of central Edinburgh.
The hotel is just a stones throw away from Haymarket railway station, offering a less stressful experience than Waverley.
This was of great comfort when we arrived in the Scottish capital, thanks to a number of train cancellations from Manchester.
Ignoring our own misfortune, catching a train from the north west to Edinburgh really is a no-brainer.
Regular direct trains from Manchester Piccadilly make the journey simpler and less expensive than travelling to London.
With a city boasting as much charm as Edinburgh, I don’t know why I haven’t done it more often.
The Bonham itself is undeniably one of the city’s most stylish hotels.
Made up of three mid 19th-century town houses, each of the 49 boutique rooms beautifully mirror the hotels Georgian roots.
Dating back to 1872, the houses were previously occupied by wealthy families and their servants for sixty years.
In 1939 it became a private clinic specialising in maternity care.
Over the next twelve years, hundreds of babies were born known as the Bonham Babies.
The hotel was recently refurbished in 2018, yet still clings on to original wooden panelling, carved door frames and detailed stonework.
We stayed in one of the hotel’s classic double rooms, which starts at £149 a night including breakfast which is a must.
Complete with an impressive crystal chandelier, crushed velvet furniture and grand Victorian bed, our room is certainly a treat on the eye.
And it wouldn’t be a trip to Scotland without a spread of traditional shortbread laid out for our arrival.
It’s gone in less than five seconds.
Every season has something to offer in Edinburgh, but Christmas at the Bonham is something quite special. We combined our visit with the world-famous markets. With six twinkling Christmas trees dotted around the hotel’s foyer, bar and restaurant, it’s impossible not get into the festive spirit.
It’s a ten-minute walk to Princes Street, so if you forget to wear enough warm layers to meet the minus temperatures, it’s easy to pop back. After we finally tire of the smell of Bratwurst, and our fingers and toes are numb, we had back for dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, No 35 at the Bonham.
More chandeliers, high ceilings and gorgeous velvet armchairs make up this grand space, which doesn’t feel too far from a castle drawing room.
The restaurant offers an eclectic menu of European inspired food with a modern Scottish twist.
We opted for the a la carte menu, which is available for lunch and dinner and boasts an extensive choice from Scottish grouse to Shetland salmon.
For starters I opted for the Byrdock Farm Pork rillete coupled with pear mayonnaise, pickled pear, honeyed walnuts and sourdough.
The salted pork mixed with the sweetness of pear mayonnaise makes for a heavenly combination of flavours.
And if you’re like me and don’t want to be full to the brim after a starter, this dish offers a lovely light touch to get your taste buds prepped.
My dining partner chose the Orkney scallops with black pudding and pork terrine presse, cider gel and oyster leaf.
If you’re a sucker for presentation, this dish looks simply beautiful on a plate. And it tastes excellent too.
Caught from an archipelago off the northeastern coast of Scotland, these buttery scallops are as soft as a marshmallow.
Our only complaint is that we wanted more.
After a long time pondering, I opted for the Scrabster Hake steak with seaweed tartare, onion squash, and shrimp tortellini, for my main course.
The fish is cooked beautifully and