Travel: A luxury stay at Kimpton Charlotte Square in Edinburgh

The library at Kimpton Charlotte Square, Edinburgh.

Our New Year’s Resolution of trying to make fewer plans at weekends, allowing us more time to relax, lasted around no time at all.

We recently found ourselves in Edinburgh with plans for a family member’s 50th birthday meal as well as tickets for an afternoon rugby match at Murrayfield and to an evening show at the Playhouse.

These are undoubtedly very fun things separately, but all in the same day it’s rather a lot to juggle.

My boyfriend Aidan and I kept the plates spinning by splitting up for the day and going with our respective families, before meeting back up for the evening.

To make that work, and to maintain our sanity, we needed a good base in the city.

A luxurious bedroom suite at Kimpton Charlotte Square.

Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel has been formed inside seven interconnected Georgian townhouses. Its location at the top of George Street, on the edge of one of the city’s private gardens, means you are in the middle of the New Town but still slightly outside the city centre’s noisy hubbub.

While its exterior is settled in tradition, the interior is modern and luxe without feeling flashy.

We arrived a tad bedraggled from our travels and were met by a doorman who walked us the few metres to the reception desk in a way you only get in fancy hotels.

Even from the lovely scent that greeted us – whatever diffuser they had on the go, I need it – I could tell we were about to de-stress, and pronto.

Acknowledging the fact many of their guests will be staying at the hotel during a busy trip, Kimpton recently launched Stay Well, a wellness-first initiative available to all guests and designed to help them feel rejuvenated and rested.

As well as access to the spa – more on that majesty later – there are foam rollers, yoga mats, Recovery Wave boots and more readily available.

Guests can access Swell Sound Therapy, offering calming soundscapes in every room, and even bespoke workouts on the Stay Well app.

Our room, which was already cosy with dim lighting and a squishy bed and sofa, was made even more so with the Stay Well extras. Aidan immediately had the massage gun out, which was perfect as the one we have at home is too bulky to travel with, and I had a stretch on the yoga mat before turning myself into a kind of wellness Iron Man with the LED face mask. Though we were excited for our theatre trip, we had to pull ourselves from the claws of the temptation to stay in for the evening.

After an easy walk to and from the theatre, we headed to Baba, the hotel’s acclaimed Levantine restaurant.

We were too late for dinner, which was disappointing as I often think about a meal I had there with my family last year. The restaurant offers gorgeous mezze-style and charcoal-grilled dishes designed to be shared – my favourite way to dine.

One thing we weren’t too late for, though, was a cocktail. We sat at the bar and ordered a couple of drinks, which were creative and strong – I highly recommend the pear margarita.

The bar had a lovely relaxed vibe about it, even though it was a busy Saturday night. Since it is connected to the hotel too, there were mere minutes between our final sips and our heads hitting the pillows.

Since our Saturday had been rushed, there was only one thing on our minds when we woke on Sunday: The spa.

Well, two things, considering Aidan can’t go many waking moments without breakfast. Served in Baba, the hotel’s generous buffet affair is the perfect way to start the day, with everything you could want from sausages and eggs to pancake towers and exotic fruits.

Once that was had, we rushed to our room to pop on our robes and head for heaven.

The pool and sauna at the heart of the hotel’s spa experience.

Even the changing rooms were luxurious. The spa itself is small, but the low lighting and illuminated pool makes for the most calming atmosphere. Since we were there early, there were only a couple of other people dotted around, which was perfect as we could go between the pool, sauna and steam room as we pleased.

You can book a range of treatments, but the general spa was relaxing enough for us.

All too quickly it was time to leave, though our departure from the spa was made a little easier by the promise of a huge rainfall shower in our white tiled bathroom.

Once we were suitably scrubbed – and smelling sensational thanks to a range of 19-69 products – we packed up our bits and bobs and reluctantly headed for reception.

What I had worried would be a weekend tainted by our general busyness was absolutely made more manageable by our stay at Kimpton Charlotte Square.

It was the perfect retreat and starting our Sunday in the spa prevented any wave of stress-related jet lag later in the day.

Next time I am in the city for work, you best believe you will find me here in the evenings, my LED mask on and soothing soundscapes lulling me to sleep.

P.S. Everyone enjoys a cheeky room service order every now and again. With Stay Well, the team will bring far more than just food to your door. You can order organic Ishga bath salts, Maskology warming eye masks, and restorative patches designed to support a range of needs, including promoting relaxation and sleep.