Gifted stay with Novotel Hotels

I was very kindly invited by Novotel Hotels to stay at the recently renovated Edinburgh hotel right in the centre of the city. Having visited Edinburgh a good 6 years ago, I was keen to go back and explore again.

The hotel is situated perfectly for exploring Edinburgh - it is just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions. Rooms vary from standard rooms to suites. I was kindly upgraded to the Suite which was really spacious and had the pièce de résistance - a balcony with amazing views.

Novotel Edinburgh Suite Balcony - the views are gorgeous!

11pm

After dropping our bags and freshening up we immediately headed out for some cocktails - you know me, I can’t stay away from an espresso martini for too long. The Dome was recommended by one of my lovely instagram followers and it really is an impressive building - the perfect place for a sophisticated cocktail.

9am

There is an option for room service breakfast at the hotel for an extra £5, if you already have breakfast included in your room, which is really good value. I love nothing more than breakfast in bed at hotels - hiding away in your dressing gowns, watching tv. It feels like a real luxury. And it meant we got to relax in the room for longer and take advantage of the gorgeous sunny morning on the balcony.

Sunny morning coffee on the balcony, Novotel Edinburgh

11am

Victoria Street is a beautiful curved street with gorgeous colour facades each holding lovely little cafes and shops which is one of my lasting memories from the last time I was in Edinburgh. We stopped off at Hula and sat outside in the sunshine and sipped on juices before making our way across the city.

Victoria street is just off the Royal Mile which is a must see if it’s your first or millionth time visiting Edinburgh. It is a hub of souvenir shops, cathedrals and bagpipes all leading to the stunning castle on the hill.

1pm

After wandering through the old town and into the new town, we stopped off at Badger & Co to warm up with coffee and cocktails. I can highly recommend the blood orange mimosa!

Badger & Co - Image via Food & Drink Scotsman

2pm

Circus Lane is an Instagram favourite so of course I had to go check it out. That’s the beauty of visiting a city the second time round, you can forget the tourist must sees and start heading to the outskirts to explore places you might not necessarily see on the first visit.

3pm

We had booked a table at The Scran and Scallie in Stockbridge - a gorgeous gastro pub run by two of Scotland’s top chefs, Tom Kitchin and Dominic Jack. I would say booking is a must as the pub was packed. We had an amazing meal here and some delicious champagne too.

Stockbridge is a wonderful little area, bustling with boutiques, bars and restaurants. It reminded me a lot of Burton Road in Didsbury and I could definitely see myself living here!

5pm

Back to the hotel to freshen up. The decor here is really relaxed and welcoming which was a nice surprise for me. Neon lights, lounge chairs and plants make the reception a place you actually wouldn’t mind chilling out in which is something most big brand hotels fail at in my opinion.

8pm

It took us a a few minutes to find Bramble Bar - a hidden underground space on Queen Street in the new town area. It’s a really cool cosy bar serving up fabulous gin cocktails if you like gin - which apparently everyone in the world does except me! There are also regular djs and the tunes were amazing!

9pm

Dinner at The Honours was beautiful. It’s a fine dining kind of setting with a more relaxed price list which appealed to us. The scallops were incredible, and although we were too full for dessert they looked and sounded amazing.

Just up the street from The Honours is Copper Blossom which is a cute cocktail bar with lots of lovely decor and foliage which of course I was a like a moth to the flame.

8am

Sunday morning chilling in bed with the balcony doors open and the sun streaming through was perfect. We really lucked out with the weather this weekend, although cold, it was mainly dry and sunny. And the weather made the suite even more special.

Brushing my teeth with a view, Novotel hotel Edinburgh

11am

Coffee before the train, back where we started on Victoria Street. La Barantine is a cute little bakery with lots of Parisian patisseries and great coffee. And it’s also just a 10 minute walk from Waverley station.

I would highly recommend visiting Edinburgh if you’ve never been before, or if you are thinking of going back soon. The Novotel Edinbrugh Centre is the perfect central location and a really good hotel, deserving of it’s 4 star status. Comfy beds, gorgeous rooms and delicious breakfasts make it the perfect city break base camp.

Novotel Hotel, Edinburgh - the perfect city break base camp

*This was a gifted stay provided by Novotel in exchange for some images and blog post. All words are my own and I would never recommend somewhere I didn’t enjoy.