Tried & Tested

Hotel check: Hotel du Vin

30 Nov 2009 by AndrewGough

WHAT’S IT LIKE? UK boutique hotel chain Hotel du Vin is owned by MWB Group, along with sister brand Malmaison. One of 15 du Vin properties, the Edinburgh incarnation officially opened in January 2009, and the old section of it occupies what was once a mental asylum, following MWB’s tradition of converting unloved buildings. While this may sound a little spooky, step inside the hotel and you would never guess at its past. The interiors are contemporary yet warm, with timber floors, wine-themed prints, and an elegant palette of burgundy, faun, bottle green and slate grey. A quirky feature that caught my eye was a chandelier above the lobby made with upside-down wine glasses.

WHERE IS IT? On Bristo Place in the Old Town, ten minutes’ walk from the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle. The airport is about half an hour’s drive away.

ROOM FACILITIES The rooms are named after wines and all come with queen- or king-size beds with hand-sprung mattresses and Egyptian cotton sheets, robes, an iron and ironing board, 30 minutes of free wifi internet access (£10 for 24 hours), free DVDs from reception, 24-hour room service, plasma-screen TVs, air conditioning, a monsoon shower and a bath.

My Superior room (Sassicaia) had an antique look, with dark wood floors and furniture, brown wallpaper with a floral print, soft lighting, sloping attic ceilings with a window looking down on to the street, and a chunky workdesk. It was open-plan in style, with a tiled bathroom area at the end of the room containing a roll-top bath, a large walk-in rainshower, a sink and a private toilet. If you are staying here with a partner but like a certain amount of privacy, you might prefer another room. Other amenities included a free daily paper, tea and coffee-making facilities (kettle and cafétiere), and a minibar.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS As the name suggests, Hotel du Vin prides itself on its food and drink. On the ground floor, just off reception, is an impressively stocked whisky bar where guests can have a wee dram or experience a full tasting for £20-25. On a mezzanine floor above the restaurant is the Claret bar and the glass-walled Laroche wine tasting room for six people. Between the street entrance and reception is an outdoor terrace with seating for 30 people and a cigar bothy.

Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner are served daily in the continental-style Bistro, which has a beamed ceiling, dozens of framed pictures on the walls and a suspended wine “cellar” with about 500 different vintages on view. There is also a small chef’s room overlooking the kitchen, which can seat eight. The service is professional and the modern European fare well priced and delicious – I had a salad of black figs, roasted peppers and buffalo mozzarella (£7) followed by charred aubergine and halloumi parmigiana (£12.50). Buffet and à la carte breakfast options were also of a high quality, and for those who want something quick in the morning, a bacon roll with tea or coffee and an orange juice is available for £6.

BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES There are two meeting rooms on the ground floor. The smaller of the two is Bedlam, seating ten, which has a domed ceiling and access to a courtyard that can accommodate 40 delegates. Burke and Hare, named after the notorious 19th-century serial killers who sold their victims to Edinburgh Medical College for dissection, is ideal for private dinners of up to 36 people, and has a striking mural of a street scene and dramatic gothic-style prints. There is no business centre.

LEISURE FACILITIES None on-site, although the Meadows park nearby offers great jogging routes.

VERDICT A charming hotel that is an excellent choice for the business traveller seeking something a little different. Rooms offer everything you need, and the food and drink offering is impressive.

Jenny Southan

Fact file

  • HOW MANY ROOMS? There are 47 in total – 27 Standard rooms, ten Superior rooms, six Studio suites, three Executive suites, and one Large suite.

  • ROOM HIGHLIGHTS Free internet access for 30 minutes, the roll-top bath, and the DVD library.

  • PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in February started from £125 for a Standard room.

  • CONTACT Hotel du Vin and Bistro, 11 Bristo Place; tel +44 (0)131 247 4900; hotelduvin.com/edinburgh

Loading comments...

Search Flight

See a whole year of Reward Seat Availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Be up-to-date
Magazine Subscription
To see our latest subscription offers for Business Traveller editions worldwide, click on the Subscribe & Save link below
Polls