Elite Traveler HRS 2024

Lamplighters outdoor terrace

hotel’s stylish rooftop bar complete with an outdoor terrace boasting killer views of the city. Here, inventive bar manager Stef Anderson has created a selection of signature cocktails, which are served alongside a comprehensive list of local whiskies (this is Scotland, after all) and craft beers. We recommend The Leerie — a heady mix of Casamigos tequila, Cloudcatcher cordial, cranberry, coconut and Aperol. By Irenie Forshaw From $640 per night. Contact reservations@gleneaglestownhouse.com, +44 800 917 4655, gleneaglestownhouse.com

fi rst at Gleneagles Townhouse: The mattresses and giant pillows are so comfy it’s hard to tear yourself out of bed in the morning. The interiors have been beautifully designed — think pale pink velvet headboards, plush forest-green armchairs, antique rugs and bespoke wooden furnishings. Bathrooms — which feature a mix of generous monsoon showers and freestanding tubs — are adorned with pretty wallpaper, dark green tiles and marble sinks with gold taps. You’ll fi nd impossibly soft robes and slippers here, plus a range of luxurious toiletries crafted by Gleneagles & Co. DINE Downstairs in the dramatic glass-domed former banking hall, you’ll fi nd The Spence. Decorated with dusty-pink granite columns, velvet sofas and a wonderful Art Deco bar, the eatery has a laid-back yet decidedly lively atmosphere. Talented head chef Jonny Wright has created a vibrant menu packed with Scotland’s bounty of seasonal produce. Again, thoughtful touches abound here, from the embroidered napkins to the expert waitsta ff , who have tried everything on the menu and are ready with in-the-know suggestions for you. Seafood is very much the star of the show. I loved the buttery west coast Langoustines served in their shell with Dijonnaise, Argyle rock oysters and indulgent native lobster penne pasta. Also well-deserving of a mention is the succulent corn-fed roast chicken served on a bed of baby potatoes, peas and broad beans. After dinner, head upstairs to Lamplighters, the

GLENEAGLES TOWNHOUSE EDINBURGH

Stepping inside the lobby of Gleneagles Townhouse, you’ll notice a delicate fl oral scent. It took several attempts to fi nd the perfect fragrance for the historic property but, as the hotel’s charming general manager tells me, they got there in the end. This is just one of countless thoughtful touches that have gone into fi nessing the ‘younger sibling’ of the famed Gleneagles country estate. Situated in the heart of Edinburgh overlooking St Andrew Square, the much-anticipated Townhouse opened its doors in summer 2022, marking the luxury brand’s fi rst venture beyond its Perthshire Hills property in its 99-year history. Naturally, expectations were high. Could the magic of the original hotel be captured away from Scotland’s tranquil glens, here in the bustling capital? The answer, in short, is yes. Think of Gleneagles Townhouse as the mischievous little sister of the Perthshire outpost — equally as glamorous but with an energetic, buzzy atmosphere that be fi ts her new urban location. STAY There are just 33 elegant guest rooms, ranging from cozy Nook Bedrooms up on the third fl oor to spacious Master Bedrooms with soaring ceilings. Comfort comes

One of the Master Bedrooms