Last week I was lucky enough to go to Scotland and visit some of the Hotel du Vin and Malmaison hotels there.
We started in the lovely city of Edinburgh and had lunch at Hotel du Vin Edinburgh. The hotel building was a lunatic asylum once upon a time and It has a lot of character. The original bricks can be seen in some parts of the inside. The rooms are spacious and nicely decorated with some touches of very Scottish tartan print here and there. As for the Bistro, I had the tastiest Veal ragout ever, nicely served on top of some papardelle pasta. No time for dessert as we were off to see the Missoni Hotel, quite a modern place filled with signature Missoni fabrics and colours and amazing views from the room’s huge windows.
Back to Hotel du Vin Edinburgh we sat at the elevated bar and had some coffee. They offered some cake -and you never say no to cake- and this is what we got! Jealous?
When we recovered from the excellent eating, we headed for Malmaison Edinburgh. My room was stunning, huge and with the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept on. I don’t usually watch TV but the screen was so big I immediately had to turn it on. Have you ever tried Malmaisons amenities? You absolutely have to, the scent is amazing.
Dinner at the Brasserie had to be light due to the lunch time excess so I had some smoked salmon that came on top of a potato rosti, nice and fresh. Breakfast is my favourite meal and the one at Malmaison next morning was a buffet loaded with fresh fruit and juice and warm pastries. I still regret not having something cooked –the choices range from your traditional porridge to eggs Benedict or waffles-, I might have to go back and try it!
A short train journey brought us to Glasgow and next stop was One Devonshire Gardens, the 5 star Hotel du Vin. Originally the hotel was only in houses 1 and 2 – hence the name- and other 3 joined a little later. I knew it is a popular venue for weddings and now understand why because it is a wonderful setting and it can be rented exclusively. All the time I was there I felt inside a stylish English country house and kept picturing myself in a cocktail dress having a drink in that “secret” garden they have inside. And then I fell madly in love with the suites. My favourite? The one with two floors, huge bed and space on top and enormous slate bathroom below, double monsoon shower and signature separate bath included.
And again for a Brasserie, this time at Malmaison Glasgow, set originally in a church, again a building with personality. The Champagne bar is being refurbished and is looking super from the spiral staircase. I learned that they are doing the funniest thing for afternoon tea, offering cocktail flavoured cupcakes and cupcake flavoured cocktails! It was early to try it though so I couldn’t resist the Italian meatballs with spaghetti –a bit of a pasta lover as you can see- and was really happy with them, tender meat and enough salsa but not too much.
Sadly it was time to go back to London and so we did but being just 1 hour flight away I’m thinking of escaping there again with friends soon. What a lovely place Scotland is and it wasn’t colder than London!
Belen