Kimpton Charlotte Square

Kimpton has long been synonymous with boutique hotels in the United States, and these days they’re increasingly a global phenomenon. Kimpton Charlotte Square occupies a row of seven classic Georgian townhouses in New Town Edinburgh, and faces directly onto the garden square from which it takes its name. If all that sounds a bit formal, you haven’t been inside yet — the Kimpton atmosphere is all about a warm, unpretentious welcome, and though it’s impeccably stylish, this hotel is anything but aloof.

The interiors feel retro in an eclectic, wide-ranging way, with a pronounced mid-century accent and a surplus of playful artwork to lighten the mood. The rooms are seriously comfortable, but not overly sober, and the public spaces are quite lively indeed — and while there’s a bit of tartan about, it’s more accent than theme.

In its luxuries it’s remarkably upscale; guests benefit from Tesla chauffeur service and a proper spa with a well-equipped fitness center. And they benefit as well from not one but three restaurants: the Middle Eastern–inspired BABA, the six-course fine-dining Aizle, and the Garden, a versatile and low-key lunch spot in the hotel’s glassed-in interior garden.