The Rutland Hotel

Say what you will about London, but in more than a few ways Edinburgh is the most European of the UK’s cities — and any way you cut it it’s certainly the most cosmopolitan town in Scotland. So a stylish little boutique hotel like the Rutland, where designer prints and modernist furnishings take the place of tartan and antiques, makes perfect sense here.

Not that it’s entirely a continental-style design boutique. There’s more than a little bit of pub style about the Rutland — it’s got two bars and a restaurant downstairs, and just twelve rooms upstairs. Of course the rooms, each one individually designed, are no afterthought, in calming neutrals with vibrant graphic accents. Two of the rooms have views of the castle, a bit of stark contrast with the contemporary interiors, and three of them are junior suites, with a decided emphasis on comfort.

The ground-floor bar serves cocktails as well as breakfast and lunch, and the One Below is the darker, more intimate lounge space. The restaurant joins a thriving Edinburgh dining scene and keeps its focus on locally sourced ingredients; more than just a place to eat, it’s a hub for the Rutland’s social activity — lively downstairs, mellow upstairs is a formula for city-boutique success.