even though it is located in the gold of Edinburgh’s bustling St Andrews Lot Plaza, Gleneagles Townhouse feels like a secret. Its entrance is designated only by a small plaque, placed discretely on the building’s Georgian façade, with its doors set back beyond a pair of columns.
But inside, a grand but still somehow intimate world awaits.
Many people already know the name Gleneagles: its first hotel, owned by Caledonia Owned by the Railway Company, opened in the Scottish Highlands 88. Since then, this sprawling sports resort has been the dame of the region, in its 274 acres. This year, however, they decided to add some “towns” to their “country” in the form of charming urban outposts. As a hotel and private members’ club, Ennismore’s interiors exude neo-Victorian vibes: with hummingbird-patterned wallpaper from historic English decor houses, Cole & Sons, Murano glass chandeliers, and a rich palette of dark greens Gorgeous and golden.
This, meanwhile, designated rooms have canopy crown headboards with pink tassels and gourmet chocolates in the minibar. In the lobby, you’ll see a gorgeous red velvet staircase with gilded railings; peering into the second floor, you’ll see a stained-glass window. Internal resistance? The decorative domed ceiling in the dining room will make your head tilt and your mouth open. (This The century building itself has a glorious history, first with the British Linen Bank and then the Royal Bank of Scotland.)
The lobby has a touch of modernity and history.
That’s not to say it totally exudes another era vibe. Gleneagles Townhouse has plenty of modern and stylish flair: the bathrooms, for example, feature shiny rectangular green tiles, while Marshall speakers are installed on every nightstand. Much of the artwork painted by local Scottish artists is abstract. Lamplighters, a rooftop bar by Paskin & Associates (a modern concept in its own right) features leather-petal bar chairs, curved countertops, and shady monster and mossy greenery with slender branches cascading from the shelving ceiling.
And then there’s the food: The menu at Spence, helmed by Jonny Wright, largely overturns the Scottish food is seen as a strict meat and potato stereotype. Instead, it offers biodynamic wines and a variety of dishes that incorporate global flavours, whether it’s West Coast crab omelette, pumpkin and filo filo pie, Spicy beef tartare, or flame-roasted Alaska. (Those looking for traditional Scottish food, however, need not worry – on Sundays, they also offer classic roasts.)
On-site restaurant The Spence.
cocktail, Also an edgy variety: Leerie is a concoction of tequila, Aperol, coconut and cranberry topped with a Mad Scientist bubble that drinkers must unwrap before indulging. (The name is a tribute to the character in Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem “The Lamplighter.”)
Royal member
Then the staff: friendly, welcoming, not stuffy. Perhaps this best sums up the spirit of Gleneagles Townhouse – a place that makes you feel at home in all its grandeur.
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