Intro

The vibrant Scottish capital offers a wide selection of boutique hotels, of which this is one of the most successful. We know it well and can recommend it: a Victorian boutique town house hotel renovated with acclaimed contemporary flair to 4-star level. It is, to quote a recent Condé Nast Traveler article, 'one of the coolest of hotels’. It certainly hides a touch of exuberance behind a sober and smart Edinburgh façade, like a male judge wearing lingerie beneath his robes.

Extremely well situated and with private parking available free (hidden away at the rear: ask about it) The Bonham is one of the nicest hotels in the city. It’s owned by the award-winning Town House Company who also operate Channings, The Edinburgh Residence and The Howard: each distinctive. The company are the currrent Scottish Hotel Group of the Year 2007. If you want a big, anonymous chain hotel then this won’t do at all; if, on the other hand, you want to stay some place where they will try to remember your name, be helpful and hospitable, where there's a true sense of place (this hotel could only be in Edinburgh), then give this one a shot.

The Bonham won two awards at The Scottish Hotels of the Year 2006: a Bedroom Design Gold Medal (details below), and Lunch of the Year. And this year the popular Hans Rissmann, manager, won the Scottish Hotel Manager of the Year 2007 title.

The hotel

From the many design touches to the equally stylish staff the hotel has a particular character. Art is always a good sign, and ever-changing and often striking works by Scottish artists feature throughout the hotel which overlooks the smart greenery of Drumsheugh Gardens or (from rooms to the back) the charming old Dean Village with its pretty church, arched bridge and quaint New Town rooftops.

The location is central and yet quiet. Enter and you’ll pass little signs and signals that this is no run-of-the-mill accommodation. Topiary at the door is uplit with green light, and at the windows enormous suspended lampshades glow. Subtlety is the key: the reception desk with its swishly branded black frontage and purple velvet curtains to the rear is at one side of the main Lounge where, in the bay window, a sensual, bright red spiral couch acts as a focal point. Fine oak panelling, clubby jade armchairs, modern art, a large smiling stone cat in the onyx-framed fireplace; elements of the boutique hotel are all in place. A small Library Room is used for receptions or as a guest seating area: owner Peter Taylor’s whimsical eye has acquired for this room 2 large clocks, one set at Glasgow time, the other at Edinburgh time; one is 2 minutes faster than the other... but which city is ahead? Something guaranteed to start a robust debate between Scots!

Throughout the public spaces the fine old panelling, intricate woodwork, bold lighting, use of a strong yet selective colour palette, a lack of clutter, the occasional vase of orchids, and the like, creates a sense of quiet luxury. For example, the gents loo is immaculate and very smart with its round sinks and Moulton Brown toiletries; such details matter. Meeting Rooms are on this level, as is the Restaurant at The Bonham - about which, more below; we're regulars. There is no bar, which is a pity, but the chic lounge is well-used for pre or post dining drinks and for coffees at any time; these come with cute signature mini brownies.

Bedrooms

The 48 classy bedrooms are each quite different, and there’s a lift up to them if required. Rich and bold colours; comfortable beds with an abundance of cushions and throws. Is it all just a touch decadent? Maybe. Oh well, perhaps we’d better just stay an extra night, then. Tip: Superior Double Room 308 won a Bedroom Design Gold Medal at the 2006 Scottish Hotels of the Year Awards; a neighbouring room, 305, is similar. Both have a striking, sleek and sexy black and heaviliy veneered wood theme. 308 has outstanding views and is one of the best bedrooms we've seen his year. If you can get it, you'll not regret it! This style will be applied to ther rooms in due course and we'll keep you posted.

Room 1 on the ground floor is a spacious Superior Double and has, wonderfully, a small flight of stairs leading up to a period bathroom with fireplace and freestanding copper bath. Opulence and a sense of fun. The bath (pictured in the gallery via the Look & Book Box® above) came from a ruined castle in the Highlands, apparently, rescued by owner Peter Taylor, a man with an eye for A Good Thing. Room 106 is an all-blue affair with a big, humorous artwork and a wide bay window; bath with over shower and separate power shower - and a handy extending shaving mirror.

Two Suites are also offered: one has a larger bedroom, complete with canopied bed and roll-top bathroom; the other, furnished in blues and cream, has a larger sitting room complete with an elegant real flame basket fire. Technology in every bedroom provides easy, high-speed online access, invaluable for those here to mix it: some work, all the pleasures. And for when that work is done... a personal mini-bar is handy and 24-hour room service awaits a call.

Dining

Restaurant at The Bonham is highly recommended, both for lunch and dinner. It holds 2 AA rosettes and the 'excellent' rating of the new GoodFoodScotland.com guide. It won The Scottish Hotel Lunch of the Year Award 2006 and has just secured our top PlatinumPlate™ rating for 2008. The atmosphere of the airy, wood-panelled and floored, art-hung room strikes a contemporary, artistic note well in tune with clients. This is modern dining in Scotland – not twee, not even tweed, but with a twist or two. This year there's a new look: sophisticated black wallpaper and striking mono photographs of Edinburgh, and comfortable leather chairs.

Keep your eye on the hotel’s regularly-updated dining info pages: don’t miss the currently popular 'Boozy Snoozy' weekend lunch offers. Michel Bouyer, from Brittany in France, has been head chef for several years and his 'modern classic' cuisine has long been popular with this Guide. He was previously a chef at the Michelin starred Restaurant Jules Verne at the Eiffel Tower, no less, and later at the twin-starred Restaurant L’Auberge, also in Paris, before coming north. “My dishes change according to which ingredients are in season and at their best; we want to fully capture their ‘saveur’. Knowing where the food we purchase is from is a huge factor too. We buy lamb and beef from the Borders and can actually trace which farm it originates from, which farmer raised the stock.”

The dinner menu offers 5 choices for first and second courses. A starter of Scallop and Salmon Brochette with Truffle Risotto came with the fish edged in roasted colours, on a skewer, resting on a rich, generous risotto with bite: delicious. A crab starter was also good, but not quite such a hit. Main courses: first up, Grilled Halibut and Lemon Fettucinni was a delight, ample and well judged, a hot, stylish dish of delicate tastes. Next, Pan Fried Aberdeen Angus Sirloin Steak with Roasted Roseval Potatoes, Pancetta and Black Olive Sauce... selected as we guessed chef would do this in an original fashion, and as the black olive combination sounded mighty fine: lushly olive sauced steak came sliced into lean, succulent strips. Good stuff. The sweet course was a highlight with Caramelised Apple Clafoutis with Puff Pasty Fuillette proving a wondrous combination of flavour, temperature and texture: the eggy, round base lidded with a brûlée crisp, cinnamon ice cream, and an accompanying sweet-Gouda cheesy pasty. Well-selected cheeses were superb: a plate (worth every penny of £7) brought prime condition fruity-vibrant Camembert and Brie plus a trio of other, lighter options.

Breakfast

is an inviting and (at least potentially) healthy start to the day: faced with prepared fresh fruit, two kinds of smoked salmon, French yoghurts, porridge, freshly-squeezed orange and other juices, Confiture au Chaudron preserves such as vanilla rhubarb, lean cuts of cold meat, Scottish island cheeses – who needs a tempting Scottish fry-up? Hot dishes are also available and, yes, you can have haggis. We think it works well and we had a delicious breakfast. More reports, please.

Leisure

Themed breaks are a speciality of The Bonham and they cater for a variety of interests: check out their excellent website. For example, the Luxury Theatre Break includes a 2-night stay at the hotel, full Scottish breakfast, 2-course dinner in the restaurant for one night, top price show tickets... and even the taxi. An excellent way to spoil your significant other, perhaps?

The hotel doesn’t have a gym but they will help arrange any treatments or sessions in the better places in town. While sitting in the lounge after a recent stay we heard visiting guests been given a whole raft of suggestions for their special treat weekend, from which bars and clubs to go to or avoid, to shopping and dining out.

Links

We hope that you find these local links helpful:

Edinburgh & Lothians Tourist Board

EdinburghGuide.com

Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour

Scottish Pariament

Dynamic Earth

Royal Botanic Gardens

National Galleries of Scotland

The List

Harvey Nichols

Receptions / Events

We at the Guide have used this hotel for an awards reception, so clearly recommend it. Following our 2006 review visit we will shortly add fuller details of the facilities available; meantime you can of course click through to the hotel website using the links above.

The Reviewer’s View Gary McLean

“The Bonham was AA Hotel of the Year for Scotland 2000 and is still clearly on the ball as our own readers elected it Scottish Boutique Hotel of the Year 2005. It’s certainly well placed for easy access to everything hip and happening in the capital: George Street (the 'Bond Street of the north') is mere minutes away. From the smart and helpful black-clad staff to the art pieces and distinctive bedrooms, the hotel oozes a light, modern sophistication. The food is as good as the design, and we wouldn’t say that if we didn’t mean it, be assured. And as for the design, it cleverly manages to appeal to both sexes. Let us know how you get on.”

Readers’ Reviews

"The Bonham remains our favourite hotel in Edinburgh. Impeccable service. Try room 306 for the best views looking north over Edinburgh." - P.H., 2007

"We had a lovely stay at The Bonham and really enjoyed the evening meal we had on the Friday night. The food was superb. Also, our dietary needs (wheat allergy) were very carefully catered for. The staff are so friendly." - Dixon & Buck (England), 2007 "In June 2006 we visited 7 four star hotels. This was the best. Parking possible. A fine location. Nice employees. Good food. Breakfast very good. Large room." - Arie Sax (Netherlands), 2006

“I brought my husband for surprise special birthday treat, we were both very well impressed with every aspect of the hotel, the room although only a standard was very comfortable and spacious, the staff helpful and polite, and breakfast a delight. The only thing we would have liked available was a small bar area. We would definitely stay again." Lesley Tozer (England), 2006

“We came from Sweden for a theatre break to liven up a dull winter weekend and although the show was a bit plastic, we adored Edinburgh! The Bonham staff were real nice, especially a guy called Tino in the reception team. Our room had a big rounded window with a view over to one of the intersting galleries (the Dean) that we visited. On the Sunday we had a fine lunch in the restaurant and liked the mood with the light jazzy music and quality food which was full of flavour but did not leave us stuffed! We remember the hotel as one of colour and originality." - Annette Delvoir (Sweden), 2005

“I am the former restaurant manager of the 4-star Oban Caledonian Hotel. My husband and I recently stayed at the Bonham Hotel and, as someone who worked in the profession, I am also highly critical of everywhere I stay. I would like to say that service throughout every department of the Bonham was highly professional while still maintaining a friendly atmosphere. I agree with your Review and would recommend this hotel to family and friends.” - Jean Morrison (Scotland), 2004

“Bonham was very good. Room was excellent. Breakfast food was good but the service was slightly lazy. In my view the hotel needs a small bar. However, that said, I would stay again.” - Jonathan Muirhead (Scotland), 2004

Note This hotel was awarded a listing by HotelReview™ | Scotland and has been fully reviewed by the Guide; this includes a full overnight stay followed up by quarterly quality control checks and ongoing feedback from readers. As a reviewed hotel, its Look & Book Box™ features are ONLINE and any awards made by the Guide are published above. The star grading has been awarded by the Scottish Tourist Board, VisitScotland.

Your opinion? There’s a link to a Reader’s Review form at the top and left side of this page. It only takes a moment to send the Guide your views via the small panel that will pop-up. You can be as brief or as fulsome as you wish! Your views go to the Editor, who will acknowledge your response within a few days. He may edit feedback. Reports do not go directly online. You can be named or remain anonymous. At Scotland’s most-read hotel guide we greatly value the tremendous feedback we have from our readers. Thanks!

Disability Information: There is access via a ramp, and the hotel has one bedroom adapted for wheelchair-using guests. There is also a lift. The ground floor restaurant should present no problems.

Ghàidhlig: Bidh Ghàidhlig ri fhaighinn an seo a dh’aithghearr! Tapa leibh.

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