The Principal Edinburgh on George Street
The low-down
This perfectly positioned historical hotel has been welcoming guests for over 100 years. The Principle is set across five listed Georgian townhouses that once served as luxury homes for Edinburgh’s wealthiest citizens.
What makes it special?
It has bags of character thanks to a multi-million-pound restoration. There’s an artisan coffee shop and a brilliant cocktail bar and restaurant.
The hotel is set on a designer shopping street and is an ideal base to explore Edinburgh by foot.
Décor & rooms
The 249 rooms and suites combine rich materials such as oak, marble and leather with an earthy colour palette inspired by the 19th-century Scottish landscape painters. The rooms feature designer furniture and quirky touches, such as re-fillable tuck boxes and funky sculptures. There’s all the tech you need, including Wi-Fi and Smart TVs, as well as home comforts like fresh milk and Elemis toiletries.
Dining
The award-winning Printing Press Bar and Kitchen (once home to an acclaimed novelist) offers contemporary Scottish cooking in a relaxed brasserie-style setting.
The opulent cocktail bar is popular with guests and passersby, serving local spirits (single malts, Edinburgh gin and Scottish vodka) and an adventurous cocktail list including concoctions like ‘George’s Marvelous Medicine’.
I ordered the hand-dived, arty-looking Orkney scallops to start. They were exquisite. My smoked haggis main was rich, warming and peppery – a great first ever haggis experience.
Dinner at the Printing Press was one of the tastiest I had in Edinburgh so I was surprised when breakfast wasn’t up-to-scratch. We had to queue for a long time and the food was underwhelming.
Things to do
You’re right in the centre of town so you can take your pick from Edinburgh’s landmarks.
There’s a great coffee shop just around the corner from the hotel and one of the city’s best comedy clubs – The Stand. There’s an excellent speakeasy nearby (Bramble Bar) which should make it onto your to-do list, if you can find it that is.
The Principal Edinburgh on George Street, 19-21 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PB
W: www.phcompany.com/principal/edinburgh-george-street
T: +44 131 225 1251