My fiancee and I stayed in the Sempill Suite for a birthday celebration. The other reviews here are spot on re the luxury of the place, the attention to detail and the sumptuousness of the rooms. I haven't stayed anywhere that compares to it. This is a restaurant with rooms rather than a 5-star hotel so I don't know if they can deliver toothpaste or launder shirts at 4am, but the service we got was excellent. Getting the breakfast served in the room was a nice touch, it arrived bang on time. Given a completely free choice I'd prefer a fry-up to the continental version but when the time comes you won't want to leave that suite to get it! It is worth arriving early and checking out late, none of which seems to present much of a problem to the very helpful staff.
On the practicalities, you need to book a suite for a Saturday night several months in advance - there are only 7 of them. You should also note that the rooms are located in a mediaeval town centre so there isn't a car park outside. The best thing to do is use the NCP at Castle Terrace and walk or cab it up the hill. Being right next to Edinburgh Castle, it's also in the middle of a main tourist and events thoroughfare so while the rooms are delightful and tranquil (the odd creaky floorboard excepted), it is a city centre rather than a rural hideaway.
We had dinner in the Secret Garden. The setting is beautiful, the service was attentive and friendly without being overbearing and the food was lovely. The wine list is impressive. In fairness, you can almost certainly get better value for money elsewhere (the food is not head-and-shoulders above other Edinburgh offerings in the way that the setting and atmosphere is) but for a romantic night away with a nice meal I don't think you could do better. Really quite special.

(3 votes)





