Feelin’ festive!
I said in yesterday’s post that Jordan and I had started a tradition of spending the night before my birthday in Edinburgh, to stay in a lovely hotel and take in the Christmassy sights of the city.
Despite Edinburgh being around an hour away from us in Glasgow, we really don’t go enough which is a shame really as I love it when I’m there. Our annual trip gives us a chance to take five in all the Christmas madness, and explore parts of Edinburgh we wouldn’t always frequent.
I had my camera handy so I thought I’d share a little festive rundown of our weekend…
Where We Stayed…
We ended up booking the Kimpton Charlotte Square again, having stayed here last year and loving it. I’ve been feeling a bit exhausted and under the weather this week, and all I wanted to do is get to the hotel, hit up the spa, then wrap up in a hotel robe and order room service while watching Christmas films. HEAVEN.
Last year we ordered a bottle of champagne to the room, but this year I had a very fancy bottle of Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque vintage so we packed that to drink with our butternut squash pasta and it was delicious!
I really love the Kimpton in Charlotte Square, the rooms are beautiful (I love the townhouse rooms best, the newer section of the hotel is a bit too new for me), and the Garden restaurant is like a leafy paradise! The perfect place to have a snack and a cocktail in the rattan chairs while taking in the scenery.
Jordan bought me an Oskia Glow Facial for my birthday and I have to say it’s one of the best facials I’ve had, I also had one last year (which I believe was complimentary, just for transparency) and I remember how relaxing and reviving it was. I basically sunk in to the massage bed! Plus, they do a short back massage at the end where you sit up and lean forward, it’s like no other!
There’s also BABA, a Mediterranean restaurant downstairs (I love a hotel that you barely have to leave!) that we’ve been to a few times and always love! It’s mezze small plates, all very colourful and incredibly delicious. Definitely better than room service, but what can I say? The heart wants what it wants.
Where We Ate…
While we did induldge in room service for dinner, we decided to explore a bit for brunch and headed to a spot that came highly recommended from many of my Instagram followers; 27 Elliots is a snug little place a short walk from the city centre that offers your typical brunch/lunch picks but with a bit of flare. I decided to brave the sourdough toast (braces problems!) and clementine curd and oh gosh, it was delicious!
A very peaceful little place with an interesting menu and delicious coffee, we were happy lads after stopping in here.
We had a slow wander through the residential areas back in to town, stopping to marvel at the beautiful decorations, wreathes and tress through windows. Will someone make us move to Edinburgh already?!
Where We Went…
There’s just so much to see in Edinburgh! Although I am myself a Glasgow gal through and through, I can at least appreciate the appeal of the beautiful townhouses, cobbled streets, tiny, colourful storefronts and oh, just the quaintness of it all!
We really just wandered around my favourite areas, through the Cowgate (stopping for a festive tipple at a little place you’re going to want to know about, more on that in a minute) and up Victoria Street, which is magical all year round but ever more so at Christmas!
Then we strolled along the Mile, dodging other tourists with cameras, and found a cute spot to look down at the city from. I love being up on the Mile because there’s so many little places to stop for views, which is especially lovely when the Christmas Markets are on – believe me when I say I much prefer to see them from a distance! I am not good with crowds…
And finally…
After a stroll and a browse, we felt it was time for an afternoon cocktail (’tis the season after all!)
A friend recommended we stop for a drink at Lilith’s House in House of Gods, a new very chic hotel hidden away in Edinburgh’s Cowgate. Filled with Georgian features, Gucci wallpaper and leafy Bird’s Of Paradise, it’s a opulent little hideaway to retreat to for some downtime and a delicious drink. I’m a girl that knows her cocktails, and I have to say the cocktail menu is A++! I’ve definitely put this place on my list for a hotel stay next time we’re in the city.
We had one last quick browse of Anthropologie (for a few last minute Christmas pressie purchases), and then it was time to head home for more birthday celebrations. We were feeling oh so festive and a little more relaxed after a fun trip in the capital, I just love this yearly tradition of ours!
Have you visited Edinburgh at Christmas?
