Pete Irvine, author of the cult guidebook Scotland the Best, gives his definitive cut of the best hotels in the Scottish capital.
1. Prestonfield House
2. Channings
3. Tigerlily
4. The Bonham
5. Le Monde
6. Ten Hill Place
7. Inner Sanctum and the Old Rectory at the Witchery
8. 7 Danube Street
9. Smartcity Hostels
10. Dakota
Pioneer in emerging chain by the people who brought us the Malmaisons and before that, 1 Devonshire Gardens (now Hotel du Vin). A bold concept from design statement of the black metropolis-type block to the locations – in this case a car park serving the mini mall of Tesco etc on the edge of South Queensferry but on main carriageway north from Edinburgh near the tolls for the Forth Road Bridge. As a businesslike bedblock, it's superb, a designer (Amanda Rosa) world away from anonymous others of the ilk. No frills but far from basic. Amanda also does Gleneagles. This is the stripped-down version but rooms are calm and whisper "understated chic". Restaurant, The Grill, is a destination in itself (guests should book when they make a room reservation).
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