W Edinburgh review: Not all suites are created equally, and this one’s proof
A five-star hotel in the heart of the city? Expectations were high, but W Edinburgh greatly exceeded each and every one.
Oftentimes when I’m visiting a hotel, I’m making mental notes of what design elements I can somehow replicate in my very optimistic imaginings of my own home one day. Suffice to say, the W Suite at the five-star W Edinburgh has me hoping I win the lottery ASAP.
Perched smack bang in the city centre of Scotland’s capital city, W Edinburgh situates you at the beating heart of all the action. St James Quarter, the old and new of Edinburgh is right there on the doorstep. Wandering through the historical lanes of the Old Town feels like being on a film set — a buzz just radiates off the place. Shopping, eating, drinking, exploring, it all had this tinge of magic to it.
Naturally, it being our first time in a new city, we wanted to do as much sightseeing as was humanly possible, but as soon as we checked into our suite, our plans immediately pivoted. Ours was one of three W Suites, set across 1,076 square feet and felt like the world’s most stunning studio apartment.
The design is sleek and modern, featuring an open plan living area with contemporary lounge furnishing, the hotel’s signature rock bar that’s inspired by the city’s volcanic beginnings, and absorbing artwork by Scottish photographer Jodie Mann. The bedroom was so very dreamy, and the super-king sized bed was round in shape and impossible to leave. There’s also a freestanding vanity and mirrored dressing area, and a generous bathroom that features an open design concept, incorporating a freestanding bath into the bedroom.
There was also a suite-long outdoor private terrace, where the most incredible views of the city were hiding. You can look out over the rooftops, and the vantage point from the ninth floor meant that regardless of if it was raining or shining, it remained equally breathtaking.
The aforementioned plan pivot meant that we would not be leaving the hotel for as long as we could avoid it, which called for on-site dinner and drinks. We began with a seven-course tasting menu at their signature restaurant SUSHISAMBA, and followed it up with the most incredible, expertly crafted cocktails in the intimate surroundings of Joao’s Place.
SUSHISAMBA brings together the cuisines of three countries: Japan, Brazil and Peru, and from Japanese tempura and sushi, to Peruvian anticuchos, the culinary creativity was genuinely off the charts. It also helped that the restaurant itself was utterly stunning, with panoramic views across the city as the sun dipped beyond the horizon. The staff were also extremely helpful, and talked us through every element of every course, of which there were many.
Joao’s Palace was like a secret apartment speakeasy. I could not believe I was in a hotel bar. The drinks are a mix of classics celebrating Brazil and Joao’s community in Liberdade (São Paulo’s largest Japanese community outside of Japan) and a Bossa Nova selection inspired by the huge wave of international artists who swarmed to Brazil in the 1980s. It’s a really unique experience to learn so much while, ostensibly, getting drunk. Naturally, I loved every minute.
An absolute treat of an experience from start to finish, W Edinburgh was the ideal situation for a weekend city break in Scotland’s capital. If I could move in tomorrow, I would.
Sarah Gill was a guest of W Edinburgh.
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