You can feel your entire body relax as soon as you walk through the doors of the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa Edinburgh. This urban resort in the centre of town with incredible views of Edinburgh Castle is one of those hotels that has it all.
From large luxury rooms to its own fancy destination bar and restaurant – One Square, the award-winning spa sees guests travel from far and wide to experience its outdoor hydropool and expansive thermal suite.
Located in One Square Edinburgh, it’s a short drive off the A1 and down the A199. It’s easily accessible from the main road and you can drive right up to the front of the hotel and into the convenient car park.
Rooms at The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa Edinburgh
Ambient lighting changes your mood as soon as you enter the beautifully lit and spacious lobby. There’s a concierge for bags and several check in desks, as well as a gloriously designed space which incorporates a large table of fresh flowers, plush red velvet sofas and a glass drop chandelier. The illuminated light columns are a real standout feature and give an instant warmth and cosy glow to the area.
Our room follows suit. On the sixth floor of the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, it boasts stunning views of Edinburgh Castle and Usher Hall – a spectacular round concert hall which hosts jazz and classical music.
It’s a well thought out space featuring dark wooden floors, a super king sized bed, ample desk space, a full mirrored wall and a separate seating area at the window. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a One Square Gin G&T while taking in those incredible views as the city turns from day to night.
There’s also ample storage for our luggage, coats and clothes as well as a handy draw which houses several glasses and a mini fridge. There’s mini bar packages available with several to suit different budgets and there’s also room service with a large menu offering everything from burgers and sandwiches to main dishes and even a full section for the grill.
I love the bathroom. It’s typical of a spa hotel and my favourite style. Again, that red hue and ambient lighting makes it a relaxing spot for a lovely long soak in the tub. My weary feet feel immediately rejuvenated after exploring all that Edinburgh city has to offer. Lantern lighting on the bedside tables meanwhile, provides a nice hue for bedtime reading while keeping those relaxing vibes going late into the night.
The Escape at One Spa
The spa is on the fifth floor along with the Escape at One hydropool experience (which has to be booked and paid for in advance), as well as the indoor 19 meter infinity swimming pool which is open to all guests. Here, there’s also a cold shower and sauna with loungers lining the pool. We visited around 4pm and it was busy but not so much so that you couldn’t get a few lengths in ahead of dinner.
Locker rooms are spacious and there’s plenty of room to get changed as well as ESPA products if you choose to shower before heading back to your room. Remember to take your bedroom robe with you, but there are large towels available when you get there. It’s also important if you’re coming in from the hotel entrance rather than the spa entrance, to register at the reception desk so the wonderful staff can run through a couple of safety measures.
With a booking for the Escape at One experience, you’ll be given a fob to swipe which gives you access to the spa. In here, you could easily spend the entire day enjoying the facilities which include an impressive outdoor hydropool which is a wonderful spot to relax in – even more so if the sun is out!
In addition there’s a hammam, crystal steam Room, tepidarium Beds, laconium, bio-sauna, rock Sauna, several experience showers, a dry salt room & a quiet relaxation room. This feels like a mass therapy session for the body and you’ll float out of here feeling refreshed and light as air.
The Club Lounge
After a shower and a reset, we head down to the Club Lounge, as access to this executive room comes complimentary with our room grade. Chic and stylish, you’ll find it in the Sheraton Grand’s lobby on the ground floor and nothing like the old style lounges, this one is super fancy with plenty of comfortable seating, ambient lighting and waiter service. Complimentary drinks and snacks are available all day, while alcoholic beverages and canapés are served here 4-7pm.
Lounge – full cheese, raw fish, charcuterie, balsamic onions, sun dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, aubergines, red peppers filled with cream cheese, home made chutneys, mango and chicken terrine and, little tartlets and those pastries where the fours are folded in, wine and g and t, constantly re-filled,
Stylish lounge people working and with their families
Dinner at One Square
For dinner, there’s a couple of different options, You can either eat at the hotel’s regular restaurant, or the more destination style restaurant One Square which serves up seasonal Scottish dishes.
Here, you’ll enjoy stylish seating under a canopy of glass bubble lights on the ceiling. The option to sit at the privacy chairs is nice for people who are there either by themselves or for working at but we grab a window table and peruse the extensive cocktail list.
We start with The Peat & Tide – maybe the best cocktail I’ve had in a year or more. It’s a delicious combo of Laphroaig 10, sea salt caramel syrup and Chartreuse Elixir 12 and if I could enter into a cocktail competition, I’m pretty sure it’d win. Sweet, salty and smokey, it hits all the notes in every sip. They go brilliantly with the MacSween Haggis bon bon starter – a dish we were told had to be brought back due to popular demand (and we can see why.) They’re served with a prune and whiskey ketchup and they are incredible.
We also try the salt baked celeriac – light and fresh with a hazelnut and polenta crumb for texture and crunch and a sherry dressing with charred orange.
The bouillabaisse is hearty with a good amount of white fish, sea trout mussels and shrimp and comes served in a traditional lidded bouillabaisse pot. It’s a great rich broth, and the rouille is perfect for soaking up the juice.
The sea trout with caper risotto is also a great dish with a nice amount of seasoning and straw fries on top. It’s a dense and delicious piece of fish, earthy and river rich.
We sleep soundly (courtesy of our relaxing day at the spa) and enjoy an excellent breakfast with access to the full buffet and separate menu items which include a ripe avocado on toast.
We leave the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa Edinburgh feeling like we’ve stayed there much longer than one night. There’s so much to experience within this one hotel that it really feels like a holiday. The spa really is standout, the food, just that little bit special and the staff, well the service really is seamless.
If you’re looking for an elevated stay in Edinburgh, this is it. Book your room here.