The Dunstane Houses – Edinburgh, Scotland

Positioned at the gates of Edinburgh’s vibrant West End, The Dunstane Houses are a pair of handsome Victorian villas that have been transformed into a single, stylish family-run five-star boutique hotel. Infused with the spirit and romance of Orkney, where the owners’ roots lie, the interior blends the elegance of the Scottish capital’s Old Town with vintage touches, contemporary flair and well-chosen art. The 35 bedrooms, spread between Dunstane House and Hampton House, are all different. Yours might have bold wallpaper and fabrics, a theatrical headboard, classic four-poster bed, in-room Victorian roll-top or fabulous Fired Earth bathroom. And at the heart of this unique bolthole, the elegantly laid-back Ba’ Bar provides all-day dining from a seasonally changing modern Scottish menu, and there’s an impressive selection of premium craft spirits to sample. The whisky cabinet is a connoisseur’s treasure trove of vintage single malts and blends. It’s really no wonder that it won the best guest hotel experience in Scotland at the prestigious Visit Scotland Thistle Awards in 2020.

Doubles from £184

+44 (0)131 337 6169; thedunstane.com