Stay at the Glasshouse Hotel
How Good Is This Luxury Boutique Hotel in Edinburgh?
Are you considering a stay at the Glasshouse Hotel in Edinburgh? The hotel is a tempting choice as The Glasshouse is one of the best known hotels in the city and it's the only luxury hotel in Edinburgh with a stunning terraced roof garden. Is it a better choice than other four or five stars hotels right in the city centre, though? And more importantly, is it what you would expect of a boutique hotel?
I've read hundreds of reviews from guests who have stayed at the Glasshouse over the years and the following is a clear and unbiased summary of what these guests really thought of their stay at this hotel.
What's special about the Glasshouse Hotel?
- A unique and modern glass-based design hidden behind a medieval church façade.
- Rooms have panoramic views over the city skyline, the Firth of Forth or look out to the beautiful two acre roof garden.
- Quiet, secluded and private hotel with some rooms having access to their own small patio, bordering the landscaped rooftop garden.
- Location: Located next to the Playhouse Theatre at the top of Leith Walk, the Glasshouse is not right in the busy city centre but it's close enough, within a short 10-15 minute walk to the major attractions of the Royal Mile and the Old Town.
Read Glasshouse Hotel reviews or check for discounted room rates.
What do guests really think?
The reviews of the Glasshouse boutique hotel by guests are consistently glowing for the most part, with few (but notable) exceptions. Basically the vast majority of guests believe that:
- The Glasshouse Hotel is a very good luxury boutique hotel in Edinburgh with a good city centre location but not as central as some guests would like it to be.
- The level of service, room comfort and amenities are what you would expect from a 5-star luxury hotel (with a few minor snags) but lacks facilities such as restaurant, bar and swimming pool/health centre which for many guests are essential in a five-star hotel.
- Most guests feel that the room prices are reasonably fair for its location and experience as a whole but there have been guests who felt the hotel wasn't worth the price.
My Recommendation
Based on the hundreds of reviews that I've read, I would recommend staying at The Glasshouse Hotel if you are looking for a very good boutique hotel with a high level of service and comfort that's close enough to Edinburgh City Centre without being right in the heart of its busiest areas but only if you can live with the fact that it lacks a bar, restaurant and swimming pool/spa (found in most five-star hotels) and if you can get one of the more quiet rooms looking out to the rooftop garden.
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In Depth Review of the Glasshouse Hotel in Edinburgh
Modern luxury boutique hotel. Central location and unique rooftop garden.
Average room price per night: £113-£256 ($178-$402)
What is the Glasshouse Hotel like?
It may be the surprising mix between the stunning blue-tinted glass front with the old, medieval gray stone of the Lady Glenorchy Church façade that guests see first but the Glasshouse is most famous for its unique roof garden, being the only hotel in Edinburgh city centre to boast such a huge green rooftop space with beautiful views over the city and Calton Hill. While most guests agree that the rooftop garden is the centerpiece of this famous boutique hotel, this is what they had to say about the rooms and general stay at the Glasshouse:
Building and room design
- The rooms are sophisticated, comfortable, spacious and somewhat unique with floor-to-ceiling windows and a modern decor although some guests feel the design is quite tired or impersonal, not quite what they expected from a luxury boutique hotel. Some guests also did not care for the nude artwork in the rooms.
- While unique and not part of a hotel chain, the Glasshouse is not your typical small hotel having 69 bedrooms and some guests expect less than that of a boutique hotel.
- The rooms looking out to the rooftop gardens are very quiet and private but the ones at the front overlooking Edinburgh can be more noisy as the Glasshouse has some bars and a cinema complex right next door. The noise from the club next door is one of the most common complaints from guests.
- The horseshoe semi-circle layout of the hotel means there's a long walk to some of the rooms, reception and the breakfast area and some guests complain about the soulless long corridors.
Staff and level of service
- The vast majority of guests felt that the staff were polite, friendly and welcoming without being over the top and were overall very happy with the level of personal service. William, the cheerful lobby attendant/doorman/concierge at the Glasshouse Hotel is remembered fondly by all guests who've mentioned him.
- There are a few exceptions where some guests felt that the staff's friendliness and attitude at the Glasshouse was slightly over the top and a little bit fake while a very small number felt that some of the staff were rude and cold.
Food and drink
- Breakfast is very good according to the vast majority of guests, but it's not included in the price; while there is no restaurant in the hotel, there is a 24 hour room service which most guests are happy with.
- While there is no bar, the hotel has a lounge called The Snug with comfy sofas, an open fire and an honesty bar (an honors-system open drink cabinet from which guests serve themselves and then mark their own drinks).
Location and parking
- Easy to find for guests who knew it was next door to the Playhouse Theatre but it was easily missed by some guests as the hotel has no large sign on the front to indicate that you've reached the Glasshouse.
- The hotel doesn't have its own car park and while there is a paid parking facility at the nearby Omni Centre, the lack of direct link between the two means that parking your car can be a bit of a hassle considering the 5-star luxury standard expected of the Glasshouse.
Nice touches
- Each luxury suite is named after famous whisky distillers and feature decanters filled with namesake whiskies.
- Heated tile floors in the bathroom.
Book the Glasshouse Hotel or find other four and five star hotels in Edinburgh.
Staying at the Glasshouse, Edinburgh - Web links
- Great Places to Stay - Glasshouse, Edinburgh - Detailed description of luxury and comfort at the Glass House from RampantScotland.com
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