January is a fantastic month to have a city break, while lots of people have committed to gym memberships and some form of reset after Christmas, I like to visit places that would have been jam packed with crowds of people celebrating the festive period and are now a haven of tranquility.
Edinburgh has long been one of my favourite cities and I generally get up there at least twice a year, starting off with my annual January staycation! The first weekend in January is great as the traditional 12 days of Christmas are observed in Edinburgh meaning that it remains rather festive until the 6th.
It’s a freezing cold Saturday and my husband and I are taking the glorious journey from Yorkshire to Scotland, through rolling hills and valleys, past Holy Island and along the rugged coastline until we arrive in Edinburgh. Snow is forecast and the hills that surround the city are dazzling white with snowcapped peaks – it’s a postcard scene if ever I saw one. Our original intention was to climb Arthur’s Seat on the advice of my husbands daughter, however, as we jumped out of the car and the freezing air rosied our cheeks, the sanctuary of the Bonham Hotel seemed rather more appealing.
Originally designed by John Lessels in the late 19th Century, as city centre town houses, The Drumsheugh Gardens triangle was built between 1874 and 1882. Numbers 33-36 were then were sold to Messer’s Wade and Wilkie who were responsible for their development in the 1920’s and by 1939 the three houses were collectively known as ‘The Private Clinic’ which specialised in maternity care. Between 1939 and 1951 hundreds of babies were born on the premises, now fondly known as ‘Bonham Babies’.
In the 1950s the buildings were sold to the University of Edinburgh and became student accommodation until the 1990s when they were bought by The Town House Company and a complete and historically sympathetic renovation was undertaken.
The Bonham Hotel opened in 1998 to critical acclaim and was dubbed “One of the Coolest Hotels of the Twenty First Century”. In 2018, with new owners, The Bonham underwent another extensive renovation to become the landmark luxury hotel it is today.
Our room wasn’t quite ready as we arrived in the sumptuous reception of the Bonham (we were rather early given our previous hill climbing plans which we had now completely abandoned), so we left our bags with the very smart concierge and headed out into the city for a couple of hours to check out the last of the festive attractions. The hotel is ideally located in a quiet part of the West End and within a ten minute stroll we are enjoying the bright lights of Princes Street and the beautiful Princes Street Gardens. The traditional Christmas Market and fairground are enjoying the last flurry of revellers with a giant ferris wheel offering spectacular views of the city. A couple of hot chocolates laced with rum later we were ready to head back and enjoy the delights of our evening abode.
The Bonham combines classic architectural charm with modern amenities, offering guests an intimate and luxurious experience. From the moment we step inside, a warm and inviting ambience envelops us.
Our suite is thoughtfully designed and accentuated by tasteful decor and original period features. There are plush furnishings, a tranquil colour palette and expansive windows that provide stunning views. Equipped with upscale amenities including high-speed Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV, high end coffee machine and well equipped tea-tray laden with treats, the room is exquisite. Every t has been crossed and every i dotted – the bathroom is sprawling with luxurious bathing products and fluffy robes with matching slippers, and my favourite part – the treat tray! If you cannot chow down on a caramel wafer, bag of crisps or the odd jelly sweet – are you even in a luxury hotel? The devil is in the detail and the Bonham have thought of everything!
Dining at the Bonham is a delight, with the on-site restaurant No.35 at The Bonham showcasing a menu of locally sourced, contemporary Scottish cuisine. The restaurant is renowned across the city and guests are wowed by the casual fine dining menu served in such decadent surrounds. Seated by the floor to ceiling windows and sinking into opulent velvet clad dining chairs, it’s safe to say my husband and I were dazzled.
We dined on beautifully presented dishes which were served with knowledgeable finesse – my standout dish was the delectable beef carpaccio with white truffle, while across the table his lordship got stuck into an equally exquisite duck egg, perfectly cooked and paired with a light whipped potato. We were then treated to some real hearty favourites (Bonham Classics) – I opted for the sirloin steak, served with all the trimmings whilst hubby plumped for the juicy and succulent burger oozing with cheese and fat chips.
Whilst there are more complex dishes on the menu offering the fine dining experience, it’s really nice to have the option of choosing something you really feel like after a cold day in the city. The combination of more refined dishes offered alongside hearty favourites is really appealing to me. If you were to be more inclined by something more avant-garde then some of the dishes include: Charred Pear Nashi with sourdough, hazelnuts, endive and blue cheese foam or Orkney Scallops served with pea pannacotta, mango, dashi gel and oyster leaf to start. You could opt for Halibut with chervil & parsley mash potato, saffron salsify and shrimp beurre noisette or Salted Baked Heritage Carrots with celeriac puree, lemon beurre blanc and pea shoots – you see where I’m going with this?
No.35 The Bonham was a true delight, there was a wonderful, warm ambience with plenty of other diners enjoying the evening (nothing worse than an empty restaurant) and I did sneak to take a peek of the private dining room which was beautifully arranged for a private party – I imagine one would feel very special when celebrating in there!
I must mention the staff at the hotel too, whilst the facilities are wonderful, the hotel offers enchanting surroundings and accommodation, the jewel in the crown of this hotel is the team running it. From the reception staff and front of house team to the talented kitchen team and people behind the scenes ensuring the rooms are spotless and exquisitely presented – I congratulate you on providing hospitality at it’s very best. Many hotels would do well to send their staff here for a crash course in how it is done – I cannot say fairer than that.
The Bonham Hotel in Edinburgh is a destination hotel and if you are visiting Edinburgh in 2025, then make them your next call. Tell them I sent you.
Words by Joanne Brook-Smith
35 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 7RN
Tel: +44 131 226 6050
