Edinburgh

Hotel du Vin Edinburgh

You don’t have to be mad to stay at Edinburgh’s HdV (maybe you’d be mad not to) but it is in a building previously used as an asylum.

Eat: Dogs are welcomed in all the public areas, with the exception of the restaurant (Bistro du Vin).  Food in the bistro is again exactly what you expect from a modern interpretation of French bistro food, and there’s an open-style theatre kitchen serving food made to a consistently high standard with a wine list to match the hotel’s name. Better sommeliers than you’d expect at this standard of hotel are also a nice feature. In classic Edinburgh style, as well as the tasteful Mezzanine bar, there is a cigar bothy (outside space) and excellent HdV humidor, a whisky snug, Laroche tasting room and wine cellar. The menu from the Bistro can be served in most of the other areas on request, including breakfast. Room service is also available.

Sleep: All Hotel du Vin bedrooms are dog friendly and all take on the classic HdV approach, with the minimum standard being a bloody comfortable bed and a cracking shower. Here the massive Dom Perignon suite is the star, featuring an emperor-sized bed and a huge partly open-plan bathroom, complete with battleship bath.

Walk: Edinburgh is one of the great walking cities, offering options for all tastes from a gentle stroll through the old town and the Royal Mile, to the more demanding climb up Arthur's Seat or the recently rejuvenated Port of Leith.