Brooks Hotel Edinburgh

In an old stone building on a quiet side street, the Brooks Hotel exudes a quiet, welcoming vibe. The lobby is small and unadorned, with a single receptionist at a wood desk for check-in. Two beige chairs and a small coffee table sit above a cowhide rug. A small iron decorative fireplace in the corner adds a beautiful detail to the simple room. An elevator wallpapered to resemble a library is a whimsical touch. The hotel's breakfast room is  pleasant and homey, with farm tables, lavender-flowered wallpaper, and cereals in glass canisters. The chef's specials are written on a chalkboard. Brooks Hotel also has a large lounge space that looks like a well-appointed rustic living room, with antlers on the wall and hide rugs underfoot. Purple couches and gold curtains give the otherwise classic room, with leather furniture and an antique wood table, a funky feel. A black chandelier hangs from the ceiling. The hotel has set up an "honesty bar" in the lounge, where guests can pour their own drinks and report their takings to the hotel. This small gesture of trust is a compelling part of the hotel, and contributes to its comfortable, homey vibe.

The hotel is on a quiet side street in the West End, the financial district, near the city center. Several bus lines stop near the hotel, and Haymarket Station and Lothian Road, which has a long strip of restaurants, shops, cinemas, and theaters, are within a 10-minute walk. The Brooks is also within a five-minute walk of the Airport AirLink bus stop.

• Six-minute drive (or 22-minute walk) to Edinburgh Castle
• 10- to 12-minute drive to Edinburgh Old Town
• 11-minute drive to University of Edinburgh
• 11- to 13-minute drive to Scott Monument
• 12-minute drive to Palace of Holyroodhouse
• 16-minute drive to Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
• 24-minute drive to Edinburgh Airport

The rooms, which were renovated in 2013, are modern and designed with taste -- they're cool-toned, with gray or beige headboards and gray curtains. As in the common areas, they're also homey, with antique-y wood desks, bedside tables, and large reading chairs. Family Rooms come with an extra bedroom with bunk beds. All beds come with Egyptian cotton linen, goose-down bedding, and pocket-spring mattresses. All rooms have flat-screen TVs with built-in DVD players, radio alarm clocks with iPod docks, coffeemakers, free Wi-Fi, and their own climate control systems.

Bathrooms are fully tiled with Victorian crackle-glazed tiles, giving them a vintage feel. They all come with hairdryers, de-misting mirrors, and toiletries. They have shower/tub combos, except in the Family Room, where the shower is a walk in with no lip in the floor, reminiscent of a school locker room. 

The hotel serves a free hot and cold breakfast every morning in its lovely, bright breakfast room. In warm weather, the hotel has a garden patio where guests can take in the sun. The hotel's lounge is large and cozy, a place where guests can curl up by the fire or gather with friends. It includes an "honesty bar" -- guests can pour their own drinks and report back to the hotel later. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, and there are computer stations in the lobby.