Edinburgh in March is a confusing place. Drawn by the promise of a spring staycation – of daffodil-strewn strolls across the Meadows, perhaps – we stepped out of Haymarket Station into a downpour that gave way to pale sunlight before culminating in a spectacular rainbow. This meteorological indecision set the tone for the weekend.
It’s precisely this mercurial quality that makes The Hoxton feel so well-placed in the city. Opened last June as the brand’s first Scottish address (it is the first UK property outside of London, where there are currently four outposts), the hotel seems designed to absorb and reflect Edinburgh’s shifting moods.
Wallpaper* checks into The Hoxton, Edinburgh
Who is behind the design?
Interiors by AIME Studios (the in-house studio of the Hoxton's parent company Ennismore) are versatile enough to accommodate all seasons: in colder months, heavy jacquards, velvet headboards and ornate cornicing create a cocooning warmth. Come summer, the same spaces feel transformed by the light that floods in from vast sash windows, playing off jewel tones and graphic patterns.
You enter the hotel to a pattern-rich lobby anchored by a pastel mural from artist Verity Woolley. Raffia detailing, dark timber parquet and vintage Murano glass usher you into the Lobby Bar – a reinterpretation of a classic taproom, wrapped in perforated brass with peach-toned tiles. Original pillars sit alongside mid-century furniture; geometric textiles meet unlacquered brass; and, at the centre of the space, an azure-tiled chimney breast is adorned with a tufted artwork by local artist Jasmine Linington.
What’s on your doorstep
Haymarket, home of The Hoxton, occupies a sweet spot between the historic centre and the more residential West End, and is refreshingly removed from Edinburgh's more congested tourist corridors. The surrounding streets showcase the city's sandstone tenements, which shift in tone from warm honey to brooding grey depending on the light.
Nearby, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art sits within an elegant neoclassical building; ‘Modern Two’ houses the remarkable reconstruction of Eduardo Paolozzi’s studio. A short walk brings you to the Water of Leith, whose winding path leads to the postcard-perfect Dean Village, where former mills cluster above the water in an enchanting scene. Continue on to Stockbridge, a village-like enclave known for its Saturday market.
Loop back on yourself for Edinburgh’s headline attractions: the Castle perched dramatically atop Castle Rock; the Royal Mile; and the medieval maze of the Old Town.
The room to book
The building – an amalgamation of eleven former townhouses straddling Grosvenor Street – retains a pleasing disorientation, with dimly lit, thickly carpeted corridors leading to the 214 rooms.
Categories range from compact ‘Snug’ rooms to more expansive ‘Biggies’, each with elevated ‘Up’ versions. Three self-contained ‘Houses’ offer a more immersive option. Across all tiers, the palette leans into vibrant teals, raspberry reds and cool sages, accompanied by plush fabrics and locally inspired tiling. Whimsical details like pineapple coat hooks exist alongside thoughtfully preserved original features.
Staying for drinks and dinner?
The Hoxton’s in-house restaurant, Patatino, channels the Amalfi Coast with unapologetic exuberance. Inspired by Sorrento, the space is a riot of striped rattan, scalloped tables and hand-painted ceramics, all radiating from a Baroque-style fountain in the centre of the room.
The menu offers a familiar lineup of pastas, pizzas and antipasti; while it doesn’t quite match the refinement of its surroundings, there are highlights. A charcoal and ricotta focaccia, for example, exists somewhere between bread and cake (in the best way). Also tempting: the deep-fried spaghetti squares and sourdough pizza topped with ’nduja, jalapeño, hot honey, fior di latte and – because this is Scotland, after all – haggis.
Where to switch off
The Lobby Bar is the hotel’s communal heart. Divided into inviting nooks by sofas, it’s a space equally suited to working on your laptop or Saturday evening cocktails with friends.
The Hoxton also has a a five-seat cinema swathed in burgundy velvet, complete with a popcorn machine – an indulgent, unexpected touch.
The verdict
In a city that can’t quite make up its mind, The Hoxton finds a natural home. By threading a contemporary sensibility through a framework of historic townhouses – and balancing playful design with a strong sense of place – it captures something essential about Edinburgh: its delightful capacity to surprise.
The Hoxton, Edinburgh is located at 5-21 Grosvenor St, Edinburgh EH12 5EF