First Look: Gleneagles Townhouse

Indagare’s Diana Li reports on Gleneagles Townhouse, the new, urban little sister to Gleneagles, one of our favorite Scotland countryside estates.The legendary Scottish resort Gleneagles has just opened its first (and much anticipated) city hotel and members’ club, Gleneagles Townhouse, on Edinburgh’s iconic St. Andrew Square. Built in 1781 and previously home to the British Linen Company and the Bank of Scotland, this historic building has been completely reimagined by lifestyle hospitality company Ennismore Design Studio and was four-and-a-half years in the making. It looks to be worth the wait.

The 33-bedroom hotel and members club bills itself as a “place to gather and be glorious, and features rooms with a contemporary spin on Georgian style (canopy crown headboards, wooden floors, antique rugs and classic furniture) and a bustling new brasserie plus a rooftop bar and wellness space. In the former bank’s Telling Room, guests can enjoy herbal botanic Scottish spirits at the central bar, underneath a glass-domed ceiling. This banking hall is also an all-day destination restaurant for the city: The Spence, led by Head Chef Jonny Wright. His seasonal signature dishes are often rooted in classics with a modern twist, such as a wild mushroom tart with goats curd and hazelnuts, roasted turbot with fennel and chili and a Scotch baba with praline sauce and mascarpone (served extra large, ideal for sharing). 

Inside the former bank vault, guests and Townhouse club members can access the state-of-the-art gym and treatment spaces, including a cryotherapy chamber and an infrared sauna. Our favorite exclusive amenity is access to the sophisticated roof terrace bar, Lamplighters, offering iconic views of the city’s medieval Old Town to the left and New Town to the right—the perfect spot for a romantic sunset date or a naughty nightcap while watching the city lights sparkle. It also happens to be located just two minutes from the central train station, 25 minutes from the airport, an hour and 15-minute drive to sister property Gleneagles (for those looking for a country experience or a game of golf)—and it’s just steps away from some of the city’s best shopping on Princes Street.

Related: You can also experience this new Edinburgh hot spot on the ultimate Scotland golfing trip, hosted by Indagare and WSJ+ on a limited-availability Special Edition small group getaway taking place October 23 – 28, 2022. Learn more and sign up here!

Contact your Trip Designer to book and reserve our top room choices for you that best reflect this property’s architectural features. For the ultimate town and country escape, make sure to pair your Gleaneagles Townhouse stay in Edinburgh with Gleneagles, the nearly 100-year-old golf and spa estate in the heart of the Scottish countryside.