Hotel Review: Market Street Hotel, Edinburgh

It's easy to walk right past the entrance of this hotel, built to fit a strictly vertical site. Slipping handsomely into the Old Town skyline, it handily sits opposite Waverley Station. Given the emphasis on design it's fitting that the City Art Gallery and Fruit Market Gallery are near neighbours. Climb one of the narrow vennels, and you'll find yourself on the Royal Mile: left for Holyrood Palace, right for the Castle.

By car: around 1 hour from Glasgow, 2 hours 40 minutes from Newcastle and just over 4 hours from Manchester. Parking can be arranged at Waverley station.

By train: Glasgow Queens Street to Edinburgh is around 50 minutes, Manchester Picadilly is around 3 hours and London Kings Cross around 4 hours 45 minutes. Book trains to Edinburgh.

By plane: Edinburgh Airport (30-minutes)

There's an ineffable air of upmarket urban chic throughout, but with neo-Brutalist cracked stone walls rather than Hoxton bare brick. As well as beautiful, it's eco-friendly, with sustainable Saintluc furniture and reusable glass. The look is carefully curated and eclectic, but the feel is light-heartedly inviting.

The staff will meet, greet and sort out anything from your airport transfer to your dry cleaning, while sharing helpful tips and information about the city they all seem to have fallen in love with. If you're the sort who can't live without a workout, you can buy a pass for a Nuffield gym, a ten-minute walk away.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Roof terrace

• 24-hour front desk

• Free Wi-Fi

Rooms are almost zen-like in their serene simplicity of oak and stone, but looks aren't everything. You'll find 'indulgence' cabinets and quality coffee for the espresso maker and it's farewell trouser press; hello, clothes steamer… and Dyson hairdryer and GHD straighteners. Beds have deep toppers, while bathrooms are marble and glazed tile with drench showers.

Room types: Cozy, Vista, Roomy, Roomy-Bath, Alba Suite

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with Votary bathroom products, coffee-making facilities, bluetooth speakers, smart TV, free Wi-Fi

The Nor'loft is the centre of everything, including a generous breakfast cooked to order (try poached egg and avocado on toast with chilli oil). Later, unexpectedly upmarket small plates are on offer, like brie and champagne fondue, monkfish and serrano ham, or pork belly and queenie scallops with roast cauliflower purée.

Nor'Loft: relaxed, fun, rooftop setting, small plates, classic flavours, Scottish ingredients. 20 different champagne labels. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Small plates from £6.50, mains from £13.50.