Hotel Review: Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian

Dominating the west end of Princes Street, locations don't come a great deal better than this. Not just the shops (and National Gallery of Art) on Princes Street, but the Old Town ten minutes' walk away, the boutique shops of the West End and Edinburgh Castle in all its elephantine glory. Jump on the tram at the stop round the corner and find yourself at Harvey Nichols in St Andrew Square in just five minutes.

By plane: flights from London to Edinburgh take 1 hour 25 minutes. The hotel is a 20-minute drive. Parking costs £25 per day. Book flights to Edinburgh.

By train: 4 hours 30 minutes from London. The hotel is a 10-minute drive (or 15-minute walk) from Edinburgh Waverley. Book trains to Edinburgh.

Perfect for those who want a statement hotel with a history and a light dusting of bling. An Edinburgh landmark, it still feels special despite the take-over by the Hilton, retaining an old-school feel, just needing a bigger swimming pool and spa to get full marks for luxury.

There's good concierge, as you would expect, and there's a swimming pool and gym (both on the small side), steam room and sauna. Helpfully there's parking, valet laundry and an amazingly high standard of housekeeping. Staff are uniformly delightful, although there can be hiccups in the food service.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Swimming pool
• Spa
• Fitness centre
• Pet-friendly
• On-site parking
• Free Wi-Fi

Even standard bedrooms come in soothing colours with classy, classic furniture and art. Unusually for Edinburgh, they are air-conditioned with fantastic beds and flattering lighting. You won't find in-room bateau baths (even in suites), but you will have a marble and tile bathroom with a great shower or shower over bath.

Room types: Deluxe, Carriage, Premier, Two-bed Premier, Junior Suite, Suite, Two-bedroom Suite

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with toiletries, Nespresso machine, TV, free Wi-Fi

Dean Banks in the Pompadour restaurant focuses on seafood (thus the small sailboat beached in an otherwise Rococo room). Downstairs, Grazing by Mark Greenaway is joyously informal; Mark creates magic with seasonal ingredients (also fantastic desserts) while breakfast is as varied and potentially indulgent as you would expect.

The Pompadour: fine dining, locally sourced produce. Open for dinner, Wed-Sun. Seven-course tasting menu from £110.

Grazing: modern Scottish cuisine. Open for dinner, Tue-Sat.