A stone’s throw away from the hustle-and-bustle of Buchanan Street, this stunning Georgian townhouse is ideally situated for you to make the most of Glasgow – and it’s five stars for a reason. As soon as you step through the doorway, you’ll feel the quality like a slap in the face. Once the headquarters of the Royal Scottish Automobile Club, the dazzling, chandelier-lit foyer is highly finished with art deco-style marble floors and doric columns; a shiny grand piano takes pride of place by the stairs and the staff greet you with warm smiles (and if you’re lucky, a glass of fizz).
What the Kimpton does well is its balancing of undisputable luxury without being over-the-top. The 113 guest rooms are spotless and sleek, with modern, simple furnishings, walls decorated with nods to Scottish photographers, and all of the facilities you might need – including a yoga mat. Breakfast and dinner is served in iasg (the Gaelic word for ‘fish’), with a focus on Scottish seafood – including crab and prawn squid ink ravioli in a shellfish sauce and blackened Shetland cod with braised leek and bacon. The swish restaurant interiors are decked out with subtle, tasteful details, such as the fish-scaled tiles and bubble-like light design – all with sparkling service to match. (Our waitress, Esme, really knew her stuff.)
The hotel is also home to an award-winning spa, which is currently being refurbished and is due to reopen in spring 2023. For the time being, they’ve created a pop-up, Scandinavian-style outdoor spa garden: THAW. A hot tub, sauna, and steam rooms sit under a fairy-lit canopy in a secluded courtyard, while the downstairs guest bedrooms have been turned into temporary treatment rooms offering massages, facials, and more, which will melt you into a state of bliss (whatever the weather).