Opulence in a City/Country Setting

The Prestonfield in Edinburgh was like a dream come true from the moment my wife and I arrived there. Set on a lush estate (complete with roaming animals, which adds to the charm) minutes from the heart of the city, we felt we got the best of city and country life at this hotel. Though the prices are high, they reflect the quality of service and attention you get. The staff were amazingly helpful and friendly, never once causing us to question an action they did. The Rhubarb restaurant served us awesome meals and our room was as opulent and comfotable as you could get. We will definitely stay at the Prestonfield again on next visit!

Rhubarb - Oh My Word!

My husband and I celebrated a special birthday at the Rhubarb restaurant, and I have to say that I have never been anywhere as good. We arrived and were led into a beautiful, candlelit room, where we chose our meals from a delicious sounding menu. The staff, and the whole atmosphere was welcoming and warm, from the smiles as we were served, to the suggestion that we take our deserts upstairs in our own private lounge with a log fire. Our evening was very special, and I would recommend Rhubarb to anyone wanting to experience a relaxing and romantic evening. Even the ladies powder room was amazing; raspberry pink, with a huge chaise longe and orchids to add to the opulence of the experience!

A Great Hotel for a Great City

Just got back from a 3 night stay at Prestonfield. My wife and I visit Edinburgh about five or six times a year, on weekend breaks, and usually stay at the Scotsman. However this time we decided to see if all the hype surrounding this hotel was justified.

The setting for Prestonfield is beautiful, just at the base of Arthur's Seat. Highland cows and peacocks on the lawn set the scene nicely.

On entering the hotel you are lead down a long corridor, full of atmosphere and expectation, to the reception area.

Everything about the interior of Prestonfield is over the top, in a nice way.

They have got the ambience of the place dead right, dark colours, soft lighting and rich fabrics. This hotel is definately for romantics.

The staff were well trained and attentive but not overly intrusive.

The room was very well presented, although we both thought that it could have been slightly larger.

Food in Rhubarb was excellent, the restaurant is very busy so book early.

There were a few minor niggles however. We arrived at 4.00pm and our room wasn't ready, due to "a late checkout". After a 5 hour car journey it was a bit disappointing. We had to wait half and hour to be checked in.

We ordered room service twice during our stay, and both times they got the order completely wrong. The staff were very quick in rectifying the situation, but it shouldn't have happened in the first place...a computer problem apparently.

Our room was situated at the side of the hotel and every morning we were awakened at 5.30am by the sound of food deliveries, so be careful what room you book.

And if you are arriving by car, don't put too much faith in the hotel's directions. We have travelled through that part of the city many times and still got lost following Prestonfield's instructions.

However I don't want to end on a down note. Prestonfield is really a very special hotel. The surroundings and indeed the staff, make for a very enjoyable experience and we will certainly return...very soon.

Divinely Decadent

From the minute the taxi pulled up at the main entrance, right up until our departure, we were stunned by the sumptuous design and furnishings, quality of service, total lack of fuss, and of course the beautiful setting. Nothing could be faulted. Everyone should stay here once in their life. We were in Edinburgh for one night for the Crosby Stills and Nash concert (fab too) and could not sample the dining experience - but we will be back for our 25th wedding anniversary next year and can hardly wait.

Amazing

One of the most beautiful hotels I have ever stayed in. True scottish feel to it- the decor is amazing and the rooms are wonderful. The main restaurant- rhubarb is stunning. The hotel has separate bars and living areas which are magical.

Would highly recommend it as it has a rural feel although in the city of edinburgh. I great place to relax and feel pampered.

Must be experieced. The New Scotland

Me and my boyfriend had a truly atomospheric and characteristic meal at Rubarb, the restaurant at Prestonfeild House Hotel. I would love to go back to stay at the hotel evan though we live in Edinburgh! I'm sure I'll think of an excuse! The sight of the peacocks and highland cows in the grounds really does give the place a certain special quality. In the restaurant we were suitably impressed. Well placed service and well presented and executed food. We have eated better, but we've also paid much bigger bills than we got at Prestonfield. It's not cheap, our bill was in the £200 ($380) range but this was with a good bottle of wine and all the drinks and extras you would expect to want. Service is attentive but you get the idea that not everyone is exactly confident, probaly due to the fact that the place was taken over not that long ago and everyone is still finding their feet. Our wine waiter was young and very enthusiastic and was an absolute darling treating the very ordinary desert wine that we had ordered like it was the best thing on the list. Not exactly approprate but it shows they are investing in their staff and are hiring the right sort of people in the first place. The lounges upstairs are lovely, open fires, old country house furniture, board games and books ect. The only thing the staff got really wrong was when we were informed by no less than three different people that we only had the table for 2 hours till the next booking. This was something that had been explained when I telephoned for a reservation, and they were quite right to check that I had been informed of this. However, this should of been the job of the person greeting the guests only, or at least he should of informed the others. We had arrived 20mins early especially to enjoy a pre-dinner drink and did not wish to feel rushed. However other than this I very much enjoyed the experience.

Stunningly decorated and comes with Highland Cows out your window

Prestonfield House is a beautifully decorated hotel. Some rooms appear small, after putting in a king size bed and a big TV cabinet inside, there's not much room for even a work desk. Food at Rhubarb restaurant is great but slow service. Make sure you look outside the window for the cute Highland Cows!! Would be great location for a weekend away rather than for business travellers. The hotel staff looked a bit stunned when we showed up at 7am sharp for checkouts as the breakfast buffet isn't even ready!

A gem

We stayed here for a wedding anniversary. I know Edinburgh fairly well but had never heard of this hotel and could not understand how it could claim to be in a quiet setting, yet close to the city.

After navigating the suburbs of Edinburgh a few times, by chance we found the entrance. It looked just like the photo on the web site.

Parking right outside was easy. However there were some worrying signs, a wedding reception in full flow and a notice advertising a late night céilí in an adjacent building.

Our room was not ready but we were ushered into a side room and provided with coffee and biscuits, and it was obvious that service was going to be attentive.

After rather a wait we were shown to our room in the main building and it was lovely. Classic furnishings, and well proportioned. A small window gave a view onto parkland.

By the simple act of switching on a bedside light, I managed to plunge the whole floor into darkness. A handyman was called who had some difficulty locating the fuse box. We spent an embarrassed hour or so whilst order was restored.

We booked for meal in the Restaurant and it was a trully gastronomic experience, beautiful food, wonderful service. It was like dining in an aristocrats' house. We went to bed early, slept well and were served a rather more functional breakfast in an ante-room.

We were not troubled by the céilí nor wedding reception however there was another very angry guest from London who had claimed to have been and was making his views clear. His manner was not endearing his hosts to the English nation as a whole, and his idea of diplomacy was obviously not going to help his case.

This hotel has a good reputation but is a rare case where I would say it is justified. It can be pricey but in my experience you can't do much better in Edinburgh.

Wonderful Country House in City

I stayed here with my wife and toddler. It is a wonderful spacious country house right in the middle of Edinburgh, complete with fields and interesting highliand cattle and a peacock on the front lawn. Plenty of space in the car park, lovely grounds and although probably not their target market, a great place to bring small kids! We had a lovely large room overlooking the garden and they had a baby listening service so we could eat dinner in the resturant just down the corridor and not be too far away from the sleeping toddler. The hotel is a well preserved historic house, within easy reach of city centre by bus or car, too far to walk. The breakfast were excellent, dinners however were not great and I would recommend dinning out. However I would recommend a stay and would return.

McGinty is a National Treasure

Our evening with you was delightful in every aspect. We were with Trafalgar Tours, and this evening was suggested as an optional event; it turned out to be a highlight of our entire 11 days.

All twenty-something of us thoroughly enjoyed the dinner, the show, the music and dancing; all your musicians and performers are extremely talented, and Ken McGinty is an artist of the first magnitude. His rendition of "Glencoe" had me weeping into my serviette and was the major reason for my buying the CD--I longed to hear it again, and to share it with my family back home.

I had longed to visit Scotland all of my life, and the evening with you was a crowning moment in my enjoyment of the wonders it has to offer.

Thank you for such a wonderful evening, filled with the joyous and heartbreaking music which defines Scotland.

Ken McGinty should be declared a National Treasure.

Jan Jackson