EDINBURGH: 48 hours, 22 Hendricks and 2 Hot hotels

Just as I’d unpacked my Tumi and pencilled in a playdate with *own bed, the opportunity to visit Edinburgh came a ‘WhatsApp’ing.

Phil ‘Mr. Scotland’ Machugh missed me!

How could I resist a repeat romp at ‘hotel goals’ Gleneagles and a one night chaser at ‘Scottish Hotel of the Year’ The Principal with one of my best mates. How??

fyi: Gleneagles and I are having a major love affair right now.

One tall drink of water I’d haplessly drown in. Devilishly handsome, deliciously old-school and destination David Collins Studio for the aesthetes. This hotel is definitely goals.

The weather wasn’t all too clever when we arrived, but with 99% chance of Hendricks and spa treatments booked by the concierge (just in case we hadn’t made plans) it was straight to the spa for an 80 minute facial and frolic in the hot-tub.

After the spa-fication – and £200 worth of facial products signed to the room – it was time to suss the place out, sip Hendricks… same old same old yeah Phil?

Gleneagles has gone through a mega-watt overhaul in the last year and it shows. We got a sneak peek of the newly launched Birnam Brasserie (Londoner’s think Ivy Chelsea Garden with more mirrors) and spent some time in the intimate American Bar – the epitome of the hotel in my opinion.

Dinner was at The Strathearn

‘a fine dining, silver service, piano tinkling, cheese trolleying affair with a highland twist’

The theatre of the service makes it as much a great place for big groups as it does intimate couples. Phil and I were joined by my dear friend Chris and between the three of us we polished off six courses and some seriously good wine… Queue hangover cure:

Gleneagles I love you!

*next stop…

The Principal, Edinburgh.

Met by the general manager Andreas before I’d even stepped inside, I had a good feeling about this hotel.

We checked into our junior suite and I tucked into the goody basket while Phil sorted the wifi.

My bathroom was enormous, my view spanned gorgeous George St. and my separate living room came with inbuilt bluetooth speakers and some serious dog-porn donning the wall.

I semi-unpacked and then it was time to suss the place out, sip Hendricks… same old same old yeah Phil?

For dinner, we made a reservation at Divino Enoteca – a fine-dining Italian in the heart of the old town.

Along with friends Gaynor and Josh, we made our way down to an archetypal wine-cellar and through a softly-lit bar to get to the restaurant.

Think rich oak floorboards, live jazz music and comfy banquette seating – all of which flank a huge table weighted with parmesan barrels and home-made breads which the waiters haplessly hack at and deliver to you with your wine. The sommelier’s worked there for decades and delivers wine with a side order of compliments – which I loved!

I’d eat here every night of the week to be honest. This place is special.