Travel: Hotel Missoni, Edinburgh

ROSITA Missoni and her partner the Rezidor Hotel group opened this debut five-star hotel in 2009 and have several more to come – there is one in Brussels, Kuwait opens this spring and Oman and Brazil are in the pipeline.

Though they will undoubtedly replicate the quality of design and realisation, they will have trouble matching the location of this, their opening collaboration.

The exterior manages to be both modern and in keeping with its historic setting.

If someone described a hotel decked out exclusively in Missoni I'd be concerned that it would be a bit much, but from the moment we stepped into the foyer I was mesmerised.

The doorway is flanked by two enormous urns in zig-zag black and white mosaic. Rather than entering reception, you are greeted at the extended oval of the bar, and a variety of uncon- ventional seating. The walls of each landing are painted a different colour, which creates a dramatic effect when you return to the hotel after dark, but share black and white striped carpets sweeping the corridors.

Room service?

The rooms continue the vibrant style, and nothing is out of place. The bed is large and comfortable, topped with a Missoni bedspread and cushions, while the shower is particularly impressive, with a seat and gorgeous tiling.

Everything is Missoni designed, except the television, which is Bang and Olufsen. Our room had a beautiful view over the rooftops to Arthur's Seat through a spectacular floor-to-ceiling window.

The drawback, however, is that a mixture of design factors and planning permission mean that only a couple of windows in the whole hotel can be opened. You can control air flow and temperature with the air conditioning, but it seems a shame to run this all night.

Wining and dining?

We preceded dinner with a cocktail, the barman explaining how he made the pomegranate mousse that topped mine. The Cucina restaurant is on a mezzanine level, and continues the impressive range of colour and shapes.

It is Italian in every respect, chef Filippo Bedeschi providing an exquisite menu. We chose scallops, followed by that evening's specials – spinach and prawn ravioli for one of us and a partridge dish for the other. Dessert included perfect pannacotta and wonderful ice-creams.

There is an impressive, if rather pricey, wine list but we were assisted by an unpretentious and skilful sommelier who helped us find an excellent and highly appropriate bottle within our budget.

Breakfast was equally delicious: full Scottish (but featuring Italian sausage), eggs Benedict and a buffet of Italian meats.

Budget or boutique?

Definitely more design than discount. Rooms range from 180 to more than 500 for the spectacular suites, which feature amazing views across the Edinburgh skyline, but both advance and walk-in rates are currently available.

Worth getting out of bed for? The Athens of the North is on your doorstep so if it's history, culture, shopping or just walking around enjoying the sights, you couldn't find a better location.

Little extras?

All rooms have as complimentary the minibar, two pieces of laundry, WiFi and a comprehensive selection of movies. The tea and coffee-making facility is a Nespresso machine, which is a great idea for a hotel room, and herbal teas are provided. We were particularly impressed with the staff we met: all were attentive, friendly and incredibly knowledgeable about the hotel, its fixtures and fittings. They'll even lend you a laptop.

Guestbook comments?

Just ten minutes' walk from Edinburgh's Waverley station, on the corner of the Royal Mile and George IV Bridge, it's easy to find and a great place to sit and watch the world go by.

Hotel Missoni, 1 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh (0131-220 6666, www.hotelmissoni.com)

This article was first published in Scotland On Sunday, 2 January, 2011