Best cocktails

1. House of Gods No.5

This was my first tipple that arrived in a perfume bottle with a House of Gods No. 5 label. It pays homage to fashion royalty Mademoiselle Coco herself and is a clever mixture of ginger infused gin, pomegranate liqueur, hibiscus syrup, citrus and Peychauds Bitters and when all mixed together it is nearly the exact same colour as the well-known scent!

2. Bohemian Gold

This was my go-to as it is a champagne based cocktail. Other ingredients are Tanqueray Gin, Acqua di Cedro, honey and citrus and this one is served with a cute, branded ribbon around the glass.

3. Billionaires Girls Club

This concoction celebrates living your best life. It’s a slightly a stronger drink made up of Hennessy Cognac, Apple Syrup, Oloroso Sherry and Peychauds Bitters. A pure pleasure to down (I mean sip!).

Stay

Now when I say room, I mean cabin. I stayed in one of the distinctive cabins which was designed to impersonate the Orient Express. Yes, the cabin is a modest room but it is an unforgettable experience on offer here. The space is compact but furnished with everything you need, with lots of the amenities hidden in drawers or behind mirrored cupboards or frames. Through the dark corridors, there are hidden doors to each room (which after a few hours of cocktail drinking I had to make sure I remembered how to navigate my way back), waiting for VIPs to enter. I was greeted with a bed covered in gold balloons, a bottle of prosecco on ice and a box of chocolates to devour while I settled in. I was already a glass down on the bubbles so I immediately cracked the bottle open! The room is just as decadent as the entrance and captivates you with red covers and curtains surrounding the bed, plush leopard print cushions and a completely marble tiled bathroom (like a very small wet room) and more animal lamps. Note that there is no real window in the Cabin but that’s part of the fantasy as it makes you feel as if you are travelling in one the carriages on the notorious train.

For those who like things on a grander scale, there are the classic rooms available with more space featuring four poster beds and a larger bathroom. These rooms are inspired by Versailles and for the ultimate treat, there is a suite at the property with a cooper bath as the focal point along with a ginormous bed fit for any rockstar royalty!

Explore

The flamboyant House of Gods, Edinburgh hotel is based in Cowgate, Edinburgh’s second oldest street, which really makes it a great base for exploring the city. The castle is close by and this location makes it easy to mooch around and easily take in all the other popular city attractions and landmarks.

Being part of Edinburgh’s old town, Cowgate is one of the city’s oldest thoroughfares (and now a great shortcut) which leads down nicely into Grassmarket, a livelier area filled with shops and restaurants, also known for its colour stretch of shops which I am sure you have seen in many an Instagram post. With the success of the original House of Gods, they have now opened in Glasgow which follows the same quirks and values. Added bonus for the new opening is the Sacred Garden roof terrace which is already proving as popular. Again, the hotel has been styled in the same maximalist way and features 28 rooms and suites.