I stayed at ‘glamorous’ five star Scottish spa hotel

Glasgow’s only five star hotel is ideal for a slice of tranquility in the city, finds Rosalind Erskine.

There could be something a bit covid-era about having a night away in a hotel in the city you live in, but any thoughts of staycations or levels are forgotten as soon as we walk into the Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel - located in a grand building in the city centre of Glasgow. The former RSAC building was transformed into the luxury Blythswood Square Hotel following a multi-million-pound redevelopment in 2009 though it feels like it has always been a hotel. It is home to over 100 bedrooms and a basement spa, where you can lose all sense of being in Scotland’s biggest city. With a new penthouse suite and various dining options, I visited to see how Glasgow’s only five star hotel is continuing to welcome guests, as it has done, for over 15 years.

Budget or boutique?

Room rates are from £180 making this a boutique offering, but not an extortionate one.

Room service

We stayed in the huge executive suite, which has a spacious living room with a huge dining table, modular sofa, smart TV and dividing wall where you’ll find the king sized bed next to a large bathroom with a walk-in shower and bath tub. A serene grey and white colour scheme is punctuated with colour from the burnt orange plaid cushions while fun black and white, line drawn artwork depicts scenes from Glasgow including the famous Kibble Palace, University spire and street signs. The bathroom was a modern, marble and slate affair with plenty of room and storage space.

Wining and dining

The hotel’s iasg restaurant is where guests can enjoy dinner and breakfast, as well as a drink at the stunning, scallop shell-tiled bar, which takes centre stage in the large, bright and airy space.

On Thursday evenings the hotel has a special chateaubriand offering. Priced at £95 for two, this includes a chateaubriand steak, sliced and ready to share along with two sides, two sauces and a bottle of wine. This seemed too good an offer to pass up so it’s what we chose for dinner, and it was well worth it. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare, the selected red wine complimented it well and the chips - because of course one of the sides was chips - were crisp and well seasoned. Another side of broccoli with almonds was excellent. If you have room, try the tiramisu for dessert.

Breakfast is a mix of a well stocked buffet, and freshly made a la carte options. The porridge, topped with figs and honey, was creamy and moreish while the full Scottish was hearty and well cooked.

Afternoon tea and drinks can be enjoyed in the first floor salon bar.

Available from January 2nd at Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel & Spa in Glasgow and Kimpton Charlotte Square in Edinburgh

Worth getting out of bed for

The spa is the big draw here, with a range of ishga treatments. With the isgha taster experience, you don’t need to choose between a massage and a facial, as both are included. A thorough 30 minute back, neck and shoulder massage, which was blissful, was followed by a relaxing facial and head massage complete with a lovely new hair mask. I left feeling entirely chilled out, a feeling which continued in the modern spa facilities which include saunas, a steam room and hydrotherapy. There is also a secret cinema, which has seasonal screenings and can be booked.

The hotel is also ideally placed to explore Glasgow city centre and the surrounding areas. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is a 10 minute drive away while the shopping hub of Buchanan Street is a ten minute walk away.

Little extras

Our room had fluffy robes, slippers and full sized toiletries as well as a complimentary mini bar of miniature spirits, mixers, fizzy juice and water. A plate of homemade shortbread was a lovely welcome to the room, as was the tartan dog bed for Archie, and we enjoyed the views out across to Blythswood Square.

Guestbook comments

Deemed as a landmark hotel in Scotland’s biggest, most vibrant city, Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel & Spa has been a prestigious address since the early 19th century. As one of Glasgow’s best-established hotels, Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel & Spa is the only one with an AA five-star accreditation. The hotel has 113 exquisite bedrooms, as well as a new two-bedroom penthouse suite.