Hotel Review: InterContinental Edinburgh The George

George Street, running from Charlotte Square to St Andrew Square, is the heart of Edinburgh's New Town and a shopper's paradise, punctuated by smart bars and (mostly) upper-end chain restaurants. It's less frenetic than Princes Street with its trams and buses, but only a minute away. You'll find high-end shops like Harvey Nichols and Mulberry in next door St Andrew Square, as well as outposts of Dishoom, Hawksmoor, the Ivy and Wahaca restaurants.

By car: around 1 hour from Glasgow, 2 hours 40 minutes from Newcastle and 4 hours from Manchester. Free street parking between 6:30pm-8:30am (12:30pm on Sunday). Guests also get a discount for the nearby St James Quarter car park.

By train: Glasgow Queens Street is around 50 minutes, Manchester Picadilly around 3 hours, and London Kings Cross around 4 hours 45 minutes. A taxi from Edinburgh Waverley station takes around five minutes. Book trains to Edinburgh.

By plane: Edinburgh Airport (25-minute drive).

Spread across what was originally five 'A' listed townhouses (with a modern wing at the back), it may be owned by an international chain but has escaped the 'nice, but you could be anywhere' curse, perhaps because the graceful proportions of the Georgian buildings are still cherished.

You'll find the sort of hotel services you would expect here, like laundry, dry cleaning and ironing. There's also a decent gym, 24-hour room service and a terrific concierge.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Fitness centre
• Terrace
• Private parking
• Free Wi-Fi

Soft shades of mist and smoke, taupe and whisky pair well with quality furnishings, smarter than the usual standard identikit hotel look. Lighting is well-considered, as are gleaming bathrooms featuring white subway tiled walls and rainfall showers.

Room types: King Superior, Two Single Bed Superior, Two Double Bed Superior, King Deluxe, King Forth View, Junior Suite, One Bed Suite, George Street Suite

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with Agraria toiletries, bathrobes, smart TV, free Wi-Fi

Burr & Co serves good coffee, impressive cakes and sandwiches. Try a cocktail in the Printing Press bar before moving on to the restaurant, with its faintly French brasserie vibe but foodie Scottish influence: the haggis is smoked and the beef hails from the Tweed Valley.

The Printing Press Bar and Kitchen: Relaxed fine dining, modern Scottish cuisine. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mains from £14.50.

Burr & Co: lively coffeeshop, food-to-go. Open Monday to Friday 7am-5pm Saturday to Sunday 8am-5pm.