W Edinburgh

Every year, the storied city of Edinburgh is ignited with performance and spectacle during its unique programme of festivals, from Hogmanay to The Edinburgh International Festival and its famous Fringe — the world’s largest arts festival. Our design for W Edinburgh, the city’s new landmark hotel, proudly draws on this creative context, delivering a new interpretation of luxury for a city that continuously attracts and captivates visitors of all backgrounds.

The hotel comprises three distinct buildings positioned around the historic and newly redefined, St James Square. From the Ribbon Building to James Craig Walk and the Quarter House, each of the 199 rooms and 45 suites offers a new perspective on the city.

The Ribbon Building is a striking new landmark at the heart of the city. Its eye-catching, elegantly spiralling bronze exterior evokes the celebratory spirit of Edinburgh, as well as a sense of rebellion and creative disruption that unites Scotland and the W brand. The top three floors are conceived as one continuous guest experience of eating, drinking and dancing, culminating in a vast roof terrace with unprecedented panoramic views of Edinburgh’s iconic landmarks, from Arthur’s Seat and Calton Hill out to the North Sea.

In contrast, James Craig Walk is a listed terrace dating from 1775 that has been restored in its entirety as part of the project. The building epitomises the character of historic Edinburgh, with its robust stone facade, high ceilings and tall, elegant sash windows. The Quarter House, which links smoothly with the Ribbon Building, is predominantly faced in understated stone. The three buildings are connected by the newly landscaped St James Square, a largely pedestrianised square that acts as a focal point and performance space for the hotel, as well as the wider city.

W Edinburgh’s main restaurant is Scotland’s first SUSHISAMBA, which serves renowned Brazilian, Japanese and Peruvian fusion cuisine and drinks. Our design features a stunning monochrome tiled floor inspired by Ipanema beach with a rippled, mirrored ceiling above, and multi-level orange tree sculpture, which is a signature of the brand. The Chef’s Table is an intimate space separate from the rest of the restaurant, with handsome stone and live-edge bar that allows 14 guests to eat in dialogue with the chef, all beneath a bespoke skeletal chandelier.

The W Lounge is conceived as the social centre of the hotel. Its centrepiece is a showstopping 12-metre monolithic bar hand-carved from granite, the spirit of which is mirrored by the mini ‘rock bars’ in the guestrooms. Also in the Ribbon Building, João’s Place is an intimate speakeasy designed to evoke an imagined Sao Paolo apartment in 1968. The palette is drawn from the Brazilian mid-century design movement, featuring warm tropical wood and soft finishes against a concrete backdrop.

Our interior design approach unifies the three buildings, celebrating the rich context of Edinburgh and Scotland through interwoven narrative strands, embracing aspects from folklore and mythology, and referencing the country’s volcanic landscapes. Dark ‘charred wood’ panelling in many of the public areas is complemented by striking copper touches, while natural rock and deconstructed tartan designs feature across multiple spaces. Inside and out, the hotel celebrates the best of much-loved city.