Edinburgh has never been short of good whisky. You can barely walk a few streets without finding an excellent bar, a specialist retailer or some connection to Scotland’s national drink. Finding a hotel that treats whisky as more than a few predictable bottles on the back bar, however, is a different matter.

The Glasshouse does.

Kirsty and I recently spent a weekend at The Glasshouse, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, in the centre of Edinburgh. We arrived expecting a comfortable base from which to enjoy the city. What we found was a hotel that has made whisky a meaningful part of its identity and, just as importantly, has assembled a team capable of bringing that identity to life.

We enjoyed our stay so much that we have partnered with The Glasshouse to give one GreatDrams follower an overnight stay, tickets to one of the hotel’s Malt of the Month events and a whisky-filled goodie bag. More on that, and how to enter, later.

A historic entrance with a modern hotel behind it

The first surprise is the building itself.

The Glasshouse sits behind the façade of the former Lady Glenorchy Church, originally built in the 19th century. From the street, the stone frontage feels unmistakably Edinburgh. Walk through it, however, and the architecture changes completely, opening into a contemporary hotel built around light, space and views across the city.

It is an interesting contrast. The entrance gives you the history and character you would hope to find in Edinburgh, while the hotel behind it feels modern and calm. It also has one feature you would never guess was there from the pavement: a substantial rooftop garden looking towards Calton Hill.

Despite the hotel’s central position, the garden creates a real sense of separation from the city below. Edinburgh is still right there, but the noise and movement feel surprisingly distant.

The location makes The Glasshouse an especially practical base for exploring. It sits opposite the St James Quarter, close to the Picardy Place tram stop and within walking distance of Waverley station, Princes Street and the Royal Mile. You can head out into the city without having to plan your day around taxis or lengthy transfers.

Convenience alone does not make a memorable hotel, though. For us, the more interesting story was waiting inside The Snug.

The Snug: more than a hotel whisky bar

Hotel whisky bars can be hit and miss.

Some have an impressive-looking display but nobody available to explain it. Others stock a handful of famous names, add a large markup and assume the job is finished. The Snug at The Glasshouse feels as though it has been created by people who understand that a serious whisky collection needs context, personality and knowledgeable service.

Recently renovated, The Snug is an intimate space with an open fire at its centre and a collection extending to more than 300 Scotch whiskies. The selection covers Scotland’s different whisky-producing regions and includes both familiar bottles and considerably rarer expressions.

The size of the collection is impressive, but bottle count is not the most important measure of a whisky bar. A long list is only useful if somebody can help guests navigate it.

This is where the team made the difference.

The staff we met were warm, attentive and genuinely enthusiastic about what the hotel is building. They could discuss the whiskies without making the conversation feel like a lecture or a test of prior knowledge. That balance matters. Whisky should be interesting, but it should also be enjoyable, and nobody should be made to feel that they need to know a secret vocabulary before ordering a dram.

Whether somebody already knows the precise distillery, region and cask style they want or is simply curious to try something new, The Snug feels equipped to look after them.

As people who spend a large part of our lives working with whisky, Kirsty and I inevitably notice the details. We notice when a collection has been assembled with thought. We notice whether the people serving it are engaged with the liquid. Above all, we notice whether whisky is being used as decoration or treated as something worth exploring.

At The Glasshouse, it is clearly the latter.

Taking the whisky story beyond the bar

What makes the hotel’s approach particularly effective is that the whisky connection does not stop at The Snug.

The Glasshouse has woven it through the wider guest experience. Its suites are named after Scotch whiskies or whisky-producing regions, while original pieces by Edinburgh-based artist Liana Moran reference the character of the distilleries associated with them. Whisky-inspired details also appear elsewhere around the hotel.

There is a risk with any themed experience that it becomes a little forced. That is not what is happening here. The hotel still feels like an elegant Edinburgh property rather than a whisky attraction with bedrooms attached. The references are there for guests who want to engage with them, but they do not overwhelm the rest of the stay.

That restraint makes the whisky elements feel more credible.

The hotel has also introduced Malt of the Month events in collaboration with distilleries. These guided monthly tastings give guests and local whisky drinkers an opportunity to explore a featured producer in greater depth, turning the hotel’s whisky interest into something active rather than static.

A whisky collection should be opened, discussed and enjoyed. Events like these help ensure that happens.

The people make the property

The building is striking, the rooftop garden is unexpected and The Snug gives whisky lovers an obvious reason to visit. Even with all that, our clearest impression of The Glasshouse was the quality of its staff.

Good hospitality often appears effortless, although anybody who has worked in the industry knows that it is anything but. It is a combination of noticing what guests need, understanding when to offer help and knowing when to give them space.

The team managed that balance exceptionally well throughout our visit. The service felt polished without becoming formal or distant. Conversations felt natural, requests were handled efficiently and the enthusiasm surrounding the hotel’s whisky programme came across as genuine.

That human element is especially important for The Snug. Bottles can be bought and shelves can be filled, but a memorable whisky bar needs people who can read the guest in front of them. Not everyone wants the same level of detail. Some visitors want to discuss production methods and cask influence; others simply want a recommendation for something delicious.

The staff understood the difference.

Who is The Glasshouse for?

The obvious answer is whisky lovers, but that is only part of it.

The Glasshouse should appeal to couples looking for an Edinburgh break, visitors who want to stay centrally without feeling surrounded by the busiest parts of the city and anyone who appreciates hotels with an identity of their own.

For serious whisky enthusiasts, The Snug and the Malt of the Month programme provide a compelling reason to choose it over another central Edinburgh hotel. For somebody who is only beginning to explore whisky, the relaxed atmosphere and approachable staff make it a welcoming place to start.

Meanwhile, a non-whisky-drinking partner is hardly being asked to endure a distillery tour disguised as a hotel. There is still the architecture, the garden, the views and the city itself to enjoy.

The GreatDrams verdict

The Glasshouse succeeds because its whisky story feels integrated rather than bolted on.

The historic church façade gives the hotel a memorable sense of arrival. The contemporary interior and rooftop garden provide a contrast that works remarkably well. The Snug contains a serious collection of Scotch whisky, but avoids becoming stuffy or intimidating. Most importantly, the staff give the entire experience warmth and personality.

Kirsty and I came away feeling that The Glasshouse understands something fundamental: whisky is at its best when it brings people together. A collection of hundreds of bottles is impressive, but the conversations, discoveries and shared drams are what guests will remember.

We certainly did.

Win an overnight stay and whisky experience at The Glasshouse

To celebrate our visit, GreatDrams and The Glasshouse are giving one winner the opportunity to experience the hotel and its whisky programme.

The prize includes:

• An overnight stay at The Glasshouse in Edinburgh
• Tickets to a Malt of the Month event at the hotel
• A whisky-themed goodie bag featuring YTL Whisky and shortbread

To enter, visit the competition post on the GreatDrams Instagram account and:

1. Like the competition post.
2. Follow both @greatdramswhisky and @glasshouse_edinburgh.
3. Leave a comment tagging the person you would like to bring.
4. Share the competition post to your Instagram Story and tag @greatdramswhisky.

Entries close at midnight on 1st October 2026.

Please be alert to impersonation accounts. The winner will only be contacted by the official @greatdramswhiskyInstagram account.

Good luck!

Competition terms and conditions

The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 or over.

The prize includes one overnight stay at The Glasshouse, tickets to a Malt of the Month event and a whisky-themed goodie bag. The stay and event booking are subject to availability. Blackout dates include bank holidays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The prize is valid for one year from the date of issue. Reservations must be made in advance and remain subject to availability.

Travel to and from the hotel, parking and any other expenses are not included unless expressly identified as part of the prize.

The prize cannot be exchanged for cash or resold or transferred to another party.

One winner will be selected at random from all valid entries. The winner will only be contacted through the official @greatdramswhisky Instagram account and must respond within 48 hours. If no response is received during that period, another winner may be selected.

This promotion is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.

Disclosure: The Glasshouse hosted our stay/GreatDrams has partnered with The Glasshouse for this article and competition, replace with the precise disclosure agreed with the hotel.