4 Best Hotels in Glasgow, Scotland

Consisting of a group of Victorian houses on a tree-lined street, well away from the bustle of Byres Road, this hotel is all about elegance, from the sophisticated drawing room to the individually decorated guest rooms with flowing draperies, Egyptian linens, and mahogany furnishings like four-poster beds. Once the legendary One Devonshire Gardens hotel frequented by many a visiting celebrity, today the Hotel du Vin Glasgow is still a destination for those in search of luxury. The stained-glass windows on the stairwells are an impressive reminder of the glamorous life of the wealthy who once lived here. The stylish bistro offers good Scottish cooking, with alfresco dining on sunny days; the menu lists more than 600 wines and 300 whiskies.

History and luxury come together at this smart conversion of the former headquarters of the Royal Automobile Club of Scotland, which occupies a classical building on peaceful Blythswood Square. The entrance is impressive, with marble floors and huge chandeliers. Room design is elegant and understated; the Spanish marble bathrooms make a dramatic contrast to the calming grays, whites, and deep reds of the furnishings. A basement spa offers serious pampering with its steam rooms, pools, sauna, and mud chamber. The ground-floor restaurant is modern and spacious while the upstairs bar and lounge serves afternoon tea from noon to 5.

One of Europe's great Victorian hotels built when train travel was a luxury, this hotel located within Glasgow's historic train station deserves its name, as everything about it, from the magnificent marble-floor Champagne bar to the ballroom fully restored to its original glory, is grand. Original features have been carefully preserved, including the guest-room doors and windows. Many of the rooms (although not all) are spacious with high ceilings, decorated in muted colors, and papered in elegant designs. The luxurious semicircular Champagne bar overlooks the station concourse, providing some visual theater for the visitors to this often-crowded bar.

The extraordinary floor-to-ceiling windows here set this modern chain hotel apart, providing a panoramic view over Glasgow and beyond from the upper floors (sixth and seventh). These "city view" rooms cost a bit more, but are worth asking for. Guest rooms are low-key and sleekly minimalist in design; light woods and white prevail, with touches of yellow. All beds are king-size, and the bathrooms (with showers only) are in muted colors. The downstairs bar and restaurant area (where breakfast is served) maintain the style.