Our Homes From Home – Montpelier Park, Bruntsfield

Bruntsfield is buzzing. It has always been much loved and with good reason as the local offering of independent shops, cafes and restaurants is so good. Plus Bruntsfield Links and the Meadows are on the doorstep and Princes Street easily reached. But recent additions have taken Bruntsfield to a new level. It has never been better to base yourself in Bruntsfield and our fabulous new two bedroom home on Montpelier Park is the perfect place to do just that.

Photo: @julestollkuhn

What makes Bruntsfield so special?

Bruntsfield has always been lovely. The atmosphere is more village than city and there’s so much green space to relax and have fun in. Bruntsfield Links and The Meadows is Edinburgh’s favourite green gathering place. On a sunny day, The Meadows is filled with hundreds of happy people picnicking and soaking up the sun. In early May people come to marvel at the cherry blossom, sit on a bench and relax. People here chat, run, cycle and play tennis, football and cricket. Families love this place and there’s a great outdoor play area for smaller children. And in recent years during the Festival, circus tents have sprung up here too. But the real star of the show these days is food. You can eat very, very well in Bruntsfield.

La Barantine’s bakery – some of the best bread in the city.

Vincent Aplincourt comes from a long line of French bakers and had fallen in love with Scotland. Him and his wife, Celine, arrived in Edinburgh with nothing but a desire to bake and share his skills and knowledge with the people of Edinburgh. They opened their first cafe, La Barantine, in 2011 here in Bruntsfield and now own several cafes across the city, but the real star is their bakery, La Boulange, at 10 Bruntsfield Place. There’s always a  queue out the door, so get there early for the most delicious sourdough bread and croissant this side of Paris.

Restaurant wise, The Chop House, are now here as is local star chef, Tom Kitchin, with his new Southside Scran. Leftfield, a tiny neighbourhood bistro overlooking Bruntsfield Links with a reputation for superb meat, is fabulous. Locals love Three Birds, another great small independent restaurant.

Honeycomb is a great local cafe with the most delicious cakes and coffee lovers will be happy as Artisan Roast and Project Coffee are both here.

A special home in a lovely area

The owners have owned this two bedroom apartment in Montpelier Park for years. Their children used it whilst they were students but have now fled the nest, so this was a perfect moment to say goodbye to the student vibe, inject some tender loving care and make the very most of the space so that the family can use it for years to come. So Montepelier Park is very much a home from home for the family who live elsewhere in Scotland and love spending time in Edinburgh.

Montpelier Park runs off Bruntsfield Place, so it’s a very short walk to all the local action.

When I first met the owners here, they mentioned wanting to refurbish it throughout. I said that if we got our skates on, it could be transformed by the festival, just three months away and so that became the deadline. It was very tight, but luckily my husband, Simon, has a merry band of trades and does refurbishment projects in the city. There’s nothing like a tight deadline and a VIP guest moving in to focus the mind!

The biggest job was deciding to tackle all sorts of strange angles in the kitchen, levelling the floor and doors and fitting a new kitchen. This room is a huge success, as it’s wonderfully light and spacious, with lots of room for cooking and a lovely dining table too.

Hand finished metro tiles compliment the wooden worktops. It’s well equipped for anyone who wants to make the most of the local food shops and cook at home.

Edinburgh’s most charming bedroom

The whole apartment is very attractive and comfortable, but the most delightful space is the smallest room. It was a slightly tricky small bedroom with no attractive features. So inspired by The Blue Cabin By the Sea and newly refurbished and fabulous Fife Arms, I suggested building a cabin bed. It has turned out absolutely brilliantly providing the cosiest possible space. Who wouldn’t want to curl up with a good book, or someone you love in here! I’m sure that whilst the main bedroom is larger, this is the space that people will have a fight over to sleep in! It’s got to be the most charming bedroom in Edinburgh.

The main bedroom is delightful, decorated with peaceful pale shades and interesting art. The bedding throughout is top quality, so you should sleep very well here.

In the sitting room, you’ll find comfy sofas and great art by local Scottish artists. There are good books to browse too.

The bay window in the sitting room is the perfect spot to sit and read or do some work if you’re working whilst staying here.

In the shower room, a tiny bath under the window was ripped out and replaced with a great quality shower, metro tiles and wooden panelling.

The transformation of Montpelier Park is complete and the first guest was delighted to stay here. All the hard work was worthwhile as it’s now the most comfortable of homes from home. The owners have made the very most of the space and thought very carefully about all the little details that make such a difference to a guests’ stay.

We’re totally confident that guests will love staying here. If you’d like to check availability and prices for a stay in Montpelier Park, please click here