The Balmoral Hotel Edinburgh, luxury Scotland travel, high tea in Edinburgh, Irene Forte Spa, luxury wellness retreats, Scottish luxury hotels, and Edinburgh travel inspiration.
Edinburgh Scotland, The Balmoral Hotel
The Balmoral Hotel recently extended its hospitality to my colleagues and me for an elegant High Tea in The Palm Court. While every detail delighted, the truly outstanding aspect was the service—so attentive and refined that one might be reluctant to depart. The offerings were exquisite, the champagne superlative, and the decor evoked an atmosphere of enchantment.
Balmoral Palm Court. Thank you for hosting & treating us to high tea.
Video: Balmoral Tea
The following content is courtesy of The Balmoral Hotel.
Photography by The Balmoral Hotel.
Irene Forte Spa
Uniting the latest science with Mediterranean traditions for fast results and longer-term wellbeing.
Irene Forte Spa is bringing bio-innovation, clinically proven skincare and Sicilian inspiration into the rhythms of Edinburgh. The result is an approach that feels as luxurious and sensorial as it is effective: a seamless fusion of “natura e scienza”.
Founder Irene Forte shares her excitement at bringing this one-of-a-kind, comprehensive spa philosophy to one of Scotland's most iconic hotels, The Balmoral:
“Our vision has always been to create spaces where wellbeing feels both luxurious and purposeful,” says Irene Forte. “At The Balmoral, we've combined everything I love: the science of high-performance skincare with the soul of Mediterranean living to help people feel uplifted, instantly and enduringly, in one beautiful and restorative space.”
Facilities include five treatment rooms, a thermal suite with sauna and steam room, and a 15-metre indoor lap pool. There's a gym with the latest Technogym cardio and strength equipment, as well as a movement studio for Reformer Pilates and fitness classes. The dedicated Wellness Bar serves nutritional food, juices and infusions, inviting guests to pause and recharge.
Skincare and treatment innovation
Bespoke facials and body therapies use Irene Forte Skincare, with botanicals sourced from the brand's organic farm at Verdura Resort in Sicily. Formulations are shaped by 40 years of biomedical research and are vegan, suitable for all skin types, and clinically approved for sensitive skin.
Highlights:
3D skin analysis provides a detailed assessment to gain optimal results by tailoring treatments precisely to individual needs.
Indulgent, anti-ageing facials include the Phytomelatonin facial with buccal massage, LED and a hyaluronic acid sheet mask; the wrinkle-smoothing Peptide Power paired with Tri Energy microcurrent radio frequency; and the LYMA Laser PRO Facial, which uses a clinical-grade laser to trigger unprecedented transformation deep within the dermis.
Body therapies are all non-invasive yet highly targeted, such as Endosphères body or legs therapies using micro-compressive vibration for contouring and lymphatic drainage.
Massages deliver a complete range of outcomes, whether to stimulate circulation with ximenynic acid-enriched oil, ease tension for expectant mothers with rose body oil, increase comfort by incorporating breathwork and techniques accredited by the Standards Authority of Touch in Cancer Care, or restore balance through the use of Etna volcanic hot stones.
Locally inspired rituals use Scottish Cairngorm quartz, renowned for its balancing properties, to ground and nourish from head to toe.
Every therapist is trained in Irene Forte Skincare protocols and evidence-based techniques, ensuring consistent levels of care and expertise and exceptional results across all treatments.
Introducing the Forte Vita Bar
The first Forte Vita Bar to launch in the UK offers express beauty rituals for people on a busy schedule. Alongside hair treatments, cutting and styling, the non-toxic nail treatments include the first patented LED polish that's gentle yet long-lasting.
What sets the Forte Vita Bar apart is the range of fast facials, using advanced technology to achieve younger-looking skin in less time. The Base Facial, with EMS, radio frequency and LED, enhances skin tone and elasticity in just 50 minutes. Optional add-ons, such as oxygen infusions, peptide sheet masks and collagen-boosting Dermalux LED red-light therapy, deliver a radiant finish in five to 15 minutes.
Design and atmosphere
Designed by DO Design Studio, the new 1,102-square-metre spa offers a contemporary retreat that balances Scottish grandeur with an earthy colour palette of soft terracotta and sage tones. This creates harmony and connection between the heritage of The Balmoral and the Sicilian roots of Irene Forte Spa.
Reception spaces feature marble mosaics and calming palettes. Treatment rooms and changing areas follow a curved, cocooning design that ensures comfort and serenity. The cork flooring and acoustic ceilings further enhance the sensory quality.
Retail and product offering
The spa introduces the first dedicated Irene Forte Skincare retail space in Scotland, alongside a curated selection of complementary wellness and beauty brands chosen by Irene Forte. These include Davines for hair, Manicurist for nails, and the LYMA Laser PRO – one of the most prized devices among the world's leading aestheticians and dermatologists to deactivate the ageing process at home with no pain, no damage and no downtime.
Looking ahead, Irene Forte highlights how this opening marks a new chapter for wellness at Rocco Forte Hotels:
“Wellness is deeply personal. It's about creating environments that make people feel both cared for and empowered. When uncompromising scientific innovation works in harmony with the regenerative power of nature, it lifts your whole being. This launch is the next step in building longevity, vitality and joy into everyday life, however long you spend with us.”
Partner brands that Irene Forte loves
Beds: Lemi
Technology: LYMA Laser PRO, Dermalux Flex, Omnilux LED, Sculptra Desee Pro, OXYjet GO, Endospheres
Furniture: Spa Vision & Aram (pedicure, manicure, and hair chairs)
Gym equipment: Technogym
Lifestyle and beauty: Davines, Manicurist, La Bonne Brosse, LYMA Laser PRO
The Balmoral Edinburgh, A Rocco Forte Hotel
About The Balmoral:
Many hotels claim to have landmarks on their doorstep; few can say their doorstep is a landmark. The Balmoral is a grand railway hotel located at Edinburgh's most prestigious address, No. 1 Princes Street. The Balmoral began life as a grand railway hotel in 1902, and has 187 contemporary rooms and opulent suites. Excellent cuisine is guaranteed in Number One restaurant as well as the hotel's all-day dining venue, Brasserie Prince. Afternoon Tea is served in Palm Court, and the hotel boasts a collection of over 500 single malt whiskies at SCOTCH.
About Rocco Forte Hotels:
Established by Sir Rocco Forte and his sister, Olga Polizzi in 1996, Rocco Forte Hotels is a collection of 14 individual hotels, resorts, residences, and villas. All of the hotels are landmarks, both old and new, occupying magnificent buildings in exceptional locations. Led by a family who has been in hospitality for four generations, the hotels are united by their distinctive approach to service, ensuring guests experience the best of the cities and surrounding areas.
Rocco Forte Hotels comprises: Rocco Forte House, Milan; Hotel de la Ville, Hotel de Russie and Rocco Forte House, Rome; Hotel Savoy, Florence; Verdura Resort, Rocco Forte Private Villas and Villa Igiea, Sicily; Masseria Torre Maizza, Puglia; The Balmoral, Edinburgh; Brown's Hotel, London; The Charles Hotel, Munich; Hotel Amigo, Brussels and Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg. Future openings: The Carlton, Milan in November 2025; Costa Smeralda, Sardinia in 2026; Palazzo Castelluccio, Noto, Sicily in 2027 and Palazzo Sirignano, Naples in 2027.
Please read our previous magazine on Scotland here:
https://theparishouse.com/blog-1/sunday-guide-edinburgh-scotland?rq=scotland
Additional Reading
The Paris House Travel Planning Services