Having already hosted a series of successful live music events in the U.S. and the Algarve, W Hotels’ latest cultural initiative, W PRESENTS, continues its multi-destination tour — spotlighting a diverse mix of emerging and established artists who embody W Hotels distinctive sonic identity.
With a selection of groundbreaking headline acts set to hit the grounds of W Hotels locations across Europe this year, the luxury lifestyle hotel brand is carving a lane in the music scene to blend hospitality with culture.
To celebrate the expansion of W PRESENTS, Hypebeast has teamed up with W Hotels to explore four major cities on its tour, kicking off with W Edinburgh in the vibrant St. James Quarter.
For the debut episode, we tap stylist Tamara Turnbull and photographer Bethany Grace, founders of LUNCH concept store, to spotlight some local hotspots in Edinburgh, Scotland before heading to the city’s anticipated event headlined by Welsh DJ, producer and vocalist Elkka.
First, the friends check into the 12-story Ribbon Building, a modern-day landmark in the heart of the city, before settling into the WOW Suite — W Hotels spin on the Presidential Suite. Spanning 1,600sq. ft with iconic views of the Edinburgh skyline, the suite features a social living area with a spacious dining room and unique rock bar inspired by the city’s volcanic beginnings as well as a walk-in wardrobe, free-standing bath, private sauna, and a private terrace.
buff.
The duo kick start their day by heading to buff.’s second, and recently unveiled, St. Ninian’s Manse boutique just outside of Edinburgh’s city center for a manicure and pedicure.
Known for its minimalist interiors, the design-led manicure studio offers a range of services, treatments, and lifestyle products to accommodate all visitors’ tastes and prides itself in offering a revived spin on well-being.
Good Vibes
Next stop: Good Vibes.
A small, independent record store that champions the heyday of physical music releases, it stocks a variety of vinyls and CDs from a range of genres — from nostalgic classics to emerging acts. Located in the bustling Leith district, the store also opens its space to the local community for a packed schedule of live music, events, and studio workshops.
ætla
As founders of a concept store that celebrates emerging creatives and entrepreneurs, the duo always look to champion independent businesses. After grabbing some of their favorite records, the next stop on their route is ætla — “a curated fine jewelry store in Stockbridge.”
Stocking a range of ethically sourced jewelry from around the world with a focus on local Scottish designers, it provides a unique, and conscious alternative to a typical jewelry store offering.
SUSHISAMBA Edinburgh
Heading back to base at W Edinburgh, Turnbull and Grace stop for dinner at SUSHISAMBA restaurant, occupying the 10th floor of the hotel and boasts 360° panoramic views of the city.
Globally revered for its Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine, this contemporary setting serves as the perfect rendezvous spot for dinner and drinks. The ever-evolving curated menu features a selection of SUSHISAMBA signatures among new Edinburgh specialties incorporating local Scottish produce. Turnbull’s “favorite dish was the samba Edinburgh roll” — made with lobster, mango-pineapple salsa, and oshinko.
W Lounge
After returning to their Suite to freshen up, the pair get ready for the night. Making their way down to the W Lounge, the social epicenter of the hotel, they were greeted with the sounds of headline act Elkka and the upbeat energy of the accompanying crowd. Spinning her iconic sets that are always bound to get the crowd dancing, the pair partied well into the night before catching some well-needed rest in their suite.
Watch Tamara Turnbull and Bethany Grace take Edinburgh for W PRESENTS in the video above, and stay tuned for more from the series.
For more information on W Hotels’ cultural activations and upcoming events, head to its website now.
