The Best Places To Sleep In Edinburgh
Stevenson House (£)
It can sometimes feel like big-name five-star hotels have a monopoly on a city’s historic buildings. Not in Edinburgh. Stevenson House was the childhood home of Robert Louis Stevenson – author of Treasure Island and creator of Jekyll and Hyde – and it stands apart from anywhere else on this list. The tall New Town terrace is still a family home today, but it is also a one-of-a-kind B&B. It’s run by the splendidly hospitable John and Felicitas Macfie, and you might end up at breakfast with one or more of their six children. One of the bedrooms on offer has a four-poster bed and the Victorian bath installed by the Stevensons; the other is a twin with en-suite shower. Whichever you choose, expect an immersive experience like no other.
Visit STEVENSON-HOUSE.COM
West End Muse (£)
This first-floor apartment in a converted 19th-century stable block sleeps four across its two bedrooms. The open-plan living space makes it easy to relax, the modern kitchen is well equipped, and there are a couple of bathrooms. Count on a welcome hamper featuring handmade shortbread and a local gin liqueur.
Visit SANDANDSTONEESCAPES.COM
Eden Locke (£)
At the Charlotte Square end of George Street, Eden Locke is as an aparthotel that’s well set up for longer stays. Within its Georgian walls, there are more than 70 bright and modern studios and suites, each with its own kitchen and lounge area. The property also houses a café and co-working space.
Visit LOCKELIVING.COM
Native Edinburgh (£)
This New Town aparthotel is an exemplar of no-hassle city living. Princes Street, the West End and Stockbridge are all within easy walking distance. You’ve got a choice of studio and one-bed accommodation laid out around a versatile central lobby with a surprising amount of life. There’s a fitness room in the basement and laundry facilities for anyone staying a bit longer.
Visit NATIVEPLACES.COM
The Scott (££)
It’s part of the University of Edinburgh, but the Scott stands apart from the students in an 18th-century Baronial house within peaceful grounds close to Arthur’s Seat. Rooms are an appealing mix of cosy and classic, with the standalone Gatehouse offering another level of seclusion. In the property’s ornate original dining room, Bonnar’s does exciting things with seasonal Scottish produce – look for monkfish, walnut and wild garlic on the list of mains. Sign off for the night with a single malt in the low-lit Velvet Lounge.
Visit UOECOLLECTION.COM
House of Gods (££)
Close to Grassmarket, the House of Gods is a hotel where you could end up spending as much time in its bar as you do in your room. In the wood-panelled Cocktail Lounge, hard-partying musicians inspire a drinks menu that features both a Champagne Supernova and a Billionaire Girls Club. When you do need it, the accommodation is as decadently furnished as the bar – Classic rooms come with four-poster beds.
Visit HOUSEOFGODSHOTEL.COM
The Caledonian (££)
Like the Balmoral, the Caledonian is a historic railway hotel now in the safe hands of a big group. It’s recently become part of the Hilton’s Curio Collection, which means a significant investment is on its way. The plan is to complete a major extension by 2026, with other new additions opened in stages – starting with Mark Greenaway’s fine-dining restaurant, which is already impressing early visitors.
Visit HILTON.COM
Kimpton Charlotte Square (££)
Kimpton is a modern hotel brand doing a lot of things right at the moment. Its many strengths are all on display at its extended Edinburgh property on New Town’s green Charlotte Square. Rooms have record players and the classic vinyl to go with them, while guests can borrow bikes to explore the city on. Make sure you’re back in time for dinner, though. In the Garden Room, Aizle is far better than it needs to be – and among the city’s best restaurants.
Visit KIMPTONCHARLOTTESQUARE.COM
The Roseate (££)
The Roseate is a little out of the centre, but the location almost becomes an asset when you can wander into town along the beautiful Water of Leith. The hotel is spread across a couple of handsome detached properties in well-to-do West Coates. The bar has a fully loaded whisky cabinet, while rooms use tweeds and velvets to create a sense of place.
Visit ROSEATEHOTELS.COM
Nira Caledonia (££)
Occupying a pair of listed Georgian townhouses in New Town, Nira Caledonia is both understated and atmospheric. Rooms are reached via spiral staircases – we aspire to the Jacuzzi suites, though on a warm day we’d settle for a Grand room with garden access. The in-house Blackwood’s Bar and Grill makes good use of some excellent Scottish produce.
Visit NIRACALEDONIA.COM
Porteous’ Studio (££)
Independently run by a couple who split their time between Edinburgh and the Hebrides, Porteous’ Studio is a self-catering apartment in Old Town designed as a retreat for two. Natural materials give the place a warm feel – the furniture has been carved from a single oak tree from nearby East Lothian – though the underfloor heating helps with that too. The breakfast hamper of fresh local produce and the high-end toiletries are among a series of lovely touches.
Visit PORTEOUS.STUDIO
Cheval The Edinburgh Grand (££)
Sharing space with Gleneagles Townhouse in a splendid old bank on St Andrew Square, Cheval The Edinburgh Grand is a collection of apartments that run from studio spaces up to three bedrooms. There’s a gym in the old bank vault, while the Lady Libertine café-bar and a Hawksmoor steakhouse have taken over the ground and basement levels.
Visit CHEVALCOLLECTION.COM
Market Street Hotel (££)
Around the corner from Waverley station, the design-led Market Street Hotel puts you in the heart of the action. Rooms are elevated by the considered use of natural materials like granite and oak. They also come with a host of modern essentials: rainfall showers are standard throughout; many have Chromecast, Bluetooth speakers and Dyson hairdryers. The complimentary mini bars are another touch we love. The rooftop champagne lounge is the place to celebrate your success in choosing your accommodation well.
Visit MARKETSTREETHOTEL.CO.UK
The Pavilion at Lamb’s House (££)
In the medieval Leith Conservation Area, this charming three-bed house would be a lovely base for a family looking to self-cater. It’s the project of an Irish-Icelandic couple – both architects – who are often around to welcome guests. The attention they’ve given to the building has paid off handsomely. Homely yet luxurious, the Pavilion is a template easy, rewarding modern living.
Visit LAMBSPAVILION.COM
Apartment on Cheyne St (££)
If we lived in Edinburgh, Stockbridge is the area we’d want to live in. The Apartment on Cheyne St is a dreamy taster of what that alternative life might look like. On a cobbled side street, it’s close to the independent shops that help make the neighbourhood so appealing, and there’s a lovely park at the end of the road.
Visit SAWDAYS.CO.UK
Fingal (££)
Fingal is a ‘floating hotel’ moored in Leith. The bars, restaurants and myriad cool attractions of the old port area are all in easy reach from this old supply ship, though you’ll want to spend time on board too. Its 23 highly polished cabins recall the golden age of travel, with the best of them opening out onto deck. The bar is a transportive spot for a signature martini, while the kitchen takes its craft seriously enough to smoke its own salmon.
Visit FINGAL.CO.UK
Leith Studio (££)
We think this Airbnb is perfect for a long weekend in Edinburgh. Easily reached by tram from the airport, its restful Japanese-Nordic interiors blend beautifully into its Georgian exterior. Step outside and evolving Leith is right there, with its taprooms, Michelin-starred restaurants and cool vibes.
Visit AIRBNB.CO.UK
Greywalls (££)
Half an hour out of the city, Greywalls offers something quite different from the other hotels on this list. Stay here and you’ll still have Edinburgh in easy reach, but you’ll also have the head-clearing benefits of being in the East Lothian countryside of ruined castles and sandy beaches. If golf is your thing, Muirfield is next door and there are many slightly more forgiving courses nearby. Greywalls itself has a Chez Roux and a beautiful walled garden hidden behind its gorgeous Arts and Crafts exterior.
Visit GREYWALLS.CO.UK
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh (££)
Set aside your preconceptions about the Virgin brand. Sure, there are some bright colours deployed within this hotel, but they’re not all red. There’s the odd bit of irreverence too – one of the best suites is called Sir Richard’s Flat – but this 222-room hotel deserves serious consideration. In a 19th-century building in the Old Town, it’s a surprisingly stylish palace of fun, with the circular Oculus Lounge an appealing hangout at its heart.
Visit VIRGINHOTELS.COM
Rock House (££)
Right on Calton Hill, Rock House is thought to be one of New Town’s oldest houses. It’s also where David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson first turned photography into an art form. Some excellent restoration work keeps that history alive today. There’s room for up to eight guests across the house’s four bedrooms, and there’s an outdoor terrace with some fine views. On the same property, the two-bedroom Terrace Apartment and one-bed Photographer’s Studio are also available on a self-catering basis.
Visit ROCKHOUSE-EDINBURGH.COM
Gleneagles Townhouse (£££)
When it opened in 2022, the Gleneagles Townhouse was the most anticipated hotel opening in the city for decades. Today, it has delivered on all it promised. An urban sister property to the original Gleneagles out in Perthshire, it stands tall on handsome St Andrew Square. Thirty-three rooms range from cosy attic Nooks to spacious Masters, and all have luxurious period accents. Rooftop Lamplighters and Spence in the old banking hall are destination places befitting of the city’s hottest property. As you move between the two, make time for the Note Burning Room, an elegantly unrestrained lounge on the first floor. The morning after, know that the basement hides a wellness club encompassing gym, cryotherapy chamber, infrared sauna and treatment rooms.
Visit GLENEAGLES.COM
The Witchery (£££)
The Witchery is a wonderful gothic-style hotel on Castlehill. Right at the gates of the castle, just up the Royal Mile from Waverley station, it occupies a collection of 16th-century buildings. Interiors are dark and opulent – picture antique furniture and rich fabrics. Nine suites range from spacious boudoirs with rooftop views to rooms tucked away in a turret with its own private stone staircase. The candlelit breakfasts are a treat. In a Baroque dining space, croissants and giant pain au chocolat are served alongside juices and cooked breakfasts – there’s even a chance to try haggis.
Visit THEWITCHERY.COM
The Balmoral (£££)
Steam engines were still hauling visitors into Edinburgh when the Balmoral opened next to Waverley station. In the intervening 120-odd years, the hotel’s traditional Scottish Baronial architecture and magnificent clock tower have made it an icon of the city. Now in the white-gloved hands of Rocco Forte, the Balmoral does not rest on its rich history. Outstanding service, excellent dining options and Olga Polizzi interiors – the hallmarks of the group are all here.
Visit ROCCOFORTEHOTELS.COM
Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa (£££)
The spa is included in the full name of the Grand, and it deserves to be. The biggest in the city, it has a sauna and 19m indoor pool, though its jewel is the outdoor hydro pool on the rooftop. Around and about, there are treatment rooms filled with ESPA and Temple Spa products, as well as a fitness centre. In the rest of this modern city-centre building, the best rooms and suites look out to the castle.
Visit MARRIOTT.COM
Prestonfield House (£££)
The sister hotel to The Witchery, five-star Prestonfield House is a 10-minute taxi ride from central Edinburgh, but feels like it’s in the countryside. At the bottom of Arthur’s Seat and within 20 acres of grounds, it’s a gorgeously plush property with 23 bedrooms individually designed bedrooms. Each one is richly furnished – think linens, velvets, silks, and beds stacked with plump cushions to guarantee a good night’s sleep. We recommend a nightcap in one of the atmospheric Regency drawing rooms before turning in.
Visit PRESTONFIELD.COM
100 Princes Street (£££)
This hotel on Edinburgh’s main shopping street occupies what was once HQ for the explorers of the Royal Overseas League. Their legacy can be felt in the ‘home away from home’ ambience of the property today. Bedrooms have cossetting tartan walls and fine views of the castle. The rarefied feel extends to the Wallace, whose restaurant, bar, library and tasting room are all exclusively for residents.
Visit 100PRINCES-STREET.COM
The George (£££)
Location is one of the George’s many draws. Right on George Street, it’s in the city’s chic shopping heartland, with Stockbridge and Old Town both close by. Its building is a Georgian landmark that’s gained a modern extension – rooms in the new wing compensate for the absence of period features with some lovely views out to the Firth of Forth. The property also now has its own coffee shop, as well as an outpost of the upmarket steakhouse chain Le Petit Beefbar.
Visit EDINBURGH.INTERCONTINENTAL.COM
W Hotel (£££)
The W has had its critics. And there’s no doubt about it, the statement Ribbon building is a highly visible addition to the city’s much cherished skyline. The external architecture is less of an issue if you’re staying inside this highly contemporary new hotel, however. Champagne on arrival helps with that too. Many of the bedrooms have fine city views (an irony that may be lost on some) and there’s also a spa, a Sushisamba restaurant, and classic Scottish breakfasts on offer in the Lounge each morning.
Visit MARRIOTT.COM
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