Standing at the East End of Princes Street is the imposing building known today as The Balmoral…read moreHotel. Owned by Sir Rocco Forte since 1997, the building has been completely refurbished and now enjoys a worldwide reputation as a luxury hotel. The hotel is a well-loved landmark which has graced Edinburgh's skyline since 1902 when it began its life as a grand railway hotel. Of course the building has undergone many changes since then but even to this day it still holds a certain magic that has luckily been harnessed and maintained. The famous Balmoral hotel is an iconic feature in the Edinburgh city skyline. With its impressive architecture, famous clocktower, and Scottish flag flying patriotically - it's like a siren that makes you want to see what's inside its walls.

Check in was swift and courteous. Room is amazing with a great view. The spa is nice but a loud…read moreboy was running around unattended in the locker rooms, screaming in the pool and quiet areas. Limited gym but nicely decorated.

We enjoyed our stay of 5 nights. The facility was clean for the most part. The bathrooms on the…read moremain level could use more frequently cleaning. Rooms were nice, but 1 of 2 rooms smelled of cigarette smoke. I believe smoking must be allowed at this location as the entry way also frequently smelled of cigarette smoke and we saw people smoking at the bar. We bought breakfast at the hotel which had a wide range of pastries, Scottish breakfast items, breads, and yogurt bar. They also had coffee machines with a variety of hot beverages like lattes and hot chocolate. Rooms were nice, with an armoire for clothes, tv, Nespresso machine, and kettle. Views were blocked by scaffolding this time as they were doing construction on some part of the building. We had a few issues with getting towels daily and receiving cleaning services despite it being brought to their attention. When we did receive cleaning of our room it was lacking a bit. Partially made beds, towels just piled etc. overall though, the hotel was nice and very centrally located. It was very convenient having breakfast before we started the day.

Location: It is centrally located and it is a walkable distance from all the shops and bars…read more Hotel: the rooms are clean and well stocked. The unfortunate part is they are currently under construction so the views are blocked by scaffolding. Staff were helpful and expedient.

This hotel is located in the Grassmarket area of Edinburg. It's just steps away from Old Town and…read morethe Royal Mile. Edinburg Castle is about a 15 minute walk. There is a restaurant in the hotel but there are a LOT of restaurants within walking distance. We had asked for a room with two beds thinking they would be single beds. (Our last experience with hotels in Europe was not a great one. We had a tiny room and a tiny bed,) When we got our room it was bigger than we expected. It had two beds-one was a king and the other a queen. What a nice surprise! There is no air conditioning in most hotels in Europe. With the windows open and a fan I was quite comfortable because the temp was around 60° the three nights we were there. The hubby who likes it much colder said it was bearable. The staff was friendly. The hotel was clean. I don't remember if breakfast is included in the price. There is a buffet breakfast or you can order off the menu. The last morning I ordered the smoked salmon, poached eggs, and sourdough toast off the hot menu. It was delicious. Had to have smoked salmon before I left Scotland...wish I would have ordered it sooner. Yummy. Would have given it 4 stars but with the lack of ac and having to climb several sets of stairs before you get to the elevator I'm giving it 3 stars. In all fairness, on occasion I did use the hotel ramp to get into or leave the hotel but that entailed walking through the rain. It did, however, lead you directly to the elevator.

This was the perfect hotel for a two night stay in Edinburgh. It's super centrally located and well…read morepriced. We were able to drop off our bags at 7 am and the room was ready by 12:30 pm. One of the major benefits for me is that they let you borrow a straightener from the front desk. My hair was so grateful!! The rooms are tiny but that's to be expected in Europe! The WiFi wasn't fantastic either but we really didn't need it much.

Friendly staff, comfy beds, BEST fish and triple fried chips (even Bobby Flay only cooks his…read moretwice)! Better than Landry's across the street. US & Canadian travelers...what to expect: twin beds for double occupancy, stiffer sheets, no top sheet, soft mattress. I especially enjoyed a variety of pillows. You are open to the air while sleeping or covered by a warm stuffed duvet, there's no in-between. Room, bathroom, bedding and towels are all clean. Ultimate location in the middle of the Royal Mile. I'd recommend this place

Fantastic location, room was spacious, and the concierge was extremely helpful…read moreLoved it

5 Stars for an outstanding hotel experience in the heart of downtown Edinburgh with staff and…read morefacilities that can't be beat! The location of this hotel is truly remarkable for short stays in Edinburgh. It's a short walk to the historic (and touristy) Royal Mile (ending at the Edinburgh Castle), the train station, and Westfield St James Quarter shopping area. AND, if you're in the mood for designer luxury, Multrees Walk is mere steps away. (Multrese Walk is an open-air luxury shopping street, connecting St Andrew Square to St James Quarter.) The facade of the building resembles a ribbon coming from the sky. This actually makes it easy to find your way as you walk through nearby streets. The interior is equally impressive, where every corner boasts bespoke furniture and decor that feels intimate, cool, and clearly intentional. But the one thing you cannot miss at the W is a visit to the W Lounge near the top floor. This restaurant/bar has wrap-around views of Arthur's Seat and the entire city. If the weather is cooperative, you can also enjoy the outdoor terrace. We found ourselves enjoying the view (and cocktails) here a few times as we made our plans for the remainder of the day. Shout-out to Walter at the W Lounge who made us feel like family!! Finally, the breakfast. We had it included in our booking, but it's normally around $40/person and is worth every penny. From the similarly-impressive views, to the incredibly crafted dishes, to the top-notch service-- This is unlike any hotel breakfast I've ever experienced 5 Stars all around!

I reserved my 3,000th review for one of the best, if not the best hotel stays. The W is fairly new…read moreas it opened in late 2023. The building's exterior coiled ribbons is unique and stands out. The location was great as it's close to the train station and the airport bus stop. It's also connected to St James Quarter if you wanted to do some shopping. We were luckily upgraded to a W Suite (1076 square ft). There is a separate living room with a bar, two bathrooms, and an extensive outdoor terrace with panoramic views of Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat. In the bedroom there is round king sized bed. Above the bed there are "star" lights. It's a memorable room! We were busy being out and about and didn't get to enjoy the room as much as we could've though. Each morning we had breakfast which was made to order. We also dined in the signature restaurant SushiSamba. In the evening, we sat at the bar of Joao's Place and W Lounge. Joao's Place is a Brazilian-inspired speakeasy bar. The tropicalismo cocktail was refreshing. I couldn't have asked for a better stay!

The Grand Cafe at the Scotsman Hotel offer delicious cuisine, a beautifully decorated restaurant…read moreand extremely helpful kind service. I ordered the Scotsman's board and a small tuna Niçoise salad. The food was fresh, delicious and seasoned well. The service was welcoming and attentive from when I entered to a good table and fast helpful service. The decor is classic with beautiful chandeliers, sofa and chairs for seating and lovely art and decoration. I recommend this restaurant even suggesting the Scotsman board to the couple beside me who were considering it.

If you want a great location and the history this is your place…read more That being said. There is a smell just as you walk in. We paid almost 750 a night for two nights. So some amount of "luxury" is as expected. We did not get the room requested and that was a disappointment. We did not inquire after seeing the room to be fair. The lack of any amenities in the bathroom at the price point was astounding. I have stayed in holiday inn express establishment that have some level of amenities. The Scotsman had none aside from the body wash, shampoo and conditioner in large bottles. That's fine I guess but not for the premium price point. The room had no heat at all. Even after contacting the front desk the excuse given was "the building is quite old and takes a few minutes to heat up. But the fan would not even turn on. At some point it did turn on but only blew cool/cold air. We were given a small space heater to help warm the cold room. Our room was on the ground floor at the corner and well. The bathroom window looks right onto the sidewalk outside and has clear glass. Yup. Everyone can look right in. Of course they have shades that you can pull down to block the view in and out of the bath. Problem solved unless you want natural light while you get ready for the day. Maybe frosted glass would help. Also as far as amenities, towels were rough and scratchy. Only two hangers in the closet is crazy and only to hang shirts. So if you want to hang dress pants? Well, bring some from home. The restaurant however beautiful, was lack luster in food quality and service. The front desk people working were helpful in calling a cab for us when it was time to leave and as helpful as they could be given the situation that had to deal with. I never expected them to fix the heat. But maybe the managers should help them out by addressing the situations? I was really looking forward to staying in this hotel after looking at all the photos on line and the location is AMAZING. But in hindsight I would choose another place to stay. It just didn't match the price we paid. I would not stay here and would think twice before suggesting it to others.

We will stay here again on our next visit. Centralally located near everything. Shopping, sights,…read moreand the mile.

Such a beautiful hotel and wonderful staff. Monday greeted us when we arrived and gave us a tour of…read morethe hotel while giving us a brief run down of the surrounding area. The room, the Glennkinchie suite, was spacious with multiple amenities, including a heated bathroom floor. They offer passes to the gym next door. Breakfast was always delicious and included tastes from the local cuisine. The staff at breakfast was always friendly and gave great tips. Henry (or Harry, I can't remember) was one of the servers that gave us good recommendations for sights. This hotel is central to a lot of major sights. I will miss this place and hope to return one day.

This was such a cute little hotel. The dining room was cozy and intimate. All the food was…read moredelicious. The service was impeccable. The flavors of the soup we're very delicate. The main courses were comfort foods. The presentation of all of the plates was beautiful.

This place is a hidden gem. Easily the best meal we've had so far on a UK tour. The menu is small…read morebut executed to perfection. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of food. Wine list is also reasonable with a few Champagne bottles under 50 pounds. The dining room is soothing, a welcome change from some of the places on this trip which can't seem to know if they're a restaurant or a disco. You can have a conversation without a constant techno beat drowning you out.

**March 2024: Weeknight/Weekend Stay**…read more I book a two night stay here and for a solo traveller I thought it was a good choice especially for €81.50 a night! Patrons use the kiosk to self checkin and are given a keycard. You'll use the keycard to enter the elevator and late in the evening the hotel entrance (which, makes me feel a bit more secure as a solo female traveler). The room itself was super compact/quaint; however, the bed was soft and comfortable and the shower had nice hot water and good pressure. The amenities were new/modern and there's a space underneath the bed to store your luggage. Location wise it's walking distance to the Royal Mile and Clarinda's Tearoom, which is a cute shop for tea and scones. I enjoyed my stay here and never felt unsafe. If you're just looking for an affordable place to crash - Hub by Premier In will fit the bill!

Nice place. The hotel is located right next to the Royal Mile which is a big benefit for tourists…read more The hotel has a $12 breakfast that is great. There are also lots of places to eat and drink within a city block. The room was great except for a few things; no USB ports for charging and black mold in the bathroom(they lose a star for this). However, a big benefit is they have a USB port you can use to watch your own movies if you bring a flash drive. This was a huge benefit for me because hotel TV is never a good thing. All said, this place is worth a stay.

This hotel was used by our tour group for our 3 night stay in the city…read more It is a very busy place with many people checking in and out and asking from assistance from the front desk. Yet, I found their staff to be very helpful in assisting with questions when I approached them. My room was a decent sized room and similar to other Marriott Courtyards in other cities. Location was excellent for me as it was closed to many restaurants, shopping centers and less than a 10 minute walk to places I wanted to visit close to the city center. Be aware of the bike path right in front of the hotel and look twice to avoid any potential accidents. Breakfast had a variety of cold and hot options. It is a super busy place but I didn't feel rushed to leave. We also had our farewell dinner at their restaurant. It was a decent meal.

Just an ok room. If you get claustrophobic then it is not a good choice. You arrive to the hotel on…read morethe 5th floor. We had a room on floor 2 which is partially underground. The room had a "courtyard view" to other rooms that were also under ground. If you open the blinds you are looking directly into other rooms. It is a clean room and in fairly good order. Wouldn't stay again.