A miniature Highland complete with lochs, toothy ruins, and prickly crags, accompanied by the haunting drone of bagpipes and a castle that’s 335 million years old. Edinburgh is the most sensory-intense place I’ve ever visited. There has always been no hesitation in making the trip to Scotland’s capital city. Finding a place to sleep is becoming increasingly difficult.
There was a time when travelers had to choose between tacky, five-star baronial hotels and budget brands that offered little more than a roof over their heads. But this is not the case any longer. Is a bed in a dock-rocking former lighthouse tender more your style than a Michelin-starred meal? Everything you need is right here, and more besides.
Our list of recommended hotels in Edinburgh, Scotland, has something for everyone, from cozy inns in the historic Old Town to chic boutique hotels in the trendy New Town.
The Top Edinburgh boutique hotels are:
- Those who are foodies should dial: 21212
- Fingal is the finest option if you’re looking to indulge.
- The Witchcraft Near the Castle is Perfect for Couples
- ALTIDO Rock House has the best scenery.
- The Roseate is the quietest option.
- Eden Locke is the best option for Airbnb.
- Prestonfield House is ideal if you want to act like a lord.
- The Raeburn is where locals go to feel at home.
- The Stevenson House is the best option for bookworms.
- Tigerlily is the best for those who prefer to sleep in.
Calton Hill
It was a watershed event for Edinburgh when this restaurant with rooms opened on what was once known as the “bad side” of Calton Hill. Paul Kitching, a chef with three Michelin stars, and his wife Katie O’Brien started the restaurant. Kitching died in December 2022. They wanted to carve out a niche in the city by combining high-end service with the finest of Scotland’s food. After that, nobody could top that.
Upstairs, you’ll find a beautiful cocktail bar and four bedrooms, each with a cozy sofa, a sensual bathtub, and chocolate-colored trimmings, perfect for relaxing after dinner in the restaurant.
Fingal
The thought of drifting off to sleep to the sound of the waves appeals to everyone. This once-used lighthouse tender has been lovingly repaired and is now docked in the protected Albert Dock Basin in Leith, but the reality is a bit different. The 237-foot vessel underwent a major makeover and now looks like a floating castle.
There are 23 rooms above the gangway, all of which have sloping floors and furniture reminiscent of a cruise ship cabin, but the true showpieces are the communal areas. On the upper deck is a restaurant and cocktail lounge decorated in the Art Deco style, complete with a gleaming gold ceiling and jazz music. The engine room ceiling was removed to make way for a passageway, and the hull was transformed into an opulent ballroom. The atmosphere is joyful and polite, as one might expect from the same owners as the neighboring Royal Yacht Britannia.
Magick on Royal Mile
You could literally sleep in Edinburgh Castle if you got any closer. That’s only one of the many selling points of this oddball collection of townhouses, all of which conceal opulent apartment-style rooms that are even more dramatic, amped-up, and, dare I say it, macabre, than those hidden in the royal fortress next door.
A wide variety of room types is available, from cheesy four-poster sanctuaries straight out of a costume drama to interesting Gothic suites complete with quirky corners, crannies, and creaky furniture. This is the perfect place for you if you dream of sleeping in a turret or encased in plate mail. Need your own personal library? You’re welcome to have one, too. Moreover, the city’s wonkily spectacular Royal Mile, a street of tolbooths and trapped-in-time townhouses, is right outside your door, providing a tartan-and-toffee-tin spectacle like no other.
ALTIDO Rock House
Many tourists visit Scotland’s capital for the picture-perfect view of Edinburgh Castle and the Scott Monument’s Gothic spire from Calton Hill. Halfway up Calton Hill, this little hideaway offers a breathtaking panorama, yet it’s only a few steps from the front door.
This period merchant’s house sleeps 14 and features a rooftop apartment and photographers’ studio that manage to feel both contemporary and classic in style. Although the property’s enviable setting is hard to surpass, it is the property’s historical details, which reflect pivotal events in the development of Scottish photography and art, that really make an impression.
The Roseate District in Murrayfield
The days can be spent lounging on the extravagantly comfortable beds, sipping tea on the front lawn, or soaking in the freestanding Victorian baths of this Victorian-era house, which features 16 rooms decorated with a mix of traditional Orcadian touches and contemporary design flashes that will keep you guessing.
You should also stroll down the Water of Leith path, which connects the area with affluent Stockbridge.
Eden Locke
Central Location, Great Alternative to Airbnb
Bookings on Airbnb in Edinburgh would drop if there were more options like this in the Scottish capital. The six-story Georgian townhouse welcomes guests with a lobby and cafe bar that welcomes laptops, and then introduces a series of serviced apartment-style rooms designed by a
New York architecture firm, most of which feature contemporary kitchens, sofas, and plenty of cupboard space, as well as bumper windows overlooking George Street. At 5 o’clock, the area’s restaurants, taverns, and clubs, especially those on Thistle and Rose Streets, fill up with revelers.
Prestonfield House; Prestonfield
This tranquil hideaway is what would have happened if Bonnie Prince Charlie and Alexander McQueen had gone into the interior design business. This one-of-a-kind hotel is more like a baronial manor house and is located just outside of the city, but it feels like a million miles away from the hustle and bustle.
The estate features Highland cows and preening peacocks grazing on the fields and front lawns, kilted doormen waiting on your every need, and huntsman couches and Snow White mirrors vying for your attention in the lounges. The rooms further are decorated in a burlesque red and kitsch purple color scheme with a dash of neon pink, and the hotel serves delicious meals and a traditional English cream tea with all the fixings.
The Raeburn Hotel in Edinburgh
The opening of The Raeburn, in 2014, was a long time in the making. Further, Stockbridge’s affluent population required a neighborhood watering hole where they could shelter from the weather and enjoy a meal indoors or out on the patio. And that is exactly what this Georgian home with 10 rooms provided.
The Raeburn is conveniently located near the city’s top must-see attractions, including the Royal Botanic Garden and Inverleith Park. Start with fish & chips at the lively café on the ground floor, or people-watch with a pint out front if the sun is shining, before checking into rooms that meet all your needs. Further, standard amenities include rain showers, giant flat screens, and coffee makers.
Stevenson House
Further, the residents of the historic Georgian mansion at 17 Heriot Row are likely to spend their time indoors reading classic novels like Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Jekyll and Hyde. When you sit amid the antiques and period furniture of the home where author Robert Louis Stevenson grew up from the age of six, you can feel the romanticism of his stories come to life.
There are only two rooms available, which is unusual, yet the inn is still occupied by locals John and Felicitas Macfie. “Private house—not a museum” is engraved in brass above the door, so there’s no mistaking the intent. We especially like the master bedroom, which has William Morris wallpaper and a Victorian tub, and the owners also provide informative private tours of the area.
Tigerlily
Want to have some fun? It’s possible that you’ll notice the long lines at the trendy cocktail bar in the basement before you realize that this hotel also features elaborate decor and is fully stocked with all the trimmings necessary for a memorable evening out. Get the party started with hair straighteners and an in-room music playlist, then take a cocktail lesson at the trendy bar downstairs and unwind with an on-demand movie library and room service breakfast in the morning.
The doubles and suites are as flashy as you’d imagine, with loud color schemes, sumptuous sofas, and wonderful beds; yet, there are many more peculiar design elements as well. Further, let’s say you’re thinking about booking a suite, and you’d want to stay in a Georgian-style room Or a space that is all dark, from floor to ceiling? Expect loud music and celebratory fireworks if you visit, but the setting itself is worth the trip.