The Penthouse Terrace at The Edinburgh Grand

The Loveliest Hotels In Edinburgh

1 week ago

Where to rest your head in the beautiful Scottish capital

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The Penthouse Terrace at The Edinburgh Grand

Edinburgh: home to historic buildings, dramatic landscapes, the annual Fringe Festival and, more recently, One Day filming locations. And best of all for us, comfortable and stylish hotels are plentiful in the Scottish capital. Below we’ve put together the ultimate guide on where to stay, all visited by members of the C&TH team, with some taken from our annual Great British & Irish Hotels book.

Best Hotels In Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Grand

If it’s location you’re after, this place is top of the bill. Set slap bang on St Andrew Square, a two-minute hop from Waverley Station and a quick stroll to all the big venues, this former Royal Bank of Scotland HQ dates back to 1942 and gives off strong ‘Edinburgh in its heyday’ vibes. It’s the lobby and soaring atrium that does it, reaching all the way up its six triple-height floors, with a circular lightwell just made for selfies. The 50 recently-revamped rooms and suites – think natural wood, dove grey tones, big sofas, big windows – have living areas and full kitchens, making them a good spot for an extended or family stay, and the hotel is currently working towards its Green Tourism Award. Opt for the top floor with its wraparound terrace and stonking city views. Floor 4 is home to The Register Club, a cool wood-panelled bar and restaurant serving excellent staples, while the ground floor hosts an enormous Hawkesmoor (buzzing during my stay) and the Lady Libertine wine bar. The perfect one-stop shop for a smart Edinburgh stay. By Francisca Kellet

42 St Andrew Sq, Edinburgh EH2 2AD

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100 Princes Street

Opened in 2024 by Red Carnation Hotels, 100 Princes Street is housed in the former headquarters of the Royal Over-seas League (it was previously a members’ club and retains the same discreet atmosphere). From the hand-painted mural celebrating Scottish botanists that stretches all the way up the five-storey staircase to Ghillie’s Pantry, a private dining room with 100 rare whiskies on display, it has a real sense of place. And that’s before you glance out of the windows at Edinburgh Castle or stroll next door to the National Gallery. A handful of tartans by Scottish designer Araminta Campbell cover the bedroom walls, with antiques and nautical design elements woven throughout to narrate the building’s illustrious history. At its heart is The Wallace, a bar, library, tasting room and dining room where executive chef Wilhelm Maree whips up dishes such as Scottish lobster rolls and dry-aged Aberdeen Angus burgers with whisky onions, smoked bacon and Isle of Mull cheddar. Exactly the kind of hearty fare you want after a hike to the top of Arthur’s Seat.

100 Princes St., Edinburgh EH2 3AB

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The Witchery

James Thomson’s gothic conversion of this historic 16th-century building – named after those burned at the stake for witchcraft on Castlehill – is darkly mysterious and thrillingly exotic. Situated atop Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, guests enter through an ancient close into a flamboyantly theatrical world, where richly gilded ceilings, oak-panelled walls, and lavish tapestries set the scene. Above the restaurant and in the adjacent Jollie’s Close, the nine suites are vast, sumptuous, and wickedly romantic, featuring extravagant four-poster or curtained beds, antiques and oil paintings (the largest is The Old Rectory, which has seven windows with views of Fife in the distance). A favourite haunt of celebrities, The Witchery dining room is as magical as its name suggests, with red leather seats and an atmosphere steeped in gothic charm. Entered via a stone staircase, The Secret Garden restaurant offers an intimate sanctuary, where candlelit tables sit beneath the grandeur of opulent tapestries. Andrew Lloyd Webber once pondered whether it was one of the prettiest restaurants ever; we have to say yes.

352 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NF

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The Glasshouse

When they call it the Glasshouse Hotel, they mean it. Your slick, modern suite has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a hilltop glass restaurant (no relation) and a bathroom with enough glass to rival Murano (glass walls, glass door, glass bath panels). Pop next door to the Playhouse Theatre or jump on the tram, or step outside your room directly onto the rooftop garden with spectacular views of Calton Hill. Afterwards you’ll enjoy nibbles from a little wicker picnic hamper of Scottish fudge and shortbread before diving under the luxe bedding. Then you’ll breakfast on fine Scottish fare, including Campbell Brothers’ smoked salmon. If you’re a lover of beige and grey and all things mute, this hits the spot. If you want history, it’s set in the Lady Glenorchy, a one time church with a 140-year old façade. If you love an old building but don’t want draughts and ghosts, this is the place for you. By Caroline Phillips

2 Calton Sq, Edinburgh EH1 3AA

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Prestonfield

Let’s face it, they don’t make hotels like Prestonfield anymore. Or very rarely. It’s romantic, it’s opulent and it’s shamelessly seductive. It has welcomed presidents, princes and stars of stage and screen – everyone from the Dalai Lama to Elton John and Sean Connery. The mansion, in a quiet location just five minutes’ walk from Edinburgh’s Old Town, gives no hint of what lies inside. Minimalism be damned. There are swags and columns, brocades and velvets, rich colours and intimate corners. Bedrooms are better described as boudoirs, where velvet, silk and antiques mix with high-tech playthings, and surfaces are scattered with flowers, fruit and candles. Suites are even more lavish: a Gothic day bed, a velvet-hung four-poster, silk toile wallpaper, a silver chariot bath. The two oval-shaped dining rooms become a candlelit Gothic fantasy at night, and the food and the hotel’s impressive wine cellar live up to the ambience. Staff are relaxed and friendly, and will track you down in whatever intimate sitting room (there are at least four) you are curled up in. And, once you manage to uncurl, the city awaits.

Priestfield Rd, Edinburgh EH16 5UT

The entrance to Prestonfield House with two dalmatians

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InterContinental Edinburgh The George

George Street was built in the 18th century as the showpiece street for New Town, and this grand city hotel certainly lives up to the road’s prestigious history. The collection of fine Georgian townhouses that make up the InterContinental Edinburgh The George have been a grand hotel since 1881. While the pillared entrance hall feels palatial, the rooms are anything but austere: they are Scottish landscape inspired, with Bute blankets in tasteful grey at the foot of the bed. Downstairs is The Printing Press Bar & Kitchen, once home to novelist Susan Ferrier and John Oliphant, whose descendents founded one of Scotland’s most famous publishing houses. It is here you’ll find the finest Stornoway black pudding at breakfast and Tweed Valley Scotch beef cooked at night. This isn’t the sort of place you forget which city you are in once through the front door, this hotel has a true sense of itself – even the guest services team wear kilts.

19-21 George St, Edinburgh EH2 2PB

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Fingal Hotel

Looking for a hotel stay with a difference? Located a little further out of the city centre in Leith is Fingal Floating Hotel, a luxury, 5-star hotel on a boat that combines the glamour of a super-yacht with old-world elegance. Originally a ferry for lighthouse keepers’ essential supplies, Fingal was retired in 2000, and a two-year conversion transformed her into the hotel she is today, kitted out with an elegant ballroom with a sweeping staircase that can seat up to 60 people for dinner. On the upper deck, The Lighthouse Bar provides delicious drinks – or pop across to neighbouring Royal Yacht Britannia for a decadent afternoon tea with panoramic views.

Alexandra, Dock Pl, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 7DX

Fingal docked in Leith, Edinburgh at sunset

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The Balmoral

The Balmoral is Sir Rocco Forte’s beloved five-star property at the heart of Edinburgh, originally built in 1902 in impressive Scottish baronial style as a landmark for Waverley station. One of the world’s great railway hotels, The Balmoral’s clock is cleverly set three minutes fast to ensure guests never miss their trains. Exuding a timeless elegance, the bedrooms have been transformed by Olga Polizzi, deputy chairman and director of design for Forte Hotels. Highlights include the large signature suites: the Scone & Crombie and the Glamis. With up to three bedrooms and spacious living rooms, they make the ultimate Edinburgh base for couples and families.

1 Princes St., Edinburgh EH2 2EQ

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Gleneagles Townhouse

The iconic sporting and country estate of Gleneagles launched its first city dwelling in St Andrews Square in 2022, reimagining the space as Gleneagles Townhouse. Offering 33 bedrooms, the townhouse is also home to a members club, with access to private spaces and on-site gym and wellness clubs. The rooftop terrace offers views across the city previously only enjoyed by the rooftop statues on the former Bank of Scotland headquarters.

39 St Andrew Sq, Edinburgh EH2 2AD

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Kimpton Charlotte Square

Tucked away in New Town – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and overlooking a picturesque private garden square, Kimpton Charlotte Square promises a quiet escape from Edinburgh’s hustle and bustle. But never fear: you are a short walk from the magic of the Fringe. Behind the historical Georgian facade – seven interconnected Georgian townhouses – lie ultra-modern facilities promising an easy, restful stay. Inside, the glass-topped courtyard shines, blending modernity with the old, and abuzz with travellers winding down with a G&T. Wander down George Street for an array of bars and restaurants – or visit Kimpton Charlotte Square’s acclaimed restaurant, BABA, for Middle Eastern cuisine with a Scottish twist.

38 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4HQ

ARTIQ Principal-Edinburgh-Charlotte-Square

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Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh, The Caledonian

First opened in 1903, The Caledonian – Waldorf Astoria’s Edinburgh outpost – is aptly situated to immerse guests in the Fringe as well as all of the culture Edinburgh has to offer, just a few minutes from Edinburgh Castle, and close to The Royal Mile, where many Fringe festivities occur. Inside, The Caledonian hosts 241 guestrooms and suites, two award-winning restaurants, a peaceful spa, and an indoor swimming pool overlooking the Castle. Dean Banks at The Pompadour – headed up by the MasterChef The Professionals finalist – offers delicious signature tasting menus focussed on sustainable produce, or head to Grazing by Mark Greenway for local ingredients served in shareable dishes. The Caley Bar, in true Scots style, boasts a collection of over 100 whiskeys – or head to Peacock Alley for a decadent afternoon tea.

BOOK IT: +44 (0)131 222 8888 / hilton.com

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh – Victoria Street

India Buildings – now occupied by Virgin Hotels Edinburgh – are rife with history. Built in 1864, a recent archaeological dig, which occurred before the five buildings were converted into a hotel, revealed unearthed artefacts dating as far back as the 10th century. The building was formerly Edinburgh’s principle Register Office, and, in 2005, hosted the first ever same sex civil partnership ceremony in mainland Britain. Now, it is Virgin Hotels’ first European luxury lifestyle hotel – and luxury it is. A dramatic interior – with a domed, balconied rotunda – is balanced by contemporary rooms and facilities. The Commons Club Restaurant showcases Scottish cuisine made from fresh, local produce; in The Rooftop Sanctuary, a delicious sip is accompanied by stunning views of Edinburgh Castle.

BOOK IT: +44 (0)131 526 4810 / virginhotels.com

The Loveliest Hotels In Edinburgh