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.

Bar Prince in the Balmoral Hotel Edinburgh is the perfect combination of luxury, quality and…read morecomfort. The Balmoral has been hosting royalty, celebrities, and cultural icons for 120 years, but the staff makes everyone feel special regardless who you are. We went back two days in a row because it is such a beautiful space with quality food and cocktails. The design is stylish modern classic with some of the most beautiful glassware I've seen. The cocktail menu hosts a nice variety of wonderful signature and classic recipes. I had the Nutty Professor (photo #2) which was a tasty blend of Bourbon, spiced rum, Cocchi Torino (sweet vermouth), Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur), and black walnut bitters with an orange garnish. It was so good I didn't change it up for my second. The cocktail menu is fun because of its local focus. They use fresh, locally sourced ingredients, reflecting a commitment to quality and a connection to the surrounding Scottish landscape. We loved everything about the experience for our first time visiting Scotland. The Balmoral Hotel and Bar Prince are a must when you visit beautiful Edinburgh. Go there!!! Salute

During our stay in December, we liked the location of the hotel to the main attractions and…read moreproximity to various points in the city within walking distance. Once you check in, the staff does not really interact much with you. We barely got any insights to the city and the hotel, making it feel less welcoming. We were told to look at a paper for the restaurant hours and there was some remodeling going on that made it a bit inconvenient with only 2 elevators. The rooms were spacious and clean, but a bit outdated and stuffy. It was comfortable but you could definitely feel the old room. Edinburgh was welcoming and everything around it made worthwhile the stay.

Everything could improve. The hotel is being renovated and the rooms that are being rented out…read moreare far below a four star property. There is no concierge to take luggage up to the room as advertised. There was no sheer curtain on the window so I could see directly into the hotel across the street which means they can see in to mine unless the blackout curtains are closed. There was no remote for the TV in the room. The bar provides ice for the rooms, however it is brought to your room with no lid on the public elevator so any sneeze or cough and your ice is contaminated. I called for ice and after waiting an hour I went to get it myself and saw the bartender pick said "Ice bucket" (a bucket without a lid is a wine bucket, not an ice bucket) off the floor from under the glass washing sink (unhygienic). Four days into my stay I brought my concerns and frustration to the assistant manager. She said the curtain would be hung and for my inconvenience I would get free breakfast for the rest of my stay (I was booked for two weeks and had mentioned I could have stayed at Premier Inn and gotten better service and free breakfast (as stated earlier breakfast was added along with executive club benefits which I wasn't interested in). I did go for breakfast which is served buffet style (£27 normally) and while the plates were hot, the food was not. I never ate there again. I spoke to the General Manager regarding my concerns and stated I thought I should receive a discount for the state of my stay (I was booked for two weeks). This did not happen. Instead he tried to insist I move rooms; a suite. I wasn't interested after unpacking and being there for five days already. I did request a discount for part of my stay. Hilton Honors was made aware, however they added 20,000 points to my account; after this experience why would I want to stay in a Hilton property again? To date, I've received no financial compensation for this deplorable stay. I'd avoid this hotel at all costs. The Scotsman is across the street, Radisson Blu around the corner and Marriott has properties also in Old Town. BTW, the General Manager told me he charged £7 for a cider in the bar "because he could"! Hardly the attitude a customer who has issues with their stay wants or needs to hear. Overall, I'd avoid this place like the plague...my stay was Jan 15-29, 2026.

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.

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.

I always find things to gripe about, especially regarding hotel rooms, but not this time. For the…read morefirst time in my life I entered a hotel room actually designed for the way travelers travel. From the electric outlets, charging stations, lighting, places for luggage, bathroom counter space, etc everything was was just so comfortable. Mattress was amazing. Overall location could not be beat. Breakfast was as full a buffet as you can get, and ordering from the menu was always an option. Highly recommend.

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

Love the unique appearance of this hotel, it's intriguing! Wonder service upon checking in! Our…read moresuite was quite nice, very spacious, clean, and roomy. I loved the top floor outdoor view of Edinburgh! We visited the 11th floor bar a couple times- it has some lovely views and great drink selections. Service is a bit slow but otherwise a nice place.

When we scored tickets to the Edinburgh Taylor Swift tickets many months ago I booked a hotel…read morebefore they became insanely priced. I noticed there was a new W in downtown Edinburgh so figured that would be a good spot to stay. It ended up being just perfect. The location was amazing. We were able to walk everywhere in Edinburgh besides the stadium and it was even connected to the St James mall. My 13 year old daughter and her friend were thrilled to have shopping just steps away from us. They also loved the Bonnie & Wild food hall above the hotel, where we ate at least 3 meals. We also ate the first night at the Sushi Samba located within the hotel, which was tasty and offered amazing views of Edinburgh. The rooms itself were a nice size by European standards and well taken care of. We slept in pretty late a few days (thank you jet lag and Taylor), but housekeeping always showed up and did a great job picking up after us. The gym was also lovely and had great equipment. 2 out of the 3 times I worked out there I happened to have it to myself as well. The only miss was the spa. I was looking forward to a massage after a long flight and concert, but it was probably one of the least impressive spas + massage that I've experienced. The pressure was weak despite asking for a little bit more and there wasn't a locker room, steam room or anything beyond the massage room. I would definitely stay at the W again, but I'd go the spa elsewhere next time. And I hope there is a next time. Taylor may have brought us to Edinburgh, but we enjoyed our time there as much as the amazing concert.

Beautiful hotel to stay in. Rich and old fashioned looking. Located right next to the Royal Mile…read more They offer daily breakfast and there is a nice restaurant located downstairs. The reception desk folks are friendly and helpful. When I sent emails about my upcoming reservation, they answered within a day which was great considering the time difference. The rooms are comfy and the bathroom shower is the best I've ever had. A wonderful place to stay while visiting Edinburgh. Oh and it's across the street from the train station.

Very good food. Nice atmosphere. Friendly but average service. Not the most attentive staff. But…read morevery pleasant. I think we Americans are used to a different kind of service so take my service comments with a grain of salt. For example, I asked for water and it did not come till 20 min into my meal. We ordered Cullen skink Fish and chips Lamb Steak and frites Potato leek soup. The best ever Everything was delightful.

I would recommend this hotel solely for the location, the breakfast, and kind staff. However, I…read morewould not recommend due to the layout and how many hurdles we needed to get through to get to our room: two separate elevators, and three sets of doors. We had to do that every time we came into the hotel. If you don't have much of any luggage, you will be fine. The rooms, and overall hotel was very clean. They have a bar on the third floor, in between the rooms so there are rooms immediately next to the bar, which gets loud. The breakfast was wonderful too.

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.