Standing at the East End of Princes Street is the imposing building known today as The Balmoral Hotel. 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. read more

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Bar Prince in the Balmoral Hotel Edinburgh is the perfect combination of luxury, quality and comfort. 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 read more

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We had impeccable service in an incredibly elegant and beautiful tea room at the Balmoral Hotel in the Palm Court. I thought I had left a review already but I was mistaken. I feel I should leave one now, as it was such a lovely experience for our entire party, so much so, that a few of us returned a second time while visiting Scotland. Our group of five had tea service which was wonderful with friendly and accommodating staff. There was live music accompaniment by a woman playing a harp, which set the mood for a relaxing and memorable time. Our second experience was just as wonderful as the first. We will surely never forget our time spent together at this establishment... read more

Beautiful hotel where we took afternoon tea. I didn't love the initially offerings but did really enjoy the desserts and birthday treat they surprised us with. 'Rare afternoon tea' was NOT good at all. My husband had to send it back. My Earl Grey and the second offering of the Emperor's breakfast was good. read more

The Balmoral - Desserts and birthday treat - Hotels Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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One of the most elegant beautiful hotels I have ever stayed at in Europe. Stunning hotel from the bottom to the top. Amazing staff no matter which department they are from. And the view is incredible as well from the rooms. I will definitely come back to this hotel next time I am visiting Edinburgh! Thank you so much for everyone who made it super special at this stay! read more

The Balmoral - The view from one of our windows - Hotels Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

I certainly hope that if you are visiting Edinburgh for Christmas, that you stay here ! The service, the food, the overall experience leave you not wanting to exit !! Wow moments around every corner !! read more

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Hotel is located in central Edinburgh, close to everything including the busyness of the buses and street traffic. Inside it's decorated well and it beautiful. Not sure I'd stay in such a busy area again. The closeness to the Waverley train station is convenient though! read more

We had a fantastic time staying at The Balmoral. The staff is professional, courteous, and friendly. The rooms are huge and luxurious. The Bar Prince is fantastic! The hotel location was perfect for our needs. The hotel is gorgeous! We will be returning! read more

This 1902 Railway hotel is very prestigious and a landmark of Scotland's capital city. It combines stunning views with world-class facilities. There are 167 elegant rooms individually designed. The Palm Court is Michelin rated & known for their famous high tea under the glass dome. There is a famous whiskey bar, paying homage to Scotch, Scotland national drink. Here, kilted whiskey ambassadors help choose from over 500 varieties. read more

The Balmoral - Hotels Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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Amazing! Proper service and great food. Quite the history. A must do restaurant even if just a drink

Five stars all the way. The place is amazing if you haven't been. Location is tight in the art of town. Walking distance to everything. Upon entering your greeted by the doorman who is gracious and friendly. The lobby is small but beautiful. There's an amazing floral piece that sits right in the middle. Pretty sure it changes often. Service was great. We stopped off a the bar/restaurant for something to drink. Didn't have much time to have dinner as we were meeting other people. Staff was all quite friendly and amazing. The host showed up to the bar. The bartenders that took care of us was amazing. The service level at this place is top notch. If your coming for dinner, highly recommend making a reservation as it does get pretty busy. read more

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A stunning property in an amazing city. We enjoyed three nights in a spacious and comfortable king bed room, and took advantage of the spa facilities as well as visiting the bar prince nightly. Staff are professional but warm and responsive. The included breakfasts were tasty and buffet impressive. read more

I stopped into Bar Prince on suggestion from a few ladies I met in Dublin who are from Edinburgh and told me The Balmoral was a must visit. I'm so grateful that they did, as it hadn't been on my to-visit list. It was raining and a perfect opportunity presented itself when I had an hour of free time before dinner nearby. Service was superb! I snagged a seat at the bar and ordered a Hemingway daiquiri. I'll without a doubt return in the future and hope to also do an afternoon tea. I wanted to visit Scotch, but they were closed on the days I was in town. If you aren't staying here and visiting, I'd suggest a visit. read more

The Balmoral - Hotels Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

We ducked in here for a drink and a view of the inside of this beautiful hotel. JK Rowling famously finished her Harry Potter series here then commemorated the occasion by writing it down with a Sharpie on a marble bust in her room. Staying in the same room might be outside my pay grade, though. The hotel oozes class and elegance, especially as demonstrated by the bar staff. Having told them we were not guests of the hotel and just passing through, they treated us exceptionally, nonetheless. Our drinks were delicious and served with an old school flair. We enjoyed our time here very much and highly recommend a stop here. read more

A bit of posh and opulence in the heart of the city center of Edinburgh we had a lovely time. The hotel is one of the most beautiful to look at and take pictures of definitely matches the cityscape around it. Our room was comfortable however, for the price a bit average. Wonderful bars to drink they have a wonderful whiskey tasting room and their Afternoon Tea was lovely. read more

We picked the Balmoral hotel for our stay in Edinburgh because of it's convenient location-literally above the train station. Also, it's walking distance to the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, Scottish Monument and the Palace of Holyrood. The building itself is one of the most historic buildings in the city. We enjoyed everything: from the check in to the spa to the restaurants and finally the checkout- every interaction with staff was pleasant and enjoyable. The hotel is decorated in the traditional/modern Scottish style. It is definitely one of the most Instagramable hotels in the world. read more

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Andrew (concierge), Fraser (in the bar, related to a certain Scottish hard man football player), Jose (bellhop), and everyone else we encountered during our stay made it an absolute delight. Last minute cake-getting, advice on tartan, and an authentic warmth. Lovely. Only criticism: turndown service should not extend beyond 8pm in my opinion. If you can't get to all the rooms before then, don't run the risk of waking up jet lagged guests (at almost 9 o'clock in the evening!) with sustained knocking. I drowsily hollered that I was sleeping a few times but it took several attempts! But in no way a black mark on this wonderful hotel. Well done. read more

Afternoon tea was simply amazing. Service. Food. Environment. Bathrooms. Everything was a delight for all the senses. read more

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Brilliant! The bar service here is exceptional. The drinks tasted phenomenal. Definitely a five star experience! Highly recommend the prince punch. read more

The Balmoral - Prince Punch - Hotels Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

surprisingly, nothing to list as a negative other than the location, which of course is a pro and a com. It's a disaster to drive to. as a virtuoso hotel, they gave us an upgrade to a junior suite which had a great view. Service was impeccable. The food for the UK was decent. It was my own fault for ordering a ribeye... I should've known better..Au poivre surprisingly good. facilities were great with the pool and spa area and of course, the whiskey room was nice although the server seemed a little stuffy. given the upgrade, location, overall service and facilities the price was decent. read more

Well, I had high expectation but I have to be honest with my experience. The place was nice and the ceremony was well-intended but simply lacked the luster I had hoped for. It was my friend's idea and I should know better by now that everything this one friend does is simply an idea of it. It was pretentious and a waste of $$$. I mean there was nothing extraordinary about it other than it was plentiful of carbs in 3-tiered trays. The sandwiches and pastries were bigger than I expected. Sorry, I did not want to eat all that carbs. The only thing I really like was 1 piece of grape tomato swimming in a very small bowl of tea concoction with pine nuts. Although there was nothing special about it, it was not flour-based like the rest that followed suit. It was overwhelming and carb heavy. I'd skip it if I were you. Oh, I like the blanc de blanc I started with, tea was tea nothing special about it...but if you must foe you us folks, try high tea at the Willard, save yourself some plane ride, lol, like I did!!! read more

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We only went for the bar the cocktails were sublime! The service was immaculate the price is expected but for what you get is immense! Thanks for reading. read more

The Balmoral Hotel's must-do is the high tea with live harp music, an exceptional blend of sophistication and family-friendliness. Indulgent treats, tea, and soothing harp melodies create a warm, welcoming atmosphere for parents with babies. A harmonious experience for the whole family! read more

I stayed here one night because of its history and location to the train station. Check in was quick and efficient.  I arrived early, checked in, and did a little sightseeing as room was being prepared.  They emailed me when my room was ready. When I returned to pick up my room key, they escorted me to the elevator.  Unexpected but  I got a corner room.  The corner room is large.  A family of four or five people could sleep in here comfortably.  Bathroom is spacious. Did not ask for it but got my bed turned down.  Place is very bright with all the windows but not much of a view.  Definitely worth it. read more

Excellent is all I can say! From check in to check out staff were fantastic! Food and tea was awesome. They were also very accommodating to our checkin needs. read more

Maybe one of the best Afternoon Teas I have enjoyed. The staff were flawless and so accommodating. They continually went above and beyond, lots of wee personal touches that made the experience so much more special. If you can manage to get a table here, treat yourself, you deserve it! This will not be the cheapest afternoon tea you will ever have, but it's very likely to be the best. Thank you for a special afternoon! read more

Go for high tea one day, you'll feel whisked away to a simpler, more refined time. Balmoral Hotel is a gorgeous hotel with an equally dazzling restaurant. My friend and I stopped in one day while visited Edinburgh for high tea. Basically, $100 US/80 Euro (depending on exchange rates at the time) for dainty, delicate pastries on a three tiered tray are brought out with pretty teapots steaming with English loose tea. Pastries and cucumber tea sandwiches, milk chocolate squares and other sweet confections are assorted around buttery biscuits, flaky scones and pastel colored petit fours. An experience you should do at least once. read more

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Identified by its iconic clock tower (set two minutes fast to ensure travelers don't miss their train), the Balmoral is located in a prime location right on Princes Street in Edinburgh's city center. The architecture of the building is awesome and has a quality that makes you want to photograph it over and over again. Everything (and I mean everything) is within walking distance of the Balmoral. Rooms are tasteful and generally well appointed. Bathrooms are updated and clean and are decorated with various Sean Connery (James Bond) photographs. Every bit of the Balmoral is top notch EXCEPT for (1) the really lousy mattress in room 655 (no support, should have been retired about 6 years ago), (2) the fact that the hotel doesn't offer travelers a trouser pressing machine in its rooms or the use of an iron. To add insult to injury, the hotel's pressing service is overpriced in an obnoxious way. Even though I was traveling on business and using an expense account, I couldn't bring myself to use this service based upon principle. Free WiFi worked great, even for FaceTime calls back to the States. The concierge service and room staff were exceptional and offered great suggestions and kept our room clean, tidy and refreshed with everything we could have needed. The front desk staff was similarly helpful and welcoming. We also visited the Balmoral's 'Number One' restaurant and Scotch Whisky bar, both of which were really good. Overall, a good hotel that could be great (5 stars) if they simply address the poor mattresses in their rooms and either add a trouser pressing machine in each room or begin to offer irons / ironing boards to guests upon request. Other hotels of a similar caliber in Europe have already addressed these points. read more

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So we stayed here one night with the simplest room for about 200 dollars including tax. Compared to prices I pay in the USA and considering this is the most luxurious hotel in the heart of edinburgh, I think it was reasonable. The room was indeed on smaller side but enough for 2 peeps. The bed was super comfy and extra padding and I didnt wanna leave the bed. The bathroom is amazing with all marble tiles I really enjoyed showering. The facility itself has a feeling of a resort with all 5 star restaurants such as number one for about 90 pound per person, some really pretty bars and beautiful space for afternoon tea for about 45 pound per person. I think the prices are well set and you really enjoy the treatment. Oh almost forgot. There is also a spa which I didnt have time to go.. massagea are about 90 pounds.. and extra 25 pounds to use the pool/sauna etc.. read more

An amazing stay. We stayed at one of their suites worth my 7 year old and 7 month old baby. They were very attentive and accommodating to my family. Staff left a table of activities for my 7 year old and nightly milk and cookies. Breakfast is a must there. Spa was great for us adults. Children are welcome to the pool; but because the pool is within the spa I wanted to respect the other patrons and told my son he needed to be on the quieter side. Overall we love this hotel and can't wait to come back. Another plus about this hotel before I forget is that it is right next to the train station! read more

We are really enjoying our stay. services great concierge very helpful. would definitely recommend I will come back. read more

The Balmoral - Hotels Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

This is a hotel with a lot of history. The hotel has amazing service from the front-desk to the door man. The architecture is fantastic and the hotel is right at Princess Street. You can walk to all the key attractions from the hotel. The room have recently been renovated and they are modern and have all the key accessories. Within the hotel you have a couple of great cafes and a whiskey tasting bar, ... this is a place where you can experience many of great things about Edinburgh / Scotland. read more

It's safe to say that Edinburgh has got a pretty good deal when it comes to good-looking buildings, and for me, this one tops the lot. I honestly find it considerably more striking, imposing and just plain impressive than even the castle, especially at night when the tower is lit up. Having been sold the con of a university education, I've probably long since passed my opportunity to become a plumber and actually afford to stay here, but from the lunch I had in the bar with my old man a few years back, I can confirm that the quality isn't just limited to the exterior. Absolutely cracking. read more

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Probably one of the nicest hotels I have every experienced! I stayed there while travelling for business in February and everything was absolutely top notch. From the moment I walked in, I was blown away by the beauty of interior. The flower arrangements that were quite exquisite, were changed every few days. My check in process was spot on and my room was ready early (~8am) just as I have requested. This of course is not a guarantee, but i could tell that they really tried to accommodate this request. I stayed in an upgraded VIP room that had a beautiful view. The room was very large, by European standard anyway, and was made to feel larger by enormous ceiling height, probably at least 15 ft as well as large windows. The bed and bedding were very comfortable, although I was extremely tired throughout my trip and could have just not noticed. The bathroom was my favorite part. It was floor to ceiling marble and just so beautiful. The oversize tub was so large and comfortable, I could not resist a bubble bath. Something I never do even at home! The bathroom was also very large with a lot of light coming from the window. I had breakfast every day from the restaurant on the basement level and it was great. They offered both buffet as well as an a la carte menu. The buffet spread was very generous and fulfilling. Again, the service was top notch. I also had a pleasure of eating at Number One, which is a Michelin starred restaurant located at the hotel. I have a separate review for that experience, but can say here that it was exquisite. I would recommend Balmoral to anyway, clearly a hotel that takes pride in itself. read more

Ok so I didn't actually stay here or have anything at the bar. I did ask for help on directions. The man at the desk was incredibly nice and helpful. My impression of the Balmoral was that it was very nice and very clean. I forgot to mention that it is very beautiful inside and out. read more

You can't really miss the Balmoral. It's one of those landmarks in Edinburgh that gives the city it's posh name - it just looks fancy and expensive. The best thing about The Balmoral, in my opinion, are all the door-men waiting to open your car door for you, to welcome you in - ahh! I suddenly feel like I've gone up a tax-bracket. The staff are lovely (especially Thea) and the service is top-notch. And it's the playground for celebs when they come to the city, I've seen the likes of Graeme Norton, Robbie coltrane, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and Louis Walsh - to name but a few Oh, I'll get those names for you...I seem to have dropped them... Overall it's a really lovely place to represent the city. It's for those who want to splurge, but it's worth spoiling yourself once in a while, right? read more

The Balmoral - Hotels Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Living in Edinburgh city centre really does mean there's no point in getting a hotel room. I already pay an extortionate amount of council tax to warrant me living here. However, for tourists the location couldn't be any more central, the punters ate upmarket and sophisticated and usually all turn up in shiny, black cars with someone paid to hold their umbrella for them. Exterior and interior are grand and ooooooze luxury but perhaps not style as really it's just the traditional posh thing they're going for, so is in no means contemporary. Prices range from very high to very, very, very high. read more

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The Balmoral is a great hotel in the heart of Edinburgh. It seems kind of dated, but we enjoyed our stay.

The Balmoral commands your attention when you step onto Princes Street. Its a huge but very beautiful building situated right on the corner, above Waverley Station. My brother snuck off in secret and got married, then headed off to the Balmoral Hotel and invited us plebs to join him. The hotel is grand and you instantly feel important when you enter. The staff cannot do enough for you, I guess this is one of the perks of five star accommodation! The rooms are spacious, comfortable and welcoming, can I move in? Obviously they come at a rather expensive price, but my guess is if your going to stay in five star accommodation then price isn't an issue. You certainly get your moneys worth in this beautiful hotel. At Christmas time it is even more enchanting with its stunning decorations. The Michelin start restaurant within the hotel is worth a visit, as is the Brasserie for a more relaxed meal. It really is just the perfect hotel. read more

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For this kind of ££££, I expect to have everything. Balmoral offered lots of luxuries but failed on a few of the basics Luxuries.... Grand lobby & staff greet us & immediately we are treated like royalty. Rooms are super-incredibly plush w/ huge cathedral ceilings & overstuffed beds & chairs. Bathrooms are equally push & the shower was one of the best I've ever had.....water pressure is spot on, temp is fantastic & the products are luxuriantly smelly The concierge desk was fantastic & secured rezzies at various "already fully booked" restaurants & had a recommendation for just about everything Location also can't be beat - situated right in the heart of Edinburgh, this hotel is w/in easy walking distance to all the touristy hot-spots. There's also a plethora of taxis available to take people on short jaunts - as my parents have limited mobility we super-appreciated the hotel arranging taxi support. We found many taxis "on the road" refused us the short ride but happily agreed when we started through the hotel. Highly recommend arranging transportation through the hotel if you find yourself in a limited energy / mobility situation like we were! As far as for the basics.... Free WiFi is not a luxury - it's a basic yet there was none. I had to go across the street to Burger King for the free stuff & that's just not right I also expect a full tv channel lineup - Balmoral only offered limited channels (& my fav ITV3 was not one - boo). When faced with only reality shows on *every* channel, my books became that much more appealing & when travelling w/ parents, living up the nightlife is nonexistent. We *need* tv! So as happy as I was to stay w/ you & knowing I would totally stay here again, I just cannot say this was a full 5-star experience b/c this was not "as good as it gets". Add the free WiFi upgrade for your guests & we'll talk about a star upgrade, in kind read more