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Enjoy Scottish Hospitality in the Best Hotels in Edinburgh

The Scotsman Hotel offers guests a luxurious stay in Edinburgh
The Scotsman Hotel offers guests a luxurious stay in Edinburgh | Courtesy of The Scotsman Hotel / Expedia

Edinburgh’s hotels are a grand bunch, with many housed in magnificent historic buildings. The Old Town features narrow alleys, medieval townhouses and the high crag with the castle at the top, while the New Town is more genteel and elegant, with Georgian crescents and leafy avenues. Wherever you stay, you’ll encounter warm Scottish hospitality, as well as the legendary full Scottish breakfast.

InterContinental Edinburgh the George

Hotel, Luxury

Large double bed with leather satchel style headboard and comfy cushions in a stylish hotel room with large windows and triptych drawing of Scottish highlands on the wall at Edinburgh the George.
Courtesy of InterContinental Edinburgh the George / Expedia

The InterContinental Edinburgh is New Town at its most remarkable. A short stroll from Princes Street on spacious George Street, the hotel is housed in five townhouses from 1775. The luxurious rooms and suites combine traditional grandeur with modern comforts, and they’re decorated with an eye to the Scottish landscape in subtle shades of forest fern and mountain heather. The hotel’s Printing Press Bar & Kitchen has a beautiful stucco ceiling and serves modern Scottish food.

Prestonfield House

Hotel, Luxury

Double bed with ornate green headboard and pink sheets in a lavish room at Prestonfield House
Courtesy of Prestonfield House / Hotels.com

Prestonfield House is perhaps Edinburgh’s most luxurious accommodation, offering country charm and seclusion near the heart of the city. This 1687 gabled mansion lies by Duddingston Loch under the crags of Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh’s very own wilderness. The hotel’s decor is lavish and borderline kitsch, with antiques and generous swaths of fabric at every turn, while rooms are opulent. Having a gourmet dinner at the on-site Regency-style restaurant, Rhubarb, is part of the experience.

Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel

Boutique Hotel, Luxury

Large blue shelving unit filled with books, trinkets and mirrors above a long blue sofa with colourful cushions and red and gold velvet chairs at Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel.
Courtesy of Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel / Expedia

Charlotte Square sits at the western end of George Street, the hotel’s splendid Georgian façade concealing a surprisingly light and funky interior, with splashes of bold colour, bright tiles, rugs and contemporary artworks. The garden is lush with plants, creating a private green space for reading and relaxing. In addition to the guest rooms and suites, the hotel has a pool and spa.

The Dunstane Houses

Hotel, Luxury

Light reflecting off the brown stone of the exterior of The Dunstane Houses in the early morning. Tables and chairs in the large garden in front of the hotel.
Courtesy of The Dunstane Houses / Expedia

In the city’s West End (near Haymarket station), you’ll find the Dunstane Houses, an intimate hotel comprising two Victorian townhouses that reflect the owners’ Orkney roots. The Ba’ Bar has an incredible collection of single malts in its vintage whisky cabinet, while the restaurant serves a variety of northern Scottish delicacies, such as Orkney scallops and haggis bonbons. The hotel’s rooms have an elegant yet pared-down style.

The Glasshouse, Autograph Collection

Boutique Hotel, Luxury

S-shaped black chairs on a paved patio in front of the black and glass exterior of The Glasshouse. The door to the lounge is ajar, revealing a low grey chair and vase of flowers.
Courtesy of the Glasshouse, Autograph Collection / Expedia

Now for something completely different – a Victorian church stylishly transformed into a boutique hotel. The Glasshouse is in a wonderful location, near the east end of Princes Street and underneath the green slopes of Calton Hill. Rooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows and some of the best views in the city. In the hotel’s lounge, the Snug, you can sip rare single malts around the firepit – the lounge opens onto the hotel’s expansive rooftop garden.

Ten Hill Place, BW Premier Collection

Hotel

Large double bed with white sheets and red cushion in small, minimal suite with a large window and glass bathroom door at Ten Hill Place.
Courtesy of Ten Hill Place, BW Premier Collection / Hotels.com

This smart urban hotel is on the city’s Southside, a short walk from both the open spaces of Holyrood Park and the tourist honeypot of the Royal Mile. A Georgian façade conceals a thoroughly modern hotel, with calm interiors brightened by pops of orange and turquoise. The price is particularly good for the location.

The Scotsman Hotel

Hotel, Luxury

Wicker chairs and wooden tables on a large garden patio with hanging outdoor lights and a plant covered wall at The Scotsman Hotel.
Courtesy of the Scotsman Hotel / Expedia
To generations of Edinburgh folk, this handsome building next to Waverley station means just one thing: The Scotsman newspaper. But the paper moved on, and the decorators moved in several years ago, keeping the luxurious marble, stained glass and panelling of the earlier incarnation. Today, the grand hotel features the cosy Hide Bar and lovely modern rooms and suites with a traditional twist. Views of Princes Street, a central location and a historical interest combine to make this one of Edinburgh’s best hotels.

Nira Caledonia

Hotel

Elegant, cream-toned room at Nira Caledonia with a comfortable bed, a high-backed armchair, a dresser and flowers.
Courtesy of Nira Caledonia / Expedia

If you’re prepared to stay a little way from the centre, leafy Stockbridge, with its vintage shops and riverside walks, is an excellent choice. An elegant Georgian townhouse is the setting for the Nira Caledonia, with rooms looking onto lush gardens and the surrounding sandstone terraces. The boutique hotel offers singles, doubles and suites, with the most opulent suite featuring a Jacuzzi.

Lauderville Guest House

Guesthouse

Dark wooden four-posted bed with patterned headboard in a burgundy-toned room with large windows at Lauderville Guest House.
Courtesy of Lauderville Guest House / Hotels.com

Lauderville Guest House is a warmly welcoming option lying a mile south of the centre, within walking distance if you don’t mind starting your day with a pleasant wander. The rooms are cosy and traditional with a few lavish twists – the guest room with a four-poster is at the fancier end of things – and guests rave about the breakfast options.

The Inn Place

Hotel

Twin beds in large room with small wooden desk, orange chair and large windows at The Inn Place.
Courtesy of The Inn Place / Expedia

Edinburgh is known for its characterful streetscapes, and Cockburn Street, arcing up from Waverley station, is one of the most striking examples. The Inn Place was once the printworks for The Scotsman newspaper, and you’ll still see the paper’s gilded masthead on the exterior of the building. The hotel features minimalist modern bedrooms, and while the functional decor isn’t for everyone, the location is an absolute winner.

The Edinburgh Lodge

Guesthouse

Double room with small blue armchair, flat screen TV and large window at The Edinburgh Lodge.
Courtesy of The Edinburgh Lodge / Hotels.com

Rugby fans who’ve come to the city to see a game at Murrayfield Stadium could opt for the handsome Edinburgh Lodge in the West End. If you’re looking for Scottish decor, you can find your fix here – the style is modern, with some eye-popping tartan carpets. It is a cosy, clean and quiet guest house, where you can savour a hearty full Scottish breakfast.

Hanover 71 Suites

Serviced Apartment

Large double bed with white sheets and quilted grey cushions in a deluxe suite with large windows and small grey sofa at Hanover 71 Suites.
Courtesy of Hanover 71 Suites / Hotels.com

These chic suites sit in the beating heart of the New Town, just a few blocks back from Princes Street. All rooms are decked out in soothing shades of cream and grey, with each featuring a sofa and stylish bathroom. The suites make a good option for Edinburgh Festival-goers who want to be in the middle of the action.

Destiny Scotland – the Malt House Apartments

Apartment

Double bed, blue sofa and purple armchair in airy apartment with good sized kitchen and small dining area at The Malt House Apartments.
Courtesy of Destiny Scotland – The Malt House Apartments / Hotels.com

Edging just into the West End, a short stroll from Princes Street and the castle, the Malt House comprises one- and two-bedroom apartments that lie inside a former whisky warehouse. While the accommodation has undergone thorough renovations, the stone exterior looks pretty much as it would have back in 1850, and all the apartments are comfortably furnished in an unobtrusive modern style. It’s a self-service option, but you’ll find plenty of cafés nearby for breakfast if you don’t feel like cooking.

Still not sorted your stay? Browse our selection of the best cheap hotels in Edinburgh for a great trip on a budget, or treat yourself and stay in one of the best luxury hotels in Edinburgh, now bookable on Culture Trip. Looking for inspiration whilst you’re there? Take a look at our guide to the best things to do in Edinburgh during the Christmas period.

This article is an updated version of a story created by Maria Menegaki.

About the author

Helena Smith has been around the world as a travel writer and photographer. Top travel experiences include gatecrashing the coronation of the Oba of Benin and camping on a Fijian beach, plus roaming around her home country of Scotland.

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