The Best Holiday Apartments to Book in Edinburgh for Couples

Cheval Old Town Chambers offers 75 glamorous self-catered apartments overlooking the Royal Mile, a five-minute walk from Edinburgh Castle and the Scottish National Gallery. The Luxury and Deluxe Open Plans are perfect city boltholes for couples, featuring kitchenettes, stylish black-and-white bathrooms, sofas, flatscreen TVs and bare brick walls framing tall sash windows. For outside space, book the One Bedroom Penthouse, which has a furnished terrace with views of the Forth Bridge and Fife. You’ll also have access to a superb gym.

This early 17th-century house in Leith has been creatively restored by renowned conservation architect Nick Groves-Raines and his painter-architect partner Kristin Hannesdottir. There are three bedrooms – one double featuring an antique wardrobe and painted cast-iron bed, a twin with Victorian brass beds and walk-in shower and another double with a timber-lined bed box. The doubles share a bathroom. Communal amenities comprise a living room with open fireplace, an Italian Renaissance-inspired garden and a fully equipped kitchen.

The Edinburgh Residence has 29 suites spread across three late 19th-century townhouses. Couples are well accommodated in the Classic and Grand Suites, which feature walnut and cherry wood furniture, designer wallpaper and enormous bathrooms with free-standing tubs and separate showers – many also showcase original fireplaces and ceilings and some have castle views. The in-suite breakfast options range from Belgian waffles to Scottish smoked salmon, and afternoon tea is served daily in the period-style drawing room. Note that both incur an extra fee.

This airy, modern studio provides a great-value base from which to explore Edinburgh on foot. Situated in the West End, within a 10-minute walk from New Town, Princes Street and the Castle, it features a double and sofa beds, walk-in shower, fully equipped kitchen and a lounge area with sofas and a TV – the maximum capacity is three and it’s adults only. Also less than 10 minutes on foot are two of Edinburgh’s best French restaurants – L’escargot Blanc and Le P’tite Folie.

This one-bedroom apartment is the ideal summer bolthole for couples. Off a living-dining area with a sofa, dishwasher, washing machine and fridge, French windows open onto a small furnished garden – the perfect space for early-evening drinks. The separate bedroom has a double and sofa bed, and there’s a smart TV and selection of DVDs in the lounge area. The historical centre is a 20-minute walk away, or a short bus ride from stops on nearby London Road.

A tropical, minimalist theme dominates at this 72-apartment complex on George Street. Designed by New York-based architects Grzywinski + Pons, all studios have light, beachy colours and feature L-shaped sofas, marble dining tables, swanky kitchenettes and screened-off sleeping areas. Views are either over Edinburgh’s rooftops or of the Georgian townhouses opposite. You’ll also have access to a plant-filled cafe and co-working space on the ground floor, and free yoga classes at a nearby wellness centre.

Cheval’s Edinburgh Grand offers 50 apartments in the National Bank of Scotland’s former HQ, in which original features such as decorative cornicing and brass door handles have been preserved. Couples can choose between Open Plan studios or one-bedroom apartments with lounges, all of which feature designer furniture, marble-counter kitchens, free-standing bath tubs and/or rainfall showers. Take cocktails or afternoon tea in a wood-panelled speakeasy on the fourth floor or enjoy live music in the Lady Libertine, a sultry ground floor-and-basement bar.

Housed in a sandstone Victorian building in the city centre, Fraser’s three Bespoke Luxury Suites are some of the most elegant rooms for couples in the Scottish capital. The Observatory features a private balcony overlooking the rooftops of the Old Town, the Princes boasts panoramic views and original stained-glass windows and the Castle-facing Courant has a fireplace, French silk curtains and handmade furniture. Head to Stocks Bistro for prime Scottish beef and Kirks Bar for a salted caramel espresso martini or a haggis and wagyu bon bon.