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The Ultimate List Of Luxury Hotels In Edinburgh To Book Right Now
Check in to the most amazing luxury hotels in Edinburgh, from trendsetting Tigerlily to the timeless Balmoral.
Between Hogmanay and the summer festivals, there’s always a good reason to visit the Scottish capital – and there's a whole host of luxury hotels in Edinburgh to choose from for your visit.
If you've stayed at a luxury hotel in the Cotswolds recently, or a romantic hotel in London, Edinburgh is the perfect place for your next staycation.
The hilly city’s medieval Old Town is all ancient buildings, narrow alleys and the Royal Mile, which runs from the imposing castle all the way down to parliament.
Pose for a photo with Braveheart himself on your way up to the castle, go shopping along Princes Street in the Georgian New Town, or stroll up to Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park for an impressive view over the city. And don’t miss Calton Hill, which has plenty of monuments to check out at the summit.
Whatever your plans involve on a trip to Scotland's capital city, you'll want to check into a luxury hotel in Edinburgh.
At the Balmoral, book a room with a view of the castle, or join the cool kids at original boutique hotel Tigerlily, where the bar crafts a selection of creative cocktails.
Middle Eastern mezze (with a little Scottish influence) await at Kimpton Charlotte Square’s Baba restaurant. And dinners don’t get much more decadent than they do at The Witchery by the Castle, a baroque restaurant with rooms and one of the most atmospheric eateries in Scotland.
Read on for our pick of the ultimate luxury hotels in Edinburgh:
The Balmoral
The Balmoral on Princes Street enjoys one of the best locations in the city, with Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town visible from many of the bedrooms. The only Scottish sibling in the Rocco Forte family, the Balmoral’s elegant interiors were designed by Olga Polizzi. The landmark clock tower’s high ceilings and grand staircases remain, with tartan touches, shades of heather and Hebridean blues nodding to the location.
Whisky ambassadors are on hand to help you choose from 500 malts, and there’s a spa to soothe sore heads if you have one too many. Dining options include the Michelin Guide-recommended Number One, and Brasserie Prince, which mixes French and Scottish flavours masterfully.
Intercontinental Edinburgh The George
A hotel since 1881 and set across five listed Georgian townhouses, the George has been offering a luxury refuge to prosperous Scots since 1775. Whisky may get all of the attention, but Edinburgh’s finest gins are on offer at the late-night cocktail bar, too – and the Printing Press champions Scotland’s best produce, including Orkney scallops, Loch Fyne salmon and smoked haggis.
The hotel is on George Street, in the heart of the city’s New Town and within a 10-minute walk of the castle. For a memorable stay, book one of the suites, which look out over the Georgian street below and are adorned with fresh flowers.
The Roseate
A short drive from the city centre in the residential area of West Coates, the Roseate is a pair of Victorian villas with the proportions, gables and corniced ceilings to match. As with any self-respecting Scottish stay, an impressive whisky collection is key, and the bar here has more than 100 to take your pick of.
Modern additions to the decor include Persian rugs, patterned wallpaper, colour-pop velvet sofas and freestanding copper bath tubs. The restaurant showcases Scottish produce (especially all things from Orkney) in small-plate form.
The Witchery by the Castle
One of the most romantic hotels in Edinburgh, The Witchery by the Castle dials up on the decadence, with nine over-the-top (in the best way) bedrooms, a candle-lit Secret Garden room with a terrace and, of course, the famous restaurant. The baroque dining room is in a 16th-century merchant’s house, with original oak-panelling, painted ceilings, red leather seats and tapestries, all illuminated by flames from the dozens of antique candlesticks.
The suites feature elaborately draped four-poster beds, metallic bateau bath tubs in the centre of the room and a mix of velvet, brocade and other embellishments that really shouldn’t work together but do.
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh
Set in a former rail station, this Princes Street hotel has been welcoming guests since 1903. Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh has a luxurious spa with an indoor pool, sauna and steam room. The Royal Mile and the World Heritage Site that is the Old Town are both within a mile of the hotel.
Sharing plates await at Grazing, whose acclaimed chef Mark Greenaway loves Scottish produce so much, he’s an official ambassador for Scotland Food & Drink; or settle in for a tasting menu courtesy of Masterchef: The Professionals finalist Dean Banks at the Pompadour. The Caley Bar (unsurprisingly) specialises in whisky, though there are plenty of classic cocktails, too.
Tigerlily
Edinburgh’s original boutique hotel, super-hip Tigerlily still has the daring design credentials that put it on the map: wood-panelled walls, shiny pink curtains and vast Georgian suites with their own fireplaces. Join the fun in the bar, which serves creative cocktails.
Locals love this stylish stay for its party vibes and still-trendsetting decor, as well as its fabulous restaurant. Not that you’ll need them, but the New Town’s bars, brasseries and shops are all a short stroll away.
Cheval The Edinburgh Grand
Go full local by checking in to one of the slick apartments that form Cheval The Edinburgh Grand on St Andrew Square in the New Town. The historic residence was once the National Bank of Scotland, though all the dreary clerks and fun-stopping managers have been cleared out. Some of the apartments sleep up to six, making them a great option for a trip with the girls.
The landmark’s modern makeover preserved the dark panelling, decorative cornicing and striking circular staircase, adding teal velvet sofas, cyan subway tiles and freestanding bath tubs to bring it up to date.
The Raeburn
Built in 1832 as a family home, the Raeburn now lets the rest of us in on the action. A previous winner of the best boutique hotel in Scotland, the house has just 10 bedrooms, with a library and terrace to enjoy in the summer.
The centre of town is a 15-minute walk away, with full Scottish breakfasts served every morning to set you up for days out seeing the sights. The clan may have moved out, but there are cosy roasts served every Sunday to help you feel like one of the family, along with weekday dinners of Shetland mussels, steaks and, of course, that firm Scottish favourite, cullen skink.
Kimpton Charlotte Square
In a quiet corner at the edge of a pretty garden in the New Town, Kimpton Charlotte Square is a little away from the crowds, but within easy reach of all of the main attractions. The Georgian building now houses a glass-covered courtyard that’s ideal for a G&T (or three) amid its many plants.
At Baba, the decor is all turquoise and textiles, and the sharing plates mix Scottish produce with Middle Eastern flavours – with lots of the dishes cooked over a charcoal grill. Or head to Aizle for six-course tasting menus by a Great British Menu chef.
Malmaison Edinburgh City
With murals behind the beds that range from urban cityscapes to Renaissance-worthy masterpieces, the city-centre Malmaison in Edinburgh doesn’t do understated. The castle is visible from the St Andrew Square setting of this hotel in the New Town.
If you’re keen to avoid haggis, head to Chez Mal for classic French fare instead – the brasserie branches out to Thai flavours, giant burgers and strip steaks, too. A little 'Malchemy' at the Malmaison bar is a must first – the team has helpfully created 10 types of G&T to work your way through.
Gleneagles Townhouse
It may be several decades younger than its older sibling, but Gleneagles Townhouse more than lives up to the good family name created by the fabled flagship over the years. The original hotel is in the Perthshire countryside, with rural pursuits such as shooting, falconry and plenty of time spent in wellies on the agenda – not to mention feasting at Scotland’s only two-Michelin-starred restaurant.
The urban edition is located in what was once the headquarters of the Bank of Scotland on St Andrew Square, with a rooftop terrace, a colonnaded brasserie and a spa in the old vault just a handful of the highlights.
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
If you’re hoping to admire some of Edinburgh’s unforgettable architecture, start with a stay at this Virgin Hotel, which has an impressive backdrop of its own, thanks to its setting within the India Buildings. Equally striking is its Greyfriars Hall, a restored medieval church with vaulted ceilings and towering windows, that’s now one an event space.
The hotel is in the heart of the Old Town, a few minutes on foot from the castle (and its inevitable Braveheart impersonators). Design details in the rooms include Smeg fridges, hardwood floors and freestanding bath tubs. Be sure to book one overlooking the famous fort.
Caroline Lewis has been a travel journalist for more than a decade, reviewing luxury hotels and covering destinations all over the world, but with a soft spot for Greek islands and absolutely anywhere in Italy.
Among her most memorable trips are a month spent subsisting almost solely on guacamole in Mexico, sleeping in a room made of ice in Swedish Lapland and a rather lengthy but thankfully bear-free drive across America's wild west.
She was previously deputy chief sub-editor on the print team at Harper’s Bazaar and is a long-time contributor and editor at Mr & Mrs Smith. She writes about travel for Hearst Digital titles such as Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, Red, Esquire and more. She read English and Philosophy at Durham, before doing a master's degree in magazine journalism in her hometown of Bournemouth.
When she's not testing out the buzziest new hotels, she's at home in London, probably baking.
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