A city of quirky culture that oozes historical charm and all-around coziness, you’ll find a lot of these features just by staying at one of the best boutique hotels in Edinburgh.
Whether you want to explore the old-world Edinburgh Castle, shop along the historical Grassmarket, or visit Scottish galleries and pubs, take a look at these Edinburgh boutique hotels to truly make your trip unforgettable.
So, let’s find your perfect place to stay in Edinburgh, offering unique and cool experiences at the heart of the city.
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Planning your trip to Edinburgh last minute? Here are the tours and hotels we recommend.
- TOP EXPERIENCES & TOURS IN EDINBURGH
- Underground Vaults Tour – most popular Edinburgh tour
- Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Scottish Highlands Tour – best Edinburgh day trip
- Edinburgh Castle Guided Tour w/ Fast-Track Entry – best castle tour
- BEST HOTELS IN EDINBURGH
- Gleneagles Townhouse – beautiful luxury hotel
- House of Gods Hotel – ideal for a romantic stay
- Virgin Hotels Edinburgh – amazing rooftop castle views
- PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR EDINBURGH
- Get Travel Insurance for Edinburgh with Safety Wing.
- Check Discover Cars for great car rental prices in Edinburgh.
- Find the best flight deals to Edinburgh on Skyscanner.
Where to Stay in Edinburgh
Planning a trip to Scotland’s capital is an exciting experience. Choosing where to stay shouldn’t add any extra stress. Here is what to keep in mind when thinking about Edinburgh’s best area to stay.
Old Town
At the historic heart of Edinburgh, the Old Town neighborhood is a must-visit for any first-time visitor. With its winding cobblestone streets and historic buildings, the area exudes charm and character.
Visitors can explore Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and the city’s many museums and galleries.
The area also has a variety of accommodation options with both budget-friendly and luxury hotels in Edinburgh.
New Town
Located to the north of the Old Town, the New Town area of Edinburgh offers a more modern and upscale experience.
Though the buildings are still old and historic, visitors will find plenty of high-end shops, restaurants, and unique hotels in the area.
The neighborhood is known for its stunning Georgian architecture and public squares. New Town is also home to many of the city’s cultural sites, including the Scottish National Gallery and Princes Street Gardens.
Leith
This port neighborhood located to the north of Edinburgh has undergone a significant revitalization in recent years.
Leith offers a variety of accommodation options, including hotels and even quirky hotels in Edinburgh – like one set on a vintage steamboat. You’ll also find plenty of restaurants, bars, and coastal spots to explore.
Leith is also home to the Royal Yacht Britannia, a former royal residence turned museum. It is a longer walk into the city centre, so that is something to keep in mind.
12 Best Boutique Hotels in Edinburgh Scotland
Gleneagles Townhouse (Best of 5 Star Luxury Hotels in Edinburgh, Scotland)
Situated in New Town, just minutes from Edinburgh’s main train station, picturesque Calton Hill, and St. Andrews Square, Gleneagles Townhouse (9.3) is one of the most beautiful 5 star hotels in Edinburgh.
Guest rooms ooze timeless charm as does the tucked-away dining hall and rooftop cocktail bar.
The 33 5-star rooms all offer a muted Pantone of colors, each one uniquely designed with comfortable king-size beds, tables and chairs, and a stylish private bathroom.
Upgraded rooms are more spacious and include soaking tubs and/or a terrace.
There’s also an all-day restaurant with breakfast, a stunning terrace with city views and cocktails available, and a fully-equipped gym, in addition to a sauna spa, private club, and library.
What guests like most: all-around beautiful details, warm and cozy, terrace bar • Consideration: restaurant has a limited menu
Ocean Mist Leith (Best of Unique Luxury Hotels in Leith, Edinburgh)
Ocean Mist Leith (9.5) is one of the most unique boutique hotels in Edinburgh’s trendy Leith neighborhood. The hotel is set on a restored steamship built in 1919, offering 1920s charm, a private members club, and panoramic views of the historic Water of Leith.
All 17 bedrooms have a historic, nautical feel with circular windows and leather furnishings. Each room has a private bathroom with tea/coffee makers and soundproofing. Upgraded suites add a balcony.
There’s also cocktails with a view at the bar in addition to a buffet/continental breakfast. This is definitely one of the most unique places to stay in Scotland.
What guests like most: amazing experience, comfortable beds, exceptional service • Consideration: the boat is situated on Water of Leith shore
House of Gods Hotel (Best Edinburgh Suites for a Romantic Stay in Old Town)
Perfectly positioned right off the historic Royal Mile in Old Town, House of Gods Royal Mile (8.6) is the place for a romantic place to stay in Edinburgh.
Its dark red, velvety interior contrasts perfectly with black and white marble bathrooms and metallic, in-room tubs.
The rooms feature Versailles-inspired decor and oak paneling with a dark and dramatic feel. All the rooms have coffee machines, flatscreen TVs, soundproofing, and minibars. Suites add in-room soaking tubs.
Breakfast is available. There’s a chic, low-lit cocktail bar and the tucked-away Lilith Lounge for added ambiance during your stay at this unusual place to stay in Scotland.
Plus, with only 22 rooms, it’s also one of the loveliest small Edinburgh hotels.
What guests like most: excellent location, warm/cozy feel, unique style • Consideration: no doors on showers
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh (Best Edinburgh Hotel with Rooftop Castle Views)
As you step into Virgin Virgin Hotels Edinburgh (8.8) in the city centre, the warm atmosphere and luxurious design will immediately welcome you, and it’s one of the top luxury boutique hotels in Edinburgh.
The rooms are spacious and comfortable, with stylish furnishings and luxurious linens. There’s also walk-in showers and small SMEG refrigerators with stylish minibars. Some have balconies, terraces, and/or castle views.
The hotel also boasts a wellness center, a stunning wood-paneled bar, multiple dining options, and beautiful views of Old Town Edinburgh. There’s also a gorgeous rooftop lounge with a gleaming view of the Castle.
What guests like most: modern meets old aesthetic, great location, excellent staff • Consideration: not all rooms have a good view
Kimpton – Charlotte Square (Best Edinburgh Hotel with Exceptional Food & Spa)
Located in New Town, just minutes from bustling Princes Street, Kimpton – Charlotte Square (8.8) is set in a refined Georgian building with beautiful greenery-filled spaces and stylish lounges.
Refined rooms feature flatscreen TVs, desk areas, minifridges with fresh milk, plus tea and coffee-making equipment. Upgraded rooms and suites add leather sofas, electric fireplaces, free-standing tubs with separate showers
Breakfast is served in a greenhouse-inspired indoor courtyard, which serves food and drink throughout the day, including Scottish cocktails in the evening. There’s also a restaurant and grill making Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine.
Other amenities include a fitness center with an indoor pool and sauna, as well as a full-service spa.
What guests like most: beautiful rooms, lots of different areas, characteristic spaces • Consideration: spa is an extra charge
Cheval Old Town Chambers (Best Aparthotels in Edinburgh Old Town)
Off the famous Royal Mile, Cheval Old Town Chambers (9.4) offers high-end aparthotel rooms just a few minutes’ walk from Edinburgh Castle.
Apartments are all unique, some looking directly onto the Royal Mile and St Giles’ Cathedral, and others flaunting views of Princes Street Gardens.
From trendy and contemporary furnished studios to full 3-bedroom apartments, each boasts original features like brickwork and stone.
All include a full kitchen and luxurious bathrooms with designer toiletries. Other bonuses are Nespresso machines, Bose sound systems, and smart TVs. Upgraded rooms add balconies/terraces.
There’s also a restaurant on the ground floor as well as a spacious 24/7 gym.
What guests like most: clean and modern, ideal location, luxury feel • Consideration: some apartments have wooden, creaky floorboards
Market Street Hotel (Best Edinburgh Boutique Hotel By Waverley Station)
If you’re looking for simplistic, clean spaces in a great position near the train station in Old Town Edinburgh, Market Street Hotel (9.0) is a great pick for a variety of budgets.
All locally designed rooms come with comfortable beds, smart TVs, rainfall showers, and even extras like straighteners and slippers.
Upgraded rooms add separate bathtubs and free minibars. The upgraded suites boast sweeping city views with a fireplace and private terrace.
There’s also a lovely rooftop champagne bar with floor-to-ceiling windows that offers breakfast, small bites, and drinks.
What guests like most: breakfast with lots of options, excellent location, complimentary minibar • Consideration: located on a heavily trafficked street
Cheval The Edinburgh Grand (Best 5-star Aparthotels in Edinburgh New Town)
Set in a former bank, Cheval The Edinburgh Grand (9.2) offers 5-star apartments in New Town just a couple of minutes from the Scott Monument.
Elegant apartments sleep 1 to 6 guests with anything from chic studios to spacious 3-bedrooms. All have flatscreen TVs, kitchens, Nespresso machines, rainfall showers, and upscale toiletries.
Some upgraded apartments add fireplaces and dining areas. Book the luxury penthouse and benefit from a private rooftop terrace with views.
Also, onsite is a stylish restaurant and a bar/lounge, as well as a coffee shop. Breakfast is available.
What guests like most: superb staff, beautiful and clean furnishings, luxury feel • Consideration: might hear street noise during the day
The Rutland Hotel & Apartments (Best Hotel Dining Experiences in Edinburgh)
Offering rooms and apartments, the upscale The Rutland Hotel & Apartments (9.1) is in an ideal location with 21 stylishly designed spaces with a luxurious late-night lounge and chic glass wine cellar. We love this pick for one of the most unique places to stay in Edinburgh.
Each uniquely-designed room/apartment comes with flatscreen TVs, Bluetooth audio connectivity, baked goods with tea/coffee, and minibars.
Apartments come with full kitchens and can sleep up to 4 guests. You will also have a complimentary bathrobe to use during your stay.
There’s also a steakhouse/grill, a swanky wine cellar with private dining, a gin emporium open late, and an eatery serving breakfast in the morning and Scottish dishes throughout the day.
What guests like most: gin bar, spacious rooms, central, quiet rooms • Consideration: recent issues with the elevator
Eden Locke (Best of Coworking Boutique Hotels in Edinburgh)
In a Georgian townhouse in the New Town district, one street behind Princes Street, Eden Locke (9.2) offers cozy, bright suites/apartments with leafy plants and subtle pops of color, in addition to a charming onsite cafe.
The 72 minimalist suites/apartments come with smart TVs, yoga mats, kitchenettes, and sofas.
In-room spa treatments are available as a series of cultural programs for an immersive travel experience in Scotland.
There’s also coworking spaces and a coffee shop with a subtle tropical feel.
What guests like most: beautiful modern spaces, ideal location, friendly staff • Consideration: no minibars
Black Ivy (Cool Edinburgh Hotel Near The Meadows)
Located in Marchmont near the famous Meadows, Black Ivy (8.6) consists of 2 adjoining Victorian townhouses with inviting spaces and a great atmosphere, and it’s one of our favorite cool places to stay in Edinburgh.
It’s a little further from Old Town, but still within walking distance, so this is also a great place to stay if you want to be further from tourism.
Minimal, contemporary rooms all include satellite TV, coffee-making facilities, and nearby universities, restaurants, and shops. Some rooms have beautiful park views.
Onsite is an all-day restaurant plus a vintage-style sports bar with food and cocktails. Breakfast is available in the lounge.
What guests like most: quiet location, good food, lovely decor • Consideration: downstairs sports bar can get loud
The Scotsman Hotel (Most Iconic of the Best Hotels in Edinburgh)
Set in the former 1905 Scotsman Newspaper building, The Scotsman Hotel (8.6) is a landmark with its rooted history, historic building, and stunning spaces in Old Town.
Upscale rooms have original brick features with flatscreen TVs, designer toiletries, sofa areas, and marble bathrooms. Suites add extra space and some have Castle views.
The penthouse Presidential Suite is spread stylishly over 2 floors with a private terrace. You’ll also get a free copy of The Scotsman newspaper.
There’s an elegant oak-paneled brasserie, an ornate bar, breakfast, and a beautiful lounge with a 24/7 front desk.
What guests like most: historical but modern, elegant spaces, excellent facilities • Consideration: no late night bar or gym facilities
Final Thoughts on Best Hotels in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is one of the world’s most beautiful cities for a reason. Maximize your travels by staying in one of these elegant and quirky hotels in Edinburgh.
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