20 of the best · Edinburgh, Scotland
The Balmoral and the Caledonian at either end of Princes Street, Gleneagles Townhouse on St Andrew Square, the Witchery at the castle gates, Prestonfield below Arthur’s Seat and Fingal afloat in Leith.
Our 20 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
Browse by type
Three we return to, chosen by people who know Edinburgh’s closes, crescents and quaysides.
Rocco Forte · 1 Princes Street
Rocco Forte’s grand hotel at the east end of Princes Street, above Waverley, with Number One, Palm Court and a spa.
1 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 2EQExplore View on map
St Andrew Square
Gleneagles’ city house on St Andrew Square, with The Spence, a rooftop bar and a private members’ club.
39 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2ADExplore View on map
At the castle gates
Nine theatrical suites and a famous candlelit dining room at the gates of Edinburgh Castle.
Castlehill, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2NFExplore View on map
The grand hotels and how to choose between them.
The back story
The Balmoral and the Caledonian at either end of Princes Street, Gleneagles Townhouse on St Andrew Square, the Witchery at the castle gates and Prestonfield below Arthur’s Seat: where to stay in Edinburgh.
The city’s great addresses.
St Andrew Square
Gleneagles’ city house on St Andrew Square, with The Spence, a rooftop bar and a private members’ club.
39 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2ADExplore View on map
On Charlotte Square
A hotel and spa in the Georgian houses of Charlotte Square, at the west end of George Street.
Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4HQExplore View on map
Below Arthur’s Seat
A five-star country house in its own grounds below Arthur’s Seat, with Rhubarb restaurant: the Witchery’s sister.
Rocco Forte · 1 Princes Street
Rocco Forte’s grand hotel at the east end of Princes Street, above Waverley, with Number One, Palm Court and a spa.
1 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 2EQExplore View on map
“The Caley”
The grand hotel at the west end of Princes Street, now in Hilton’s Curio Collection, with 1925 at The Pompadour.
Princes Street, Edinburgh EH1 2ABExplore View on map
The newspaper’s building
The Edwardian home of The Scotsman newspaper on North Bridge, now a hotel with a boutique cinema.
20 North Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1TRExplore View on map
At the castle gates
Nine theatrical suites and a famous candlelit dining room at the gates of Edinburgh Castle.
Castlehill, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2NFExplore View on map
Westfield St James Quarter
The W hotel in the coiled-ribbon tower above Westfield St James Quarter, at the east end of the New Town.
Smaller and quieter.
Serviced residence
Five-star serviced apartments on St Andrew Square, by the Cheval Collection.
Bristo Place
A boutique hotel with a wine cellar and a bistro on Bristo Place, by the university.
11 Bristo Place, Edinburgh EH1 1EZExplore View on map
St Andrew Square
Malmaison’s New Town hotel in Buchan House on St Andrew Square, with its bar and brasserie.
By Waverley
A design hotel steps from the Royal Mile and Waverley station.
Market Street, Edinburgh EH1 1DEExplore View on map
Gloucester Place
A Georgian townhouse hotel on Gloucester Place, between the New Town and Stockbridge.
Gloucester Place, Edinburgh EH3 6EFExplore View on map
Drumsheugh Gardens
A townhouse hotel in the quiet Victorian streets of the West End.
Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 7RNExplore View on map
Raeburn Place
A romantic boutique hotel in a Georgian house on Raeburn Place, in the heart of Stockbridge.
112 Raeburn Place, Edinburgh EH4 1HGExplore View on map
Formerly The Dunstane
The former Dunstane Houses near Haymarket, now The Roseate, with KIN by Gary Maclean.
Leith.
A former lighthouse tender
A five-star floating hotel of 23 cabins, a former lighthouse tender moored in Leith by the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Alexandra Dock, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 7DXExplore View on map
East Lothian and Perthshire.
Three championship courses
The great Perthshire resort: three championship golf courses, a spa and Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, an hour north of Edinburgh.
Auchterarder PH3 1NFExplore View on map
By Muirfield
An Edwardian country house beside Muirfield golf course, with walled gardens, half an hour east of the city.
Muirfield, Gullane EH31 2EGExplore View on map
