23 Best Hotels in Edinburgh and the Lothians, Scotland

The attention to detail in the elegantly appointed rooms and suites, where colors and patterns echo the country's heathers and moors, and the sheer Edwardian splendor of this grand, former railroad hotel make staying at The Balmoral a special introduction to Edinburgh. Here, below the landmark clock tower (with its clock set three minutes fast to ensure locals don't miss their trains), the lively buzz makes you feel as if you're at the center of city life. The hotel's plush, Michelin-starred Number One restaurant serves fantastic Scottish seafood and game, Brasserie Prince promotes French cooking with Scottish produce, and fancy afternoon tea is served in the gorgeous glass-domed Palm Court. The whisky bar serves more than 400 malts and blends accompanied by unusual bar snacks. If you overindulge, recuperate at the luxurious spa.

Set within a gorgeous, 300-year-old gamekeeper's cottage on the edge of a deer park, this charming B&B offers large, stylishly appointed suites with en suite bedrooms and separate living/dining rooms. The location is a particular favorite with Outlander fans, with owner James offering private tours of local filming locations such as Hopetoun House, Blackness Castle, and Culross. Hearty breakfasts can be served either in-room, in the communal kitchen, or out in the garden.

Baroque opulence reigns in this 1687 mansion, with rich velvet curtains, gold-framed portraits, and alabaster-sculpted busts adorning the grand and eccentric public rooms, and equally plush decorations in the guest rooms. This style reaches its apex in the impossibly indulgent Owners Suite, complete with a draped four-poster bed, antique-filled sitting room, and library-style bathroom. The romantic Rhubarb restaurant is suitably sumptuous with its theatrical decor and a menu featuring Scottish beef, venison, monkfish, and hake. Outside, the hotel's 20-acre grounds are home to Highland "coos" (cows), peacocks, and grouse.

Set within two Victorian town houses that sit across the road from one another, with each offering a selection of beautifully appointed rooms and suites, this hotel is one of Edinburgh's most luxurious boutique options. The rooms in both properties—Dunstane House and Hampton House—are tastefully furnished with incredibly comfortable king beds, smart TVs, and Nespresso machines, while the suites also include beautifully upholstered sofas and Fired Earth roll-top baths. The hotel also has a good restaurant serving meals and snacks all day long, as well as a bar stocked with a tempting range of Scottish whiskies, gins, and beers. It's a little out of town, but that means it's lovely and quiet, and a convenient location for those traveling to and from Edinburgh Airport (or those going to Murrayfield for the rugby).

Leave it to one of the United Kingdom's most forward-thinking hotel chains to convert a Victorian-era asylum into this understated luxury property, which combines a real sense of history with contemporary decor and trappings. The 47 amply proportioned rooms are all individually designed, though you'll find each combines original architectural elements with modern conveniences. There's also French-style Bistro du Vin, a mezzanine bar, a cigar area, a well-stocked wine cellar, and a whisky snug, where 270 different varieties of the "water of life" are ripe for sampling. It may have a brutal history, but today it's a great place to relax in the heart of the city.

Nominated for several style awards, this chic boutique hotel at the west end of Princes Street offers 12 guest rooms with flamboyant fabrics and classic furnishings, as well as nine stylish serviced apartments, a flexible option for a family or two couples traveling together. The building itself is thought to have been the residence of Sir Joseph Lister (1827–1912), who performed the world's first successful surgery using anesthetic—but no such measures are needed to guarantee a good night's sleep here today. Enjoy a meal in the excellent Kyloe Restaurant & Grill or end your day with a whisky in The Huxley Bar.

Standing out along an elegant and tranquil West End terrace, this excellent B&B is the Scottish outpost of supertrendy B+B Belgravia of London; the imposing Victorian mansion combines grand public spaces with affordable modern accommodation. An elegant entrance, hallway, and handsome original features—including marble and carved wood—are complemented by quirky lights and furniture. The building has a double-height library and a lounge bar crammed with interesting artwork and antiques, as well as views down to leafy Dean Village and the Water of Leith from the large breakfast room. The contemporary bedrooms offer muted colors and simple but stylish decor: think gray walls, large artwork, and big comfy beds.

This collection of chic, comfortable, and spacious self-service apartments is tucked away on quiet Thistle Street, meaning that guests can enjoy being in the heart of the New Town and yet out of sight (and sound) of the crowds. The accommodation options, which range from studios to two-bedroom apartments, are consistently modern, stylish, and comfortable, with muted color schemes and modern additions like ovens, dishwashers, and washer-dryers—as well as fridges prestocked with milk, cereal, and bread. Don't fancy eating in? There are excellent bars and restaurants right on your doorstep.

With its welcoming owners and quiet location near Arthur's Seat, this Victorian B&B is a smart choice for those seeking warm Edinburgh hospitality and a restful atmosphere away from the city center. The high-ceilinged guest rooms have a traditional feel with carpets and patterned wallpaper, and breakfast is served in a homey annex. 

Just a few steps down from the Royal Mile, Cheval Old Town Chambers offers all the space and flexibility of luxury apartments, but with hotel-style amenities like a 24-hour reception, a concierge desk, and a free on-site gym (with personal trainer). Apartments come in all shapes and sizes, from open-plan studios, through one- and two-bedroom apartments, all the way up to the jaw-dropping three-bedroom penthouse. Each is individually designed, but expect colorful and modern furnishings, smart TVs, and fully equipped kitchens (including dishwashers).

Despite all appearances—the classical Edinburgh exterior, the Corinthian-columned art deco lobby, the friendly and attentive concierges, and the in-house high-end restaurants—the Edinburgh Grand is not a swanky hotel, but rather a collection of grand and luxurious serviced apartments. Guests can expect large living spaces complete with comfy king beds, roaring fireplaces, giant TVs, and a choice of marble bathrooms, as well as kitchens stocked with food essentials, cookware, fridges, and dishwashers. If you want a night off from cooking, you'll find the consistently excellent Hawksmoor restaurant downstairs, as well as the less excellent Register Club on the fourth floor. The location is incredibly convenient, too; the tram from the airport stops right outside, while Edinburgh Waverley train station is just around the corner.

This small family-run guesthouse in a red-sandstone town house offers simple, traditionally decorated rooms and warm hospitality. Framed prints of old Edinburgh adorn walls decorated in pale hues. The owners, Liz and David, have a wealth of knowledge about what to see and do in Edinburgh. There's a healthy choice at breakfast for carnivores and vegetarians alike, as well as a traditional full Scottish breakfast.

Located on swanky George Street, Eden Locke offers a range of design-led apartments and studios with pastel-hued Scandinavian-style decor, plenty of greenery, contemporary furniture, and well-equipped kitchens. Breakfast is extra and served in the laid-back café lounge which is also a great place to hang out and plan your adventures. 

Permanently berthed in the Port of Leith, Fingal cuts an elegant figure, rising up amongst the urban port landscape like a beacon from the past. This handsome ship was a former Northern Lighthouse Board service vessel. Built in 1963, she spent 30 years supporting lighthouses around Scotland’s west coast. In 2019, Fingal’s latest incarnation–as a luxury hotel–opened, and is now maintained by the team behind the Royal Yacht Britannia. Staying in this boutique “floating” hotel offers a kind of quiet, understated luxury that shines most beautifully in the warmth of their staff.

Glass walls extend from the 19th-century facade of a former church, foreshadowing the daring, modern interior of one of the city's original, and best, boutique hotels. Rooms are decorated in a minimalist, almost businesslike style, with soft browns and beiges blending with the dark wood and white linen. All have floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the New Town or the hotel's star attraction: the stunning rooftop garden with views of Calton Hill. If weather permits, order a decadent picnic basket—complete with sandwiches, Scotch eggs, cheeses, desserts, and your choice of two cocktails—and lay a blanket down on the grass to enjoy.

This stately 18th-century building was once a manse (minister's house), but is now a delightful and luxurious B&B. The property sits within its own secluded grounds, yet it's right in the heart of town—a 10-minute walk from the station, the same from Milsey Bay Beach, and within easy reach of several fine golf courses, including the world-renowned Muirfield. The elegant bedrooms, one of which has a four-poster bed, are in keeping with the Georgian style of the house, while the sitting, drawing, and dining rooms feature grand period furniture, paintings, and ornaments. The breakfast is great, too.

Elegantly furnished rooms, a friendly atmosphere, and a hearty breakfast are three big factors that make this town-house B&B a popular budget stay. The rooms feel upmarket but unfussy, with the deluxe rooms particularly appealing thanks to their modern bathrooms, Queen Anne four-poster beds, large TVs, and garden terraces. The handsome lounge downstairs is a fine place to mingle with fellow guests—there's an honesty bar if you want a drink or a snack. Glenalmond House is a little out of the center, but there are many regular buses to the Royal Mile and Princes Street, and owners Jimmy and Fiona Mackie will be happy to help you plan your travels.

This chic and welcoming boutique inn could hardly be more central—some rooms even overlook the Royal Mile. The guest rooms are a decent size, with polished wood floors and a cool, oatmeal color scheme, while sleek bathrooms showcase black-slate tiles, huge freestanding tubs, and steam-resistant mirrors. The hotel bar has a good range of craft beers and an outstanding selection of whiskies. Check the website for good discounts on multinight stays.

Built in 1775 for Edinburgh's elite, this row of five Georgian town houses in the heart of the New Town now hosts a luxury hotel. The grandiose property is home to 240 beautifully appointed rooms and suites, each with an understated—and very Scottish—palette of muted grays, browns, and blues. Some of the suites also offer spectacular views out over North Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth. But the best part of a stay here is the location, a three-minute walk from Princes Street and 10 minutes from the Royal Mile—ideal for exploring Edinburgh's main attractions. When it comes to dining and drinking, Le Petit Beef Bar serves steaks, shared platters, and street-food-inspired dishes, while Burr & Co coffee shop is a lovely spot for a cup of joe and a light lunch.

Situated just around the corner from Grassmarket, these spacious serviced apartments offer a great base for exploring the city center by foot. There's everything from one- to three-bedroom apartments, all with comfortable bedrooms, spacious living and dining rooms, modern bathrooms, and fully outfitted kitchens that include laundry machines and dishwashers. The decor is simple but stylish, if a little business hotel-like.

This magnificent turn-of-the-20th-century building, with its grand marble staircase and its fascinating history (it was once the headquarters of The Scotsman newspaper) now houses a modern luxury hotel. Muted colors and contemporary furnishings decorate the individually designed rooms. For peace and quiet, ask for an upper-story room with a view. The hotel's Grand Cafe serves lunch and dinner—as well an excellent afternoon tea—while snacks and drinks are available in the cozy Hide Bar.

An imposing and ornate red-sandstone building situated at the west end of Princes Street Gardens, "The Caley" has dramatic Victorian decor, beautifully restored interiors, and more castle-view rooms than anywhere else in the city. Constructed between 1899 and 1903 as the flagship hotel of the Caledonian Railway, its public areas have marbled green columns and an ornate stairwell with a burnished-metalwork balustrade. Now a Waldorf Astoria property, the hotel offers elegant, understated guest rooms and superb restaurants run by two of Scotland's most exciting and innovative young chefs: Dean Banks at the Pompadour and Grazing by Mark Greenaway.