6 Best Hotels in Edinburgh, Edinburgh and the Lothians

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.

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.

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.

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.