The best boutique hotels in Edinburgh for a winter weekend break

Advice

All hotels have been independently reviewed and selected. We will earn a commission if you book via the links below, but this never affects our rating.

If there’s one thing Edinburgh isn’t short of, it’s visitors; nor is there any shortage of flagship hotels to accommodate them. But just as much of the fascination of Edinburgh lies in its variety – from the historic drama of the Old Town to the architectural elegance of the New Town. And of course not forgetting the considerable attractions of smaller neighbourhoods such as Stockbridge for shopping or Leith for its thriving food scene. 

The same applies to this choice of hotels, from the quirkily imaginative to the quietly stylish. All of them can be described as boutique in size and style, but no two are the same, from a surprisingly luxurious lighthouse supply ship in Leith to outrageously opulent hotel suites that are as much stage setting as accommodation. Whether it’s budget-friendly urban chic, old-school glamour or a deliciously discreet hideaway you’re after, start here with Edinburgh’s best boutique hotels.


How we review

Every hotel in this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, who are usually hosted on a complimentary basis. They stay for a minimum of one night, test at least one meal and trial other experiences that the hotel might have to offer. 

The Roseate Edinburgh

Edinburgh, Scotland

8
Telegraph expert rating

A classy, small hotel with an intimate, club-like feel. Deep, dramatic colours, bold wallpapers, tasteful tweeds and the warm-coloured accents of Asian rugs provide a decorative link that flatters both the old and the new, enhanced by the choice of good original art and interesting photographs that reflect the owners’ family connections to both Edinburgh and Orkney. The Ba’ Bar (named after a traditional Orkney game), with it’s comfortable chairs, Chesterfield sofas and big bay window is a cosy place to linger.


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From


£
193

per night

Rates provided by
Booking.com

Prestonfield House

Edinburgh, Scotland

8
Telegraph expert rating

If owner James Thompson has a motto it must be Oscar Wilde’s ‘nothing succeeds like excess’. The formal park and virginal white 17th-century house might make you think of Jane Austen heroines, but the leopard skin carpet certainly won’t – there’s a Puckish sense of mischief at play in the midst of all the over-the-top the opulence and extravagantly sustained scene-setting, as well as a sincere commitment to both dazzle and delight. Riotously Rococo bedrooms are straight from the pages of a bodice-ripping romance.


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From


£
320

per night

Rates provided by
Booking.com

Gleneagles Townhouse

Edinburgh, Scotland

9
Telegraph expert rating

Imagine a chic godmother – old money but addicted to post-war Dior. If she designed a hotel it would look like this: part country house; part stylish swank. With elegant bedrooms, dramatic restaurant, state-of-the-art gym, wellness treatments and an exclusive rooftop bar, it doesn’t get much more glamorous than this. The attention to detail is particularly impressive; the execution first-class throughout – think traditional luxury with discreet mod-cons.


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From


£
325

per night

Rates provided by
Booking.com

The Witchery by the Castle

Edinburgh, Scotland

9
Telegraph expert rating

If Pugin designed Gothic revival love nests they would look like this: an outrageous riposte to modern minimalism realised in nine fantasy suites close by the gates of Edinburgh Castle. Darkly, deeply sumptuous, utterly indulgent and slightly (delightfully) mad, these secret dens of overblown delight are the ultimate expression of an overheated imagination, realised with a meticulous, theatrical attention to detail. The suites are situated either above the famously atmospheric Witchery at the Castle Restaurant or on the opposite site of the Royal Mile, secreted in Jollie’s Close.


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From


£
595

per night

Rates provided by
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Tigerlily

Edinburgh, Scotland

8
Telegraph expert rating

If the rooms are anything to go by, Tigerlily is a downright sexy enclave of sheer, spoiling indulgence, and not for aesthetes or the faint-hearted. It’s all uber-sparkly and blingy to the point that you may wish to consider wearing sunglasses to breakfast if you’ve overdone it the night before. The design in the bar/restaurant runs from eye-popping pop art to a wall of fake ferns, with plenty of mirrored glass mosaic. You’ll find it’s practically compulsory to have a cocktail or six, before moving into the restaurant where on-trend semi-fast food is the order of the day.


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From


£
188

per night

Rates provided by
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Fingal

Edinburgh, Scotland

9
Telegraph expert rating

You’ll find Fingal tucked up in her own cosy berth near the huge ships and towering cranes of the working docks of Leith. She is a grand little ship, polished to a high gloss with décor that respects the ship’s working history without going overboard. Imagine a miniature luxury liner with an Art Deco via 1930s Hollywood feel, all luxuriously deep carpets, curvaceous wood panelling, leather and sparkling glass. On the beds you’ll find custom-made throws by local weaver Araminta Campbell. Her studio is just along the road – private tours can be arranged.


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Cabins from


£
300

per night

Eden Locke

Edinburgh, Scotland

8
Telegraph expert rating

So hip it hurts, in a very design-led manner. New York architect’s Grzywinski+Pons’ design is Georgian Edinburgh outside, Shoreditch inside. Pale oak floors, plenty of pastels with the odd squirt of mustard and self-conscious quirkiness creates a light-hearted but seriously on-trend feel. The heart of it all is the pistachio and vanilla coffee lounge/bar, with seating largely occupied by people tapping at their tablets, spiky plants in terracotta pots and an abundance of light. The 72 studio apartments offer more space (just) than a hotel.


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From


£
102

per night

Rates provided by
Booking.com

The Raeburn

Edinburgh, Scotland

8
Telegraph expert rating

No expense was spared in creating this popular bar/restaurant with boutique rooms in a great neighbourhood. Expect rich colours, plenty of tweed and toned-down tartan, faux-Victorian bathrooms, oak floors and colour-coordinated books as décor in the small ‘library’ lounge. Rooms come with luxurious bathrooms, delicious cocktails and upmarket extras, from GHD straighteners to espresso machines. It’s surrounded by independent shops, restaurants and a Sunday market, but is only a 15-minute amble to the city centre.


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From


£
173

per night

Rates provided by
Booking.com

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