Edinburgh Hotels with Bars

This hotel, nestled at the foot of Calton Hill, was the perfect summer escape. It's incredibly convenient for exploring Calton Hill and other attractions, including the train station. Just across the road, there's a John Lewis department store, making it a quiet oasis right in the heart of things. The rooms are spacious, and I loved that there were plenty of outlets for charging all my devices 😅. Before heading out for a Highlands tour, I grabbed some water, chocolates, and snacks from the small shop opposite the Reception, which was super convenient. The staff were patient and helpful, which I really appreciated. Next time I'm in Edinburgh, I definitely want to try the hotel's 1802 restaurant, I've heard good things about it. Plus, the seating area right outside the hotel entrance was great for resting and managing luggage. 👍

The hotel is in a great location, very conveniently within walking distance of various major tourist attractions. The hotel itself has a charmingly antique feel and is close to Calton Hill, a great spot for sunset views. Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace are also within easy reach.

The room was well-equipped with all the essentials, including toilet paper, shower gel, and soap. A hairdryer could be borrowed from the front desk. Breakfast was plentiful, featuring baked goods, fruit, sausages, milk, eggs, and various beverages. The front desk staff were very helpful; they provided a detailed map and answered all our questions when we asked for directions to Arthur's Seat. Getting to the main attractions was easy: you could take a bus (20+ minutes), a taxi (8 minutes), or walk (20+ minutes), making it very convenient for getting around. The campus itself was beautiful, with lush green trees, castle-like buildings, and a variety of flowers. It was also quiet at night, ensuring a good night's sleep. For food delivery, you can use the address 19 Holyrood Park Road. Overall, I was quite satisfied with everything.

Very nice stay near the bus stop, with many supermarket options and halal restaurants nearby. I came for a visa appointment, and the location was very convenient, close to photo and printin services and other essentials as well.

Without doubt, this was one of our finest hotel stays in recent memory. From the moment we arrived, Novotel Edinburgh set the tone with a level of warmth and professionalism that genuinely stood out. The staff were incredibly helpful throughout and what really demonstrated this was a small but telling moment: we lost our key card during the stay, and it was replaced immediately, without any fuss or inconvenience whatsoever. It's the kind of effortless service that puts you completely at ease, and it's something you remember long after checkout. The breakfast deserves a special mention — it was simply top notch. The spread was so good that holding back was near impossible, and it's the kind of breakfast that makes you actually look forward to the morning. Freshly prepared, well-stocked, and served with care — it's one of the best hotel breakfasts we've had. The location is outstanding. Sitting just a mile from Edinburgh Castle, you're right in the heart of one of the most iconic cities in the UK. Public transport couldn't be more convenient either  buses are accessible right behind the hotel, making it incredibly easy to get around the city without needing a car at all. The one area that needs addressing is parking. The hotel's own car park is frequently full, which meant we had to use the nearby NCP instead. To the hotel's credit, they did provide a discount for the NCP - a thoughtful gesture that softened the inconvenience. However, it's worth noting for electric vehicle drivers: the EV charging at the NCP is painfully slow, so factor that into your plans if you're arriving in an electric car. A heads-up from the hotel at check-in would go a long way. Parking frustrations aside, Novotel Edinburgh is a brilliant base for exploring the city - exceptional staff, an unmissable breakfast, and a location that's hard to beat. We'd return without hesitation.

Firstly giving a big thanks to Holiday Inn Edinburgh for the amazing stay and helping with my requesting on the early check in. The venue is accessible and is along the Airport Bus line route which is amazing. The hotel is well kept and the staff are friendly. The room and amenities are great too. Will definitely recommend and if ever going back to Edinburgh will definitelt book again.

The hotel room and bathroom were indeed too small; there wasn't even enough space to open a suitcase, so it had to be stored under the bed. The view outside the room was decent. The main advantage is the hotel's excellent location, right opposite Haymarket. You can walk almost anywhere, which is incredibly convenient, and there are bus stops right outside. The hotel breakfast was just so-so, with limited variety and options. It was a typical English breakfast, not bad. The reception service was mediocre, especially the male front desk staff who gave me the wrong room number twice, even though I showed him the room number written down. He seemed unbothered and unwilling to help.

I’ve spent there 3 nights, and I loved every moment there! The staff is friendly and ready to help 24/7. The rooms are clean. It is noisy till around 1 am at nights because of the bar. However, I was so tired at the end of the day that I just would fall asleep despite the room being right behind the bar. The best experience for me was new people who I met there. Dear Nancy Lao Shi, have a great stay in there, waiting for you to come to Uzbekistan! And dear Scottish family who we met the day before yesterday who bought us Irish brew and mars bars - if you come to Uzbekistan let me know! All the things are great, dear staff thank you very much for your genuine hospitality and impeccable service!!!

Excellent Location, but Serious Security Lapses I recently stayed at this hotel and found it to be a bit of a mixed bag. While there are some undeniable perks to the property, a few significant service and security issues made for a rather unsettling experience. The Highlights Prime Location: This is easily the hotel's strongest suit. It’s situated right next to Haymarket station, and there is a bus stop literally just outside the front door. Getting into the city centre takes no more than 10 minutes, making it a perfect base for exploring. Commendable Service: The reception team provided a decent welcome. I’d like to give a special mention to Shreyas, who was incredibly helpful and professional throughout our interactions. Quality Dining: We ate at the on-site restaurant and were pleasantly surprised. The food was of a high standard, and the waitstaff were attentive and friendly. Room Maintenance & Tech Issues Unfortunately, the shine started to wear off once we settled into the room: Housekeeping Oversights: Despite this being a multi-day stay, the complimentary water bottles were never replaced after the first day. Faulty Tech: The in-room tablet was practically useless. It kept restarting due to a battery fault; ironically, it even cut out while I was trying to use it to contact reception. Privacy Concerns: When we requested extra toilet roll, the staff member who delivered it attempted to walk straight into the room using their key, rather than knocking and waiting for us to answer. It was a complete breach of basic hospitality etiquette. A Major Security Concern The most distressing part of the trip occurred on our second day. Upon returning to our room in the evening, we were shocked to find the main door open. It appears the cleaning staff had failed to secure the door after finishing their rounds. Finding your hotel room left open to the public is, quite frankly, scary. It’s a massive security fail that overshadowed the rest of the stay. While the location is brilliant, the hotel desperately needs to tighten up its staff training and safety protocols. Would I stay again? Only if I were certain that the security and maintenance issues had been addressed.

The room was very clean, but we had to share the bathrooms with some really messy people who left everything disgusting. Though, I have to admit, the staff cleaned it up super fast. The shower doors weren't very secure; they'd open with just a touch, and there wasn't much privacy, especially considering it was a mixed-gender bathroom. On the bright side, the water was very hot, and there was heating in the room, so we weren't cold. It's worth noting that we were in the pub area, so there was a fair bit of noise and music at night, but it didn't bother us too much. We did miss having a kitchen, like some other hostels provide.