Edinburgh Hotels with Bars

Booked a twin room for a trip with the kids. The room was clean, no issues there, and the size is pretty standard for the UK. The bathroom was actually quite spacious, but the sink and basin design was terrible – especially the basin. It's a countertop basin with the faucet on the side (I don't usually take photos in hotels, so I forgot to snap one), and no matter how you use it, water splashes everywhere, all over the counter and the floor. The hotel doesn't provide complimentary bottled water; there's a message on the mirror encouraging you to drink tap water, which is fair enough. The tram station for the airport is very close to the hotel, but unfortunately, it was out of service on the day we were heading to the airport. We ended up dragging our luggage for about fifteen minutes to catch the Airlink 100 next to the train station.

This stay was very pleasant. The hotel has a convenient location, close to the train and bus stations, with excellent surrounding amenities. There's a large shopping mall nearby, right next to Carlton Hill. The rooms were cozy and comfortable, although the soundproofing was slightly lacking, but acceptable. All the staff were warm, friendly, and provided excellent service. The only downside is that the elevator doesn't go to the top floor.

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.

We booked this hotel not knowing that it is literally next to the zoo. So it was a pleasant surprise and we decided to include the Edinburgh Zoo as part of our itinerary when we were there. There’re bus stops infront of the hotel that conveniently transport us to the city centre in 15min; as well as to the airport. The bus systems there are superb and most of the times the buses arrived on schedule. There are no bottled mineral water, toothbrushes, toothpaste, comb or other sanitary products (except for shower gel, shampoo and handwash) provided in the room. However, there is a note pasted in the toilet that one has to ask for these items at the reception counter if one requires any of these. We didnt notice the pasted note in the toilet; thus we did not ask for these during our stay.. We were also surprised that there was no mini fridge or safe which are normally provided in a hotel room. Nonetheless we were happy when there’s an iron and ironing board in our room. We noticed that the housekeeping service usually starts around 9am. We were in the room at around 9.30am when someone from the housekeeping dept tried to open the door. So if you intend to wake up late, we suggest to keep your door locked and latched. Their housekeeping is efficient as we think they need to be on schedule but many times our used cups were not cleaned thoroughly (or replaced) as there were still stains in the cups. 1 day 1 of our half-drink bottled drinks was removed from the table which we presumed the housekeeper could have thrown it away. On the whole, it’s a pleasant stay for our family.

Good hotel. We stayed with friends for one night in a family room. Breakfast was included and started at 5:30 AM, which was convenient for us as we had an early morning departure. I recommend this hotel.

Super stay! The hotel is ideally located, right next to a tram stop. The room is clean, modern, and very quiet. The Wi-Fi connection is excellent. The breakfast is delicious and varied. Nearby, there's also a shopping center with a cinema, a bowling alley, a roller park, and many other activities. This is a real plus for families with children.

The hostel is in a great location, very close to the city centre and within easy walking distance. The cleanliness was okay overall, I stayed for four nights, and during most of my stay the room wasn’t thoroughly cleaned. The beds were made and the rubbish was removed, but the rest of the room didn’t seem to be cleaned. However, the day before I left, I wrote a short note for the cleaner and left it near the bin explaining my concerns. When I returned, the room was absolutely impeccable. I really appreciated how quickly and seriously they responded to my feedback. The staff are very friendly and welcoming, and the common area is comfortable. The main downside for me was the noise from the street. There was quite a lot of noise at night, sometimes continuing until late, so this is something to keep in mind if you are a light sleeper. Overall, despite these small issues, I had a good stay and would recommend the hostel, especially to women travelling solo. I felt safe and comfortable during my stay, and I particularly appreciated how responsive the staff were when I raised a concern.

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.

Fantastic experience! I stayed in a 10-person room, which was very spacious, and the bathrooms and toilets were all very clean! The staff provided excellent service, and I was able to store my luggage both before and after check-in. They even noticed it was my birthday and gave me a voucher! 🥰 Plus, the breakfast was great! Overall, a wonderful experience 🫶

It was a nice location with clean bathrooms most of the time. Maybe not pay for the average breakfast next time but place was great to stay. Unfortunately room had no air vents, open window or ventilation and made living inside a bit claustrophobic especially when a roommate without basic hygiene or cleanliness showed up with wet musty jackets and sock. (Happened on two nights)