9 Quirky Hotels in Edinburgh You Need To Check Out in 2024

Affiliate Disclaimer

This site is user-supported and that’s why we use affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, we get a little bit of money when you purchase something through one of our links. Thank you for helping support sustainable travel. You can read more about our affiliate disclosure policy here.

If you’re anything like us, you love whimsical, wondrous places to stay that offer a little more enchantment than the average Premier Inn or Travelodge. 

If you’re thinking of stopping by Scotland, and are looking for quirky hotels in Edinburgh – we’ve got your back! 

Whether it’s somewhere romantic, vampyric, or like something out of a fairytale – we have it all. Fun fact: Edinburgh boasts a whopping 892 hotels – so you’re definitely spoiled for choice! 

Read More: 6 Romantic Hotels in Edinburgh for Couples [With Hot Tubs]

Whatever your budget, preferences, or needs – we have found the 9 best quirky places to stay in Edinburgh



Quirky Places to Stay in Edinburgh: Our Top 10 Picks

A word of warning: you may have trouble settling on which one to go for!


1. Motel One Edinburgh-Royal

  • Price: £££
  • Location: Old Town
  • Pet Friendly: Yes
  • Travel Sustainable Property: Yes

Okay, we get it – anything with the word “motel” in the title kind of makes us think of those horror movies where someone stops by a questionable-looking establishment in the middle of nowhere – often against their better judgement – and bad things happen. But don’t worry – this ain’t that!

Read More: 6 Dog-Friendly Hotels in Edinburgh Your Pooch Will Love!

Motel One Edinburgh is located right in the heart of the fabulous Old Town and is less than ten miles away from the airport. It is warm, welcoming, bursting with modern comfort, Scottish culture, but with a touch of hipster quirkiness that just ticks every box.

One of the things we love about this hotel is its location; Old Town is one of Edinburgh’s biggest appeals, and is bursting at the seams with boutiques, eateries, and funky cocktail bars.

Key Features:

  • Pets allowed
  • Private bathrooms
  • Free WiFi
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Bar
  • Breakfast options

2. Haymarket Apartments

  • Price-Matched
  • Location: Torphichen Street
  • Pet Friendly: No
  • Travel Sustainable Property: Yes

If you like your hotels to be quirky with a side order of glamour – this is the one for you.

Haymarket Apartments offers beautiful city views and comes with a fully-equipped kitchenette for those looking for self-catering suites. This hotel is ideal for those looking to explore all the gems of Edinburgh by foot (this is a recommended option for those not looking to hire a car, as the hotel doesn’t have parking), and is a mere eleven minutes away from Edinburgh Castle, as well as the city’s famous Royal Mile.

This hotel offers super spacious rooms (and the bathrooms are TO DIE FOR), making it ideal for those travelling with families (children stay for free too).

Key Features:

  • Family-run business
  • Free WiFi
  • Bathtubs

3. Blackfriars Loft

  • Price-Matched
  • Location: Old Town
  • Pet Friendly: No
  • Travel Sustainable Property: No

Nothing is more quirky than a hotel that used to be a church, no?!

This stunning mezzanine apartment boasts gorgeously gothic windows, wood flooring, jaw-dropping tilework in the bathroom, a walk-in shower, and is just generally SO cool, you’ll want to move in indefinitely.

The church dates back to 1871, but has a gorgeous modern touch that adds a delicious comfort to the Victorian charm of the building.

The apartment features a kitchenette and dining area, and is perfect for those looking for a self-catering room.

Key Features:

  • Free WiFi
  • Parking
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Great location

4. Cheval Old Town Chambers

  • Price-Matched
  • Location: Royal Mile
  • Pet Friendly: Yes
  • Travel Sustainable Property: No

If you ever fancied being neighbourinos with Edinburgh Castle, now is your chance! Also, if you like visiting hotels that have an absolute killer bathtub – get booking today, because these bathrooms are like something out of a gothic fairytale.

Located in the heart of the Royal Mile in Old Town, this area is often visitors’ most-cherished part of the city, and is bustling with so much to do, including indie restaurants, gin bars, shops, and museums.

As well as offering scenic views of the city, this hotel provides a Smart flatscreen tv in each room, as well as a cinema TV system, Bose sound system (for those who love nothing more than a good boogie around the living room with their morning coffee!), balconies, and fully-kitted-out kitchens.


5. Malmaison

  • Price: ££££
  • Location: St. Andrew’s Square
  • Pet Friendly: Yes
  • Travel Sustainable Property: No

Located a mere three-minute walk away from the gorgeous Princes Street, Malmaison is ideal for those travelling with pets and/or children (who stay for free), and is perfect for those whose first language isn’t English, as it boasts super-friendly multilingual staff.

This 4-star hotel has a restaurant, as well as 24-hour room service, and a porter. The incredible decor is bold, stylish, and cosy, and the restaurant is so chic, you’ll have a hard time not wanting to dine there 3 times a day!

The building itself is a former townhouse, and just oozes British elegance.

Key Features:

  • Parking available
  • Pet friendly
  • Air conditioning
  • Free WiFi
  • Bathtub

Other Edinburgh Activities

Powered by GetYourGuide

6. Melville Castle

  • Price: £££
  • Location: Leith
  • Pet Friendly: Yes
  • Travel Sustainable Property: No

We mean, who wouldn’t want to spend a night or two in a castle?!

Located in lovely Leith, just five miles outside of Edinburgh, this four-star hotel is perfect for those who want to get acquainted with the city in the daytime, but retire somewhere a little more quiet in the evenings.

The bedrooms include four-poster beds, and have quintessentially classic Scottish decor. There’s also a delectable cocktail bar to enjoy a tipple after dinner. You can also indulge in a fancy cream tea too.

Key Features:

  • Free parking
  • Free WiFi
  • Pet friendly
  • Bathtub
  • Restaurant
  • Wedding services

7. House of Gods

  • Price-Matched
  • Location: Royal Mile
  • Pet Friendly: No
  • Travel Sustainable Property:

The House of Gods hotel looks like something straight out of a romantic vampire novel, and is fit for a rock star! 

Each incredible room is bursting with traditional decor and four poster beds, and guests can enjoy some time in the hotel bar and/or its nightclub!

The hotel is located on the Royal Mile, which is a stone’s throw away from many of Edinburgh’s well-loved locations, including Camera Obscura, the National Museum of Scotland, and The real Mary King’s Close.

Each room comes equipped with a flat-screen TV, daily bed linen and fresh towels, and the opportunity to tuck into a continental breakfast every morning.

Key Features:

  • Room service.
  • Free WiFi
  • 24-hour front desk
  • Bar
  • VIP package option.

8. The Witchery By The Castle

  • Price-Matched
  • Location: Royal Mile
  • Pet-Friendly: No
  • Travel Sustainable Property: No

We’ve featured several gothic-inspired properties on this list already, but our favourite is, without a doubt, The Witchery.

To say it offers gothic opulence would be an understatement! All nine rooms feature stunning oak four-poster beds, freestanding silver bathtubs, velvet-lined walls, and red and gold decor for that delicious macabre finishing touch.

The rooms are kitted out with love seats, walk-in wardrobes, and tapestries; and as for brekkie – you’re hard picked to choose from either a cooked breakfast in the restaurant (included within the price of your room), or an incredible breakfast hamper, which you can enjoy from the comfort of your four-poster bed.

The Witchery is one of Edinburgh’s most sought-after hotels, so don’t lose time in getting booked!

Key Features

  • Free WiFi
  • 24-hour front desk
  • Restaurant
  • Terrace

9. The Raeburn

  • Price-Matched
  • Location: Raeburn Place
  • Pet Friendly: No
  • Travel Sustainable Property: No

If gothic decadence isn’t your jam, we recommend the country-chic Raeburn hotel.

Located in the charming Stockbridge area of the city, the Raeburn is a stunning Georgian property which boasts exposed stone walls, sash windows, and tartan fabric (this is Scotland, after all!).

The property also features a delicious brasserie-style restaurant, as well as a bar in which you can enjoy a beverage next to the open fire. If the weather’s good, why not take your drink outside and potter around the terrace?

This hotel isn’t as close to the main features of Edinburgh, such as Edinburgh Castle, as the other options on this list, but has a railway station and local bus routes close-by.

Key Features:

  • Family rooms
  • Free WiFi
  • Room service
  • 24-hour front desk
  • Lift

Quirky Hotels in Edinburgh FAQs

Where to sleep cheap in Edinburgh?

If you’re on a budget, there are plenty of great hotel, hostel, and B&B options that are wallet-friendly, some of which include:
-hub by Premier Inn Edinburgh City Centre (Rose Street) Hotel. 
-ibis Styles Edinburgh St Andrew Square. 
-Best Western Kings Manor Hotel.
-Premier Inn Edinburgh City Centre Royal Mile Hotel. 
-Travelodge Edinburgh Cameron Toll. 
-Point A Hotel Edinburgh Haymarket. 
-Premier Inn Edinburgh City Centre (Princes Street) hotel.

Which is the best area to stay in Edinburgh?

Edinburgh is full of delectable neighbourhoods, some of which include:
-Old Town.
-New Town. 
-Stockbridge.
-Leith. 
-Dean Village. 
-Southside, Newington, & Prestonfield. 
-Bruntsfield & Morningside.

How many nights are enough in Edinburgh?

According to touristengland.com, first-time visitors are recommended to spend at least two or three nights in the city to enjoy everything it has to offer.


More Scotland Posts


Free Resources


And as always, you can find more sustainable travel content on Instagram @VoyagingHerbivore, Youtube, and TikTok and to get updates straight to your inbox, enter your email below.


If you found this guide helpful and want to help us keep these resources free,
please consider making your next Amazon, Expedia, Hostel World, Etsy, Trivago, and Booking.com purchase through our links (just click right on those words – you can do it right now and unless you clear your cookies before your next purchase, it will remember). It costs you no extra and gives us a small commission. Thank you!


Pin Quirky Hotels in Edinburgh

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.