Virgin Hotels Edinburgh — Hotel in City of Edinburgh

I do not say this lightly—our experience at the Virgin Hotel Edinburgh far surpassed any hotel we have ever stayed at. So much so that we’ve been left wondering, will any hotel ever reach the bar set by Virgin Hotel Edinburgh? If you’re visiting Edinburgh, you are out of your mind if you do not stay here.

We were fortunate enough to stay in the Eve Suite, and it more than surpassed our wildest dreams. The level of care that went into the design of these suites is impeccable—every detail was considered to ensure both luxury and comfort. From umbrellas to salon-quality hair tools, they truly thought of everything. The minibar? Spoiling. The complimentary champagne? The perfect welcome. And the evening cocktail hour? An indulgence we could get used to. And now, thanks to this hotel, our future home will need pink double vanities—we adored them so much that there’s simply no going back!

As hard as it is to rank our favorite aspects of this hotel, one thing stands above the rest: the hospitality. Every single member of the staff we encountered was not only kind but genuinely dedicated to making our stay the absolute best. A special shoutout to Ed and the concierge team, who completely blew us away with a personalized wedding surprise on the day of our ceremony. They took time out of their busy day to listen to our story as a couple and celebrate with us—a level of thoughtfulness and care that I have never seen at a hotel before. It was a touching gesture that spoke volumes about the high standard they hold themselves to.

Beyond the suite, the entire hotel itself is a work of art. Every common space felt meticulously curated, providing us with a stunning backdrop for what our family and friends are now calling the most gorgeous wedding photos they have ever seen. We knew we were in for a special stay, but we never expected the hotel itself to play such a breathtaking role in our wedding memories.

And the location? You simply cannot beat it. The proximity to all the major sights could not be more perfect—whether it was wandering down the Royal Mile, exploring Edinburgh Castle, or enjoying nearby restaurants, everything was within easy reach. It made our trip that much more seamless and enjoyable.

And then there’s the food. We ate at Eve every morning of our stay and never tired of the incredible Scottish breakfast—a must-try. But the true culinary crown jewel? The Chef’s Table experience at Commons Club with Chef Emma. This multi-sensory, Michelin-star-worthy dinner outshined so many other fantastic meals on our trip. It was truly an unforgettable experience that, on its own, would be enough of a reason to return.

The Virgin Hotel Edinburgh is more than just a place to stay—it’s an experience, one that has completely redefined what we expect from a hotel. We will absolutely be back, and if you have the opportunity to stay here, don’t hesitate. This is hospitality at its...

Upon arrival at the hotel, you will first discover that you can't actually get into the building. The doors do not open automatically to welcome you, instead you are locked outside on the street with your cases, and there is a bell push, which on a wet day is hidden by tourists sheltering in the doorway, and you have to stand pressed amongst them until you are allowed in by reception. When we arrived there was no one on the door/concierge desk to see us and open the door, but suddenly the doors open outwards into your face and almost bowl you over as you step back into the sheltering huddle to avoid them (I don't blame the doorman for hiding as he is forced to wear hideous red tartan trousers that make him look like an American golfer, and it must be their favourite game... guest bowling) Once inside you are funnelled into an insanely tiny Reception area at the end of a corridor with only two positions and one receptionist serving a queue four people deep, where I strongly advise you to get a key so you can enter your teeny, tiny room. The phone thing is a complete gimmick which almost completely does not work... If you peer into the managers office, you will find the other receptionists hiding, probably all placing bets on the next round of Guest Bowling, but emphatically not serving at checkin. Overall, far too pricey for what it is, you are paying to have a Bentley branded hairdryer in your room after all, but honestly, Bentley make a nice car, but are not famed for their hairdryers are they...? , plus you are being sold some dodgy tech that really doesn't help make anything better at all. We complained long and hard at reception, and were eventually transferred to a new room in the Chapel. Here we had a shower that did not drain and almost flooded the room and a loo that filled to the brim when flushed. Juliet, the manager? was very proud of the Moroccan rug in each room, but the bed sits on the rug completely covering it, with only a few inches sticking out at the foot, which is curled up and a trip hazard at best... what a waste of effort. I can say the sofa bed turned out to be comfy, and the curtains cut out the light, and most, but not all of the street noise, the supplied toiletries are nice and there is a very expensive Smeg fridge in each room, however.....paying £233 for a truly tiny room 722 which was allegedly a special offer saving £100, was absurd. And that alone means I would never return... and don't get me wrong, I've flown many, many miles with Virgin Atlantic, and I subscribe to Virgin Wines... I just expected Virgin Hotels to be of a similar standard in terms of value for money, but I left completely disappointed... and hungry because it turned out the extortionate price did not include breakfast, god only knows how much that would have cost, (its £20 per person if you pre book... but we hadn't, so....) we didn't hang around...

What a bizarre stay - great location and brand new hotel, but sadly none of the staff know what the hotel can offer (heard multiple conversations in front of customers with people not knowing laundry services, bar opening hours). The gym is also very basic with very limited equipment, so don’t think you will get a virgin active style gym - and no separate showers so expect to be going from floor to floor to floor if you fancy a quick trip to the gym before breakfast - or you’ll be going cold! I’m the room it said that I’ve was on every floor - after walking the whole floor I called reception to find out they don’t have ice machines but don’t worry… they delivered some a whole hour later after I chased. I also tried out the room service anywhere via the app - the only option I could order was chips, so I did, and again I chased after an hour before receiving them. The phone they make a big deal about too wasn’t cleaned - picture below. I also paid extra for their best birthday surprise - the full package one. Messaged them when we head out for dinner - the balloons didn’t have helium in so we’re laid flat on the bed with messy ribbon (The bed which they didn’t even pull to!), they left the chocolates on a messy table (glass marks and although it had my headphones on they could have put them nice) along with a card addressed to me - it was my partners birthday!!! If this is their rockstar service, I won’t be returning! Breakfast service was slow and over priced - cheaper brunches in London. Our server at breakfast on the second day was nice and fetched birthday pancakes, but other than that there was often food missing from the small buffet selection and nothing was labelled! The sound throughout is also strange - very loud speakers spaced out, so it fades and then hits you wherever you go, and there are also next to no spaces to work - Eve is probably the best (by the front windows) but nobody suggested this to me, and the “funny library” is far too noisy and dark for any video calls, and has no plug sockets by the tables. Note the florist in Eve is amazing - but you’ll pay a premium & no discount for guests. Check in was also very confusing - I got in at 7pm, there was no one at the front, and weirdly the reception is hard to find… it is not up the main staircase that welcomes you! I also saw people with welcome drinks the next day, but our arrival lacked any excitement and the information was very basic, not a great start to get us excited. I had to Google how to find out about the amenities and download an app - I later found out there is also a guide on the tv, but it is a pain to scroll back and forth on a website with a tv remote! Hotel is nice and new, but felt a bit more like TGIs than a 5 star hotel! There was a real lack of a service...