Hotel du Vin Edinburgh

Rooms

The Hotel du Vin’s 47 rooms and suites (each named after varieties of wine and Champagne) have fantastic beds with their queen-sized Vi-spring mattresses and Egyptian cotton bedlinen. They all come with TVs and air conditioning; some rooms have books and there's a supply of board games at reception in case the dreich Scottish weather does its worst while you’re there. Imaginatively stocked minibars include complimentary teas, freshly ground coffee and posh hot chocolate.

On our last visit, we stayed in a Classic Double, which had high ceilings and a large window with lovely views. Previously, we've had a Deluxe Double in the attic of the older part of the building, which meant added character thanks to beams and a sloping ceiling. Like the other rooms in this category, the bathroom also had a huge, Aston Matthews, free-standing bath as well as a walk-in monsoon shower (the classic doubles have a shower over the bath but are just as chic). Some of the Classic Doubles in the new-build section are on the small side, but nothing unusual for a central city hotel; staff aim to allocate bigger rooms for longer stays. Twin beds options are available with a Classic Twin and a Deluxe Twin, the latter has a free-standing bath and walk-in monsoon shower.

If you do need more space, there are three categories of larger rooms to choose from. Junior Suites come with a seating area that can double up as a triple room thanks to a pull-out bed, while Suites do the same but are substantially bigger. The top-of-the-range Signature Suite also has its own (small) private terrace. It's also worth bearing in mind that rooms overlooking the inner courtyard may get noise from smokers in the cigar bothy through the evening.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Central heating
• Coffee / tea making
• Cots available
• Minibar
• Radio
• Safe box
• TV

Eating

The Hotel du Vin Bistro is popular with guests and non-guests alike. The à la carte menu is heavy with sophisticated French favourites. Tuck into a beef cheek Bourguignon, tourte de poisson or Chateaubriand paired with Argentinian Malbec. For dessert, sweet-tooths can savour the delectable-sounding apple tart, while the assortment of cheeses sounds like the perfect savoury finale.

Mornings start with a crowd-pleasing breakfast. There's a menu of hearty hot dishes, featuring the likes of cooked breakfasts (vegan and meaty), eggs benedict, grilled kippers and French toast. At 'The Country Table', you can help yourself to continental staples like sweet and savoury breads, fresh pastries, jams and spreads, various granolas, cereals, muesli, fresh & stewed fruit, as well as juice, tea and coffee.

The hotel’s Mezzanine bar is surprisingly small, which makes it ideal for an intimate aperitif. The menu, on the other hand, is far from diminuitive; the list of wine, beer, spirits, and cocktails (alcoholic or not) goes on and on. This being Scotland, there’s also a separate Whisky Snug on the ground floor. Deep-backed sofas, soft lighting and velvety cushions give it a country house feel. Guests can take afternoon tea here or in the courtyard (where there's also a cigar bothy, but you'll need to bring your own smokes). The hotel runs regular wine events on Sunday evenings, and tastings can be arranged.

For visitors staying for more than one night, there’s no lack of choice when it comes to eating out in Edinburgh. The old port area of Leith is the city’s current culinary hotspot, with Michelin-starred chefs more prominent than ships these days. In the immediate vicinity of the hotel, The Outsider is a reliable mid-market choices for a decadent night out, or check out the growing list of Michelin Bib Gourmand options in the city.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Stroll down the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace and the Scottish parliament building via spooky Mary King’s Close, an underground network of streets. Finish off with a wander around the elegant Georgian New Town if your legs are still game


• Culture vultures shouldn’t miss the big three: the National Museum of Scotland, the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery


• Bar-hop your way around George Street’s stylish bars


• Visit Greyfriars Kirk, the first church to be built in Edinburgh after the Reformation, to hear the story of Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye terrier who famously followed the remains of his master to the church graveyard for 14 years


• Strike out along the Water of Leith Walkway, a wildlife-rich riverside path that weaves semi-secretly through the centre of the city. One of the most interesting short sections runs from Stockbridge to the Gallery of Modern Art through quirky Dean Village


• Wrap up warm and head out on a windblown hike up to Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano in the city centre


• Many of the best Edinburgh Festival venues are right on your doorstep if you’re in the city in August. The world’s largest arts festival, it’s actually a collection of different, overlapping festivals encompassing everything from theatre and comedy to music

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets
• Traditional cultures
• Wine tasting

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome, but we think it's better suited to couples or friends. High chairs are available in the restaurant, while cots and extra beds can be provided in some of the rooms. Others have a sofabed that can sleep 2 kids under 10. 

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Hotel du Vin is right in the centre of Edinburgh’s Old Town, less than 5 mins’ walk south of the Royal Mile.

By Air
Edinburgh International Airport is a 20-30 minute drive away, with a wide range of international and domestic flights - click the links at the bottom of this page for details. Airlink shuttle buses run between the airport and Princes Street / Waverley station in not much more time (and for much less money) than taxis.

By Train
Waverley train station is about a 10 to 15 minute walk from the hotel. Edinburgh is on a mainline rail route, easily reached from stations such as Inverness, coming from the north, or London, from the south.

By Car
There is no on-site parking at the hotel but valet parking can be arranged. The NCP (Quartermile) car park is located within walking distance and hotel guests receive a 20% discount. If you want to hire a car, see our car rental recommendations.