The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel
Prices
Next 365 nights · updated daily
Daily price line
Hover any point for the rate
Calendar heatmap
Hover any day for its rate
Reviews
Character and identity
A Victorian baronial landmark adjacent to Waverley Station, The Balmoral has anchored the east end of Princes Street since 1902, its 200-foot clock tower (set three minutes fast, as tradition demands) marking the seam between Old and New Town. Olga Polizzi's interiors balance latte-toned reception spaces, sweeping staircases and seasonal floral centrepieces with tartan accents and Scottish landscape art across 188 rooms. Five food and drink venues anchor the place: Michelin-starred Number One, the harpist-soundtracked Palm Court for afternoon tea, martini-led Bar Prince, the French-leaning Brasserie, and SCOTCH with over 500 drams. Kilted doormen set the service register.
Who's it for
Best for:
Couples and culturally minded travellers who want a grand-dame Edinburgh base within walking distance of the Royal Mile, the National Gallery and Princes Street Gardens. Food and whisky enthusiasts get serious mileage from the five venues; spa-goers benefit from a freshly refurbished underground pool and treatment suite. Fringe and Hogmanay visitors will appreciate the central-but-cocooned position.
Should look elsewhere:
Design literates chasing the latest mid-century or minimalist hotel aesthetic will find the traditional Scottish-Victorian look firmly old-school. Classic rooms are notably compact and courtyard-facing, so anyone booking the entry tier expecting the full five-star experience is likely to be underwhelmed. Light sleepers wanting quiet residential streets should note the station-adjacent setting.
Bottom line
The case for booking here rests on the combination of address, dining and tradition: few city hotels deliver a Michelin-starred kitchen, a landmark afternoon tea and a 500-bottle whisky bar inside a building this central. Splash out on a Superior Deluxe for castle views and proper proportions, reserve Number One and Palm Court well ahead, and target the shoulder seasons if you want the place to breathe.
Location
What this place offers
- Wi-Fi
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Room service
- Breakfast
- Breakfast buffet
- Smoke-free property
- Indoor pool
- Front desk
- Full service laundry
