The Balmoral

It is worth staying here just for the view from your room.
It is worth staying here just for the "number one" michelin starred resturant
It is worth staying here just for the harpist in the palm court

This hotel does with ease what most others can't even think about. even during the festival it manges to provide pefection for every guest. Staff are first class and I can't imagine where I would stay in Edinburgh if the Balmoral wasn't around.

Nothing compares.

Brijesh Kotecha Great spacious, ultra modern room seemed to have everything you would want or need. Wonderful staff always willing to help nicely. Well furnished bathrooms. Quiet location, but within walking distance of the city proper. If your travels bring you to Edinburgh, you need to consider staying here. Brijesh Kotecha

Roast beef sandwich was the finest i’ve ever eaten! Cakes were lovely too!

This is one of the top hotels in Edinburgh. Pefrectly located at the end of Princes street. On the corner from the park and the station. 5 minutes from the Royal Mile.

Parking in Edinburgh is ridiculous. The valet parking here is only slightly more expensive at £29 a night. If you can, avoid getting the car into the centre.

The hotel decor is superb. The staff are excellent. The business centre is a little disappointing. I like the fact you can have breakfast in your room for no extra charge. However, any other room service is very steep.

The pool, sauna and steam room are lovely and quiet in the late afternoon/evening.

Of course the price is high per night, but you get much better value here than you would in London.

I came here with my husband to celebrate his birthday, with my children and loved every minute of it. Great food, friendly staff, good room service, I can’t fault it!.
Our room was a bit dark, (one of the internal rooms in the hotel) when we mentioned our disappointment we were instantly upgraded, with compliments. We were made to feel valued as guests and enjoyed every minute of our stay their. If I went back to Edinburgh I’d stay nowhere else. Stunning Place, stunning views, stunning service, stunning people. Definitely a flagship. Great bar too!

I have had the great pleasure to spend a magical three nights in the Balmoral Hotel where together with my family we were celebrating my wedding. I must say that I have never been served with such a competency and reliability. Every problem that appeared unexpectedly like failure in deliver flowers from one floristry shop, was effectively prevented and solved by the Balmoral Hotel staff. I can highly recommended Balmoral Hotel as one of the best hotels in the UK. Definitely number 1 in Scotland. Balmoral has already got a very good reputation, its excellent location allows to admire Edinburgh from all 4 geographical directions, enabling to see the North Bridge, the Edinburgh Castle, Carlton Hill, Princes Street and Princes Street Gardens.... The Balmoral is also famous for its Afternoon Teatime. Tea accompanied by a glass of champagne, served with a bouquet of sandwiches, scones, sweets and ice-creams surprisingly turned to be an expense below the budget – so go for it if you are in Edinburgh, even if you are not the Balmoral Hotel guest!!!
The overall cost of stay for three nights with breakfast and other facilities included was much lower on the final bill than it was previously expected + reliable service, qualified staff + fantastic location + your purpose of stay = the best time ever!!!!
This luxury hotel is worth of its five stars!

LIKE TO POP IN FOR A TREAT.
THE SERVICE IS UNBEATABLE. THE STAFF ARE VERY ATTENTIVE
WHEN YOU ARRIVE TO YOU LEAVE THEY MAKE SURE YOU HAVE
EVERY YOU NEED EVEN GIVE YOU SMALL BOWLS OF NIBBLES TO GO WITH YOUR DRINKS.
SEEN PEOPLE HAVE LIGHT SNACKS AND CAKES THEY LOOK REALLY NICE
I DONT MIND PAYING THE EXTRA FOR MY DRINK ITS A 5 STAR HOTEL
AND WORTH THE EXTRA FOR THE SERVICE

Unfortunately I haven't stayed at the Balmoral (one day, one day..) however I was in this magnificant hotel recently for a friend's wedding. Holy moly it was a spectacular venue!

It is everything you would expect from a 5 star hotel and more- exquisit interiors with high celings, grand furnishings and ornate traditional features. In addition, the service was fantastic. There was always someone there whether you were asking for a drink or which way was the loos. Very, very impressed.

I have now been to the Balmoral for afternoon tea three times, and I can confirm that it really does live up to its reputation as being the best place to go for tea in the UK -- better than the Ritz, they say, and I can believe it! You sit in the huge, spectacular and very grand Palm Court, and are treated like royalty for the duration of your time there! The staff are incredibly polite and attentive, constantly (but not annoyingly) making sure you are happy and have everything you need. The afternoon tea itself is of a fantastic standard -- gourmet sandwiches, scones and cakes as well as Scottish shortbread and a massive selection of teas, coffees, wines, beers, spirits and champagne (the only thing I would say is: go for the afternoon tea WITHOUT champagne... order champagne and you only get one very small glass, but it whacks up the price by a massive £14!). Add to this a quiet but warm atmosphere, a live harpist playing lovely relaxing tunes, AND the very real possibility of spotting a celeb, and you've got a rather heavenly afternoon lined up! Without champagne afternoon tea is only £21 per head which is actually very good value for money -- you'll come out as full as if you'd had a large meal, too! Totally recommend, everyone should do this at least once in their lives!

I'm essentially ditto-ing what emiana posted about this hotel (we were there on the same visit). Great place with an excellent location and super friendly staff. Still, the lack of free internet access really put me off.

If the price were right (we got a good rate on our visit), I'd probably stay there again. But, honestly, I'd look first for a hotel better situated (Radison SAS or the Scotsman) and for one that offers more 21st century amenities as part of the room rate.

There is no doubt that the Balmoral is a wonderful hotel with top notch service and ideal location. It is part of the Rocco Forte empire, so one knows to expect luxe and high prices.

The hotel also has a great spa, offering all types of massage and pampering services and a pool/sauna/gym area that anyone can use at no extra cost.

The rooms are spacious and clean and the bathrooms are great. I loved that we had an art photo of Sean Connery as a young man on a beach frolicking with a woman doing a hand stand - I think it was Brit Eckland, but I might be wrong. Anyway, the shower has one of those round rain showerheads that are so fantastic.

The service is pretty impeccable. One particularly nice touch was one of the concierge handing me a water bottle wrapped in a towel upon my return from a morning run. It certainly started off my day right.

One thing I did not like was that one had to pay for internet access, whether in the room or in the office services (at £15 for 24 hours, no less). I find that cheap and annoying. Just include internet access in the price already!

One of the best hotels in Edinburgh, this one is five stars!!!.This is a fantastic location as it is located in Princess street,right in the heart of Edinburgh where every thing is happening.The spa here is great.The hotel has five treatment rooms, a 15 metre swimming pool, sauna, steam room, gymnasium and exercise studio.This is a great place to go for a spa .My friend took me here for my birthday and i loved it.It was perfect for me as it is near the train station so i found it easily.The room i stayed in was lovely -there was a lovely stocked mini bar and the room service was great.

Only reviewing this with regards to it’s Christmas party nights.
Decent terrine but could have done with some biscuits, turkey was cold and sprouts hard so hardly touched the main course, cheese board was fine but the bread and butter pudding was excellent.

£27 for what I take it is the house rose was extortionate though and the DJ was pretty rubbish on the whole (playing an Abba mega-mix twice doesn’t really make for a great night). No idea how much a pint was as expected it to be over-priced so took my own supply.

We had our wedding reception here and would absolutely recommend!

Great food, fantastic service, great suite - very luxurious! Very accommodation staff - lovely views from virtually all directions. The restaurant is great, with a wide range of foods on offer, something for everyone.

The spa is great - would absolutely recommend!

the balmoral edinburgh is the sort of five star luxury you would expect - situated at the east end of princes street (in the waverley station complex - as it was first and foremost built as one of the great british prestige 'railway heritage’ hotels) - not dissimilar to gleneagles. Through various owners it is now part of the forte group of unique classic hotels. From the moment the concierge greets you at the door you will enjoy superb service in a historcial setting with fantastic views of the castle & gardens (sadly not all rooms) ... on what some say is the most elegant shopping street in europe. In addition to superb bar/dinining/event facilities there is a pool/spa and contemporary styled bedrooms with marble bathrooms - all within 20 minutes of edinburgh airport and 1 minute from the waverly platforms

The Balmoral is stunning and it’s location is unbeatable. The service as you walk in the door is fantasic. But although the room was lovely I have stayed in nicer in Edinburgh for less money. I think that while it is lovely you are paying a premium for the name.

i have been to a number of events here and it is huge,historical and has a great atmosphere.Whether you are just there to go to the spa or to stay you’ll always feel welcome.

Nearly everyone stays at the Balmoral when they come to Edinburgh - well I mean all the famous smarty pants. It's 'old school' in it's traditions, won lots of awards, central and grand. It really is a lovely place and you do feel special here. Very big though so if you prefer something a little quieter don't go here.