The Balmoral
Two Michelin Keys
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Hotel Details
Location
The Balmoral · Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Key Highlights
- ✓Exceptional Service: The staff's attentiveness, professionalism, and genuine warmth are frequently lauded.
- ✓Spa & Wellness: A tranquil spa with an indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and fitness center provides a perfect escape from the city.
- ✓Dining Diversity: A range of excellent culinary options, from fine dining to relaxed brasserie fare and a world-class whisky bar.
- ✓Views: Many rooms offer stunning vistas of Edinburgh Castle, the Old Town, Princes Street Gardens, and Calton Hill.
- ✓Service Lapses: Although service is generally excellent, isolated incidents of slow luggage delivery, incorrect billing, or less-than-ideal bar service have been mentioned in some reviews.
Expert Review: The Balmoral
The Balmoral, a prestigious Rocco Forte hotel in Edinburgh, stands as an iconic landmark at the heart of the city, renowned for its exceptional luxury and a Michelin Two-Key rating, signifying "an exceptional stay". Guests consistently praise its grandeur, prime location, and outstanding service, making it a benchmark for luxury hospitality.
Overall Rating & Sentiment
The overall sentiment for The Balmoral is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing their stays as exceptional, memorable, and luxurious. It holds strong ratings across various platforms, highlighting its standing as one of Edinburgh's top hotels. The hotel is often chosen for special occasions, with many considering it a "home away from home" due to its welcoming atmosphere.
Key Highlights
Guests consistently highlight several standout features:
- Central Location: Its unparalleled position at the east end of Princes Street, directly adjacent to Waverley Station, is a major draw.
- Exceptional Service: The staff's attentiveness, professionalism, and genuine warmth are frequently lauded.
- Elegant Design & Ambiance: The hotel blends traditional Edwardian grandeur with modern comforts, featuring opulent interiors, sweeping staircases, and a palpable sense of history.
- Spa & Wellness: A tranquil spa with an indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and fitness center provides a perfect escape from the city.
- Dining Diversity: A range of excellent culinary options, from fine dining to relaxed brasserie fare and a world-class whisky bar.
- Iconic Clock Tower: The hotel's famous clock tower, which deliberately runs three minutes fast to help passengers catch their trains, is a beloved city landmark.
- Views: Many rooms offer stunning vistas of Edinburgh Castle, the Old Town, Princes Street Gardens, and Calton Hill.
Room Quality
The Balmoral offers 188 rooms, including 20 suites, all designed with a smart contemporary style and a subtle nod to Scottish aesthetics. Rooms are generally spacious, with muted color palettes (creams, greens, purples) inspired by the Scottish landscape. Guests often appreciate the comfortable bedding, elegant furnishings, and modern amenities. Many rooms feature luxurious marble bathrooms, some with separate bathtubs and walk-in showers. Notable suites include the J.K. Rowling suite, where the final Harry Potter book was completed. While classic rooms start at around 19 square meters, executive and deluxe rooms offer more generous space. Guests also note practical touches like good bedside lighting and ample storage.
Dining Experience
The Balmoral boasts a varied and high-quality dining scene:
- Number One: The hotel's flagship fine-dining restaurant, Number One, is highly acclaimed, holding four AA Rosettes and a strong recommendation in the Michelin Guide. It specializes in modern Scottish cuisine with European techniques, emphasizing local, seasonal ingredients. Reviewers consistently praise the exquisite presentation, refined flavors, and the professional, knowledgeable service.
- Brasserie Prince by Alain Roux: This French-inspired brasserie offers a more relaxed yet stylish dining experience, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a Scottish twist.
- Breakfast: Served at Brasserie Prince, breakfast is frequently lauded as "out of this world" and "the best breakfast in Edinburgh". It features an extensive continental buffet, a wide variety of fresh fruits (including berries), and hot dishes, often including a full Scottish breakfast.
- Palm Court: An opulent setting for a quintessential afternoon tea experience, complete with a harpist.
- Scotch Bar: A haven for whisky enthusiasts, Scotch Bar boasts an impressive collection of over 500 different Scottish whiskies.
Service & Staff
The service at The Balmoral is consistently highlighted as a key differentiator. Guests describe the staff as exceptional, friendly, attentive, and highly professional, often going "above and beyond" to ensure a perfect stay. From the cheery doormen in traditional Highland regalia who greet guests upon arrival to the concierges and restaurant teams, the hospitality is a central part of The Balmoral experience.
Location & Accessibility
The Balmoral's location is arguably one of its greatest assets. Situated at the prestigious 1 Princes Street, it acts as a gateway between Edinburgh's historic Old Town and the elegant New Town. It is directly adjacent to Edinburgh Waverley railway station, making it incredibly convenient for travelers arriving by train or airport bus. Many of Edinburgh's major attractions, including the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street Gardens, and excellent shopping on Princes Street and George Street, are within easy walking distance. Public transport links, including numerous bus routes and light rail, are readily available right outside the hotel. Valet parking is also offered for guests arriving by car.
Value & Pricing
As a Michelin Two-Key, 5-star luxury property, The Balmoral commands premium pricing. While rates vary significantly depending on the season and room type, with classic rooms sometimes found at lower prices, the average price can be around $678 per room. February is often the cheapest month to stay, while August (during festival season) is typically the most expensive. Despite the high cost, many guests consider the experience to be well worth the investment, citing the unparalleled luxury, service, and location as justification.
Common Complaints
While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring issues or criticisms have been noted:
- Noise: A few guests have reported issues with noise, particularly in rooms facing busy Princes Street or on lower floors, and some mention a lack of soundproofing in certain areas.
- Service Lapses: Although service is generally excellent, isolated incidents of slow luggage delivery, incorrect billing, or less-than-ideal bar service have been mentioned in some reviews.
- Wi-Fi Connectivity: Older reviews occasionally mention shaky Wi-Fi signals or slow speeds, with better connectivity sometimes incurring a fee.
Overall, The Balmoral remains a top-tier luxury hotel in Edinburgh, delivering a consistently elegant and memorable experience, particularly for those seeking a prime location, exceptional service, and sophisticated dining.
Sources
- michelin.com
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- booking.com
- winetravelandsong.com
- everythingedinburgh.com
- trip.com
- ratedtrips.com
- hotel-rn.com
- wikipedia.org
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- marieclaire.co.uk
- emirateswoman.com
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Points to Consider
- •While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring issues or criticisms have been noted:
- •Noise: A few guests have reported issues with noise, particularly in rooms facing busy Princes Street or on lower floors, and some mention a lack of soundproofing in certain areas.
Google Reviews
3,170 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
Alice Laybourne Official
We had the most incredible stay at The Balmoral and I cannot praise it highly enough. From the moment we arrived, the staff were exceptional. Nothing was too much trouble and every interaction felt warm, genuine, and thoughtful. I contacted the hotel beforehand to let them know it was my mum’s 60th birthday, and they went above and beyond to make it unforgettable. They provided a beautiful box of...
Sanjay Gupta
Standing at the East End of Princes Street is the imposing building known today as The Balmoral Hotel. Owned by Sir Rocco Forte since 1997, the building has been completely refurbished and now enjoys a worldwide reputation as a luxury hotel. The hotel is a well-loved landmark which has graced Edinburgh’s skyline since 1902 when it began its life as a grand railway hotel. Of course the building ha...
Response from the owner
Dear Mr Gupta,<br><br>Thank you for taking the time to leave us a 5-star rating. We are thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience at The Balmoral. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us i...
Eric Maddison
My friend & I on the recommendation of a former guest at the hotel called in for coffee on the 15/02/26. We were directed to the bar. The maitre de we met obviously was not impressed when we asked for a table for 2 for coffee. He directed us to a table beside the door which was neither in the bar or restaurant & under the air conditioning unit we were cold & wet as it was a typical rainy february ...
Hugh Allan
We didn't actually stay at three hotel but we did eat at the Grill. Staff are amazing, set lunch is amazing value (2 or 3 courses). You can see why thid place was one of the favourites for the late Queen's mother. Tip. If the hotel is quiet in the off season and you cannot afford the room. Ask if you can do a walk-in breakfast buffet. You will feel like royalty with out breaking the bank
Response from the owner
Dear Mr Allan<br><br>Thank you so much for your kind review. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience online.<br><br>We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us...
Teresa
This hotel was fantastic from the moment I stepped out the car there was a loverly doorman in his kilt who greeted us to help with our luggage we then had s very pleasant greeting by Jack who checked us in and armed us with all the knowledge that we needed to know about the hotel he also took us to our room he was very professional polite friendly and made a very good impression. Our room was spot...
Response from the owner
Dear Teresa,<br><br>Thank you so much for your kind review. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience online.<br><br>We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us. Provi...
JJ J
Had the best stay here. Beautiful building. The concierge team, especially Jose, truly looked out for me— even helping me with my bags to the train! The front desk and restaurant staff, like Kasia, went out of their way to make me feel welcome and remembered my breakfast orders. This is truly a 5-star experience— book now!
Response from the owner
Dear JJ J<br><br>Thank you so much for your kind review. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience online.<br><br>We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us and thank...
About Two Michelin Keys
Two Michelin Keys recognize hotels that provide an excellent stay experience. These properties stand out for their remarkable quality, distinctive character, and superior service that goes above and beyond expectations.
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