Why book?

Because The Hoxton knows exactly what it’s doing after seventeen other openings across the globe, and Edinburgh deserves a hotel that straddles cool and confident. Long-time fans of the brand will feel the comforting hum of familiarity: sociable common areas, considered interiors, and rooms that nail the elusive art of feeling both fun and functional. But there’s a distinctly Scottish soul to this particular Hoxton, as it takes its cues from Edinburgh’s characterful contrasts and storied architecture.

Set the scene

Trotting up to the entrance, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in the wrong place entirely. This, surely, is a residential street of traditional gray stone townhouses. There’s little fanfare or fuss outside, with just one small portico and a subtle logo denoting that, thankfully, all your marbles are still intact, and you’re in the right place after all.

Inside, the hotel demonstrates a handsome layering of eras and influences that reflects Edinburgh’s famous tapestried streets with a unique pairing of a contemporary Verity Woolley mural and vintage amber Murano chandelier, setting the tone in the lobby as you enter. Explore further and you’ll find the rest of the hotel’s interiors follow suit, with seamless, era-spanning design. Think original pillars, carefully preserved Edwardian details, midcentury lines, and even a nod to postmodernism here or there. The muted color palette of sage greens and heather pinks ushers the outside in, reminding guests that there’s as much to explore externally as internally.

The whole thing unfolds like a tardis, stretching outwards and upwards across multiple floors to reveal winding staircases crowned with intricate cornicing at their tops; a dinky cinema with just five velvet-clad chairs, a popcorn machine and a run of free arthouse films; a ballroom-sized party space splashed with daylight courtesy of a cupola up on high; an Amalfi-inspired trattoria bedecked in maximalist fabrics and finery; and a whole series of linked lounge areas that you can commandeer for the day.

The backstory

This is Scotland’s first Hoxton hotel, a launch that has been years in the making after a series of delays halted progress on a number of occasions. Now that it’s here, it feels a bit like a new baby in both that it was worth the wait, and you can’t imagine a world without it.

As with each Hoxton, the team collaborated with a creative crew of neighbors to root the look in place while staying true to the brand’s DNA. Soo Burnell is one of the first exhibitionists in the public gallery space, a lifelong local resident with a uniquely storied style, while their “neighborhood shop,” Best Of, showcases Edinburgh brands like Simo The Label or TBCo.

The rooms

There are over 200 rooms across multiple categories that range from the dinky-but-perfectly-formed bunk rooms to the three-bed townhouses. Expect the now-classic Hoxton palette: warm timber, statement lighting, tactile finishes, and upholstered headboards with nifty shelf spaces and Roberts radios tinkling in the background. But Edinburgh gets its own twist too: nods to Scottish textiles, tonal landscapes, and books by local authors.

On the first floor are some of the swishest quarters, with large rooms that benefit from floor-to-ceiling sash windows framed with thick, fringed curtains, original cornicing, cosseting color schemes of blue and rust, and large, comfy lounge areas with plenty of space to stretch out. The beds are vast and Goldilocks levels of just right with crisp white sheets and generously stuffed pillows that fluff up around you as you drift off (if you can’t quite peel yourself away come morning, opt for breakfast in bed).

This is city-center living, so most bathrooms are petite. They’re small, but they’re equally crisp and stylish with all the tickbox stuff like walk-in showers with double spray heads, full-size amenities, and piles of fluffy towel sheeting to wrap yourself up in post pavement-pounding. A few of the more unique rooms boast tubs for long soaks post-Arthur’s Seat, so make sure to add a note to your booking if you prefer a bath to a shower.

Food and drink

Edinburgh’s culinary offering is Patatino, an all‑day trattoria that effortlessly blends laid‑back charm with generous hospitality. Designed to whisk you away to the Amalfi Coast (complete with striped awnings, Baroque accents, and the gentle murmur of a central working fountain), Patatino serves up classic, hearty plates that can be greedily gobbled solo or ordered in larger portions for sharing. The latter comes piled high on hand-painted ceramic platters ready for serving family-style.

At one end, there’s a gentle hum of industry from the open kitchen as the team turns out plates like spaghetti fritters, cured meat platters, puffed and perfectly charred pizzas, steaks grilled over open fire, and plates of pasta that span familiar favorites like crab, cacio e pepe, and sausage gnocchi. The pezzo forte is the tableside tiramisu which is wonderfully theatrical, impossibly light, and made with enough espresso to keep the night interesting. There’s real range, and a please-all approach, plus an upbeat, frivolous atmosphere that makes this feel like the perfect place for a party. All of the above is neatly wrapped up in a very shiny service bow, with the proud new team bustling across the floor, eager to make everyone feel like they’re their own personal guests, just like Mamma would have wanted.

Breakfast is also served in Patatino with mainstays like Eggs Royal offset by more unusual serves that include an addictive plate of flatbread with honey, ricotta, and grapes, and a feather-light stack of orange-scented pancakes liberally doused in a shiny chocolate sauce.

For everything from a sunrise espresso to late‑night Negronis, there’s also the lobby bar with its signature menu of international favorites like burgers, salads, and sandwiches. Guests are warmly welcomed to use the ground-floor areas as working-from-home spaces. Fair warning: the cocktails here are very drinkable, so approach with caution if you have real graft to do.

The neighborhood

Haymarket feels like it’s on the edge of having a moment. Still slightly under-the-radar, it’s perfectly positioned as the gateway to Stockbridge’s well-heeled streets and the edgier energy of Leith down towards the water. There’s not a huge amount on your doorstep here, except for a very pleasant cathedral and one of our favorite restaurants in Edinburgh—The Palmerston—but you’re a 10-minute stroll from Princes Street, moments from the Usher Hall, and within easy reach of the city’s major galleries and green spaces. Plus, with a train station and a tram stop just around the corner, it couldn’t have better city- and country-wide connections.

The service

Casual, capable, and genuinely warm, we found service to be attentive and knowledgeable but never overbearing or stuffy. Check-in was swift, housekeeping was unobtrusive (although it’s worth noting that the hotel’s policy is not to clean quarters daily as standard policy, so you have to request your room to be made up if that’s something you like), and the team are brilliantly bright-eyed with bags of enthusiasm and a pleasant familiarity.

For families

Rooms can be linked, with bunks perfect for older kids and large spaces ideal for cots. Little ones are well taken care of with extras like baby baths, toys, and toiletries all included, and a mini breakfast menu plus essentials like wipes, diaper bins, and bottle warmers all thought of to boot. Plus, the casual dining setup makes life easy with little ones in tow.

Eco effort

Like all Hoxtons, this one has sustainability baked in: refillable amenities, an aim of no single-use plastics, and an emphasis on local sourcing. The building’s restoration was also carried out with preservation in mind, keeping its bones intact while bringing the interiors up to speed.

Accessibility

Several rooms are fully accessible, and public areas are on one level. Elevators connect all floors, and the staff are proactive and accommodating. However, the lobby is up a single flight of stairs from the street, so this is something to keep in mind.

Anything else?

The meeting and event spaces are worth noting—a collection of cozy, creative rooms (dubbed “The Apartment”) that can be hired for everything from presentations to parties. There’s also a huge ballroom, complete with its own working fireplace that allows for large-scale gatherings in stylish surroundings, something that is lacking elsewhere in Edinburgh. Also, check out the hotel’s in-house program of cultural events, often spotlighting Edinburgh’s emerging talent.