Hotel Spotlight: Virgin Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland

The Virgin Hotel in Edinburgh is a modern hotel appealing to couples but also welcoming to families. The impeccable design, restaurants and location is what sets this hotel apart from others in Edinburgh.

Background

The Edinburgh hotel is the first European property and a perfect balance of moody and vibrant, traditional and modern. The hotel can be a little difficult to find your way to your room because it spans three different buildings occupying multiple floors but all connected. It’s located in Edinburgh’s Old Town on the famous Victoria Street, with colorful buildings which are known as the inspiration for Diagon Alley from Harry Potter.

The Virgin brand has unique ways of standing out, such as their red doors leading to their chambers and porcelain dogs outside dog-friendly rooms.

Getting Here

The property is located 25 minutes from Edinburgh airport via car. You can also take the Airport tram to the Princes Street stop and walk 10 minutes to the hotel. This is a lot cheaper option starting at two pounds for an Adult single ticket.

Rooms

Their Chambers offer King rooms with multiple different tiers such as Grand Chamber King, Castle View, Terrace and Balcony options. There is also a two Twin Bed option, but only in a regular chamber room. Even between room types, the room layouts vary due to the old building the hotel is in. Each room has its own unique floor plan. Every room is equipped with a super comfy bed, free wifi and a Smeg fridge stocked with everything you need for a night in.

The real star of this hotel are the suites. Out of the eight different suite types, the Eve Branson Suite reigns supreme. Its pastel pink velvet, feather light fixture and duel vanities ooze femininity. The unique Kasbah Tamadot Suite has an attic nook cushion bed inspired by Morocco. Lastly, the Sir Richard’s Flat is the only room that offers a bath option and in room bar.

Restaurants

The hotel has two restaurants with bars attached and reservations are strongly encouraged. The Commons Club has a seasonal contemporary Scottish menu. It is broken up into three different rooms. The bar is located near the lobby and has a view of Victoria Street. The restaurant is located on the ground floor and is broken up into two different rooms. One has a dark and moody feel with stone walls and velvet furniture. The other side is airy and light, equipped with a chef’s table overlooking the kitchen. The staff at the bar was delightful and honestly the highlight of our stay at Virgin. After working in hospitality for over 15 years, the knowledge and attentiveness of our staff really means a lot. My husband and I decided to have a night cap at Commons Club and had some delicious cocktails and freshly sliced Iberico Jamon.

Eve is the other restaurant on property known for its live entertainment on the weekends (Thursday-Saturday) and their weekend brunch (Saturday and Sunday). The menu features small plates with an eclectic array of cuisine styles.

I highly recommend Virgin Edinburgh for clients looking for a romantic sojourn, girls getaway or couples trip with friends. Reach out to me to plan your trip to Scotland!

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Scotland. In need of further inspiration? Check out Meredith Alexander’s guide, Best Things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland.