TL;DR

Location: Quieter end of Princes Street, away from the crowds.
Style: Georgian townhouse exterior, with modern, contemporary interiors.
Atmosphere: Small, cosy, and friendly, just 23 rooms and personable staff.
Stay options: Choose between hotel rooms or longer-term serviced apartments.
Check prices here

At the quieter, west end of Edinburgh’s Princes Street, the Rutland Hotel says no to the tartans and tweeness of many surrounding hotels,

The building is a picturesque Georgian townhouse, but the interior design is decidedly contemporary.

With just 23 rooms, it’s all very cosy too, and you’ll get to know the much-praised staff pretty quickly.

The hotel offers hotel amenities, but you can also book luxury apartments in the same complex.

If you’re looking for something longer-term, consider checking out the 1- and 2-bedroom apartments.

Short or long-term, if you want to feel chic, cosy and well looked after, the Rutland Hotel is your place.

What are the rooms like?

Total rooms: 23 individually styled spaces with moody, sophisticated decor.
Design: Unique furnishings and dark paisley patterns for a mature, stylish feel.
Views: Classic rooms are basic, while Castle View Rooms offer prized views.
Suites: Junior Suites feature soaking tubs; apartments add kitchens and plush seating.
See each room in detail here

Rooms are individually decorated at the Rutland, to varying degrees of appeal.

In general, pairing unique furnishings with various charming patterns adds just enough sophistication to give upscale without feeling stuffy.

There’s a lot of dark, moody paisley, which we didn’t know we wanted, but are fully on board for.

It’s a mature version of your grandma’s Woodstock outfit, one that’s aged like whiskey in a barrel.

Classic rooms are King Singles with relatively uninteresting views, but if you spring for a Castle View Room you’ll get a view people fight for.

Unfortunately, Castle View Rooms have the least compelling decor, in our opinion, seemingly designed for a millennial preteen thumbing through a Tammy Girl catalogue.

The rest of the guest rooms get more spa-like as you move up the price list, and we’re big fans of the soaking tubs in the Junior Suites.

Apartments have a little more attention to the decor, with the added benefit of kitchenettes and plush seating.

Whatever you choose, you’re looking at TVs, mini bars, coffee makers, and lovely comfy robes.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Dining: Kyloe, a steakhouse mixing Highland produce with Texan flair.
Casual eats: The Huxley serves breakfast, burgers, and drinks in a relaxed setting.
Drinks: Heads and Tales bar offers inventive cocktails and gin-focused menus.
Facilities: Guests have access to a well-equipped fitness centre.

Often the food in a super-small hotel like this is limited, but not so the Rutland.

The main restaurant is called Kyloe, a steak joint with decor that hits hard on the Texas and an ingredient list that hits hard on the Highlands.

Next to this is a super cute bar called the Huxley, your stop for breakfast, burgers and bevvies.

It’s essentially casual, but they’ve made it so charming you’ll probably want to change out of your PJs before heading down.

Gin and dim sum might not be your everyday combo, but at Heads and Tales, you can explore them both.

It’s not just gin, though they specialize in our favourite juniper-flavoured spirit. Any cocktail you choose will be inventive and tasty.

Both hotel and apartment guests can enjoy access to a well-equipped fitness centre.

How is the location? Anything interesting nearby?

Setting: At the base of Edinburgh Castle, right between West End and Waverley.
Walkability: Steps from Princes Street Gardens, National Galleries, and Royal Mile.
Nearby: St. Giles, Holyrood Palace, and Arthur’s Seat are all reachable on foot.
Transport: Easy access to public transport throughout central Edinburgh.

You’re at the base of Edinburgh Castle, and while you’ll have to circumvent a bit to get up there, the views are pretty excellent.

The hotel sits right at the edge of the West End and Haymarket, with easy access to Princes Street and the similarly-named Gardens.

An easy stroll through the gardens will spit you out at the National Galleries, and from there you’re walking distance to many of the other highlights.

Pop up through Lady Stair’s Close, and you’ll hit the Royal Mile by St. Giles’, a 20-minute walk.

From there, you can head towards the castle or east towards Holyrood, the palace, and the park.

It’s a bit of a trek, so if repeated walks towards Arthur’s Seat are on your list, we’d recommend staying closer to Holyrood.

Yet, it’s a pretty walkable city, all things considered, and there is public transport, easily accessible from The Rutland.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“We absolutely loved our stay at The Rutland Hotel! We had booked a classic room but got upgraded to one of the beautiful one bedroom apartments just down the street. The apartment was so spacious with beautiful high ceilings and windows. It was so comfortable and really added to our experience in Edinburgh. It is also in an amazing location, just far enough away from the business of the Royal Mile but walking distance to everything and a beautiful view of Edinburgh Castle from the street. Jill checked us in/out of our apartment and was so lovely and kind. The apartment was so clean and had everything we needed to make our stay comfortable. We loved the city of Edinburgh and will absolutely stay at The Rutland again when we return in the future….”

“Amazing! Perfect location- excellent amenities and very comfortable beds. Check-in was smooth and easy. They offer discounts for nearby parking and local restaurants. We will stay here again….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”Just be aware, these are in old Georgian town houses (which makes the rooms so wonderful) but there is no lift (but don’t let this put you off)….”

”My only two critiques are regarding the lighting and shower door. It would be nice to have a brighter mirror light in the bathroom and/or at the vanity mirrors. It was too dark for putting on makeup. Additionally, the shower “door” did not do much to prevent water from getting all over the floor. If it didn’t splash out where the door didn’t cover, it dripped from the seal at the bottom of the glass pane….”

Read all the reviews right here