TL;DR

Trendy base: Chic, youthful boutique hotel in Edinburgh’s New Town
Modern décor: Full of playful touches.
Atmosphere: Stylish and fun – social vibe.
Check prices here

We love the history buzz of the Royal Mile as much as the next person, but it’s really not all Edinburgh has to offer.

The New Town is your alternative, and on one of its classic, bright, open streets, there is the Tigerlilly Hotel.

It’s an upscale, inviting hotel and has plenty of youthful panache.

Basically, the sum of its parts – it’s got the wallpaper, live plants, and super-designed seating, but the rooms don’t quite bring it home.

There’s definitely something quite temporary-feeling about the spaces, whatever it is that makes some boutiques feel like your dream apartment isn’t here/

But, in the end, it’s not strange that a hotel feels like a hotel. Once you add that, this one feels charming and cute; it’s a pretty easy yes.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 33 total, each uniquely designed.
Playful style: Youthful décor with pattern, colour, and classic balance.
Size options: From compact Classics to larger Junior Suites with sofas.
Amenities: Smart TVs, Nespresso machines, robes, and stocked mini bars.
See each room in detail here

Rooms vary in decor, with a youthful take on pattern and colour that’s tempered by more classic elements.

There are wardrobes covered in botanical patterns, polka-dot pillows, and the odd damask curtain to calm it all down.

They start with Classic Double or Twin rooms, perfect for solo and light travellers, at a cosy 22 square feet.

Luxury options offer more room and King beds, but we’d go all the way up to the Junior Suite if it’s space you’re looking for. They run closer to 38 square feet, allowing for an actually functional table and couches.

Various specialty rooms include extra amenities like fireplaces and soaking tubs.

Any option will include the same Smart TV, plenty of seating (like, maybe too much, in our opinion…), robes and slippies, and excellent mini bars with Nespresso machines and snacks.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

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

Dining & bar: Playful, design-forward spaces for brunches and cocktails.
Signature feature: Afternoon Tea and prosecco-fuelled weekends.
Ambience: Stylish, lively, and social throughout the day and night.
Facilities: Focused on food and fun — no gym or spa.

The playful side of Tigerlily comes out in the common areas.

They’ve got a bar and restaurant, one with a solid party vibe and the other with a more casual, kitchen table kind of feel.

That is, if your kitchen table is a super-chic circular booth regularly covered in a brunch that’s more or less soaked in prosecco.

Ours typically isn’t, but we often wish it were.

For those who prefer a little more tradition, there’s an Afternoon Tea. There’s still plenty of space for champagne, but the tea list is extensive and lovely, and the snacks are just as posh as you’d expect.

Once the sun goes down (or before), the bar comes alive. This is a cocktail bar if we’ve ever seen one, though they do have a solid selection of local beers and, of course, plenty of sparkling wine.

Tigerlily is definitely the kind of place that follows trends – the classic feel is very, very of the now.

Unfortunately, that’s about all for the facilities. It’s good for anyone in the city to sightsee and party a bit, but anyone with an exercise routine or a need for a sauna can find someplace better suited.

How is the neighbourhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Vibrant area: Right in lively New Town with cafés, bars, and clubs.
Convenient: Walking distance to the Royal Mile and Princes Street Gardens.
Central base: Easy access to Waverley Station and main attractions.
Perfect for: Sightseers who like nightlife and stylish surroundings.

The eat, drink, adventure atmosphere, of course, is well suited to New Town.

Tigerlilly hotel is surrounded by a handful of cute cafés and restaurants, with nightclubs in walking distance. It feels extra bright in contrast with the stone alleyways of the Old Town.

And when the group wants to go out and see the sights, it won’t be an issue.

You can easily stay closer to the Old Town attractions, but it’s a walkable city.

The Royal Mile is a 15-minute walk if you cut through Princes Street Gardens, which is a decently charming route.

This makes Edinburgh Castle a similar distance, and even Holyrood, the other side of the Mile, is just around half an hour.

Waverly Station is right about in between those two, another easy walk, and the National Galleries are located on the border as well.

They’re right near Princes Street, a 10-minute walk from the hotel.

If you want to spend the day exploring and the night dancing, this is an excellent choice.

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

Some things guests liked:

“The room was a very good size with a comfortable bed. The location is great for seeing Edinburgh and has a lot of restaurants within walking distance. We were able to store our bags before check in and the front desk was very helpful with that….”

“Dynamite boutique hotel, wonderfully located and fun with our group of friends. The property was so pretty. The rooms were so spacious. Some of us booked larger rooms and thought the standard room was theirs. We were all pleasantly surprised. We enjoyed the location, the restaurant, bar and common spaces. The staff was very lovely and super helpful….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”The elevator was broken so being on the 3rd floor was a little hard – however, they were working on it while we were there and they had our bags brought up to the room for us….”

”It was not a problem for us, but hotel is about a 15 min walk from the historical center….”

Read all the reviews right here