These fine, warm-stone, pointily gabled Edinburgh mansions bode well from the outside. Step inside and you’ll find interiors imbued with the natural colours of Orkney, from copper rust to dark inky blue: the owners hail from the islands. Following a magnificent renovation, The Dunstane Houses (which include Hampton House) are head-to toe-comfort, decorated in these striking colours and enhanced by heather-pale tweed fabrics. Orkney mementos on the walls add to the character of the place, including, by coincidence, a black and white photo of this writer’s grandmother as a child (found at Orkney Library), but also lots of fishermen and local characters. There’s an inviting Ba'Bar (named after a traditional Orkney game), with over 80 choices of whisky and 20 local gins, which combines with a restaurant serving satisfying comfort food.
But for many people, it's the smaller details that benchmark a romantic and endearing place to stay, and The Dunstane Houses have them all. Homemade shortbread and fudge, coffee machines plus good teas and wines in the 35 rooms, underfloor heating in the bathrooms, classy tweed key rings, and a poem on your pillow after the nightly turndown service.
Highs
- A friendly welcome extended to families and dog-lovers, and warm, helpful staff
- Beautiful decor and character in the rooms, along with fabulous showers and Fired Earth copper bathtubs
- The specialist whisky and gin bar
- Modern Scottish classics in the restaurant: oak-smoked kippers, hand-dived Orkney scallops and haggis bon bons
- The airport bus stops right outside
Lows
- It’s a 20-min walk or 10-minute bus ride to the centre of town
- No other bars or restaurants in the immediate area
Best time to go
There's plenty going on in Edinburgh year round. You may want to book well ahead for the summer festivals, and Hogmanay and the Christmas build up are also popular times.
Our top tips
The Caledonian Sleeper is a great way to travel from London to Edinburgh overnight.
- Boutique Hotel
- 35 rooms
- Restaurant and bar open daily
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
Rooms
In serene, earthy colours, the 35 rooms are sumptuously comfortable, with Loaf sofas to sink into, pale Scottish tweed, peacock wallpaper, huge upholstered headboards on kingsize beds, and soft carpet underfoot. Spacious bathrooms house good walk-in showers, Noble Isle toiletries and Moroccan-meets-Victorian-caustic-style tiling.
This is a place where the suites are totally worth the extra outlay; they’re indulgently huge, with free-standing copper bathtubs from Fired Earth, and great for honeymooners. We had The Dunstane Suite, a wonderful first-floor room, with rolltop bath in the bay and large bathroom, but the other suites are equally good. Also recommended are the Luxury King Doubles, with views from the bed to the grandiose multi-turreted 19th-century Donaldson’s school. In one there's a seating nook with more views, armchairs and a telescope. The Cosy Wee Doubles may be smaller, but they also have plenty of charm, character and comfort.
Features include:
- Minibar/fridge
- WiFi
Eating
The restaurant is sitting-room comfortable, and breakfast is served here (or in your room if you prefer). Besides the buffet of fresh pastries and yoghurts, you can choose from a Scottish cooked breakfast, porridge with various toppings, eggs Benedict and more. Our pancakes were served with a tangy berry sauce, accompanied by French-press style coffee.
For lunch or dinner, there’s a pleasingly straightforward menu of modern Scottish classics, served as small or large plates. Haggis bon bons, Orkney smoked salmon linguine, and Scrabster haddock goujons. The Ba'Bar's drinks list is more complex, with a great range of local gins, and an incredible range of whiskeys. The extremely knowledgable waiter, when we asked, delivered a fascinating lecture about Scotch and how it became his passion, and when I ask to try something especially obscure, he brings me a very niche (and nice) Glenfiddich finished in IPA craft beer casks.
Features include:
- Children's meals
- Minibar/fridge
- Restaurant
Activities
- You're a 10-minute bus ride from the centre of Edinburgh, with its many monuments, museums and shops. Don't miss the Royal Mile and the Castle
- We loved Mary King's Close, a warren of 17thC streets frozen in time below the Royal Mile (book in advance). Similarly eerie are the Dungeons
- Sweep away the cobwebs with a walk up to Arthur's Seat, perched atop an extinct volcano, with magnificent views over the city
- You're close to Murryfields Stadium for a match or a gig
- Edinburgh Zoo is also near
- The hotel can arrange a number of quirky tours, such as trips around the countryside in vintage cars
- Cosy up at the hotel bar and taste local whiskies and gins
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Golf
- Hiking
- Nightlife
- Shopping / markets
- Wine tasting
Kids
The Roseate Edinburgh welcomes families. Cots, sofa beds and folding beds are available, as well as kids' meals and optional room service. Edinburgh is a very family-friendly city with heaps of attractions and sights.
Best for:
Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
All Suites and Executive Rooms can each fit a baby cot and/or rollaway bed
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Baby equipment:
Baby cots and high chairs
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Children's meals:
Dedicated Dunstane children's menu using locally sourced, Scottish produce. Room service is optional if the kids would prefer an early supper in their room
Kids Activities nearby:
- Edinburgh Zoo is a short drive away
- The hotel is walking distance from Edinburgh Castle
- And the Museum of Scotland
- Camera Obscura's world of illusions offers a deep-dive into the city's fabled history and a 360-degree view of Edinburgh
- A short drive also brings you to the Botanical Gardens, Pentland Hill and South Queensferry
Distances:
- Airport: 15 minutes
- Hospital: 7 minutes
- Shops: 2 minutes
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
The Dunstane Houses are in the Haymarket area of central Edinburgh, just outside the West End.
By Air:
Fly into Edinburgh Airport (9km) then take the airport bus, which stops outside the hotel, or a taxi. Or hire a car; the hotel has a private car park. There's no EV charging at the hotel, but there are charging points nearby.
By Train:
Edinburgh’s Haymarket station is 10 minutes' walk from the hotel.
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to the UK and getting around
Airports:
- Edinburgh 9.0 km EDI
Other:
- Beach 6.0 km
- Shops 0.5 km
- Restaurant 0.5 km