DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Edinburgh City Centre

Housed in a 19th-century historic building, the DoubleTree's interior is decidedly contemporary. Rooms have a striking monochromatic color palette and zebra-print-style carpets, while the brasserie and bar have a modish feel with geometric angles and colors of gray, violet, and aqua blue. Many of the rooms and the large ground-floor rooms offer views of the Old Town and Edinburgh Castle. With a lot of meeting space, the hotel draws many business travelers but tourists are drawn to its location near the sights. The hotel has an energetic feel given its city center location near tourist attractions, shops, restaurants, and pubs. All guests receive a hot chocolate chip cookie at check-in, a fun touch and signature DoubleTree amenity. 

The DoubleTree has an excellent location in the heart of the city center, surrounded by shops, restaurants, pubs, and movie theaters. Usher Hall concert venue is two blocks north. The hotel is a half-block from the No. 2 bus. The foot of Castle Rock is a three-minute walk northeast, and Edinburgh Castle is a 10-minute walk northeast. Grassmarket Square is a five-minute walk northeast and the Royal Mile and heart of Old Town are a 10-minute walk northeast. The western end of Princes Street is an eight-minute walk north. Five minutes south on foot is the green expanse of the Meadows public park. The University of Edinburgh and National Museum of Scotland are a 10-minute walk east, and Edinburgh Waverley Station is a 15-minute walk or five-minute drive northeast. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is a five-minute drive or 30-minute walk northeast. Edinburgh Airport is a 15-minute drive west. 

The 138 non-smoking rooms at the DoubleTree are situated on four floors of a five-floor building. Rooms are clean, new (as of 2014) and in excellent condition. While not luxurious, the rooms have modern style and upscale elements. There are a few pieces of art on the wall, but the feel is minimalist almost to the point of being spare and under decorated. The rooms have a monochromatic color palette of black, brown, beige, and white, highlighted by the all-white cotton bedding and the black-and-white carpet that looks a bit like a zebra print. All rooms feature the signature DoubleTree Sweet Dreams Bed with thick mattress, quilted mattress topper, soft duvet, and 300-thread-count sheets. All rooms include in-room safes, mini-fridges, desks with ergonomic chairs, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Rooms do not have coffee/tea makers or minibars. Some rooms have Edinburgh Castle views, and bathrobes and slippers. Bathrooms are sleek and modern, with glassed-in showers, good water pressure, high-quality fixtures, and premium bath products, although many lack adequate counter or shelf space. Some rooms are small, with cramped closets, and some rooms facing the street may receive noise.

The  DoubleTree has a 24-hour fitness center on-site, but it's small and limited for the size and category of the hotel. Set in a stylish space, the brasserie restaurant serves inventive Scottish and international cuisine with locally sourced ingredients. Room service is available. The cocktail bar offers light fare and a wide selection of beer, wine, liquors, and cocktails. On the fifth floor is a rooftop penthouse for private functions, which is open to the public once a month -- it's called Sky Bar for its 360-degree views across the city. The hotel also has a business center, meeting rooms, concierge service, baggage assistance, and discounted parking at a nearby public garage.