Ramsay’s B&B

Ramsay's B&B is housed in an unassuming, typical, and quintessentially Edinburgh Georgian stone-built terrace. The particularly friendly owner, Sharon, and her husband live on the first floor and have converted the basement and front room into a wonderfully inviting, intimate guesthouse. Immaculate interiors are smart and modern, yet welcoming and homey, with polished hardwood floors, intricately ornate original coving, and bright hallways decorated with numerous pieces of colorful contemporary art and sculpture. In the stairwell leading to the bedrooms there's a large, constantly evolving mural, while the quality of guests' experience can be seen in dozens of thank-you cards stuck to a hallway pin-board. Guests are mainly tourists, including couples and families -- a room for two adults with two children is available.  

The guesthouse is located on the eastern edge of Edinburgh's New Town in the popular Canonmills area -- a semi-residential neighborhood, though full of restaurants, bars, and various quirky shops.  Edinburgh's main train station is just 15 minutes' walk away, while the Royal Mile and start of the city center are just under a mile away. Immediately opposite the bed-and-breakfast is one of the most popular and expensive wedding venues in Edinburgh, the Mansfield Traquair, while just under 10 minutes away on foot is the 1920s Edinburgh Playhouse. 

The bed-and-breakfast has just four rooms in all: a standard Double Room with garden view, a Family Room that can sleep three, a Double Twin Rooms, and a tiny Small Double Room. Rooms are individually styled, but all are decorated in light tones with polished wooden floors and white antique-style furnishings. Expect accents such as plaid pillows, bold striped wallpaper, or white painted furniture. Free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, hairdryers, and tea/coffee (and hot chocolate) facilities come as standard, while all but one have private en-suite bathrooms with stall showers. The smallest double room is very small, shares a bathroom, and has no view from its window. 

As is expected from a guesthouse of this ilk, there's little in the way of on-site facilities. However, included in the rate is a generous, cooked-to-order, traditional Scottish breakfast with black pudding and kippers. Wi-Fi is free of charge throughout. Street parking is available nearby for a small charge, and is free on weekends. The level of hospitality, which beckons repeat guests, as well as the quiet yet central location are also among the property's best features.