Great location in the heart of the historic district
Relaxed, airy brasserie and bar have Grassmarket and castle views
Spa with stunning indoor, ozone-treated swimming pool
Modern guest rooms with large TVs and great bathrooms
24-hour room service
Free Wi-Fi
Heights Restaurant offers modern Scottish cuisine and castle views for private events
Conference and event facilities, including wedding services
Smoke-free property (a con for some)
Fee for parking and limited parking spaces
No free breakfast
Some noise from the busy area nightlife
The 169-room, upscale Apex Grassmarket Hotel is an urban
contemporary hotel, ideally located in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, with
spectacular views of Edinburgh Castle. The charming cobblestone streets of the surrounding Grassmarket area are populated with cafes, restaurants, and traditional
Scottish pubs. The hotel has a stylish indoor pool and small fitness center, as
well as a sauna and solarium. The airy brasserie and bar serves some Scottish favorites, and has an extensive kids' menu. Guest rooms are contemporary if not quite stylish, with luxe
modern bathrooms, and, in street-facing rooms, romantic old Edinburgh views.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Stylish and contemporary, with an urban edge and an old Edinburgh feel
The Apex Grassmarket Hotel is a stylish, contemporary hotel with
a trendy, urban edge. Located in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, the property sits on a cobblestone
square lined with traditional pubs, in plain view of the impressive Edinburgh
Castle. The hotel’s decor is subdued and Scottish, with bright, dynamic pops of
red and yellow that give the common spaces a modern energy. Purple orchids and a quirky crocodile sculpture greet guests in the entrance way, where walls are hung with
elegant black and white photographs. There is an extensive Scotch whiskey
menu in the split-level Metro Bar and Brasserie, where guests can gaze at the
castle (romantically lit at night) through walls of picture windows. The design
and architecture incorporate slate, leather, and rich, warm woods, with lots of
natural life to dispel the Scottish gloom -- including potted palms and squat evergreens on the garden patio, which has relaxed-chic wooden seating. The top-floor restaurant and event
space, Heights, offers special dinners with a “smart” dress code honoring local
traditions, including Hogmanay (New Year’s) and Robert Burns night. Location is the hotel's best quality, and the property succeeds at bringing the unique personality of Edinburgh indoors, luring plenty of couples and families.
Location
On one of Edinburgh's most famous squares, in the shadow of the iconic castle
The Apex Grassmarket Hotel is well-located in the heart of
Edinburgh’s Old Town on Grassmarket Square, surrounded by cobblestone streets lined with pubs, restaurants, and shops. Edinburgh Castle
is next door, and the hotel has fantastic castle views from common areas and some guest rooms.
The Royal Mile and Princes Street Gardens are within about a half-mile, and the hotel is within a five-minute walk from all the major train, bus,
and tram routes -- including the tram at Princes Street, which accesses the airport and York Place in the city center. Self-parking is available for a surcharge, and spaces are
limited. The airport is a 20-minute drive from the Apex.
Rooms
Modern rooms with great views and ultra-modern bathrooms
Rooms at the Apex Grassmarket Hotel are modern, with warm wood
headboards, fabrics in contemporary patterns, and black and white photographs on the walls. Rooms have either solid or patterned carpeting, and neutral walls. They're attractive enough if slightly chain-like. Some street-facing rooms have narrow balconies from which to contemplate the castle
and old Edinburgh; rooms at the back of the hotel get far less street noise.
Closets are small, and stocked with irons and ironing boards. Bathrooms are super-modern, done in warm wood or neutral marble, with showers or shower/tub combos; some have mosaic tiling and separate walk-in showers along with tubs. Bonus: they come with free
rubber ducks. Amenities include 42-inch flat-screen TVs with cable, coffee/tea facilities, safes, and free
bottled water and Elemis toiletries. Some have mini-fridges.
Features
An indoor pool, fitness room, and bar/brasserie with a fantastic kids menu
The Apex Grassmarket Hotel offers the small Yu-Time Technogym with treadmills, bikes, a rowing machine, free weights, and a TV for distraction. The indoor swimming pool is lined with pretty brown tiles on the deck. There are also a sauna and
solarium. The split-level Metro Brasserie and Bar serves breakfast, lunch, and
dinner -- including some local favorites -- with fantastic views of the square, and offers an unusually extensive
children’s menu. On the top floor, Heights restaurant hosts private events and
special occasions, serving modern Scottish cuisine in the glow of Edinburgh
Castle. There is a business center with two computer stations. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.
