Pros

  • 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)
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Cons

  • Fee for parking and limited parking spaces
  • No free breakfast
  • Some noise from the busy area nightlife
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Bottom Line

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. 

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Apex Grassmarket Hotel

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. 

See More Scene

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.

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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. 

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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. 

See More Features

Things You Should Know About Apex Grassmarket Hotel

Also Known As

  • Apex International Hotel

Address

31-35 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2HS, United Kingdom

Website

Oyster Hotel Review

Apex Grassmarket Hotel

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. 

See More Scene

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.

See More Location

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. 

See More Rooms

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. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

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.