Delicious continental breakfast with options, including waffles (for a surcharge)
Bright, clean guest rooms; Family Rooms with sofa beds available
Quiet location within walking distances of the theater district and tourist sights
Free Wi-Fi
Non-smoking property (a con for some)
Not in the heart of New Town (about a 15-minute walk)
No parking
No space for extra beds in guest rooms
Fee for breakfast
The 52-room Cairn Hotel Edinburgh
is a centrally located value hotel in Edinburgh’s New Town. Set just off a main road in a quiet area, the hotel is within easy reach of most major attractions via public
transportation or healthy walk. The Cairn
offers a delicious and plentiful continental breakfast each morning
(for a surcharge) in a bright breakfast room; later in the day, the bar offers
snacks, cocktails, and camaraderie. Guest rooms are small and simple, but modern, spotlessly clean and cheery. Rates are competitive, but it's also worth comparing prices with the nearby Ramsay's B&B.
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
Simple, spotless, modern, and cheerful; a great home base to explore the city
The Cairn Edinburgh is a simple, modern,
brightly decorated hotel set away from the hubbub of Edinburgh’s city center.
The decor is clean and cheerful, with a feeling of open space, although the
hotel is not large. Rather than embracing the heavy Scottish vibe (with Victorian
overtones) of many nearby properties, the Cairn is super-modern and fresh in
its aesthetic, with light wood and clean-lined furnishings The bar is narrow and pretty, with a wall-size photographic
mural of the Edinburgh skyline opposite a long, periwinkle banquette with a
series of tables for tete-a-tetes over cocktails or afternoon snacks. The
breakfast area is spacious and upbeat, with a bleached hardwood floor, an
abundant buffet, and a popular self-serve waffle iron. There are fresh flowers
everywhere, which add to the buoyant atmosphere. The Cairn offers a great deal
for the price, and is a good choice for guests who would rather spend their
money and time exploring the city and attending happenings in the nearby theater
district.
Location
On a quiet side street, within 15 minutes' walk of the theater district and all public transport
The Cairn Edinburgh is located just off
Edinburgh’s London Road, on a quiet side street near Calton Hill Park. The
Cairn is within a healthy walk of most major attractions, and a 15-minute walk from the heart of New Town. Edinburgh Playhouse is a five-minute walk. The Palace of Holyroodhouse and St. Gile’s Cathedral are both under a 20-minute walk, and the Princes Street shops, restaurants, and nightlife are 10 to 15 minutes away on foot. Waverley Rail Station is close by, 15 minutes on foot, and
there is a bus stop just outside the Cairn.
Rooms
Modern, uncluttered, and tidy, with bright decor and a cheerful vibe
Rooms at The Cairn Edinburgh are modern,
uncluttered, and spotless. The decor is bright, with funky orange and white wallpaper on one wall, plaid bed runners, and light wood furniture, including freestanding wardrobes. The hotel offers Singles, Doubles, Twins, and Family
rooms, but the largest difference between categories is the number of beds. Most of the spaces are on the small side, and the Single is tiny,
with little space for working. Bathrooms are modern and tidy, some with tubs, some with shower stalls only. Amenities
include flat-screen TVs, tea/coffee facilities, hot chocolate, with irons and
hairdryers available upon request.
Features
Delicious continental breakfast and a cheerful bar with light menu
The Cairn Edinburgh offers a delicious continental breakfast each
morning, for a reasonable surcharge. In addition to the usual spread of
pastries, breads, breakfast meats, cheeses, and cereals, there is a
make-your-own-waffle station that is popular with guests. The breakfast room is
sunny and spacious. The Cairn’s bar is narrow but fresh and cheerful, with
bright banquette seating and an abstract photograph of the Edinburgh skyline.
The bar serves drinks and snacks until the late hours. Wi-Fi is free.
