Where to Stay for the Edinburgh Christmas Market

Stay on the north side of the valley if you want the market on your doorstep without a climb. Princes Street, George Street and St Andrew Square are flat walks to the gate. The Old Town and the Grassmarket are just as close on a map, but the return leg is uphill and often cobbled, which matters far more than distance once you are carrying a tired child.

Which side of the valley to stay on

This is the decision that actually shapes the trip, and it is not the same as picking a hotel. The gardens sit in a valley between the Old Town on its ridge and the New Town on the flat. Almost everything else follows from which side you wake up on.

Princes Street, George Street and St Andrew Square. The flat side. You are level with the gardens, level with the George Street ice rink, and level all the way back at the end of the night. New Town streets also give you the densest run of restaurants and bars for the evenings either side of the market. If you are travelling with small children, a pushchair, luggage or anyone who would rather not tackle a hill in the dark, this is the answer.

The Royal Mile and the Old Town. Unbeatable for atmosphere and for everything else you came to Edinburgh to see, and genuinely close to the gate. The catch is vertical. Coming back from the gardens means climbing, sometimes on cobbles, and “a five-minute walk” describes the map rather than the effort. Worth it if the atmosphere is the point and nobody in your party will struggle with the slope.

The Grassmarket. Old Town character, and the same hill, if anything more of it. Treat the surrounding slopes as part of the decision rather than assuming it behaves like a New Town address.

Haymarket and the West End. Further out, but with the simplest transport story of any of them: the tram runs straight along Princes Street. A routed walk from Haymarket Station to the gardens comes out at roughly fifteen minutes, so this is a sensible base if you would rather trade a few minutes for a quieter street and an easy ride in.

Stockbridge and Leith Walk. Both are calmer, more residential choices. Stockbridge is a genuine walk from the market rather than a hop, so plan on using it as a base to come back to rather than nipping in and out. Leith Walk sits on the tram corridor through Picardy Place and St Andrew Square, which makes it far more practical than its distance suggests.

Getting in and out, and the last tram

If you arrive at Waverley, take the Waverley Bridge exit rather than following the crowd to the Waverley Steps. The organiser describes it as step-free and about two minutes from East Princes Street Gardens, which is the difference between an easy arrival and wrestling a suitcase down a staircase.

The tram runs from the airport through Haymarket, the West End, Princes Street, St Andrew Square and Picardy Place towards Newhaven. Princes Street is the stop you want for the gardens. On the normal timetable it comes about every seven minutes through the day and every ten early and late, with the last Newhaven-bound tram passing Princes Street at roughly 23:24 and the last one heading for the airport at about 00:19.

Two honest caveats on that. Those are the ordinary timetable figures, and the festive and Hogmanay timetables had not been published when this was written, so check before you rely on a late tram on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve. Buses returned to Princes Street on 29 August 2026 after the summer fire, though stopping arrangements around the affected block were still altered.

Driving, parking and the low emission zone

The short version is not to. The organiser states plainly that there is no designated Edinburgh's Christmas parking and points visitors at public transport and park and ride instead, warning that nearby multi-storey car parks fill up.

The council runs seven park and ride sites: Ingliston, Hermiston, Newcraighall, Ferrytoll, Sheriffhall, Straiton and Wallyford. Ingliston is the useful one if you are coming from the west, with 1,085 spaces and both bus and tram connections, open from 04:00 until 02:00 with no overnight parking.

When to go, and when not to

Edinburgh's Christmas drew more than three million visitors across the 2025/26 season, so crowding is a planning question rather than a footnote.

The consistent traveller advice is that weekdays are markedly easier than weekends, and that the first half of December is calmer than the run-up to Christmas. Families in particular report that evenings are the hardest environment for babies and toddlers, and recommend going earlier in the day. That is experience rather than measured footfall, but it is repeated often enough to plan around.

Worth knowing for a pushchair: there is no buggy park on the sites, with Santa's Stories the one exception where buggies can be left outside.

If your dates run into Hogmanay

The Christmas season overlaps Edinburgh's Hogmanay, which runs over the final days of December into 1 January with the Torchlight Procession, the Street Party, Hogmanay in the Gardens and First Footin'. The Street Party is on 31 December 2026 and starts at 20:00.

Two practical consequences. The Old Town gets extremely busy on procession night, and buggies are not allowed on the procession route. And accommodation over Christmas into New Year is the tightest stretch of the whole season, with groups in particular reporting long minimum stays. If your trip lands in that window, book earlier than feels necessary.

One thing we will not guess at: the organiser had not published the market's opening hours for 29 and 31 December or 1 January when this was written. Do not assume normal hours on those dates just because they fall inside the season.

Free to walk around, ticketed to ride

Entry to both East and West Princes Street Gardens during Edinburgh's Christmas is free. What costs money is the individual attractions: the ice rink, the Big Wheel and Santa's Stories can all be booked ahead, and rides can usually be paid for on the spot subject to availability. The sites are cashless.

For families that distinction is the useful one. You are not buying admission to a market, you are choosing which attractions to pay for once you are inside.

Luxury hotels within easy reach of the market

Edinburgh's main Christmas Market sits in East Princes Street Gardens, in the valley below the Castle and just off Princes Street, with its entrance at the Market Street gate. Edinburgh’s Christmas runs from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 and opens daily except Christmas Day, and it is spread across three places rather than one: the traditional markets and the LNER Big Wheel and Around the World Star Flyer in East Princes Street Gardens, the fairground rides, Santa’s Stories and the Ross Bandstand concerts in West Princes Street Gardens, and the Ice Rink and Polar Ice Bar up on George Street. Which of the three you care about most should decide which side of the valley you book. That puts the most useful luxury bases either right on Princes Street or a few minutes' walk up into the Old Town. If you want to treat yourself, these three are the ones we'd weigh up first.

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The Balmoral

You already know this one by its clock tower, which stands over the east end of Princes Street next to Waverley station. That position is the whole point at Christmas: the market entrance is barely a couple of minutes away on foot, and higher rooms look straight over East Princes Street Gardens and the Old Town skyline. Dining runs from the Michelin-recognised Number One to the French cooking at Brasserie Prince, the brasserie that replaced Hadrian's in 2018, so you can eat well without stepping back out into the cold. Afternoon tea in the Palm Court is the easy default after a morning of stalls.

The Witchery by the Castle

This is the dramatic option. The Witchery sits on Castlehill, right at the top of the Royal Mile by the gates of Edinburgh Castle, so you are at the very head of the Old Town and a short downhill walk from the market. There are nine individually styled suites split between the building above the restaurant and a second building across the close, all oak beds, tapestries and candlelight reached by narrow turnpike stairs. It is theatrical rather than restful, and that is exactly what people book it for. From the door it is a five to ten minute walk down the hill to Princes Street Gardens.

Radisson Collection Hotel, Royal Mile

This is the contemporary five-star at the corner of George IV Bridge and the Royal Mile, opposite the Bank of Scotland. It opened as Hotel Missoni, traded for years as the G&V Royal Mile, and has been the Radisson Collection since 2018, so older guides still use the old names. The look is bold and design-led rather than tartan-and-tweed, the rooms run large, and you are a few minutes' walk from St Giles' Cathedral, the High Street shops and the steps down to the gardens. A good pick if you want Old Town address with a modern interior.

When you are choosing at the top end, the real decision is the mood you want: the Balmoral for classic grandeur and dining on site, the Witchery for gothic drama by the Castle, or the Radisson Collection for a sleek modern base in the Old Town. All three keep you within a short walk of the gardens.

Boutique hotels offering a unique stay

Tigerlily

Tigerlily is on George Street in the New Town, one block back from Princes Street and the market. It is known for its bold, mirrored, jewel-toned interiors and a busy bar and restaurant scene downstairs, so it suits people who want their hotel to be part of the night out rather than a quiet retreat. Rooms are individually designed and a step more characterful than a standard chain room. The market is a short walk south across Princes Street.

The Raeburn

The Raeburn sits in Stockbridge, the village-like neighbourhood just north of the New Town, in a Georgian house with a well-used bar, restaurant and garden. It gives you a calmer, more residential base while staying within a comfortable walk or a quick bus ride of the centre. Pick it if you would rather come back to brunch spots and independent shops than to the Princes Street crowds, and do not mind a 20 to 25 minute walk back from the market.

The Roseate Edinburgh

Set in the West End, The Roseate Edinburgh occupies two Victorian villas on opposite sides of West Coates that have been restored as a small luxury hotel. It traded for decades as The Dunstane Houses and rebranded to The Roseate, so that older name still turns up online. The setting is quiet and the service personal, with a whisky-and-gin-focused bar and a Scottish-produce restaurant on site. It is the choice for a calmer base away from the festive crush, a short tram or bus ride east to Princes Street.

A boutique hotel usually buys you more character and a more personal welcome than a large chain. These three split neatly by neighbourhood: George Street for the buzz, Stockbridge for the village feel, the West End for quiet.

Mid-range options for comfort and convenience

If you want a sensible balance of comfort and cost, several solidly located hotels keep you within an easy walk of the market without the top-tier outlay. We would judge them mainly on how far they actually are from the Princes Street Gardens entrance, since “central” covers a lot of ground in Edinburgh.

If you want to be a two-minute walk from the market stalls, we'd book the Tron Kirk Residence on the Royal Mile for its central Old Town address and self-catering flats that suit a festive city break.

Apex Grassmarket Hotel

This one sits in the Grassmarket, the lively square of pubs and restaurants tucked below the Castle in the Old Town. Some rooms look straight up at the Castle rock, which is a genuine draw in winter when it is floodlit. It is roughly a ten minute walk to the gardens, mostly uphill on the way back, and the area is well stocked with places to eat after the stalls close.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh City Centre

The Radisson Blu sits on the High Street stretch of the Royal Mile, in a mock-historic building that blends into the Old Town. It is a dependable full-service hotel with an indoor pool and spa, and Waverley station is about five minutes away, so it doubles as a handy arrival base if you are coming in by train. The market is a short walk down towards Princes Street. Note that this is a different Radisson to the five-star Collection further up at George IV Bridge.

Malmaison Edinburgh City

Malmaison Edinburgh City overlooks St Andrew Square in the New Town, a few minutes' walk from the east end of Princes Street and the market. It occupies Buchan House, originally built in the 1770s as private townhouses and later used as offices before its conversion, so the address has genuine New Town heritage. Expect the brand's dark, design-led rooms and a relaxed bar and brasserie downstairs. It is a comfortable, central choice that keeps you on the flatter, New Town side of the gardens.

In the mid-range, location does most of the work. Check the walking distance to the Market Street gate rather than the headline “city centre” label, since a few hundred metres uphill in December feels longer than it reads on a map.

A few things worth checking before you book:

• Distance to the gate: the market entrance is at Market Street, so measure from there. Old Town hotels mean a climb on the way back; New Town hotels keep it flat.
• Room features: look at what is actually included. Free Wi-Fi is standard, but check for a kettle, a fridge or family-friendly bedding if that matters to you.
• Breakfast: some rates include it and some do not, which changes the real cost of comparable rooms.

Booking early is sensible for the market weeks, when central Edinburgh fills up fast. It helps to secure your Old Town base well before the stalls open.

Budget-friendly hotels close to the festivities

You do not need to spend heavily to stay within walking distance of the market. The reliable budget chains all have central Edinburgh branches, and the main thing to get right is which one actually sits closest to the gardens.

Premier Inn Edinburgh City Centre (Royal Mile)

This is a straightforward, consistent option a short walk from the Royal Mile and down towards Princes Street. Rooms are clean and functional, which is all most people want when the day is spent outside at the stalls. Book ahead for the market weeks and it tends to be one of the better-value central beds. It is a sensible base if you want location over frills.

Travelodge Edinburgh Central

Travelodge offers much the same idea: simple, clean rooms at a low price, well placed for walking to the centre and the market. There are a couple of central Travelodge branches in Edinburgh, so check which one you are booking and how it sits relative to Princes Street. It does the job of a place to drop your bags and sleep after the festivities.

Ibis Edinburgh Centre

The Ibis branches in the centre give you modern, compact, reliably clean rooms at a competitive price. Being in the city core means you are never far from the market, the shops or somewhere to eat. Edinburgh has both a full Ibis and an Ibis Styles in the centre, so confirm the exact location when you book rather than assuming they are the same spot.

With budget hotels the trap is the name “central” doing a lot of lifting. Always map the exact branch against the Market Street gate, and remember a well-connected spot one stop out can beat a pricier room you thought was closer.

Hotels with family suites for group visits

Bringing the whole family to the market is easier with a bit of room to spread out. Separate sleeping areas and a kitchen turn a long festive weekend from a squeeze into something genuinely relaxing, and several Edinburgh properties are set up exactly for that.

The serviced-apartment options below give you proper living space and, in the larger units, more than one bedroom, so parents can have some downtime once younger children are asleep. Over a multi-night stay that extra space makes a real difference.

Native Edinburgh

Native Edinburgh offers serviced apartments inside a converted historic building on the edge of the Old Town, with modern, well-equipped interiors. Larger units come with a proper kitchen, living space and more than one bedroom, which suits a family or a small group far better than two adjoining hotel rooms. It feels closer to a flat than a hotel, and it is a walkable distance from the market.

Staycity Aparthotels Edinburgh West End

Staycity's West End aparthotel runs studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments with kitchens, plus a staffed reception and shared spaces. Being able to make breakfast and a few simple meals helps with both budget and timings when you are travelling with hungry children. It sits west of Princes Street, so factor in a short walk or bus to reach the gardens.

The Rutland Hotel

The Rutland sits at the west end of Princes Street, looking towards the Castle, with a popular bar and restaurant of its own. It is a hotel rather than an apartment block, but its larger rooms and family configurations work for groups who would rather have central position and on-site dining than a kitchen. Its Princes Street address keeps the market within an easy walk.

Always confirm the exact room layout before you book a family stay. “Family suite” covers everything from one large room to a two-bedroom apartment, so check the bed count, the number of bathrooms and whether there is real separate living space for your group.

Getting the accommodation right sets the tone for a family trip. With enough space and a kitchen on hand, you can spend your energy on the festive atmosphere rather than on logistics, and keep everyone comfortable across the stay. For a self-catering Old Town base in the thick of it, the Tron Kirk Residence on the Royal Mile is our pick.

Hotels offering festive packages and amenities

Some Edinburgh hotels lean into the season with dedicated festive offers, which can fold the holiday extras into your booking and save you arranging them separately. It is always worth checking each hotel's own seasonal pages closer to your dates, since these change year to year.

The Scotsman Hotel

The Scotsman occupies the grand Edwardian building on North Bridge that once housed The Scotsman newspaper, and it tends to run seasonal arrangements such as festive afternoon tea or special dinners. Its position on North Bridge bridges the Old and New Towns, so you are a short walk from the market in either direction. Check its own seasonal listings nearer the time to see what is on offer.

The George Hotel

The George sits on George Street in the New Town, one block from Princes Street, with the elegant public rooms that street is known for. It is the kind of central, dressed-up base that often bundles breakfast or a welcome touch into festive stays. Staying here keeps you right in the middle of the New Town, a short walk from the gardens.

Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel

The Kimpton wraps around a garden courtyard at Charlotte Square, the handsome Georgian square at the west end of George Street, and is well regarded for its restaurant and bar. It typically puts on seasonal arrangements over the festive period. It is a slightly quieter New Town spot than George Street itself, still within a walk of the market.

A festive package can simplify your planning by sorting some of the extras up front, leaving you free to enjoy the market and the city. Always read what is actually included before you book, since the inclusions vary a lot between hotels.

Apart-hotels for self-catering convenience

For longer stays, or for groups who would rather cook than eat out every night, an apart-hotel gives you the independence of a flat with the back-up of a staffed reception. It helps with budgets and with anyone in the group who has specific dietary needs.

Fraser Suites Edinburgh

Fraser Suites occupies a grand historic building just off the Royal Mile, near St Giles' Cathedral, giving you a central Old Town address with the privacy of your own apartment. Layouts run from studios to one- and two-bedroom suites, each with a kitchen or kitchenette. It is a strong pick if you want to be right in the Old Town but still have a quiet flat to retreat to, with the market a short walk away.

Aparthotel Adagio Edinburgh Royal Mile

Adagio's Royal Mile aparthotel sits at the lower, Holyrood end of the Old Town and offers studios and one-bedroom apartments with fully equipped kitchens, plus 24-hour reception and a fitness room. The full kitchen is the draw for self-caterers, and the Royal Mile address keeps you well placed for the market and the major sights, though it is a slightly longer walk to the gardens from this end of the Mile.

Dreamhouse Apartments Edinburgh

Dreamhouse runs a set of serviced apartments around the city centre, often in residential buildings, which gives you a more local feel. Sizes vary, so you can match the apartment to your group, and each comes with a kitchen, living area and bathroom. Because the apartments are spread across several addresses, check the exact location of the one you book against the market before you commit.

An apart-hotel gives you the best of both worlds: freedom over your own schedule and meals, with the services of a hotel behind you. It is a sensible, more relaxed approach for a longer or larger trip during the busy market season.

Historic buildings transformed into stylish accommodation

Edinburgh has reworked many of its older buildings into hotels, so staying in one connects you directly to the city's past. These three keep distinctive original architecture while running as modern hotels.

The Glasshouse, Autograph Collection

The Glasshouse is built behind the preserved Gothic stone facade of the former Lady Glenorchy's Church on Greenside Place, on the edge of the New Town beside the Playhouse theatre. Behind that old frontage the hotel is contemporary, and its two-acre rooftop garden looks out over Calton Hill. It is handy if you are pairing the market with a show at the Playhouse, and a walk from Princes Street and the gardens.

The Witchery by the Castle

For sheer atmosphere the Witchery is hard to beat. It occupies a sixteenth-century building on Castlehill, at the very top of the Royal Mile by the Castle gates, and its nine suites are pure gothic theatre, with oak beds, tapestries and candlelight. It is a place for a special occasion rather than a practical overnight, and it sits at the head of the Old Town, a downhill walk from the market.

The Scotsman Hotel

The Scotsman fills the Edwardian former newspaper building on North Bridge, completed in 1902, and has kept signature features including the sweeping Carrara marble staircase that journalists once climbed to the presses. Rooms are elegant and the North Bridge position is genuinely central, an easy walk to the market and the rest of the Old and New Towns.

Staying in a converted historic building gives you a direct link to Edinburgh's past, with original architecture wrapped around modern comfort. Each of these has a real architectural signature rather than just an old address.

Hotels with excellent dining options

After a cold day at the stalls, a hotel with serious food of its own is a real asset. These three let you eat well without heading back out into the weather.

The Balmoral

The Balmoral's dining is a draw in itself. Number One is its Michelin-recognised fine-dining room, built around Scottish produce, while Brasserie Prince offers classic French brasserie cooking in a more relaxed setting, and afternoon tea runs in the Palm Court. Between them they cover everything from a celebration dinner to a casual lunch, all without leaving the building, which counts for a lot in December.

Prestonfield House

Prestonfield is the grand, theatrical option, a seventeenth-century house set in its own parkland below Arthur's Seat, southeast of the centre. Its Rhubarb restaurant is known for an opulent, candlelit setting and a seasonal, Scottish-led menu. It sits further out than the others here, so plan on a short taxi each way, but the setting makes it worth the trip for a memorable meal.

Tigerlily

Tigerlily brings the contemporary, social end of hotel dining. On George Street in the New Town, its restaurant serves modern European plates in lively, design-led surroundings, and the cocktail bar is a destination in its own right. It books up over the market weeks, so reserve ahead. It is a good fit if you want to stay central and have dinner and drinks downstairs.

A hotel with strong dining of its own earns its keep when the weather turns, letting you settle in for the evening instead of hunting for a table in the cold.

Hotels with spa facilities for relaxation

A spa is a welcome reward after a day in the December cold. Several central hotels can warm you back up with a pool, a steam room or a treatment.

The Balmoral

The Balmoral's spa is a full experience, with a pool, steam room and a range of treatments from massages to facials. Because it is on site at one of the most central hotels in the city, you can step straight from the market into a treatment without a journey. It is the easy luxury choice for unwinding after the stalls.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh City Centre

On the Royal Mile, the Radisson Blu has its own spa with an indoor heated pool, sauna, steam room and gym, alongside treatment rooms. For a mid-range central hotel that is a genuinely useful set-up, and a real plus on a cold festive break. It is an easy walk from the market and from Waverley station.

The Caledonian Edinburgh, Curio Collection by Hilton

The grand red-sandstone “Caley” at the west end of Princes Street has long had impressive leisure facilities, including a pool, sauna and gym. It dropped its Waldorf Astoria branding in 2024 and now trades as part of Hilton's Curio Collection, so older guides still use the old name. Its Princes Street position keeps the market within an easy walk while you make use of the spa.

Sometimes the best end to a market day is somewhere warm to rest. A hotel with a good pool or treatment list can be the difference between a tiring day and a restorative one in the depths of winter.

Making your choice

That should give you a clear sense of where to stay for the Edinburgh Christmas Market. The single most useful filter is your walk to the Market Street gate: Princes Street and New Town hotels keep it flat and short, while Old Town addresses on the Royal Mile and Grassmarket mean a climb on the way back but put you among the city's best sights. Decide whether you want to step straight into the festive buzz or have a quieter base to retreat to, then book early, since central Edinburgh fills up fast across the market weeks. For a self-catering Old Town flat in the middle of it all, our pick is the Tron Kirk Residence on the Royal Mile.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Edinburgh Christmas Market on?

Edinburgh’s Christmas runs from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 across East and West Princes Street Gardens and George Street, and the market opens daily except Christmas Day. The two big rides in the same gardens carry firm dates: the LNER Big Wheel and the Around the World Star Flyer both run from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and Santa’s Stories starts on 20 November 2026. The organiser confirms the market’s own first and last days closer to the season, so check the official listing if you are booking around the very start or end of the run.

How far are these hotels from the Edinburgh Christmas Market?

The main market is in East Princes Street Gardens, with its entrance at the Market Street gate off Princes Street. The rest of Edinburgh’s Christmas is close by but not in the same place: the fairground rides and Santa’s Stories are in West Princes Street Gardens, and the Ice Rink and Polar Ice Bar are on George Street in the New Town, which is flat and a few minutes’ walk north. Hotels on Princes Street, George Street or around St Andrew Square are within a few minutes' flat walk. Old Town hotels on the Royal Mile or in the Grassmarket are also close, usually five to ten minutes, but involve a climb on the way back. West End and Stockbridge bases are a longer walk or a short bus or tram ride. Always check the exact address against the Market Street gate when you book.

What's the best type of hotel if I'm travelling with my family?

For families, serviced apartments and apart-hotels tend to work best, since they offer separate sleeping areas and a kitchen. Native Edinburgh, Staycity West End and the Adagio on the Royal Mile all run family-sized units, and the Tron Kirk Residence gives you self-catering flats in the Old Town. That extra space, and being able to make snacks and breakfast, makes a real difference over a multi-night festive stay.

Can I find hotels that feel a bit special during Christmas?

Yes. Several hotels run seasonal arrangements such as festive afternoon teas, special dinners or welcome touches built into a stay. The Scotsman, The George and the Kimpton at Charlotte Square are worth checking for these. Because the exact inclusions change year to year, look at each hotel's own seasonal pages closer to your dates.

Are there hotels where I can cook my own food?

Yes. For self-catering, the apart-hotels are your best bet. Fraser Suites Edinburgh, just off the Royal Mile, and the Aparthotel Adagio Edinburgh Royal Mile both give you your own apartment with a kitchen, and the Tron Kirk Residence offers self-catering flats in the Old Town. These suit longer stays and anyone who would rather not eat out for every meal.

What if I want a really fancy, luxurious stay?

For the top end, the Balmoral on Princes Street, the Witchery by the Castle at the top of the Royal Mile, and the Radisson Collection on George IV Bridge are the standouts. They cover three different moods: classic grand hotel, gothic drama and sleek modern five-star, and all keep you within a short walk of the gardens.

Are there good hotel options if I'm on a tighter budget?

Yes, you can stay close to the action without spending heavily. The Premier Inn near the Royal Mile, the central Travelodge and Ibis branches all offer clean, comfortable rooms at lower prices. The key is to map the exact branch against the Market Street gate, since “central” covers a wide area in Edinburgh.

Which hotels are in really historic buildings?

Edinburgh is full of converted historic buildings. The Glasshouse is built behind the preserved facade of the former Lady Glenorchy's Church on Greenside Place. The Witchery occupies a sixteenth-century building on Castlehill by the Castle, and The Scotsman fills the Edwardian former Scotsman newspaper building on North Bridge, marble staircase and all.

Where can I find hotels with nice restaurants or a spa?

For dining, the Balmoral has Number One and Brasserie Prince on site, Prestonfield House has Rhubarb in its parkland setting, and Tigerlily serves modern European plates on George Street. For a spa, the Balmoral, the Radisson Blu on the Royal Mile and the Caledonian at the west end of Princes Street all have pools and treatment facilities.