- sierraandi
- First Reviewer
- 4 out of 5
- Avg. Member Rating
- 6
- Reviews
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2
- Photos
An Affordable Meal in the Famous Balmoral Hotel
- April 15, 2009
- Rated 4 of 5 by
NiceGinna from Evanston, Illinois
We wanted to eat at the fabulous Balmoral, but didn't think we could afford the really fancy restaurant. But the Hadrian, the less expensive resto, had a special deal for lunch, 14.50 pounds for 2 courses. David started with cream of tomato soup with shrimp which we shared ; we both had the amazingly tender oxtail with root vegetables for the main course, and I had the chocolate chip/orange cheesecake for dessert, again shared. We shared a nice half-bottle of Fleurie (Lucien Lardy 2006) which was lovely with the oxtail. As expected in a luxurious hotel like this, the restaurant service was impeccable.
We like places that offer this 2-course option, as we are not big eaters. Sharing the first course and the dessert and then each having our own main course works really well for us.
From journal Three Busy Weeks or So in the United Kingdom
An Excellent Hotel
- March 25, 2008
- Rated 5 of 5 by
a traveler from Travelocity.com
We are New Zealanders currently living in New York and were looking for a weekend away at Easter.
This is a top quality hotel. Staff were unfailingly polite, attentive and helpful; upon arrival, whenever we returned from excursions, and upon departure. (We often find that hotels, having got your money, often fail to help you with baggage upon departure). Rooms are clean, well-appointed and spacious, with high ceilings that make them feel even more spacious. Bathrooms are spacious, clean and have quality fittings. The lobby is attractive and welcoming with an open log fire blazing. We ordered room service on two occasions and both times the service was excellent, with the food well presented, even to the extent of an orchid being placed on the trolley. On the Saturday night we dined in the brasserie, and we found the menu comprehensive, with an emphasis on local food, including salmon, venison, lamb and haggis. The quality of the food was excellent. However, although the service was attentive when we first arrived in the restaurant, it fell down towards the end of the evening when the restaurant became full and the staff appeared to become overwhelmed by the numbers dining. Perhaps this is one area the management could look at. The hotel is in an excellent central location, and the building itself is a landmark building and very beautiful. I would recommend this hotel to anybody willing to pay a bit more to achieve a quality experience.
Editor Pick
The Balmoral Hotel
LOCATION
The Balmoral Hotel is located right next to Edinburgh train station. It is close to everything. Old town is steps away, the views of the castle are right outside the front door and there is great shopping on the same street. The clock tower at the hotel is a city landmark.
RATES
I've seen this hotel's standard rooms starting at 120 GBP all the way up to 300+ GBP. Patience can result in a good rate, but that's never a guarantee.
THE GOOD
Well, obviously the location. It's also great to be able to use the sauna and steam room after a long day of sightseeing and shopping. The hotel is large and I believe it was sold out during our stay, but I never really heard anyone else. The set-up really kept noise to a minimum. Also, even though the hotel was near a busy part of Edinburgh we couldn't hear noise from the street. The bed is so comfortable and you get two bottle of water every night. The room was tastefully decorated, with light colors walls and crown molding. The ceilings were high and made the already good-sized room seem even larger. There was a flat screen television with digital cable that had many channels. The hotel concierge had to come up to show us how to use it, I think it was a new feature. The staff were all amazing.
THE BAD
The bathroom was nice, but was definitely showing its age. The bath tub was very deep and would make a great soaking tub, but there was too much mold around the edges for my taste. I do like soaking tubs to be absolutely flawless and this bathtub just wasn't.
OVERALL
The Balmoral can be expensive. I don'tknow if I would have enjoyed my stay if I spent the rates I first saw online. There's a great bookstore across the street and shopping. I did notice that cheaper hotel options (Jurys and Tulip) were in really good areas of Old Town and I might consider those the next time I'm in Edinburgh. But, I am glad I stayed at the Balmoral, who can pass up Edinburgh's Most Prestigious Address?
From journal Honeymoon in Scotland
The Balmoral
- September 16, 2005
- Rated 5 of 5 by
jl32 from Chicago, Illinois
Check-in and check-out takes on new meaning at The Balmoral, and you'll be hard pressed to find better lodging anywhere. It's classically beautiful, while still cutting edge. If you can ante up and afford the huge room rates here, you'll be treated to the best service and highest degree of luxury in the Scottish capital, with views that are nothing short of breathtaking.
From journal History and Future Collide in Edinburgh
The Balmoral
- August 13, 2005
- Rated 3 of 5 by
mrslampy from Pembroke Pines, Florida
It’s in a great location, convenient to the Royal Mile and Princes Street. The room was very nice and the bathroom was great, especially for Europe! Our only problem was that we requested a 6am wakeup call to make our return flight back to the States and never got it, which is not very good service in my opinion. (I happened to wake up anyway by chance, so we were okay.) I informed the front desk about this and emailed a complaint. They are offering us a room upgrade for our next stay, which we may take them up on, as we plan to return to Edinburgh in the future!
From journal Weekend in Edinburgh