Stay at Black Ivy, a 4.5★ Victorian hotel near Edinburgh Castle. Enjoy contemporary rooms, a cocktail bar, free Wi-Fi, and pet-friendly amenities in central Edinburgh.
Guests appreciate the hotel's welcoming staff, cozy and quiet rooms despite an active bar, and festive decor, making it a popular choice for visitors to Edinburgh seeking both convenience and character.
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Rooms, shared spaces, dining and exterior — grouped so you can skim quickly.
Situated in two adjoining Victorian townhouses, Black Ivy offers a contemporary stay within reach of some of Edinburgh's top attractions, including the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Castle. The hotel is located just under a mile from the castle and about three miles from Holyrood Palace, making it a convenient choice for visitors interested in exploring the city's historic sites. Public transport and Edinburgh Airport provide accessible connections, with the airport reachable within 30 minutes by car.
The property features contemporary rooms noted for their comfort and quietness despite the presence of an active sports bar below. Guests have praised the soundproofing and the pet-friendly nature of the hotel, as well as the helpfulness and friendliness of the staff. Some feedback mentions a few inconsistencies in service, particularly during dinner times, reflecting a generally positive but mixed guest experience.
Facilities include a restaurant, bar, and cocktail bar, all housed within the same building, delivering a vibrant atmosphere that complements the hotel's polished, yet unpretentious style. Breakfast options are available, and free Wi-Fi is offered, though parking and air-conditioning are not provided. The property welcomes families and guests with accessibility needs, maintaining a smoke-free environment.
Black Ivy is well suited to travelers seeking easy access to Edinburgh’s city centre attractions, combined with a lively yet comfortable place to stay. It appeals to those who appreciate Victorian architecture blended with modern amenities and an inviting social space for dining and drinks. Nearby landmarks like the National Museum of Scotland and the Royal Mile provide additional cultural enrichment during a stay here.
The short version: what's available day-to-day, and the key practical details most travelers search for.
Reviews from travelers who stayed here in the last 12 months, grouped to help you spot the pattern quickly.
Our first room had a broken thermostat that made the room so hot. The woman in charge came up and tried to fix it failing that she promptly moved us to another room of same standard. Brilliant service and quick solving of the problem. Room we ended up in was lovely great sound proofing as could not hear the bar below at all. Very dog friendly with good parks just outside the hotel for dog walks. Cocktails at bar were lovely too
Booked last minute as I didn't fancy getting the train home, this was in December so their STUNNING Christmas decorations were in place, absolutely gorgeous, as was our room that overlooked the meadows, huge, lovely bathroom and extremely comfy beds. Down stairs equally as impressive with the decorations and the bar/restaurant area had a great vibe. I'd recommend to anyone.
We stopped here for the festive dinner. The staff was extremely nice and helpful. The overall vibes were cozy and warm. Black Ivy decorates the inside very festive. We ordered the festive package with a 3 course meal and a glass of champagne. I ordered the potatoe and leek soup, steak, and banoffee cheesecake. The steak was a bit disappointing. It had so much fat that I was unable to chew half of it. The other course were just okay. However, the drinks were divine and the staff was so lovely.
Had an awesome weekend! Dinner in the restaurant the first night which was really tasty with a great atmosphere. Slept really well and the rooms were quiet despite their being an active bar down (Scotland rugby weekend). Everything was clean and tidy. Staff were all very friendly and helpful. Food was really nice & great cocktails on offer. Short walk into central Edinburgh. Would 100% stay here again and recommend to anyone coming for a break in this amazing city.
Amazing stay. Staff super friendly and very helpful. Getting in and out of the hotel was a breeze. Lovely location just on the edge of the green. Lovely interior and super comfortable room (and very quiet from my floor). Excellent breakfast options also. Would love to stay again if things align.
We had a lovely visit to The Ivy for high tea with friends. From the moment we arrived, we received a warm welcome, and the atmosphere was perfect for a relaxed afternoon together. A special mention goes to Joe, who gave us outstanding customer service. He was friendly, smiling throughout, and really helpful — he communicated clearly about our order and made sure everything was just right. The food was fresh and delicious, as always. Overall, a wonderful experience, and we’ll definitely be coming again.
This is a great little boutique hotel only a short walk from the city centre and main attractions. The food from breakfast to dinner is very good and the rooms are spacious and well equipped. My only negative is the waitress on the first evening dinner would not leave us alone and became really annoying even rude at times. This is our second stay at the black ivy and we definitely recommend it.
Lovely stay, reception is now combined with restaurant bookings, but very efficient. Friendly and helpful staff. Bumped into night manager when room card was blank, extremely helpful, Friendly and apologetic. We have stayed here 4 times and it is our go to boutique hotel. Fantastic breakfast served on a skillet with loads to eat, coffee very good and bar has a fantastic vibe and gets busy on most days and nights.
Occupying 2 adjoining, Victorian townhouses, this polished hotel is within a mile from the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Castle. It's also 3 miles from Holyrood Palace.
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