Nira Caledonia

We stayed here during the Fringe and really enjoyed our time in Edinburgh. Our room was on one of the upper floors and was quiet, comfortable and had a large bathroom (bath and separate shower). The stairs up however were many and twisty, so was a bit of a pain with luggage and shopping bags (although I'm sure staff would have carried if requested). Breakfast was included and good quality and variety - a la carte rather than buffet for the main. The ground floor lounge was nice to sit and have a drink in before heading out for the evening. Location was slightly out of the centre, but we walked most days to all the venues we planned on visiting, using taxi's in the evenings. Would happily stay here again.

Beautiful, quaint historic hotel Walkable to many Edinburgh attractions Respectful, professional, friendly staff Can get a room with lg jacuzzi tub Delicious breakfasts Quaint, cozy restaurant and bar onsite Only drawbacks: No air conditioning due to it being historic bldg No lifts, have to be fit enough to climb stairs to room. (There were 47 steps up to ours) Lovely stay

Very comfortable room and the hotel is in a great location - quiet but easy access to restaurants and town. Only downside was the hotel restaurant was closed during our stay although breakfast was excellent.

I booked Nira Caledonia looking for a luxury experience in Edinburgh. I reserved 2 rooms for a 4-night stay, which cost over $3,400 USD. While I want to be fair and say that the staff members themselves were very nice and highly professional, excellent hospitality cannot make up for the fact that I have never been more uncomfortable or miserable in my life. There is absolutely no air conditioning. We were placed on the 3rd floor, where the heat rises and pools, making the rooms feel like an actual oven. To make matters worse, you are completely locked into the suffocating heat because the hotel does not allow you to open the windows. I was told this policy is because someone unfortunately jumped from a window once in the past. As a result, you are trapped in a hot room with zero chance of getting a cross breeze or any cooler air at night. The staff provided a fan, but it did nothing but push around hot, stagnant air. This isn't luxury; it was pure torture. With temperatures rising in Europe every single year, this issue is only going to get worse. I will never stay here again. On top of the heat issue, the housekeeping staff took a stack of our personal green washcloths from one of the rooms. They were neatly folded and clean. The hotel's towels are white, and they don't even provide washcloths, so there is no reason they should have been cleared out. While management initially told me I would be refunded for the missing items, I didn't actually see a dime of that refund until I had to go over their heads and write to corporate to complain that the promise was never fulfilled.

In some ways, this hotel lived up to expectations: premium L'Occitane products, interesting decor, excellent breakfast, helpful staff. In one critical way it did not. The website describes an elegant Georgian townhome with tall windows and ceilings. When we entered the foyer of the building, we were excited to see our room. We had been in Scotland for over a week and experienced a range of accommodations: attic room in Balmaha, "vintage" room in Ballater, modern apartments in Glasgow and Stirling. We were looking forward to renovated elegance. But instead of heading up the stairs to an airy Georgian townhome room, we were led into the basement. Beware: you can pay a premium price at Nira Caledonia and receive a bunkerlike room with low ceilings, stained carpeting, and a window that looks out into a stairwell. I didn't expect AC or a lift. I can even understand no hot water in the sink and a sofa bed with subpar mattress. But a basement room? I might as well have been at the Moxy out by the airport.