Ferrymuir Retail Park, South Queensferry, United Kingdom | (888) 710-7049
Stylish and modern, with fanatic attention to detail
Excellent location near the airport for business travelers
Award-winning seafood restaurant
Fitness center with a variety of cardio machines
Free Wi-Fi
Kids under 12 stay free
Free airport shuttle (weekdays only)
Non-smoking property (a con for some)
Pet-friendly
Not conveniently located for tourists -- too far from major attractions
Restaurant is pricey, and there's no other option
The upscale, 132-room Dakota Edinburgh is a fabulously stylish hotel,
seven miles from the airport, in what, from the outside, appears to be a
forbidding black cube. Inside, the Dakota is a creative, modern delight with a
tweedy boho vibe, lots of exposed brick, and one of Scotland's best-reviewed
seafood restaurants. The decor throughout is aviation-inspired, with first-class attention to detail at mid-range prices. The location is a bit remote for
tourists and avid sightseers, but great for business travelers.
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
Sophisticated, cozy, and one of a kind, with industrial chic touches and a tweedy boho vibe
The Dakota Edinburgh is a sophisticated, cozy hotel with a
definite point of view. The decor is stylish and bohemian, with a predominance
of exposed brick, and a warm color palette of browns, grays, and dark reds that
add to the feeling of warmth and intimacy. The Dakota is named for a
long-shuttered airline whose goal was to offer five-star luxury at three-star
prices; the hotel has adopted this philosophy, and the design aesthetic is
aviation-inspired in homage. There are innumerable details that reflect this
choice, including a leather-upholstered elevator with a plane porthole through
which (digital) clouds can be seen. These quirky, fun design choices contribute
to the exclusive feeling of the property. (Even the public bathrooms are
handsome!) The lobby is often filled with business executives tapping away on laptops
amid the atmospheric lighting, sepia-toned furniture, tree-stump side tables,
fireplaces, and industrial-chic architecture. The Bar + Grill has been
designated Hotel Restaurant and Scottish Seafood Restaurant of the Year, and
the grilled seafood lives up to its reputation.
Location
Great spot for business travelers, near the airport, 20 minutes by train from downtown Edinburgh
The Dakota Edinburgh is located north of Edinburgh, at the gate of
the town of South Queensferry, on the Firth of Forth. The airport is a quick 15-minute drive from the hotel, making it a good spot for business
travelers. Downtown Edinburgh and its major tourist sites are 20 minutes by
train, a little remote for avid sightseers and travelers who want to be in the
thick of things. There is not much in the immediate area of the hotel, but the
Forth Road Bridge and Queensferry village are two minutes away by car.
Rooms
Rich colors, sophisticated comfort, and free Sky Sports channels on the flat-screen
Rooms at the Dakota Edinburgh are spacious, immaculate, and
beautifully designed in rich shades of gray, brown, and brick, with
sophisticated wing chairs, comfortable sofas, tweedy fabrics, leather
bed frames, wool blankets, cool sculptures, and interesting artwork. Bathrooms
are modern and handsome, with dark tile and stainless steel accents, and luxe monsoon
showers. TVs come with satellite channels and the full Sky Sports package; high-speed Internet, tea, and coffeemakers are included. There is some mild street
noise, and guests may not want to stay in the rooms next door to the fitness center, where early
morning treadmill action can be a rude awakening.
Features
Excellent restaurant, nice fitness center, and well-equipped meeting rooms
The Dakota Edinburgh features
one of Scotland’s most renowned seafood restaurants, Bar + Grill, serving
locally-sourced meat and fish in a sophisticated, unstuffy dining room. The
floors are herringbone parquet; there is exposed brick everywhere, as well as
industrial ductwork, colored lighting, and bold paintings on the walls. Bar +
Grill is far more than a hotel restaurant. The Dakota’s fitness center has a
variety of cardio machines in a small but not cramped, workout room, with a
fridge full of free bottled water. There are five elegant meeting
rooms with up-to-date audio-visual equipment and large windows for natural light.
