139 Cowgate, near St. Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, United Kingdom | (618) 248-8274
Hip and
contemporary hotel housed in historic building
Set in the center
of Old Town Edinburgh
Most tourist
attractions within easy walking distance
Private dorms
have pre-stockable Smeg fridges and ping-pong
Running, cycling,
and "urban gym" clubs
Lively and
popular bar with live events
Free Wi-Fi
throughout
Area can get a
bit rowdy
On-site bar gets
noisy at weekends
Breakfast service is in the
bar, so air can be stale
The Stay Central Hotel is a hip, contemporary hotel housed in a 17th-century building in the center of Old Town Edinburgh. Although the immediate area feels a little rough around the edges, most of the city center's main tourist attractions are well within walking distance. The 37 rooms at this mid-range property have funky decor, along with iPad docks and free Wi-Fi, while private dorms -- which have an upmarket hostel feel -- can be kitted out for parties. With a lively hotel bar and young, up-for-it clientele, noise is inevitable, especially on weekends -- so for a similar though slightly quieter vibe, guests could take a look at the nearby Grassmarket Hotel.
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Scene
Cool and quirky interiors with young, fun-loving vibe and 17th-century heritage
The Stay Central
Hotel occupies a genuine piece of Old Town Edinburgh history dating back as far as
the early 17th century. Originally built for the Guild of Tailors in 1621, the
property has been put to numerous uses since, from notorious playhouse to
brewery grain store, opening as its present day incarnation in 2011. Inside, the
design angle is very much 21st century, mixing a rustic-chic and post-industrial feel -- think lots of unfinished wood and metal -- with plenty of fun touches and quirky details -- like Leggo figures on the front desk, and a massive world map, to which room keys are affixed, in the lobby -- that lend the place a hip and
youthful vibe. The upmarket-hostel-meets-warehouse-gallery feel attracts
younger couples and revelers in town for weekend partying, and the attached Three
Sisters bar -- complete with beautiful, stone terrace -- provides a convenient venue for some vibrant, and boisterous,
nightlife.
Location
Set in the center of Edinburgh's Old Town close to plenty of nightlife
The hotel has a
prime location in the heart of the Old Town in Edinburgh's Cowgate. This relatively uneventful street during the day transforms into one of the
city's liveliest areas at night (and sometimes gets rowdy). Its central position,
however, means all of the capital's main tourist attractions are well within
walking distance; the famous Edinburgh Castle and cobbled streets of the Royal
Mile are both just five to 10 minutes away on foot. Edinburgh's main Waverly train station
is also about 10 minutes' walk from the hotel.
Rooms
Many rooms geared up for revelers with pre-stocked fridges and iPod docks
The hotel's 37
rooms are spread across four floors, and come in sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL, and
private dorms sleeping up to six in bunk-beds. Decor is fresh and contemporary,
with distressed-effect wood, funky art prints, and quirky design furniture. All
rooms come with free Wi-Fi, iPod docks, and flat-screen TVs, while dorm rooms are packed with fun extras such as ping-pong tables, PlayStation consoles, dart boards, and full-size Smeg fridges that can be pre-stocked with drinks of guests' choice --
ghd hair straighteners can also be arranged on request. Sleek, contemporary
bathrooms are finished in black-and-white mosaic tiles, and walk-in showers have
rainfall showerheads. As some rooms are set up for partying, and with a lively bar downstairs, noise is inevitably an issue -- though rooms in quieter
parts of the building can be requested, as can late check-out times (for a fee).
Features
Around-the-clock room service and fitness clubs
A full Scottish
or continental breakfast is served each morning, though is not included in
the rate. Breakfast is served in The Three Sisters pub attached to the
hotel -- meaning there's a danger of a lingering whiff of the previous night's revelry
over coffee. However, breakfast and a wide range of food and drink can also be ordered to guest rooms around the clock. The hotel's Three Sisters pub is also a very
popular and lively venue for live music and events -- especially at weekends
when the revellers spill out into the courtyard. For those needing a detox, the
hotel has running, cycling, and "urban gym" clubs, as well as bike hire at a cheap daily rate.
