The Caledonian Edinburgh, Curio Collection by Hilton

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

6437 reviews

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  Afternoon Tea

  Having had a fantastic afternoon tea here a few years ago which we still remember. It was a taste sensation based on a sweet shop and service was fantastic and very personal. We rebooked for the 6th Dec. Sadly compared to our previous experience which was a high bar. The experience was poor. We had booked for 14.45. But didn’t actually eat until after 15.30. This actually made us late for something we had booked for after. A waitress came over introduced herself. Then we never saw her again. Service was v slow. And the sweet treats we both found a bit sickening. So many ways to eat cream…and the tea was so little, gone in a few sips you had to order more to get it to cover the whole meal. For £80, could easily get better elsewhere I think. Will not be back.

  Dec 10, 2025
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  Nice looking hotel outside.

  We stayed for 2 nights for a short Christmas getaway. It’s a nice looking hotel. Outside it looks lovely with the Christmas decorations and the staircase also looks lovely with all the lights and Christmas trees. But that’s where the lovely part ends. We booked a standard room, no breakfast, the reason being when we are on a city break we leave early in the morning and are back late at night so it isn’t worth paying extra for a room we only spend 10 hours at most in and we don’t book breakfast as it isn’t worth it for me who is a vegetarian who doesn’t eat much at breakfast time. When we arrived the reception and door staff were really nice and friendly. We arrived at 9am so our room wasn’t ready which is fine we knew it wouldn’t be but the lady on the desk said she would call when it was ready. The room was a bit gloomy, it was cold and felt a bit run down. The noise from the outside generator or aircon unit or whatever was outside was annoying, as someone who likes silence when sleeping I couldn’t have handled more than 2 nights. The room was also always cold no matter how high we turned the thermostat up. The first morning we thought we would go to The Court restaurant for breakfast but ended up being ushered into the side restaurant bit where people who have breakfast included were. We had no idea that’s what was happening and before we knew we are paying £35 per person for breakfast, I had a cup of tea and 2 pancakes and for that to cost £35 is beyond ridiculous. The staff in the restaurant also wasn’t that great, I asked the lady in the suit next to me for a knife and fork and she said wait she was doing something, she was laying the table that no one was on, in the end I ended up taking the knife and fork from the next table as she never came back to me. Not the type of service I would expect. We learned our lesson the second day and went straight into The Court seating bit where the same breakfast cost £9. It’s a total rip off DO NOT BOOK BREAKFAST, either go to The Court or go outside the hotel, the price just isn’t worth the money.

  Dec 09, 2025
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  Beautiful Hotel & Amazing Staff

  This is a beautiful hotel with nicely appointed rooms, an amazing location, and wonderful staff! We stayed here on a second trip to Scotland. In terms of locations to stay in Edinburgh is hard to beat. Even if you get a room with a view of the castle, if you go workout at the gym, you get to view the castle while working out. The rooms were nicely appointed and updated. The staff was extremely friendly and responsive. Whenever we asked for something we got prompt and helpful assistance. The restaurant in the hotel was very nice for both breakfast and dinner. The hotel bar is also fun and a nice menu for a variety of tastes. It provides value commensurate with its price. the gym facilities are some of the most impressive I've seen at any hotel.

  Dec 08, 2025
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  You pay, you don't get

  I stayed one night at the Caledonian and experienced a series of issues that fell short of what a hotel should deliver. Check-in set an unfortunate tone. I was asked for ID, which is unusual for domestic guests, and when I presented my Scottish Saltire card it was dismissed with “that’s not really an ID”. The tone was unnecessary and unprofessional. I had emailed in advance requesting a room with a view. Instead I was given room 105 with a shoulder-height window looking directly onto the neighbouring building’s brickwork. From the bed you can’t see out at all. It isn’t a “view”; it’s a light well. Basic items were missing, such as a tooth mug, and there was no proper desk – only a pull-out flap in a bureau with a bedroom chair that made working impractical. Sitting in the Court area, I was simply ignored by staff who made no effort to scan the room or acknowledge guests. While I was there, another guest became visibly frustrated over service issues to the point that the maître d’ had to take him aside to resolve the dispute out of sight. It was not an isolated temperament problem; it reflected the same inconsistency I had already encountered between staff. To be clear, the hotel can function when the demands are minimal. A simple drink at the Caley bar later in the evening was handled competently. But the overall pattern was of a property that struggles as soon as the situation requires attentiveness, communication or basic follow-through. As a result I avoided eating at the hotel. For the price point and the hotel’s reputation, I expected a consistent 4-star experience. What I received was patchy service, a poorly allocated room, and an overall sense that the hotel’s standards have slipped. Until management addresses the operational issues, I cannot recommend staying here.

  Dec 08, 2025
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  Wonderful staff, incredible hotel

  We are currently staying at the hotel until Monday but I wanted to write a review now before I forget! The staff so far have been amazing. From a brilliant check in with Joseph on reception, who was so welcoming, friendly/ couldn't have done more for us, to Catherine on reception this morning. Catherine has been superb and went above and beyond this morning when we requested to change rooms, she is a real asset to the hotel. We are excited to have 2 more nights here for my birthday at this wonderful hotel - everything has been fantastic so far.

  Dec 06, 2025