House Of Gods Royal Mile

Everyone on the team was warm, welcoming, and ready to help, and the bar service was great at any hour. I didn’t eat breakfast there. The hotel was clean and well kept, and its spot right by the Royal Mile made it easy to get wherever I wanted within minutes. I felt safe throughout the stay and would happily recommend it.

We slept well in a comfy bed, though I could have used another pillow. The room was basic but spotless, and the shower was lovely and hot. There was even a complimentary bottle of Prosecco waiting for us. Breakfast was great too. The location is handy, about five minutes from the train station and right in the Old Town. We had to go downstairs to reception because there was no phone in the room and the TV remote was missing. Still, I’d recommend it for a night out and a place to sleep in Edinburgh’s Old Town.

After paying an extra £60 for a room advertised as dog-friendly at ibis Central Edinburgh, we found a tiny dog bed that barely fit a chihuahua and a bowl more suited to a cat. Those basics should be usable for dogs of different sizes when the hotel charges a substantial premium. We had to go out and buy a bowl ourselves, and our dog slept on the bed because there was no suitable alternative. I raised it at reception and asked for a manager. Dean and Florian, both managers on duty, repeatedly refused to speak with me. Faith at the front desk wouldn’t pass on a message or escalate it, and I was effectively told to go away. Charging for a service that fell so far short, then refusing to discuss a reasonable complaint, is poor care at best and misleading at worst. Calling a room dog-friendly should mean more than taking the money and hoping nobody challenges it. I’m deeply unimpressed with management and wouldn’t recommend this hotel to anyone travelling with a dog.

I stayed here for a second time and would book again on a future Edinburgh visit. For the two days of plans I had around the Royal Mile, the location was spot on. The hotel is on Hunter Square, next to the Royal Mile, and just a few minutes on foot from Edinburgh Waverley Station, so I could get to everything quickly. My room was modest in size, clean, tidy and very comfortable for the night. The reception staff were welcoming and helpful. I was keen to try some cafes nearby, so I didn’t get around to the hotel breakfast, though it looked good from what I saw.