Apex City of Edinburgh Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
Apex City Edinburgh is a high-quality 4-star in Grassmarket with clean, stylish rooms and an Old Town location you can walk everywhere from.
Apex City Edinburgh is a high-quality 4-star in Grassmarket with clean, stylish rooms and an Old Town location you can walk everywhere from.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Rooms come in the bright gray-and-yellow palette that's the signature of Apex Hotels — a modern look that stands apart from the older hotels around Old Town. Reviewers call them clean and tidy, with soft, comfortable beds and good-quality linen, and bathrooms that are clean with decent shower pressure. Some of the upper-floor rooms open onto a direct view of Edinburgh Castle on its rock, a view a lot of guests describe as memorable. One thing to watch: in summer, some rooms can get warm, since it's an older building without air-conditioning in every room — worth asking about when you book.
Food and amenities
Breakfast is a full English-Scottish spread with vegetarian options too. Most reviews land on "good, but priced on the high side compared with the alternatives" — so if you're watching the budget, you can skip it and find a cafe in Grassmarket instead, since there are plenty of good coffee and breakfast spots within a 2-minute walk. The front-desk staff get steady praise for being friendly and handing out solid travel tips.
Location and getting there
The strongest card Apex City holds is its place in the historic centre. It's a 5-minute walk to the Royal Mile and about 8 minutes to Edinburgh Castle. Cowgate, with its art bars, and Victoria Street — one of the prettiest streets in the city — are both an easy walk away. Waverley Station is a short ride or roughly a 12-minute walk. There's paid parking nearby, but it costs extra, so it's not the pick for travelers who drive in themselves.
Things to know before booking
Parking is the first thing: it's limited and costs extra, which makes the hotel a poor fit if you're arriving by car. Second, summer heat — not every room has air-conditioning in this older building, so a few rooms run warm and it's worth confirming before you book. And the breakfast, while good, is pricier than the Grassmarket cafes two minutes away, so budget travelers may want to eat out.
Our take
Apex City of Edinburgh Hotel is a strong pick for couples and travelers who want to stay in the middle of Old Town without paying 5-star rates. You can walk to every major sight, the design stands out, and the lively Grassmarket right outside the door makes the trip fun from the first step out of the hotel. The steady 8.6/10 across Agoda and Booking backs up that most guests leave happy.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Grassmarket location — only a 5-minute walk to the Royal Mile, and about 8 minutes to Edinburgh Castle.
- Clean rooms in the bright gray-and-yellow Apex style, recently refreshed, with comfortable beds and good-quality linen.
- Some of the upper-floor rooms open onto a direct view of Edinburgh Castle on its rock — guests call it memorable.
- Friendly staff, and reviews consistently single out the service and travel tips from the front desk.
- Full English-Scottish breakfast with vegetarian options, served on-site if you don't want to head out.
- Parking nearby is limited and costs extra, so it's not ideal if you're driving in.
- Some rooms get hot in summer — it's an older building and not every room has air-conditioning, so ask about this when you book.
- Breakfast is good but priced on the high side compared with the cafes a couple of minutes away in Grassmarket.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Edinburgh
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Insider Tips
- If you want the castle view, ask for a higher floor when you book — only some rooms look onto Edinburgh Castle.
- On a tight budget, skip the hotel breakfast and grab coffee and a bite at one of the cafes within a 2-minute walk in Grassmarket.
- If summer heat bothers you, confirm the room has air-conditioning before booking — not every room does.