The W Hotel, Edinburgh is a bold architectural statement—it’s set in a very distinctive building known affectionately as “the golden turd” (it’s meant to be a ribbon). Don’t let that put you off though – its modern rooms, food & drink options, spa and wellness offerings, music‑centric amenities, and panoramic terraces make it a great option for visitors seeking a memorable stay in the city.
I enjoyed a 6 night stay at The W back in June. It wasn’t perfect, and there were definitely some areas of improvement, but overall I would recommend it to anyone looking for something unique.
You can read my full post on Edinburgh HERE.
Location of The W Hotel
The W is located in Edinburgh’s St James’ Quarter, right in the heart of the city. On the doorstep to Calton Hill, it’s perfect walking distance for sight seeing in both the Old Town and the New Town (Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace in just 15 minutes, Dean Village in just 25 minutes).
The hotel itself sits cosily in St James’ Place, and is attached to a large shopping centre offering lots of tasty restaurant options right on the doorstep. I can particularly recommend Bloom & Wild Market as a perfect lunch spot.
Accommodation at The W Hotel
The accommodation is modern, with an elegant feel. The room was clean and spacious, with a huge king size bed, comfortable seating area, and lots of space. It also had doors opening on to a small balcony for some air, which was nice to have, though the view was of flats so not picturesque.
The sink area of the bathroom backed on to the bed and was open plan, with a large enclosed shower and toilet both with doors to close away from the main space. I didn’t love the bathroom area, but it made good use of the space. A number of toiletries were also provided free of charge, including toothpaste, toothbrush, shower caps, mouth wash and hand cream.
Room service was a little haphazard. On some days I had water replenishment, on others I didn’t. On some evenings I had turn down service, on others I didn’t. When I did get turn down (2 nights out of my 6!), I was delighted that shortbread was provided in addition to the water, and that the most cosy slippers were also laid out. Perfect after a busy day!
I also found the rooms really noisy at night. I’ve never had it before where I kept waking up genuinely thinking someone was breaking in to my room. They weren’t – it was just hotel employees walking along the corridors. I think all the doors are fire doors and they were just slamming all night. It wasn’t ideal when I was working and needed to be up early on interrupted sleep, but sadly it happened every single night!
Food & Drink at The W Hotel
The hotel offers four options for dining, all of which are set in statement looking curved restaurants with wonderful views.
SUSHISAMBA (10th floor): The first in Scotland, offering fusion fare—Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine like wagyu gyoza and lobster‑mango sushi. I had one meal here and it was delicious but pricy.
W Lounge (11th floor): All‑day dining with Gaelic‑inspired dishes, highlighted by spectacular 360° vistas out across the city. This was my favourite spot to come back to and finish up my emails with a drink and a view. The staff were brilliant and really friendly.
João’s Place: A cozy speakeasy bar styled on São Paulo 1968, serving creative cocktails and intimate ambience, again with a balcony area. I came up for a drink one night and it felt cosy and relaxed.
Rooftop W Deck: An outdoor terrace with wrap‑around views—heated igloos make it weather‑proof for any time of year, and the huge comfy sofas are perfect for day time or evening drinks if the weather is nice.
I did come up here twice during my stay. On my first visit I was in a nice dress and heels after work and had a good experience, but on the second time I didn’t have my hair and makeup done, and honestly was made to feel a bit unwelcome – it seems to the *the place* to be seen – and as I didn’t fit their aesthetic, I felt I wasn’t prioritised and had to wait 40 minutes for a coke and was then ignored.
Amenities & Experiences at The W Hotel
The main attraction beyond the restaurants of the hotel is the incredible AWAY Spa (5th floor), featuring elemental treatment rooms (Water, Fire, Earth, Air), including the UK’s only sand-bed “Earth” experience (though it’s very pricy at £180/hr). The spa even won “Spa Treatment of the Year” in 2024. Whilst I did go in the spa, the prices meant I just couldn’t justify a treatment.
Also on site is a Gym, open 24/7 with TechnoGym equipment for cardio, functional and strength workouts. No-one will be surprised to know I didn’t go in.
Uniquely to a hotel, there is also a W Sound Suite, a professional recording studio—the first in the UK—geared toward DJs, podcasters and musicians. Given I’m an accountant, you’ll be shocked to hear I didn’t go in there either.
I also feel the need to give the Lifts an honourable mention; because they borderline constitute an experience in themselves! Sadly I only took photos in my casual clothes as I popped out after work for food, so I’m not displaying them to their best. I can’t tell you the amount of times I found women draped in them in heels and dresses for photos. When one of them asked me to get out of the lift so I wasn’t in the way of her photo, I could do nothing but laugh.
So what did you think of The W Hotel? It’s definitely a bold and exciting new hotel, and one I’m glad to have stayed at. The panoramic views from the numerous bars are truly unique and beautiful.
That said, I do think it’s a bit style over substance, and it is expensive for the service actually received. I much prefer a low key luxury hotel where privacy and kindness are prioritised over selfies and pretentious attitudes. Plus, it really does look like a certain emoji from afar, towering over the Edinburgh skyline – I can’t work out whether I like its design or not! What do you think?
Stay safe and happy travelling!
Travelling Han 
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