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InterContinental Edinburgh The George

From $235/night • Score: 4.7★ (3640 reviews)

Exterior 1Exterior 2Interior 1Interior 2Surroundings

First Impressions & Architecture

Stepping onto the stately expanse of George Street in Edinburgh’s UNESCO-listed New Town is akin to stepping directly into the pages of a meticulously preserved 18th-century novel. Here, amidst the harmonious symmetry of neoclassical facades and wide, elegant avenues, the InterContinental Edinburgh The George commands attention not through garish modernity, but via quiet, self-assured aristocratic presence. Composed of five interconnected, Category A-listed Georgian townhouses dating back to 1775, this historic landmark has long served as a focal point for the Scottish capital’s high society. As a hospitality critic who has traversed the globe reviewing palace hotels and design-forward bolt-holes, I find rare magic in a property that wears its centuries of provenance so effortlessly.

The approach to the hotel sets an immediate tone of understated grandeur. The exterior retains its quintessential Edinburgh-stone austerity—a handsome, weathered sandstone facade pierced by tall, multi-paned sash windows that hint at the voluminous ceiling heights within. Upon crossing the threshold, however, the ascetic Georgian exterior yields to a sophisticated interior narrative that bridges 18th-century heritage with contemporary luxury sensibilities. The lobby and public reception areas do not overwhelm with vast, cavernous acreage; instead, they welcome the weary traveler with the intimate, residential warmth of a grand Scottish estate.

Design details throughout the communal spaces pay subtle homage to the building’s storied past. Restoration work has been executed with an archaeologist's reverence. Original plasterwork moldings, cornices, and soaring archways have been painstakingly restored, catching the natural light that pours in from the street. The color palette draws inspiration from the Scottish landscape and Georgian interior design canons—deep heathery grays, rich midnight blues, and muted ochres accented by gleaming brass and polished mahogany. One cannot ignore the profound sense of place; this is a property that once played host to glittering society balls attended luminaries of the Scottish Enlightenment, including the poet Robert Burns and the novelist Sir Walter Scott. Walking down these corridors, you are not merely a guest checking in for a weekend; you are temporarily sharing a continuum of history, enveloped by an atmosphere where the literary and cultural ghosts of Edinburgh’s golden age still whisper from the walls.

The Room Experience

Ascending to the guest accommodations—whether via the historic staircases that curve gracefully upward or the modern lifts—reveals a sanctuary of calm high above the bustling pedestrian life of George Street. The hotel features a generous collection of rooms and suites, each treated as an individual architectural puzzle rather than a cookie-cutter module. My accommodation for this review, a generously proportioned Deluxe King Room overlooking the quiet courtyard and rooftops of the New Town, exemplified the property’s dedication to comfort wrapped in historical context.

Upon entry, the eye is immediately drawn upward. The defining characteristic of these rooms is the sheer volume of space, granted by the soaring Georgian ceiling heights and impossibly tall windows that flood the room with dramatic, shifting northern light. The interior design strikes a delicate balance: it is resolutely upscale and modern, yet deeply tethered to Scottish tradition. A bespoke king-sized bed, dressed in crisp, high-thread-count Egyptian cotton linens and weighted with a chunky wool throw reminiscent of traditional tartan weaves, forms the undisputed anchor of the room. The headboard, upholstered in a rich, textured fabric, nods to contemporary boutique aesthetics without alienating the traditionalist.

Thoughtful residential touches abound. A velvet-upholstered chaise lounge sits invitingly by the window—the ultimate spot for curling up with a historical biography or nursing a dram of single malt as the Edinburgh dusk settles. The workspace is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, featuring a sleek leather-inlaid desk paired with reliable high-speed Wi-Fi and easily accessible power sockets. Lighting is cleverly layered, moving away from harsh overhead glare to create intimate pools of warm illumination via artisan bedside lamps and architectural floor uplights.

The bathroom is a masterclass in modern indulgence while respecting the footprint of a historic townhouse. Clad in large-format porcelain tiles with polished chrome fixtures, it features a spacious walk-in rain shower with formidable water pressure—a non-negotiable metric for the discerning traveler. Plump, oversized bath sheets, plush bathrobes, and an array of high-end Byredo or Agraria toiletries (depending on the suite tier) elevate the daily ablution into a spa-like ritual. Soundproofing is remarkably effective; despite the central urban location, double-glazed conservation windows ensure that the lively nocturnal energy of George Street remains delightfully muted, promising an uninterrupted night of restorative slumber.

Signature Amenities & Atmosphere

The true architectural crown jewel of the InterContinental Edinburgh The George is the magnificent King’s Hall. Formerly a banking hall, this breathtaking space is defined by its soaring glass dome ceiling and a constellation of period crystal chandeliers that cast a brilliant, sparkling glow across the room. Enclosed by galleries of ornate Corinthian columns and detailed plasterwork, the King’s Hall is the beating heart of the hotel’s social and event calendar. Standing beneath its soaring vault, one can easily visualize the elaborate Georgian banquets and historic assemblies that once took place here, cementing the building's status as a historic social hub.

Beyond the architectural marvels of the public spaces, the hotel delivers a refined, holistic luxury experience tailored to the modern sophisticated traveler. While the property does not house a sprawling subterranean destination spa—a common limitation of historic urban conversions—it more than compensates with bespoke in-room wellness treatments, a well-equipped 24-hour fitness center for those maintaining their routines, and a concierge team whose local knowledge borders on encyclopedic. Whether you require private after-hours access to the National Museum of Scotland, a last-minute tee time at a championship golf course in East Lothian, or a hard-to-secure reservation at one of the city’s Michelin-starred culinary hot-spots, the concierge executes requests with effortless, unobtrusive efficiency.

The overall atmosphere throughout the hotel is one of relaxed sophistication. There is none of the chilly, performative stiffness that occasionally plagues five-star properties in global capitals. Instead, the service culture here is genuinely warm, distinctly Scottish, and unfailingly polite. Staff members greet you with an easy smile and an authentic desire to enhance your stay. Whether you are reading a broadsheet in the quiet nooks of the lounge or returning from a brisk hike up Arthur’s Seat, the hotel wraps you in a cocoon of civilized comfort, functioning as a sophisticated urban manor house where you are treated less like a transactional booking and more like a cherished houseguest.

Food, Drink & Local Nightlife

Culinary programming at the InterContinental Edinburgh The George is far from an afterthought; it is a vital pillar of the guest experience, deeply rooted in the agricultural bounty and cultural heritage of Scotland. The hotel’s signature dining venue, **The Printing Press Bar & Kitchen**, occupies a prime street-level position along George Street. Its very moniker pays homage to the building’s literary past—specifically James Craig, the architect of the New Town, and the printing presses that once operated in the vicinity. The interior design of the restaurant is a triumph of moody, atmospheric styling: dark timber panels, plush leather banquettes, industrial brass accents, and walls lined with vintage books and framed prints create an environment that is simultaneously vibrant and intimate.

The culinary philosophy at The Printing Press is proudly hyper-local, celebrating the rich larder of Scotland’s land and sea. Diners can expect a menu that shifts gracefully with the seasons. Starters might feature delicate, hand-dived Scottish scallops pan-seared to perfection with black pudding crumb, or velvety wild mushroom soup elevated with local truffle oil. For the main event, the prime Scottish beef steals the show—sourced from certified local farms and dry-aged to achieve an extraordinary depth of flavor, served simply with hand-cut dripping chips and a robust peppercorn jus. Seafood lovers are equally well catered to, with fresh catches arriving daily from North Sea ports.

Adjacent to the dining room, the bar program shines brightly, driven by a profound appreciation for Scotland’s burgeoning craft beverage scene. While the whisky list is predictably formidable—featuring rare single malts from Islay, Speyside, and the Highlands—the real revelation is the signature botanical gin cocktail menu. Utilizing artisanal Scottish gins infused with locally foraged botanicals like sea buckthorn, heather, and wild raspberries, the master mixologists craft drinks that are complex, refreshing, and deeply tied to the surrounding geography.

For mornings or casual daytime re-fueling, **Burr & Co.**—the hotel’s specialist artisan coffee shop on site—provides a buzzy, neighborhood-centric counterpoint to the formal restaurant. With its own street entrance, it attracts remote workers, local professionals, and hotel guests alike. Here, the aroma of freshly ground specialty beans mingles with the scent of warm, flaky pastries, artisan sourdough breads, and savory morning rolls. It is an exceptional spot to grab an expertly pulled flat white and a morning pastry before setting off to explore the cobblestones of the Old Town.

When evening falls, the hotel’s doorstep places you directly in the center of Edinburgh’s most desirable neighborhood for nightlife. George Street and its immediate parallel arteries—Thistle Street and Rose Street—are heaving with stylish cocktail lounges, subterranean speakeasies, and historic pubs. Yet, remarkably, many guests find themselves reluctant to venture far into the night chill, preferring instead to linger over a final nightcap fireside in the comfort of The Printing Press bar, soaking in the convivial, literary-infused atmosphere.

Who This Stay Is For

Practical Travel Notes