Places to Stay With a Bar in Edinburgh

A bar on site makes a real difference to a trip. You can have a nightcap without hunting for a taxi, meet friends in the lobby, or wind down after a long day out. BritStays currently lists 36 places to stay with a bar in the Edinburgh region. 34 are hotels and 2 are caravanning sites, so most of your choice will be hotel rooms rather than self-catering.

City or further out?

The great majority of these stays, 27 of the 36, are in Edinburgh itself. If you want to walk out of the door and be among things, that is where the choice is widest. The remaining stays are spread thinly, with one each in Roslin, Kinghorn, Biggar, Charlestown, Lasswade, Uphall and Crossford. Because each of those has only a single listing, check the individual page carefully before you commit. Outside the city you won't have a fallback option in the same place if the details don't suit you.

Getting around is worth thinking about early. 22 of the stays are flagged as near a train station, but only 6 as near a bus stop. If you're arriving by car, note that just 18 list parking. That is half the set, so don't assume a space comes with the room.

Matching the stay to your trip

The example stays give a good sense of the range on offer:

• Families: Pettycur Bay Holiday Park in Kinghorn lists a swimming pool, gym and evening entertainment, which helps when you need to keep children busy in the evenings. Melville Castle in Lasswade lists a playground alongside its bar and restaurant.
• Couples: The Bay Hotel in Edinburgh lists a spa as well as a bar and restaurant. Black Ivy and Angels Share Hotel both list evening entertainment, if you want a livelier night without leaving the building.
• Dog owners: 10 of the 36 stays are pet friendly. Braid Hills Hotel in Edinburgh is one example, listing a bar, restaurant and pet-friendly rooms. Always confirm any rules or charges for dogs directly with the stay.
• Accessibility: 17 stays list disabled access, including Fingal in Edinburgh. Ask about the specific room and the route to the bar, as facility labels can't cover every need.
• Keeping fit: Apex Edinburgh City lists a swimming pool and gym, and YOTEL Edinburgh lists a gym, bar and restaurant.
• Practical bases: Murrayfield Hotel is flagged as near a train station, and Moxy Edinburgh Airport lists a bar and WiFi. Ardmillan Hotel lists parking, which is useful given how many stays don't.

Eating and staying connected

A bar doesn't always mean a full meal. 29 of the 36 stays also list a restaurant, so seven do not. If dinner on site matters to you, check before booking. Travelodge in Edinburgh lists takeaway food as well as a bar and restaurant. WiFi appears at only 21 stays. If you need to work or stream in the evenings, confirm it rather than taking it for granted.

What to do once you're there

The region has a strong showing of castles and historic houses. Landmarks listed for the area include Rosslyn Castle, Merchiston Tower, Carlowrie Castle, Calder House, Fa'side Castle and Borthwick Castle Hotel. Melville Castle appears both as a landmark and as a place to stay, which suits you if you like the idea of sleeping somewhere with a sense of history. For a gentler afternoon, Malleny Garden is listed as a garden and arboretum.

If you're happy to travel further for a day out, nearby attractions listed include the Scottish Seabird Centre and St Andrews Castle Visitor Centre. In Stirling there are Stirling Old Town Jail and Callendar House. Plan your transport for these in advance, particularly if you're relying on trains rather than a car.

Bruntsfield Hotel lists guided tours among its facilities. That is worth asking about if you'd rather someone else did the planning.

When to book

With most of the choice concentrated in Edinburgh, city hotels can fill quickly at weekends and around big events. Booking early gives you the best pick of location and facilities. Outside the city the problem is different. There is only one listed stay in each town, so if your heart is set on a particular place, book as soon as your dates are fixed.

Before you pay, check four things that vary most across this set:

• parking
• WiFi
• whether there's a restaurant as well as a bar
• pet and accessibility arrangements

A quick message to the stay to confirm bar opening times, especially on the night you arrive, can save a disappointing first evening.