Staying in a Suite on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, Pros & Cons

When I was deciding where to stay in Edinburgh, I struggled to find a place that fit all my needs. I was in the market for somewhere comfortable, centrally located, within my budget, and pet-friendly since my dog Bear was coming along.

Staying in solid accommodation becomes all the more important when you only have a short time to explore a new city. Just as I was about to dissolve into a pool of frustration, I came across the Royal Mile Romance Suite.

I was delighted – it was a cozy accommodation that appeared to check all my boxes and had excellent reviews from travelers. After staying there myself, this studio in the heart of Edinburgh exceeded my expectations in many ways. However, it definitely isn’t right for everyone.

I’m going to break down the major pros and cons of my experience staying at the Romance Suite. Perhaps, it’ll be the perfect stay for your next trip to Edinburgh.

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The Pros of My Stay

Great views over the Royal Mile right from the room

View of the Royal Mile from the studio's window — *View of the Royal Mile from the window of the studio*

Since I wasn’t in Edinburgh for long, staying at the Romance Studio allowed me to get right into the action from the moment I got off the train. All I had to do was open the window blinds and I had a clear perspective over one of the most popular parts of the city – the Royal Mile.

This famed street is located in the heart of the Old Town and it is overflowing with cute local shops and top-notch restaurants. I adored being surrounded by the distinctive Medieval architecture of the area. It was nice having one of the most notable sites literally right outside the front door.

Thoughtful welcome gifts on arrival like cookies and tea

A welcome gift with complimentary coffee and tea sachets — *The welcome gift left by the hosts of the studio*

The first thing that caught my eye when I got into the studio was a little gift boxed up on the kitchenette counter. I’ve stayed at hostels, hotels, and Airbnbs all over the globe, yet I’ve never been greeted with a whole wrapped gift before. It even had a sweet welcome message tied to the bow.

It just ended up being a few different types of cookies, but I still thought this simple gesture was a lovely touch. There was also plenty of tea and coffee in a neatly organized beverage station.

Pet-friendly

The author Sky and her dog inside the Royal Mile Romance Studio — *Me and my dog Bear chilling out inside the studio*

One of my primary concerns when deciding where to stay on my trip to Scotland was that it absolutely had to be pet-friendly. After traveling with my dog all over the world, I’ve discovered that finding a hotel willing to accept Bear is one of the most difficult parts.

The Romance Studio ended up being the answer to my prayers in this regard. Not only did the room allow dogs, but they didn’t even charge an inflated fee for the privilege. That was a big plus for me.

The other worry about staying in a pet-friendly hotel is that they need to work doubly hard to keep the room clean. Thankfully, the studio was very well kept and there was no evidence of previous furry visitors anywhere in the space.

Large, very comfortable bed

A large bed in the Royal Mile Romance Studio — *The large, comfy bed inside the studio*

The bed is usually an afterthought when I’m booking a hotel, but it’s the first thing I run to check as soon as I enter the room. Putting my bags down and rushing over to test the cushiness of the mattress is practically one fluid motion for me.

I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the mattress at the Romance Suite felt from my first impression. Plus, it was even bigger than I expected given the size of the studio.

After passing out in it for several nights, I can confirm that I slept like a baby every single evening.

TV equipped with streaming services

The TV hanged against the stone wall — *TV against the stone wall in the studio*

Since this Edinburgh trip was going to be a work-free excursion for me, I decided not to bring my laptop. However, I’m the type of person who needs some sort of TV show as a wind-down to fall asleep.

I was glad that the suite’s TV was stocked with a streaming service for me to use. It already had Netflix logged in upon arrival and there was access to all the local cable channels as well.

Cozy and warm even during the winter

The temperature control dial inside the studio — *Temperature control dial in the studio*

I was visiting Edinburgh in early December and before arriving I was already a bit worried I’d be cold at night. The Romance Studio was described by reviewers as having a ‘rustic vibe’, which can often be code for ‘roughing it’. So, I was prepared to bundle up in layers if need be.

Luckily, these concerns were unfounded because the studio was nice and toasty throughout my whole stay. I lowered the heating when I went out to save energy and it would get back up to a cozy temp really fast as well.

Large shower with solid water pressure

The large shower area of the studio — *View of the studio’s large shower*

The overhead water stream in the shower — *Overhead water stream in the shower*

For a relatively compact space, the studio offered a very spacious walk-in shower. The shower provided a slightly more luxury feel.

I appreciated the style of the rainfall shower head and it had great pressure. The hot water even endured through my long, defrosting shower after exploring in the freezing Edinburgh weather.

Useful household amenities such as a stovetop and a washing machine

The stovetop inside the studio — *Stovetop at the suite*

The washing machine in the studio — *Washing machine inside the studio*

Visitors who are serious about traveling like a local in the UK will appreciate the household facilities at the Romance Studio. This accommodation goes a step beyond the typical amenities like a kettle and a mini fridge.

It had a whole kitchenette, complete with a sink, cooking utensils, and a full stovetop. I was most pleased with the in-studio washing machine because I loathe trying to figure out how to do laundry while I’m traveling. These things actually made it feel like I had a little home in Edinburgh.

Delicious restaurants nearby such as Yamato, Makar’s Mash, and others

The sushi platter from Yamato — *Sushi from Yamato, a dog-friendly Japanese restaurant near the studio*

The UK isn’t portrayed as a foodie paradise, so I wasn’t expecting the food in Scotland to be nearly as good as it was. Much to my delight, many of the best eateries around Edinburgh were extremely close to my accommodation.

The dog-friendly Yamato sushi joint was just a 15-minute walk away and had surprisingly yummy sushi since Edinburgh is near the water. That’s coming from someone who spent a month solo traveling in Japan this year.

Another favorite was the traditional Scottish Makars Mash restaurant right around the corner. This spot was recognized as the #1 casual dining restaurant in all of the UK [Source].

They have a variety of mashed potato dishes and a tasting plate for the local specialty of haggis. I tried an excellent lion’s mane mushroom dish with whisky sauce here, too.

Walking distance to major Edinburgh attractions like Victoria Street and St. Giles Cathedral

The intricate interior of the St. Giles Cathedral — *Inside St. Giles Cathedral*

The crowd at the Victoria Street with holiday lights around — *People walking around Victoria Street*

Edinburgh is one of the best places to visit in Scotland because there is just so much to see in the city. A highlight of the Romance Studio for me was that all this stuff was within walking distance.

Less than two minutes down the street and I was at St. Giles Cathedral. Another few paces around the corner and I was at the colorful Victoria Street. The Scott Monument, Princes Street Gardens, and the seasonal Christmas market were all just 10 minutes away on foot.

Even attractions that were a bit farther, such as the Royal Botanic Garden and Calton Hill, were only a 20-minute stroll away. I could reach absolutely everything I wanted to do in Edinburgh from the studio without ever taking a taxi. I got to explore so many free Edinburgh attractions without hassle.

Less than a 10-minute walk to the train station

The intricate ceiling of the Edinburgh Train Station — *Ceiling of the Edinburgh train station*

The author's dog waiting at the train's platform — *My dog waiting for the train to Edinburgh*

I took the train from Birmingham to Edinburgh with my dog and a slightly over-packed carry-on bag. I really didn’t want to take a massive trek carrying all that stuff once I got off the train in Scotland.

That’s why I breathed a major sigh of relief when Google Maps told me the studio was less than a 10-minute walk away from the train station. While the journey did require a few sets of stairs, it was way less labor-intensive than I anticipated.

The Cons of My Stay

A very tight, compact room that’s not suitable for more than two people, max

The large bed and small space inside the studio — *A glimpse of how small the studio space is*

While the Romance Studio was adequate for a solo traveler and her small dog, it was still on the small side. The bed pretty much occupied the entire space and even by myself it was a bit difficult to move around the space.

It was even tough to find an out-of-the-way spot to store my luggage. There is no way that more than two people could share this space comfortably and even then it might be a bit cramped. I’d only recommend this accommodation for close couples or people traveling alone.

Located in an extremely busy part of the city

The tourists wandering around the Royal Mile — *Tourists flooding the streets around the Royal Mile right outside the studio*

While staying right in the center of Edinburgh was a convenient choice for my situation, it still had some downsides. The main drawback was that the Royal Mile area is extremely busy and filled with tourists.

If you’re the type of traveler who prefers staying in peaceful neighborhoods, this will not be the best choice for you. Every single time I walked out the door, I was immediately swept away in a sea of people checking out the nearby sights.

It wasn’t quite Times Square’s level of crowds, but it was still overwhelming even for me. Especially when I was attempting to navigate the crowds while walking my dog. I imagine it could be equally as frustrating if you’re on a family trip with kids.

No reception desk or anywhere to leave bags before check-in or after check-out

An open window looking out the street — *The studio window looking out into the street – no reception to be found*

One of the biggest cons of properties like the Romance Studio for me is the fact that there is no reception desk. This seems like a small thing but it can make it much more difficult to sort out any issues or accomplish something like an early check-in.

In the same vein, there was no storage space available for my bags. At traditional hotels, there is typically a designated spot for luggage before check-in or after check-out. This allows visitors to get a jump on exploring if they arrive early or have a late flight.

I arrived at the accommodation about an hour before my scheduled check-in and had to just awkwardly stand in the street with all my stuff while I waited. It wasn’t a deal-breaker, but it wasn’t pleasant either.

Up two flights of stairs without a lift available

The spiral staircase inside The Writer’s Museum — *The Writer’s Museum staircase that is around the corner from the studio*

There are plenty of perks to traveling when you’re older as long as you’re staying in an accommodation that suits your needs. Unfortunately, the Romance Studio won’t be that place for anyone with mobility limitations.

The accommodation is located up two flights of fairly steep stairs and there is no elevator available in the building. They were completely manageable for me, but I could totally understand how it might not work for everyone.

***

While it might not be the ideal lodging for everyone, I truly enjoyed my time at Royal Mile Romance Suite. It ended up being a lovely match for me and my dog on our getaway to Edinburgh.

By the way, if you happen to be traveling to Scotland for the first time, there may be some cultural differences to keep in mind. To learn more, check out Louise’s list of faux paus tourists make in Scotland and how to avoid them.