A&O city hostel edinburgh

United Kingdom , Edinburgh
EDINBURGH, Blackfriars Street, 50
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100 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

07 Mar 2026

Colin

The shops were close and the staff were incredibly helpful and nice

Self

10/10

Exceptional

15 Feb 2026

Jorge Alberto

Great location and clutter free.

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jan 2026

Sally

Really nice staff and very clean, very comfy beds

8/10

Excellent

21 Dec 2025

Daniel

Very central location clean and modern facilities

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

15 Dec 2025

Linda

Great place to stay, close to centre of Edinburgh.
Room was clean, warm and larger than expected. Twin room with 1 set of bunk beds. Overlook the beer garden, but with windows closed noise was minimal. As good as any hotel.
Staff very friendly, thanking us for choosing to stay their and if we need any help or advise just ask.
Our room was in a locked corridor that only keyholders could enter.
Bar is open until 1am, didn’t hear anything after that time. Hostel was very quiet after bar closing and at 9.30am when we checked out.
Didn’t have breakfast in hostel.

8/10

Excellent

28 Nov 2025

Emmely

We loved all the amenities. The bar was open late, so we could eat, drink, and meet people. We got our laundry done. The location is very convenient to the train station and lots to do in Edinburgh.

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

21 Nov 2025

Rebecca

2 members of security entered the room without consent at 3.15am due to a noise complaint on floor 2…our room was on floor 3! I found it hard to settle after this issue and I did approach a member a staff about it during check out and was given a number to call to take the matter further!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Nov 2025

chris

Very very clean and spotless, staff unbelievable and helpful. Definitely going back

Business

6/10

Pleasant

12 Nov 2025

Susan

Comfortable beds and good location

6/10

Pleasant

04 Nov 2025

Grecelli

The place is conveniently located near several tourist attractions, with plenty of restaurants to choose from nearby. The location makes it easy to explore the area, which we really appreciated.

However, it can get quite noisy at night due to sounds from outside or the pub at the hostel, even with the windows closed. There’s no proper ventilation in the room, and it feels quite warm even when the heater isn’t on. When we arrived, two of the beds hadn’t been prepared, so we had to put on the bed linens and duvet covers ourselves. The room was also a bit dusty, and there were noticeable marks or stains on the uncovered pillows and duvets.

The electrical sockets are all located in one spot near the radiator, which isn’t very convenient since it’s far from the bunk beds. This made it difficult for others in the room to charge their devices. There’s also only one small trash bin provided, which was used for both the toilet and the room. Considering it’s meant for a group or family stay, we found this setup not very practical or hygienic.

Overall, the location is great and convenient for sightseeing, but the room could use some improvements in cleanliness, comfort, and layout to make it more suitable for group stays

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

03 Nov 2025

Agnes

Yes room was spotless staff very nice and helpful

Friends_and_family Friends

2/10

Poor

30 Oct 2025

Alistair

Items stolen

Business

10/10

Exceptional

24 Oct 2025

Blake

Very walkable to the Royal mile, great location!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

18 Oct 2025

Keith

Really great stay for a night! Probably the most afforable hostel in the area and centrally-located. Close to Old Town and most of the major sites. My friend and I had a private room, which was spacious, very clean and just right. There is a bar directly downstairs where you can hear noise, but it wasn’t too bad. There’s a lot of younger folks / gen-z staying here, but definitely there are folks of all ages as well. Friendly staff, and lots of thingd to

Friends_and_family Friends

4/10

Poor

10 Oct 2025

Robert

Disappointing

The room was small, had nowhere to hang a coat, no kettle and a remote control but no television. I was asked for a passport to check in. It was very noisy,but there was nothing anyone could have done about this. Not good value for £238.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

08 Oct 2025

Paul

Clean room, quiet night which i didnt expect.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

02 Oct 2025

Debra

Excellent Location and very friendly and helpful staff.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

23 Sep 2025

Himanshi

THE PERFECT DORM EVER!

Really nice place, the staff was extremely helpful and friendly and welcoming! The girl on the first day was very sweet, the way she was handling all the customers was spectacular, v patient and really sweet and respectful! Krishna was also really nice and friendly and helpful! Overall the stay, beds, cleanliness everything was perfect!! It mad emt solo trip very comfortbale and exciting

OH i forgot to mention the bar pub and the kareoke AMAZING 5 star ratings
Live the drinks the vibe everything!!!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

19 Sep 2025

SARAH

Perfect spot. Very close a lot of popular places and has a good bar attached to it. Also the staff is very nice.

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

19 Sep 2025

WAI KI

I booked a room for 6 people but was given a room for 12 people. I found it very noisy. The guests made the beds in the middle of the night, which prevented me from sleeping. Some beds did not have sockets for charging.

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

09 Sep 2025

Jerusha

advertising TV in private room but no TV’s were working. Hostel aware of this and didn’t inform me

2/10

Poor

07 Sep 2025

Verified traveler

HORRIFIC customer service and overcharged me by do

HORRIFIC customer service and overcharged me by double.
I made a reservation to stay in a 10-bedroom dorm, and when I clicked to make the booking, I was told the rate was $37 for the night. Then, I was charged double once the booking was processed. I *immediately* called and asked them to refund me the difference, or otherwise cancel the reservation entirely. They refused, saying the booking was non-refundable. Their customer service, both via and email and in person, could not have been more rude either. STAY AWAY!

Self

6/10

Pleasant

31 Aug 2025

shashi

Towel only on extra payment. Bathrooms not so clean.

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

29 Aug 2025

Yan

Facilities old, toilet not working well, shower room dirty. Bonus points, walking distance to the train station and the old town, royal miles.

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

27 Aug 2025

Robert

The dorm that I was assigned was not like those illustrated. I specifically booked to stay here because all of the images include photos of bunks with curtains (I don't mind a dorm but I do think a curtain is pretty much essential to get a decent night's sleep). Also, the room shared a shower room with the dorm nextdoor which meant that fellow guests would often turn the lights on unexpectedly, etc.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

25 Aug 2025

Lindsay

I was only really here for 8 hours to sleep and shower but the vibe was great, the staff were friendly and very helpful, and even the toilets in the bar were clean.

Business Self

2/10

Poor

24 Aug 2025

Saya

I appreciated that they had an easily accessible luggage room. Fortunately, my roommates were quite tidy, and the bathroom wasn’t in bad condition.
However, I have to mention a serious flaw. I stayed in a room with eight double bunk beds, but the top bunks didn’t have any power outlets. I asked the person in the lower bunk if I could use one of the outlets near his bed (since each lower bunk had two), but because he had asked me out as soon as I arrived—and I declined—he simply ignored me.
Leaving that individual aside, the real issue is the system itself. Guests shouldn’t have to negotiate with each other for something as essential as access to electricity. It’s a completely flawed setup. I won’t be staying here again. Tourists rely on their phones for navigation, communication, and planning—who would choose accommodation where there’s no guarantee you can even charge your device???

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

22 Aug 2025

Sophia

Great location for the fringe

Great location, comfortable room and lots of entertainment at the hostel.

2/10

Poor

21 Aug 2025

Jonathan

BOOKED ONLY TO BE TOLD THERES NO ROOM & NO REFUND

Absolutely appalling!!!!! Booked a room via hotels.com and when showing up to check in. I was told that there’s absolutely NO record of my reservation whatsoever in their system. And that they are totally fully booked. Not even room in the broom cupboard.
Therefore I had to pay £380 for a taxi home (went door to door to other hotels but Edinburgh festival is on and all full)

Having booked through hotels.com, I was told by the receptionist that I was the one that had to get in contact with Hotels.com to sort the refund.

I have since been told from hotels.com that after speaking to the hostel, that they did indeed have my reservation (even though they didn’t when I showed up) and are now not going ahead with my refund!

Funnily enough, I said this very thing to the receptionist and the person from
Hotels.com that of course the hostel will say they had my reservation and “I didn’t turn up” and will no longer be eligible for a refund.

How absolutely disgusting from both parties. Shocking, shocking, shocking

8/10

Excellent

18 Aug 2025

Heather

It was reasonably clean, the shower was a little awkward being in a tiny rome shared with the toilet, it was difficult to keep anything dry, and there wasnt any other private space to change. The front desk clerks were lovely, kind, and helpful.

4/10

Poor

18 Aug 2025

Janice

When myself and friends checked in at reception we were told the room was different to the one booked! I had booked a quad room with 2 single beds and a set of bunk beds it had been changed to 2 sets of bunk beds bearing in mind I booked this in January and 2 of us could not get on the top bunk one of us had knee problems the other was 74 years old and couldn’t possibly get on the top bunk. I received no email to say the room had been changed and the receptionist said nothing could be done and didn’t seem bothered, we had to put the mattress on the floor so my friend could get some sleep.

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

18 Aug 2025

Peter

why?

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

13 Aug 2025

Verified traveler

Not for the faint hearted but would suit some!

To be fair we stayed on a very hot day during Edinburgh festival and didnt know the hostel was a venue. The room was far too hot (a fan maybe at least?) which meant we couldn't close the window without feeling like we were going to be cooked alive in our beds. Sadly the window was directly over the venue. A good place for the young or party goers or insomniacs.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

10 Aug 2025

Colette

I took some of my own toiletries and some disappeared ( not by anyone staying as I had my own room)

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

07 Aug 2025

Sarah

The staff was great at the property. It had a few issues like a broken shower handle and the window opening to the bar, plus the keys were finicky, but it was really clean in the room and I felt really welcomed and safe.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

05 Aug 2025

Susan

Excellent accomadations. Fantastic atmosphere. Easy walking to everywhere!

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

29 Jul 2025

Daphne

Great Location Clean Room

Amazing location right by The Royal Mile, Room was basic but clean, large bathroom, very hot shower. Amazing price for city centre and is ideal for a short city stay where you are out and about all day. Would stay again and would recommend.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

29 Jul 2025

Zoe

Family of four stayed for two nights. Staff were lovely on arrival and were really helpful. Great location, perfect for a city break when you want to be out and about. Would stay at again and recommend for a cheap and easy stay in the centre of the city.

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jul 2025

Carl

Such a cool place to stay so close to the Mile. We got to do so much in the two days. Love the bar area.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

25 Jun 2025

Anita

Easy check-in, had to queue but that was fine. Friendly staff and very helpful. Clean room, basic but everything we needed in the family room. Good mattresses but squeaky frames, large towels and good facilities. Great spot for getting around town and sights.

Leisure Family

2/10

Poor

10 Jun 2025

Gillian

My bed was broken the curtain bar was hanging off it. My special requests we compleatly ignored. I fully understand you cant alswy be goven them but to not even day im sorry we cant fo that foe you is shocking. Only asked for a bottom bunk because i have medical conditions and climbing would leave me in pain i also jeed to use loo often so its more disturbance fro. Top for all in room. It was extremely hard to find even google maps tried to get me to jump off a bridge to get to it. When i was there i couldnt find the entrance lucky a staff member came out to the bin. You need to make your own bed when you arrive so for someone like me arriving nearer 1am and the 2 that arrived later than me thats even more noise and shaking the buk that someone is already sleeping in. I wouldnt use them again

Self

6/10

Pleasant

07 Jun 2025

Neil

Nice place

Business

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jun 2025

Maria Beatrice

Very good location in the Old Town, clean and buzzing, lovely staff

Business_and_leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

29 May 2025

Michelle

The people at the service desk were so wonderful and helpful. They let us store our luggage since we arrived before check in. They showed us where things were in the building and access to lifts so we could avoid hauling luggage up the stairs. The facilities and our room were kept clean. Our room was very cramped and tight, which we expected, but that was my only complaint. We had no room to open or lay out our suitcases. The 2 main beds were made up, but the bunk beds we had to put sheets on ourselves, which I didn't like. Overall a good stay and I would go back again.

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

13 May 2025

Keriann

Excellent area in Old Town! They let us check in early and store our bags and gave us excellent directions to catch the bus to the airport from near the Scott monument. We were so tired from the 19,000 steps we got in daily that we were able to sleep well through the bar music(which was present til 1am but relatively quiet.) We felt safe, with our 3 young adult children…and that’s equal on our list with cleanliness. Thanks A&O on Blackfriars street in Edinburgh (sooooo close to the center of the Royal mile (and Edinburgh castle and King Arthur’s Sear and Holyrood Palace)

Business_and_leisure Family

4/10

Poor

05 May 2025

Jasmine Eleanore

The Bar beneath the property was very loud and made sleeping terribly hard. The price for renting any kind of appliance was pretty high for the condition they were in (given, I didn't exactly expect new, super fluffy Towels that smelled of Roses but, at least without stains and holes would have been nice and the Hairdryer was not much of a help with drying my hair either). The 'privacy curtains' were a Joke given the didn't close properly or reach the matress.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

03 May 2025

Honie

Amazing staff!

Great staff and convient location! Great job! Thank you all!

Self

2/10

Poor

29 Apr 2025

Jake

Not suitable for families

Family rooms are not very suitable. Mirrored something like a prison cell. Kids had to make their own beds as only one bed had been dressed. No facilities in the room bar the bathroom sink which is located outside the bathroom door.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

31 Mar 2025

Margaret

I saw that my opinion and satisfying DOESN'T MATTER........ what else opinion You needed?

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

08 Mar 2025

Rajat

Really like to stay, it was really clean and the staff is really, really helpful

Business_and_leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

11 Feb 2025

Micheal

Rugby refuge

Very adequate while there for a rugby match. Excellent location just off the royal mile. Very safe and secure

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jan 2025

Angela

Great hostel.

Great hostel located in the center of old city, walking distance to everything. Our family of 5 rented an entire dorm room of 4 bunk beds and it was great. Each had a private curtain to pull and had 2 private showers and toilets in the room. A little loud in terms of thin walls and noisy floor when walking, but nothing a pair of ear plugs could not fix for light sleepers. Great bar attached made for a very fun place to hang out.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

14 Dec 2024

Bramble

My first solo trip, I was nervous about the concept of a hostel but a&o made it easy and made every opportunity to make available help known to me. My key card unfortunately stopped working but thankfully I only came and went once from my dorm so no real fault to place.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

10 Dec 2024

Saskia

Rooms were quite modern, great place to just lay our head down. Very good price. Got towels in the room and soap. Would definitely recommend

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

01 Dec 2024

Fanny

La estancia fue increíble, súper accesible, el staff es muy amable, súper limpio todo y es de los mejores hostales

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

26 Nov 2024

Quynh

I like the area. Easy to get around to other places and very close to shopping center.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

04 Nov 2024

Gerard

Staff were very good and the bar at the hostel is great. The food was lovely

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

09 Oct 2024

Grace

Great stay!

Leisure Friends

6/10

Pleasant

07 Oct 2024

SHARON

Great clean facility - but noise from pub every night was very loud until the wee hours of the morning - very challenging !!

2/10

Poor

28 Sep 2024

Jeno

The hotel decided to change our room to a worse one, due to high demand without prior notice. They say we should be grateful to get what we've got.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

23 Sep 2024

Andrew

It was perfect as a reasonably priced late booking compared to extortionate hotel prices if all you were looking for was a bed and a shower. I was lucky to get a bunk room for 4 on my own

10/10

Exceptional

23 Sep 2024

Aldo Amador

Good experience!

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

06 Sep 2024

Lakhwinder

Average

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

02 Sep 2024

Mery

Nice cental clean accommodation

Good locations. Accommodation was clean but towels should be included.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 Aug 2024

??????

It's approximately 50 meters from the Royal Mile👍

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

24 Aug 2024

Jessica

The hotel was great especially the atmosphere. It was loud but Fine fest was alive and well so that's to be expected. No AC and the room got a little warm at times. Window didn't open very much, I imagine for safety. The staff were brilliant and helpful. Our biggest complaint was the shower. Dirty and visible black mold on the ceiling and walls.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 Aug 2024

Jennifer

We stayed in a private double room with its own bathroom. The location was wonderful as was the staff. I would stay again.

10/10

Exceptional

15 Aug 2024

Mark

Hostel not hostile

Great location, friendly helpful reception staff. Very good price. Downside, gave sheets that don't fit the mattress... It's been mentioned before, so why not do something about it hostel. But overall would recommend on accommodation on a budget.

Self

4/10

Poor

14 Aug 2024

Yehoo

Super loud, too expansive, seems like everything is designed to make as much noise as possible, not good for dorm situation especially when paying so much.

8/10

Excellent

12 Aug 2024

Dave

good location for fringe

8/10

Excellent

11 Aug 2024

Kimmie Dawn

This property was located in a good spot. The bar downstairs was fun. The breakfast buffet was not as expected. The rooms were terribly hot. We had a fan but it was clogged and dirty.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 Aug 2024

Jason

10/10 Amazing Staff and great location

Amazing Staff and great location

Self

8/10

Excellent

04 Aug 2024

Stephanie

Staff was great at helping us out during an emergency. Hotel is very central located and easy to get to from the mile. Also good option for drinks and food at the hotel if you don’t want to venture out.
Now the bathrooms are not ideal. Toilet and shower in the same room with water pooling and never properly draining.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

04 Aug 2024

James

Great for a quick turnaround

I was barely in the property for 8 hours, it provided everything I needed: a bed, bathroom facilities and somewhere to get food and drink, would stay here again

Self

4/10

Poor

03 Aug 2024

Laura

Only positive note is the location, very close to the royal mile. We got a room with bunk beds with bugs coming out of the shower drain....we had to wait a while out of the room in order to let them fumigate it...
No discount applied, we were told that bugs are to be expected in the summer time.
Oh, and you have to make your own beds, and the pillows and duvets are stained and gross...
Definitely wouldn't stay here again, horrible place and overpriced.

Family_with_children

2/10

Poor

02 Aug 2024

Krisha

Terrible beds

The beds were not good enough for a family room. The bunk bed had no bedsheet on and it did not have enough space to put bedsheet on because of the size of mattress and the bunk beds edges. The normal bed kept making cracking noises with each movement. It was not at all worth the money. The toilets were clean and the staff was good but the beds were unsatisfactory

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

27 Jul 2024

Grace

While in an excellent location, the walls were paper thin and you could hear conversations, doors slamming, and what sounded like people jumping off of their bunk beds at all hours of the night as if they were in the room with you! The bunk beds were also incredibly noisy, and every turn or roll someone made above or below would rock the whole thing. Also incredibly annoying that the key cards worked only a fraction of the time and you would have to go to the front desk to get a new one which often had an incredibly long line/wait. At first I assumed it was being deactivated by proximity to my phone, but after keeping the two separated, I still had the same issue and so did my bunk mates. Breakfast was also nothing special, and in my opinion not worth the cost when you can go to Pret for something much better at the same rate. Honestly would not stay here again, but it was a great location in the city.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

17 Jul 2024

Demos

We just needed to stay there for the night and get going on a tour in the morning - early, so it was cheap, and perfect, exactly what we expected.

Leisure Friends

4/10

Poor

12 Jul 2024

Deborah

I would definitely NOT stay at this place again. Granted it is a hostel not a luxury resort but come on at least ensure the rooms are cleaned. Dirty rooms but great location, that's all I have to say. You make the call.

Leisure Self

4/10

Poor

10 Jul 2024

Qasim

They made me put my own bedding on lol

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jul 2024

Jason

Exceptional

Perfect location. Amazing staff. Great food

Self

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jul 2024

Melissa

This was a hostel but we had a room to ourselves. Comfortable. Breakfast was good. We parked in parking lot next door at the hotel.

Leisure Friends

4/10

Poor

30 Jun 2024

Colin

Was assigned to the incorrect room. Can get much better for your money elsewhere.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jun 2024

Andrea

Very good

10/10

Exceptional

23 Jun 2024

Morris

Lovely place

Best place to stay

Self

8/10

Excellent

22 Jun 2024

colleen

FANTASTIC location! Basic. Clean. Beds were comfy but extremely squeaky. Had a room facing the street and to say it was loud is an understatement! It’s like the people outside were in my room. Horrible insulation. I could seriously hear every conversation from all the pub crawls and there were a LOT!

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

21 Jun 2024

Cesar

clean,safe,close to the main landmarks of the city

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

20 Jun 2024

Maximo

Missing simple stuff as hanging places for towels and clothing.

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

20 Jun 2024

I know we chose to stay in a hostel.... faults with the room were the shower/ toilet room,when i took a shower the water didn't drain away as the floor was all 1 level and there was no shower tray or shower curtain/screen so the floor was soaking wet. So you were paddling through water to go to the toilet,had to wipe the floor wirh my towel! The curtain pole fell down when i shut the curtains, but i managed to put it back up. My husband got stuck in the lift,not for long but he git stuck!...on the plus side the bed was comfy and the sheets were clean

Partner

8/10

Excellent

17 Jun 2024

Ken

Lively bar great spot

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jun 2024

shailendra

Excellent place to stay

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

12 Jun 2024

Andre

Good stay but I think the cleck out should be a bit later because the check in it’s later

8/10

Excellent

09 Jun 2024

Yutao

good service

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

08 Jun 2024

Gerrit

It was a good hostel to stay in for a few days. Staff were very helpful with any questions I had. I will say I got unlucky in the bunk room with inconsiderate roommates who were loud and even turned the lights on when I was trying to sleep. Granted that is not the hostel but still made for not such a grey experience in the room.

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

23 May 2024

Christine Pratts

The worst part of my stay is their policy of checking people in at all hours. There were nights when people walked into the room at 1:00am, turning the light on and waking everyone up. Also, their dining facility was not set up to handle the large student groups that arrived. All food and beverage was gone by 8am.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

20 May 2024

Susan

The staff of the a&o are excellent. They are the reason why I gave this place a 5 star. For a hostel, it was also very clean and well taken care of. I appreciated the restaurant and bar that was on the ground level. It was a nice place to relax and wait for our room to be ready. It was minimal amenities and the front elevator was out, so we had to climb stairs or walk around to the back of the building for the other elevator. However, this was a small inconvenience. The location was great! We walked all around and had a ton of options to see, experience and plenty dining options.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

15 May 2024

Miguel

It was a bit noisy but a bar with young people should be like that,workers was very helpful and nice,share a room is a bit of a palaver for a 54y.o person but i enjoy it anywere

Business

10/10

Exceptional

07 May 2024

Lisa

Return guest

The court yard & hallway were noisy, but you my favorite hostel in Edinburgh.

Self

8/10

Excellent

01 May 2024

Hemant