Located off the Royal Mile and mere steps away from Edinburgh’s main landmark, Edinburgh Castle, the King’s Chamber is a unique and comfy self-catering stay in the middle of the city.
Managed by the Scottish Historical Buildings Trust, it’s a spacious one bedroom flat that blends a convenient location with an exciting past. In the 16th century, the King’s Chamber saw King James VI stop by for a royal banquet in honor of the Duke of Holstein.
This interesting past comes to life when you enter the King’s Chamber and look up at the ceiling and see ornately painted beams with Scottish imagery.
While the space has a storied history, it also comes with modern fittings and is well appointed with a well-equipped kitchen as well as a washer/dryer combo. Though the modern appliances make things easy, the fireplace in the bedroom ties everything together and makes the King’s Chamber feel like home. I found it exciting to have a proper fire going while in the middle of a busy city. That’s not something you come across often!
If you’re looking to explore Edinburgh, step outside of the King’s Chamber and you will find yourself on the Royal Mile. At the top of the Royal Mile is Edinburgh Castle and at the bottom is Holyrood Palace (the Queen’s residence of choice when she is in Edinburgh). In between, you will find a variety of stores that cater to all your Scottish desires – whisky shops, cashmere merchants and kilt makers! Around the corner is Grassmarket and a short walk away is the New Town. When in Edinburgh, the location doesn’t get much better…
If you feel like going out on the town for a meal, I’d definitely recommend making a reservation at Chaophraya, a short walk from the castle and George Street. The restaurant serves creative Thai cuisine on a modern rooftop terrace with beautiful views of the city. We started out our meal with the Chaophraya Platter featuring Thai chicken tacos, chicken satay, chicken spring rolls, tempura prawns, and spicy duck salad. It paired perfectly with a Pink Monkey cocktail featuring Monkey Shoulder whisky, pamplemousse liquer, Aperol, lemon, egg white and sugar. It was both fruity and refreshing!
For my main course, I had Koi Soi Gai – a popular dish from Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. It featured bread crumbed chicken in a curried noodle soup and served with crispy noodles, dumplings, boiled egg, pickled mustard greens, and cucumber relish. A meal at Chaophraya will definitely spice up your day!
Tattu is another restaurant that’s worth checking out. It serves traditional and modern Chinese cuisine in an opulent restaurant filled with cherry blossoms. Be sure to make a reservation well in advance as it’s quite a popular spot in town!
There are countless great bars in Edinburgh, but if you’re a rooftop bar lover (like me), check out Cold Town House at Grassmarket. It features après ski vibes and a gorgeous view of Edinburgh Castle. We sat in a gondola and ordered a couple beers that were born and brewed on site in their Microbrewery!
Another bar that’s worth checking out is Panda & Sons. It’s hidden within what looks like a vintage barbershop and has classic Prohibition style speakeasy vibes. Panda & Sons is best known for their deliciously creative cocktails, but also serves a wide range of craft beers and has an extensive wine list.
Overall, I found the King’s Chamber to be a delightful homebase for exploring Edinburgh. Its incredible location, storied history and comfy fittings make it the all round perfect place when visiting this enchanting city!