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Roomzzz Edinburgh Review: Why This Aparthotel Is a Strong Choice for St James Quarter
- Sep 8, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: Dec 14, 2025
During our four-night stay in Edinburgh, we booked a Vantage Studio with a balcony at Roomzzz Edinburgh Aparthotel in the St James Quarter. Our total came to USD 1,289.05 (about $322 per night), and after staying here nearly a week, we left genuinely impressed. Roomzzz ended up being one of our favorite stays in Scotland thanks to its spacious studio layout, modern amenities, and unbeatable central location. Check-in was smooth at 3:00 PM, standard checkout is 11:00 AM, and you can request early check-in or late checkout for just £10, a small but incredibly useful perk if you’re arriving early or departing late.
Roomzzz blends the independence of an apartment-style stay with the convenience of hotel services, making it a great option for travelers who want extra space, a kitchenette, and a comfortable base for exploring Edinburgh. In this review, we break down the costs, location, transport access, room experience, and overall value to help you decide whether this aparthotel is the right fit for your trip.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which if used we can earn a small commission from, These types of links help us continue to make honest reviews for our readers.
Where Is Roomzzz Edinburgh Located?
Roomzzz Edinburgh is part of the St James Quarter, one of the city’s busiest and most modern districts. That means you’re staying in the center of the action, shopping, dining, and transit are all right outside your door.
Neighborhood: St James Quarter, Edinburgh
Street: Leith Street (across from the mall entrance)
Nearby landmark: Leith Street bus stop (Stop JC)
Signage: Small and easy to miss, blends into the building
The location couldn’t be more convenient, but the entrance is notoriously hard to find. Even locals delivering food had trouble getting to us. It’s one of those things where once you know, it’s easy, but the first arrival can be frustrating. If you book here, it’s worth saving a street photo of the door ahead of time so you don’t wander into the mall by mistake.
Checkout our experiences review of a Castle tour we took through Scotland
How to Get to Roomzzz Edinburgh from Waverley Station
Follow this route to avoid confusion:
Exit Waverley Station via the main Princes Street exit.
Cross Princes Street toward HM General Register House.
Walk east along Princes Street until you reach Leith Street.
Turn left onto Leith Street and walk toward St James Quarter.
Stay on the street - do not enter the mall.
Continue past the mall entrance until you see the Roomzzz sign on your left.
Important Note About Maps
Google Maps and Apple Maps regularly direct guests through St James Quarter Mall. Ignore this. Roomzzz is street-facing, you’ll miss it entirely if you go inside.
How to Get to Roomzzz Edinburgh From the Airport
Edinburgh Airport is about 8 miles from the city center. Here are the simplest options:
By Tram (Most Reliable)
Cost: £7.50 one-way (~USD 7.72)
Time: 35–45 minutes
Stop: Picardy Place
From Picardy Place, walk down Leith Street past the St James Quarter entrance until you see Roomzzz.If you reach Mòr Bakehouse, you’ve walked too far.
By Taxi or Uber (Fastest)
Cost: £21–£29 (USD 21–30)
Time: 25–35 minutes
Picks up from the East Terminus taxi rank outside the airport plaza.Uber works well in Edinburgh and pricing is usually similar to official taxis.
By Airport Bus (Budget Option)
Airlink 100:
To Waverley Bridge
Every 10 minutes, ~30 minutes
Airport Express:
To Waterloo Place
~25–30 minutes
Skylink 200/400:
Connect to other neighborhoods, less direct for Roomzzz
From all bus stops, expect a 10-minute walk to the hotel.
Check-In, Check-Out & Parking at Roomzzz Edinburgh
Check-In Process
Standard check-in begins at 3:00 PM, and our experience was smooth and efficient. Roomzzz uses a traditional staffed reception desk (not kiosks), and the team was friendly and quick to help with room questions, luggage, and early check-in requests.
If you arrive early, Roomzzz offers early check-in for just £10, which is one of the better deals we’ve seen in Edinburgh. It’s worth considering if you land on a morning flight or just want to get settled sooner.
Check-Out Process
Standard check-out is at 11:00 AM, with the option for a £10 late checkout when available. This is especially useful if you have an afternoon train or flight, or just want extra time to enjoy the room’s amenities. Checkout only took a minute, and the front desk can store your luggage securely if you want to explore the city before leaving.
Does Roomzzz Edinburgh Have Parking?
Yes - but parking is off-site. Roomzzz Edinburgh partners with the St James Quarter Car Park, located just a few steps from the hotel.
Parking Details
Rate: £13 per night (with hotel validation)
Location: St James Quarter Car Park, Leith Street, EH1 3AS
Parking Zone: Blue Zone, levels B1 and B2
Access Route: Take the Blue Lift (Picardy) to the 5th floor and follow signs to Roomzzz
Validation: Bring your ticket to the front desk before leaving — paying full price without validation is expensive.
Our Experience
We did not have a vehicle during our stay, but reviews for the parking setup are overwhelmingly positive, especially for the price and convenience. The staff at Roomzzz were consistently helpful during our visit, so we’d expect they’d be quick to assist if any parking issues arise.
What Are the Rooms Like at Roomzzz Edinburgh?
Quick takeaway: Spacious, modern, and packed with practical amenities, the Vantage Studio is one of the best-value midrange rooms we’ve stayed in anywhere in Europe.
First Impressions & Layout
We booked a Vantage Studio with a balcony and a view, paying about $322 per night. The room immediately felt spacious and thoughtfully designed, with a king bed, a full kitchen, a dedicated workspace, a balcony, and large windows overlooking Calton Hill and Arthur’s Seat. Compared to a typical hotel room in Edinburgh, the layout felt much closer to a modern city apartment.
Full Kitchen: Better Equipped Than Most Apartments
Since Roomzzz is an aparthotel, every Vantage Studio includes a fully functional kitchen, and this one exceeded expectations. Ours included:
Two-burner hotplate
Full refrigerator + freezer
Microwave/toaster oven combo
Toaster & electric kettle
Pots, pans, plates, bowls, mugs, utensils
Dishwasher with provided detergent (rare for aparthotels)
A Nespresso machine with pods, sugar, and creamer
A welcome treat: a Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer
The level of detail, including dish soap, sponges, and seasonings, showed real care for guest experience. Many other aparthotels we've stayed in provided far less.
Bed & Sleep Quality
The king bed was comfortable and warm, with soft sheets and a cozy comforter. Even with the balcony door cracked open at night, the room stayed warm. The smart TV made it easy to stream from our phones before bed.
Bathroom: Clean, Modern & Heated Floors
The bathroom was one of the highlights of our stay. It was spotless, bright, and well-designed with:
Heated floors - a luxury during cold October mornings
Excellent lighting and plenty of shelf space for makeup and toiletries
A rainfall shower + handheld wand
Modern finishes and a roomy layout
It felt more “premium hotel” than aparthotel, and the heated floors honestly made our mornings.
Balcony & Views
The balcony was incredible, the kind of view you don’t normally get at this price point. We could see:
Calton Hill
Arthur’s Seat
The city skyline
Even a glimpse of the ocean
The only downside: no balcony furniture, meaning we couldn’t comfortably sit outside and enjoy the view for long. A small table and chairs would have made this space perfect.
Storage & Workspace
Storage was compact but efficient. The standing wardrobe had enough space for hanging clothes and storing luggage, with additional shelves built in. Next to it, we had a small workstation that doubled as:
A dining table
A desk
A charging area
It made the room feel multifunctional without feeling cluttered.
Overall Room Quality
Overall, our Vantage Studio felt clean, modern, and incredibly functional. Between the heated floors, smart TV, and fully equipped kitchen, the space offered more comfort and convenience than many higher-priced hotels we’ve stayed in. If you value space, amenities, and apartment-style living, this room delivers excellent value.
What Amenities Does Roomzzz Edinburgh Offer?
Roomzzz Edinburgh is designed as an aparthotel, meaning you get apartment-style independence with hotel-style support. It’s ideal for longer stays, couples, digital nomads, and anyone who prefers extra space and self-catering options without sacrificing convenience.
24/7 Reception & Guest Support
One of the biggest perks of staying at Roomzzz is the 24/7 staffed reception desk.Even when we arrived late or popped down early in the morning, we never waited more than a minute. Staff were friendly, quick to help, and happy to answer questions about the area, transportation, and dining options.
Services available:
Luggage storage
Parking validation
Extra toiletries or kitchen supplies
Local recommendations
For an aparthotel, the level of service felt closer to a traditional hotel.
Complimentary “Breakfast to Go”
Instead of a full sit-down breakfast, Roomzzz offers a free grab-and-go option every morning from 6:30 AM–10:30 AM.
What’s included:
Fresh croissants
Hot coffee
Tea options
Disposable cups for takeaway
It’s simple, but it’s a nice touch, especially before an early tour or train.
Flexible Check-In & Check-Out Options
Roomzzz offers one of the most reasonable flexibility fees we’ve seen in the UK:
Early check-in: £10
Late check-out: £10
Whether you arrive early from an overnight flight or want a slower morning, the £10 add-on is worth it.
Self-Catering Amenities (Aparthotel Perks)
Every studio at Roomzzz includes a fully equipped kitchenette, making it easy to cook or reheat meals. During a multi-day stay, this genuinely saves money, Edinburgh restaurants can get pricey, especially in the Old Town.
In-room features include:
Two-burner stovetop
Fridge + freezer
Microwave/toaster oven combo
Dishwasher with provided soap
Electric kettle
Pots, pans, utensils, plates, mugs, and glasses
Nespresso machine with pods
We used the kitchen every day of our trip, even if it was just for breakfast or late-night snacks.
Modern In-Room Comforts
Beyond the kitchen, Roomzzz Edinburgh offers several hotel-style comforts that made our stay feel elevated:
Smart TV with streaming
Large workspace (great for laptops, travel planning, or dining)
Heated bathroom floor (a huge perk in Scotland)
Strong Wi-Fi included
Air conditioning (rare in Edinburgh hotels)
Balconies in select rooms
These touches made the room feel more like a modern serviced apartment than a traditional hotel.
Who This Setup Is Best For
Roomzzz’s apartment-style design is ideal for:
Longer stays (3+ nights)
Travelers who like cooking or snacking in-room
Families who need fridge space
Digital nomads who need reliable Wi-Fi and a desk
Couples who want extra space
Anyone who prefers a quieter, more local feel over big hotel chains
With the combination of amenities and practical comforts, Roomzzz strikes a great balance between independence and convenience.
Final Verdict: Is Roomzzz Edinburgh Worth It?
Yes, Roomzzz Edinburgh is absolutely worth it, especially if you want a modern, central, and flexible base for exploring the city. The aparthotel setup gives you the space and independence of an apartment with the convenience of hotel services, making it a standout option in the St James Quarter.
What We Loved
Unbeatable location - a 4-minute walk to Waverley Station and easy access to both Old & New Town.
Great value for Edinburgh - extra space, a kitchen, smart TV, and heated bathroom floors.
Apartment-style convenience - ideal for longer stays or travelers who prefer to cook some meals.
Flexible £10 early check-in/late checkout - a rare perk for a city-center hotel.
Discounted parking - cheaper than most hotels in Edinburgh’s core.
What Could Be Better
Entrance can be confusing - you may walk past it the first time.
Breakfast is very light - coffee and croissants only.
Parking is off-site - though close and at a good price.
Balcony rooms lack outdoor furniture - great views, limited usability.
Our Overall Take
For us, the convenience of being able to walk everywhere, combined with the extra space, modern amenities, and full kitchenette, made Roomzzz Edinburgh an excellent choice. It offers far more comfort than a standard hotel room without the price tag of a luxury stay.
If you're looking for a central, comfortable, apartment-style hotel that balances value and location, Roomzzz Edinburgh is absolutely worth booking.
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