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"You'll find acres of mahogany panelling, stained glass, bespoke period furniture and an astonishing eye for detail in this remarkable Victorian guest house – but also thoroughly modern bathrooms along with exceptional breakfasts and a club room with honesty bar. It's dramatic, sumptuous and seriously good fun."
Location
7 / 10
A better location than you might think, although it is on a busy road in suburban Newington. A 10- to 15-minute (frequent) bus ride from the city centre (about 20 minutes' walk) will take you to a good choice of places to eat and drink nearby (there’s a comprehensive list of suggestions, and how long it takes to get to them, in your room). You’re on the right side of town for Craigmillar Castle, Duddingston and Roslin Chapel and you can even see Arthur’s Seat from one of the bedrooms.
Style and Character
9 / 10
Guest houses of this quality are rapidly becoming extinct and finding one with this much character is rare. The house is a true labour of love: a story of complete and continuous commitment to the look, the cooking and the level of detail. Rich colour and texture is used throughout in polished and carved wood, elaborate plasterwork and tweedy textiles. It's particularly atmospheric in winter, but breakfast by candlelight is a great way to cheer up a rainy morning at any time of year and makes hopeless romantics of everyone.
Service and Facilities
9 / 10
Ross and Kathleen are terrific hosts, creating an aptly named “club room” lounge. There, on worn leather sofas, you can laze in front of the fire, a glass of something from the honesty bar in hand, while you leaf through a book from the ever-growing library, a classic black and white film (one of over a hundred to choose from) playing silently in the background. You might also listen to some music on the Bose sound system while you play a game of chess.
Useful, practical things are covered as well such as an ice machine and a printer (handy for those last minute boarding passes), and the genius innovation of a push-button gizmo to summon a taxi – worth its weight in gold at busy times. In the garden there is outdoor seating, including a picnic table with pretty pots of herbs to snip for your gin and tonic. Good private parking is available, too.
Rooms
9 / 10
Bedrooms, much like the rest of the house, have the feel of a period stage set – all handsome panelling and rich furnishings in jewel-like colours. Every room has bespoke furniture: four poster beds in two, a half-tester in another with perhaps a writing desk, chairs or a small sofa and carefully chosen artwork (there's a great collection of old Punch cartoons).
Bathrooms may be on the small side but with heated mirrors, rainfall showers and Noble Isle Scottish toiletries. Appealing extras include good ground coffee for the cafetières and loose leaf tea (and teapots) on the hospitality tray, a jug of fresh mint or rosemary water and the best homemade fudge you will ever taste (made by Ross’s mother).
Food and Drink
10 / 10
Breakfast is as imaginative and lavish as the décor and arguably one of the best in the city. A full Scottish fry up is made with ingredients sourced from the best Scottish producers, including rare breed sausages from Stranraer and good Stornaway black pudding. Everything is cooked with care and always an extra touch of finesse, from the steamed (so much more delicious than conventionally cooked) porridge served with whisky and flambéed fruit, to the toothsome twice-cooked Belgian waffles.
There's a special of the day too – if you're lucky your stay might coincide with the hotel's superb re-invention of the egg McMuffin featuring on the menu, or a luxurious eggs Benedict with dreamy hollandaise, double-cooked Virginia cure bacon and mustardy micro herbs from the garden to chase the whisper of mustard in in the hollandaise. Vegetarians are well looked after, too.
Value for Money
9 / 10
Double rooms from £169, year-round. Breakfast included.
Access for guests with disabilities?
Not suitable.
Family-Friendly?
Ask for the Grand Tudor room. It has plenty of space (including seating) with a double and two single beds, a mini fridge, Nintendo Wii and a telescope for budding stargazers.
Come and stay with us this Hogmanay and experience all that Edinburgh can offer. 4 nights from £916 - 2 people sharing, includes Full Scottish Breakfast by candle light.
Please have a look at our online booking and why not spend Hogmanay with us. Free parking included with all direct bookings.
Are you planning a trip to Edinburgh this August for the Edinburgh Festival, taking in a show at the Fringe or just in need of a break away?
If so, we have rooms and availability during the month of August. Please have a look at our online booking and why not spend sometime with us. Free parking included with all direct bookings.
Taylor Swift will bring her record-breaking Eras Tour to the UK and Scotland in 2024 including three nights at BT Murrayfield Stadium, here in Edinburgh.
If you managed to get a Taylor Swift ticket for Friday 7th June 2024, Saturday 8th June 2024 or Sunday 9th June 2024 why not stay with us at 23 Mayfield. We are only a short distance from Murrayfield. Contact us now for availability and prices.
Reviewed by KRYSTIN ARNESON for cntraveler.com
Take us there: What do you see as you arrive? What's the vibe of 23 Mayfield?
23 Mayfield, a circa-1868 century guesthouse, is a mile from the city center, and during the heady days of the Fringe, it can feel like a respite. It's also an inviting retreat at the end of a busy day of sightseeing. Walking into it feels rather like entering your wealthy uncle's country estate. The property is truly grand, and although the first impression is one of refined formality—it is Victorian, after all—it also invites you to make yourself at home. If you’re after an intimate B&B experience—but one that’s a bit elevated—23 Mayfield is perfect. It's no surprise that the guesthouse has been racking up accolades over the years, and a night here will convince you that it deserves every one.
Any good stories?
The house was built in 1868 for a cotton merchant, and Gandhi's grandson once stayed here.
What are the rooms like?
The seven spacious rooms are filled with hand-carved Tudor mahogany furniture (including comfortable canopied four-poster beds), gilded mirrors and frames, leather club chairs, tweedy accents (pillows, lampshades), and plush throw blankets. Despite the classic vibe, there are tech perks like smart TVs and Bluetooth radios. Bathrooms are luxurious and modern, with sleek rainfall showers, anti-mist mirrors, and Penhaligon toiletries. Thoughtful other details include loose tea instead of bags, ground coffee instead of instant, Borders biscuits, and water infused with lemon and rosemary.
We can't resist—tell us about this breakfast. What makes it so special?
This hotel serves one of the best breakfasts in Edinburgh: a full Scottish spread that utilizes a bounty of local produce, including marshmallow pancakes, porridge with whisky, and an incredible take on the Egg McMuffin. Even the grilled tomatoes, seasoned overnight, are perfection. It's all served in a dramatic dining room, which has an embellished period ceiling, slate walls, and stained glass windows.
How do the staff treat you?
Owners Ross and Kathleen Birnie are absolutely wonderful, and they're on-hand to dispense local expertise. They'll also help you arrange a tour of the city with a local guide, if you'd like.
What's the surrounding area like?
The guesthouse is located in a quiet residential neighborhood, and the guests here fit right in. There are a few restaurants and pubs within walking distance, but most of the activity will start as you head into the center.
Any other details that make your stay that much more comfortable?
There's a wonderful black-and-white classic film club room, as well as plenty of books to borrow. We suggest finding a vacation read, nabbing a spot on the wonderfully worn Chesterfield sofas, and choosing a tipple from the honesty bar—if you have kids with you, they'll love the large Connect Four set. One thing to note: under-3s aren't allowed.
Bottom line: Worth it? Why?
Absolutely—this is one of the best-value properties in the city.
The filming of Keepin The Heid was recently completed in our Club Room
Think of a traditional, old fashioned B&B breakfast and it’ll probably consist of cereal, fry-up, a bit of toast and a glass of juice.
Nothing wrong with that, but nothing to write home about either.
Which is why Ross Birnie’s B&B breakfasts are the kind of morning extravaganza that have landed them a mention in the Michelin accommodation guide.
Indeed, his pigs’ head breakfast was inspired by an Edinburgh Michelin star restaurant’s menu – a whole pig’s head slowly cooked for eight hours, the succulent meat carefully removed and then grilled, served with mushroom and soft poached egg.
We have now been awarded and graded 5 star GOLD with both the Scottish Tourist Board and also AA - see our awards page for a full list.
Complimentary Toiletries
The Noble Isle fragrance collections feature quintessentially British natural extracts, carefully sourced from locally celebrated producers throughout England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Shunning the ordinary in favour of the original, we combined the finest fragrance and natural extracts with the best of design to create a luxurious collection of unisex Bath and body products.
We have chosen the following:
Shampoo - Perry Pear
Perry Pear from the Gloucestershire Orchards is the source of our Perry Pear Hair care collection. Perry Pear contains a wealth of vitamins and minerals, including antioxidants, vitamin C and copper, which help boost the skin and hair’s natural defences against free radicals. Our Perry Pear collection is a sparkling orchard fragrance, filled with ripe fruit and orange blossom making your hair feel fresh and clean.
Heather Honey - hand lotion
Heather Honey from the Perthshire Highlands is the source of our white floral Heather Honey Hand Care collection. Heather Honey gathered from the Scottish Highlands – being unusually replete with iron, protein and healthy antioxidants – is revered for its restorative and skin-soothing properties. Our Heather Honey collection, is a bright composition of white blooms with delicate notes of jasmine, magnolia and neroli.
Whiskey and Water - shower gel and hand wash
Malted Barley from the famous Balvenie distillery in Scotland is the source of the rich and warming Whisky & Water Bath & Body collection. Barley is a natural skin calmer, containing a wealth of proteins and B-group vitamins, which help promote healthy skin condition and tone. Our Whisky & Water collection is woody and spicy, evoking an aromatic, warm and handsome fragrance.
Rhubarb Rhubarb - shower gel
The best-selling Rhubarb Rhubarb! Bath & Body collection is fragranced with the underlying notes of bittersweet rhubarb, tart citrus and green herbs – truly capturing the scent of this unique perennial plant. Noble Isle created the original Rhubarb fragrance within the fragrance world in 2011. Rhubarb is a natural cleanser, packed with vitamin C and calcium, as well as being known for its invigorating properties.
23 Mayfield has now been awarded a Michelin Guide Guest House.
23 Mayfield have just won ** BEST GUEST ACCOMMADTION IN SCOTLAND** AWARDED BY THE AA**
23 Mayfield is now in the Finals for AA best Scottish Guest accommodation ,the awards will be in London at the Royal Horse Guards Hotel on May 16th !!
23 Mayfield has now been awarded 5 stars by the Scottish Tourist Board and AA
Guests are now welcome to invite non - residents to join them for breakfast at £10 per head.
23 Mayfield has just been reviewed on Fodor's Travel Intelligence
23 Mayfield has just been reviewed on Conde Nast Traveller
A selection of seasonal offers are available at selected times throughout the year.
Find out what's on the menu and start your day off in an award winning fashion!
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