Sonder Royal Garden

9.4
Exceptional
(328 reviews)

2, York Buildings, Queen St, Edinburgh EH2 1HY, United Kingdom

+44 7403 925488

Access the hotel social media

Hotel Description

Sonder Royal Garden, located at 2, York Buildings, Queen St, Edinburgh EH2 1HY, United Kingdom, is a stylish and contemporary apartment hotel nestled in one of Edinburgh's most refined areas. Surrounded by trendy bars, eateries, and Georgian architecture, the hotel is just a 2-minute walk from the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, an 8-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley train station, and a 15-minute stroll from the iconic Edinburgh Castle. The hotel's location provides guests with easy access to the best of the city's culture and history, with shopping on nearby Princes and George streets. The design of Sonder Royal Garden exudes a chic and understated elegance, offering a welcoming atmosphere for both business and leisure travelers looking to experience the heart of Edinburgh.
The hotel features a range of modern and comfortable studio apartments, all equipped with essential amenities for a relaxing stay. The rooms are thoughtfully designed with spacious sitting areas, Wi-Fi, TVs, and kitchenettes, offering a home-like feel for extended stays. Some apartments even feature separate living spaces or balconies for added comfort. The hotel provides a variety of room types, including 1- and 2-bedroom apartments, ideal for families or those seeking extra space.
In addition to the well-appointed rooms, Sonder Royal Garden offers a range of standout amenities to make guests' stays more enjoyable. Each apartment is equipped with a kitchenette featuring a refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, and essential kitchenware for those who prefer self-catering. The property also provides a washer/dryer for convenience, ensuring guests can enjoy a longer stay without hassle. Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and the front desk offers services such as baggage storage and concierge assistance, ensuring guests have everything they need during their visit.
The hotel’s convenient location means easy access to Edinburgh’s public transport network. A 3-minute walk takes guests to the nearest public transit stop, with Edinburgh Waverley train station just 8 minutes away. The hotel is also well-connected to major airports, with Edinburgh Airport located approximately 25 minutes by taxi and Glasgow Airport a 1 hour 20-minute drive away.
Sonder Royal Garden is committed to ensuring the health and safety of all guests. The hotel operates as a smoke-free property and enforces strict cleaning protocols for guest rooms and common areas. The hotel is not equipped with a fitness center or spa but offers a comfortable and peaceful atmosphere for relaxation. For those looking for adventure and culture, the hotel is within walking distance of several iconic landmarks, including Edinburgh Castle, the National Museum of Scotland, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
There are plenty of things to do and explore near Sonder Royal Garden. Visitors can take a walk down the Royal Mile, linking Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace, or hike up to Calton Hill for breathtaking panoramic views of the city and its surroundings. For those with an interest in Scottish culture, the National Museum of Scotland is a must-see, housing fascinating exhibits on the country's history and culture.
Nearby attractions include the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, the Scott Monument, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, all of which are within a short distance of the hotel.
For dining, Sonder Royal Garden is surrounded by a diverse selection of top-notch restaurants. Tattu Edinburgh, a Chinese restaurant, is just 3 minutes away by taxi, while The Table, a modern European restaurant, is a 4-minute ride. Six by Nico Edinburgh, known for its innovative dining experience, is only 1 minute from the hotel. The Abbotsford Bar & Restaurant, serving classic Scottish fare, is also nearby, and Whiski Bar & Restaurant offers traditional Scottish cuisine just 7 minutes away by taxi.
Guests are invited to experience Sonder Royal Garden for a relaxing and stylish stay in the heart of Edinburgh, offering a perfect balance of comfort, convenience, and proximity to all the major attractions that this beautiful city has to offer.

The Most Outstanding Trait

1. Guests praised the kitchenettes, which allow for convenient self-catering.

2. Rooms include coffee makers and microwaves for added convenience.

3. The hotel is within walking distance of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the Scott Monument.

4. Only a 3-minute walk to the nearest public transit stop, providing easy access to the city.

5. The hotel offers concierge services, ensuring guests receive top-notch assistance during their stay.

6. The rooms feature comfortable beds, which guests have consistently praised.

7. The property does not offer parking but provides easy access to nearby public transportation.

8. Each apartment comes with a private bathroom, with bathtubs in some rooms and showers in others.

9. Sonder Royal Garden is a smoke-free property, prioritizing guest comfort and well-being.

10. The hotel offers free high-speed Wi-Fi, making it ideal for both leisure and business travelers.


9.8 Exceptional

Location rating

Top sights

Edinburgh Castle
11 min
National Museum of Scotland
15 min
Palace of Holyroodhouse
7 min
Royal Mile
11 min
Calton Hill
12 min

Nearest locations

Six by Nico Edinburgh - Hanover St
1 min
The Abbotsford Bar & Restaurant
2 min
The Magnum
2 min
Le Petit Beefbar Edinburgh
2 min
Tattu Edinburgh
3 min
Contini George Street
3 min
The Table
4 min
1802 Lounge & Grill
5 min
See more Interesting locations

Good to know

Check-in16:00
Check-out11:00
Location rating9.8
Nearest airportEdinburgh Airport
Travel time to airport25 min

Nightly price (Only for reference price for sample day)

Check-in: Fri, Dec 06
Check-out: Sat, Dec 07
    Official Hotel

    $308


Location

2, York Buildings, Queen St, Edinburgh EH2 1HY, United Kingdom

Airports:

Edinburgh Airport

Taxi: 25 min

Glasgow Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 20 min

Transit: 1 hr 30 min

Transit:

Haymarket

Taxi: 10 min

Walking: 30 min

Edinburgh Waverley

Walking: 11 min

St Andrew Square

Walking: 3 min

Edinburgh

Walking: 5 min

Princes Street - Waverley Steps (Stop PN)

Walking: 7 min


Nearby locations

9.8

Exceptional Location

Edinburgh New Town

Refined area with trendy bars & Georgian architecture, plus shopping on Princes & George streets.

Top Attractions

Top Restaurants


Amenities and Facilities

Parking & transportation

No parking

Services

Front desk

Baggage storage

Concierge

Self-service laundry

Elevator

Pets

No pets

Languages spoken

English

French

Spanish

Accessibility

Not accessible

Policies & payments

Smoke-free property

Credit cards

Debit cards

Food & drink

No breakfast

Bathrooms

Private bathroom

Bathtub in some rooms

Shower in some rooms

Wellness

No fitness center

No spa

Internet

Wi-Fi

Pools

No pools

No hot tub

Rooms

No air conditioning

Kitchen

Refrigerator

Microwave

Coffee maker


Reviews

100% reviews from partners and customers booking on Dinogo

7.6

10 reviews

Wonderful
5
Excellent
2
Good
0
Below Average
2
Not Good
1
Cover Image for Eric Spencer

Eric Spencer

4/5
Good apartment-style hotel on the edge of New Town Edinburgh. Staff was incredibly kind and accommodated an early check-in as our room was ready ahead of schedule. Rooms were not as nice as professional photographs on the website but were still suitable. Note that in our queen bed apartment, it was a little too tight to have two full suitcases in there and ended up utilizing the dining table for luggage. The bathroom was in good condition with great water pressure, and it was nice to have a washer/dryer in the kitchen, though you should note that these machines take significantly longer than stand-alone machines in the US. The location was phenomenal for walking to bars, shops, and restaurants, and it was conveniently located close to a tram stop if coming to and from the airport. We would definitely stay here again, but maybe get a larger apartment for more than one person.

Cover Image for Wayu Voraprukpisut

Wayu Voraprukpisut

5/5
I've stayed here for 3 nights, and the stay was amazing. The staff was extremely helpful, and there's an elevator to carry heavy luggage. Here, I can eat home cooked meals which is as delicious and cheaper than restaurants as there's a kitchen and there's also a large living area.

Room 5

Service 5

Location5

Cover Image for Matthew M

Matthew M

5/5
Another wonderful Sonder location! I’m continually impressed by the rooms and amenities at their hotels. Our apartment was spacious and cozy having everything we needed for our stay in Edinburgh. It was within walking distance of all the attractions we set out to see, and there was even a bus tour stop nearby. I would definitely stay here again on my next trip to this amazing city.

Cover Image for Fran Wilkinson

Fran Wilkinson

1/5
We stayed two nights at the Sonder Royal Gardens, Edinburgh. On arrival, we were very happy with the two-bedroom apartment. It was well stocked and mostly clean. (The carpets and bed headboard had some nasty looking stains on them.)The first night, was horrendous. After getting into bed and falling asleep quickly, I was then awakened shortly after by what felt like someone physically shaking me awake. It became apparent that trucks thundered past every few minutes. Not only being very loud, but, more disturbingly, shaking the bed every time they did. This went on all night.We were on floor 4, so only the first floor of the building as 3 is ground level. You could have a conversation with the people on the top level of the buses passing. This is fine in the day but definitely not at night.I did then complain to reception, and explain I didn’t get a wink of sleep, who looked into it and called me later in the day. They offered a room change at a cost of £75.I found that offensive considering the terrible night I had and refused to pay extra for a room I hadn’t seen, especially after reading reviews about basement apartments with no windows, mould and rats.We also had dreadful trouble with the wifi, which kept cutting out. The kids were unable to watch any streaming services on their phones or the tv.I won’t be returning.If you’re looking at this hotel, don’t do it. Stay at the Novotel instead.

Cover Image for Julia Roumani

Julia Roumani

4/5
Nice apartment layout of the 1 bedroom unit on the 4th floor. We were very comfortable for our 5 day stay here and found the neighborhood close to everything, within a ten minute walk. We had a minor issue with the dryer not working but weren’t in the unit enough to have someone come look into it. The street noise can be a bit a bad, but we had a white noise machine so it didn’t bother us too much. Would probably stay here again.

Cover Image for Well Wisher

Well Wisher

5/5
We had an amazing stay with Sonder Royal Apartment in Edinburgh. They offer sleek, modern rooms with high end finishes and stunning views in the middle of the city . All their processes are high tech and you dont even have to wait for hours or even minutes to get access card or keys or even for any request for essentials . Just a click on the menu on their App.They have a very well organized system and staff 24/7 to assist and every thing done perfectly before we reach there . A detailed email providing Access codes including the entire map for apartment and navigation to reach your rooms are there in detail!We had stayed in many different places but the way it was organized by Sonder made us feel magical. Safety is utmost priority and surveillance system for entire property.We found that they have properties across the globe and decided to stay with Sonder more often.The entire Sonder deserves a high applaud and wishing them all the best . You are incredible in your work 👍🙌

Cover Image for Tregarot Ismael

Tregarot Ismael

2/5
Our recent stay at Sonder Edinburgh was incredibly disappointing, especially considering the £300 per night price tag. We encountered several issues that severely impacted our experience, making it one of the worst hotel stays we’ve ever had.Firstly, there was no hot water for the shower throughout our stay. Despite contacting the call center multiple times, the issue remained unresolved. We were shocked to learn that there was no 24/7 reception on-site to address such critical problems. The call center staff, although polite, were unable to provide any solutions or assistance beyond offering apologies. They could not fix the problem nor offer an alternative room with functioning amenities.For £300 a night, we expected a high standard of service and facilities, but they failed to deliver on both fronts. We expected better from a hotel of this caliber and are extremely disappointed with how our concerns were handled.We would not recommend staying here unless significant improvements are made. Save your money and find a hotel that provides the basic amenities and customer service you deserve.

Cover Image for Ashleigh Schroetter

Ashleigh Schroetter

5/5
A very short walk from the train station, which we loved because it saved us money on transportation! Easy check in! Room was perfect, cozy and just enough space! LOVED the shower, 10/10! Like I said before it was a short walk from the train station and also for Old Town, we were perfectly central for everything!

Room 5

Service 5

Location5

Cover Image for Ian Howard

Ian Howard

2/5
Good location but renovated by cowboys on the cheap. Let's start with the good. Location is perfect. Rooms facing the garden are quiet. Front desk staff are friendly (when they are there.) Sadly the quality of the apartments is definitely not four star. It's perhaps equivalent of a two star hotel. The beds are foam mattress and consequently very hard and uncomfortable. The decor and furniture is poor. The apartments have been renovated by cowboys on the cheap - the workmanship is astonishingly poor. If the same people had done the tiling and flooring in my house I would make them do it again. The laminate floor laid over old floorboards bounce and creak extremely loudly, and in some areas the boards have visible gaps. The windows and doors are flimsy and dirty. The bathroom tiling is poor, and our two apartments had a number of broken fixtures. The courtyard looks nothing like the photo on the website (which is of a totally different development) and instead consists of some old picnic benches in a barren shady garden. There are very few good high end self catering options in Edinburgh and Sonder is yet another mediocre option. At £700/night for a 2 bed its poor value. A shame really as with better finishes and renovation it could be really good.

Cover Image for Max langmann

Max langmann

5/5
Absolutely amazing hotel. A perfect location close walk to everything. Including main train station and tram line. The rooms are amazing and have everything that you could need. The reception has great recommendations and are very friendly. I got told about a lovely market to go to. Will definitely be coming back on the next Edinburgh trip.