Where to stay · Backpacker hostels
Kick Ass Grassmarket
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View on mapBasic dorms rooms in a modern hostel with a cafe and bar, plus free walking tours and pub crawls.via Google
A modern, high-tech hostel with pod-style beds, a lively bar, and a rooftop terrace boasting views of the castle.
Reviews from Google
Great hostel in an excellent location. It was my first time staying in capsule-style beds, and I was pleasantly surprised by the experience. Even though I stayed in a mixed 16-bed dorm, the capsules provided a high level of privacy and I barely noticed any noise from other guests. One of the highlights for me was the bathroom setup. Right outside my room there were 11 individual bathrooms with showers, which offered both convenience and privacy. I never had to wait, and everything was kept clean throughout my stay. I also chose the breakfast-included option and found it very good, with a wide variety of choices including eggs, fruit, and other breakfast essentials. It was a great way to start the day before exploring the city. The location is excellent and makes it very easy to get around Edinburgh on foot. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the overall atmosphere of the hostel was very welcoming. The only downside for me was that the kitchen closes at 10 PM. After that time, guests cannot access it, which can be a bit inconvenient if you return late and want to prepare food or simply use the facilities. Other than that, I had a great stay and would definitely recommend this hostel.
Beds were very comfortable! Sufficient plug points Stayed at a quad room. Shower gel and shampoo are the same. You can’t toggle the angle of the shower heads. No lifts and too many stairs to handle. Towels at €3 rental. Kitchen could be cleaner. If there are tables or places to put things would be better. Good for young travellers but not for the 30s/40s
The location is perfect: all the main attractions are within a maximum of a 20-minute walk, and both the bus and train stations are very close as well. The staff, especially the receptionists, are extremely kind and helpful—you can count on them with anything. The place is spotlessly clean! A big plus is that if you arrive before check-in, you can store your luggage in a secure locker and also use the restroom. The breakfast is simple but great—it easily keeps you going for half a day. We stayed in a 12-bed dorm, yet everyone was surprisingly quiet, so we were able to sleep peacefully through both nights. The view from the window is also amazing, and there are some famous photo spot next to the building.
Great hostel setup. Comfortable beds, clean washrooms with running hot water, simple but sufficient breakfast, and very hospitable folks. Towels and lockers at a minor additional charge. Great location with the castle right outside the hostel.
I recently stayed at Kick Ass Grassmarket Hostel and overall had a really positive experience. The location is absolutely perfect, right in the heart of the city, making it easy to explore everything on foot. The building itself has a lot of character, which added to the charm of the stay. One of the highlights for me was the view from the female dorm room—it was truly amazing and made the experience even more special. The staff were also very friendly and helpful, always ready to assist with anything I needed, which made me feel welcome and comfortable throughout my stay. However, there were a few downsides. The shared bathrooms made me a bit uncomfortable, especially as someone who is veiled, as it can be difficult to manage privacy in such spaces. The kitchen was also quite small, which made it a bit inconvenient during busy times. Additionally, payments are only accepted by card, which might not be ideal for everyone. One more thing I noticed was the noise from the road signal outside. It could get quite annoying, especially at night or early in the morning, and sometimes disturbed my sleepy. Also, just a small note: you have to pay £3 for luggage storage, even if you’re checking in the same day, which I found a bit inconvenient😏( all the hostels around UK store your luggage for free if you are checking in the same day) Overall, it’s a great place to stay if you value location, atmosphere, and friendly staff, but there are a few areas that could be improved to make the experience more comfortable for all guests.