CODE The Court

It was amazing!! The rooms, the bathroom, the location… you can plug your devices inside the pod, is really comfy and you have curtains for privacy. At the bar you can order hot chocolate and it’s delicious. I was surprised for how cozy and clean the hostel was and the rooms and the decoration. Really cute and charming

Speaking as someone who has stayed at Cod several times before and even lived in the hostel as a volunteer for three months in 2022, Cod has completely changed its essence as a welcoming hostel and a great place to socialize and meet new people (one of the main reasons most people choose a hostel instead of a hotel or Airbnb). The cleanliness is still good, the beds are very comfortable, and the staff are very attentive. However, the hostel is no longer a place designed for guests and now seems to prioritize only the new restaurant on the ground floor, which has taken over the entire area that used to be the social space and shared kitchen — a place where people spent good moments together, cooked together, and relaxed. Today, the hostel has absolutely no social or relaxation areas, no kitchen, and no place to prepare your own food (one of the main reasons to choose a hostel instead of a hotel). In other words, you can either stay in your bed or be outside the hostel — there is no other common or social area. The hostel is no longer designed for travelers and is now more focused on people who consume at the new restaurant. I chose to pay more than an Airbnb to stay at Cod (which is much more expensive than the average hostel in the city) to return to a place where I had great memories in 2022, and I left very disappointed. I also spent much more than expected because I couldn’t cook my own food and had to eat at the restaurant or outside. The owners could have thought more about the guests and kept the common area, building the new restaurant in the basement or even using one of the floors as a common space, as most hostels do — especially those that charge much less for accommodation. Most people who choose a hostel are traveling on a low budget, want to meet people and socialize, or want to be able to cook their own food — and now Cod offers none of that. Unfortunately, this is my observation about the new Cod. (I want to make it clear that the staff have nothing to do with this and were very attentive, except for one staff member who was rude when informing me that I could not consume my own wine in a HOSTEL.)

Honestly, the best hostel I've ever been. High standard of customer service, cozy room and especially courtesy and friendliness of staff members Michael and Tana. They make sure a customer is being taken care of. I will definitely come back again but next time to spend more days there. I felt peace and tranquility. Highly recommend. Thank you for being professional, going above and beyond to satisfy customers.

I had a very enjoyable 24 hours in Edinburgh based at the Code Hostel. It is located incredibly centrally on the Royal Mile (although it's up a big hill from the train station) and the shared rooms are a great value way of staying in the heart of a very popular city. I stayed on a Saturday night and was a bit concerned that it may not be the most peaceful night of the week, but I noticed very little noise. My 8-person shared room seemed to be fully occupied, but the pods are well built and reasonably well insulated, so noise doesn't carry too badly. The decor was modern and the bathrooms were clean. The staff were friendly, if a bit chaotic, and they were happy to provide an extra pillow since I had a sore neck. The lockers in the room are big enough for a couple of big rucksacks, but I had a big suitcase, so I also used the luggage storage before and after my stay - it seemed pretty secure (the entry code changes daily). I also had a decent breakfast on Sunday morning. I would love to go back to Edinburgh and would happily stay at Code again.

Located right in the heart of the old town, walking distance to many attractions, clean, comfortable, great location! For a hostel, it was still very private and you didn't feel like you were sharing with other people. I recommend it to anyone looking for a hostel!

Good, centrally located hostel! The highlight was the staff, everyone I spoke to was very nice, welcoming, and eager to help. Some the nicest staff I've had in an hostel! I booked in a shared pod with 6 others, which was adequate. The mattress was comfortable and the curtain provides enough privacy. There are lockers in each room with an electronic lock that can fit a carry-on suitcase and a jacket. The bathrooms were clean, I had no problems. Only issue was with noise from outside, which is to be expected because of the central (but amazing) location and the old building. My room was on the first floor, facing the courtyard and even with the window closed the noise bleed through at night was significant. There is a restaurant and bar on the first floor, which you have to walk through to access the rooms. I got a bit lost trying to check in since the restaurant was packed and I didn't see the sign to check in, which is next to the bar. But you receive 15% off of certain food and drink if you're a guest. But overall, I would recommend for anyone looking for a wonderfully located and historical hostel. The prison theming throughout was neat.

I felt super safe at The Code and was able to sleep comfortably during my stay and not worry about my belongings being broken into when I was out and about. If you want privacy I recommend one of the private rooms. I knew during the winter we’d be staying in earlier in the evenings so it was nice to lounge about without having to be consider what schedule any bunk mates are on. The facilities are nice and they even rent hair dryers if you need. I’d recommend this over a hotel 100%.

Very disappointing stay – especially for a 9-night stay. The bathrooms were constantly dirty, even after cleaning. Toilets often had urine on the floor, to the point where guests put toilet paper on the ground just to avoid standing in it. There are 7 showers but only 2 toilets, which is clearly not enough. Urinals would make a lot of sense here. There is no kitchen, no fridge, and no possibility to cool or heat food. For a hostel, this is a major downside. There is also no common room or shared space. Because of this, guests are forced to stay in their rooms in the evening, which leads to disturbing others or being disturbed by other guests. At check-in, we received no information about WiFi or events. One bed was not freshly made when we arrived. On top of that, the GM forgot the promised 15% breakfast discount, and we had to bring it up ourselves to get a solution. There were no signs for the luggage room. Staff didn’t know where it was and even sent us to the disabled toilet. There was no hello or goodbye from the staff. Instead, the GM seemed annoyed because guests didn’t see a poorly visible sign telling them to wait to be seated at breakfast. Restaurant prices are very high for hostel guests, especially since there is no alternative like a kitchen or any clearly communicated options. Additionally, the atmosphere did not feel like a 'Court' or social space at all. After 9 nights, we can clearly say: we definitely won’t be coming back.

I stayed here with a group of friends on a weekend trip to Edinburgh, and we loved this hostel! The location was perfect, right on the Royal Mile and within walking distance of everything we wanted to do, and it was only a 10-minute walk to the Edinburgh Waverly train station. The rooms and bathrooms were clean, and the pods were comfortable. Each pod comes with a locker, hanging rack, a shelf, and USB ports. The staff were friendly, and the lobby has books and games available to borrow, as well as a variety of drinks and snacks to purchase. Breakfast is available for £6. If you are looking for a place to stay in the middle of Old Town, look no further!

Extended my stay here because I loved it so much. Smack middle of Edinburgh. Walking distance to all the great places. Clean restrooms, laundry facilities, amazing staff and would absolutely come back.

I had a pod in the courtroom. That was fine. I actually slept okay in the enclosed space. What I did not appreciate was having the bathroom stall Busted in on me by the "contracted out sanitation worker that only takes the garbage out TWICE a month they told me". He literally broke it down I had to lunge myself to stop it from opening. I had already shouted that I was the room and the stall door was locked! As the idiot manager asked me if I locked it like I'm a moron and don't lock bathroom doors. I locked it! He pushed and pushed again and busted it down and I left to go back to Glasgow WHERE IT MAKES SENSE. FIRST I was told oh I don't know who that man was by the first guy who worked there and then the "manager" girl asked me if I locked the door. she must be used to real idiots. Don't even go to Edinburgh unless you want to feel like you're at a Disneyland you didn't intend on going to. It sucked!! So touristy I had to get out of there.