The Stevenson House

Follow the house on Instagram at @thestevensonhouse !||The Stevenson House is the childhood home of R.L Stevenson and keeps the theme of literature going with mountains of books stacked on shelves and on top of cupboards. It is a family home with a lot of history so the style of decorating is eccentric in the best way and you’ll notice something new each time you go up or down the stairs - trinkets dot about every surface but it doesn’t feel cluttered in the slightest. The house is perfectly situated a couple of blocks from Princes Street so you are close to the bustle of the shopping quarter, National Gallery and Christmas market but far enough away to get a good night’s sleep - but there are still plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants nearby! (Highly recommend Buck’s Bar for a good chicken burger, or The Magnum for fine dining)||We stayed in the twin room on the third floor which was cosy, well decorated, warm and had the most beautiful view reaching all the way to the other side of the Firth of Forth. The quilt was a bit short for my body but that’s mostly because I’m an adult sleeping in a single bed, and a lovely big blanket was also provided so it didn’t matter much. The en-suite is small but warm and fit for purpose and the shower had lovely water pressure. A towel and face towel are provided for each guest, and the wash basin is in the room rather than in the bathroom as with more modern buildings which was interesting and not a problem at all.||We stayed for four nights and were treated very well. The family who runs the B&B are super friendly and inclusive. They made us feel very welcome and made sure we knew we could shout down the stairs for a cup of tea if we needed, and they were happy to prepare breakfast to our timings. Felicitas and John were both fountains of knowledge on the history of Edinburgh and gave us a great overview of why the New Town’s streets are designed so differently to the streets around the Royal Mile. We happened to be the only guests staying at the time so were privileged to have lots of interesting conversations and while our privacy was of course respected, the stay was a lot more friendly and sociable than if we had stayed in a hotel or larger B&B. ||Breakfast was lovely, with a variety of breads for toast, various condiments for your toast, different fish, cold cuts of meat and cheese each morning, apple juice, the option of tea or coffee and the option of a soft boiled egg should you ask - all delicious ||The room was £145/night which was on the cheaper end of a stay in Edinburgh’s central residential areas||It was our first time in Edinburgh and we couldn’t have picked a better place to stay for a visit to learn about the city, we’d love to stay again.

The location of this marvellous confection is hard to beat - central yet opposite a gigantic private garden - it is the best of both worlds. The family who live here (and you will probably meet them all as they are fabulously friendly and able to chat about pretty much anything) have the most extraordinary and eclectic taste. Every room has history, literature, art abounding and even the most obscure comment will result in someone dashing off to find you the *very* book you need to gen up on the subject matter. Breakfast is a smorgasbord of traditional European cheese and cold cuts with toast and eggs as an option (Nutella is saved for Sundays, but I am sure if you ask nicely...) and cereal and fruit are always available. You couldn't ask for lovelier hosts and the fellow guests made for fascinating breakfast chats which added enormously to our stay.

The hotel is in a great location, and the hosts were friendly. It was also nice to stay in Robert Louis Stevenson's childhood home. That said, I would not recommend the place. We stayed in the main room which had an en suite bathroom. The bathroom smelled like it had been cleaned with an old mop, or perhaps the smell came from the family's laundry that was hanging high above in the bathroom. What the hell? Informed the host's kid about the smell, but when we returned to the room, it was still there. We stayed out as last as we could because we dreaded coming back to the place. Also didn't appreciate that the hosts didn't provide fresh bars of soap. Instead, a sliver of soap previous guests used was left. That combined with the giraffe and zebra skin rugs were a bit much.

This was such an interesting home and the hosts were wonderful. The Stevenson House is filled with Art, Books and beautiful and unique things. The house itself is magnificent and has such history that that is reason alone to stay there. We stayed in the Africa room with a huge window, beautiful view and African art. It was perfectly comfortable and had everything we needed - it is a third floor walk up but the stone steps and staircase is a wonder to behold. The best part of the stay was getting to know John and Felicitas the hosts, who were very accommodating, engaging and filled with stories of the history of the grand old home and Edinburgh and Scotland too. I most highly recommend a visit. Oh and breakfast is a real treat - the dining room is stately with beautiful antique portraits, and the breakfast jams - all home made are delicious, but the company is the best!

My wife and I stayed with John and his family over two nights recently and found the experience utterly delightful! The welcome from Lucia and Gioia was warming and our room was very comfortable and quirky. In fact the whole house is a treasure trove and filled with love and memories. We thoroughly enjoyed our breakfasts with the huge array of choice and it was lovely spending time with John and his daughters and two other guests.|The location is perfect - just a stroll from the city centre and close to Stockbridge and the Botanic Gardens.|This stay was everything we wanted - and more!|Thank you for this fantastic experience.

Overall we had a great time in Edinburgh, at least 50% of the experience was thanks to our stay at The Stevenson House. ||||The Macfies are delightful hosts, extremely welcoming, you will feel at home immediately. At breakfast we had highly interesting discussions about Edinburgh, Scotland (and plenty other fascinating debates) which all added up to a truly immersive Scottish experience.||||The house itself is worth the stay, it is where the author Robert Louis Stevenson lived from the age of six.||||Of course, if you are looking for yet another hotel with a minibar, a flat TV screen, 100+ channels to browse and room-service, this is not the place for you.||||The house is centrally located in a calm and good neighborhood, with pleasant views. This is convenient when you wish to visit the touristic areas (to the South) in the morning, and then the quieter areas such as Stockbridge (to the North) for a relaxed evening drink or diner. For fabulous chease and wine, try out Smith & Gertrude.||||We stayed in the Master bedroom. Rooms and beds were very clean and comfortable. ||||We will return for sure next time in Edinburgh.

I spent an amazing weekend in Edinburg with a friend. ||The city is worth to be visited in any time of the year considering the amount of history everywhere you look, food and entertainment during Fringe that gives a plus and the people are just extremely delightful and friendly.||The cherry on top the cake is Felicita and John’s house, the place where we stayed. At the entrance the bell says, “It’s not a museum” but it is even more. It is a personal collection of painting, swords, sculptures and decorative trophies from every sort of cultore and country. Just a cultural and visual pleasure, that definitely helps to ease into the atmosphere.||Felicita and John are just fantastic hosts as well as their children that have been all polite and helpful. We met three of them and it was nice to spend breakfast time with Gioia and Lucia, very well mannered girls with their lovely names and the son, young boy, very knowledgeable and pleasant to talk to.Everything we asked was satisfied and we have felt welcomed at any time. Breakfast is another highlight of our stay; homemade bread, jam and everything they prepare is fresh, on the table for their guests.||I highly recommend it

Stayed for two very comfortable and inspiring nights in this unique and historical b&b. The Macfies are excellent hosts - and their b&b has all the comforts and warmth of a family hole while you enjoy the privacies and treatment of a top hotel. Can’t recommend it enough.