KICK ASS BAR in Edinburgh, City of

If you just wanna stay in a good and very central location and don't really care about anything else, this is the place for you. Beds weren't great, springs had gone on my friends bed and mine was way too soft causing backpain. Of the already way too few showers and toilets, which were also tiny some where closed for maintenance over a super busy period. Unacceptable if you want to accommodate the amount of people they do. Dorms were quite bright due to outside lights and no proper way of keeping them out. Whole hostel could do with some renovations. Staff is hit & miss, some of them were very nice, others seemed like they hated talking to people, which is rather unfortunate if they work at reception.

Receptionist James made my stay super wonderful. He made sure the door was always open for me. From THE american 🐇🤫

I preferred to cancel my reservation and lose 150 euros rather than spend my stay in this place. In fact I am still waiting for a refund for the breakfast not served. Look for other options in Edinburgh.

Mostly good. But Hogmanays crowd must have overwhelmed service quality. Room 201b is a mezzanine and you have to deal with most of noise of its neighbour downstairs. Also there is no windows access (only on 201a) and at wome point the smell was quite unpleasant. Also the lack of a kitchen is a major drawback for a hostel.

A horrible man welcomed us and refused us even though we had a reservation. Avoid at all costs!

Its very central and I walked 15min to the bus station. I stayed in a large dorm but I felt I had the best bed in the room. right next to the window, bed next to me was empty.. Couldn't complain. If I was to stay in a dorm again in Edinburgh, I would come to this place.

I booked private dorm for 4 days but i left early due to non hygiene. I asked the receptionist to clean our dorm and change bed sheets. He told me when you’ll leave on that day they change bed sheets and clean room on that day too. I got rashes after sleeping on the beds. Same breakfast for everyday. If someone stays more than too days never book your breakfast. Blankets were small too. I saw they kicked out one guy and girl without any reason and even from pub crawl too. You’re taking us to different pubs to drinks and then next pub says can’t enter you already had drinks and pub crawl staff says security’s decision is final

Pros The Hostel is in a great walkable area near Grassmarket Edinburgh. Lots of local pubs and shops within blocks. Great location. Compared to another hostel I stayed at in Glasgow, the Kick Ass had clean bathrooms, usable showers with good pressure & hot water. Having a pub downstairs with food was quick and convenient. Overall, a great and affordable place to stay if you don't mind bunking with other travelers. Everyone was nice and respectful in the dorms. No issues at all. The only cons - You have to pay for a towel. You do get a locker but would have to pay if you want a lock on it. The breakfast was just toast and cereal.

The location was great. I walked everywhere and it’s near the castle and Victoria street, and so much more! I stayed in a 10 bed room and was quite comfortable. If you prefer softer pillows, I would bring your own though. The girls bathroom was in another hall however and it was quite small. The hotel staff were kind and friendly, but didn’t tell me much when I checked in. The security to get into the hostel itself was not much, it felt like anyone could walk in. But to get upstairs and to the rooms you needed a key card. The music was quite loud at night too and I could hear through the walls and windows.

The hostel has an amazing vibe, good location and cool activities. James the receptionist was really professional with dealing with my situation and helped a lot.

Avoid at all costs, The staff is not welcoming at all, and there's no good vibe. The receptionist ignored me when I walked by trying to find reception and she pretended she was busy. Why is so difficult to say hi, can I help? Why that lack of customer service? I have never been here I needed help. After the check in, she just gave me back an envelope containing the basic information. When I asked how can I open my door? She just said use the envelope. OK - why is so difficult to say the envelope has your room number written, and if you open it there's a card inside which will let you in, unbelievable. Why don't try to put some effort explaining where the bathrooms are? It's really bad indicated and with wrong indications on the signs. Plus they're 1 mile away from the rooms, bad dimensioned for the amount of people/toilets available. See how bad this is, on the signs says if the first floors are busy just go to the second floor ones which it's like what? We know bathrooms are shared  but that's going down too much on standards. Other smaller bad things are, old mattresses, just one pillow to sleep, 'table night' space is ridiculous. I guess bigger rooms will have smell issues which another reason to avoid. Only worth if you get one really cheap offer at low season, like my case 40£ 2 nights at 4 beds room, otherwise avoid like the plague. Never again.

No kitchen area( although the second location is supposed to have one) , dirty washrooms with very few stalls, seems to attract partiers and very loud people so not much sleep during the night. I stayed in Code the loft and castle rock as well and they were both on a completely different level than kickass greyfrier in every way, but thats just my opinion/experience

Reasonably priced hostel in the best location of Edinburgh. Beautiful views of the Castle and Grassmarket. Nice breakfast (would've loved some hot food) and friendly team. The room got a bit cold but overall a great, incredibly reasonable accomodation option in Edinburgh. I got good recommendation for the tour bus and the receptionist he explained to me where to go to find it.

The location is unbeatable, the rooms and bathrooms are very clean, the guys at the reception are lovely. If I come back I will repeat for sure

The location is spectacular, with everything close and incredible. The rooms were too simple, the lockers did not fit our belongings, there were no chairs or stools, we only had the lockers and the beds. The women's bathrooms were in excellent condition, nice and clean, but the men's bathrooms smelled bad and some were out of order. There came a time when you had to wait in line to take a shower or simply go to the toilet.

I was staying in a female 4 bed dorm. Room was clean enough. However at night earplugs are a must, the street noise is uncomfortably loud not just on weekends. Bathrooms were lacking, no hot water, lack of privacy, no soap, toilets barely flush. The bedside lamps do not work and plugs in the wall don’t work either so couldn’t charge my personal electronics. Breakfast was average but I have had worse.Location was great easy to walk to everywhere I wanted to go. Bar and reception staff were very friendly and common areas were great. Unless amenities were improved I probably won’t stay here again.

They have few and very uncomfortable bathrooms, there is no space, and most of the time they are dirty. The breakfast included is very poor. It just has a very good location

It's a beautifully designed hostel in the city center with incredible service and most important very clean.

Great location and fantastic service! I made a good friend from the Staff, James, he was super kind and helpful!!!

I stayed here for about a week, which could be quite awhile for a hostel but it didn't feel like it. The staff was especially helpful, specifcly James Woollett, he is a hero for the night shift. The shared spaces and vibe of the place was very comfortable and friendly. Everything you want is walking distance, couldn't of picked a better spot. Price is great too, in general and in comparison to anything else in the same area.

The hostel is located in great location right in the city centre, where most of the attractions are. The stuff here are nice and helpful if you need sth, but they never greeted us back with “good morning/hello/bye” which I personally found quite rude. Unfortunately all positive aspects end here. I stayed here with my friend we had a 4-bed woman-only room. The room was incredibly dirty you could see particles of dust everywhere, even the bed rails were covered in thick layer of dust🤮. The floor hadn’t been cleaned, and it seem like the only thing that was changed in the room was sheets. Additionally, the window in our room didn’t work and we couldn’t open it, which was terrible because you we couldn’t ventilate the room appropriately. The bathrooms were also very dirty. One toilet couldn’t flush properly, and the showers were installed so high that it was nearly impossible not to wet your hair while showering. I had occasion to be in bathroom when the cleaner was there, and I noticed that she only wiped the sinks and poured the toilet cleaner into the bowls. The floor wasn’t cleaned at all. Overall the cleaning service is extremely bad here. Another issues is when booking hostel tells you that there are quiet hours here, while I can assure that they aren’t enforced. i’m really glad that I brought with myself earplugs, because, without them, i wouldn’t be able to go to sleep.

Had a great stay at Greyfriars hostel in Edinburgh, just want to say James the receptionist made me want to come back he was so nice and welcoming i will definitely remember my time. Thanks to all

I had a fantastic time looking around this beautiful city, but what was more wholesome was James the receptionist who was so polite and welcoming, made me feel relaxed and at ease with my visit !

Very central hostel, 5/10 minutes walk from the royal mile and 1 minute from Victoria's Street and Grassmarket. Everything clean and with its own bar at affordable prices on the ground floor. Quality/price ratio of 10! To make a point, if you are picky about noise, you should wear earplugs to sleep because sometimes you can hear something coming from the street.

Perfect location, but it is a very noisy place, and it was impossible to sleep. The breakfast was very simple for Edinburgh. We had included the breakfast but preferred to eat out.

Really good hostel. Everything as advertised.

Excellent experience, the location is ideal for exploring Edinburgh on foot. The rooms are perfectly designed to ensure comfortable cohabitation with important highlights (spacious locker with padlock, lamp and socket at the bedside). There are multiple bathrooms (mixed or by gender) with complete privacy, the water is hot. Access to the hostel is secured with badges. The service for meals upstairs could be improved with the direct provision of cutlery, plates and glasses for meals brought. The hostel is always very clean thanks to the cleaning teams that you can see several times a day. The welcome from the rest of the team is great, a big thank you to them who were very responsive in the event of any problems.

It was my first time visiting Edinburgh and I would definitely stay at Kick Ass Hostel Greyfriars again. The atmosphere was lively, fun and perfect for meeting other travelers. The staff was friendly and accommodating and ready to offer great local tips! A special shout out to James Woollett who was incredibly welcoming upon our arrival at the reception desk and who went above and beyond to assist with any questions we had. The facilities were clean, had multiple washrooms, a laundry room, restaurant/bar, and a games/lounge room. The location was ideal for exploring the city. Whether you're looking to relax or socialize, Kick Ass Hostel offers a great balance of both. Highly recommend it for anyone visiting!

Hostel very well located, clean, the heating works very well and the service is perfect, the reception staff are top notch (a big thank you to James for his welcome).

I didn't stay here but I went on a pub crawl with the group after having drinks at their beer garden. The place had a great vibe, and it was a good time overall

Pros: This is my third time staying here. I will stay here every time I come to Edinburgh. The guy and girl at the front desk are warm and friendly. The bar is very lively in the evening, you can play billiards, there are various activities or music, and there is karaoke on Sundays, and you can Communicating with backpackers from different cultural backgrounds gave me the long-lost feeling of summer camp with school. The location is perfect, you can walk to the Royal Mile, the University of Edinburgh, Calton Hill, Princes Street, etc. Just walk out of the hotel door Saw the famous Edinburgh Castle. The bed was very comfortable and the bedroom was quiet. Disadvantages: The bed has no curtains and almost no privacy. It is very inconvenient to change clothes. The bathroom is too small and it is inconvenient to put clothes. The breakfast is full but too monotonous. The sound of drunkards on the street in the middle of the night affects sleep. Bath towels are not provided for free but are required. Pay money to rent.

Totally awesome place to visit and stay very friendly

The location is fantastic, as the hostel is close to most landmarks, like the Castle, the shared room I stayed in was quiet and comfortable for sleeping. The toilet and shower were clean. The only downside was the breakfast, as there weren’t many food options available

So cute and fun! The prices were reasonable, and the drinks were great. Plenty of outdoor seating, toilets were around the corner (same property). We didn’t eat, but menus were available and looked great for a lunch or snack, as well as free WiFi.

Great Bar and Cafe in an awesome location. Service and food and drinks good value for money. The only issue is be aware when ordering the sparkling wine. It has same price for 3 different sizes. 135ml £4.95 for 135ml, £4.95 for 250ml and no price for 175ml. The app with QR code shows two sizes 125ml and 135ml and the menu shows 3 sizes. I ordered the 250ml for £4.95 and recievd a 135ml for €4.95. The answer given is tjat a 250ml cannot fit in the glass so you get 135ml for same price. Make absolutely no sense. Attention to detail KickAss please. Otherwise a great venue.

Fabulous location. Kind staff. Great beer garden area with a view of the castle. Stayed here two nights. We had to switch rooms due to our last minute booking (and them not having the same two beds for both nights) but the hostel kindly gave us free breakfast passes and towels, and let us keep our bags in the lockers. Joined the pub crawl Monday evening and our hosts, Jack and Ella, were awesome. Highly recommend them both for future excursions. Only recommendation would be to provide a hot water kettle at breakfast (rather than the hot water in the dispenser as that water tastes like coffee and doesn’t go well with tea 😉).

Clean and cosy facility but they need to add amenities in room price as well because it’s already towards expensive side especially in bunk beds or dormitories category. But good stuff.

We booked a private room for four people with two bunkbeds. The room was very clean and there are lots of different options for toilets and showers. The unisex showers are the best ones. Considering the location it’s very reasonably priced. We stayed in May and the hostel was not particularly busy. There is a very cheap bar downstairs and a gorgeous view from outside the front of the hostel.

Just love this place. The vibes,friendly staff, nice cost effective brekker. Fabulous location - in the heart of Cow market. Many pubs- mostly alfresco seating. Great beers.And the icing on the cake- Kickass is just 3-5 minutes walk from Stramash and 3 Sisters - the most happening pubs in Edinburgh.

The staff are so helpful and kind, and just an all-around riot to talk to (special shout out to Alex, thank you so much for being so wonderful!) But fair warning, it's more than 50 stairs to the top if you're in a big room, and whomever owns the building won't fix things fast (like the clothing washers) and there's only two showers in the whole place that aren't 10-second button presses. Still, the people staying there or visiting for the MANY events are fun and friendly, and again, staff are amazing and keep everything safe and respectful. Location is near so many wonderful restaurants and attractions and shops, it really is a blast. Mattresses are old and worn, but the cleaning staff make sure the comforters and pillows are wonderful.

A super central hostel without being on a main or busy road. Ideal for walking to any part you want to see in the center of Edinburgh. Photos taken almost at dusk.

Nice hostel in terms of cleanliness, staff nice and check-in is easy. Rooms noise cancelling is essentially 0 unfortunately. They do offer earplugs but the place is just really quite loud. Showers were also ice cold.

Youth hostel in the heart of Edinburgh, close to Grassmarket, clean and quiet, comfortable bedding, numerous bathrooms, hearty breakfast at a very affordable price to take at the bar. I recommend.

It gets the job done! Classic Euro hostel vibes, incredible location, and all the services you need. I did laundry here and it’s quite easy with the app. The bar area can get pretty rowdy at night but never too crazy. Menu was pretty typical pub food. Breakfast looked quite basic but why would you buy that when there are so many great places out in town? Once you walk out the front door you get a great view of the castle and within a few minutes you’re at the major tourist spots like Grassmarket or the main museum. Standard bunk rooms and the bathrooms worked out well even as mostly mixed gender. Folks at the front desk were friendly and helpful.

Honestly lovely staff, had such a great time and got to meet some lovely people during my stay. Will definitely return 🙂‍↕️

The hostel is nice, but the staff is out of this world. Thank so much for the experience lads 🤜🏻🤛🏻

Overall a good place to stay in Edinburgh. The location is central, bathrooms are cleaned daily and the staff was friendly. Unfortunately the rooms were very warm because you couldn't adjust the heating and you couldn't open the windows. In addition, the 6-bed room was a bit narrow, so it was difficult to put down your luggage and jackets. The breakfast was very simple and there wasn't enough choice for the price.

Nice hostel, good location, good beds, for the time I was there the cleaning staff was cleaning the bathroom at least once a day and in general I had a good experience. Rooms are too small though, for 6 people there is barely space to move, also the room itself was sometimes too hot. Another issue to mention, breakfast was a bit disappointing, really few options.

Great hostel stayed as a stag group of 40. Was brilliant super location.

Sitio barato y bueno de estar también cerca de la mezquita hay un sitio para comer bueno y barato the Arena café no te asustan los precios

Buen hostel. Yo me hospede en una habitacion GIGANTE, mas de 30 camas creo, cada una cuenta con un pequeno lugar para guardar objetos personales. Los banos estan bien. Tiene una zona de relax donde se puede comer, trabajar, etc. El hostel tiene un bar y un patio cervecero donde se hacen fiestas.

A small pop up bar in a gravelled courtyard. It was a great place for some drinks and food whilst planing what to see next at the fringe. The drinks were good, the food was simple but nice and the place had a really good relaxed atmosphere. To top it off, it was a good sun trap.

Servizio va un po’ studiato, hanno pochi piatti e non tremendi. Li vai per gustarti luogo all’aperto introvabile a Edimburgo con fantastica vista sul castello. Cibo convenzionale birra buona ma davvero un posto divertente

Il peggior locale dell’intera Scozia . Speso 50 euro per tacos affondate in una salsa agrodolce e chips imbevute di marmellata con sticks di pollo ma non era pollo .il tutto senza acqua e nessun servizio.

We just popped in for coffee and a snack. I ordered churros which came with a little pot of chocolate dipping sauce and some squirty cream. They were delicious. My partner ordered a blueberry muffin....it took ages and it turned out they needed to defrost one! It was a bog standard blueberry muffin, nothing special. The guy serving us was lovely and very apologetic but the chef came out with my churros and when we asked about the muffin, he just started walking away and grunted 'no muffin!' We'd already paid for it! Also, when coming back from the ladies, he was in front of me and just let the door go in my face! I think he needs a lesson in politeness and just basic social graces...he lets the place down! The beer garden was lovely to sit in so if you can tolerate the chef, go for it! ;-)