Skybar Edinburgh in Edinburgh, City of

Skybar review 1 year ago today we got married at the sky bar and it has taken me this long to think of the words I want to use to describe our day. The initial planning / communication was mostly great leading up to the day. The day seemed to run smoothly apart from a few minor issues such as the wrong wine on the table, some decorations missing / in the wrong place despite writing down in detail what was to go where and when, the vegetarian meal looked and tasted COMPLETELY different (and much less tasty) than when we had it at our trial but nothing we thought too much into. It wasn’t until the following morning as we were getting ready to leave the hotel and head home that an issue arose, we had planned a lovely relaxing day with our children enjoying our first day as a married couple but that was spoiled when we realised our legal paperwork wasn’t where it was supposed to be, or rather where the staff had told us it was. We searched high and low in the hotel room, and with only us entering the room it should have been there. Upon further investigation from the hotel staff they informed us that cleaning staff had been in our room (when they had no reason to do so) after our legal paper work had been taken up to our room and it was explained to us that they “must have binned it” binned an envelope and bag that was sitting on a chair? No where near a bin? I highly doubt it. Upon further inspection when we got home we also realised our personalised, engraved ring box and our hand fasting ties from our ceremony were missing too! So a member of the cleaning staff had decided it was acceptable to enter our room because and take our belongings, very important ones and sentimental ones too! Our first day as a married couple was so stressful and really put a dampener on our wedding day which should have been one of the best days of our lives. Thankfully our celebrant and the registry office were both so helpful with organising new legal paperwork and having it all signed, but everyone had to go out of their way, rearrange plans etc to get it signed again on time! And what did we get from the hotel? A measly apology and a £500 refund like that was supposed to fix things. Our wedding, like most, cost us an absolute fortune. It should have been a perfect, well organised day, but staff couldn’t even get the smallest of details right. Our food at the end was supposed to be saved for the following day too, but nope the staff who looked like they couldn’t care less, binned it all. We looked past these small issues at the time but when you sit back a think of everything that went wrong on that day it has really upset us. There was also no follow up on how the staff were dealt with and if they had ever gotten to the bottom of where our belongings were. If we could go back and change things we definitely would not have had our wedding at the SKYbar.

Skybar review 1 year ago today we got married at the sky bar and it has taken me this long to think of the words I want to use to describe our day. The initial planning / communication was mostly great leading up to the day. The day seemed to run smoothly apart from a few minor issues such as the wrong wine on the table, some decorations missing / in the wrong place despite writing down in detail what was to go where and when, the vegetarian meal looked and tasted COMPLETELY different (and much less tasty) than when we had it at our trial but nothing we thought too much into. It wasn’t until the following morning as we were getting ready to leave the hotel and head home that an issue arose, we had planned a lovely relaxing day with our children enjoying our first day as a married couple but that was spoiled when we realised our legal paperwork wasn’t where it was supposed to be, or rather where the staff had told us it was. We searched high and low in the hotel room, and with only us entering the room it should have been there. Upon further investigation from the hotel staff they informed us that cleaning staff had been in our room (when they had no reason to do so) after our legal paper work had been taken up to our room and it was explained to us that they “must have binned it” binned an envelope and bag that was sitting on a chair? No where near a bin? I highly doubt it. Upon further inspection when we got home we also realised our personalised, engraved ring box and our hand fasting ties from our ceremony were missing too! So a member of the cleaning staff had decided it was acceptable to enter our room because and take our belongings, very important ones and sentimental ones too! Our first day as a married couple was so stressful and really put a dampener on our wedding day which should have been one of the best days of our lives. Thankfully our celebrant and the registry office were both so helpful with organising new legal paperwork and having it all signed, but everyone had to go out of their way, rearrange plans etc to get it signed again on time! And what did we get from the hotel? A measly apology and a £500 refund like that was supposed to fix things. Our wedding, like most, cost us an absolute fortune. It should have been a perfect, well organised day, but staff couldn’t even get the smallest of details right. Our food at the end was supposed to be saved for the following day too, but nope the staff who looked like they couldn’t care less, binned it all. We looked past these small issues at the time but when you sit back a think of everything that went wrong on that day it has really upset us. There was also no follow up on how the staff were dealt with and if they had ever gotten to the bottom of where our belongings were. If we could go back and change things we definitely would not have had our wedding at the SKYbar.

Breathtaking view, 10/10 hospitality, great for a chat with friends or loved ones while you enjoy a drink and the gorgeous views, fingers crossed the weather is just right 🤞🏿

We used the SKYbar as our wedding venue. Please see our review below. Positives: The planning process was meticulous, and we want to give huge credit to Alba for her exceptional service. She was extremely organised, calm, friendly, and approachable. We felt that no request was too small or too much to handle. We particularly appreciate how accommodating she was with last-minute changes to the guest numbers, etc. On the day itself, everything ran smoothly, and the staff were very helpful. The room setup was beautiful, and the view from the SKYBar speaks for itself. The food was excellent, and the staff were accommodating of our bespoke requests. For example, my Aunt, who follows a strict FODMAP diet, asked to try the duck breast without the sauce (even though this was not in the dietary requirements provided), and the waiter brought her one without any issues. These little touches were greatly appreciated. The chocolate fondant dessert was outstanding, and many of our guests told us it was the best dessert they had ever had at a wedding. The seating in the SKYBar at night was perfect, especially the soft seating by the window. It was ideal for watching the sunset over the city, and many of our guests commented on how beautiful it was. Monboddo was excellent for the arrival drinks. It was bright, and there was plenty of seating. Areas for improvement: The evening drinks reception went on for too long (nearly 2 hours) and I had to advocate for guests to be allowed upstairs, even after informing the team that we were not concerned about guests hearing the band setting up. There was a lack of seating in the foyer. Some guests started to get frustrated. Additionally, the lighting was very dark. When I asked for it to be turned on at the Conference Centre reception, I was told to ask the bartender, who then informed me that it wasn't possible to adjust the lighting. The balcony was closed at 10 pm, which may not be something you can control, but it became an issue as the SKYBar became very hot, the windows steamed up (which obstructed the view), and it was inconvenient for smokers/vapers or anyone who wanted some fresh air to have to go down the stairs. The lift became a bit of an issue as there were some delays due to the limited capacity. Overall, we were absolutely delighted with our choice of wedding venue. Our wedding day was truly the best day, and the SKYBar was amazing. From the excellent planning process to the beautiful room setup and breathtaking views, everything exceeded our expectations. The staff were incredibly helpful and accommodating, and the food was outstanding. Despite a few areas for improvement, we couldn't be happier with our experience at the SKYBar. It was the perfect setting for our special day, and we are grateful for the memories created there. We would not hesitate to recommend the venue to anyone.

Fantastic brunch experience with awesome views. Great value for money and fabulous served by Karol & skybar team. Highly recommend this experience. Food was delicious, a lovely mix of pastries, cheese, meat and fruit. Karol & his team really looked after us and made our visit truly memorable.

Food and cocktails were ok but what a let down. Completely lacking in atmosphere and like a bare airport lounge. Just soulless and depressing. Also freezing cold! I sat with my coat on for two hours. The few customers there looked so underwhelmed. Don’t bother wasting your money.

Had an amazing SkyBrunch, great views and plenty of good food. Didn't realise it was 2 cocktails per person! Thank you to Jacob who made our Brunch really great!

Stating that I was underwhelmed would be an understatement! My niece, great nephew, and myself booked tickets for their Hogmanay celebration. You are seriously only paying for the view, because you aren't get much of anything else. There was NO decorations at all. NONE. No ambiance at all. No holiday atmosphere. The live entertainment was mostly a DJ, and not a DJ that actually mixed music. The also had a gentleman on bagpipes that was nice being in Scotland. The tickets warn that seating is first come first serve, but there is truly limited seating. The party starts at 8 and goes to 1am. To expect people to stand for that long is not guest centered thinking. It felt like a holiday money grab. They did the minimum. My sister booked Johnnie Walker for the celebration and was sharing pics of her reserved table, the lovey live band, the beautiful decorations, and the table service... She had a much better experience. If you want to be disappointed, go to the Sky Bar for Hogmanay!

Maybe this is an unfair rating, but it's not at all what was advertised to us for Hogmanay. The music/DJ was too loud to chat with others, there wasn't enough seating, and it was essentially had a club scene - which again is fine, but not how this evening was advertised. Very disappointed in the organizers. Despite having paid, we left after 20 minutes and celebrated elsewhere.

Cannot recommend SkyBar enough for any events or celebrations. Jessica and the team couldn't have been more helpful and made sure we were looked after throughout. They were super quick to get back to any enquiries and accommodated all our requests. Brilliant venue with great views and staff!

We had our Christmas Night Out here on Saturday. The food was below the standards I expected for the price, the wine choice is not ideal and massively overpriced. The DJ was not great, even a little standoffish at times. We had fun together, in spite of the subpar surroundings.

Gorgeous venue, delicious cocktails 🍸

I would say the best thing about this bar is the view. We had to wait a while for someone to come over and take our drinks and then had to catch someone’s attention to order a second round. Good atmosphere and great view.

Tired. Furniture damaged. Nowhere near the ‘hype’ advertised. The views are amazing, but the bar should be much better. Many nicer places to go to in the city. Staff OK… Would not return.

Brilliant was ter for a wedding x

Lovely venue, incredible views over the castle, city and Leith

Nice place but service wise and food wise it's a joke. Atrocious food and atrocious service.

Went for an event and the food was absolutely atrocious and staff were unpleasant. View was lovey but honestly you can get the same if not better without horrible food and overpriced drinks.

The food was so bland, my mom would've disowned me. Music is good and service is great.

Corporate breakfast was lovely, view amazing

Super host, great view from the roof of the building of Ediburgh Castle.

Incorrect information used to advertise opening times. Not open on Thursday. Rude staff when not customers fault.

Great place to have a drink with an Amazing! backdrop of Edinburgh Castle,

There is no doubt that the view of the castle is absolutely spectacular. It is certainly a memorable experience to enjoy a drink while taking in the stunning scenery. However, I must say that the rest of the bar is in a very poor state of repair. Despite its prime location and potential for an incredible atmosphere, the overall condition of the bar is quite disappointing. The decor and furnishings are outdated, and the entire space seems overdue for a full refurbishment. That being said, it is still worth a visit for a quick drink, especially if you can snag a table with a view facing the window. From this vantage point, you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery without noticing the shabby state of the interior.

Thank you so much to the team at Skybar, especially Jessica and Karol who made sure we were looked after from start to finish. Would highly recommend this place for events, the food was fantastic and the service was top notch.

Myself and my partner went for Sunday brunch and it was fantastic!! The experience was made feel more special by our hostess gaurandi (so sorry about my spelling) very chill amazing way to spend a few hours 10/10

Veldig fin utsikt, gode drinker og veldig hyggelig personale! Kommer tilbake hit

Went here for a wedding was a Lovely view and highly recommend

Paid for the window seat with prosecco and was quite disappointed. The main windows where the views are were all steamed up rendering the view pointless. About 10 minutes after sitting down the waiter asked if we wanted more drinks. We had only just opened the bottle! The actual view would be good but would recommend somewhere different.

I dont understand how people are giving bad reviews for the service. In my personal experience, the service was of the highest standard. They were very sweet and welcoming. The drinks were lovely. The view was insane!

Played at a Burns Supper Ceilidh with Auld Spice Ceilidh Band.

Very good views but the windows steamed up.x

Great staff. Fancy place and nice view

Great venue for a wedding party. Beautiful view of the castle. Limited drink options.

Fab place for a quiet getaway with perfect views of Edinburgh. Highly recommend for a lovely evening.

Lovely, bright and scrupulously clean with the most fabulous views over Edinburgh. Thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

Nice view but a bit dated inside.

Beautiful view, good drinks list, free to book.

Amazing views of the castle. Friendly and fast service.

Great view, poor drink selection. Only two whiskeys and two draft beers. Ordered the Innis & Gunn Lager, but we received an IPA, they insisted it was the lager, but we had just been drinking it down the street at the Innis & Gunn taproom and this was definitely not that.

Fantastic staff and a lovely view of Edinburgh

Visited Edinburgh at the start of the Edinburgh Festival 2022. Tried the SkyBar website, but instead of clearly stating if it was closed or fully booked, it just sent you round in circles. Tried ringing again and again - no answer. In the end we went to the venue to see if we could just come in for a drink - apparently no, as all bookings were for brunch and we would get in the way of the waiters. Same response when we asked could we just pop up and take a look at the bar. We asked about the following day and were told there was an event at 2pm, so we could TRY to get access to view the bar before it started, but not guaranteed. The Edinburgh Festival is the busiest time of the year for the city and this bar is certainly not taking advantage of 400,000+ visitors! What a wasted opportunity.

We attended a beautiful wedding here. I've lived in Edinburgh for years and never knew this place existed. The views are spectacular.

Private party. Stunning location, excellent bbq staff attentive but, at the same time, working away quietly in the background getting the job done

Awesome views of the castle and the rest of Edinburgh from the Pentland hills and the Forth estuary. For events like weddings it's a great set up with a tasty BBQ cooked buffet in the evening.

We had our wedding party here this weekend (after 2 years of waiting due to covid) it was brilliant fun. The BBQ food was so tasty, everyone said how good the food was. I wish I had had more of it myself. Lamb Koftas went down very well. Kimberley ensured the party went very smoothly she was also very good at responding to me with all the questions I had before our party, and also let me have bottles of drink delivered to her (straight from majestic) before hand, to save me from dropping them off. The view was just stunning, our guests loved the venue. The staff were brilliant behind the bar and polite. Our cake was cut and left for people to enjoy. Thank you to everyone at The Skybar for making our party an eventful evening. Even though we had very small numbers the venue never felt to big. We are both so happy we picked The SkyBar to celebrate our wedding with loved ones.

Expensive for what you get food was poor drink was expensive.

Thanks to the people that made a great night for the kimpton team thanks again the food was amazing Keep it up guys you are doing a great job

Great views over Edinburgh and the castle

The most fantastic place I have ever been

Views at night to die for but you pay a price for the experience Nice cocktails location a little out of the way but worth it for the views

Great views but lacks ambience and the cocktails weren't great, service was very slow and the windows looked like they had been cleaned with a butter wrapper. Much room for improvement!

Dreadful place - refused to sell us champagne so they had enough for the more important guests.. asked someone else and was told they did but it was at the other end of the hotel and no one could be bothered to get it. They act like it’s a swanky Mayfair bar but it’s not. Avoid.

No champagne or Pinot in stock and Prosecco served on table with no ice bucket which they had run out of. The receptionist couldn’t have been grumpier if she tried - such a shame a great waste of a good view. So many other better places in a great city.

Attended a Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce breakfast at the SkyBar. It has to be some of the best views from a venue in Edinburgh, with an added bonus of the outside terrace looking towards Edinburgh Castle. The lift getting up there is pretty small, otherwise great venue and amazing setting 👌

Great view of the castle. Other bars in the area offer this with a better experience. Three whiskies on the menu, one out of stock and one jack daniels which isn’t really a whisky. Cocktail wasn’t great. Waited 15minutes to place a drink order then 10 minutes for drink. Couldn’t catch a waiters attention to order again was brought bill 10 minutes before booking ended and told we couldn’t order anything else as there was another booking coming, despite place being half empty 🧐 had gave 2 stars for view but after writing this released it’s a 1

Lovely view and chill area to chat but drinks are completely disappointing. £15 minimum spending as deposit for table. Ordered one Red Dragon and one Failte Gu Alba. Firstly red dragon was supposed to be garnished with edible flowers but there was nothing. Asked the staff about it they said they have none at the moment. Really should have informed us that when we were ordering :) The outlook of this cocktail is as blank as my mind when I took the first sip. Second, Red Dragon has hints of Lychee, bland taste of tequila, bit mint and tastes mostly like water. Then Failte Gu Alba just tastes like johnny walker mixed with some kind of orange squash. These are £10.95 each from a supposedly bar, I literally had ones that are way better at restaurant earlier in the day for £10 each. Decided to come because of Designmynight recommendation but utterly disappointed to the point that I’m writing this review after the first sips of each ‘cocktail’. Honestly not worth the money at all. Wish I spent the £22 somewhere else. Once is more than enough.

Ended up here by accident, walked past during the day and popped in to check availability. Open weekends only I believe. There are options for Prosecco/champagne and window seats… now we know about them would definitely do it in the future. Although we room really isn’t that big to not get the benefit of the windows. Views obviously not so great at night, would like to see it in the day light. Great atmosphere and Marcello served us and was first class. Lots of cocktails and reasonably priced for the location and set up Most definitely be back

Great views , note it next 3 doors down to double tree hilton . Resonable prices

Fantastic view, nice lighting, great staff

Lovely view and nice atmosphere. Only complaint would be the cheap bulbs on the table were faulty and didn't light up, other customers were swapping lights so they could have a working light. For a bar of this calibre surely they can afford decent lighting on the table. Could do with a toilet on that floor,you have to walk down a couple of flights of stairs to get to the toilet

Dreadful place very disappointing, poor cocktails. Plain bare room with some chairs and tables, Lino flooring and plug in up lighters . Nice view of the castle but don’t go not worth a visit .

I wouldn’t bother going here - we were SO looking forward to visiting here but were so let down. We were aware when booking our table had a time slot. However by the time someone actually came to us to order our drinks, 20mins/half hour had elapsed. We were drinking our Prosecco and suddenly a bill was dropped on our table by the manager telling us we needed to pay. We still had around half hour left of our booking. We were reminded twice after that to pay our bill. Not the service you should be receiving as a customer. We then explained it took so long for our drinks order to be taken and were told there was an outdoor terrace we could go and finish our drinks on. Thinking there would be seats, maybe some heaters, we agreed. The terrace is a joke! No cover, no seats, one tiny bar table in the middle to stand at and put your drink on. The “terrace” was definitely mislead to us by the waitress! All in all this is massively over rated, underwhelming, poor service and I would go and soak up the views in another bar!!

Amazing views, food was great, drink choice less so, nae Guinness

Don't go. You enter through the ground floor, greeted by the ambience and style of a late 1990s conference centre, you ascend to the top floor, expecting the view of a lifetime. Instead, you are greeted with clubland classics blaring, cheap neon strip lights everywhere and a view that is wiped out by reflections on the glass. It feels and sounds like a rural school disco. Johnnie Walker and The Lookout have better views and are infinitely more refined.

Was pretty basic? Anticlimax to say the least- when you arrive they make it seem you’re about to enter the best bar in Edinburgh… no. Don’t get me wrong the views are lovely. We had a time slot from 5-6pm which we were reminded about over and over. We ordered our first drinks fine but before our second drink even came we were asked to pay the bill twice! Just so rushed! No need. The staff didn’t seem to know much and were inexperienced - which is fine, but just didn’t feel the service charge was merited as the service was pretty appalling. We told the manager but he couldn’t really care less - but looking through these other reviews we aren’t the only ones that had this experience

Worth a visit for the views alone. It's hard to get a booking as it's only open on weekends but is often closed on weekends for private functions. We visited during the day and the views were amazing. The cocktails were OK. No passionfruit in the pornstar martinis was a shame. The prosecco was hands down the worst i've ever had which was disappointing. But it's a great atmosphere and stunning views so definitely worth a visit.

Stayed at the Hilton Double Tree next door and booked a Friday night at the SkyBar. Staff were very welcoming, view was incredible and drinks were great, the Failte Gu Alba in particular I would highly recommend! Had our table booked for 90 minutes, but following a cancellation we were able to stay longer, which we absolutely did! Abbie and Emily looked after us and were both amazing, super friendly and fantastic customer service! Definitely worth a visit whilst you're in Edinburgh

Lovely area with stunning views over the city (including the castle). Staff friendly, helpful and welcoming. Great night. Thank you.

Hired a slot for 13 of us for a Saturday night get-together and the Skybar did not disappoint. The views are spectacular and the atmosphere was amazing. The staff were great and attentive and the drinks were brilliant. It was well managed to make sure the place was not overcrowded with people & we all had a great time and will most definitely be back!!

Didn't start well.....lady at reception 'called upto skybar ' to confirm our booking- table not ready (had paid £15 to reserve)..... funny that as we were 10mins late. drinks menu very limited- no mojitos, no pimms 🙄. Pornstar martini - no passion fruit and half...

Been so excited to visit here only to discover the only thing it has going for it is the view! The area is just a glorified conference room bar with very little atmosphere. The drinks menu is poor with a Pornstar Martini with no passion...

Visited SKYBar on Friday 13th and wasn’t what I expected. Was served quickly when we first arrived and then waited 40 minutes for another drink, even though we only had a 90 minute slot. tried to catch waiters attention to order more drinks and they...

Great view shocking service. View of the castle and Edinburgh skyline is excellent but sadly the service which is table service only is shockingly slow and completely unfriendly in that it appears to be a chore for the staff to bring you drinks. It should be noted there are also no snacks/food served in the bar. Overall a very poor experience and for the price paid not value for money.

Great views..Expensive but well worth it.Staff friendly.

Lovely setting ruined by very impersonal service from the front of house staff. Furthermore my friend had ordered food specific to her dietary requirements prior to visiting. Although confirmed, this did not appear and no attempt was made to help source something suitable. A prime example of over promising and under delivering.

I booked to go to the skybar for lunch on 5th August 2021 along with my brother and his fiance who had flown from Madrid to visit. When we arrived we went to the top floor to be rudely told by a blonde lady that...

The view of Edinburgh is beautiful over the roof tops

It was my daughter wedding there, beautiful view, lovely food and professional staff.

Fantástico lugar para hacer fiestas privadas, el servicio estupendo , gran salón para bailar u otras actividades, terraza con expectaculares vistas al Castillo de Edimburgo, pequeño bar y pequeño ropero

Good place for business parties with excellent view of Castle....

Nice place for parties, great view ove whole of Edinburgh and lovely drinks. But not suitable for active parties like latin dancing since the ventilation won't keep up and gets moist and hot like a sauna

Lovely place. Reasonably priced drinks and the views were great. Only 1 prob lift was broken when we got there and it's on 5th floor but apart from that had an amazing night

Amazing views of Edinburgh castle in a city centre location with great transport links all around.

Phenomenal view over Edinburgh's Skyline. Bright space and well equipped for meetings. Lovely square sausage rolls (very tasty!) Slightly odd arrangement for the toilets (down a flight of stairs or down in the lift to -1 level for ♿ users).

Great views of the castle and the fire works after the festival. Staff were great and chatted away to everyone. Food was good also.

Absolutely brilliant. Had a burger from the BBQ and a pint for £10. Cracking views of the city. Music volume was perfect (Loud enough to enjoy, no shouting required)

Beautiful views across to the castle and beyond

Amazing location but it just feels a bit bare. Needs some greenery/flowers/plants to fill the space more!!

Wonderful location, superb cocktails, a barbecue and stunning views of the city. A really friendly bar team with a cool atmosphere. What more could you want!!

Attended for an event through the day. Very nice establishment and the food was nice. Views are amazing.

Je suis sur que c'est très beau mais il faut avoir une invitation pour pouvoir monter... Soirées privées sauf une à deux fois par mois

SKYbar is a really nice venue. We enjoyed the view while sipping good cocktails and eating tasty burgers. The Staff was really helpful, the photographer talented. We appreciated being offered the V.I.P. area that was available at this moment. We'll come back for sure!

Slecht en geen service. Betere rooftops gehad

Would have been EXTREMELY helpful if you wrote somewhere - besides your entrance door, that the Skybar is only open one day in every month.. The woman in the reseption was rude about it and said that it was written everywhere. Nope.

Fantastic venue, good food and views over Edinburgh.

Great atmosphere, great drink and silent disco was fun too

Amazing location and stunning views of the Edinburgh Castle. A must see in town

Great veiws good for my son's wedding.

Wouldnt go as far as to call it a Sky Bar. Old and dated, not really making use of the potential of the location. Not worth a visit.