I had a wonderful stay at this property! The front-desk receptionist was incredibly helpful and accommodating, ensuring my requests were met promptly. They went out of their way to change my bed to the one I specifically requested, which made my stay much more comfortable. The bathroom and toilet were impeccably clean, a detail that truly added to the overall positive experience. The location is absolutely perfect—right in the heart of the city and within walking distance of major tourist attractions. It made exploring the area incredibly convenient. I can’t recommend this place enough and will definitely be returning in the near future. Excellent service, cleanliness, and location all in one!

The microwave was a little dirty, had to clean before using it. Aside that my stay was great

I really liked the location of the hostel, literally just down the road from bustling High Street you were in the middle of Edinburghs beautiful architecture and immediately got a first impression of Scotland’s capital. Just a short walk from the hostel you could easily visit Royal Mile, St Gile’s Cathedral as well as Cockburn Street with its cute and cozy coffee shops and vintage stores. I’ve been to the common room & kitchen just once to take a look: it seemed like a very social place, full of people, talk and laughter. That’s why High Street Hostel seems like a place where you could easily meet new people if you wanted to.

The bathrooms, especially the sinks, weren’t 100% clean :/. Due to the location near High Street, it was very nosy and loud, especially very early in the morning!

6 bed female dorm - All beds have outlets, sheets seemed clean, you get a key to the dorm room and a key to your locker, lockers are THIN, I could only fit my small day bag inside people had to leave suitcases and larger bags on the floor which takes up space, yes the number of showers and toilets is very limited (3 of each on each floor and each floor has multiple dorms) surprisingly I never had to wait but I get up early, bathrooms were hard to maneuver in, a few more hooks and shelves would make a huge difference for people, 10 £/€/$ key deposit or a government ID, showers got hot and had good water pressure, staff were mostly very young volunteers but everyone was friendly, I asked to move to a bad away from the door and they happily accommodated me, the lounge is large and gets very crowded, large kitchen that is easily accessible, I was there in mid June and the temp was okay the heaters never actually turned on staff said they are “on a timer”, we kept a window cracked for airflow and smell control, sleeping temp was fine

The site needs more toilets and showers, bathrooms need more shelves and hooks, dorms need more hooks especially for hanging wet clothes after the rain, a mirror in the dorm would help mitigate overcrowding in bathrooms, note that lockers will not fit luggage plan accordingly and keep your stuff tidy so people can walk around

I traveled alone, and my primary concern was safety. I can confidently say that High Street Hostel is a very safe place. The staff was amazing and assisted me multiple times during my stay. The hygiene standards exceeded my expectations—despite the New Year's crowds, both the rooms and bathrooms were clean. The lounge area was fantastic, offering a great space to meet new people or just relax—something many hostels don’t provide. Additionally, the location is unbeatable, right in the heart of Edinburgh, allowing you to walk to almost all the major attractions. I 100% recommend this hostel and would definitely choose High Street Hostel again if I return!

Cute hostel in a historic and atmospheric old building right in the heart of Edinburgh Old Town. All the famous sites like Victoria and Cockburn Street, Giles Cathedral, the Milkman building, Candlemaker Row are literally within walking distance. The staff is extremely professional and always available. The hostel gives a good sense of security, with some activity always happening at the entrance and checks done on people coming in. The lounge is an airy Scottish hall with cute alcoves by the windows, tons of books, a pool table and comfy couches. The hostel is tastefully decorated to give visitors an atmosphere of old Edinburgh and Scottish homeliness right upon arrival. TL;DR: Fantastic location. Amazing atmosphere and historic charm. Friendly, active and professional staff. Clean, spacey rooms. Cheap, nice breakfast. Great value for money, and most of all, feels like a cozy and safe place to sleep while on your travels!

Great Location, we stayed one night here after a long train journey from London and were leaving early in the am for the Highlands so for this purpose it was perfect. Checked in, headed on foot to close by bar, used the shared bathroom with no issues. It was all we needed. Edinburgh accomodation is expensive and High Street Hostel struck the right balance for us as normally hotel people!

The stairs with our big suitcases! (We could've chosen to leave them in a designated storage area in the lobby though!! but we wanted them with us upstairs) It's a gorgeous old historic building so lugging them up and down was worth it for us.

Very friendly and helpful staff. Rooms and bathrooms were always clean, spacious kitchen and cozy area for eating and socializing. It's right in the middle of old town Edinburgh, so it can be noisy at night when people are partying late, but besides that good location, everything is in near reach and you don't have to walk much to anything. Reception is open 24/7 so you can check out in the middle of the night or ask staff about concerns. Breakfast (3£) and a cleaning service (5£) for your clothes are available, a fair price in my opinion.

You have to pay extra for towels, it's only 2£ but you should be aware. There are no curtains for the bunk beds, something that should definitely be fixed, just for privacy reasons.

I recently stayed at Portree Independent Hostel and I have to say, it is hands down the cleanest dormitory mixed bed hostel I have ever experienced. The staff at this hostel really prioritize cleanliness, and it shows - there were no unpleasant smells, no bed bugs, nothing but fresh, clean linens and spotless rooms. Every time a guest checks out, the hostel staff remove the covers and wash them, vacuum the floors, and ensure that everything is tidy and fresh for the next guest. The location of the hostel is also fantastic, as it is close to almost everything you could need during your stay.

The only downside I found was that there were no lockers or sockets next to each bed, which could be inconvenient for some travelers. However, despite this minor inconvenience, I was overall extremely satisfied with my stay at Portree Independent Hostel. If cleanliness is your top priority when choosing accommodation, I highly recommend giving this hostel a try.

I really liked how involved and friendly the staff were! Lily, Billie and Thomas were especially excellent. Every-time myself and my friend came back from our day trips we were welcomed with smiles and greetings. The staff were very helpful with where to go on certain nights and what tours are worth going to. The staff also organised activities each day which are very enjoyable and a way you can interact and get to know the other guests. In relation to the hostel itself it’s in an excellent location near all the top attractions and best night clubs! It is very clean and has everything you need to enjoy your stay and be comfortable. Thanks for the best time!! Regards your fellow Irish guests, Karen and Aisling🫶

Just the lockers were a bit small but no major issue at all

Location was PERFECT...central, yet quiet! Staff was beyond exceptional and the entire establishment had a really great vibe to it! I would highly recommend and would definitely stay here again. In fact, I already have, twice since!😄

The kitchen is completely closed all night (until 7am) so if you wished to store leftovers in the fridge or access food for early departure, you would need to store at room temp in your room...with a no food policy🤔 (Who wants to smell others' food when sleeping/recovering, but no choice with closed kitchen?) Anywho, the rest more than compensates for this minor inconvenience.