Fraoch House

I found Fraoch House through
and Pinterest. We needed a nice place with a decent price relatively close to the train station for 2 separate nights with Edinburgh as our transit center, and it seemed pleasant enough from the online descriptions.
We arrived around 7pm on a Sunday, and Gareth and Kat had arranged for us to use the key safe. With detailed instructions, we were able to get in and get to our room with no problem. We greatly appreciated the sweet treats and Alice-​in-​Wonderland-​esque note (EAT ME) that were waiting on the entryway table.
We stayed in room 5 our first night, all the way at the top. The staircases are narrow and steep, but well-​lighted. The rooms are small but not cramped, and very tastefully appointed. I’m no interior designer, but I watch a lot of HGTV, so I’d call the décor transitional — some modern, some historic, with comforting wood and warm tones balanced with clean white linens and touches of Asia. The bed was comfortable, the linens crisp, the plugs easily accessed, the bathroom large and bright, the toiletries sufficient, and water, tea, and snacks laid out in the room. Our first night was the last night of the Festival, so we didn’t spend much time in the room other than preparation and sleep. We did need to leave the window cracked to let the air circulate, and there was a wee bit of traffic noise from the street.
The first morning, we had to catch our tour, so we just had some eggs with the lovely spread of fresh fruit, breads, cereals, and teas. We admired the lovely front room with its traditional bones and colorful pictures of what I assumed to be festival goers/​performers along the wall. Gareth brought out the credit card machine for us to pay, called us a taxi, and gave us a hearty send off, along with keys for our return on the Wednesday after.
For our return transit night, we stayed in Room 6, just across the hall from 5. Same lovely décor and set up, only this time the window opened onto the back, giving us a few of some lovely trees that had some song birds worth seeing the next morning. The following morning, we had the full Scottish breakfast, including bacon, eggs, mushrooms, sausage, and tomatoes. You could taste the freshness and high quality of the ingredients, not too mention Gareth’s enthusiasm. This day, we left our luggage in the breakfast room, so that we could get it easily on our way to the train station that afternoon.
All in all, a great experience with such warmth and personality. We highly recommend!

Fraoch House is a true slice of heaven. Each room in this cozy, boutique style B&B is an individual work of art. The décor and atmosphere is funky, clean and distinctive. When I arrived my sheets smelled fresh and sweet and my room was loaded with coffee, tea, biscuits, candies and other treats. Each room has a flat screen TV. You can watch cable television channels or borrow a DVD from the house library. There is wireless in each room if you have a laptop or smart phone and a laptop in the lobby for communal use.
The Scottish breakfast, hand cooked to your requests, is really something to rave about. Huge, hot and delicious. You will get your own little French press of coffee while you dine in their charming living room. The proprietor and his mother are absolute sweethearts and attentive to your every need.
The Leith location is close to everywhere you might want to go. The Lothian bus stops literally right outside the door and it is a 15 minute walk or 5 minute cab ride to the city center.
Some people think Leith is a «sketchy» neighborhood. True, is not in the fancy side of town, but I never felt unsafe. Use regular city folk caution after dark and you will be fine.
The only negatives were: 1) there was no phone in the room and no phone in the lobby. This is a problem if you don’t have a UK cell phone and were hoping to make calls from the lobby. The owners are so nice and friendly though I’m sure they’d let you borrow their phone in a pinch. 2) Once I got up in the morning (I like to sleep in a little) the hot water was a little lacking.
Overall though, this place is outstanding. I would stay there again.