Fantastic location and delightful hotel with a great restaurant. Room 314 was triple aspect with three good windows straight onto the fishing harbour. Masses of room and nice bathroom and accessories throughout. Comfortable bed. Restaurant food very nice - more choice would have been helpful as after two nights we had eaten everything we wanted to try. More seafood would be good - never saw lobster or crab listed on the menu. Scallops were huge and juicy and the best ever.

Cleaning of my suit (room 314) - WC was not cleaned and some old paper and a tablet was ere on the floor when we arrived and were not removed even after three days. TV in bedroom did not function - it would turn on but volume and channels could not be changed. We did not try sitting room one. Noisy young people in the early hours of Sunday morning after a Saturday night out disturbing our sleep. Loose manhole cover in street over which vehicles clattered forever!

A beautiful hotel in a fantastic place. Kirkwall - and Orkney as a whole - are great, can’t recommend them enough and this is a great place to explore from. A warm welcome from the chap on reception, a good restaurant for evening meals - good breakfast too! The rooms are absolutely fantastic and the bathrooms even more amazing! Sooo recommend this hotel when staying on Orkney, not the cheapest but certainly one of the best.

The only small gripe was the lad behind the bar was on his phone all the time I was sat there and later on too, he wasn’t engaged with the people in the place at all - needs a kick up the…

The Kirkwall Hotel is in a lovely and accessible area right on the harbour and next to the main high street. The bedroom and bathroom were very clean and comfortable and the border biscuite and cafetiere are a nice touch. The overhead shower is luxurious as is the sea kelp shower soaps. The building has a nostalgic feel with historic pictures and information on the town.

The breakfast was a little lacking considering the price. There were very little gluten free options. However, the staff were kind enough to give us a discount for this reason, thank you, we appreciate it and will be back!

The Kirkwall Hotel in Orkney deserves all five of its stars (and maybe a bonus dram). My room was so cozy and the bed so comfortable, I felt like I was being hugged by a friendly cloud each night. From the moment I stepped in, the staff greeted me like a long-lost friend returning home. That genuine, welcoming atmosphere made it easy to relax – I almost considered moving in permanently! Now, let’s talk about the whisky: the hotel’s Highland Park selection is nothing short of legendary. Their bar boasts over 100 different Highland Park whiskies (yes, you read that right), all distilled just down the road. I felt like a kid in a candy store – if candy were 18-year-old single malt and the store was a cozy Orcadian whisky den. With each dram I tried (strictly for research, of course), I found myself growing more cheerful and convinced I’d discovered heaven (or Valhalla) in a glass. Between the warm hospitality, the ultra-comfy lodgings, and that treasure trove of whisky, I left feeling like a happily spoiled guest. If you love comfort, friendly faces, and a quality dram (or three), Kirkwall Hotel is an absolute gem. Five stars – I’ll definitely be back for another “research” session at that whisky bar! Slàinte!

The hotel is atmospheric and very centrally located while being on the seaside. It is a short walk to ferries and buses and also to the cathedral and museums in Kirkwall. We loved the more spacious room 102 (although being just over a bar is not the best location for a Friday night - unless you are in the bar at that time as well :) This was a navy headquarters building so plenty of objects reminding of the past. The reception and restaurant staff are lovely and also very helpful.

The cleaning staff ritual of placing clean towels on the corridor floors where everyone walks in their outdoor shoes.

During my recent visit to Orkney, I had the pleasure of staying at the Kirkwall Hotel. This historic property exceeded expectations on all fronts. Exceptional Staff: The staff at the Kirkwall Hotel were incredibly professional and supportive. Their attentiveness and willingness to go the extra mile made my stay truly memorable. From assisting with taxi arrangements to facilitating an extended stay due to a missed flight, their genuine hospitality was exceptional. Unmatched Location: The hotel's location is unbeatable. Situated in the heart of Kirkwall, it provides convenient access to a variety of amenities. Lidl, Tesco, restaurants, souvenir shops, and the magnificent Magnus Cathedral are all within easy walking distance. Historic Charm: The Kirkwall Hotel itself is a treasure trove of history. The corridors are adorned with captivating historic pictures, offering a glimpse into the past. A particularly delightful surprise was the beautifully preserved guest register dating back to 1948, adding a unique touch to the ambiance. Peaceful and Inviting: My room was impeccably clean and offered a serene atmosphere, free from any disruptive noise. The view of the harbor was an added bonus, providing a picturesque backdrop to my stay. Highly Recommended: The Kirkwall Hotel offers an exceptional combination of comfort, history, and exceptional service. Whether you're a business traveler or a leisure guest, this hotel caters to a truly enjoyable stay. I would highly recommend the Kirkwall Hotel to anyone visiting Orkney. In fact, I look forward to returning myself in the future.

Nice restaurant and bar. Super friendly staff. Room appeared recently refurbished.

Lift was rarely working - lots of steps to the top floor. It’s an old building with an old lift and staff suggested it wasn’t on the list of things to replace. Some of the general areas (stairs, landings, resident lounge) appeared slightly dated although perfectly serviceable. Room prices were high buy Scottish standards but probably representative of ‘normal’ in Orkney which has limited accompanying making it generally more expensive than you’d like it to be.

Super location, right on the harbor! Convenient to walk around downtown.

Saturday night can be a bit noisy because dance club is around the corner but quiets down after midnight. Can be crowded and noisy at breakfast because of large tour groups. Vintage lift works but you'll need to be strong enough to open and close doors manually.

We had a harbour view room and it was great, always something to look at. Ours was a comfortable large, stylish room. Friendly staff. In a very lovely town. The bus from our 11pm ferry dropped us literally outside and arriving late felt absolutely fine.

We liked this stay a lot. The breakfast buffet was busy when we were down but everything got topped up within a couple of minutes. No complaints from us.

Location, excellent room, amazing shower and attentive staff.

The good! Quality was poor, focus on quantity not quality. Fish was dry, steak dry in the pie. Breakfast was also a disappointment, dry back and sausage, hard tasteless poached eggs. Interestingly we were not asked how our meal was, so no we didn’t feed back during our stay.