The Kirkwall Hotel

Atmosphere and welcoming

colazione ottima

View from bedroom window of the harbour.

Dinner burger meat was tasteless and breakfast was of poor quality. Water leaked from the bathroom shower constantly on to the vinyl floor causing a health and safety issue. {slip hazard}

Breakfast was lovely and our rooms were large and comfortable. The hotel is in a prime location on the harbour.

La ubicación

Habitación pequeña

Room was excellent

Scaffolding obscured our view totally & booking.com never informed us about this. Hotel staff were as accommodating as they could be

Brekkie was great- Bathroom was good.

The room was very small. No storage .bed too big for the small room.

Location

Small bathroom with very small shower cubicle. Bed was double size and not king (2 single beds together) as advertised. Harbour view was obscured by scaffolding and netting and loose piece of scaffold outside window clanged in the wind for the duration of our stay. For rate paid we expected a much higher standard. When challenged on having paid for a harbour view/ sea view and not getting it because of building works the hotel did give us a credit on spend in the hotel to take what we paid closer to a standard room rate - but had to spend at the hotel.

Sea views excellent breakfast room large and clean what’s not to like.

Could do with a new carpet.

Convenient. Clean. Comfortable

Undergoing renovations so view was limited. Was noisy outside and hot weather meant window had to be open, but at least it could open.

Location is excellent, good food at a fair price, staff were first rate

The room was lovely but terribly overpriced. Putting a premium room above the very noisy public bar seems to be a huge own-goal bound to generate negative feedback!

It is well located right across the street from the ferry terminal in Kirkwall

There was construction covering the windows to our room. They didn’t notify us until it was too late to cancel. The “suite” is still just one room. The other room was very small. The staff were rude and indifferent. We asked them to makeup the sofa bed in our “suite” and they simply left the pillows and blankets in a pile leaving us to do it ourselves. There is no one to help you in and out with your luggage. The staff can’t even be bothered to say hello when you walk in. When we checked in at 3:00 PM there was nobody at the desk and we had to wait 10 minutes for someone to show up. Then they couldn’t find our reservation claiming we didn’t have one even after I showed them our Booking.com confirmation. When my mother complained they shrugged and said there was nothing they could do. The manager was never available when we asked to speak to him. We left messages for him but he never responded. This hotel is not even remotely worth the price. Orkney is beautiful and there are many cheaper and nicer accommodations. I have traveled to over 60 countries in my life and this was one of the most negative experiences I have had. DON’T STAY HERE.

Great position for the town and ferries. Modern decor in rooms.

Unfortunately our room 107 was very noisy. There were some kind of vents just outside the windows which made a terrible hum. As the weather was warm we needed the windows open but their noise made it impossible to sleep. Such a shame as the room was nice.

We reserved a king suite which was very comfortable. The linens are high quality. Our room had a lovely view of the harbor. The location of the hotel was excellent with easy access to all parts of the main Orkney Island. Breakfast was a good buffet. We enjoyed a drink at the lounge/bar. The staff were all excellent. The front desk did a great job.

It was nice to have a lift for the suitcases, but it was interesting to operate. There were a few corners of the bathroom along the window that need cleaning attention.

Slightly marred by the scaffolding

Location was nice, room was nicely furnished (if a little cramped), general atmosphere in the hotel was nice.

There were a large number of small things that, taken together, for a price point of over £300 per night, were very disappointing. There’s a serious mismatch between the Kirkwall’s price point and the service provided.

Central and classical

Good location, comfortable and clean room, friendly staff

We were warned about roofing work after booking and knew scaffolding would obstruct the sea view. We did not expect the very loud noise in our room.

Location was "point zero". Staff at the bar, restaurant and front desk were friendly and helpful. They seemed a good team all around. Dinner was great. So was breakfast. Hotel is 136 years old but has all the infrastructure needed. Dinner hall, Highland park bar and lobby/rooms were great!

Hotel had its facade refurbished - wish we did not overlap with that but at least it is getting done :) New rooms could have done with a bit more of attention but I understand the times we live in..

Situation. Staff.

Too pricey. Obvious lack of competition.

Flott rom

Frokosten var ikke bra. Enkelt utvalg som på et billig hotell.

Great location and wonderful large rooms. Staff were excellent

Price seemed very high but at least backed up by quality

Great location. Clean and spacious room and bathroom. Friendly staff. Great food in the restaurant for dinner.

Buffet breakfast food did not get replaced near the end of the breakfast time frame. So the last guests did not have the full breakfast options.

Nice hotel in a great location in Kirkwall. Dinner was good. No major complaints.

The room had an old, musty smell.

The location of the hotel was excellent with easy access to the centre of Kirkwall. Breakfast was good albeit the pastries could be better. The food at dinner was excellent and we were able to share the delicious pizza without trouble. The hotel had a very comfortable lounge on the first floor which was a real bonus. My suite was comfortable and had all the facilities I wanted. The staff were all great.

The lift was interesting but characterful. It can get very busy if there are large tour groups.

Good breakfast,great location

Nothing much

Location

Room not clean They did not clean the room every day I had to ask for towels three times Food in restaurant was horrible and expensive

Excellent location right on waterfront and within blocks to all the shops and restaurants.

Some renovations going on - there were no issues with noise but the front is covered in a tarp.

Hotel caratteristico perché storico. Ottima posizione, a due passi dal porto e dal centro. La nostra camera era stata ristrutturata ed era molto accogliente, con parecchio tweed. Letti comodi, con biancheria molto fine e curata. Bellissima vista sul porto e sulla baia. Comodo il parcheggio gratuito a due minuti a piedi dall'hotel.

La ragazza alla reception, non all'altezza dell'hotel. Parlava molto velocemente e non ha cercato di farsi capire nemmeno quando l'abbiamo pregata di parlare più lentamente perché non comprendevamo. Gentile il resto del personale.

Great location. Friendly staff. Comfortable room and nice restaurant.

Good location but a very poor quality hotel. We booked a harbour view room and on arrival discovered that scaffolding was being erected in front of our window as the roof was going to be replaced. Reception did not have another room available and said there was nothing else that they could do. We had to keep the blind down on our window for the 4 days we stayed at the Kirkwall as workmen were constantly on the scaffolding outside our window. with continuous noise from 8am to 6.30pm each day . Reception also stated that guests were emailed about the works which is untrue as we did not receive any prior communication. We were then told that compensation would be offered but we would not get this as we had booked through an agent!! Overall the reception staff were very unhelpful and gave conflicting views on the works and compensation . Had dinner in their restaurant the first evening and the quality of the food was to say the least very poor and the member of staff serving us agreed and said we would not be charged for dinner. Their actual words were the dinner was not to their usual standard and she was very sorry for what we had been served. We did not have any more evening meals at the Hotel. Breakfast was shambolic due to large bus parties and when we asked for some hot milk we were told that as they were very busy they would provide some as soon as possible, eventually we received the equivalent of an egg cup of hot milk. We asked for more much to the frustration of the server and received another egg cup of milk. The following morning i requested a kipper from the menu and it was served half cooked. Overall an extremely disappointing stay at the Kirkwall Hotel.

Clean,comfortable, friendly & helpful staff. Easy to find & check in late at night when coming off the ferry from Shetland

Great location Loved the harbour view each morning

Very warm room and had to open the window during the day to keep the temperature down but at night had to close the windows to keep harbor activity noise out. Wish there was a fan

Amazing staff, great location, and so walkable!

Not a thing.

Convenient. The check in and staff were excellent. Good meal with very friendly staff.

We had dinner here one night but didn't stay overnight. The food was quite good but extremely expensive. The wating staff were friendly but probably overwhelmed by a large coach party. Overall we were not impressed. We waited five minutes, despite prebooking, before anyone paid any attention to us, and had to pay at the bar when leaving because "the waiting staff were having their dinner." There are cheaper and more attentive options in Kirkwall.

Town centre was close Great staff

Maybe our room was a little outdated, otherwise great hotel

Lovely old hotel on the waterfront in the centre of the town. Our room was very comfortable and our stay there was great.

We were on the second floor and we could hear the creaky floors above us. This didn’t bother us as part of staying in a lovely old building but others might find it annoying.

Location, room lovely, loved the view of the pier, breakfast great, had no trouble parking our car out front.

Nothing

Staff awesome. Room was so lovely. Spent so much just watching time go by. Food the 2 nights (out of the 8 we stayed was spot on). Met so many lovely people here every morning at breakfast. The staff are like family. We love this place so much we have already booked for next year with the same view. So sad we had to come back to real life. See you next year.

excellent location on the waterfront with great view of the harbour. Front desk and hotel staff where very nice, helpful and made the stay special.

Lower floor rooms at the front of the hotel are over a public bar so can be loud until closing time plus their is a night club down the street and taxi rank opposite the hotel that can make the street loud until 2pm at the weekend. Weekday its ok just an issue at the weekend.

If you’re looking for a juicy, succulent handmade fresh burger - don’t order the one from here. Very obviously from frozen. Service and staff were friendly enough, very disappointing food.

My room was very comfortable and cozy. The bathroom was decorated very nicely and welcoming. Excellent extras provided with great coffee and treats. I loved the decor!

One morning at breakfast one of the employees wasn't very pleasant. She kept asking us when we were leaving and she ended up rearranging tables and chairs forcing us to leave. As a small group tour we were told breakfast was available between 7am -9:30am.

Really comfortable stay in lovely refurbished room with harbour view. Breakfast was ok but decided to eat elsewhere in evenings.

This is a lovely hotel and in my experience the best hotel in Orkney. The rooms are beautiful. They have loads of character. They are very comfortable and spotlessly clean and they are warm. They also have a huge lounge area where guests can relax and chill with sea views and a lovely bar. The breakfasts are delicious and the staff are extremely helpful, welcoming and accommodating. The customer service is fantastic here. I have stayed here 3 times and once at The Shore hotel next door, and I cannot fault the hotel or the service. Its a very comfortable and welcoming stay. I'm extremely grateful to Stuart, one of the reception staff at the Kirkwall Hotel who went the extra mile to make me feel welcome. All round, a great experience and I'm very grateful to The Kirkwall Hotel for everything they did for me during my time in Orkney. Highly recommend this place. You wont find better in Orkney and the prices are reasonable for what Orkney prices are.

Such a lovely hotel overlooking the bay and harbour, close to the airport and an easy walk into the town with all its pretty individual shops, cafes and galleries. Very helpful staff, efficient and friendly. Excellent breakfasts and restaurant menu and service was great and good value. Our twin room had lovely views across the bay and harbour. Some fascinating historical pictures and old ledgers in the main stairwell.

Great location. Comfortable room. Good restaurant. Staff very helpful.

No car park. However we were able to park close by.

Staff were excellent, very helpful and friendly

Minor cleanliness improvement opportunity with bedroom carpet

Great location, excellent breakfast, clean. Staff super friendly and helpful.

Very well appointed , cosy and comfortable room. The bar and restaurant areas are very nicely styled creating a welcoming feel.

My stay was too short!!

We liked the location, breakfast, the room.

Overall everything was great. The dinner was ok, but not great. It would have been helpful if the staff at the reception gave us the information that you can see all the important sites by a day pass on the busses.

Friendly staff , good service and clean

Room a bit noisy

We were in Orkney for a very short family affair. We stayed a night at the Kirkwall. We knew our arrival would be late (the ferry from Aberdeen arrives at 11pm) but a quick email to the hotel and this wasn't an issue. Lovely room, with a warm and comfortable bed and a fantastic shower. The breakfast was excellent and made us ready for the day. We also stayed for dinner before the ferry back to Aberdeen and that was also excellent. The hotel looks a little dated, but actually it's modern equipment under the surface. Staff were friendly and I would stay there again. One little thing to point out to visitors,the hotel has no parking, relying on street parking. Not a problem in January, but different in Summer. However there are big carparks within a few hundred metres.

While I travel around a lot at present, I am more of a Air BnB type and don't stay in Hotel-type hotels very often However the terrible weather in January meant I had to travel on MJ Hjaltland from Aberdeen, arriving at 11 pm. Given the state of the roads, this meant I could not get over to Stromness that night, so I had booked a room at the Kirkwall Hotel at short notice, the same morning. I then made the mistake of walking from the Northland Ferry terminal into Kirkwall, with all the snow and slush this took at least an hour, resulting in me arriving well after midnight. But being a big hotel, they had an incredibly pleasant night clerk on duty who could not have been more kind or helpful. Good nights sleep then a really excellent breakfast - generous portions of tomatoes and mushrooms, and with the orange juice you're already at three portions of your five a day. All the other staff were great as well. And for filling in a survey, apparently I will get a £10 credit towards a meal, which I will use.

It is an old hotel and this is not a criticism, simply an observation. The room numbering is a bit idiosyncratic. However why should this be afault? It's an old hotel and should be entitled to do things it's way, the way things have always been.

Breakfast crew not so welcoming

Beautifully presented lots of history, restaurant was ace and the staff were all so friendly.

Rear facing rooms became very smelly from the kitchen if you left the windows open for air, however reception gave us a fan to stop having to open the window

Wonderful Hotel. Excellent room overlooking Bay. Staff are brilliant. Very friendly and couldn't be more helpful. Food was delicious. Thoroughly recommend Thank you 😊

Traditional Hotel which oozes character with well equipped modern rooms - restaurant is superb with a well stocked whisky bar

Service was great

Fantastic location and rooms a very good size. Excellent showers

Nothing

Location

Hotel did not have its own parking lot

Great location friendly staff great restaurant

Staff lovely. Food very good. In the room the decor was fine and nice tea and coffee. Towels and shower all good. Bed comfy.

Room right opposite pub. Window open and so high up no way of closing. Pub shut at 1am but people still loud until 3am. Then cleaning vehicle at 6.30 am. So managed 3hours sleep. Hallways shabby and door to room very shabby and needing redecorating.

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…

Very dog friendly

Breakfast could be improved

Location

Rooms were small. Porridge at breakfast would have been nice.