--- title: "Argyle Backpackers vs Black Ivy: which hotel is better?" description: "Pick Argyle Backpackers. It comes out ahead on 6 of 14 compared facts. Argyle Backpackers or Black Ivy in Edinburgh? Compare guest ratings, location…" url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/argyle-backpackers-edinburgh-vs-black-ivy-edinburgh/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-14 --- # Argyle Backpackers vs Black Ivy Both are in Edinburgh, 740 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Guesthouse · ★★★★ · Southside ## [Argyle Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/argyle-backpackers-edinburgh/) - **Guest rating:** 7.9 · Good - **Location score:** 6.6 - **Score by category:** 6 of 14 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1153295/agoda/?lang=en) Hotel · ★★★★ · Tollcross ## [Black Ivy](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/black-ivy-edinburgh/) - **Guest rating:** 9.0 · Excellent - **Score by category:** 5 of 14 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1211981/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick Argyle Backpackers It comes out ahead on 6 of 14 compared facts. 740 m apart. ### Choose Black Ivy if you want - the more consistently praised stay - more restaurants on the doorstep ### Why is Argyle Backpackers better than Black Ivy? 1. 250 m closer to public transport (−250 m) 2. 9 more sights within 1 km (+9) 3. Earlier check-in (13:00 vs 15:00) (−2h) ### Why is Black Ivy better than Argyle Backpackers? 1. Higher guest rating (9.0 vs 7.9) (+1.1) 2. 33 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+33) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Argyle Backpackers | Black Ivy | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 7.9 | – | | Location | 6.6 | – | | Beach access | 0.0 | – | | Public transport | 5.0 | – | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 8.2 | 8.7 (+0.5) | | Guest rating | 7.9 | 9.0 (+1.1) | | Number of reviews | 34 (+12) | 22 | | Google rating | 3.8/5 | – | | Google reviews | 332 | – | | Rank in Edinburgh | top 79% | top 29% (+50%) | | Location | | Location score | 6.6 (+0.8) | 5.8 | | Distance to the centre | 1.3 km (−180 m) | 1.5 km | | To public transport | 1.1 km (−250 m) | 1.3 km | | To the airport | 11 km | 11 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 39 | 72 (+33) | | Sights within 1 km | 12 (+9) | 3 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | | Rooms | 1 | – | | Listed amenities | 2 | 9 (+7) | | Policies | | Check-in from | 13:00 (−2h) | 15:00 | | Check-out until | 11:00 | 11:00 | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ | | Free parking | – | ✓ | | Laundry | – | ✓ | | Luggage storage | – | ✓ | | Bar | – | ✓ | | Room service | – | ✓ | | Terrace | – | ✓ | [Swap sides](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/black-ivy-edinburgh-vs-argyle-backpackers-edinburgh/) ## Location 740 m apart ## Argyle Backpackers or Black Ivy: common questions ### Which is better, Argyle Backpackers or Black Ivy? Argyle Backpackers leads in 6 of 14 categories, including number of reviews, location score, distance to the centre. Black Ivy is stronger in StayVersus score, guest rating, rank in Edinburgh. ### Which is cheaper, Argyle Backpackers or Black Ivy? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? Argyle Backpackers is closer: 1.3 km from the centre, against 1.5 km for Black Ivy. ### How far apart are Argyle Backpackers and Black Ivy? The two hotels are 740 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Argyle Backpackers vs Quartermile Apartments](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/argyle-backpackers-edinburgh-vs-quartermile-apartments-edinburgh/) - [Argyle Backpackers vs Residence Inn by Marriott Edinburgh](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/argyle-backpackers-edinburgh-vs-residence-inn-by-marriott-edinburgh-edinburgh/) - [Argyle Backpackers vs Southside Guest House](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/argyle-backpackers-edinburgh-vs-southside-guest-house-edinburgh/) - [Argyle Backpackers vs SC Edinburgh](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/argyle-backpackers-edinburgh-vs-sc-edinburgh-edinburgh/) - [Black Ivy vs The Bruntsfield, Edinburgh](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/black-ivy-edinburgh-vs-the-bruntsfield-edinburgh-edinburgh/) - [Black Ivy vs Menzies Guest House](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/black-ivy-edinburgh-vs-menzies-guest-house-edinburgh/) - [Black Ivy vs Valentine City Centre Guest House](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/black-ivy-edinburgh-vs-valentine-city-centre-guest-house-edinburgh/) - [Black Ivy vs Cruachan Guest House](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/black-ivy-edinburgh-vs-cruachan-guest-house-edinburgh/) ## Compare now Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/) --- Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/argyle-backpackers-edinburgh-vs-black-ivy-edinburgh/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/