As a Hilton Diamond member I have stayed in lots of different Hilton hotels around the UK over many years and I can honestly say this hotel was the best by a mile...it really did exceed my expectations.
I used my points to stay two nights at this hotel, taking my husband away for a romantic city break. He has never stayed in a Hilton hotel before, so I was slightly worried as they can sometimes be a little run down and corporate / sole-less...but not the Hilton Carlton Edinburgh.
The hotel has recently been refurbished and they have done a good job. Our room was fantastic, no real views but you didn’t need it as we only came back to our room to sleep. As so many other reviewers have already said the location of the hotel has to be the best in Edinburgh.
The Executive lounge was great, although really disappointed there was no sparkling wine, as available in most other hilton lounges. But there was a choice of wine, beer and soft drinks etc. You could even get a full Sunday roast on Sunday evening...wow!
Hotel staff were nice enough, helpful but not overly friendly. They did send up to our room some sweat treats when we arrived which was a really nice touch and were helpful with all other requests....we couldn’t have asked for more.
Breakfast was great, although service was a little slow.
Would I stay here again, absolutely.

Good things first. Stylish building outside and stylish lobby area and also Marco Pierre White's restaurant upstairs. Location couldn't be much better. Short walk away from Waverley Train Station, where you can go for example to Glasgow. Also steps away from Royal Mile, where is beautiful Holyrood Palace in other end and amazing Edinburgh Castle in other end. But then those not so good things. I was our anniversary and I took Executive Room and 5 nights costs 1248£(=1427€ or 1758$). Because Edinburgh isn't so expensive than London for example, so we were waiting 5 star experience. However view from our room was just AC machines/ventilations(check my pic) and there also were side view from another rooms, so we decided to keep our curtains close all the time. Lounge itself was small and no views either, selection was real limited considering many other Hilton Lounges we've been before. Normal breakfast wasn't included for that price, so we ate that in Lounge and selection was real limited then too(one type of cheese, one type of juice, no fresh veggies etc.). So overall OK stay, but we just expected as good "level" as before in Hilton Executive rooms.

Good points:

Luggage taken directly to your room if not ready on arrival
Everywhere clean and tidy
Central location

Bad points:

Staff were quite corporate, bland and not that knowledgeable. Always seemed to be busy and guests were almost an inconvenience
Shower poor, expected at least rainfall type
Exec lounge guests should be monitored more carefully, a full on works party took place with people being let in by the one with a card.
Very noisy floorboards. First night I barely slept, could hear shouting/loud talking from somewhere in the hotel from 2am. Sounds of running across the floor and repeated, intermittent thumping noise like something being knocked on, doors slamming etc. (this was a Monday night & I was on the top floor!!)
Fire alarm went off randomly on and off 1 day but staff claimed to have no knowledge of it.

Advice to the hotel would be to consider all guests equally, don't just pander to the business users. Business accounts are only good if the Company has the budget in these times of austerity. In my company, most are forced to travel early/late to avoid staying over now. Individual travellers have control of where they stay, they recommend to work colleagues, friends, family etc.

I wouldn't rush to stay here again as I felt invisible as a guest, nobody asked at any point or when I was leaving if my visit had been good. I gave them plenty of opportunities to excel but the response each time was rather lacklustre and disinterested. Bar lacked any atmosphere and on the whole I was disappointed.

And Hilton, please change the toiletries, been the same for a few years now and I don't know anybody who likes them, really poor quality compared to most hotels.