Vita Student Iona Street, Edinburgh

Had a great time there! Staff were all very attentive, special mention for Kerry Iseton who took care of our breakfast needs and was a delight. Wish more places were run like this 5 stars!

Disclaimer: This is not a paid review. I wanted to write a long one before I graduate..I have been one of the longest-standing residents at Vita, and I've decided to extend my contract until the end of my PhD. While there may be other student accommodations out there, these are the reasons I've chosen to stay. The staff (old and new ) Bradley, Kerry, Kenny, AL, Rab, Olivia, Andrew, Martha, Tanisha, Nicole, and Josephine) are genuinely some of the kindest, warmest, and most caring fairies I've met. No matter how busy they are, they are always generous with their time to listen to residents and help however they can.They've seen me through both the best and the most difficult moments of my Phd journey. When I lost a family member, they were compassionate and supportive, and I'll never forget that (Thanks Olivia and Rab). It's obvious that they genuinely care about building relationships with residents instead of simply treating us as customers. For incoming international students, don’t worry about feeling you’re welcomed or not. Staffs here are very respectful, thoughtful and culturally aware. As an international student living far from home, feeling safe and welcomed means everything to me. The staff have been safe space, comfort and belonging, and they've truly made Vita feel like a home away from home. Walking past reception is always a pleasant experience because they're always smiling and ready to say hello. Internal events for students: Vita has weekly events (artsy, fitness or cooking class) that students can attend depending on their availability. You can choose which fits your vibes the best. Location: The location is fantastic. It's only a two-minute walk to the nearest bus and tram stops, making it easy to get anywhere in Edinburgh. Supermarkets including Sainsbury's, Lidl, Tesco, Co-op, and several Asian grocery stores are all within walking distance. If you're a foodie like me, you'll be spoiled for choice with places such as Ante, Krema, Artisan Coffee Leith, KUL Café, Sicilian Pastry Shop, Sloe Lane Bakery, Coffee Tepuy, and many more just around the corner. There are also plenty of excellent restaurants nearby, including The Bami, Gaia, Bangkok on the Walk, Raku Japanese and Eleanor's. Facilities: As a mature postgraduate student, I spend most of my time working from home and only occasionally go into my office, so having good study facilities is essential. Vita provides several cosy study spaces, a meeting room, a photocopier, and unlimited coffee (which is a huge bonus during thesis season!). The study spaces are air-conditioned, making them comfortable even during the warmer months. Cleanliness is something Vita takes very seriously. Both the daytime and night teams clean the communal areas regularly using disinfectants and sanitisers. They follow a daily cleaning schedule, and I've often seen staff vacuuming and maintaining the shared spaces throughout the day. Whenever I've had issues such as a blocked drain or an unexpected leak, the maintenance and management teams have responded quickly. More importantly, they always follow up afterwards to make sure the issue has been properly resolved and doesn't happen again. No accommodation is perfect, but what truly sets this place apart is the people. The staff create an environment where residents genuinely feel valued, supported, and at home. I will feel sad to say goodbye!

Really enjoyed living at Vita Student Iona Street. The neighborhood is nice, quiet, and safe, and everything you need is nearby which makes life way easier as a student. The best thing about this place is definitely the reception staff — they’re all super friendly, welcoming, and always happy to help. They honestly make the place feel like home and deserve a lot of credit for the amazing atmosphere here. Overall a great experience, would definitely recommend it!

I love being at Vita. The highlight of my day is coming to see the staff and having breakfast now! They let me sleep all day when needed which I appreciate a lot and they’re pretty attentive to my reserved nature. Everyone here is really friendly and fun to speak to and life feels very vibrant here. Even the sad days are kind of fun and I’ve enjoyed making friends openly and getting into dumb misunderstandings. I feel very blessed to be here and wish everyone here, staff and students, an amazing life!

The overall environment of vita is excellent, and the greening is also done very well. The small courtyard downstairs is very suitable for relaxing. The staff at the reception here are also very friendly and enthusiastic. Overall, the experience is quite good.