Guidebook for Edinburgh
Food Scene
Our automatic go-to restaurant for breakfast, coffee, lunch, tea, dinner and late night suppers. Great Italian good, consistently good, excellent service. Watch out for the produce in season (stuffed courgette flowers for example...)
23 locals recommend
Contini George Street
103 George StreetOur automatic go-to restaurant for breakfast, coffee, lunch, tea, dinner and late night suppers. Great Italian good, consistently good, excellent service. Watch out for the produce in season (stuffed courgette flowers for example...)
Probably our favourite fish restaurant, excellent wine list, be sure to book ahead. A short walk to the National Museum of Scotland in Chamber Street and down the road from the Elephant House where Harry Potter was born
124 locals recommend
Ondine
2 George IV BridgeProbably our favourite fish restaurant, excellent wine list, be sure to book ahead. A short walk to the National Museum of Scotland in Chamber Street and down the road from the Elephant House where Harry Potter was born
Perfect for late night suppers, bustling fish restaurant with friendly service. In Thistle Street so also ideal as a pit-stop around shopping at Jane Davidson (fashion), Pam Jenkins (shoes) or Joseph Bonnar (jewellery) and many others
119 locals recommend
Fishers In The City
58 Thistle StreetPerfect for late night suppers, bustling fish restaurant with friendly service. In Thistle Street so also ideal as a pit-stop around shopping at Jane Davidson (fashion), Pam Jenkins (shoes) or Joseph Bonnar (jewellery) and many others
Great cocktails before dinner, great food and excellent wine list. Not a place to dash in and out....
49 locals recommend
The Honours Brasserie
58A N Castle StGreat cocktails before dinner, great food and excellent wine list. Not a place to dash in and out....
Take the tram towards York Place, get off where the tram terminates, walk 5 mins down Broughton St for this lively French restaurant with excellent food and good service. The bar downstairs is even livelier.
173 locals recommend
L'Escargot Bleu Restaurant
56 Broughton StTake the tram towards York Place, get off where the tram terminates, walk 5 mins down Broughton St for this lively French restaurant with excellent food and good service. The bar downstairs is even livelier.
Classic Sicilian home cooking at this deli, wine shop and restaurant. If you can attract Mary Contini's attention, she writes cookery books and knows the history of the family to fascinating detail.
189 locals recommend
Valvona Crolla
19 Elm RowClassic Sicilian home cooking at this deli, wine shop and restaurant. If you can attract Mary Contini's attention, she writes cookery books and knows the history of the family to fascinating detail.
Shopping
Another typically high end Scottish brand for home furnishings. Again, not cheap but fabulous for presents for others and for yourself!
6 locals recommend
ANTA Scotland Ltd
91 George StAnother typically high end Scottish brand for home furnishings. Again, not cheap but fabulous for presents for others and for yourself!
A taxi ride away, the farmer's market is open on Sundays. But down the road in Raeburn Place is the best butcher's shop (George Bower), fishmongers (Armstrong's) and deli (Herbie of Edinburgh). If you need a bigger shop, then Waitrose is further along the road
325 locals recommend
Stockbridge Market
Saunders StreetA taxi ride away, the farmer's market is open on Sundays. But down the road in Raeburn Place is the best butcher's shop (George Bower), fishmongers (Armstrong's) and deli (Herbie of Edinburgh). If you need a bigger shop, then Waitrose is further along the road
A lovely shopping street, ten minutes walk from the apartment. The usual brands plus a number of high-end Scottish brands and conveniently, Contini restaurant in the middle of it for a pit-stop
20 locals recommend
George Street (Stop GL) station
A lovely shopping street, ten minutes walk from the apartment. The usual brands plus a number of high-end Scottish brands and conveniently, Contini restaurant in the middle of it for a pit-stop
A very interesting street. Start at Queen's Street across Heriot Row and you will see Glass and Thomson (the quintessential Edinburgh coffee shop and the subject of Alexander McCall-Smith's books), the Scottish Gallery for contemporary art (and a few other smaller galleries around), antique shops including Quadrant Antiques where the owner Sandy Leask is great to chat to about antiques and life generally, and a fabulous cashmere/wool/clothes shop called Epitome. If you like Chinese food, Kwei-Lin would be a good place to stop for lunch - excellent food.
15 locals recommend
Dundas Street
Dundas StreetA very interesting street. Start at Queen's Street across Heriot Row and you will see Glass and Thomson (the quintessential Edinburgh coffee shop and the subject of Alexander McCall-Smith's books), the Scottish Gallery for contemporary art (and a few other smaller galleries around), antique shops including Quadrant Antiques where the owner Sandy Leask is great to chat to about antiques and life generally, and a fabulous cashmere/wool/clothes shop called Epitome. If you like Chinese food, Kwei-Lin would be a good place to stop for lunch - excellent food.
Arts & Culture
Houses the best art collection in the world. You actually should not come to Edinburgh without at least popping your head through the door.
1010 locals recommend
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford RdHouses the best art collection in the world. You actually should not come to Edinburgh without at least popping your head through the door.
Modern and contemporary art inside, great sculpture park outside and healthy delicious cafe inside and outside. Under ten minutes walk from the apartment. Once you've enjoyed the Gallery, you could take the lovely walk along Leith Water which starts just below the bridge next to the Gallery. It's one of the most peaceful and delicious walks I know.
1010 locals recommend
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford RdModern and contemporary art inside, great sculpture park outside and healthy delicious cafe inside and outside. Under ten minutes walk from the apartment. Once you've enjoyed the Gallery, you could take the lovely walk along Leith Water which starts just below the bridge next to the Gallery. It's one of the most peaceful and delicious walks I know.
Great exhibitions, permanent hangings, and be sure to look up to the fabulous ceiling in the main hall, and around the mural on the first floor mezzanine. Plus a good healthy lunch before browsing in the shop
523 locals recommend
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
1 Queen StGreat exhibitions, permanent hangings, and be sure to look up to the fabulous ceiling in the main hall, and around the mural on the first floor mezzanine. Plus a good healthy lunch before browsing in the shop
You could spend all day here and still not see everything. This is a major museum in which to linger over diverse collections through the history of Scotland, the wonders of nature and world cultures - all under one roof
1378 locals recommend
National Museum of Scotland
You could spend all day here and still not see everything. This is a major museum in which to linger over diverse collections through the history of Scotland, the wonders of nature and world cultures - all under one roof
A tapestry workshop and exhibition. You can see the weavers at work as well as the results of their work. We also love the building, which was converted from Victorian swimming baths by the visionaries Alastair and Elizabeth Salvesen
39 locals recommend
Dovecot Studios
10 Infirmary StA tapestry workshop and exhibition. You can see the weavers at work as well as the results of their work. We also love the building, which was converted from Victorian swimming baths by the visionaries Alastair and Elizabeth Salvesen
Parks & Nature
The best view of Edinburgh can be seen from the top of Arthur's Seat - only a short hike up from near the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Then slide down and have lunch next to the Queen's Gallery
1859 locals recommend
Arthur's Seat
The best view of Edinburgh can be seen from the top of Arthur's Seat - only a short hike up from near the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Then slide down and have lunch next to the Queen's Gallery
Another vantage point for a fabulous Edinburgh view. You can also enjoy following Edinburgh's history on information panels while looking down on today's historic Edinburgh.
1098 locals recommend
Calton Hill
Calton HillAnother vantage point for a fabulous Edinburgh view. You can also enjoy following Edinburgh's history on information panels while looking down on today's historic Edinburgh.
Essentials
You should be able to get most things here. It's a short walk from the apartment, just beyond the tram stop. There is also an ATM, a Boots the Chemist, coffee bars and basic eateries
194 locals recommend
Sainsbury's Local
32-36 Shandwick PlYou should be able to get most things here. It's a short walk from the apartment, just beyond the tram stop. There is also an ATM, a Boots the Chemist, coffee bars and basic eateries
Getting Around
Nearest tram stop, we're half-way between the airport (25 minutes on the tram) and York Place (John Lewis and Harvey Nicholls department stores, Omni Vue multiplex cinema, Broughton Rd shopping area, National Portrait Gallery)
7 locals recommend
West End - Princes Street station
Atholl CrescentNearest tram stop, we're half-way between the airport (25 minutes on the tram) and York Place (John Lewis and Harvey Nicholls department stores, Omni Vue multiplex cinema, Broughton Rd shopping area, National Portrait Gallery)
Trains to and from London, Glasgow (well, most places in Scotland and England). Also bus and tram stops from the airport. 5-7 minutes walk from the apartment (turn right out of the apartment, immediately right again and after two crossings, Haymarket is across the road on your left)
123 locals recommend
Haymarket station
Trains to and from London, Glasgow (well, most places in Scotland and England). Also bus and tram stops from the airport. 5-7 minutes walk from the apartment (turn right out of the apartment, immediately right again and after two crossings, Haymarket is across the road on your left)