Guidebook for Edinburgh

Lisa & Gary
Lisa & Gary
Guidebook for Edinburgh

Sightseeing

One of our favourite places to go for a walk. Beautiful plants and very peaceful.
1227 locals recommend
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Arboretum Place
1227 locals recommend
One of our favourite places to go for a walk. Beautiful plants and very peaceful.
Local village within the city with shops, bars, cafes, and restaurants.
350 locals recommend
Stockbridge
350 locals recommend
Local village within the city with shops, bars, cafes, and restaurants.
No visit to the city is complete without visiting the castle, even if just from the outside! Go just before 1pm to hear the gun.
1961 locals recommend
Edinburgh Castle
Castlehill
1961 locals recommend
No visit to the city is complete without visiting the castle, even if just from the outside! Go just before 1pm to hear the gun.
Beautiful monuments and great views over the city
1098 locals recommend
Calton Hill
Calton Hill
1098 locals recommend
Beautiful monuments and great views over the city

Food Scene

Great for breakfast and coffee. The interior is lovely, lots of exposed brick and the coffee and food are good and reasonably priced too.
46 locals recommend
Di Giorgio
1 Brandon Terrace
46 locals recommend
Great for breakfast and coffee. The interior is lovely, lots of exposed brick and the coffee and food are good and reasonably priced too.
Good for local, organic food but slightly on the expensive side. Their salad platters are amazing. There is also a shop attached to the restaurant that has some lovely local produce.
87 locals recommend
Earthy Canonmills
1 Canonmills
87 locals recommend
Good for local, organic food but slightly on the expensive side. Their salad platters are amazing. There is also a shop attached to the restaurant that has some lovely local produce.
Good fish and chips.
31 locals recommend
L'Alba D'Oro
7 Henderson Row
31 locals recommend
Good fish and chips.
Good Indian food and reasonably priced. It is BYOB with no extra charge.
148 locals recommend
Khushi's
10 Antigua St
148 locals recommend
Good Indian food and reasonably priced. It is BYOB with no extra charge.
More of a takeaway although there are some stools to sit and eat in. The best pizza we have found in Edinburgh and much cheaper than national pizza chains. Delivery available.
Anima - Italian Soul Food
11 Henderson Row
More of a takeaway although there are some stools to sit and eat in. The best pizza we have found in Edinburgh and much cheaper than national pizza chains. Delivery available.
Swedish bakery and coffee shop in the heart of Stockbridge. Their cardamom buns are highly recommended.
49 locals recommend
Söderberg Stockbridge
3 Deanhaugh St
49 locals recommend
Swedish bakery and coffee shop in the heart of Stockbridge. Their cardamom buns are highly recommended.
One of our favourite restaurants. The food is fantastic and very reasonably priced.
63 locals recommend
the dogs
110 Hanover St
63 locals recommend
One of our favourite restaurants. The food is fantastic and very reasonably priced.
It might not look like much but they do the best coffee in Edinburgh
236 locals recommend
Artisan Roast
57 Broughton St
236 locals recommend
It might not look like much but they do the best coffee in Edinburgh
Handmade burgers and a good drinks menu.
15 locals recommend
Burger Meats Bun
1 Forth St
15 locals recommend
Handmade burgers and a good drinks menu.
MAP LOCATION WRONG! (it's on Canon St beside the BP station). Very authentic and good value. Takeaway but there are a couple of tables to sit in. We recommend the pork belly and chicken lar chee.
Jade Garden Chinese Takeaway
12 Canon St
MAP LOCATION WRONG! (it's on Canon St beside the BP station). Very authentic and good value. Takeaway but there are a couple of tables to sit in. We recommend the pork belly and chicken lar chee.
If you're going to Modern 1, Modern 2 is just across the road, and set in lovely grounds.
1010 locals recommend
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford Rd
1010 locals recommend
If you're going to Modern 1, Modern 2 is just across the road, and set in lovely grounds.
Delicious handmade marshmallows and local cards and gifts. There is also a small coffee shop in store- try their amazing milkshakes!
19 locals recommend
The Marshmallow Lady
14 Rodney St
19 locals recommend
Delicious handmade marshmallows and local cards and gifts. There is also a small coffee shop in store- try their amazing milkshakes!
Fine dining in a relaxed setting (a converted timber warehouse). Booking in advance essential.
184 locals recommend
TIMBERYARD
10 Lady Lawson St
184 locals recommend
Fine dining in a relaxed setting (a converted timber warehouse). Booking in advance essential.
Fantastic Indian food served tapas style.
115 locals recommend
Mother India's Cafe
3-5 Infirmary St
115 locals recommend
Fantastic Indian food served tapas style.
French delicatessen that serves breakfast, lunch and snacks. Well worth a visit.
24 locals recommend
Henri
48 Raeburn Pl
24 locals recommend
French delicatessen that serves breakfast, lunch and snacks. Well worth a visit.
Fantastic coffee. Great for escaping the hustle and bustle of St Andrews square.
30 locals recommend
Fortitude Coffee
3c York Pl
30 locals recommend
Fantastic coffee. Great for escaping the hustle and bustle of St Andrews square.
Restaurant and bar serving good food and cocktails
96 locals recommend
The Bon Vivant's Companion
51 Thistle St
96 locals recommend
Restaurant and bar serving good food and cocktails
A small restaurant serving the best and very authentic Mexican food in Edinburgh.
167 locals recommend
El Cartel
64 Thistle St
167 locals recommend
A small restaurant serving the best and very authentic Mexican food in Edinburgh.
Michelin-starred restaurant close to the city centre
86 locals recommend
Castle Terrace
33-35 Castle Terrace
86 locals recommend
Michelin-starred restaurant close to the city centre
A great gastropub only 5 minutes walk from the flat. We love going here for brunch, the 'stacks' featuring poached eggs, potato cakes and hollandaise plus smoked salmon are a favourite! Also has a really good beer selection if you fancy a drink in relaxed surroundings.
37 locals recommend
Brandon's of Canonmills
1 Canonmills
37 locals recommend
A great gastropub only 5 minutes walk from the flat. We love going here for brunch, the 'stacks' featuring poached eggs, potato cakes and hollandaise plus smoked salmon are a favourite! Also has a really good beer selection if you fancy a drink in relaxed surroundings.
Thai street food restaurant. Always busy at lunchtime and evenings.
257 locals recommend
TING THAI CARAVAN Teviot Place
9 Teviot Pl
257 locals recommend
Thai street food restaurant. Always busy at lunchtime and evenings.
Fantastic Thai food - highly recommended
54 locals recommend
Dusit
49A Thistle St
54 locals recommend
Fantastic Thai food - highly recommended
Great coffee, sandwiches and cakes
15 locals recommend
Lowdown Coffee
40 George St
15 locals recommend
Great coffee, sandwiches and cakes
Fantastic coffee and they also do the best grilled cheese sandwiches in Edinburgh
66 locals recommend
Cairngorm Coffee
1 Melville Pl
66 locals recommend
Fantastic coffee and they also do the best grilled cheese sandwiches in Edinburgh
Great burgers and the best poutine in Edinburgh. We recommend the Angry Bird- poutine with spicy fried chicken on top!
61 locals recommend
Bread Meats Bread
90-92 Lothian Rd
61 locals recommend
Great burgers and the best poutine in Edinburgh. We recommend the Angry Bird- poutine with spicy fried chicken on top!
This cosy restaurant (which is also a social enterprise) is hidden away in Stockbridge and serves some of the freshest seafood in Edinburgh. They have a lobster and champagne special offer on Fridays. It is really good value too.
13 locals recommend
Kilted Lobster
112 St Stephen St
13 locals recommend
This cosy restaurant (which is also a social enterprise) is hidden away in Stockbridge and serves some of the freshest seafood in Edinburgh. They have a lobster and champagne special offer on Fridays. It is really good value too.
A great place to grab a freshly made sandwich when over in Old Town. Some of the best sandwiches in Edinburgh, good coffee and the rest of the shops in the New Waverley Arches are worth a wander around too.
Gannet & Guga
3 E Market St
A great place to grab a freshly made sandwich when over in Old Town. Some of the best sandwiches in Edinburgh, good coffee and the rest of the shops in the New Waverley Arches are worth a wander around too.
They serve the most amazing donuts and the coffee is great too!
15 locals recommend
Baba Budan
17 E Market St
15 locals recommend
They serve the most amazing donuts and the coffee is great too!
An upmarket gastro pub run by Tom Kitchin. Great Scottish food with a focus on Scottish produce.
378 locals recommend
The Scran and Scallie
1 Comely Bank Rd
378 locals recommend
An upmarket gastro pub run by Tom Kitchin. Great Scottish food with a focus on Scottish produce.
Oink sells freshly cooked hog roast rolls with a variety of toppings. We recommend picking up a roll and heading to the benches in the Grassmarket to eat it and enjoy the view of the castle.
62 locals recommend
Oink Victoria Street
34 Victoria St
62 locals recommend
Oink sells freshly cooked hog roast rolls with a variety of toppings. We recommend picking up a roll and heading to the benches in the Grassmarket to eat it and enjoy the view of the castle.
Great food and wine, this newly opened restaurant has been really popular. Mains don't come with sides so order a few separately for sharing. We recommend the duck and the tuna. The chips with aioli are great too!
71 locals recommend
ROLLO
14 Broughton St
71 locals recommend
Great food and wine, this newly opened restaurant has been really popular. Mains don't come with sides so order a few separately for sharing. We recommend the duck and the tuna. The chips with aioli are great too!
Serves the best sushi in Edinburgh but it is small and it is worth booking a table
45 locals recommend
Sushiya
11 Lochrin Terrace
45 locals recommend
Serves the best sushi in Edinburgh but it is small and it is worth booking a table
Serves fantastic French food and the owner, Fred Berkmillar is a Scottish food champion, promoting and using as much local produce as he can.
173 locals recommend
L'Escargot Bleu Restaurant
56 Broughton St
173 locals recommend
Serves fantastic French food and the owner, Fred Berkmillar is a Scottish food champion, promoting and using as much local produce as he can.
They made yummy gluten-free baked goods
27 locals recommend
Sugar Daddy's Bakery
5 Rodney St
27 locals recommend
They made yummy gluten-free baked goods
They do very good food at reasonable prices- check out their fixed price lunch and early evening menus
76 locals recommend
New Chapter
18 Eyre Pl
76 locals recommend
They do very good food at reasonable prices- check out their fixed price lunch and early evening menus
Fantastic gelato
23 locals recommend
Affogato
36 Queensferry St
23 locals recommend
Fantastic gelato
Delicious macarons
6 locals recommend
Mademoiselle Macaron
6 locals recommend
Delicious macarons

Essentials

Only a couple of minutes walk and stocks a huge range of items.
333 locals recommend
Tesco Superstore
76 Duke St
333 locals recommend
Only a couple of minutes walk and stocks a huge range of items.
Has the best selection of beers in Edinburgh and a kegerator too.
49 locals recommend
The Bearded Baker
46 Rodney St
49 locals recommend
Has the best selection of beers in Edinburgh and a kegerator too.
A great wine shop run by an Italian who really knows his stuff. All smaller producers and they have a good selection of chilled wines.
7 locals recommend
Bacco Wine
136 Dundas St
7 locals recommend
A great wine shop run by an Italian who really knows his stuff. All smaller producers and they have a good selection of chilled wines.
A restored Victorian swimming pool with sauna and steam room.
48 locals recommend
Glenogle Swim Centre
Glenogle Road
48 locals recommend
A restored Victorian swimming pool with sauna and steam room.
Open daily for laundry and dry cleaning
12 locals recommend
Canon Mills Dry Cleaners & Laundrette
7-8 Huntly St
12 locals recommend
Open daily for laundry and dry cleaning
Nearest post office to the apartment
11 locals recommend
Warriston Post Office
2 Brandon Terrace
11 locals recommend
Nearest post office to the apartment
Independent grocery store that sells a good range of local food as well as all the essentials. Good chilled wine and beer selection
37 locals recommend
Margiotta Dundas Street
122-124 Dundas St
37 locals recommend
Independent grocery store that sells a good range of local food as well as all the essentials. Good chilled wine and beer selection
Everything you need for vaping
7 locals recommend
The Zulu Lounge
366 Morningside Rd
7 locals recommend
Everything you need for vaping
Our local butcher. Great quality meat and award winning sausages. The haggis and black pudding are good too.
70 locals recommend
Crombies of Edinburgh
97 Broughton St
70 locals recommend
Our local butcher. Great quality meat and award winning sausages. The haggis and black pudding are good too.

Drinks & Nightlife

Wonderful whisky selection in beautiful surroundings
80 locals recommend
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
28 Queen St
80 locals recommend
Wonderful whisky selection in beautiful surroundings
Cocktails and good food in a converted Victorian pump house just off the Royal Mile. Excellent whisky selection too!
227 locals recommend
The Devil's Advocate
9 Advocate's Cl
227 locals recommend
Cocktails and good food in a converted Victorian pump house just off the Royal Mile. Excellent whisky selection too!
Traditional Scottish pub with a fine selection of ales and whiskies.
79 locals recommend
The Bow Bar
80 W Bow
79 locals recommend
Traditional Scottish pub with a fine selection of ales and whiskies.
Traditional Scottish music every day of the week.
144 locals recommend
Sandy Bell's
25 Forrest Rd
144 locals recommend
Traditional Scottish music every day of the week.
Great selection of craft beers from Scotland and beyond.
82 locals recommend
BrewDog Edinburgh
143 Cowgate
82 locals recommend
Great selection of craft beers from Scotland and beyond.
Great local pub and serves reasonably priced good food. Can be busy at weekends
150 locals recommend
The Stockbridge Tap
2-6 Raeburn Pl
150 locals recommend
Great local pub and serves reasonably priced good food. Can be busy at weekends
Great place for karaoke. Different sizes of private rooms, great selection of songs and drinks delivered to the rooms.
10 locals recommend
Supercube
58a George St
10 locals recommend
Great place for karaoke. Different sizes of private rooms, great selection of songs and drinks delivered to the rooms.
Great bar/restaurant that serves good Mexican food. Ask for a Dark and Stormy- they are seriously good.
127 locals recommend
The Basement
10a Broughton St
127 locals recommend
Great bar/restaurant that serves good Mexican food. Ask for a Dark and Stormy- they are seriously good.
A very quirky bar that sells slushy cocktails and has an alcoholic ice cream dispenser. Great decor too.
55 locals recommend
Hoot The Redeemer
7 Hanover Street
55 locals recommend
A very quirky bar that sells slushy cocktails and has an alcoholic ice cream dispenser. Great decor too.
Disguised as a barber shop, go downstairs and through the bookcase to find a speakeasy style bar with great cocktails.
297 locals recommend
Panda & Sons
79 Queen St
297 locals recommend
Disguised as a barber shop, go downstairs and through the bookcase to find a speakeasy style bar with great cocktails.
Hidden downstairs, this Edinburgh institution is always busy at the weekends. Try their signature Bramble cocktail- it is delicious!
235 locals recommend
Bramble Bar & Lounge
16A Queen St
235 locals recommend
Hidden downstairs, this Edinburgh institution is always busy at the weekends. Try their signature Bramble cocktail- it is delicious!
One of the best cocktail bars in town that is off the tourist track. Has a relaxed vibe and more unusual cocktails.
131 locals recommend
The Last Word Saloon
44 St Stephen St
131 locals recommend
One of the best cocktail bars in town that is off the tourist track. Has a relaxed vibe and more unusual cocktails.
A small cocktail bar that serves great cocktails.
51 locals recommend
Lucky Liquor Co
39A Queen St
51 locals recommend
A small cocktail bar that serves great cocktails.

Parks & Nature

Perfect for a picnic on a sunny day, there are great views of the castle and the city.
256 locals recommend
Inverleith Park
256 locals recommend
Perfect for a picnic on a sunny day, there are great views of the castle and the city.
Amazing views of the entire city and out to sea.
1859 locals recommend
Arthur's Seat
1859 locals recommend
Amazing views of the entire city and out to sea.
Running through the centre of Edinburgh this waterside path takes you from Balerno all the way down to the shore at Leith. Passes through Stockbridge and the Dean Village.
109 locals recommend
Water Of Leith Ltd
29 Beaverhall Rd
109 locals recommend
Running through the centre of Edinburgh this waterside path takes you from Balerno all the way down to the shore at Leith. Passes through Stockbridge and the Dean Village.
Great spot for chilling out with a picnic during the Festival
615 locals recommend
The Meadows
Melville Drive
615 locals recommend
Great spot for chilling out with a picnic during the Festival
Take a walk along the promenade on a sunny day and stop for a coffee at the beachfront cafe.
447 locals recommend
Portobello Beach Promenade
1 Promenade
447 locals recommend
Take a walk along the promenade on a sunny day and stop for a coffee at the beachfront cafe.

Arts & Culture

Free entry (except to exhibitions). Lovely walk along the Water of Leith to get there. The best cafe in Edinburgh is in Modern 1.
1010 locals recommend
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford Rd
1010 locals recommend
Free entry (except to exhibitions). Lovely walk along the Water of Leith to get there. The best cafe in Edinburgh is in Modern 1.
Fantastic collection of art and a very good cafe serving lunches, cakes and coffees.
523 locals recommend
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
1 Queen St
523 locals recommend
Fantastic collection of art and a very good cafe serving lunches, cakes and coffees.
FREE ENTRY With new galleries just opened in July 2016 this museum has something for everyone. Good for Scottish history, natural history and more modern science and design exhibitions.
1378 locals recommend
National Museum of Scotland
1378 locals recommend
FREE ENTRY With new galleries just opened in July 2016 this museum has something for everyone. Good for Scottish history, natural history and more modern science and design exhibitions.

Shopping

Beautiful tweed and tartan soft furnishings and stoneware. Perfect for gifts.
6 locals recommend
ANTA Scotland Ltd
91 George St
6 locals recommend
Beautiful tweed and tartan soft furnishings and stoneware. Perfect for gifts.
Scandinavian fashion at affordable prices. This boutique has a great selection of clothes and accessories.
Kakao by K
Scandinavian fashion at affordable prices. This boutique has a great selection of clothes and accessories.
A great shop that sells local artwork, pretty things for your home and other bits and bobs that would make great souvenirs.
38 locals recommend
Curiouser & Curiouser
93 Broughton St
38 locals recommend
A great shop that sells local artwork, pretty things for your home and other bits and bobs that would make great souvenirs.
Forget kilts, if you've ever wanted a Scottish tweed suit then this is the place to go. Off the peg and tailor made suits, jackets, waistcoats etc. Also some very dapper hats.
14 locals recommend
Walker Slater
16-20 Victoria St
14 locals recommend
Forget kilts, if you've ever wanted a Scottish tweed suit then this is the place to go. Off the peg and tailor made suits, jackets, waistcoats etc. Also some very dapper hats.
This unusual store has a selection of lovely glass bottles that you choose to fill with one of a huge selection of liquids (liqueurs, oils, vinegars and many more) with a handwritten label. Perfect for gifts and souvenirs.
8 locals recommend
Demijohn
32 Victoria Street
8 locals recommend
This unusual store has a selection of lovely glass bottles that you choose to fill with one of a huge selection of liquids (liqueurs, oils, vinegars and many more) with a handwritten label. Perfect for gifts and souvenirs.
Hidden in Jenners department store, Valvona and Crolla sell a good selection of Scottish food and drinks, perfect for souvenirs. There is also a coffee shop that has great views over Princes Street Gardens.
189 locals recommend
Valvona Crolla
19 Elm Row
189 locals recommend
Hidden in Jenners department store, Valvona and Crolla sell a good selection of Scottish food and drinks, perfect for souvenirs. There is also a coffee shop that has great views over Princes Street Gardens.
Selling traditional English perfumes/aftershaves this store is heaven for anyone who likes fragrance.
Penhaligon's
33 George St
Selling traditional English perfumes/aftershaves this store is heaven for anyone who likes fragrance.
Sells designer clothing and accessories and has a cafe and restaurant that have fantastic views over the city.
181 locals recommend
Harvey Nichols
181 locals recommend
Sells designer clothing and accessories and has a cafe and restaurant that have fantastic views over the city.
For all your organic and specialty food needs.
165 locals recommend
Real Foods
37 Broughton St
165 locals recommend
For all your organic and specialty food needs.