Guidebook for Edinburgh
Essentials
Co-op Food
114 Dalry RdOpen to 2200
Marks and Spencer
42 High Street Open to 2200
Dalry Swim Centre
25-29 Caledonian CresOpen Mon-Fri 0700 to 2200; Sat 0800 to 1700; Sun 0900 to 1800.
Food Scene
Starbucks
124 High StLoudons
94B FountainbridgeThe Fountain
131 Dundee St Local Gastro pub.
Edinburgh’s most authentic Chinese restaurant is not for the faint-hearted. Vainly will you search for Peking duck or lemon chicken on this menu: rather, prepare for interactive eating
23 locals recommend
Xiang Bala hotpot 香巴辣火锅
63 Dalry RdEdinburgh’s most authentic Chinese restaurant is not for the faint-hearted. Vainly will you search for Peking duck or lemon chicken on this menu: rather, prepare for interactive eating
Riverlife brings to the Edinburgh market its singular blend of French and Caribbean cooking. Inspired by the upbringing of lead chef Mario Caneval on the island of Guadeloupe and a subsequent career working in hotels and restaurants in Paris and Scotland, the décor is rough and ready but the menu offers a break from the norm. The regular à la carte selection is more French-flavoured, with rack of lamb, confit duck leg and chicken supreme served alongside a signature rustic butterbean cassoulet.
25 locals recommend
riveRLife
84 Dalry RdRiverlife brings to the Edinburgh market its singular blend of French and Caribbean cooking. Inspired by the upbringing of lead chef Mario Caneval on the island of Guadeloupe and a subsequent career working in hotels and restaurants in Paris and Scotland, the décor is rough and ready but the menu offers a break from the norm. The regular à la carte selection is more French-flavoured, with rack of lamb, confit duck leg and chicken supreme served alongside a signature rustic butterbean cassoulet.
La Partenope offers a taste of Napoli on Dalry Road. This family restaurant is operated by a sibling trio: chef Paolo creates magnificent dishes, brother Renato is the welcoming manager and sister Sandra makes desserts. Such closeness is apparent in this cheerful restaurant, modelled on a coastal bay, where wooden fish hang from the ceiling and a ship’s wheel is mounted on the wall. Seafood is the speciality, delivered fresh each day
La Partenope
La Partenope offers a taste of Napoli on Dalry Road. This family restaurant is operated by a sibling trio: chef Paolo creates magnificent dishes, brother Renato is the welcoming manager and sister Sandra makes desserts. Such closeness is apparent in this cheerful restaurant, modelled on a coastal bay, where wooden fish hang from the ceiling and a ship’s wheel is mounted on the wall. Seafood is the speciality, delivered fresh each day
First Coast is a bistro. Chef owner Hector Macrae prepares dishes that he enjoys eating, leans heavily on Scotland’s harvest with occasional forays further east for inspiration. His friendly front of house team reinforces the relaxed neighbourhood vibe.
99 locals recommend
First Coast Restaurant
97-101 Dalry RdFirst Coast is a bistro. Chef owner Hector Macrae prepares dishes that he enjoys eating, leans heavily on Scotland’s harvest with occasional forays further east for inspiration. His friendly front of house team reinforces the relaxed neighbourhood vibe.
It produces dishes that retain all the freshness and flavour the raw ingredients . Chef-patron Rosario Sartore has gone back to basics at his Dalry Road trattoria with a daily-changing menu that majors on high quality Scottish meat and fish, and vegetables sourced from his native Campania
121 locals recommend
Locanda de Gusti
102 Dalry RdIt produces dishes that retain all the freshness and flavour the raw ingredients . Chef-patron Rosario Sartore has gone back to basics at his Dalry Road trattoria with a daily-changing menu that majors on high quality Scottish meat and fish, and vegetables sourced from his native Campania
With bright colours and a relaxed style, the South African influence is immediately clear in Shebeen's quirky dining room. This is a meat-lovers’ paradise with dishes boasting gargantuan cuts of beef sourced from local farms, butchered in house then hung for five weeks for a steak with a rich, complex flavour. What passes for a small sirloin on the bone still comes in at around 480g of well-cooked steak, prepared with a special rub of African spices
35 locals recommend
Shebeen Dalry
103-105 Dalry RdWith bright colours and a relaxed style, the South African influence is immediately clear in Shebeen's quirky dining room. This is a meat-lovers’ paradise with dishes boasting gargantuan cuts of beef sourced from local farms, butchered in house then hung for five weeks for a steak with a rich, complex flavour. What passes for a small sirloin on the bone still comes in at around 480g of well-cooked steak, prepared with a special rub of African spices
In the same family hands for over 30 years. It serves well-prepared Bangladeshi and Indian cuisine.
Verandah
17 Dalry RoadIn the same family hands for over 30 years. It serves well-prepared Bangladeshi and Indian cuisine.
Sushiya is small but sleek and stylish. As cool jazz plays on the stereo, perch on one of the high stools for a bird’s eye view of the sushi chef as he works his magic. Starters such as seaweed salad with sesame will get the tastebuds tingling
45 locals recommend
Sushiya
11 Lochrin TerraceSushiya is small but sleek and stylish. As cool jazz plays on the stereo, perch on one of the high stools for a bird’s eye view of the sushi chef as he works his magic. Starters such as seaweed salad with sesame will get the tastebuds tingling
Generous portions at good prices. With Haymarket station’s façade visible from your table, Hay Sushi is well situated for travellers seeking a quick lunch or a pre-evening bite to eat.
7 locals recommend
Luv Sushi
15 Dalry RdGenerous portions at good prices. With Haymarket station’s façade visible from your table, Hay Sushi is well situated for travellers seeking a quick lunch or a pre-evening bite to eat.
Entertainment & Activities
Restaurant and entertainment hub including Cineworld •Starbucks •Fahrenheit Bar & Grill •Gambado - Kids Soft Play Park •Genting Club Casino •McCowans Brewhouse •Tenpin Bowling •Nando's •Virgin Active Gym •Mr Basrai's World Cuisines •Pizza Hut.
You can walk to this venue in about 10 minutes via a pedestrian subway at the bottom of Caledonian Crescent.
130 locals recommend
Fountain Park
130 Dundee StRestaurant and entertainment hub including Cineworld •Starbucks •Fahrenheit Bar & Grill •Gambado - Kids Soft Play Park •Genting Club Casino •McCowans Brewhouse •Tenpin Bowling •Nando's •Virgin Active Gym •Mr Basrai's World Cuisines •Pizza Hut.
You can walk to this venue in about 10 minutes via a pedestrian subway at the bottom of Caledonian Crescent.
Comfortable arthouse cinema screening indie and mainstream movies, with bustling bar-cafe.
255 locals recommend
Cameo Picturehouse
38 Home StComfortable arthouse cinema screening indie and mainstream movies, with bustling bar-cafe.
Comfortable arthouse cinema showing British and foreign releases with cafe-bar
184 locals recommend
Filmhouse
88 Lothian RdComfortable arthouse cinema showing British and foreign releases with cafe-bar
Getting Around
Useful transport interchange with trains to London, Aberdeen and Glasgow, Trams and Airlink 100 bus to the Airport, local and intercity bus routes, a taxi rank.
If you want to go to Glasgow, Queen Street train is best, and leaves every fifteen minutes on weekdays and takes 45 minutes arriving in the centre
132 locals recommend
Haymarket
Useful transport interchange with trains to London, Aberdeen and Glasgow, Trams and Airlink 100 bus to the Airport, local and intercity bus routes, a taxi rank.
If you want to go to Glasgow, Queen Street train is best, and leaves every fifteen minutes on weekdays and takes 45 minutes arriving in the centre
Arts & Culture
The Usher Hall
Lothian RoadTraverse Theatre
10 Cambridge StSt Bride’s is a City of Edinburgh Council community education centre, offering a diverse programme of arts events features theatre performances, concerts, ceilidhs, dance performances and includes the hugely successful Acoustic Music Centre @ St Bride’s during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
St Brides Centre
10 Orwell TerraceSt Bride’s is a City of Edinburgh Council community education centre, offering a diverse programme of arts events features theatre performances, concerts, ceilidhs, dance performances and includes the hugely successful Acoustic Music Centre @ St Bride’s during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford RdScottish National Portrait Gallery
1 Queen StScottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford RdThe Queen's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse
National Museum of Scotland
Drinks & Nightlife
Swedish bar in a two-level canal side warehouse. Homely, unpretentious chintz, a few muffling rugs, some mismatched furniture, a ping-pong table upstairs (there’s a tournament every Sunday at 6pm) and a decent range of craft beers, ciders and cocktails means this is a fun hangout.
101 locals recommend
Akva
129 FountainbridgeSwedish bar in a two-level canal side warehouse. Homely, unpretentious chintz, a few muffling rugs, some mismatched furniture, a ping-pong table upstairs (there’s a tournament every Sunday at 6pm) and a decent range of craft beers, ciders and cocktails means this is a fun hangout.
Sightseeing
Edinburgh Castle
CastlehillPalace of Holyrood
CanongateEdinburgh Old Town
Edinburgh Old Town
Scott Monument
Scottish Parliament Building
architecture