John’s guidebook of hidden Edinburgh gems that you may not find elsewhere.
Sightseeing
We aim to highlight some absolute Edinburgh gems that you may not have heard about. The Dean Village is a beautiful area of Edinburgh tucked away just ten mins walk from Canning Mews.
268 locals recommend
Dean Village
Dean PathWe aim to highlight some absolute Edinburgh gems that you may not have heard about. The Dean Village is a beautiful area of Edinburgh tucked away just ten mins walk from Canning Mews.
We include The Shore area of Leith because it is worth the effort of travelling to the other side of town. Leith was a major Scottish port and was originally separate from Edinburgh. It retains a character of its own and in the Shore area you cannot escape that sense of history, while at the same time, having the choice of some quite marvelous bars and restaurants.
69 locals recommend
The Shore station
We include The Shore area of Leith because it is worth the effort of travelling to the other side of town. Leith was a major Scottish port and was originally separate from Edinburgh. It retains a character of its own and in the Shore area you cannot escape that sense of history, while at the same time, having the choice of some quite marvelous bars and restaurants.
Edinburgh has it's very own beach resort! Historically, Portobello was a hugely popular holiday destination for people from all over Scotland, particularly the West and Glasgow. Nowadays, you will mostly find local enjoying the sand, sea and promenade. On Sunday mornings, you will usually find John and Sharon there walking there dog and enjoying a tasty alfresco coffee! Best way to get there is to jump on a 26 bus from Shandwick Place.
447 locals recommend
Portobello Beach Promenade
1 PromenadeEdinburgh has it's very own beach resort! Historically, Portobello was a hugely popular holiday destination for people from all over Scotland, particularly the West and Glasgow. Nowadays, you will mostly find local enjoying the sand, sea and promenade. On Sunday mornings, you will usually find John and Sharon there walking there dog and enjoying a tasty alfresco coffee! Best way to get there is to jump on a 26 bus from Shandwick Place.
A large open space in the heart of Edinburgh bustling with walkers, joggers, sunbathers, sports of all kinds etc etc. 10/15 mins walk from the house.
615 locals recommend
The Meadows
Melville DriveA large open space in the heart of Edinburgh bustling with walkers, joggers, sunbathers, sports of all kinds etc etc. 10/15 mins walk from the house.
Food scene
A twenty minute walk from the Mews is Stockbridge Sunday market. Individual market stalls with the tastiest of food and drink amidst a bustling atmospheric crowd. Quite charming and one of its kind in Edinburgh.
325 locals recommend
Stockbridge Market
Saunders StreetA twenty minute walk from the Mews is Stockbridge Sunday market. Individual market stalls with the tastiest of food and drink amidst a bustling atmospheric crowd. Quite charming and one of its kind in Edinburgh.
One of our favorite town restaurants. Not cheap but not too high end either, Fishers offers great seafood in relaxed surroundings. 15 mins or so walk from the house.
119 locals recommend
Fishers In The City
58 Thistle StreetOne of our favorite town restaurants. Not cheap but not too high end either, Fishers offers great seafood in relaxed surroundings. 15 mins or so walk from the house.
Our 'go to' Indian in the West End. Good food, reasonably priced and friendly staff. Five minutes walk.
10 locals recommend
Ignite Restaurant
272-274 Morrison StOur 'go to' Indian in the West End. Good food, reasonably priced and friendly staff. Five minutes walk.
Just few minutes walk and situated on the first floor above the Huxley Bar, Kyloe is a well established steak restaurant in town. Not cheap but very good. Grab a window seat if you can get one.
73 locals recommend
Kyloe
1-3 Rutland StreetJust few minutes walk and situated on the first floor above the Huxley Bar, Kyloe is a well established steak restaurant in town. Not cheap but very good. Grab a window seat if you can get one.
A traditional Edinburgh bar which as well as having fine beers and other drinks is well know locally for its burgers. A favorite of John's for a lunch in town. 5/10 minute walk from the house.
54 locals recommend
The Cambridge Bar
20 Young StA traditional Edinburgh bar which as well as having fine beers and other drinks is well know locally for its burgers. A favorite of John's for a lunch in town. 5/10 minute walk from the house.
It's the other side of town from the house but we include Prestonfield because it is so different and opulent. A high end restaurant for a special occasion and famous for its afternoon teas. If you want to treat yourself in unique surroundings then it's worth checking out.
35 locals recommend
Prestonfield House
Priestfield RoadIt's the other side of town from the house but we include Prestonfield because it is so different and opulent. A high end restaurant for a special occasion and famous for its afternoon teas. If you want to treat yourself in unique surroundings then it's worth checking out.
Just around the corner, The Huxley is a busy modern bar but we use it ourselves mostly for a nice breakfast. It's also a great place for watching Edinburgh life go by.
20 locals recommend
The Huxley
1-3 Rutland StJust around the corner, The Huxley is a busy modern bar but we use it ourselves mostly for a nice breakfast. It's also a great place for watching Edinburgh life go by.
A cracking Italian restaurant which is popular with locals and reasonably priced. Two minutes walk from the house on Shandwick Place. Turn left out of the house, then left again at the end of the lane. You'll see the rear of the restaurant as you walk along Canning Street.
7 locals recommend
La Piazza
97-99 Shandwick PlA cracking Italian restaurant which is popular with locals and reasonably priced. Two minutes walk from the house on Shandwick Place. Turn left out of the house, then left again at the end of the lane. You'll see the rear of the restaurant as you walk along Canning Street.
Great food with a bustling atmosphere. Quite pricey but very good.
212 locals recommend
Dishoom Edinburgh
3a St Andrew SquareGreat food with a bustling atmosphere. Quite pricey but very good.
Lovely little family run coffee/food stop in the heart of George Street. 10/15 walk. I stop off regularly for a window seat to watch the world go by.
Caffe Nero
4-6 Deanhaugh StLovely little family run coffee/food stop in the heart of George Street. 10/15 walk. I stop off regularly for a window seat to watch the world go by.
A local favourite of ours. Lovely food, in a small and intimate but atmospheric environment. 10/15 min walk from the house.
31 locals recommend
Café Marlayne
76 Thistle StA local favourite of ours. Lovely food, in a small and intimate but atmospheric environment. 10/15 min walk from the house.
Five minutes walk from the house in Morrison Street this is a real local favourite serving great quality food at reasonable prices.
Rancho Steak House
244A Morrison StreetFive minutes walk from the house in Morrison Street this is a real local favourite serving great quality food at reasonable prices.
A bustling coffee shop just minutes from our mews house. Excellent quality and very popular with locals.
66 locals recommend
Cairngorm Coffee
1 Melville PlA bustling coffee shop just minutes from our mews house. Excellent quality and very popular with locals.
We haven't been here ourselves but guests have mentioned having had excellent food from here. Sit and and takeaway. two or three mins walk from the Mews.
Rubab Restaurant Edinburgh
35-37 Shandwick PlaceWe haven't been here ourselves but guests have mentioned having had excellent food from here. Sit and and takeaway. two or three mins walk from the Mews.
A relatively new addition to the West End scene this restaurant has quickly gained an excellent reputation. We have eaten there several times. The food is earthy and mainly sourced in Scotland. It's fare is not for everyone and not cheap so worth checking the menu before you book. Five mins walk from the Mews.
9 locals recommend
The Palmerston
1 Palmerston PlaceA relatively new addition to the West End scene this restaurant has quickly gained an excellent reputation. We have eaten there several times. The food is earthy and mainly sourced in Scotland. It's fare is not for everyone and not cheap so worth checking the menu before you book. Five mins walk from the Mews.
Neighbourhoods
Bruntsfield is a one of Edinburgh's 'villages' and is full of lovely individual shops and eateries. 30 min or so walk from the house but worth a visit. You could of course jump in a bus or taxi.
70 locals recommend
Bruntsfield
Bruntsfield is a one of Edinburgh's 'villages' and is full of lovely individual shops and eateries. 30 min or so walk from the house but worth a visit. You could of course jump in a bus or taxi.
Along with Bruntsfield, we recommend Stockbridge for its character and atmosphere. Here you will find a variety of individual shops, bars and restaurants to which locals flock on a daily basis. Twenty minutes or so walk from The Mews.
350 locals recommend
Stockbridge
Along with Bruntsfield, we recommend Stockbridge for its character and atmosphere. Here you will find a variety of individual shops, bars and restaurants to which locals flock on a daily basis. Twenty minutes or so walk from The Mews.
The New Town of Edinburgh was built according to an architectural plan when the wealthier Edinburgh residents could no longer tolerate the squalor of the Old Town. Our house is on the Western fringes of the New Town and it is well worth taking a stroll around the wonderful wide streets and gardens of this area. You will forget you are in a city centre. It's on your doorstep so well worth a though if you have an hour or so to spare and fancy a walk.
195 locals recommend
Edinburgh Old Town
The New Town of Edinburgh was built according to an architectural plan when the wealthier Edinburgh residents could no longer tolerate the squalor of the Old Town. Our house is on the Western fringes of the New Town and it is well worth taking a stroll around the wonderful wide streets and gardens of this area. You will forget you are in a city centre. It's on your doorstep so well worth a though if you have an hour or so to spare and fancy a walk.
Head down to the Shore area of Leith where you will enjoy a fine selection of bars and restaurants and find yourself steeped in the history of the ancient port of Leith.
162 locals recommend
Leith
Head down to the Shore area of Leith where you will enjoy a fine selection of bars and restaurants and find yourself steeped in the history of the ancient port of Leith.
Our favourite local bars
It's probably a 40 minute or so walk but we include this gem or a bar because it is special and the area of Morningside itself is worth a visit. It is pricier than most bars but packed with curiosities (including some of Edinburgh's characters!) and has a wonderful array of beers, spirits, wine and champagne. Good food too. We love going to the Canny Mans!
95 locals recommend
Canny Mans
237 Morningside RdIt's probably a 40 minute or so walk but we include this gem or a bar because it is special and the area of Morningside itself is worth a visit. It is pricier than most bars but packed with curiosities (including some of Edinburgh's characters!) and has a wonderful array of beers, spirits, wine and champagne. Good food too. We love going to the Canny Mans!
An authentic and atmospheric pub in William Street just minutes walk from the Mews. A 'teuchter' is a jokey term for someone who comes from the North of Scotland and the pub itself is owned and run by a teuchter! Fine selection of real ales. Decent food too. A favourite haunt of Johns!
51 locals recommend
Teuchters
26 William StAn authentic and atmospheric pub in William Street just minutes walk from the Mews. A 'teuchter' is a jokey term for someone who comes from the North of Scotland and the pub itself is owned and run by a teuchter! Fine selection of real ales. Decent food too. A favourite haunt of Johns!
Twenty minutes or so from the Mews, the Cumberland is a traditional Edinburgh bar which is handy for a refreshment stop if you are out for a walk in the New Town.
125 locals recommend
The Cumberland Bar
1-3 Cumberland StTwenty minutes or so from the Mews, the Cumberland is a traditional Edinburgh bar which is handy for a refreshment stop if you are out for a walk in the New Town.
Minutes walk away, Mathers is a 'no nonsense' bar where most people drink very good quality beer! Well known in Edinburgh for years it perfectly safe and trouble free. Well worth a visit if you want to experience an authentic bar in the heart of the city centre.
Mathers Bar
1 Queensferry StMinutes walk away, Mathers is a 'no nonsense' bar where most people drink very good quality beer! Well known in Edinburgh for years it perfectly safe and trouble free. Well worth a visit if you want to experience an authentic bar in the heart of the city centre.
Ten minutes walk from the house the Cambridge serves a fine selection of craft beers and is well known for its excellent burger menu.
54 locals recommend
The Cambridge Bar
20 Young StTen minutes walk from the house the Cambridge serves a fine selection of craft beers and is well known for its excellent burger menu.
A popular, fashionable local bar with some outdoor seating. Five minutes walk from the house.
64 locals recommend
Indigo Yard
7 Charlotte LnA popular, fashionable local bar with some outdoor seating. Five minutes walk from the house.
Whisky and cigars
My 'go to' cigar shop which also has an excellent stock of whiskies that you wont find on the supermarket shelf. Less than ten minutes walk from the house in Rose Street.
Robert Graham 1874 Whisky & Cigars
194 Rose StMy 'go to' cigar shop which also has an excellent stock of whiskies that you wont find on the supermarket shelf. Less than ten minutes walk from the house in Rose Street.
A quality experience for those guests who are interested in malt whisky. Enjoyed by previous guests.
149 locals recommend
The Scotch Whisky Experience
354 CastlehillA quality experience for those guests who are interested in malt whisky. Enjoyed by previous guests.