Guidebook for Edinburgh
Food Scene
With restaurants in both Stockbridge and on Broughton Street, Rollo is one of Edinburgh’s better kept secrets. Always filled with locals, the food is excellent, and with it being a wine bar, the selection is unparalleled and the staff are extremely knowledgeable. The Broughton Street Rollo is also a great place to go for a pre-theatre meal as it’s nearby and the service is fast.
71 locals recommend
ROLLO
14 Broughton StWith restaurants in both Stockbridge and on Broughton Street, Rollo is one of Edinburgh’s better kept secrets. Always filled with locals, the food is excellent, and with it being a wine bar, the selection is unparalleled and the staff are extremely knowledgeable. The Broughton Street Rollo is also a great place to go for a pre-theatre meal as it’s nearby and the service is fast.
0131 225 4599. A dining experience offering locally sourced Scottish cuisine, hidden in Edinburgh's West End. A fantastic menu, using foraged items from Edinburgh and local meats & fish to produce the very best dishes. European, British, Scottish, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options. Relaxing atmosphere, city centre. Good for local cuisine, Special Occasion Dining, Groups, Romantic, Child-friendly.
36 locals recommend
Forage & Chatter
1A Alva St0131 225 4599. A dining experience offering locally sourced Scottish cuisine, hidden in Edinburgh's West End. A fantastic menu, using foraged items from Edinburgh and local meats & fish to produce the very best dishes. European, British, Scottish, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options. Relaxing atmosphere, city centre. Good for local cuisine, Special Occasion Dining, Groups, Romantic, Child-friendly.
+44 131 241 1048. Italian, Pizza, Gluten Free Options, Vegetarian Friendly. We’ve been to this ASK a few times and never been let down by the amazing food and varied menu. The staff are always excellent and friendly. Great location and overall prices are very reasonable for the area; highly recommend for a meal out in town as it’s close to everything.
ASK Italian
13 Rutland Court+44 131 241 1048. Italian, Pizza, Gluten Free Options, Vegetarian Friendly. We’ve been to this ASK a few times and never been let down by the amazing food and varied menu. The staff are always excellent and friendly. Great location and overall prices are very reasonable for the area; highly recommend for a meal out in town as it’s close to everything.
Always busy, great toasties and sandwich selection. Excellent coffee, and highly recommend the brownies! Lovely staff and prime outdoor seating area to people watch (if you can get a seat)!
66 locals recommend
Cairngorm Coffee
1 Melville PlAlways busy, great toasties and sandwich selection. Excellent coffee, and highly recommend the brownies! Lovely staff and prime outdoor seating area to people watch (if you can get a seat)!
Bang smack in the middle of the city. Best brownie I’ve ever had. Cute small outdoor seating area with view of Edinburgh Castle.
14 locals recommend
Castello Coffee Co
7A Castle StBang smack in the middle of the city. Best brownie I’ve ever had. Cute small outdoor seating area with view of Edinburgh Castle.
Lowdown Coffee
40 George StLovely little café.
At the bottom of the street (walking distance from property). Bar, British, Contemporary, Pub, Scottish, Vegetarian Friendly. Decent beer selection. Often live music and deals on.
Jessie Mays Bar & Kitchen
316 Gorgie RdAt the bottom of the street (walking distance from property). Bar, British, Contemporary, Pub, Scottish, Vegetarian Friendly. Decent beer selection. Often live music and deals on.
Entertainment & Activities
Step aboard The Queen's former floating palace and experience this iconic 5-star attraction for yourself. Explore Britannia's highly accessible 5 decks with highlights including the elegant Royal Apartments, Crew's Quarters, Engine Room and stunning Royal Deck Tea Room. Highly accessible for wheelchairs and buggies. Open year round. Only 15 minutes from Edinburgh city centre. We greatly enjoyed the Royal Yacht Britannia and highly recommend it, it’s a fun few hours for children as you can play ‘spot the Corgis’ along the way as the adults enjoy the audio tour; the fudge shop on board is also a great place to grab yourself some Scottish tablet!
630 locals recommend
Royal Yacht Britannia
Ocean DriveStep aboard The Queen's former floating palace and experience this iconic 5-star attraction for yourself. Explore Britannia's highly accessible 5 decks with highlights including the elegant Royal Apartments, Crew's Quarters, Engine Room and stunning Royal Deck Tea Room. Highly accessible for wheelchairs and buggies. Open year round. Only 15 minutes from Edinburgh city centre. We greatly enjoyed the Royal Yacht Britannia and highly recommend it, it’s a fun few hours for children as you can play ‘spot the Corgis’ along the way as the adults enjoy the audio tour; the fudge shop on board is also a great place to grab yourself some Scottish tablet!
Parks & Nature
Calton Hill is a hill in central Edinburgh, Scotland, situated beyond the east end of Princes Street and included in the city's UNESCO World Heritage Site. Views of, and from, the hill are often used in photographs and paintings of Edinburgh as they’re so amazing – so it’s definitely worth the very short walk up since it’s there in the city centre. The Nelson and Scott Monuments (not suitable for pushchairs/wheelchairs) are also nearby.
1098 locals recommend
Calton Hill
Calton HillCalton Hill is a hill in central Edinburgh, Scotland, situated beyond the east end of Princes Street and included in the city's UNESCO World Heritage Site. Views of, and from, the hill are often used in photographs and paintings of Edinburgh as they’re so amazing – so it’s definitely worth the very short walk up since it’s there in the city centre. The Nelson and Scott Monuments (not suitable for pushchairs/wheelchairs) are also nearby.
Walking route: 3.1km, Difficulty: Leisurely. Arthur's Seat is one of four hill forts, dating from around 2,000 years ago. Situated within Holyrood Park, as well as its rich cultural heritage, the park offers walks, solace, wildlife, volcanic geology and unparalleled vistas of the city from its many vantage points. The park has several Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designations due to its exceptional range of grassland habitats and its internationally important volcanic geology. Ranger service on site. Perfect place to watch the sunrise!
1859 locals recommend
Arthur's Seat
Walking route: 3.1km, Difficulty: Leisurely. Arthur's Seat is one of four hill forts, dating from around 2,000 years ago. Situated within Holyrood Park, as well as its rich cultural heritage, the park offers walks, solace, wildlife, volcanic geology and unparalleled vistas of the city from its many vantage points. The park has several Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designations due to its exceptional range of grassland habitats and its internationally important volcanic geology. Ranger service on site. Perfect place to watch the sunrise!
Sightseeing
A MUST SEE! It’s great to be there for the 13:00 gun fire (which can be heard from most places around the city centre). Gorgeous views over Edinburgh, situated at the top of the Royal Mile. Can be a strenuous walk to get up there and very crowded, but well worth it if you’ve never been before. You can book tickets and time slots online, which is recommended during busy periods! Last admission is an hour before closing.
1961 locals recommend
Edinburgh Castle
CastlehillA MUST SEE! It’s great to be there for the 13:00 gun fire (which can be heard from most places around the city centre). Gorgeous views over Edinburgh, situated at the top of the Royal Mile. Can be a strenuous walk to get up there and very crowded, but well worth it if you’ve never been before. You can book tickets and time slots online, which is recommended during busy periods! Last admission is an hour before closing.
Few Edinburghers live in the Old Town, but its labyrinth of dank alleys and steep streets suggests this was not always the case. Today, it’s mostly visitors, tartan-flavoured souvenir shops, and pipers that you’ll find on its cobbled streets. This is the place to get a feel for Auld Reekie (Old Smelly), as the town was once nicknamed, and stroll the Royal Mile. But there’s lots more exploring to do here down dozens of little alleys, or wynds; while at night the city’s busiest clubs erupt along the Cowgate which is closed to traffic for this purpose.
195 locals recommend
Edinburgh Old Town
Few Edinburghers live in the Old Town, but its labyrinth of dank alleys and steep streets suggests this was not always the case. Today, it’s mostly visitors, tartan-flavoured souvenir shops, and pipers that you’ll find on its cobbled streets. This is the place to get a feel for Auld Reekie (Old Smelly), as the town was once nicknamed, and stroll the Royal Mile. But there’s lots more exploring to do here down dozens of little alleys, or wynds; while at night the city’s busiest clubs erupt along the Cowgate which is closed to traffic for this purpose.
Essentials
Sainsbury's
Unit 9-10 Moray Park TerraceSupermarket at the bottom of the street.
ALDI
100 Gorgie Park RdSupermarket at the bottom of the road.
Everything Else
Cramond Island and Village is perfect for some time out of the city centre; it's lovely for a stroll and visit to a café or ice cream van! Very family friendly. Additionally, if you have vehicle access, a day trip to Loch Lomond is also nice.
54 locals recommend
Cramond
Cramond Island and Village is perfect for some time out of the city centre; it's lovely for a stroll and visit to a café or ice cream van! Very family friendly. Additionally, if you have vehicle access, a day trip to Loch Lomond is also nice.