Guidebook for Edinburgh
Food Scene
Really good Indian Resaturant - especially recommend the peshwaree naan and the chichekn korma curry (if you're not into spicy food!). They do take-away too!
20 locals recommend
Voujon
107 Newington RdReally good Indian Resaturant - especially recommend the peshwaree naan and the chichekn korma curry (if you're not into spicy food!). They do take-away too!
Good restaurant that serves an array of European-style dishes, with some good Scottish options. We have yet to try their famed breakfast (apparently super yummy) and they serve lunch too!
16 locals recommend
Hellers Kitchen
15 Salisbury PlaceGood restaurant that serves an array of European-style dishes, with some good Scottish options. We have yet to try their famed breakfast (apparently super yummy) and they serve lunch too!
Great restaurant with free wi-fi, lovely setting and individual booths. £10 lunch time 2-course menus! More info here: www.apiaryrestaurant.co.uk
Metropole
29-33 Newington RdGreat restaurant with free wi-fi, lovely setting and individual booths. £10 lunch time 2-course menus! More info here: www.apiaryrestaurant.co.uk
Small restaurant (with a small back garden which allows for great out-side eating, weather permiting!) with a french chef who conjures up great dishes, often served on stylish slate plates.
11 locals recommend
Cafe Cassis
43-45 Salisbury RoadSmall restaurant (with a small back garden which allows for great out-side eating, weather permiting!) with a french chef who conjures up great dishes, often served on stylish slate plates.
Hanedan
41 W Preston StTurkish Restaurant with good 'mezze' style dishes.
Great restaurant with a variety of European-style dishes. Cozy setting and not too formal.
44 locals recommend
Blonde Restaurant
71-75 St. Leonard's StGreat restaurant with a variety of European-style dishes. Cozy setting and not too formal.
Really good restaurant for dinner - modern food and setting. Make sure you book early and ask for a table with a view to the castle.
156 locals recommend
The Outsider Restaurant
15-16 George IV BridgeReally good restaurant for dinner - modern food and setting. Make sure you book early and ask for a table with a view to the castle.
Kilimanjaro Coffee
104 Nicolson StLovely coffee house a short stroll away.
You could easily walk past and this tiny restaurant could go by unnoticed, however the Chinese-Malasian food served is both cheap and delicious. A recommended little 'hole-in-the-wall' type place.
15 locals recommend
Kampong Ah Lee
28 Clerk StYou could easily walk past and this tiny restaurant could go by unnoticed, however the Chinese-Malasian food served is both cheap and delicious. A recommended little 'hole-in-the-wall' type place.
Right opposite The University of Edinburgh's Old College this coffee house serves great hot chocolate (as well as everything else!) and has great wooden decor.
61 locals recommend
Black Medicine Coffee Co
2 Nicolson StRight opposite The University of Edinburgh's Old College this coffee house serves great hot chocolate (as well as everything else!) and has great wooden decor.
Trendy, innovative coffee-house offering single origin brews and artisanal produce. Open 8am-6pm weekdays and 9am-6pm on weekends.
101 locals recommend
Brew Lab Coffee
6-8 S College StTrendy, innovative coffee-house offering single origin brews and artisanal produce. Open 8am-6pm weekdays and 9am-6pm on weekends.
Elephant & Bagels
37 Marshall StGreat little place to grab a quick coffee and a bagel!
Lovely coffee house, with views of the castle if you get a seat by the windows at the back. J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter novels, famously spent a lot of time in this coffee house writing her novels.
163 locals recommend
The Elephant House
21 George IV BridgeLovely coffee house, with views of the castle if you get a seat by the windows at the back. J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter novels, famously spent a lot of time in this coffee house writing her novels.
With a prohibition-style era setting, this small space has a cocktail bar, an area with 6-7 restruant tables serving fantastic tapas-style dishes as well as flavoursome mains and on Fridays and Saturdays a small dance floor with a DJ. It's pretty tiny and very popoular, so best book if you want some food and for quieter nights, go on weekedays.
96 locals recommend
The Bon Vivant's Companion
51 Thistle StWith a prohibition-style era setting, this small space has a cocktail bar, an area with 6-7 restruant tables serving fantastic tapas-style dishes as well as flavoursome mains and on Fridays and Saturdays a small dance floor with a DJ. It's pretty tiny and very popoular, so best book if you want some food and for quieter nights, go on weekedays.
Drinks & Nightlife
Reverie
1-5 Newington RdA pleasant bar for a drink or two with an interesting decor.
The Crags Bar
72-74 Newington RoadSports bar
Bar and Gastro-pub at the other end of our road, a short walk away.
54 locals recommend
The Salisbury Arms
58 Dalkeith RdBar and Gastro-pub at the other end of our road, a short walk away.
Pub that also serves fantastic gourmet burgers (a comprehensive list!).
63 locals recommend
The Southern Bar
22-26 S Clerk StPub that also serves fantastic gourmet burgers (a comprehensive list!).
One of the oldest pubs in Scotland and the oldest licensed premises in Edinburgh, this little staple has reputedly been serving drinks since 1360! Over the years it has undergone several renovations however it still has a Skittle Alley (old-fashioned version of bowling) built in the 1870s which can still be played on today! Definitely worth a visit after a nice stroll along Holyrood Park!
167 locals recommend
The Sheep Heid Inn
43-45 The CausewayOne of the oldest pubs in Scotland and the oldest licensed premises in Edinburgh, this little staple has reputedly been serving drinks since 1360! Over the years it has undergone several renovations however it still has a Skittle Alley (old-fashioned version of bowling) built in the 1870s which can still be played on today! Definitely worth a visit after a nice stroll along Holyrood Park!
Diablo Loco
74-78 South Clerk StreetSells craft beers and food.
Essentials
Local Post Office at the back of a small convenience store.
7 locals recommend
Grange Road Post Office
17 Salisbury PlLocal Post Office at the back of a small convenience store.
Choco-Latte
39 S Clerk StSmall supermarket selling basics only.
Tesco Metro
Colinton RoadSupermarket selling most items you would need for a week's stay.
Tesco Stores Ltd
Small supermarket selling basic food, drinks and toiletries. Some magazines too.
For those travelling by car who'd likee to stock up on a lot of groceries at once, there is a large Sainsbury's supermarket down the road within the Cameron Toll shopping centre complex with a large free car park.
45 locals recommend
Cameron Toll Shopping Centre
6 Lady RdFor those travelling by car who'd likee to stock up on a lot of groceries at once, there is a large Sainsbury's supermarket down the road within the Cameron Toll shopping centre complex with a large free car park.
Farmer's Market held outdoors here on Saturday mornings.
88 locals recommend
Edinburgh Farmers' Market
Castle TerraceFarmer's Market held outdoors here on Saturday mornings.
Everything Else
Santander
Small Santander Bank with a 24-hour ATM cash machine outside.
Pollock Halls of Residence is a large accommodation complex used by The University of Edinburgh to house many first year students and visiting students during term-term. It is also a popular conference venue.
Pollock Halls of Residence, The University of Edinburgh
18 Holyrood Park RdPollock Halls of Residence is a large accommodation complex used by The University of Edinburgh to house many first year students and visiting students during term-term. It is also a popular conference venue.
Boots Pharmacy
28-30 Newington RdPharmacy
Edinburgh Waverley Station
Princes StreetEdinburgh's main train station.
Sightseeing
Incredible 360 degree views over the Edinburgh city-scape and out around the back toward Portobello sea-side and over the Firth of Forth river mouth. This extinct volcano offers lovely walks, all around Holyrood Park.
1859 locals recommend
Arthur's Seat
Incredible 360 degree views over the Edinburgh city-scape and out around the back toward Portobello sea-side and over the Firth of Forth river mouth. This extinct volcano offers lovely walks, all around Holyrood Park.
The Queen and the Royal Family's residence while in Edinburgh.
329 locals recommend
Palace of Holyrood
CanongateThe Queen and the Royal Family's residence while in Edinburgh.
The National Museum of Scotland was recently refurbished as it an essentail stop for annyone visiting Edinburgh. Both their permanent collections and their temporary exhibits are always of exceptional quality and interest. Admissions are free, donations welcomed. More info at: www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/
1378 locals recommend
National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland was recently refurbished as it an essentail stop for annyone visiting Edinburgh. Both their permanent collections and their temporary exhibits are always of exceptional quality and interest. Admissions are free, donations welcomed. More info at: www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/
Craigmillar Castle
Craigmillar Castle RoadAn old Castle ruin. Parking nearby.
Edinburgh Castle is pershed upon an extinct volcano - a rocky outcrop right in the city centre. Parts of the Castle can be visited, while others are still in use as military quarters. Great view over New Town and towards the Firth of Forth to the North and over the Old Town and towards the Pentland Hills to the South, all visible from the clearing area right outside the castle.
1961 locals recommend
Edinburgh Castle
CastlehillEdinburgh Castle is pershed upon an extinct volcano - a rocky outcrop right in the city centre. Parts of the Castle can be visited, while others are still in use as military quarters. Great view over New Town and towards the Firth of Forth to the North and over the Old Town and towards the Pentland Hills to the South, all visible from the clearing area right outside the castle.
Not quite as high a walk up as Arthur's Seat, Cartlon Hills affords great views over the city centre and is particularly scenic at night-time when the city is lit up. There are also the Burns and Nelson monuments, City Observatory and the annual fire Beltane festival is held here.
1098 locals recommend
Calton Hill
Calton HillNot quite as high a walk up as Arthur's Seat, Cartlon Hills affords great views over the city centre and is particularly scenic at night-time when the city is lit up. There are also the Burns and Nelson monuments, City Observatory and the annual fire Beltane festival is held here.
Scottish Parliament Building
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Arboretum PlaceRoyal Yacht Britannia
Ocean DriveMore info at: www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk
A beautiful building from the early 1800s, with a cupola at its top, built around a spacious courtyard. It first housed The University of Edinburgh and is still used today by it's Law School, as well as a number of administration offices, etc. and houses the beautiful Playfair Library.
11 locals recommend
Old College, The University of Edinburgh
South BridgeA beautiful building from the early 1800s, with a cupola at its top, built around a spacious courtyard. It first housed The University of Edinburgh and is still used today by it's Law School, as well as a number of administration offices, etc. and houses the beautiful Playfair Library.
Surgeons' Hall Museums
Nicolson StreetMore info at: https://museum.rcsed.ac.uk/
Adjoining The Meadows park to the South-West, the Bruntsfield Links is one the earlist places where golf is known to have been played and some says this is where many of the game's rules were established. Today the slightly undulating, carefully kept park still has a series of golf holes (no flags) where anyone can go to practise their putting (free, open park).
75 locals recommend
Bruntsfield Links
Melville DriveAdjoining The Meadows park to the South-West, the Bruntsfield Links is one the earlist places where golf is known to have been played and some says this is where many of the game's rules were established. Today the slightly undulating, carefully kept park still has a series of golf holes (no flags) where anyone can go to practise their putting (free, open park).
Arts & Culture
Lovely venue for small concerts, always have an interesting line-up.
45 locals recommend
The Queen's Hall
85-89 Clerk StLovely venue for small concerts, always have an interesting line-up.
The Festival Theatre always has opera, ballet, musicals, plays or large-scale musical events and touring groups on show. More info at: www.edtheatres.com/festival
154 locals recommend
Festival Theatre
13-29 Nicolson StThe Festival Theatre always has opera, ballet, musicals, plays or large-scale musical events and touring groups on show. More info at: www.edtheatres.com/festival
Main Centre of the famous Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Fringe Festival, held in August every year. There are a number of venues throughout the city, many in or around George Square. It is also the main hub of The University of Edinburgh (central campus).
35 locals recommend
George Square
George SquareMain Centre of the famous Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Fringe Festival, held in August every year. There are a number of venues throughout the city, many in or around George Square. It is also the main hub of The University of Edinburgh (central campus).
More info at: http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse/
320 locals recommend
Edinburgh Playhouse
18-22 Greenside PlMore info at: http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse/
A small cinema venue opened in 1938, with small viewing rooms and very comfortable seating. The building itself is Art Deco. More info here: www.dominioncinemas.net
161 locals recommend
Dominion Cinema
Newbattle TerraceA small cinema venue opened in 1938, with small viewing rooms and very comfortable seating. The building itself is Art Deco. More info here: www.dominioncinemas.net
Artsy venue which serves as one of the August Fringe Festival venues. The Royal Dick bar at the back is a quirky reminder of the buildings past as The University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) Veteranry School.
161 locals recommend
Summerhall
Artsy venue which serves as one of the August Fringe Festival venues. The Royal Dick bar at the back is a quirky reminder of the buildings past as The University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) Veteranry School.
Entertainment & Activities
Dynamic Earth
Holyrood RoadMore info at: www.dynamicearth.co.uk
More info available here: www.tracscotland.org/scottish-storytelling-centre
32 locals recommend
Scottish Storytelling Centre
43-45 High StMore info available here: www.tracscotland.org/scottish-storytelling-centre
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
549 CastlehillMore info at: www.camera-obscura.co.uk
Large park in the centre of the city, with a children's play-park at it's East end (closer to our flat) and a number of outdoor tennis courts. In the spring and summer months you will often find groups playing cricket, football and frisbee or simply lounging around and soaking up some sun on the main grassy areas.
615 locals recommend
The Meadows
Melville DriveLarge park in the centre of the city, with a children's play-park at it's East end (closer to our flat) and a number of outdoor tennis courts. In the spring and summer months you will often find groups playing cricket, football and frisbee or simply lounging around and soaking up some sun on the main grassy areas.