Guidebook for Edinburgh
Food Scene
Great place for a coffee. Also superb cheeses. A nice place to hang out.
75 locals recommend
Victor Hugo Deli
26/27 Melville TerraceGreat place for a coffee. Also superb cheeses. A nice place to hang out.
This is roughly where the 135 bus from the airport stops. From here to the flat is about a 10 minute walk.
37 locals recommend
Starbucks
123 Lothian RdThis is roughly where the 135 bus from the airport stops. From here to the flat is about a 10 minute walk.
Hanedan
41 W Preston StGreat little Middle Eastern restaurant.
Kim's Mini Meals
5 Buccleuch StGreat little Korean place. The pancakes are heavenly.
Slurp at the Kirk
44 Candlemaker RowKorean/Japanese restaurant. Recommended.
The Outsider Restaurant
15-16 George IV BridgeGreat place. Good food and nice view of the Castle.
Lovely French restaurant, slightly pricier than some of the others I've listed, but well worth it. Very picturesque street, too.
51 locals recommend
Maison Bleue
36-38 Victoria StLovely French restaurant, slightly pricier than some of the others I've listed, but well worth it. Very picturesque street, too.
Sister restaurant to The Outsider on George IV Bridge. Largely the same menu, although slightly cheaper.
42 locals recommend
The Apartment
7-13 Barclay PlSister restaurant to The Outsider on George IV Bridge. Largely the same menu, although slightly cheaper.
Indian cuisine, served tapas-style. Highly recommended. The Royal Oak pub, famous for its live music, is next door.
115 locals recommend
Mother India's Cafe
3-5 Infirmary StIndian cuisine, served tapas-style. Highly recommended. The Royal Oak pub, famous for its live music, is next door.
El Quijote
Nice little Spanish restaurant.
Essentials
Fruit Connection
8 Marchmont CresVery good green grocer. This area is very good for local shops.
Nearest small convenience store that's not one of the big supermarket chains.
21 locals recommend
Scotmid Co-operative
18 Station RdNearest small convenience store that's not one of the big supermarket chains.
Peter Green & Co
37 Warrender Park RoadSuperb local wine merchant. Friday night wine tastings 1730-1930.
Best One Melville Terrace
1 Melville TerraceConvenience store a few minutes' walk from the flat. Has ATM too.
Newington Post Office
11-13 Clerk StNearest post office.
Drinks & Nightlife
The Dagda Bar
93-95 Buccleuch StGreat real ale pub.
Famous pub with nightly folk music from 2130. (Music is usually in the afternoons on the weekend.)
144 locals recommend
Sandy Bell's
25 Forrest RdFamous pub with nightly folk music from 2130. (Music is usually in the afternoons on the weekend.)
Great little pub, tucked away down one of the Old Town's many wynds. Near the Castle.
43 locals recommend
Jolly Judge
7 James CtGreat little pub, tucked away down one of the Old Town's many wynds. Near the Castle.
For those arriving at Waverley, who need refreshment, this is one of the Old Town's best pubs. Very small, which adds to its charm, and real ale. Basic pub food.
9 locals recommend
Halfway House
24 Fleshmarket ClFor those arriving at Waverley, who need refreshment, this is one of the Old Town's best pubs. Very small, which adds to its charm, and real ale. Basic pub food.
The Bow Bar
80 W BowOpposite Maison Bleue. Very good pub.
Classic Victorian pub, near the Cameo Cinema, and two of our fave places to eat - the Panda Inn and the Apartment.
67 locals recommend
Bennets Bar
8 Leven StClassic Victorian pub, near the Cameo Cinema, and two of our fave places to eat - the Panda Inn and the Apartment.
If you've been exploring Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat, and fancy some refreshment or a nice meal, try the Old Sheep Heid. One of Edinburgh's oldest pubs.
167 locals recommend
The Sheep Heid Inn
43-45 The CausewayIf you've been exploring Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat, and fancy some refreshment or a nice meal, try the Old Sheep Heid. One of Edinburgh's oldest pubs.
Arts & Culture
Summerhall
Arts venue, with cafe and pub. Recommended. Has wifi.
Nearest cinema. Part of the Picturehouse Group. Nice bar too. 15 minute walk.
255 locals recommend
Cameo Picturehouse
38 Home StNearest cinema. Part of the Picturehouse Group. Nice bar too. 15 minute walk.
The Queen's Hall
85-89 Clerk StGreat music venue, a few minute's walk away.
Shopping
Tills
1 Hope Park CresGreat little second hand bookshop. Also stocks old movie posters.
Everything Else
Ace Cleaning Centre
13 S Clerk StIf you need a place to wash or dry clothes.
The main railway station in Edinburgh. The airport shuttle coach stops here as well, and trams from the airport stop nearby. A 20 minute walk to the flat.
269 locals recommend
Edinburgh Waverley Station
Princes StreetThe main railway station in Edinburgh. The airport shuttle coach stops here as well, and trams from the airport stop nearby. A 20 minute walk to the flat.
In case of emergency, this is the nearest police station. Emergency phone number: 999. Non-emergency: 101.
Police Scotland Edinburgh
14 St. Leonard's StIn case of emergency, this is the nearest police station. Emergency phone number: 999. Non-emergency: 101.
In case of emergency, the Royal Infirmary is the nearest hospital. Emergency phone number: 999.
29 locals recommend
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
51 Old Dalkeith RdIn case of emergency, the Royal Infirmary is the nearest hospital. Emergency phone number: 999.
Big department store on Princes Street, listed here as it has possibly the best bureau de change in Edinburgh. Ground floor, at the back. (Major currencies can also be changed at Post Offices.)
26 locals recommend
Marks & Spencer Edinburgh
54 Princes StBig department store on Princes Street, listed here as it has possibly the best bureau de change in Edinburgh. Ground floor, at the back. (Major currencies can also be changed at Post Offices.)
Sightseeing
The Museum - well worth a visit. 10 mins walk from flat. The tram from the airport stops here.
1378 locals recommend
National Museum of Scotland
The Museum - well worth a visit. 10 mins walk from flat. The tram from the airport stops here.
One of Edinburgh's prettiest streets, that gives you a good idea of the 'vertical city'. Leads down to the Grassmarket, which gives you a dramatic view of the Castle.
123 locals recommend
Victoria Street
Victoria StreetOne of Edinburgh's prettiest streets, that gives you a good idea of the 'vertical city'. Leads down to the Grassmarket, which gives you a dramatic view of the Castle.
The highest point in Edinburgh. For those keen on a great deal of fresh air! A walk to the top and back to the flat would take about 2-3 hours.
1859 locals recommend
Arthur's Seat
The highest point in Edinburgh. For those keen on a great deal of fresh air! A walk to the top and back to the flat would take about 2-3 hours.
If you can't face the ascent to Arthur's Seat, a walk along Salisbury Crags might do instead. Or walk along Radical Road, the pathway at the foot of the Crags. Great views from both.
40 locals recommend
Salisbury Crags
If you can't face the ascent to Arthur's Seat, a walk along Salisbury Crags might do instead. Or walk along Radical Road, the pathway at the foot of the Crags. Great views from both.
Great views of both the Old and New Towns, and Leith. Site of the old City Observatory, Nelson Monument, the National Monument, plus art gallery. Relatively easy climb.
1098 locals recommend
Calton Hill
Calton HillGreat views of both the Old and New Towns, and Leith. Site of the old City Observatory, Nelson Monument, the National Monument, plus art gallery. Relatively easy climb.
For those wanting an alternative view of Edinburgh... The camera is at the very top of the building. Also gives you a good idea of traditional Old Town architecture (i.e. tall and narrow!).
437 locals recommend
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
549 CastlehillFor those wanting an alternative view of Edinburgh... The camera is at the very top of the building. Also gives you a good idea of traditional Old Town architecture (i.e. tall and narrow!).
One of the Old Town's more interesting museums. Almost next door to the Jolly Judge.
37 locals recommend
The Writers' Museum
Lady Stair's CloseOne of the Old Town's more interesting museums. Almost next door to the Jolly Judge.
If you like art, make a beeline for here. There are also Portrait and Modern Art Galleries, but these are a long walk, taxi or bike ride away.
1010 locals recommend
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford RdIf you like art, make a beeline for here. There are also Portrait and Modern Art Galleries, but these are a long walk, taxi or bike ride away.
As with the Grassmarket, you get a great view of the Castle from here. A pleasant place to wander, if you're trying to escape from the crowds on Prince's Street.
957 locals recommend
Princes Street
Princes StreetAs with the Grassmarket, you get a great view of the Castle from here. A pleasant place to wander, if you're trying to escape from the crowds on Prince's Street.
Small museum tucked away near the foot of the Mile. More traditional Old Town architecture, but very different from the Camera Obscura building.
72 locals recommend
The Museum of Edinburgh
142-146 CanongateSmall museum tucked away near the foot of the Mile. More traditional Old Town architecture, but very different from the Camera Obscura building.