Guidebook for Edinburgh
Food Scene
Great casual tasty food, with chicken lollipops and Mango Lassi for the kids!
112 locals recommend
Tuk Tuk Indian Street Food
1 Leven StGreat casual tasty food, with chicken lollipops and Mango Lassi for the kids!
Loved the Spanish Hot Chocolate with Churros, but sadly they reduced their seating so now nigh impossible to get a seat, pah! Have to do takeaway or perch at the bench.
Great sorbet/ice-cream though....
71 locals recommend
Chocolate Tree
123 Bruntsfield PlLoved the Spanish Hot Chocolate with Churros, but sadly they reduced their seating so now nigh impossible to get a seat, pah! Have to do takeaway or perch at the bench.
Great sorbet/ice-cream though....
Project Coffee
192-194 Bruntsfield Plgood for lunch. Kid tolerant, but take your own entertainments.
love this place for a special night out. expect to share your table and a sense of adventure for the taster menu
339 locals recommend
The Gardener's Cottage
1 London Roadlove this place for a special night out. expect to share your table and a sense of adventure for the taster menu
I am reliably informed by one of our regular visitors that this cafe serves the definitive BEST coffee in Bruntsfield - if you are a real coffee snob. However, not all of us are that hipster...! ;-)
236 locals recommend
Artisan Roast
57 Broughton StI am reliably informed by one of our regular visitors that this cafe serves the definitive BEST coffee in Bruntsfield - if you are a real coffee snob. However, not all of us are that hipster...! ;-)
bijou restaurant with interesting menu, ideal for couples and good friends wanting to blether.
They do a fab lunchtime deal too.
108 locals recommend
Three Birds
3-5 Viewforthbijou restaurant with interesting menu, ideal for couples and good friends wanting to blether.
They do a fab lunchtime deal too.
Great indian food, in cool surroundings. Hugely popular but can only reserve a table for over 6 people. Waiting area is in the bar downstairs - so no hardship to wait!
212 locals recommend
Dishoom Edinburgh
3a St Andrew SquareGreat indian food, in cool surroundings. Hugely popular but can only reserve a table for over 6 people. Waiting area is in the bar downstairs - so no hardship to wait!
Family run tapas restaurant, super food and super friendly. One of those little places where you can hear each other to chat whilst enjoying a curated menu. Reminds me I need to go back...
36 locals recommend
Indaba
3 Lochrin TerraceFamily run tapas restaurant, super food and super friendly. One of those little places where you can hear each other to chat whilst enjoying a curated menu. Reminds me I need to go back...
Vegetarian restaurants that has long been an Edinburgh institution. Now moved closer to us and is a short walk via the park!
Hendersons
Vegetarian restaurants that has long been an Edinburgh institution. Now moved closer to us and is a short walk via the park!
Drinks & Nightlife
Loved the old (vast!) cocktail menu more than the new streamlined one. Try the Blackbird Brew for an easy like.
better for Cocktails than food, also less busy if you can sneak in on a school night!
92 locals recommend
The Blackbird
37-39 Leven StLoved the old (vast!) cocktail menu more than the new streamlined one. Try the Blackbird Brew for an easy like.
better for Cocktails than food, also less busy if you can sneak in on a school night!
Panda & Sons
79 Queen StQuirky cocktail bar, if you can find your way in!
have only heard of this place in myths and legends. each time I try to find it - I appear to be at the wrong end of Queen street. Oh well, the quest continues...
2017 update! Finally made it on a stay-out-late Tuesday night - both very bad....and very good!
235 locals recommend
Bramble Bar & Lounge
16A Queen Sthave only heard of this place in myths and legends. each time I try to find it - I appear to be at the wrong end of Queen street. Oh well, the quest continues...
2017 update! Finally made it on a stay-out-late Tuesday night - both very bad....and very good!
Our new swish local is a popular haunt, but have only had the excuse to pop in for drinks so far.
More bling than boho
35 locals recommend
Black Ivy
4 Alvanley TerraceOur new swish local is a popular haunt, but have only had the excuse to pop in for drinks so far.
More bling than boho
Pub. An Edinburgh Institution famed for its once rude service. Take the opportunity to see if it has changed any...
95 locals recommend
Canny Mans
237 Morningside RdPub. An Edinburgh Institution famed for its once rude service. Take the opportunity to see if it has changed any...
Entertainment & Activities
Family owned cinema, with private sofas just for 2. addictive pringles sometimes complementary
161 locals recommend
Dominion Cinema
Newbattle TerraceFamily owned cinema, with private sofas just for 2. addictive pringles sometimes complementary
like the bar before a film for a low key chat with friends. looking good since the makeover
255 locals recommend
Cameo Picturehouse
38 Home Stlike the bar before a film for a low key chat with friends. looking good since the makeover
Brilliant museum, with special interactive displays for kids. and all free. 20mins walk from studio via park
1378 locals recommend
National Museum of Scotland
Brilliant museum, with special interactive displays for kids. and all free. 20mins walk from studio via park
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society
180 High Stwww.edinburghfestivalcity.com
Everything Else
go for a (free) game of golf (no plusfours required) and have a drink on the golf tavern terrace to reward your efforts.
75 locals recommend
Bruntsfield Links
Melville Drivego for a (free) game of golf (no plusfours required) and have a drink on the golf tavern terrace to reward your efforts.
Great place to pick up a drop-in yoga session if you are visiting. Just off the Meadows park, give yourself some time to stretch before facing the day!
15 locals recommend
Meadowlark Yoga
43 Argyle PlGreat place to pick up a drop-in yoga session if you are visiting. Just off the Meadows park, give yourself some time to stretch before facing the day!
Sightseeing
Arthur's Seat
best view. punkt.
'a silver thread in a ribbon of green' Good to walk/take bikes if you wanted to cycle along this route Leith to Balerno. Start at the Union canal and connect routes at Water of Leith Visitor centre.
109 locals recommend
Water Of Leith Ltd
29 Beaverhall Rd'a silver thread in a ribbon of green' Good to walk/take bikes if you wanted to cycle along this route Leith to Balerno. Start at the Union canal and connect routes at Water of Leith Visitor centre.
you can look on it from so many points in the city from Princes Street to Arthur's seat, or from the Meadows Park next to our home.
Of course you can also head all the way inside the castle walls to find out all the history and hear the 1 o'clock gun!
1961 locals recommend
Edinburgh Castle
Castlehillyou can look on it from so many points in the city from Princes Street to Arthur's seat, or from the Meadows Park next to our home.
Of course you can also head all the way inside the castle walls to find out all the history and hear the 1 o'clock gun!
Beltane Fire Festival is a walking festival at sundown on Calton Hill.
It is a ticketed event, and date floats each year to reflect start of spring.
Starts around 8pm and lasts 5 hours if you stay for the full thing.
We did take kids (in pram) the first time - but if you are prudish stay away! lots of naked dancers dressed only in body paint. BBBBrrrrr! dress warm and take a flask (thermos or hip!!)
1098 locals recommend
Calton Hill
Calton HillBeltane Fire Festival is a walking festival at sundown on Calton Hill.
It is a ticketed event, and date floats each year to reflect start of spring.
Starts around 8pm and lasts 5 hours if you stay for the full thing.
We did take kids (in pram) the first time - but if you are prudish stay away! lots of naked dancers dressed only in body paint. BBBBrrrrr! dress warm and take a flask (thermos or hip!!)
Shopping
Outside of the Museum giftshops - it is the least Tartan Shortbread of the Scottish Designers offerings. Quirky and original takes on popular culture.
MUCH better that anywhere on the Edinburgh High Street. You can always visit the Royal Yacht Britannia while you are down in Leith
10 locals recommend
The Scottish Design Exchange
117-119 George StreetOutside of the Museum giftshops - it is the least Tartan Shortbread of the Scottish Designers offerings. Quirky and original takes on popular culture.
MUCH better that anywhere on the Edinburgh High Street. You can always visit the Royal Yacht Britannia while you are down in Leith
City Cycles (Just Eat Bike Rentals)
https://edinburghcyclehire.com/how-it-works at Bruntsfield Links.
The most efficient way to get around Edinburgh is on a bike. Cycle Hire bikes are primarily used for short rides and as a supplement to public transport.
First off: buy a pass
Download the app for iPhone or Android (search for just eat cycles), then sign up. There are 3 passes available:
£1.50 for a single trip of up to 1 hour – each 30 minutes thereafter is £1 extra.
£3 for a day pass, allowing unlimited journeys of up to 1 hour each in a 24 hour period.
For £90 you can sign up for an annual membership, allowing unlimited ‘1 hour’ hires for 365 days
You can enable extended rental for all the passes, enabling longer journeys over an hour at an additional cost of £1 per 30 minutes.
You can also sign up and buy a pass through the web site at www.edinburghcyclehire.com, but you will still need the app to use the scheme.
If you plan to spend time in the city centre on your last day, then the best recommendation is to leave your bags at the left luggage facilities at the bus station (centrally located) at St Andrews Square.
luggage lockers - (can hold multiple bags) £5 small, £6.50 medium, £8 large for each 12 hour period.
Limited extra large luggage lockers are availble for £8 and £10 for each 12 hour period.
161 locals recommend
Edinburgh Bus Station
26 Elder StreetIf you plan to spend time in the city centre on your last day, then the best recommendation is to leave your bags at the left luggage facilities at the bus station (centrally located) at St Andrews Square.
luggage lockers - (can hold multiple bags) £5 small, £6.50 medium, £8 large for each 12 hour period.
Limited extra large luggage lockers are availble for £8 and £10 for each 12 hour period.
The most efficient way to get around Edinburgh is on a bike. Cycle Hire bikes are primarily used for short rides and as a supplement to public transport.
First off: buy a pass
Download the app for iPhone or Android (search for just eat cycles), then sign up. There are 3 passes available:
£1.50 for a single trip of up to 1 hour – each 30 minutes thereafter is £1 extra.
£3 for a day pass, allowing unlimited journeys of up to 1 hour each in a 24 hour period.
For £90 you can sign up for an annual membership, allowing unlimited ‘1 hour’ hires for 365 days
You can enable extended rental for all the passes, enabling longer journeys over an hour at an additional cost of £1 per 30 minutes.
You can also sign up and buy a pass through the web site at www.edinburghcyclehire.com, but you will still need the app to use the scheme.
75 locals recommend
Bruntsfield Links
Melville DriveThe most efficient way to get around Edinburgh is on a bike. Cycle Hire bikes are primarily used for short rides and as a supplement to public transport.
First off: buy a pass
Download the app for iPhone or Android (search for just eat cycles), then sign up. There are 3 passes available:
£1.50 for a single trip of up to 1 hour – each 30 minutes thereafter is £1 extra.
£3 for a day pass, allowing unlimited journeys of up to 1 hour each in a 24 hour period.
For £90 you can sign up for an annual membership, allowing unlimited ‘1 hour’ hires for 365 days
You can enable extended rental for all the passes, enabling longer journeys over an hour at an additional cost of £1 per 30 minutes.
You can also sign up and buy a pass through the web site at www.edinburghcyclehire.com, but you will still need the app to use the scheme.