Guidebook for Edinburgh
Food Scene
Great coffee, pastries and Portugese custard tarts, just a short walk from the flat!
80 locals recommend
Casa Amiga
32A Leith WalkGreat coffee, pastries and Portugese custard tarts, just a short walk from the flat!
Origano pizzeria
236 Leith WalkSo close and they do great pizza!
Great coffee, soup and snacks with a social conscience! Cheap and cheerful, I recommend the scrambled egg rolls and the homemade cakes are to die for.
14 locals recommend
Area C Coffeehouse
239 Leith WalkGreat coffee, soup and snacks with a social conscience! Cheap and cheerful, I recommend the scrambled egg rolls and the homemade cakes are to die for.
You need to book to get a table in here, and for good reason, the food is so good! You buy small dishes to share, so you can enjoy lots of different tasty treats.
115 locals recommend
Mother India's Cafe
3-5 Infirmary StYou need to book to get a table in here, and for good reason, the food is so good! You buy small dishes to share, so you can enjoy lots of different tasty treats.
Kalpna
2-3 St Patrick SquareVegetarian Indian restaurant - comes highly recommended.
The Mosque Kitchen
31-33 Nicolson SquareBudget option but the curries are great!
Interesting menus, relaxed atmosphere and vintage furniture, this is one of my favourite places to eat.
92 locals recommend
Under The Stairs
3A Merchant StInteresting menus, relaxed atmosphere and vintage furniture, this is one of my favourite places to eat.
David Bann Restaurant
56-58 St Mary's StAnother purely vegetarian option!
Excellent range of wine and a small but tasty menu, I really like this place!
20 locals recommend
Ecco Vino
19 Cockburn StExcellent range of wine and a small but tasty menu, I really like this place!
Lovely retro milk bar serving gelato and chocolate - a winning combination!
131 locals recommend
Mary's Milk Bar
19 GrassmarketLovely retro milk bar serving gelato and chocolate - a winning combination!
Hotel Chocolat
7A Frederick StProper chocolate, of just about any descripion...
Drinks & Nightlife
It looks a bit forbidding from the outside, but this is a really nice bar, and very close to the flat!
127 locals recommend
Woodland Creatures
260-262 Leith WalkIt looks a bit forbidding from the outside, but this is a really nice bar, and very close to the flat!
Great bar about ten minutes walk from the flat, they also do good food.
199 locals recommend
Nobles Café Bar & Restaurant
44A Constitution StGreat bar about ten minutes walk from the flat, they also do good food.
Cosy little bar on the corner of Lorne Street, owned by the same people as the Victoria a couple of blocks up Leith Walk.
140 locals recommend
Abode Bar
229 Leith WalkCosy little bar on the corner of Lorne Street, owned by the same people as the Victoria a couple of blocks up Leith Walk.
The Windsor Buffet
45 Elm RowNo frills pub - this is a good stop off point on the way home!
Joseph Pearce
23 Elm RowLots of atmosphere and a real buzz about it, they also do food...
Classy, old-fashioned Edinburgh pub with lovely painted tiles on the walls and a good wine list/menu with lots of seafood. Really excellent fish and chips!
125 locals recommend
Cafe Royal
19 W Register StClassy, old-fashioned Edinburgh pub with lovely painted tiles on the walls and a good wine list/menu with lots of seafood. Really excellent fish and chips!
Lovely bar, tucked away on Thistle Street. It's small and can get quite busy but they also do food.
96 locals recommend
The Bon Vivant's Companion
51 Thistle StLovely bar, tucked away on Thistle Street. It's small and can get quite busy but they also do food.
The Cambridge Bar
20 Young StReally nice, no-nonsense bar in the New Town.
The biggest beer garden in Edinburgh (I think), a favourite on a sunny afternoon!
66 locals recommend
The Peartree
38 W Nicolson StThe biggest beer garden in Edinburgh (I think), a favourite on a sunny afternoon!
This is the newest of a small chain of pubs (Holyrood 9A and the Red Squirrel being the others) which offer a really nice range of beers on draught and a generous and varied menu of burgers.
63 locals recommend
The Southern Bar
22-26 S Clerk StThis is the newest of a small chain of pubs (Holyrood 9A and the Red Squirrel being the others) which offer a really nice range of beers on draught and a generous and varied menu of burgers.
Henrick's Bar
1-3 Barclay PlNice bar with good food.
Nice bar right in the heart of Stockbridge, which is a really pretty area of the city. Lots of good charity shops and nice cafes/delis.
103 locals recommend
Hectors
47-49 Deanhaugh StNice bar right in the heart of Stockbridge, which is a really pretty area of the city. Lots of good charity shops and nice cafes/delis.
Roseleaf bar cafe
23-24 Sandport PlaceCocktails served in teacups, and a good lunchtime menu!
The Lioness of Leith
21-25 Duke StStylish bar at the foot of the Walk.
Arts & Culture
Contemporary art gallery, just behind Waverley Station, it's easy to miss but worth a visit (closed Sundays).
19 locals recommend
Ingleby Gallery
33 Barony StContemporary art gallery, just behind Waverley Station, it's easy to miss but worth a visit (closed Sundays).
If you're looking for a show (outside Festival time!) there's always something on at the Playhouse... musical theatre, comedy, dance, etc.
320 locals recommend
Edinburgh Playhouse
18-22 Greenside PlIf you're looking for a show (outside Festival time!) there's always something on at the Playhouse... musical theatre, comedy, dance, etc.
International art exhibitions and a great cafe with really tasty food and glorious cakes!
103 locals recommend
Fruitmarket Gallery
45 Market StInternational art exhibitions and a great cafe with really tasty food and glorious cakes!
Interesting exhibitions which often focus on design and craft, the building also houses a tapestry studio. Converted Victorian bath house - another good cafe!
39 locals recommend
Dovecot Studios
10 Infirmary StInteresting exhibitions which often focus on design and craft, the building also houses a tapestry studio. Converted Victorian bath house - another good cafe!
As well as the Palace and Abbey, you should check out the Queen's Gallery - there are changing exhibitions and it's right across the road from the Parliament building, which is also open to the public
45 locals recommend
The Queen's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse
As well as the Palace and Abbey, you should check out the Queen's Gallery - there are changing exhibitions and it's right across the road from the Parliament building, which is also open to the public
Recently refurbished (2011) the Portrait Gallery is great for anyone interested in Scottish history and culture. And yes, the cafe is fab too.
523 locals recommend
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
1 Queen StRecently refurbished (2011) the Portrait Gallery is great for anyone interested in Scottish history and culture. And yes, the cafe is fab too.
The Museum is a must, great collections in an imaginatively refurbished building - lots of Scottish history, changing exhibitions and a great ceramics/glass collection among many other things.
1378 locals recommend
National Museum of Scotland
The Museum is a must, great collections in an imaginatively refurbished building - lots of Scottish history, changing exhibitions and a great ceramics/glass collection among many other things.
Art house cinema with small, intimate screens and a nice relaxed bar.
255 locals recommend
Cameo Picturehouse
38 Home StArt house cinema with small, intimate screens and a nice relaxed bar.
Along with the Cameo, the Filmhouse shows less mainstream cinema. There's also a bar that serves food.
184 locals recommend
Filmhouse
88 Lothian RdAlong with the Cameo, the Filmhouse shows less mainstream cinema. There's also a bar that serves food.
I work here! We have two buildings, housing our permanent collection of modern and contemporary art and temporary exhibitions - strengths are Dada and Surrealism and Scottish art.
1010 locals recommend
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford RdI work here! We have two buildings, housing our permanent collection of modern and contemporary art and temporary exhibitions - strengths are Dada and Surrealism and Scottish art.
There's always lots going on at Out of the Blue, my favourite is the flea market which is held on the last Saturday of every month. Another good cafe. Just round the corner from the flat.
66 locals recommend
Out Of The Blue Drill Hall
36 Dalmeny StThere's always lots going on at Out of the Blue, my favourite is the flea market which is held on the last Saturday of every month. Another good cafe. Just round the corner from the flat.
Oddly eclectic arts venue, for off the beaten track art exhibitions, events and performances - it's a festival venue, so a hive of activity during August but also open all year round.
161 locals recommend
Summerhall
Oddly eclectic arts venue, for off the beaten track art exhibitions, events and performances - it's a festival venue, so a hive of activity during August but also open all year round.
Houses the national art collection up to around 1900 - masterpieces by the likes of Titian, Velazquez, and Turner, plus the French Impressionists and an excellent Scottish collection. Good shop too!
1010 locals recommend
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford RdHouses the national art collection up to around 1900 - masterpieces by the likes of Titian, Velazquez, and Turner, plus the French Impressionists and an excellent Scottish collection. Good shop too!
Sightseeing
If you have a head for heights, you can climb to the top of the Scott Monument for a view across the city!
302 locals recommend
Scott Monument
If you have a head for heights, you can climb to the top of the Scott Monument for a view across the city!
You can walk or cycle along the Water of Leith, which also passes the Gallery of Modern Art, and runs through the city between Leith and Balerno. http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/316376/2582239/1
109 locals recommend
Water Of Leith Ltd
29 Beaverhall RdYou can walk or cycle along the Water of Leith, which also passes the Gallery of Modern Art, and runs through the city between Leith and Balerno. http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/316376/2582239/1
This is the one thing you really must do, if you have the time. Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags are volcanic rock formations that rise above the city. There is an easy route to the top!
1859 locals recommend
Arthur's Seat
This is the one thing you really must do, if you have the time. Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags are volcanic rock formations that rise above the city. There is an easy route to the top!
Another must, there are a range of ghost tours that take you down into the 'vaults' which are basically what remains of old Edinburgh, underneath the modern city. Mary King's Close is the best choice!
373 locals recommend
The Real Mary King's Close
2 High StAnother must, there are a range of ghost tours that take you down into the 'vaults' which are basically what remains of old Edinburgh, underneath the modern city. Mary King's Close is the best choice!
The Botanics are a great place to visit in summer time, the glass houses are a particular treat, and there is an art gallery (Inverleith House) within the gardens with changing exhibitions.
1227 locals recommend
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Arboretum PlaceThe Botanics are a great place to visit in summer time, the glass houses are a particular treat, and there is an art gallery (Inverleith House) within the gardens with changing exhibitions.
Essentials
This is the closest big supermarket, about ten minutes walk from the flat.
333 locals recommend
Tesco Superstore
76 Duke StThis is the closest big supermarket, about ten minutes walk from the flat.
This Scotmid is a mid-sized supermarket that does really nice fresh bread - it's about half way down Leith Walk (not on Duke Street, I'm not sure why the map here is wrong!)
36 locals recommend
Scotmid
236 Gorgie RdThis Scotmid is a mid-sized supermarket that does really nice fresh bread - it's about half way down Leith Walk (not on Duke Street, I'm not sure why the map here is wrong!)
Tesco Express
4-6 Leith WalkHandy small express store around the middle of Leith Walk.
Another small Tesco, just at the end of York Place, near the tram terminus.
490 locals recommend
Tesco Express
4-6 Leith WalkAnother small Tesco, just at the end of York Place, near the tram terminus.
Sainsbury's
Unit 9-10 Moray Park TerraceHandy if you want to pick up some food in town.
Everything Else
2 minutes from the flat, in case you need anything dry cleaned or a service wash (laundry washed and dried for about £8.50).
Pink Eco Clean
326 Easter Rd2 minutes from the flat, in case you need anything dry cleaned or a service wash (laundry washed and dried for about £8.50).
Shopping
M&S Food Hall is in the basement of this store for grocery shopping. The rest of the shop is mainly clothing and homeware.
26 locals recommend
Marks & Spencer Edinburgh
54 Princes StM&S Food Hall is in the basement of this store for grocery shopping. The rest of the shop is mainly clothing and homeware.
Armstrongs Vintage
81-83 GrassmarketVintage treasure trove of clothes and accessories!
Godiva
9 West PortMore vintage clothes...
Tiny antiques shop crammed with everything you could imagine, good for a look even if you don't want to buy anything. Prices from a couple of pounds.
14 locals recommend
Unicorn Antiques
65 Dundas StTiny antiques shop crammed with everything you could imagine, good for a look even if you don't want to buy anything. Prices from a couple of pounds.
Herman Brown
151 West PortClassy vintage clothing near the art college.
Excellent shop for small, unusual, arty gifts, with a really nice selection of kids toys as well as stuff for grown-ups.
Studio One
10 Stafford StreetExcellent shop for small, unusual, arty gifts, with a really nice selection of kids toys as well as stuff for grown-ups.
Owl & Lion sells hand-bound notebooks and original prints, but not wildly expensive. They also run courses and are graduates of Edinburgh College of Art.
Owl & Lion
66 GrassmarketOwl & Lion sells hand-bound notebooks and original prints, but not wildly expensive. They also run courses and are graduates of Edinburgh College of Art.