Guidebook for Edinburgh
Drinks & Nightlife
Great Victorian gantry, malt whiskies and real ales. Good pub grub to try haggis, neeps and tatties?
67 locals recommend
Bennets Bar
8 Leven StGreat Victorian gantry, malt whiskies and real ales. Good pub grub to try haggis, neeps and tatties?
Cameo Picturehouse
38 Home StGood art house cinema.
Wonderful Victorian circle gantry bar with oysters and mussels and real ales. An Edinburgh institution!
125 locals recommend
Cafe Royal
19 W Register StWonderful Victorian circle gantry bar with oysters and mussels and real ales. An Edinburgh institution!
Interesting menu with a nice local feel. Seafood and other sharing platters.
108 locals recommend
Three Birds
3-5 ViewforthInteresting menu with a nice local feel. Seafood and other sharing platters.
Best-kept ales and new bar food menu comprising quality burgers and seafood. No music but newspapers and varied clientele. A favourite after a night out.
65 locals recommend
Cloisters Bar
26 Brougham StBest-kept ales and new bar food menu comprising quality burgers and seafood. No music but newspapers and varied clientele. A favourite after a night out.
No music just good beer and whisky and chat! From there head down to The Grassmarket on a meander home?!
6 locals recommend
Coopers Bar
No music just good beer and whisky and chat! From there head down to The Grassmarket on a meander home?!
The Stand Comedy Club
5 York PlaceComedy Club year round.
Another great spot for real-ales and whiskies! Victoria Street has lovely shops and eateries and the Terrace at a higher level takes you up to the Royal Mile.
79 locals recommend
The Bow Bar
80 W BowAnother great spot for real-ales and whiskies! Victoria Street has lovely shops and eateries and the Terrace at a higher level takes you up to the Royal Mile.
A respite after walking up Arthur's Seat. Swan loch nearby. Skittle yard at the back of the inn and good pub grub.
167 locals recommend
The Sheep Heid Inn
43-45 The CausewayA respite after walking up Arthur's Seat. Swan loch nearby. Skittle yard at the back of the inn and good pub grub.
Everything Else
World class classical concerts and world music. Cheap seats in the upper circle are £12.
139 locals recommend
The Usher Hall
Lothian RoadWorld class classical concerts and world music. Cheap seats in the upper circle are £12.
The Lyceum
30b Grindlay StGood plays.
Filmhouse
88 Lothian RdBest Foreign films and decent café/bar.
Warrender Swim Centre
55 Thirlestane RdFab Victorian pool, gym and sauna.
Lovely parkland for chilling, jogging or pitch and putt! Bollywood police box for coffee, dhal and more? Peter's Yard Café is at Middle Meadow Walk for a pit-stop for Swedish buns, soups and coffee
615 locals recommend
The Meadows
Melville DriveLovely parkland for chilling, jogging or pitch and putt! Bollywood police box for coffee, dhal and more? Peter's Yard Café is at Middle Meadow Walk for a pit-stop for Swedish buns, soups and coffee
Great views, chapel, great hall and war museum. Hear the 1 o'clock gun!
1961 locals recommend
Edinburgh Castle
CastlehillGreat views, chapel, great hall and war museum. Hear the 1 o'clock gun!
Fabulous Victorian atrium and Scottish history relics. Start in the basement and make sure you go up to the roof terrace.
1378 locals recommend
National Museum of Scotland
Fabulous Victorian atrium and Scottish history relics. Start in the basement and make sure you go up to the roof terrace.
Royal Mile Whiskies
379 High StSuper whisky shop opposite St. Giles Cathedral.
Whiski Rooms
4-7 N Bank StGood for tastings and good food too.
Great traditional music pub. Live music after 9.30 every night in the back room area. Ask to see the whisky list.
144 locals recommend
Sandy Bell's
25 Forrest RdGreat traditional music pub. Live music after 9.30 every night in the back room area. Ask to see the whisky list.
Fabulous dosas which are lentil flour stuffed pancakes. Near Cloisters bar too!
10 locals recommend
Mezbaan
14-14A West TollcrossFabulous dosas which are lentil flour stuffed pancakes. Near Cloisters bar too!
Great chaotic arts venue with a good bar and café. Interesting exhibitions. Pickerings Gin Distillery and Barney's microbrewery on site.
161 locals recommend
Summerhall
Great chaotic arts venue with a good bar and café. Interesting exhibitions. Pickerings Gin Distillery and Barney's microbrewery on site.
Wonderful space, sculpture park and café with terrace. Modern Art 2 across the road houses Surrealist art.
1010 locals recommend
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford RdWonderful space, sculpture park and café with terrace. Modern Art 2 across the road houses Surrealist art.
Great chocolate bar flavours including haggis and hot chocolate if you are need a fix.
16 locals recommend
COCO Chocolatier
20 Raeburn PlGreat chocolate bar flavours including haggis and hot chocolate if you are need a fix.
Fantastic sculpture parkland and great café in summer to early autumn. Lovely woodland walk with fascinating art.
107 locals recommend
Jupiter Artland
Fantastic sculpture parkland and great café in summer to early autumn. Lovely woodland walk with fascinating art.
Nice coastal town with Steampunk cafe, Lobster Shak seafood and Seabird Centre. Boat trip to Bass Rock good for birdies! Twenty minutes on the train from Waverley or walk along the coast at Aberlady.
119 locals recommend
North Berwick
Nice coastal town with Steampunk cafe, Lobster Shak seafood and Seabird Centre. Boat trip to Bass Rock good for birdies! Twenty minutes on the train from Waverley or walk along the coast at Aberlady.
Great day out to see the rail and road bridges. Boat trip to Inchcolm Island. Nice cafes and bars with Orkney ice cream at The Forth Bridge Café. You can walk over the road bridge to North Queensferry
114 locals recommend
Queensferry
Great day out to see the rail and road bridges. Boat trip to Inchcolm Island. Nice cafes and bars with Orkney ice cream at The Forth Bridge Café. You can walk over the road bridge to North Queensferry
Lovely promenade with Victorian Baths and Turkish steam room. Two nice cafes are The Beach House and The Espy. You can get to Musselburgh along the coast and the No 15 takes you there from the flat.
447 locals recommend
Portobello Beach Promenade
1 PromenadeLovely promenade with Victorian Baths and Turkish steam room. Two nice cafes are The Beach House and The Espy. You can get to Musselburgh along the coast and the No 15 takes you there from the flat.
Secret ghostie street beneath the Royal Mile - fun and can book ahead.
373 locals recommend
The Real Mary King's Close
2 High StSecret ghostie street beneath the Royal Mile - fun and can book ahead.
Late night and Sunday basement jazz. Brilliant Jazz festival in July.
176 locals recommend
The Jazz Bar
1a Chambers StLate night and Sunday basement jazz. Brilliant Jazz festival in July.
You can lose yourself here on a sunny day. Ape House, meerkats, penguin parade and zebras are must-sees. Number 26 bus from Princes Street.
308 locals recommend
Edinburgh Zoo
134 Corstorphine RdYou can lose yourself here on a sunny day. Ape House, meerkats, penguin parade and zebras are must-sees. Number 26 bus from Princes Street.
Swedish Café to stop at in the Meadows. Outside seating, lovely soups, pizzas, cakes and Swedish buns. Young vibe as near the university.
126 locals recommend
Söderberg The Meadows
27 Simpson LoanSwedish Café to stop at in the Meadows. Outside seating, lovely soups, pizzas, cakes and Swedish buns. Young vibe as near the university.
My daughter tells me this is fun but I have yet to try but maybe good for a wet day?
437 locals recommend
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
549 CastlehillMy daughter tells me this is fun but I have yet to try but maybe good for a wet day?
A great place to view the cityscape and this was where the first inhabitants of Edinburgh settled in round houses thousands of years ago. Stroll down to Duddingston, the pond and the Sheep's Heid Bar.
1859 locals recommend
Arthur's Seat
A great place to view the cityscape and this was where the first inhabitants of Edinburgh settled in round houses thousands of years ago. Stroll down to Duddingston, the pond and the Sheep's Heid Bar.
Glenkinchie Distillery
A local whisky and therefore worth trying?!
151 Bruntsfield Pl
151 Bruntsfield PlaceGreat new delicatessen with mini café at the back.
Food Scene
New play writing and cool bar in this modern theatre. Check out a Play, a Pie and a Pint at lunchtimes in autumn?
87 locals recommend
Traverse Theatre
10 Cambridge StNew play writing and cool bar in this modern theatre. Check out a Play, a Pie and a Pint at lunchtimes in autumn?
Really well-sourced food for a special meal. Superb express lunch menu is a brilliant bargain!
45 locals recommend
Cafe St Honorė
34 Thistle St N W LnReally well-sourced food for a special meal. Superb express lunch menu is a brilliant bargain!
Local Japanese bistro with good sushi.
69 locals recommend
Harajuku Kitchen - Sushi & Japanese Cuisine
10 Gillespie PlLocal Japanese bistro with good sushi.
Very good service and meat barbecue at the table which you have to book. Very good lunchtime deals with soup, kimchi and main dish at about £11
8 locals recommend
Ong Gie Korean Restaurant
22 Brougham PlaceVery good service and meat barbecue at the table which you have to book. Very good lunchtime deals with soup, kimchi and main dish at about £11
Relaxed Thai with food cooked from scratch. Sharing tables and no bookings so you might have to queue a bit but def. should be on your hit list with Sandy Bell's Bar nearby for music afterwards.
257 locals recommend
TING THAI CARAVAN Teviot Place
9 Teviot PlRelaxed Thai with food cooked from scratch. Sharing tables and no bookings so you might have to queue a bit but def. should be on your hit list with Sandy Bell's Bar nearby for music afterwards.
A local newcomer with small tasty dishes. Go on a Monday and you can roll a di and if you get a six then your meal is free! BYOB at no corkage and Scotmid is a few doors away for beer or wine.
112 locals recommend
Tuk Tuk Indian Street Food
1 Leven StA local newcomer with small tasty dishes. Go on a Monday and you can roll a di and if you get a six then your meal is free! BYOB at no corkage and Scotmid is a few doors away for beer or wine.
Great value set lunch or early supper and young, friendly staff!
60 locals recommend
Osteria del Tempo Perso
208 Bruntsfield PlGreat value set lunch or early supper and young, friendly staff!
Montpeliers
159-161 Bruntsfield PlGood variety of hot breakfasts!
Shopping
The Queen stays here when visiting. Beautiful cornices and portrait hall. Mary Queen of Scots room is the most interesting part.
462 locals recommend
Palace of Holyroodhouse
CanongateThe Queen stays here when visiting. Beautiful cornices and portrait hall. Mary Queen of Scots room is the most interesting part.
Chocolate Heaven. Hot chocolate and churros:-) Little cubby hole back room and seats outside. Good ice-creams and chocolate sorbet!
71 locals recommend
Chocolate Tree
123 Bruntsfield PlChocolate Heaven. Hot chocolate and churros:-) Little cubby hole back room and seats outside. Good ice-creams and chocolate sorbet!
Parks & Nature
Wonderful glasshouses and Chinese Garden. Three nice cafes and great for a wander from one side to the other and perhaps on to the Water of Leith walkway as you can join this in Stockbridge.
1227 locals recommend
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Arboretum PlaceWonderful glasshouses and Chinese Garden. Three nice cafes and great for a wander from one side to the other and perhaps on to the Water of Leith walkway as you can join this in Stockbridge.
Essentials
Open 7.30 and closes at 11. Good for salads, snacks and drinks. It is on the corner of my street.
457 locals recommend
Sainsbury's Local
45 Bernard StOpen 7.30 and closes at 11. Good for salads, snacks and drinks. It is on the corner of my street.
Getting Around
Lothian Buses Travel Shop