Guest Guidebook
Food scene
The best place for breakfast in Edinburgh and just a 12-minute walk along the river from your BnB!
140 locals recommend
The Pantry
1 N W Circus PlThe best place for breakfast in Edinburgh and just a 12-minute walk along the river from your BnB!
The best place in Edinburgh for Scottish Haggis, Neeps & Tatties (Scotland's National Dish) and just 4 stops by bus or tram from your BnB!
42 locals recommend
Whiski Bar & Restaurant
119 High StThe best place in Edinburgh for Scottish Haggis, Neeps & Tatties (Scotland's National Dish) and just 4 stops by bus or tram from your BnB!
The best Vegan restaurant in Edinburgh and probably in Scotland! The food here is highly rated by both Vegans and Non-Vegans alike! Just 3 stops away by Tram from your BnB.
35 locals recommend
Harmonium
60 Henderson StThe best Vegan restaurant in Edinburgh and probably in Scotland! The food here is highly rated by both Vegans and Non-Vegans alike! Just 3 stops away by Tram from your BnB.
Enjoy the best seafood in Edinburgh with a lovely view of Newhaven Harbour. Be sure to book ahead.
The Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar
Enjoy the best seafood in Edinburgh with a lovely view of Newhaven Harbour. Be sure to book ahead.
Fine dining with probably the best atmosphere of any venue in Edinburgh.
192 locals recommend
The Witchery by the Castle
352 CastlehillFine dining with probably the best atmosphere of any venue in Edinburgh.
A superb Vegetarian restaurant; the Goats Cheese & Mushroom Wellington is highly recommended!
117 locals recommend
David Bann Restaurant
56-58 St Mary's StA superb Vegetarian restaurant; the Goats Cheese & Mushroom Wellington is highly recommended!
Just 15 minutes from your BnB, this is No.1 for Italian food in Edinburgh on Trip Adviser so who are we to argue?!
8 locals recommend
One20 Wine Cafe
120 Dundas StJust 15 minutes from your BnB, this is No.1 for Italian food in Edinburgh on Trip Adviser so who are we to argue?!
Black Rabbit is Edinburgh's original alternative vegan deli and coffee shop that offers daily favourites without the animal ingredients.
Black Rabbit
33 Brougham StBlack Rabbit is Edinburgh's original alternative vegan deli and coffee shop that offers daily favourites without the animal ingredients.
A casual but high quality restaurant with a menu making use of Scotland's natural bounty, much of which is foraged. Be sure to book ahead!
36 locals recommend
Forage & Chatter
1A Alva StA casual but high quality restaurant with a menu making use of Scotland's natural bounty, much of which is foraged. Be sure to book ahead!
The Pompadour features upscale tasting menus in a palatial Victorian railway hotel dining room with castle views.
The Pompadour
Princes StreetThe Pompadour features upscale tasting menus in a palatial Victorian railway hotel dining room with castle views.
A relaxed and intimate townhouse restaurant, for Scottish game and seafood fine-dining by candlelight.
31 locals recommend
Purslane Restaurant
33A St Stephen StA relaxed and intimate townhouse restaurant, for Scottish game and seafood fine-dining by candlelight.
For truly incredible vegetarian and vegan Vietnamese dining, look no further! A short walk, and a No.24 bus will get you there within 20 minutes of our property.
Sen Viet Vegan Restaurant
For truly incredible vegetarian and vegan Vietnamese dining, look no further! A short walk, and a No.24 bus will get you there within 20 minutes of our property.
Bars & Entertainment
The best venues for evening drinks and entertainment.
This unassuming pub has been a stalwart of the traditional-music scene since the 1960s (the founder's wife sang with the Corries). There's music every weekday evening at 9pm.
144 locals recommend
Sandy Bell's
25 Forrest RdThis unassuming pub has been a stalwart of the traditional-music scene since the 1960s (the founder's wife sang with the Corries). There's music every weekday evening at 9pm.
A spectacular subterranean venue set in the ancient stone vaults beneath the South Bridge, the Caves stages a series of one-off club nights and live-music gigs, as well as ceilidh (traditional music) nights during the Edinburgh Festival.
12 locals recommend
The Caves
8-10 Niddry St SA spectacular subterranean venue set in the ancient stone vaults beneath the South Bridge, the Caves stages a series of one-off club nights and live-music gigs, as well as ceilidh (traditional music) nights during the Edinburgh Festival.
This atmospheric cellar bar, with its polished parquet floors, bare stone walls, candlelit tables and stylish steel-framed chairs, is owned and operated by jazz musicians. There's live music every night from 9pm to 3am, and on Saturday from 3pm. As well as jazz, expect bands playing blues, funk, soul and fusion.
176 locals recommend
The Jazz Bar
1a Chambers StThis atmospheric cellar bar, with its polished parquet floors, bare stone walls, candlelit tables and stylish steel-framed chairs, is owned and operated by jazz musicians. There's live music every night from 9pm to 3am, and on Saturday from 3pm. As well as jazz, expect bands playing blues, funk, soul and fusion.
The Stand, founded in 1995, is Edinburgh's main independent comedy venue. It's an intimate cabaret bar with performances every night and a free Sunday lunchtime show.
72 locals recommend
The Stand Comedy Club
5 York PlaceThe Stand, founded in 1995, is Edinburgh's main independent comedy venue. It's an intimate cabaret bar with performances every night and a free Sunday lunchtime show.
The Bedlam hosts a long-established (running for more than 25 years) weekly improvisation slot, the Improverts, which is hugely popular with local students. Shows kick off at 10.30pm every Friday during term time, and you’re guaranteed a robust and entertaining evening.
9 locals recommend
Bedlam Theatre
11b Bristo PlThe Bedlam hosts a long-established (running for more than 25 years) weekly improvisation slot, the Improverts, which is hugely popular with local students. Shows kick off at 10.30pm every Friday during term time, and you’re guaranteed a robust and entertaining evening.
Just a 15 minute walk from your BnB, The Traverse is the main focus for new Scottish writing; it stages an adventurous program of contemporary drama and dance. The box office is only open on Sunday (from 4pm) when there's a show on.
87 locals recommend
Traverse Theatre
10 Cambridge StJust a 15 minute walk from your BnB, The Traverse is the main focus for new Scottish writing; it stages an adventurous program of contemporary drama and dance. The box office is only open on Sunday (from 4pm) when there's a show on.
The architecturally impressive Usher Hall hosts concerts by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) and performances of popular music.
139 locals recommend
The Usher Hall
Lothian RoadThe architecturally impressive Usher Hall hosts concerts by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) and performances of popular music.
Neighborhoods
THE HISTORY OF DEAN VILLAGE
The mills of Dene were first mentioned in King David I's founding charter of Holyrood Abbey, usually dated c.1145, in which he granted one of his mills of Dene to the Abbey.
In fact, the building you'll be staying in was originally a mill until c1820 when it was converted into three residential flats by a builder, an architect and a financier.
The area remained a separate village until the 19th century. In 1826, John Learmonth, a future Lord Provost of Edinburgh, purchased the Dean Estate from the Nisbets of Dean.
A bridge was needed to access from one side of the high valley to the other (the low-lying Dean Village was more or less an irrelevance). This was built 1831-2 and opened in 1833.
The four-arched Dean Bridge, spans a width of over 400 feet and is 106 feet above the water level. It carries the Queensferry Road over the Dean Gorge
The bridge transformed access westwards from the city.
In 1847 the Dean Cemetery was created, standing on the site of Dean House. This mansion house was the centre of the Dean Estate which had been bought by Sir William Nisbet in 1609. It was demolished in 1845 to create the cemetery but some sculptured stones are incorporated in the southern retaining wall (visible only from lower level). Seven surviving panels of the painted ceiling (painted between 1605 and 1627) of the great hall of Dean House are now in the National Museum of Scotland.
The cemetery which is one of the few in Scotland run as a non-profit making charity trust (to avoid being asset-stripped), is the resting place of many well-known people, including the railway engineer Sir Thomas Bouch and David Octavius Hill.
The area to the south-west is generally termed Belford, being the site of a ford across the river near Bell's Mills.
Due to the development of much larger and more modern flour mills at Leith, Dean Village's trade diminished.
From the mid-1970s onwards it became recognised as a tranquil oasis, very close to the city centre, and redevelopment and restoration began, converting workers' cottages, warehouses and mill buildings. This included development on a cleared former industrial site on the north side of the river. The area has now become a desirable area which draws in lovers of historic architecture.
The Water of Leith Walkway running from Balerno to Leith was created through the area in 1983.
6 locals recommend
Dean Path
Dean PathTHE HISTORY OF DEAN VILLAGE
The mills of Dene were first mentioned in King David I's founding charter of Holyrood Abbey, usually dated c.1145, in which he granted one of his mills of Dene to the Abbey.
In fact, the building you'll be staying in was originally a mill until c1820 when it was converted into three residential flats by a builder, an architect and a financier.
The area remained a separate village until the 19th century. In 1826, John Learmonth, a future Lord Provost of Edinburgh, purchased the Dean Estate from the Nisbets of Dean.
A bridge was needed to access from one side of the high valley to the other (the low-lying Dean Village was more or less an irrelevance). This was built 1831-2 and opened in 1833.
The four-arched Dean Bridge, spans a width of over 400 feet and is 106 feet above the water level. It carries the Queensferry Road over the Dean Gorge
The bridge transformed access westwards from the city.
In 1847 the Dean Cemetery was created, standing on the site of Dean House. This mansion house was the centre of the Dean Estate which had been bought by Sir William Nisbet in 1609. It was demolished in 1845 to create the cemetery but some sculptured stones are incorporated in the southern retaining wall (visible only from lower level). Seven surviving panels of the painted ceiling (painted between 1605 and 1627) of the great hall of Dean House are now in the National Museum of Scotland.
The cemetery which is one of the few in Scotland run as a non-profit making charity trust (to avoid being asset-stripped), is the resting place of many well-known people, including the railway engineer Sir Thomas Bouch and David Octavius Hill.
The area to the south-west is generally termed Belford, being the site of a ford across the river near Bell's Mills.
Due to the development of much larger and more modern flour mills at Leith, Dean Village's trade diminished.
From the mid-1970s onwards it became recognised as a tranquil oasis, very close to the city centre, and redevelopment and restoration began, converting workers' cottages, warehouses and mill buildings. This included development on a cleared former industrial site on the north side of the river. The area has now become a desirable area which draws in lovers of historic architecture.
The Water of Leith Walkway running from Balerno to Leith was created through the area in 1983.
Edinburgh Old Town
Neighbourhoods
Edinburgh Old Town
Neighbourhoods
Arthur's Seat
City advice
Getting around
Ways to Travel within & from Edinburgh
EDINBURGH WAVERLEY
Edinburgh’s largest station with links to Glasgow & across the UK including the Scottish Highlands. Buses 13, 19, 37 or 113 are 4 stops to our BnB.
EDINBURGH HAYMARKET
Just 1 bus stop away from us, trains serve much of Scotland, including Fife and Glasgow, as well as the East Coast Main Line to London King's Cross.
BUS & TRAM TRAVEL
Buses and trams run throughout the city. Within Edinburgh (City Zone), fares are £1.80 (Single) and £3.60 (Return). An all-day travel ticket covering all buses and trams within the City Zone costs £4.50 per person.
Getting around
The Walking City
Edinburgh is a surprisingly contained and main attractions and distances between most of the main points are not too great, although it is hilly – be warned!
From our BnB, you are just a 20-minute walk from Edinburgh Castle and a 25-minute walk from the Royal Mile.
For something a little different, you can take a river walk from directly outside our BnB to Stockbridge. Stockbridge is a small corner of Edinburgh famed for its many charity and boutique stores with plenty of bars, restaurants and artisan delis offering delicious cured meats, cheeses and other gourmet treats.