Guidebook for Edinburgh
Essentials
This is a big supermarket with everything you'll need. It's open from 7am - 10pm, but note that the Duke street entrance closes at 9pm - you have to enter via the other entrance after that.
333 locals recommend
Tesco Superstore
76 Duke StThis is a big supermarket with everything you'll need. It's open from 7am - 10pm, but note that the Duke street entrance closes at 9pm - you have to enter via the other entrance after that.
Sainsbury's Local
45 Bernard StOut-of-this-world Italian deli. It's not cheap, but the food is fantastic.
189 locals recommend
Valvona Crolla
19 Elm RowOut-of-this-world Italian deli. It's not cheap, but the food is fantastic.
Food Scene
Among the best coffee spots in the city and does great artisan donuts as well as lovely bread and pastries.
171 locals recommend
Twelve Triangles
90 Brunswick StAmong the best coffee spots in the city and does great artisan donuts as well as lovely bread and pastries.
Great set menu with amazing reviews from the Guardian and the Herald. Quite experimental cooking. A little more expensive, but they do a well-priced set lunch menu.
34 locals recommend
Norn
50-54 Henderson StreetGreat set menu with amazing reviews from the Guardian and the Herald. Quite experimental cooking. A little more expensive, but they do a well-priced set lunch menu.
This is a Michelin-starred Leith stalwart. Great if you like formal, traditional fine dining.
155 locals recommend
Restaurant Martin Wishart
54 ShoreThis is a Michelin-starred Leith stalwart. Great if you like formal, traditional fine dining.
A Michelin-starred favourite. Very Scottish, nice atmosphere, not too formal. Fine dining, with the prices to match!
278 locals recommend
The Kitchin
A Michelin-starred favourite. Very Scottish, nice atmosphere, not too formal. Fine dining, with the prices to match!
This taco restaurant is small, so call ahead for a table. They have a small selection of really tasty tacos and you can bring your own bottle. They do good deals on Monday and Tuesday evenings.
134 locals recommend
Bodega
62 Elm RowThis taco restaurant is small, so call ahead for a table. They have a small selection of really tasty tacos and you can bring your own bottle. They do good deals on Monday and Tuesday evenings.
The steaks here are fantastic - butchered and hung in-house. If you're a carnivore, you'll love it. Nice interior too, and they do meaty brunches with good bloody marys. Go on a Wednesday night for two steaks and two sides for £25. But book ahead.
98 locals recommend
Chop House Leith
102 Constitution StThe steaks here are fantastic - butchered and hung in-house. If you're a carnivore, you'll love it. Nice interior too, and they do meaty brunches with good bloody marys. Go on a Wednesday night for two steaks and two sides for £25. But book ahead.
This is a great, inexpensive neighbourhood bistro. Cheap and cheerful with great food, lovely staff and you can bring your own bottle.
137 locals recommend
The Walnut
9 Leith WalkThis is a great, inexpensive neighbourhood bistro. Cheap and cheerful with great food, lovely staff and you can bring your own bottle.
This is the best spot nearby for afternoon tea. Their cakes are fantastic, and they go for a girly vintage vibe.
205 locals recommend
Mimi's Bakehouse
63 ShoreThis is the best spot nearby for afternoon tea. Their cakes are fantastic, and they go for a girly vintage vibe.
Printworks Coffee
42 Constitution StNice coffee. Good pastries and breakfast rolls too.
Lovely, cosy pub and restaurant with some of the best bistro food in the city. Great comfort food, lovely staff, good wine.
275 locals recommend
The Shore Restaurant
1 ShoreLovely, cosy pub and restaurant with some of the best bistro food in the city. Great comfort food, lovely staff, good wine.
Amazing seafood with a good wine list to match. Get the seafood platter if you feel like treating yourself. Sit outside if it's a warm day, and if you can get a table.
159 locals recommend
The Ship On The Shore
ShoreAmazing seafood with a good wine list to match. Get the seafood platter if you feel like treating yourself. Sit outside if it's a warm day, and if you can get a table.
Great Swedish bakery. Good coffee, pastries, sandwiches. Lovely interior.
126 locals recommend
Söderberg The Meadows
27 Simpson LoanGreat Swedish bakery. Good coffee, pastries, sandwiches. Lovely interior.
Fab pizza (and prosecco on tap) at big, communal tables. They don't take reservations.
9 locals recommend
Wildmanwood
27-29 Marshall StreetFab pizza (and prosecco on tap) at big, communal tables. They don't take reservations.
One of our favourite restaurants in the city. Pricey, but the food is exceptional and the setting is lovely. We particularly love it in the winter, when it feels very cosy.
184 locals recommend
TIMBERYARD
10 Lady Lawson StOne of our favourite restaurants in the city. Pricey, but the food is exceptional and the setting is lovely. We particularly love it in the winter, when it feels very cosy.
Probably our favourite Edinburgh restaurant. They do a 6-7 course set menu for £35, and they grow much of their produce in their garden. You'll need to book!
339 locals recommend
The Gardener's Cottage
1 London RoadProbably our favourite Edinburgh restaurant. They do a 6-7 course set menu for £35, and they grow much of their produce in their garden. You'll need to book!
This is the best cheap restaurant in the city centre. Homely, comfort food. Particularly cheap at lunch time.
63 locals recommend
the dogs
110 Hanover StThis is the best cheap restaurant in the city centre. Homely, comfort food. Particularly cheap at lunch time.
Really cheap Thai food, served at communal tables. You can't book and usually have to queue.
257 locals recommend
TING THAI CARAVAN Teviot Place
9 Teviot PlReally cheap Thai food, served at communal tables. You can't book and usually have to queue.
El Cartel
64 Thistle StGood tacos, nice setting. You can't book.
The food here is pretty good, and it's big so you'll usually get a table, even during the Festival.
16 locals recommend
Checkpoint
3 Bristo PlThe food here is pretty good, and it's big so you'll usually get a table, even during the Festival.
Söderberg Bakery Shop
45 Broughton StSourdough pizza in a nice setting.
Really classic French bistro food, nicely done. An absolute bargain at lunch time or on their pre-theatre menu.
173 locals recommend
L'Escargot Bleu Restaurant
56 Broughton StReally classic French bistro food, nicely done. An absolute bargain at lunch time or on their pre-theatre menu.
Really classic French bistro food, nicely done. An absolute bargain at lunch time or on their pre-theatre menu.
173 locals recommend
L'Escargot Bleu Restaurant
56 Broughton StReally classic French bistro food, nicely done. An absolute bargain at lunch time or on their pre-theatre menu.
There aren't many good places to eat in the Grassmarket, but this is definitely one of them. Nice, simple, French bistro food.
51 locals recommend
Petit Paris
38-40 GrassmarketThere aren't many good places to eat in the Grassmarket, but this is definitely one of them. Nice, simple, French bistro food.
The ice-cream here is absolutely out of this world. A must on a hot day.
131 locals recommend
Mary's Milk Bar
19 GrassmarketThe ice-cream here is absolutely out of this world. A must on a hot day.
Lovecrumbs West Port
155 West PortAmazing cakes, good coffee.
Urban Angel
121 Hanover StGood for brunch, coffee and light lunches.
I.J Mellis Cheesemonger
30 Victoria StAmazing cheese shop.
Great coffee and pastries and also a "general store" - lovely, simple homewares.
43 locals recommend
Century General Store & Cafe
Great coffee and pastries and also a "general store" - lovely, simple homewares.
Twelve Triangles Kitchen Table
148 Duke StAmazing brunch spot right across the road.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great bar a stone's throw from the apartment. Good cocktails and a nice atmosphere. They serve food too but it's not great.
178 locals recommend
The Lioness of Leith
21-25 Duke StGreat bar a stone's throw from the apartment. Good cocktails and a nice atmosphere. They serve food too but it's not great.
This a really cosy, traditional pub with a youthful, buzzy atmosphere. It has a great interior and does a great selection of drinks. It does decent pub food too and good brunches.
199 locals recommend
Nobles Café Bar & Restaurant
44A Constitution StThis a really cosy, traditional pub with a youthful, buzzy atmosphere. It has a great interior and does a great selection of drinks. It does decent pub food too and good brunches.
Lucky Liquor Co
39A Queen StNice bar, good cocktails.
Salt Horse Beer Shop & Bar
57-61 Blackfriars StGood spot if you like craft beer.
Shopping
Dick's Edinburgh
3 N W Circus PlLovely clothing and homewares.
Amazing bath and body shop. High prices, but worth it for a treat.
11 locals recommend
Aesop Stockbridge
6 N W Circus PlAmazing bath and body shop. High prices, but worth it for a treat.
The Red Door Gallery
42 Victoria StNice, quirky, affordable gallery. Great for gifts.
Moleta Munro
43-46 London StNice interiors shop, with a Scandinavian feel.
If you like very expensive, very glamorous shoes, this place is for you.
9 locals recommend
Pam Jenkins
41 Thistle StIf you like very expensive, very glamorous shoes, this place is for you.
Probably the best independent, high-end designer clothes shop in the city. Quite conservative in style, very expensive. Ladieswear only.
11 locals recommend
Jane Davidson
52 Thistle StProbably the best independent, high-end designer clothes shop in the city. Quite conservative in style, very expensive. Ladieswear only.
Really nice vintage clothes shop. If you like to rummage, it's not for you, but it's a well-edited selection at mid-range prices. Try one of the three branches of Armstrong's if you prefer to rummage.
14 locals recommend
Herman Brown
151 West PortReally nice vintage clothes shop. If you like to rummage, it's not for you, but it's a well-edited selection at mid-range prices. Try one of the three branches of Armstrong's if you prefer to rummage.
Elvis Shakespeare
347 Leith WalkBooks and vinyl.
Parks & Nature
Nice city park right on our doorstep. They have tennis courts, boules and even a children's orchard.
96 locals recommend
Leith Links
4 Links GardensNice city park right on our doorstep. They have tennis courts, boules and even a children's orchard.
Arthur's Seat
Fantastic walk with wonderful views from the top.
This is a lovely haven off the Royal Mile which very few people seem to know about. Take your sandwich there and enjoy the peace and quiet.
20 locals recommend
Dunbars Close Garden
137 CanongateThis is a lovely haven off the Royal Mile which very few people seem to know about. Take your sandwich there and enjoy the peace and quiet.
Arts & Culture
Amazing museum, with something for everyone. The place to go to learn about the history of Scotland.
1378 locals recommend
National Museum of Scotland
Amazing museum, with something for everyone. The place to go to learn about the history of Scotland.
An arts hub. Events are infrequent but good. Check first to see what - if anything - is on.
15 locals recommend
The Biscuit Factory
4-6 Anderson PlAn arts hub. Events are infrequent but good. Check first to see what - if anything - is on.
A nice local arts hub, with good events ranging from film nights to ping pong to flea markets. Check first to see what's on.
66 locals recommend
Out Of The Blue Drill Hall
36 Dalmeny StA nice local arts hub, with good events ranging from film nights to ping pong to flea markets. Check first to see what's on.
Great arts venue with a varied programme of events ranging from club nights to exhibitions.
161 locals recommend
Summerhall
Great arts venue with a varied programme of events ranging from club nights to exhibitions.