Guidebook for Edinburgh
Food Scene
Another stylish offering from the Contini family - Edinburgh's best know Italian-Scottish cooks
12 locals recommend
Cannonball Restaurant & Bar
356 CastlehillAnother stylish offering from the Contini family - Edinburgh's best know Italian-Scottish cooks
Shamoli
105 High StGreat Thai and Indian at reasonable prices for this part of town
Clam Shell
148 High StGreat fish and chips just down the stairs from the flat
Maison Bleue
36-38 Victoria StGreat food, buzzy atmosphere
One of our favourite French restaurants in Edinburgh. Really excellent!
173 locals recommend
L'Escargot Bleu Restaurant
56 Broughton StOne of our favourite French restaurants in Edinburgh. Really excellent!
Angels with Bagpipes
343 High StStylish surroundings and local produce
If you go to the district of Leith, this restaurant and bar specialising in seafood but game and other meat as well. Bar adjoining sometimes has live jazz and is a great place for a drink in traditional surroundings. If you can't get a table here try its sister restaurant Fishers across the road.
275 locals recommend
The Shore Restaurant
1 ShoreIf you go to the district of Leith, this restaurant and bar specialising in seafood but game and other meat as well. Bar adjoining sometimes has live jazz and is a great place for a drink in traditional surroundings. If you can't get a table here try its sister restaurant Fishers across the road.
Eat oysters and drink champagne in opulent Victorian surroundings in the restaurant. Or have a pint and a pie in the circle bar next door. A real Edinburgh experience.
125 locals recommend
Cafe Royal
19 W Register StEat oysters and drink champagne in opulent Victorian surroundings in the restaurant. Or have a pint and a pie in the circle bar next door. A real Edinburgh experience.
Just down the road from the flat you will find Monteiths down a tiny close. Blink and you miss it. But what a great find, with lovely surroundings, fantastic food and innovative cocktails.
86 locals recommend
Monteiths
61 High StJust down the road from the flat you will find Monteiths down a tiny close. Blink and you miss it. But what a great find, with lovely surroundings, fantastic food and innovative cocktails.
Fun central spot for Middle Eastern-influenced small plates and sharing food in the centre of town. We like the decor.
36 locals recommend
BABA
130 George StFun central spot for Middle Eastern-influenced small plates and sharing food in the centre of town. We like the decor.
A historic bar and restaurant that featured in the film Chariots of Fire. A good place for a quiet drink in the centre of town. Good choice of drinks and excellent seafood. Oysters are a speciality.
125 locals recommend
Cafe Royal
19 W Register StA historic bar and restaurant that featured in the film Chariots of Fire. A good place for a quiet drink in the centre of town. Good choice of drinks and excellent seafood. Oysters are a speciality.
Drinks & Nightlife
The Jazz Bar
1a Chambers StJazz and drinks!
Live music and a lively local scene – sometimes a bit too lively and not for the faint hearted!
62 locals recommend
Whistlebinkies Live Music Bar
4-6 South BridgeLive music and a lively local scene – sometimes a bit too lively and not for the faint hearted!
Sing along around the famous Fingers piano. Get there before 1am on weekends or you will have to queue. Don't get there too early though as there won't be anybody there!
23 locals recommend
Fingers Piano Bar
61A Frederick StSing along around the famous Fingers piano. Get there before 1am on weekends or you will have to queue. Don't get there too early though as there won't be anybody there!
Harvey Nichols Forth Floor Brasserie and Bar
30-34 St Andrew SquareWe love the cocktails at the bar!
Wine bar with a great menu. A genuinely excellent wine list makes a visit a treat.
20 locals recommend
Ecco Vino
19 Cockburn StWine bar with a great menu. A genuinely excellent wine list makes a visit a treat.
The Voodoo Rooms
19a W Register StA well edited selection of live music in the centre of town
A chilled out bar very close to the flat. Also serves burgers and bar food. Last time we were there there was table football which is an entertaining way to spend a rainy afternoon. American-style brunch menu makes it a good breakfast stop.
36 locals recommend
The City Cafe
19 Blair StA chilled out bar very close to the flat. Also serves burgers and bar food. Last time we were there there was table football which is an entertaining way to spend a rainy afternoon. American-style brunch menu makes it a good breakfast stop.
Live music and great tunes when there is no music, this is a good nighttime hangout close to the flat. Open late, cocktails by the kettle (yes, really!) and buzzy feel. Drawing classes and yoga are sometimes on during the day.
49 locals recommend
Cabaret Voltaire
36-38 Blair StLive music and great tunes when there is no music, this is a good nighttime hangout close to the flat. Open late, cocktails by the kettle (yes, really!) and buzzy feel. Drawing classes and yoga are sometimes on during the day.
A proper traditional British bar hidden down a close off the Royal Mile. The roaring fire makes this a perfect place for a whisky mac after exploring the city's Christmas market or the courtyard is a good place to have a drink on a sunny afternoon.
43 locals recommend
Jolly Judge
7 James CtA proper traditional British bar hidden down a close off the Royal Mile. The roaring fire makes this a perfect place for a whisky mac after exploring the city's Christmas market or the courtyard is a good place to have a drink on a sunny afternoon.
Experience very traditional Scottish pub with a good selection of whisky and beer. Surroundings spartan but this is part of the charm.
79 locals recommend
The Bow Bar
80 W BowExperience very traditional Scottish pub with a good selection of whisky and beer. Surroundings spartan but this is part of the charm.
Lady Libertine
25 W Register StA stylish spot for drinks and small tapas-style plates
A fun whisky experience with a bar with great views and cocktails – we're told that even those who don't particularly like whisky enjoy it!
36 locals recommend
Johnnie Walker Princes Street
145 Princes StA fun whisky experience with a bar with great views and cocktails – we're told that even those who don't particularly like whisky enjoy it!
Sightseeing
Choose a clear day to make the most of the views across Edinburgh, across the Firth of Forth and out to Fife.
1961 locals recommend
Edinburgh Castle
CastlehillChoose a clear day to make the most of the views across Edinburgh, across the Firth of Forth and out to Fife.
Take a ride through a virtual distillery on this informative and entertaining tour with a chance to try whisky at the end.
149 locals recommend
The Scotch Whisky Experience
354 CastlehillTake a ride through a virtual distillery on this informative and entertaining tour with a chance to try whisky at the end.
Palace of Holyrood
CanongateThe Queen's Scottish residence!
Arts & Culture
See Scotland's most famous painters exhibited in this lovely building - good restaurant for lunch
1010 locals recommend
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford RdSee Scotland's most famous painters exhibited in this lovely building - good restaurant for lunch
National Museum of Scotland
Fun day out for all the family
An amazing sculpture park in beautiful surroundings. Do check opening times before you go though as opening times are limited.
107 locals recommend
Jupiter Artland
An amazing sculpture park in beautiful surroundings. Do check opening times before you go though as opening times are limited.
Parks & Nature
As well as being one of the loveliest spots in Edinburgh 'The Botanics' has great views over the city. Particularly nice in spring when the azaleas and rhododendrons are out.
1227 locals recommend
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Arboretum PlaceAs well as being one of the loveliest spots in Edinburgh 'The Botanics' has great views over the city. Particularly nice in spring when the azaleas and rhododendrons are out.
Climb Arthur's Seat to blow away the cobwebs and get amazing views of Edinburgh. Feed the ducks and geese in the lochs around the park.
280 locals recommend
Holyrood Park
Queen's DriveClimb Arthur's Seat to blow away the cobwebs and get amazing views of Edinburgh. Feed the ducks and geese in the lochs around the park.
Getting Around
Edinburgh's main railway station is just a short walk from the flat - airport buses also stop here.
202 locals recommend
Waverley Railway Station
Edinburgh's main railway station is just a short walk from the flat - airport buses also stop here.
Entertainment & Activities
A big multi-screen cinema in the heart of the city surrounded by restaurants and bars
147 locals recommend
Vue Cinemas
61/11 Leith StA big multi-screen cinema in the heart of the city surrounded by restaurants and bars
A great place to take kids to learn about natural history in an interactive experience.
303 locals recommend
Dynamic Earth
Holyrood RoadA great place to take kids to learn about natural history in an interactive experience.