Tom & Gill's guidebook for Edinburgh
Food Scene
We have tried to mainly recommend local businesses and not chain restaurants. That being said, most UK chain you can think of are within walking distance of the apartment.
Just a couple of minutes' walk from the apartment. They serve great pizzas in a relaxed restaurant.
53 locals recommend
Civerinos
49 Forrest RdJust a couple of minutes' walk from the apartment. They serve great pizzas in a relaxed restaurant.
Just a couple of minutes' walk from the apartment. If you're looking for an artisan coffee then this is a great local cafe. During term time it's very popular with students.
101 locals recommend
Brew Lab Coffee
6-8 S College StJust a couple of minutes' walk from the apartment. If you're looking for an artisan coffee then this is a great local cafe. During term time it's very popular with students.
Usually very busy restaurant and only a few minute’s walk done the apartment. It’s great for a quick meal although there can be long queues when the city is busy. If you don’t feel like cooking you can order takeaway on their website which we often do.
257 locals recommend
TING THAI CARAVAN Teviot Place
9 Teviot PlUsually very busy restaurant and only a few minute’s walk done the apartment. It’s great for a quick meal although there can be long queues when the city is busy. If you don’t feel like cooking you can order takeaway on their website which we often do.
Kanpai Sushi
8-10 Grindlay StOne of the better sushi restaurants in the city
Bread Meats Bread
90-92 Lothian RdGreat burgers
Vinyasa
34 St Mary's StA good quality nearby Indian restaurant.
Wings
5 - 7 High StJust on your doorstep. They are know for their spicy chicken wings.
Daily hog roast in a roll. Great for a quick lunch on the go.
62 locals recommend
Oink Victoria Street
34 Victoria StDaily hog roast in a roll. Great for a quick lunch on the go.
A nearby Indian restaurant with great quality food. The restaurant tends to be busy so booking a table may be wise.
115 locals recommend
Mother India's Cafe
3-5 Infirmary StA nearby Indian restaurant with great quality food. The restaurant tends to be busy so booking a table may be wise.
Nok's Kitchen on the castle
5a Johnston TerraceHowies Restaurant
10-14 Victoria StBread Meats Bread
The White Horse
266 CanongateA great little Japanese restaurant. It is quite relaxed and the prices are very reasonable
24 locals recommend
Bentoya
13 Bread StA great little Japanese restaurant. It is quite relaxed and the prices are very reasonable
This is one of our favourite places to eat however it is one for the devoted foodie. Whilst the decor is not to everyone's taste, the food is excellent. Dishes we would recommend are Rainbow Dumplings (green & white are our favourites), House Special Sweet & Spicy Beef, French Beans with Pork and the Northeast style Crispy Pork.
Dumplings of China
This is one of our favourite places to eat however it is one for the devoted foodie. Whilst the decor is not to everyone's taste, the food is excellent. Dishes we would recommend are Rainbow Dumplings (green & white are our favourites), House Special Sweet & Spicy Beef, French Beans with Pork and the Northeast style Crispy Pork.
Whilst this is a restaurant chain it is only a few minutes' walk from the apartment. Pizza Express restaurants are great for kids.
Pizza Express
Whilst this is a restaurant chain it is only a few minutes' walk from the apartment. Pizza Express restaurants are great for kids.
Essentials
This is probably the closest supermarket to the apartment however it is quite small.
194 locals recommend
Sainsbury's Local
32-36 Shandwick PlThis is probably the closest supermarket to the apartment however it is quite small.
This supermarket is only slightly further away than the Sainsbury's and is a bit bigger. If you're doing a bigger shop then it may be worthwhile going a bit further away to the other Tesco which is a lot bigger.
490 locals recommend
Tesco Express
4-6 Leith WalkThis supermarket is only slightly further away than the Sainsbury's and is a bit bigger. If you're doing a bigger shop then it may be worthwhile going a bit further away to the other Tesco which is a lot bigger.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for in the nearby Tesco Express or Sainsbury’s Local then this slightly further away Tesco is a bit bigger.
130 locals recommend
Tesco Metro
Colinton RoadIf you can’t find what you’re looking for in the nearby Tesco Express or Sainsbury’s Local then this slightly further away Tesco is a bit bigger.
NCP Edinburgh Holyrood Rd
2 Holyrood RdA nearby car park
This is the Radisson Blu’s car park and is the one nearest to the apartment. It is quite expensive though.
Parking garage Blackfriars St
This is the Radisson Blu’s car park and is the one nearest to the apartment. It is quite expensive though.
This parking is a bit cheaper but is a bit further from the apartment. It can be booked on the JustPark website by searching for the Hermits Croft location.
Easi Parks
2 St. Leonard's StThis parking is a bit cheaper but is a bit further from the apartment. It can be booked on the JustPark website by searching for the Hermits Croft location.
Londis
Getting Around
Waverley Railway Station
Drinks & Nightlife
The Jazz Bar
1a Chambers StFamous for late night jazz
The Peartree
38 W Nicolson StLarge beer garden
The Devil's Advocate
9 Advocate's ClA good (and very hidden) nearby bar
56 North
2 W CrosscausewayA good bar which has an outside seating area for sunny days
A typical old fashioned Edinburgh bar which has been around for years.
79 locals recommend
The Bow Bar
80 W BowA typical old fashioned Edinburgh bar which has been around for years.
If your looking for some Scottish folk music then this is the place. They have live ceilidh music most (if not every) night in this no frills bar.
144 locals recommend
Sandy Bell's
25 Forrest RdIf your looking for some Scottish folk music then this is the place. They have live ceilidh music most (if not every) night in this no frills bar.
Under The Stairs
3A Merchant StA nearby shabby chic bar which does good food too.
Whiski Bar & Restaurant
119 High StPanda & Sons
79 Queen StSpeakeasy inspired bar with good cocktails
Neighbourhoods
This nearby tourist area has lots of bars. On warm days there’s plenty of outdoor seating. There’s also a weekly market every Saturday.
317 locals recommend
Grassmarket
10 GrassmarketThis nearby tourist area has lots of bars. On warm days there’s plenty of outdoor seating. There’s also a weekly market every Saturday.
Sightseeing
Edinburgh Zoo
134 Corstorphine RdEdinburgh Castle
CastlehillNational Museum of Scotland
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
549 CastlehillGood for a rainy day.
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford RdScottish National Portrait Gallery
1 Queen StDynamic Earth
Holyrood RoadGood for a rainy day and less than a mile away from the apartment.
Royal Yacht Britannia
Arthur's Seat
National Galleries of Scotland
The MoundCity Art Centre
2 Market StThe gardens are great to walk around on a day when there's warm weather.
1227 locals recommend
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Arboretum PlaceThe gardens are great to walk around on a day when there's warm weather.
We've never been here ourselves however we've heard its a fun experience. Great for a rainy day.
151 locals recommend
The Edinburgh Dungeon
31 Market StWe've never been here ourselves however we've heard its a fun experience. Great for a rainy day.
City advice
Getting around
Local Buses
The local buses (Lothian Buses) are the best way to get around town. They are clean, safe and easy to use. Their website has much more information and they also have an app.
Don't miss
Markets
There are two small weekly markets in the city. On Saturday there is the Grassmarket Market which is just along the road from the apartment. On Sundays there is the Stockbridge Farmer’s Market which is about a mile away or a short bus journey.
Getting around
Taxis
The city's "Black Cabs" can be hailed from the street and are available when the orange light on the roof is illuminated. Private hire vehicles are also available to prebook, the biggest company is Capital Cars. Uber is also up and running in the city.