Guidebook for Edinburgh

Guen
Guidebook for Edinburgh

Food Scene

Fantastic fish & seafood in a very attractive restaurant - the sunset views here are stunning! There is a bar area and outdoor tables too. Ask me to check if there are any online deals...
99 locals recommend
Loch Fyne Restaurant & Bar
23A Pier Place
99 locals recommend
Fantastic fish & seafood in a very attractive restaurant - the sunset views here are stunning! There is a bar area and outdoor tables too. Ask me to check if there are any online deals...
Yummy cakes and coffee, with great view from the window seats. They also have a bistro menu in the evening.
58 locals recommend
Porto & Fi Deli Bistro
47 Newhaven Main St
58 locals recommend
Yummy cakes and coffee, with great view from the window seats. They also have a bistro menu in the evening.
Just believe me - they do cakes! Shabby chic style.
205 locals recommend
Mimi's Bakehouse
63 Shore
205 locals recommend
Just believe me - they do cakes! Shabby chic style.
Lovely Thai food in very attractive restaurant; great service too.
11 locals recommend
Time 4 Thai
45 N Castle St
11 locals recommend
Lovely Thai food in very attractive restaurant; great service too.
Lovely bistro menu on corner of bustling street - lots of bars & quirky shops nearby. Very convenient for pre-theatre meal if going to the Playhouse Theatre.
84 locals recommend
The Olive Branch
91 Broughton St
84 locals recommend
Lovely bistro menu on corner of bustling street - lots of bars & quirky shops nearby. Very convenient for pre-theatre meal if going to the Playhouse Theatre.
The best formal Afternoon Tea in town - is in the Balmoral Hotel on the corner of Princes Street & North Bridge. Very elegant, with a musician playing gentle music from the minstrel's gallery above. Allow a couple of hours for this haven from the busy city.
6 locals recommend
Palm Court
1 Princes St
6 locals recommend
The best formal Afternoon Tea in town - is in the Balmoral Hotel on the corner of Princes Street & North Bridge. Very elegant, with a musician playing gentle music from the minstrel's gallery above. Allow a couple of hours for this haven from the busy city.

Drinks & Nightlife

Fabulous gin bar; the cocktails aren't cheap but they are wonderful. Choose from their menu or create your own! The bar staff are very knowledgeable and will be happy to advise.
39 locals recommend
Heads & Tales Gin Bar
1a Rutland Street
39 locals recommend
Fabulous gin bar; the cocktails aren't cheap but they are wonderful. Choose from their menu or create your own! The bar staff are very knowledgeable and will be happy to advise.

Sightseeing

It's right in the middle of the Royal Mile; it's been beautifully upgraded - stunning lighting, beautiful organ, lots of history and it is a regular venue for live classical music (mainly choral and organ recitals).
152 locals recommend
St Giles' Cathedral
High Street
152 locals recommend
It's right in the middle of the Royal Mile; it's been beautifully upgraded - stunning lighting, beautiful organ, lots of history and it is a regular venue for live classical music (mainly choral and organ recitals).
It's smaller than you might imagine, but worth a visit.
630 locals recommend
Royal Yacht Britannia
Ocean Drive
630 locals recommend
It's smaller than you might imagine, but worth a visit.
An interesting visit, although the focus inside is on military history rather than Royal or social history.
1961 locals recommend
Edinburgh Castle
Castlehill
1961 locals recommend
An interesting visit, although the focus inside is on military history rather than Royal or social history.
Beautiful architecture & real Scottish history! Great café tucked away in the courtyard behind the Queen's Gallery.
462 locals recommend
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Canongate
462 locals recommend
Beautiful architecture & real Scottish history! Great café tucked away in the courtyard behind the Queen's Gallery.
Easily accessed & gives stunning views all over the city.
1098 locals recommend
Calton Hill
Calton Hill
1098 locals recommend
Easily accessed & gives stunning views all over the city.
Where Mary Queen of Scots lived - now a ruin, but very interesting to visit. You can go right onto the roof, with amazing panoramic views.
58 locals recommend
Craigmillar Castle
Craigmillar Castle Road
58 locals recommend
Where Mary Queen of Scots lived - now a ruin, but very interesting to visit. You can go right onto the roof, with amazing panoramic views.
Out of Edinburgh - car or train to Linlithgow to visit the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots. Visit Brodies café on the High Street!
85 locals recommend
Linlithgow Palace
Kirkgate
85 locals recommend
Out of Edinburgh - car or train to Linlithgow to visit the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots. Visit Brodies café on the High Street!
This is where the history is: the Castle at the top and the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the bottom, with St Giles' Cathedral, John Knox's House, the Storytelling Centre, Canongate Kirk, the Scottish Parliament in between. Plus lots of quirky shops, budget cafes, top-end restaurants, bars, open-top bus tours... you'll need a whole day!
337 locals recommend
Royal Mile
337 locals recommend
This is where the history is: the Castle at the top and the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the bottom, with St Giles' Cathedral, John Knox's House, the Storytelling Centre, Canongate Kirk, the Scottish Parliament in between. Plus lots of quirky shops, budget cafes, top-end restaurants, bars, open-top bus tours... you'll need a whole day!

Parks & Nature

Beautiful gardens and famous glass houses. Attractive new visitor centre too, with very nice café/restaurant upstairs. Other café options within the grounds. About 10-15 minutes walk (or 23 bus) from my flat.
1227 locals recommend
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Arboretum Place
1227 locals recommend
Beautiful gardens and famous glass houses. Attractive new visitor centre too, with very nice café/restaurant upstairs. Other café options within the grounds. About 10-15 minutes walk (or 23 bus) from my flat.
Great zoo, famous for "are they or aren't they expecting?" pandas!
308 locals recommend
Edinburgh Zoo
134 Corstorphine Rd
308 locals recommend
Great zoo, famous for "are they or aren't they expecting?" pandas!
It's lovely to walk or sit and relax - big pond.
256 locals recommend
Inverleith Park
256 locals recommend
It's lovely to walk or sit and relax - big pond.
South side park.
162 locals recommend
Blackford Hill and Pond
4 Charterhall Rd
162 locals recommend
South side park.
A large open park space, often used in the summer for cricket and all year by joggers. In August, there are Fringe venues here too plus foodie events.
615 locals recommend
The Meadows
Melville Drive
615 locals recommend
A large open park space, often used in the summer for cricket and all year by joggers. In August, there are Fringe venues here too plus foodie events.

Arts & Culture

Lots of live music - classical & contemporary.
139 locals recommend
The Usher Hall
Lothian Road
139 locals recommend
Lots of live music - classical & contemporary.
Previously a church, converted into a concert hall. A great range of musical offerings. The bar is quite good too (and offers decent coffee).
45 locals recommend
The Queen's Hall
85-89 Clerk St
45 locals recommend
Previously a church, converted into a concert hall. A great range of musical offerings. The bar is quite good too (and offers decent coffee).
Usually featuring exhibitions from the Royal collection; it is a small gallery but has some fabulous exhibitions. I love the staircase, crafted by an artisan woodworker from the Borders. If you buy a ticket for here, it remains valid for a year (named user on the ticket though).
45 locals recommend
The Queen's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse
45 locals recommend
Usually featuring exhibitions from the Royal collection; it is a small gallery but has some fabulous exhibitions. I love the staircase, crafted by an artisan woodworker from the Borders. If you buy a ticket for here, it remains valid for a year (named user on the ticket though).
Lots of famous shows here.
320 locals recommend
Edinburgh Playhouse
18-22 Greenside Pl
320 locals recommend
Lots of famous shows here.
2016 is their 50th anniversary season - lots of great plays.
79 locals recommend
The Lyceum
30b Grindlay St
79 locals recommend
2016 is their 50th anniversary season - lots of great plays.
Used for theatre, dance and opera - great venue with lots of good eateries nearby.
154 locals recommend
Festival Theatre
13-29 Nicolson St
154 locals recommend
Used for theatre, dance and opera - great venue with lots of good eateries nearby.
It's just fantastic here - possibly too much for one day. Plenty for the family with permanent and temporary exhibits. Cafes etc. Go straight here on the 23 bus.
1378 locals recommend
National Museum of Scotland
1378 locals recommend
It's just fantastic here - possibly too much for one day. Plenty for the family with permanent and temporary exhibits. Cafes etc. Go straight here on the 23 bus.
Fabulous gallery with great exhibitions. Great café too.
523 locals recommend
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
1 Queen St
523 locals recommend
Fabulous gallery with great exhibitions. Great café too.
So many exhibits in fantastic gallery. Restaurant and café .
1010 locals recommend
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford Rd
1010 locals recommend
So many exhibits in fantastic gallery. Restaurant and café .

Shopping

Also has Vue cinema complex and access to the Britannia. Nice eateries too! M&S Food outlet.
332 locals recommend
Ocean Terminal
74 Ocean Dr
332 locals recommend
Also has Vue cinema complex and access to the Britannia. Nice eateries too! M&S Food outlet.

Essentials

Petrol station;
100 locals recommend
Asda Leith Superstore
2 Sandpiper Dr
100 locals recommend
Petrol station;
Petrol station; lots of other stores at same location.
211 locals recommend
Sainsbury's
Unit 9-10 Moray Park Terrace
211 locals recommend
Petrol station; lots of other stores at same location.
333 locals recommend
Tesco Superstore
76 Duke St
333 locals recommend