Our Picks for an Epic Edinburgh
Food Scene
Best cake ever. This is convenient if you're near Grassmarket or the Cultural Quarter.
119 locals recommend
Lovecrumbs West Port
155 West PortBest cake ever. This is convenient if you're near Grassmarket or the Cultural Quarter.
A really interesting take on seasonal eating. No menu, just a list of ingredients, then the chef makes your meal out of the ones you like.
83 locals recommend
Aizle
38 Charlotte SquareA really interesting take on seasonal eating. No menu, just a list of ingredients, then the chef makes your meal out of the ones you like.
Cheap, cheerful, good quality Italian. The lunch deals in particular are really good value.
12 locals recommend
Quattro Zero
41 Queensferry StCheap, cheerful, good quality Italian. The lunch deals in particular are really good value.
This is a really nice, slightly hidden restaurant on Princes Street with nice views of Edinburgh. The food and drinks are lovely and the lunch deal is really good value.
14 locals recommend
Twenty Princes
20 Princes StThis is a really nice, slightly hidden restaurant on Princes Street with nice views of Edinburgh. The food and drinks are lovely and the lunch deal is really good value.
A nicely designed bar/cafe in the West End. The food is good and they have a good mix of wine/beer/cocktails. It's open all day and is usually busy with post-work drinkers.
37 locals recommend
WestRoom
3 Melville PlA nicely designed bar/cafe in the West End. The food is good and they have a good mix of wine/beer/cocktails. It's open all day and is usually busy with post-work drinkers.
Nice coffee shop, they take their coffee very seriously. Famed for the cheese toastie.
66 locals recommend
Cairngorm Coffee
1 Melville PlNice coffee shop, they take their coffee very seriously. Famed for the cheese toastie.
Just the best ice cream you can imagine - the hot chocolate floats were a buzzed viral sensation.
131 locals recommend
Mary's Milk Bar
19 GrassmarketJust the best ice cream you can imagine - the hot chocolate floats were a buzzed viral sensation.
A lovely boutique hotel that does meals, coffees, cakes and has great outdoor space.
162 locals recommend
The Raeburn
112 Raeburn PlA lovely boutique hotel that does meals, coffees, cakes and has great outdoor space.
Artisan Roast Stockbridge
100A Raeburn PlDrinks & Nightlife
Bespoke cocktails in an intimate setting. A really interesting menu, the staff are always happy to recommend something!
131 locals recommend
The Last Word Saloon
44 St Stephen StBespoke cocktails in an intimate setting. A really interesting menu, the staff are always happy to recommend something!
Another interesting cocktail bar... I won't say too much but getting in is an experience!
297 locals recommend
Panda & Sons
79 Queen StAnother interesting cocktail bar... I won't say too much but getting in is an experience!
A bright and friendly Swedish restaurant that welcomes children and dogs. Slightly off the hubbub of the Royal Mile which can make it feel like a refuge.
73 locals recommend
Hemma
75 Holyrood RdA bright and friendly Swedish restaurant that welcomes children and dogs. Slightly off the hubbub of the Royal Mile which can make it feel like a refuge.
This place does excellent burgers, salads and nachos. It's a fun bar that has a DJ on the weekends but is nice to hang out in during the day. Big windows.
20 locals recommend
Sygn
15 Charlotte LnThis place does excellent burgers, salads and nachos. It's a fun bar that has a DJ on the weekends but is nice to hang out in during the day. Big windows.
Arts & Culture
The Traverse is Scotland's New Writing Theatre and can be guaranteed to have some interesting theatre.
87 locals recommend
Traverse Theatre
10 Cambridge StThe Traverse is Scotland's New Writing Theatre and can be guaranteed to have some interesting theatre.
This doesn't exactly sound like it's going to be brilliant... but it is. The building is stunning and there's lots of interesting, interactive exhibits.
1378 locals recommend
National Museum of Scotland
This doesn't exactly sound like it's going to be brilliant... but it is. The building is stunning and there's lots of interesting, interactive exhibits.
A beautiful Victorian swimming baths that has been lovingly converted into a tapestry studio. Cafe and gift shop are also great.
39 locals recommend
Dovecot Studios
10 Infirmary StA beautiful Victorian swimming baths that has been lovingly converted into a tapestry studio. Cafe and gift shop are also great.
The Modern Art galleries are interesting in their own right but are made unique by their idyllic setting.
1010 locals recommend
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford RdThe Modern Art galleries are interesting in their own right but are made unique by their idyllic setting.
A performance hub that also includes a gin distillery and a pub. It has an excellent atmosphere year-round but is particularly buzzing during the festival.
161 locals recommend
Summerhall
A performance hub that also includes a gin distillery and a pub. It has an excellent atmosphere year-round but is particularly buzzing during the festival.
Parks & Nature
Inverleith Park is a lovely place for a stroll and provides a stunningly good view of the city.
256 locals recommend
Inverleith Park
Inverleith Park is a lovely place for a stroll and provides a stunningly good view of the city.
I prefer this to Arthur's Seat. It's slightly less strenuous but mostly because it's far more central so can be integrated into your day. Views are stunning.
1098 locals recommend
Calton Hill
Calton HillI prefer this to Arthur's Seat. It's slightly less strenuous but mostly because it's far more central so can be integrated into your day. Views are stunning.
You won't believe that you're in the centre of the city when you walk down this leafy, riverside path.
21 locals recommend
Water of Leith Cyclepath
You won't believe that you're in the centre of the city when you walk down this leafy, riverside path.
Shopping
A gem of a bookshop. They take the layout of their stock as seriously as they take their books.
21 locals recommend
Golden Hare Books
68 St Stephen StA gem of a bookshop. They take the layout of their stock as seriously as they take their books.
I love this gift shop. It's a brilliant little place to browse for a nice card or present.
103 locals recommend
Fruitmarket Gallery
45 Market StI love this gift shop. It's a brilliant little place to browse for a nice card or present.
A lovely art and gift shop selling beautiful cards, homewares and prints. Well worth a browse.
38 locals recommend
Curiouser & Curiouser
93 Broughton StA lovely art and gift shop selling beautiful cards, homewares and prints. Well worth a browse.
Does what it says on the tin. Adorable, little shop chock full of dog products and staffed by knowledgable folk.
Just Dogs
14 Deanhaugh StDoes what it says on the tin. Adorable, little shop chock full of dog products and staffed by knowledgable folk.
IJ Mellis Cheesemongers
6 Bakers PlaceCheese, cheese and more cheese. Known throughout the UK.
Sunday daytime sees this patch filled with all kinds of stalls. The street food is particularly impressive though it get's very busy!
325 locals recommend
Stockbridge Market
Saunders StreetSunday daytime sees this patch filled with all kinds of stalls. The street food is particularly impressive though it get's very busy!
Homewares shop with a Scandinavian slant. Really fun to browse but often quite expensive.
7 locals recommend
Homer
8 Howe StHomewares shop with a Scandinavian slant. Really fun to browse but often quite expensive.
Sightseeing
A little corner of Edinburgh that isn't often explored by tourists. It's a collection of cafes, boutiques, delis and pubs on a group of quiet, cobbled streets.
7 locals recommend
West End Village
A little corner of Edinburgh that isn't often explored by tourists. It's a collection of cafes, boutiques, delis and pubs on a group of quiet, cobbled streets.
A totally different side to Edinburgh, it's story book beautiful and provides a strong counterpoint to all the Georgian architecture.
268 locals recommend
Dean Village
Dean PathA totally different side to Edinburgh, it's story book beautiful and provides a strong counterpoint to all the Georgian architecture.
An area full of independent shops, restaurants and cafes. It can be a haven in the festival and is also known for its charity shops.
350 locals recommend
Stockbridge
An area full of independent shops, restaurants and cafes. It can be a haven in the festival and is also known for its charity shops.
Entertainment & Activities
One of those amazing, independent cinemas that just make all other cinemas look bad. Some screens have sofas or lazy boys.
255 locals recommend
Cameo Picturehouse
38 Home StOne of those amazing, independent cinemas that just make all other cinemas look bad. Some screens have sofas or lazy boys.