Guidebook for Edinburgh
Food Scene
We love good food and coffee, so see below for our local recommendations!
This is a great bakery and it gets very busy, especially at weekends. The salads are especially worth recommending- you can get a taster of 3 or 4 in a box, and take them for a picnic in the Holyrood Park.
259 residents recomanen
The Manna House Bakery & Patisserie
22-24 Easter RdThis is a great bakery and it gets very busy, especially at weekends. The salads are especially worth recommending- you can get a taster of 3 or 4 in a box, and take them for a picnic in the Holyrood Park.
Fortitude Coffee
3c York PlThe best coffee in town!
Our favourite pizza place, the antipasti platters are especially worth recommending! The two of us normally share a 16-inch pizza, and it is more than enough food.
250 residents recomanen
Origano pizzeria
236 Leith WalkOur favourite pizza place, the antipasti platters are especially worth recommending! The two of us normally share a 16-inch pizza, and it is more than enough food.
The best ice cream in Edinburgh, just down the road from the castle.
131 residents recomanen
Mary's Milk Bar
19 GrassmarketThe best ice cream in Edinburgh, just down the road from the castle.
Twelve Triangles
90 Brunswick StAmazing doughnuts!
A lovely restaurant serving modern Scottish cuisine. We particularly recommend it for lunch/brunch. As the place is tiny (about 30 covers), booking is essential.
339 residents recomanen
The Gardener's Cottage
1 London RoadA lovely restaurant serving modern Scottish cuisine. We particularly recommend it for lunch/brunch. As the place is tiny (about 30 covers), booking is essential.
A cafe managed by our friend, serving superb coffee and donuts. A great place for a rest before or after a train journey (located just behind Waverley Station)
15 residents recomanen
Baba Budan
17 E Market StA cafe managed by our friend, serving superb coffee and donuts. A great place for a rest before or after a train journey (located just behind Waverley Station)
Our favourite steak place. It's usually quite busy, so booking a table is definitely recommended.
98 residents recomanen
Chop House Leith
102 Constitution StOur favourite steak place. It's usually quite busy, so booking a table is definitely recommended.
This is a local coffee shop, literally across the road from the flat. It's managed by a friend who, originally from Melbourne, has always wanted to bring Australian coffee to Edinburgh. She also serves pastries and yummy filled croissants.
24 residents recomanen
Little Fitzroy Coffee
46 Easter RdThis is a local coffee shop, literally across the road from the flat. It's managed by a friend who, originally from Melbourne, has always wanted to bring Australian coffee to Edinburgh. She also serves pastries and yummy filled croissants.
A very affordable restaurant serving local produce. You can bring your own wine. Booking is usually essential.
137 residents recomanen
The Walnut
9 Leith WalkA very affordable restaurant serving local produce. You can bring your own wine. Booking is usually essential.
Eat your meal while admiring the best view in town. Great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Bookings required.
31 residents recomanen
The Lookout by Gardener's Cottage
38 Calton HillEat your meal while admiring the best view in town. Great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Bookings required.
Drinks & Nightlife
Edinburgh has lots of great places to grab a drink. Try our favourites!
Our local bar with very friendly staff and mostly local customers. They do great nachos and serve a wide selection of ales.
98 residents recomanen
Regent Bar
2 Montrose TerraceOur local bar with very friendly staff and mostly local customers. They do great nachos and serve a wide selection of ales.
A Swedish bar with a wide drinks menu (including many kinds of Swedish cider), also serving Swedish food (think meatballs, herring, etc.). Also, they have a large beer garden that's great for people watching on sunny days.
256 residents recomanen
Joseph Pearce
23 Elm RowA Swedish bar with a wide drinks menu (including many kinds of Swedish cider), also serving Swedish food (think meatballs, herring, etc.). Also, they have a large beer garden that's great for people watching on sunny days.
Another local bar, which can actually be fairly quiet during the week. Good selection of beers, our favourite is the local Innis and Gunn.
191 residents recomanen
The Safari Lounge
21 Cadzow PlAnother local bar, which can actually be fairly quiet during the week. Good selection of beers, our favourite is the local Innis and Gunn.
Our favourite folk music venue. There is music there every day (afternoon and night), but our favourite is the Sunday night session, from 8:30pm. The venue is tiny, so arrive early to make sure you get a seat.
43 residents recomanen
Captains Bar
4 S College StOur favourite folk music venue. There is music there every day (afternoon and night), but our favourite is the Sunday night session, from 8:30pm. The venue is tiny, so arrive early to make sure you get a seat.
A local pub, with a great selection of beer and proper pub food. The onion rings are Pawel's favourite!
106 residents recomanen
The Mash Tun Bier House & Kitchen
154 Easter RdA local pub, with a great selection of beer and proper pub food. The onion rings are Pawel's favourite!
This is a new bar, located in a converted church. They served their own beer, as well as tasty stone-baked pizza. We particularly recommend venturing up to the terrace - the views of the castle are amazing!
32 residents recomanen
Cold Town House
4 GrassmarketThis is a new bar, located in a converted church. They served their own beer, as well as tasty stone-baked pizza. We particularly recommend venturing up to the terrace - the views of the castle are amazing!
Essentials
The closest supermarket, just across the road from the flat. It has a good selection of food, including fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, dairy, etc.
115 residents recomanen
Scotmid Co-operative
112-120 Easter RdThe closest supermarket, just across the road from the flat. It has a good selection of food, including fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, dairy, etc.
A very large supermarket, with a wider selection of products than our local Scotmid.
333 residents recomanen
Tesco Superstore
76 Duke StA very large supermarket, with a wider selection of products than our local Scotmid.
Sightseeing
The castle is a famous Edinburgh attraction. The ticket is fairly expensive (16.50 GBP), but even if you don't go inside, you get wonderful views of the Old Town from the courtyard.
1961 residents recomanen
Castell d'Edimburg
CastlehillThe castle is a famous Edinburgh attraction. The ticket is fairly expensive (16.50 GBP), but even if you don't go inside, you get wonderful views of the Old Town from the courtyard.
Parks & Nature
A huge park, with the famous Arthur's Seat in the middle. You can climb to the top of the hill (takes about 2 hours there and back), but you can also explore the lochs and the flat meadows at the foot of the hill.
11 residents recomanen
Holyrood Road
Holyrood RoadA huge park, with the famous Arthur's Seat in the middle. You can climb to the top of the hill (takes about 2 hours there and back), but you can also explore the lochs and the flat meadows at the foot of the hill.
Another one of Edinburgh's hills, with amazing views of the city that can be enjoyed at the top.
1098 residents recomanen
Calton Hill
Calton HillAnother one of Edinburgh's hills, with amazing views of the city that can be enjoyed at the top.
Arts & Culture
The city's main concert hall, hosting mostly classical (and some jazz) concerts.
139 residents recomanen
Usher Hall
Lothian RoadThe city's main concert hall, hosting mostly classical (and some jazz) concerts.
Shopping
A local shop selling unique beer and wine, definitely worth recommending!
72 residents recomanen
Cornelius Beer & Wine
18-20 Easter RdA local shop selling unique beer and wine, definitely worth recommending!