Places to visit in Edinburgh. (A local's tips!)
Nearby Cafes
Recommended cafes for snacks and lunch, near Lyne Street
Great for breakfast and lunch and it's on the corner of my street! (Lyne Street).
23 residents recomanen
Art and Vintage
3 Lyne StGreat for breakfast and lunch and it's on the corner of my street! (Lyne Street).
Great coffee, pastries and cakes baked on premises. Seasonal produce for breakfasts and lunch (salads, vegetables etc). Just 5 mins walk from Lyne Street
107 residents recomanen
Red Kite Cafe
7-8 Cadzow PlGreat coffee, pastries and cakes baked on premises. Seasonal produce for breakfasts and lunch (salads, vegetables etc). Just 5 mins walk from Lyne Street
Simple, friendly cafe. Turkish/Greek food, good to sit in and for takeaway. Great for a lunch box to take away. Lovely Greek/Turkish coffee.
13 residents recomanen
Cherry's Cafe
45 London RdSimple, friendly cafe. Turkish/Greek food, good to sit in and for takeaway. Great for a lunch box to take away. Lovely Greek/Turkish coffee.
Good, affordable Edinburgh restaurants
Friendly Italian restaraunt that's been here since I was a girl! Started out a simple cafe, now it has a great range of delicious authentic Italian meals. Indoor seating very comfortable. Outdoor sitting on Leith Walk busy but with big umbrellas to ward of rain or sun. Great service, really friendly staff.
101 residents recomanen
Vittoria on the Walk
113 Brunswick StFriendly Italian restaraunt that's been here since I was a girl! Started out a simple cafe, now it has a great range of delicious authentic Italian meals. Indoor seating very comfortable. Outdoor sitting on Leith Walk busy but with big umbrellas to ward of rain or sun. Great service, really friendly staff.
Delicious range of Middle Eastern food. You can eat indoors, or if the weather's nice I highly recommend asking to sit on the terrace outside. You'll have great views of Edinburgh.
19 residents recomanen
Hanam's
3 Johnston TerraceDelicious range of Middle Eastern food. You can eat indoors, or if the weather's nice I highly recommend asking to sit on the terrace outside. You'll have great views of Edinburgh.
Excellent, gourmet Vegetarian food in a nice atmosphere. A must-visit for foodie veggies! David Bann's is a little bit more pricy (average main meal costs £15 per person) but it's tasty imaginative food.
117 residents recomanen
David Bann Restaurant
56-58 St Mary's StExcellent, gourmet Vegetarian food in a nice atmosphere. A must-visit for foodie veggies! David Bann's is a little bit more pricy (average main meal costs £15 per person) but it's tasty imaginative food.
Really great if you're looking for traditional good quality Scottish food. Stylish and comfy. Around £13 per meal.
6 residents recomanen
Pibroch Scottish Restaurant
240 CanongateReally great if you're looking for traditional good quality Scottish food. Stylish and comfy. Around £13 per meal.
Small and cosy French restaurant. Lovely food and ncie atmsophere. Good for lunch and dinner. In Thistle Street in Edinburgh's New Town near Prince Street.
31 residents recomanen
Café Marlayne
76 Thistle StSmall and cosy French restaurant. Lovely food and ncie atmsophere. Good for lunch and dinner. In Thistle Street in Edinburgh's New Town near Prince Street.
Excellent (and slightly pricy) Edinburgh restaurants
High quality gourmet Scottish food on the Royal Mile near Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace. About £25 per main meal.
132 residents recomanen
Wedgwood The Restaurant
267 Royal MileHigh quality gourmet Scottish food on the Royal Mile near Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace. About £25 per main meal.
Martin Wishart (on The Shore, bottom of Leith). Excellent gourmet contemporary dining with vegetarian options. About £40 per meal. For the serious foodies!
155 residents recomanen
Restaurant Martin Wishart
54 ShoreMartin Wishart (on The Shore, bottom of Leith). Excellent gourmet contemporary dining with vegetarian options. About £40 per meal. For the serious foodies!
One of my favourite restaurants, though it's a rare visit for me as it's pricy! The Witchery by the Castle. (top of the Royal Mile) has a wonderful atmosphere whether it’s winter or summer.
If you want a special night out with a sense of Edinburgh history and atmosphere this is a great choice. It’s right next to Edinburgh Castle, the food is excellent and the staff are great. A two-course lunch is about £25. Dinner about £30 per main meal.
192 residents recomanen
The Witchery by the Castle
352 CastlehillOne of my favourite restaurants, though it's a rare visit for me as it's pricy! The Witchery by the Castle. (top of the Royal Mile) has a wonderful atmosphere whether it’s winter or summer.
If you want a special night out with a sense of Edinburgh history and atmosphere this is a great choice. It’s right next to Edinburgh Castle, the food is excellent and the staff are great. A two-course lunch is about £25. Dinner about £30 per main meal.
Lovely atmosphere, delicious food. French/Scottish seasonal. Relaxing and romantic
48 residents recomanen
The Grain Store
30 Victoria StLovely atmosphere, delicious food. French/Scottish seasonal. Relaxing and romantic
Informal and stylish. French and Scottish seasonal food. Good value, lively
64 residents recomanen
The Bon Vivant
55 Thistle StInformal and stylish. French and Scottish seasonal food. Good value, lively
Beautiful Walks in the City
For nature lovers and walkers Arthur’s Seat is perfect. It's just 5 mins walk to the park from my flat.
The main summit is usually quite busy, but much of the hill is relatively quiet. There’s a lovely view across Edinburgh from the hill.
You can also walk across the hill to Duddingston Village on the other side, next to Duddingston Loch which is always teeming with geese and a few swans. You’ll find the Sheep’s Heid Inn here – one of Edinburgh’s oldest pubs, which has an excellent bar, restaurant upstairs and beer garden.
1859 residents recomanen
Arthur's Seat
For nature lovers and walkers Arthur’s Seat is perfect. It's just 5 mins walk to the park from my flat.
The main summit is usually quite busy, but much of the hill is relatively quiet. There’s a lovely view across Edinburgh from the hill.
You can also walk across the hill to Duddingston Village on the other side, next to Duddingston Loch which is always teeming with geese and a few swans. You’ll find the Sheep’s Heid Inn here – one of Edinburgh’s oldest pubs, which has an excellent bar, restaurant upstairs and beer garden.
Walk, or get the bus, to Stockbridge, just 10 mins walk off Prince Street. From the end of Saunder's Street you'll see a bridge, walk through and carry on as far as you like along the water of Leith. This is one of Edinburgh's most pretty spots. Dean Village is very picturesque and it's just 5 mins walk up the river.
268 residents recomanen
Vila Dean
Dean PathWalk, or get the bus, to Stockbridge, just 10 mins walk off Prince Street. From the end of Saunder's Street you'll see a bridge, walk through and carry on as far as you like along the water of Leith. This is one of Edinburgh's most pretty spots. Dean Village is very picturesque and it's just 5 mins walk up the river.
Calton Hill is just ten minutes walk from my flat. If you're feeling fit walk up the hill to see the classic view of Edinburgh along Princes Street. You can visit the observatory and gallery at the top of the hill, and there's a little cafe. (Not recommended after dark when Calton Hill can get a bit wild!)
1098 residents recomanen
Calton Hill
Calton HillCalton Hill is just ten minutes walk from my flat. If you're feeling fit walk up the hill to see the classic view of Edinburgh along Princes Street. You can visit the observatory and gallery at the top of the hill, and there's a little cafe. (Not recommended after dark when Calton Hill can get a bit wild!)
You can easily spend an entire day at Edinburgh's Botanic Gardens. Extensive varied gardens that are lovely all year round, huge greenhouses, two cafes. No dogs allowed, but this is a great place to take your kids and it's free.
1227 residents recomanen
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Arboretum PlaceYou can easily spend an entire day at Edinburgh's Botanic Gardens. Extensive varied gardens that are lovely all year round, huge greenhouses, two cafes. No dogs allowed, but this is a great place to take your kids and it's free.
Classical music venues
Has a year-round programme of the best classical music. Lovely setting. (The highest seats are cheapest, but can be quite stuffy and hot!)
139 residents recomanen
Usher Hall
Lothian RoadHas a year-round programme of the best classical music. Lovely setting. (The highest seats are cheapest, but can be quite stuffy and hot!)
The Queen's Hall
85-89 Clerk StGreat venue for classical and contemporary music.
St. John's Church
1A Lothian RdHas some lovely classical and contemporary music, and small concerts
Theatre
Usually (pre-lockdown) has a year-round programme of excellent theatre, including new and contemporary plays. Nice bar and restaurant indoors.
87 residents recomanen
Traverse Theatre
10 Cambridge StUsually (pre-lockdown) has a year-round programme of excellent theatre, including new and contemporary plays. Nice bar and restaurant indoors.
Classic, mainstream family entertainment theatre and shows. At the top of Leith Walk
320 residents recomanen
Teatre d'Edimburg
18-22 Greenside PlClassic, mainstream family entertainment theatre and shows. At the top of Leith Walk
Teatre del Festival
13-29 Nicolson StMainstream theatre shows. Dance shows and musicals too.
Cinema
Excellent folmhouse showing mainstream and arthouse cinema. Spacious cafe serving drinks till late
184 residents recomanen
Filmhouse
88 Lothian RdExcellent folmhouse showing mainstream and arthouse cinema. Spacious cafe serving drinks till late
Mainstream cinema at the top of Leith Walk. Comfy seating. Quite pricy
147 residents recomanen
Vue Cinemas
61/11 Leith StMainstream cinema at the top of Leith Walk. Comfy seating. Quite pricy
Vue at Ocean Terminal. Slightly more affordable mainstream cinema venue in the Leith Shore area
82 residents recomanen
Vue
98 Ocean DrVue at Ocean Terminal. Slightly more affordable mainstream cinema venue in the Leith Shore area
Arthouse cinema in a small, atmospheric venue. Has cafe and bar.
255 residents recomanen
Cameo Picturehouse
38 Home StArthouse cinema in a small, atmospheric venue. Has cafe and bar.