Edinburgh restaurants
Some excellent restaurants in Edinburgh ...
High quality gourmet Scottish food on the Royal Mile near Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace. About £25 per main meal.
130 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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.
Informal and stylish. French and Scottish seasonal food. Good value, lively
64 locals recommend
The Bon Vivant
55 Thistle StInformal and stylish. French and Scottish seasonal food. Good value, lively
Best fish and chips in the city. Reasonable prices. Excellent bar and lovely atmosphere - informal but good quality. Live music in the Bar area on Sundays from 1-4pm & Thursday evenings from 7pm.
The Shore Bar and Restaurant
Best fish and chips in the city. Reasonable prices. Excellent bar and lovely atmosphere - informal but good quality. Live music in the Bar area on Sundays from 1-4pm & Thursday evenings from 7pm.
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.
1858 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
Dean Village
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 locals recommend
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.
1226 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
The 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
Has a year-round programme of excellent theatre, including new and contemporary plays. Nice bar and restaurant indoors.
87 locals recommend
Traverse Theatre
10 Cambridge StHas 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 locals recommend
Edinburgh Playhouse
18-22 Greenside PlClassic, mainstream family entertainment theatre and shows. At the top of Leith Walk
Festival Theatre
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
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 locals recommend
Cameo Picturehouse
38 Home StArthouse cinema in a small, atmospheric venue. Has cafe and bar.
Art
Contemporary art in beautful surroundings. You can view the gallery collections free, but there's an entry price for touring exhibitions. One of Edinburgh's most pretty cafes with indoor and outdoor seating in a lovely garden, featuring sculptures by famous artists.
1010 locals recommend
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford RdContemporary art in beautful surroundings. You can view the gallery collections free, but there's an entry price for touring exhibitions. One of Edinburgh's most pretty cafes with indoor and outdoor seating in a lovely garden, featuring sculptures by famous artists.
Traditional art, including Rembrandt, Constable, Boticelli and other well-known names of art history. Beautiful gallery halfway along Prince Street. Also a programme of touring shows year-round.
114 locals recommend
National Galleries of Scotland
The MoundTraditional art, including Rembrandt, Constable, Boticelli and other well-known names of art history. Beautiful gallery halfway along Prince Street. Also a programme of touring shows year-round.
Traditional and contemporary portraits. Beautiful building off Queen Street. Has nice cafe
523 locals recommend
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
1 Queen StTraditional and contemporary portraits. Beautiful building off Queen Street. Has nice cafe
Contemporary art and a great place to buy contemporary art books. Has small cafe. Near Waverley train station, on Market Street.
103 locals recommend
Fruitmarket Gallery
45 Market StContemporary art and a great place to buy contemporary art books. Has small cafe. Near Waverley train station, on Market Street.
Gorgeous paintings, a programme of changing work year-round. In the centre of Edinburgh, off Princes Street in Dundas Street.
8 locals recommend
Open Eye Gallery
34 Abercromby PlGorgeous paintings, a programme of changing work year-round. In the centre of Edinburgh, off Princes Street in Dundas Street.
My all-time favourite art gallery in Edinburgh. If you love art you'll appreciate the way exhibitions are curated here. Huge light-filled gallery space with changing exhibition usually featuring one artist every few months. Upstairs space shows works in their collection. Comfy sofas to browse art books and contemplate art on walls, peaceful.
19 locals recommend
Ingleby Gallery
33 Barony StMy all-time favourite art gallery in Edinburgh. If you love art you'll appreciate the way exhibitions are curated here. Huge light-filled gallery space with changing exhibition usually featuring one artist every few months. Upstairs space shows works in their collection. Comfy sofas to browse art books and contemplate art on walls, peaceful.
This small gallery in Dundas Street regularly shows some of the best modern and contemporary Scottish art.
10 locals recommend
The Scottish Gallery
16 Dundas StThis small gallery in Dundas Street regularly shows some of the best modern and contemporary Scottish art.
This is an arts venue with a year-round programme of visual art, music and theatre. Also has a great bar (in the square) and a cafe within the building
161 locals recommend
Summerhall
This is an arts venue with a year-round programme of visual art, music and theatre. Also has a great bar (in the square) and a cafe within the building
Vegetarian and vegan cafes and restaurants
Great veggie food. This is 10 mins walk from Lyne Street, On Easter Road.
126 locals recommend
Polentoni
38 Easter RdGreat veggie food. This is 10 mins walk from Lyne Street, On Easter Road.
Excellent vegetarian restaurant off the Royal Mile on St Mary's Street. About £15 per main meal.
117 locals recommend
David Bann Restaurant
56-58 St Mary's StExcellent vegetarian restaurant off the Royal Mile on St Mary's Street. About £15 per main meal.
Informal pub meals, good veggie options. About 10 minutes walk from Lyne Street.
191 locals recommend
The Safari Lounge
21 Cadzow PlInformal pub meals, good veggie options. About 10 minutes walk from Lyne Street.
Veggie and Vegan cafe near St Andrew's bus station. Great healthy food for vegetarians and vegans.
11 locals recommend
Holy Cow
34 Elder StVeggie and Vegan cafe near St Andrew's bus station. Great healthy food for vegetarians and vegans.
Naked Bakery
24a Hill StVegan Bakery - good for healthy snacks. On Hill Street in Edinburgh's New Town