Mine and my family's favourite places in Edinburgh, updated for 2024!
YARNS & FABRIC
- Be Inspired Fibres Mei runs an amazing wee shop selling a range of Scottish and international yarns
- Fabric Focus very friendly, helpful fabric shop
- Ginger Twist Studio Jess sells a range of beautiful yarns for all budgets, including her own stunning hand-dyed and local farm yarns
- Kathys Knits Cathy sells a range of British yarns
SHOP
- Books - Golden Hare Books dog-friendly independent book shop in Stockbridge
- More books - Typewronger a treasure of a book shop near the top of Leith Walk
- Coffee - Mr Eion great coffee beans
- Food market - local food producers markets in Leith on Saturdays and Stockbridge on Sundays
- Health - Hanover Healthfoods family owned health shop in city centre that can also offer great advice on a huge range of health issues
- Jewellery - Annie Smith my fav jewellery shop in Edinburgh
- Off License - Cornelius Beer & Wine great selection at a range of prices
- Something different – Logan & Malloch lovely shop selling a range of Scottish and other goods in Leith
- Tea - Pekoe Tea amazing varieties of tea
- Textiles - the Scottish Textiles Showcase a treasure trove of authentic Scottish gifts and homeware in the city centre
FOOD
- Bistro - The Educated Flea great menu, at the foot of Broughton Street
- British - The Walnut tiny restaurant serving amazing British cuisine
- Brunch - The Pantry great breakfast though you can't book a table
- Cafe - Loudons open for breakfast, lunch & afternoon tea. Gluten free options
- Cake - Cuckoos Bakery lovely cakes in Stockbridge & Bruntsfield
- Chinese - The Stack delicious dim sum
- East African - Knights Kitchen wonderful Kenyan-inspired food in a family run bistro on Leith Walk
- Gallery Cafe - Scottish National Portrait Gallery wonderful self-service cafe
- Fish & Chips - L’Alba D’Oro best in town. Takeaway or sit-in
- French - L'Escargot Bleu delicious French food which sources its meat from Uradale Yarns in Shetland
- Indian (city centre) - Mother India Cafe superb tapas-style Indian food
- Indian (not in city centre) - Cutting Chai fantastic Indian food in Leith with specific vegan & vegetarian menus too
- Indian (Ferry Road) - Sabzi wonderful Indian street food with a weekly changing menu! BYOB.
- Iranian - Dishoom very tasty Iranian-style food. One of my sons' fav places
- Italian - Contini George Street good food in a stunning setting
- Japanese - Harajuku Kitchen - recommended highly by the lovely Katie Green
- Locally Sourced - Forage & Chatter fabulous foraged food
- Mexican - The Basement authentic Mexican food, great margaritas
- Neighbourhood Bistro - First Coast value-for-money Scottish bistro
- Pastries - Pastry Section great takeaway pastries and coffee/tea, perfect for a picnic in Inverleith Park!
- Pizza - Pizza Posto good value pizzas in a central location
- Pub Grub - The Roseleaf in Leith offers great food and amazing decor near the Water of Leith
- Romantic Twosome (or more) - The Stockbridge Restaurant lovely food and setting
- Sandwiches - Cairngorm Coffee Co good sandwiches & coffee in city centre
- Scandi - Timberyard stunning Scandinavian style food
- Scottish - Wedgewood great Scottish cooking on Royal Mile
- Spanish - La Sal good Spanish cuisine on Leith Walk
- Soup - Social Bite social enterprise company, aiming to end homelessness
- Sunday Roast - Queens Arms nowhere does it bigger or better for a roast according to my older son!
- Tapas - Tapa ok, so I'm cheating with a second Spanish place, but I love it here!
- Thai - Nok's Kitchen great food & amazing presentation
- Vegan - Holy Cow lovely wee place behind the bus station
- Vegetarian - David Bann wonderful vegetarian & vegan menus
- Walkable from my house - love the food at DINE Murrayfield which is just about walkable from my wee house in the west of Edinburgh!
COCKTAIL BARS
- Bramble - an Edinburgh institution on Queen Street
- Cocktail Mafia - tucked away on Charlotte's Lane, Edinburgh's newest and most exciting cocktail spot!
- House of Gods - decadent cocktail bar sat on the Cowgate, ask for the bartender's special!
- Panda & Sons - disguised as a Prohibition era barber shop on Queen Street, Edinburgh's best acclaimed cocktail spot
- Nauticus Bar - great venue in Leith
PUBS
- Golf Tavern - Edinburgh's original home of golf, sat on Bruntsfield Links
- Kay’s Bar - possibly Edinburgh's coolest bar, hidden away on Jamaica Street
- Oxford Bar - right in the city centre on Thistle Street, favourite haunt of both John Rebus and Ian Rankin!
- The Bailie - plenty of cask ales and hearty pub grub, a must for traditional pub goers
WINE BARS
- Gertrude & Smith - great wines & cheese on Hamilton Place opposite the Water of Leith
- Good Brothers - fab wines & food in Stockbridge
- Le Di-Vin - good wine & plates of food in Edinburgh's west end
VISIT FOR FREE
- Arthur's Seat geology - info on Arthur's Seat
- Carlton Hill geology - info on Carlton Hill
- City Art Centre - lovely central art gallery
- Coburg House - gallery, studios & shop in Leith
- Cramond Beach - take the 47 Lothian bus from central Edinburgh for a beach walk, with tide times & weather info available from Tide Times
- Dovecot Studios - tapestry & weaving near National Museum, with a shop & cafe
- Edinburgh Printmakers - exhibitions & cafe beside the Union Canal
- National Library of Scotland - has very interesting Scottish-themed exhibitions
- National Museum of Scotland - amazing collections and indoor space
- Newhaven Harbour - Newhaven Harbour info
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - beautiful accessible gardens, exhibitions, cafes & shop
- Saughton Park - accessible gardens (incl. a maze and a medicinal herb garden) & band stand beside the Water of Leith in SW Edinburgh
- Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art - modern art & cafes
- Scottish National Portrait Gallery - portraits & cafe in city centre
WALKS & WALKING TOURS
- Black History of Edinburgh walking tours - highly recommended Edinburgh Caribbean Association tours of Edinburgh
- Do It Yourself - use this great map from the Ordnance Survey to explore Edinburgh at your own pace!
- Hetty's History Walks - themed walking tours with a very knowledgable guide
- Union Canal - Union Canal walk info
- Water of Leith Walkway - River walk from the Port of Leith to Balerno in the foothills of the Pentlands
NOT JUST FOR LOCALS
- Dominion Cinema - beautiful, art deco, family-run cinema in south side of Edinburgh
- Edinburgh Leisure - Council-run swimming pools & gyms across the city
- Leith Theatre - amazing venue to visit to see a live show or band
- Live Music - Both Biddy Mulligans and George IV Bar have live music sets from Edinburgh's local folk talent. Larger music venues include: Queen's Hall; Usher Hall; Playhouse; and Festival Theatre.
- Out of the Blue - great community venue off Leith Walk with exhibitions, social evenings, weekend vintage fairs & a lovely cafe
- Play Areas - a list of all the Council-run play parks in Edinburgh
