Tom & Gill's guidebook for Edinburgh
Food Scene
We have tried to mainly recommend local businesses and not chain restaurants. That being said, most UK chain you can think of are within walking distance of the apartment.
Just a couple of minutes' walk from the apartment. They serve great pizzas in a relaxed restaurant.
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Civerinos
49 Forrest RdJust a couple of minutes' walk from the apartment. They serve great pizzas in a relaxed restaurant.
Just a couple of minutes' walk from the apartment. If you're looking for an artisan coffee then this is a great local cafe. During term time it's very popular with students.
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Brew Lab Coffee
6-8 S College StJust a couple of minutes' walk from the apartment. If you're looking for an artisan coffee then this is a great local cafe. During term time it's very popular with students.
Usually very busy restaurant and only a few minute’s walk done the apartment. It’s great for a quick meal although there can be long queues when the city is busy. If you don’t feel like cooking you can order takeaway on their website which we often do.
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TING THAI CARAVAN Teviot Place
9 Teviot PlUsually very busy restaurant and only a few minute’s walk done the apartment. It’s great for a quick meal although there can be long queues when the city is busy. If you don’t feel like cooking you can order takeaway on their website which we often do.
Kanpai Sushi
8-10 Grindlay StOne of the better sushi restaurants in the city
Bread Meats Bread
90-92 Lothian RdGreat burgers
Vinyasa
34 St Mary's StA good quality nearby Indian restaurant.
Wings
5 - 7 High StJust on your doorstep. They are know for their spicy chicken wings.
Daily hog roast in a roll. Great for a quick lunch on the go.
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Oink Victoria Street
34 Victoria StDaily hog roast in a roll. Great for a quick lunch on the go.
A nearby Indian restaurant with great quality food. The restaurant tends to be busy so booking a table may be wise.
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Mother India's Cafe
3-5 Infirmary StA nearby Indian restaurant with great quality food. The restaurant tends to be busy so booking a table may be wise.
Nok's Kitchen on the castle
5a Johnston TerraceHowies Restaurant
10-14 Victoria StBread Meats Bread
The White Horse
266 CanongateA great little Japanese restaurant. It is quite relaxed and the prices are very reasonable
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Bentoya
13 Bread StA great little Japanese restaurant. It is quite relaxed and the prices are very reasonable
This is one of our favourite places to eat however it is one for the devoted foodie. Whilst the decor is not to everyone's taste, the food is excellent. Dishes we would recommend are Rainbow Dumplings (green & white are our favourites), House Special Sweet & Spicy Beef, French Beans with Pork and the Northeast style Crispy Pork.
Dumplings of China
This is one of our favourite places to eat however it is one for the devoted foodie. Whilst the decor is not to everyone's taste, the food is excellent. Dishes we would recommend are Rainbow Dumplings (green & white are our favourites), House Special Sweet & Spicy Beef, French Beans with Pork and the Northeast style Crispy Pork.
Whilst this is a restaurant chain it is only a few minutes' walk from the apartment. Pizza Express restaurants are great for kids.
Pizza Express
Whilst this is a restaurant chain it is only a few minutes' walk from the apartment. Pizza Express restaurants are great for kids.
Essentials
This is probably the closest supermarket to the apartment however it is quite small.
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Sainsbury's Local
32-36 Shandwick PlThis is probably the closest supermarket to the apartment however it is quite small.
This supermarket is only slightly further away than the Sainsbury's and is a bit bigger. If you're doing a bigger shop then it may be worthwhile going a bit further away to the other Tesco which is a lot bigger.
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Tesco Express
4-6 Leith WalkThis supermarket is only slightly further away than the Sainsbury's and is a bit bigger. If you're doing a bigger shop then it may be worthwhile going a bit further away to the other Tesco which is a lot bigger.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for in the nearby Tesco Express or Sainsbury’s Local then this slightly further away Tesco is a bit bigger.
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Tesco Metro
Colinton RoadIf you can’t find what you’re looking for in the nearby Tesco Express or Sainsbury’s Local then this slightly further away Tesco is a bit bigger.
NCP Edinburgh Holyrood Rd
2 Holyrood RdA nearby car park
This is the Radisson Blu’s car park and is the one nearest to the apartment. It is quite expensive though.
Parking garage Blackfriars St
This is the Radisson Blu’s car park and is the one nearest to the apartment. It is quite expensive though.
This parking is a bit cheaper but is a bit further from the apartment. It can be booked on the JustPark website by searching for the Hermits Croft location.
Easi Parks
2 St. Leonard's StThis parking is a bit cheaper but is a bit further from the apartment. It can be booked on the JustPark website by searching for the Hermits Croft location.
Londis
Getting Around
Waverley Railway Station
Drinks & Nightlife
The Jazz Bar
1a Chambers StFamous for late night jazz
The Peartree
38 W Nicolson StLarge beer garden
The Devil's Advocate
9 Advocate's ClA good (and very hidden) nearby bar
56 North
2 W CrosscausewayA good bar which has an outside seating area for sunny days
A typical old fashioned Edinburgh bar which has been around for years.
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The Bow Bar
80 W BowA typical old fashioned Edinburgh bar which has been around for years.
If your looking for some Scottish folk music then this is the place. They have live ceilidh music most (if not every) night in this no frills bar.
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Sandy Bell's
25 Forrest RdIf your looking for some Scottish folk music then this is the place. They have live ceilidh music most (if not every) night in this no frills bar.
Under The Stairs
3A Merchant StA nearby shabby chic bar which does good food too.
Whiski Bar & Restaurant
119 High StPanda & Sons
79 Queen StSpeakeasy inspired bar with good cocktails
Neighbourhoods
This nearby tourist area has lots of bars. On warm days there’s plenty of outdoor seating. There’s also a weekly market every Saturday.
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Grassmarket
10 GrassmarketThis nearby tourist area has lots of bars. On warm days there’s plenty of outdoor seating. There’s also a weekly market every Saturday.
Sightseeing
Izoo yase-Edinburgh
134 Corstorphine RdIkhethelo lase-Edinburgh
CastlehillNational Museum of Scotland
Camera Obscura kanye nehlombezayo
549 CastlehillGood for a rainy day.
Igaleriya yeScottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford RdIgaleriya Yezokubanzi YaseScotland
1 Queen StGood for a rainy day and less than a mile away from the apartment.
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Dynamic Earth
Holyrood RoadGood for a rainy day and less than a mile away from the apartment.
Royal Yacht Britannia
I-Arthur's Seat
Iziko Lokuhlalwa Kwamanye Amazwe weScotland
The MoundCity Art Centre
2 Market StThe gardens are great to walk around on a day when there's warm weather.
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Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Arboretum PlaceThe gardens are great to walk around on a day when there's warm weather.
We've never been here ourselves however we've heard its a fun experience. Great for a rainy day.
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I-Edinburgh Dungeon
31 Market StWe've never been here ourselves however we've heard its a fun experience. Great for a rainy day.
Izeluleko zedolobha
Ukuzulazula
Local Buses
The local buses (Lothian Buses) are the best way to get around town. They are clean, safe and easy to use. Their website has much more information and they also have an app.
Ungaphuthelwa
Markets
There are two small weekly markets in the city. On Saturday there is the Grassmarket Market which is just along the road from the apartment. On Sundays there is the Stockbridge Farmer’s Market which is about a mile away or a short bus journey.
Ukuzulazula
Taxis
The city's "Black Cabs" can be hailed from the street and are available when the orange light on the roof is illuminated. Private hire vehicles are also available to prebook, the biggest company is Capital Cars. Uber is also up and running in the city.