Gordon's Guidebook for Edinburgh
Arts & Culture
The Queen's Hall
85-89 Clerk StEvent venue close to apartment
I-Festival Theatre
13-29 Nicolson StA few minutes walk from apartment
Reid Concert Hall
Bristo SquareAnother local venue, display of old musical intruments
National Museum of Scotland
Great museum on your doorstep, must see.
Free guided tours, advance booking required: call
0800 092 7600 or book via email
sp.bookings@scottish.parliament.uk
314 abantu bendawo batusa
Scottish Parliament Building
Free guided tours, advance booking required: call
0800 092 7600 or book via email
sp.bookings@scottish.parliament.uk
Recently refurbished / attractive gallery, good cafe etc.
523 abantu bendawo batusa
Igaleriya Yezokubanzi YaseScotland
1 Queen StRecently refurbished / attractive gallery, good cafe etc.
Fruitmarket Gallery
45 Market StContemporary art gallery with good cafe by the Station.
Good collection of contemporary art spread over two sites across road from each other, good cafe in Modern Art One, giant Landform sculpture by Charles Jencks, the father of Post Modernism.
1010 abantu bendawo batusa
Igaleriya yeScottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford RdGood collection of contemporary art spread over two sites across road from each other, good cafe in Modern Art One, giant Landform sculpture by Charles Jencks, the father of Post Modernism.
Tapestry studios housed within converted municipal baths. Good cafe on ground floor.
39 abantu bendawo batusa
Dovecot Studios
10 Infirmary StTapestry studios housed within converted municipal baths. Good cafe on ground floor.
Summerhall
Labyrinthine arts venue / watering hole....aka The Royal Dick
Municipal museum with lots of information about the City housed in a historic building, free entry
72 abantu bendawo batusa
I-Museum ka-Edinburgh
142-146 CanongateMunicipal museum with lots of information about the City housed in a historic building, free entry
Municipal museum with the story of the the City told via dioramas, housed in a historic building, free entry
35 abantu bendawo batusa
People's Story
163 CanongateMunicipal museum with the story of the the City told via dioramas, housed in a historic building, free entry
Municipal museum about the lives of Burns, Ferguson and Scott, free entry
37 abantu bendawo batusa
Iziko Lokubhala
Lady Stair's CloseMunicipal museum about the lives of Burns, Ferguson and Scott, free entry
Ikhethelo lase-Edinburgh
CastlehillIziko Museums of South Africa
Nicolson StreetSt. Cecilia's Hall, The University of Edinburgh
50 Niddry StConcert venue and display of musical instruments.
Iziko Lokuhlalwa Kwamanye Amazwe weScotland
The MoundWhat it says on the tin!
Drinks & Nightlife
Across from the apartment, good local beer and 'bar' food served until late.
19 abantu bendawo batusa
Greenmantle Bar & Kitchen
44 W CrosscausewayAcross from the apartment, good local beer and 'bar' food served until late.
56 North
2 W CrosscausewayGood 'bar' food. Family friendly till 8pm.
Sandy Bell's
25 Forrest RdTraditional music every evening
The Royal Oak
1 Infirmary StTraditional partisan music, tiny (3's a crowd) local bar.
Brass Monkey Drummond Street
14 Drummond StGood local bar with no-shoe back room
Romantic bar with nice dining room, bar less expensive to eat than smart room, live music sometimes.
275 abantu bendawo batusa
The Shore Restaurant
1 ShoreRomantic bar with nice dining room, bar less expensive to eat than smart room, live music sometimes.
Authentic/artisan French bakery…short walk away/warm baguettes 11am
22 abantu bendawo batusa
The Wee Boulangerie
67 Clerk StAuthentic/artisan French bakery…short walk away/warm baguettes 11am
Traditional roomy island bar with good local atmosphere, c/w Listed interior NB tiled portrayals of inventors; expensive restaurant adjoining.
125 abantu bendawo batusa
Cafe Royal
19 W Register StTraditional roomy island bar with good local atmosphere, c/w Listed interior NB tiled portrayals of inventors; expensive restaurant adjoining.
The Caves
8-10 Niddry St SSubterranean bar/nightclub located underneath South Bridge
Studenty bar with function room above, large outdoor screen for major sport events.
66 abantu bendawo batusa
The Peartree
38 W Nicolson StStudenty bar with function room above, large outdoor screen for major sport events.
Captains Bar
4 S College StBasic bar with traditional music and local characters in situ
Great traditional Edinburgh bar, good selection beer and whisky. Cosy 'secret' snug on left on way in.
67 abantu bendawo batusa
Bennets Bar
8 Leven StGreat traditional Edinburgh bar, good selection beer and whisky. Cosy 'secret' snug on left on way in.
Food Scene
Kalpna
2-3 St Patrick SquareGreat vegetarian restaurant, not your typical fare.
Nile Valley Cafe
6 Chapel StGood Sudanese food, decor v basic
Kebab Mahal
7 Nicolson SquareGreat curries, decor v basic
Tanjore
6-8 Clerk StGood south indian cusine
Kilimanjaro Coffee
104 Nicolson StGood coffee + hearty breakfasts, including haggis.
Kim's Mini Meals
5 Buccleuch StGreat home cooked Korean food, around corner
Clarinda's Tearoom
69 CanongateTraditional tea room, home baking
The Outsider Restaurant
15-16 George IV BridgeGood food and great atmosphere.
David Bann Restaurant
56-58 St Mary's StClever vegetarian cuisine...albeit on pricey side
Artisan curry at reasonable prices, hidden through a pend in back court / basement of Old Chapel House + nearby rival of same name illustrated above
66 abantu bendawo batusa
The Mosque Kitchen
31-33 Nicolson SquareArtisan curry at reasonable prices, hidden through a pend in back court / basement of Old Chapel House + nearby rival of same name illustrated above
TING THAI CARAVAN Teviot Place
9 Teviot PlFlavoursome eats
Bodega
62 Elm RowAmazing, booking recommended as is teeny
Söderberg The Meadows
27 Simpson LoanGreat bread, cakes and coffee
Chez Jules
109 Hanover StAuthentic French cuisine on a budget.
Howies Restaurant
Authentic Scottish cooking
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
28 Queen StWhisky & haggis(?), quite the combo..!
The White Hart Inn
32 GrassmarketHaggis on the menu here.
Wedgwood The Restaurant
267 Royal MileFine dining including haggis.
Mary's Milk Bar
19 GrassmarketGreat gelato / interesting flavours
The Grain Store
30 Victoria StScottish fayre with a twist
Classy venue, slightly out of the way but worth it, on expensive side
35 abantu bendawo batusa
Prestonfield House
Priestfield RoadClassy venue, slightly out of the way but worth it, on expensive side
Himalaya Centre, Tibetan Cafe
20 S Clerk StAuthentic Tibetan food.
Everything Else
Armstrongs Vintage
81-83 Grassmarket2nd hand clothes store.....wild
Shopping
Backbeat Records
31 E CrosscausewayVinyl den, if they don't have it well...give up
Sightseeing
City monument to the author Walter Scott, great views from the top if you can manage the steps
302 abantu bendawo batusa
Isivakalisi seScott
City monument to the author Walter Scott, great views from the top if you can manage the steps
City monument to Admiral Lord Nelson great views from the top if you can manage the steps...'if open'
15 abantu bendawo batusa
Isiphiwo se-Nelson
32 Calton HillCity monument to Admiral Lord Nelson great views from the top if you can manage the steps...'if open'
Essentials
Tesco Metro
Colinton Road