Mentioned by Where To Eat
5 Of The Best Italian Restaurants in Edinburgh
"Each Friday, Fountainbridge hosts some of Scotland’s best street food vendors at the Union Canal, behind Avka bar. It’s the perfect spot for a Friday lunch or a post-work treat. The line-up of traders changes each week, but you’ll often find local favourites such as Babu Bombay Street Kitchen, Barnacles & Bones, Bonnie Burrito, French Connection Creperie and Union of Genius Soup on-site."
"Cheerful, bustling, simply decorated with IKEA-style furniture and sitting in the pedestrian precinct of Rose Street, Mussel Inn does no more nor no less than it claims. There are starters like chowder, fishcakes, oysters, scallops or whitebait; mains such as spiced crab pasta, fish stew or sea bass. The speciality of course is mussels in half kilo or kilo pots which you can have completely unadorned, or in classic moules marinière style, they can come with blue cheese, bacon and cream, plus there are more options."
"The focus here is on tasty, freshly prepared seafood at very affordable prices. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming for the whole family. All of the seafood on offer is carefully sourced and the shellfish is cultivated in an environmentally-friendly way in the sea lochs of the West Coast and near the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland Isles."
"If you’re a sucker for seafood, this is the must-visit restaurant for you. The grilled Queen scallops, paired with black pudding, viola flowers and a yellow bell pepper dressing are priced at a reasonable £6.90 and the menu also contains a number of classic seafood dishes which means you really can’t go wrong."
"Dine outside at Frankie & Benny’s and enjoy the best of America and Italy in both style and cuisine. Frankie & Benny’s specialises in home-style cooking with an extensive menu offering a wide range of dishes – from spectacular starters to stunning specials and delicious desserts. Its customer favourites include the F&Bulous burgers, freshly cooked pasta, succulent steaks and BBQ ribs, light and crispy pizzas and much more."
"One of my favourite lunch spot in Edinburgh is The City Restaurant on Nicolson Street. I visited this place several times when I lived in Edinburgh, mainly because they serve some of the best seafood dishes in the city, including fish and chips, scampi and tempura prawns. The City Restaurant has a very sleek and colourful interior, with comfortable seats and large windows overlooking the bustling street."
"In the city centre, seek out the Heart of Midlothian for a uniquely Scottish piece of history. The Heart of Midlothian is set in the pavement on the Royal Mile, constructed from coloured granite blocks that form the shape of a heart and cross. This landmark records the position of the 15th century ‘heart’ of the town, the Old Tolbooth."
"The Grassmarket is a bustling part of Edinburgh, which has great nightlife and places to eat, as well as an intriguing past. Situated in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle to the south, it is named, as it was the market where all animals that ate grass –as well as the grasses to feed them – were sold. The bustling square hosts a food and craft market on Sundays and has a plethora of great old character-filled pubs to visit and great restaurants to sample Scottish or international food."
"This area of town is often bustling with people so there's always a buzz about this weekly market. It's widely regarded as a top place to be for those looking to get their hands on some stunning jewellery, crafts and artwork. Paella and hot Latin foods are regularly served up by the stall holders along with treats like cupcakes and macarons."
"Fun fact: Back in 1477, the Grassmarket was a huge market in Edinburgh with most of it trading cattle and horses. This is apparently where the name Grassmarket originated as the western end of it was where the animals’ grass was kept."
"Speaking of villages, if you make it to Circus Lane, you should definitely head a little further out of the city centre to Dean Village. This is a wonderfully picturesque oasis that sits in a valley formed by the “Water of Leith”, Edinburgh’s main river. There’s plenty to photograph down here, but certainly the highlights include the colourful houses and the river, as well as the huge 19th century bridge that spans the valley above, transporting traffic across and away, and leaving Dean Village as a place that time seems to have almost forgotten."
"Dean Village is a brief stroll past the city centre yet it feels far removed from the bustle. The village offers up an enchanting and picturesque scene of colourful buildings resembling that of a fairytale. It truly is a place that time has forgotten."
"Beautiful Dean Village After lunch, spend the afternoon at Dean Village. Dean Village is a small, residential area in Edinburgh. It’s quiet, it’s beautiful, and it’s off the beaten path."
"Canongate, The Royal Mile, EH8 8DX (website) Open daily 9:30am-6pm (26 March to 31 October) and 9:30am-4.30pm (1 November to 25 March)Adult: £6.70, Over 60/Students £6.10, Under 17/Disabled: £3.40, unders 5's go free. If you like art but find conventional art galleries too big and daunting, then the Queen's Gallery is the answer, as it hosts small intimate exhibitions as part of the Royal Collection Trust. The building is a conversion of a former Holyrood Free Church and Duchess of Gordon’s School and features a beautiful teak and sycamore staircase."
"Situated at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, this gallery is one of 15 in the UK that houses the Royal Collection, the largest private art collection in the world. This is a fascinating record of the personal tastes of kings and queens over the past 500 years, comprising decorative arts, drawings, watercolours, paintings and photographs. Those that have made contributions to the collection over the years include Frederick Prince of Wales, George IV, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary."
"The Queen's Gallery, located in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, was opened by Her Majesty The Queen in November 2002 as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations. Now, it hosts a programme of changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection. A worthwhile stop on a visit to the Royal Mile."
"The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is actually two institutions—Modern One and Modern Two—situated within two grand Georgian mansions flanking a sculpture park. Modern One has British artists like Francis Bacon, David Hockney, Damien Hirst, and Tracey Emin; American artists like Andy Warhol; and legends like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Modern Two has a particularly impressive Dada and Surrealism collection; you can arrange a private viewing of the archives, a real treasure trove of those movements."
"From Cubism and Expressionism to 20th-century Russian and French pieces, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is unmissable for art buffs. With two early-19th-century buildings to explore (Modern One and Modern Two) and sweeping green spaces dotted with sculptures (including monumental earthworks by Charles Jencks), it’s well worth leaving the city centre to explore the galleries. Modern Two contains the intact studio of erstwhile Edinburgh sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi."
"Edinburgh's gallery of modern art is split between two impressive neoclassical buildings surrounded by landscaped grounds some 500m west of Dean Village. As well as showcasing a stunning collection of paintings..."
"Established in 2017, Yummys Desserts has become a huge hit and the go-to for delicious desserts. After many sleepless nights wondering whether it’s possible to create a second branch during a pandemic, the owner of Yummy’s Desserts decided to go for it. The team have given it their all over the last few months, creating a huge range of freshly-made cakes, desserts, cookie dough, waffles, pancakes in the new Hampden branch."
"Sadly, the tea was made with powder which results in a negative review. I asked the boba-barista (lol, I just made up a word) to make my drink with 25% sweetness, but he was unable to adjust the level of sweetness. The drink was a little too sweet for my taste."