Mentioned by Lonely Planet Top Choices
Top things to do in Scotland
"A combination of Edinburgh history, city views from a new perspective, and experience with optical illusions, the Camera Obscura & World of Illusions is an attraction that certainly appeals to all ages. The centerpiece, set in a Victorian rooftop room, is a pinhole camera that projects live moving images of Edinburgh onto a viewing table. The panorama is created by a combination of mirror and lenses, and it has been entertaining people here since 1853."
"Address: Castlehill, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2NDWebsite: Camera Obscura Edinburgh. The Camera Obscura is one of the oldest purpose-built attractions in the United Kingdom and tens of thousands of visitors pour through its doors each year. Camera Obscura and World of Illusions is located in a prime location on The Royal Mile, not far from Edinburgh Castle and more-or-less opposite The Scotch Whisky Experience."
"Located on the end of Princes Street, Calton Hill offers one of the best panoramic views of Edinburgh. Best-seen at sunset or sunrise when candy colours dance across the sky, highlights of Calton Hill include plenty of monuments and follies which commemorate various achievements of former residents from over the years. On a warm summer’s day, this green space is the ideal place not only to snap photos, but to enjoy a picnic among friends!"
"Climb Calton HIll Towards the end of the day, I’d suggest you head up Calton Hill. This is a wonderful spot for a view of the city and can be found at the east end of Princes Street. This hill is home to a series of monuments, including the National Monument of Scotland, which bears more than a passing resemblance to the Parthenon in Greece."
"If you are not ready for the summit of Arthur’seat you could see Calton hill. It’s a perfect place to take photos of Edinburgh. On top of the hill you can also visit Nelson's monument and the National monument."
"Just a short walk from Haymarket station you’ll find a little bit of Naples in Edinburgh. Chef Rosario Sartore (pictured) imports Denominazione di Origine Protetta (D.O.P) artisan produce from Italy, combining them with prime Scottish ingredients to recreate authentic dishes from southern Italy. The menu changes daily and includes fresh fish and seafood, hand-made pasta and cakes, with gluten-free options always available."
"Locanda De Gusti is a warm and friendly Italian restaurant on Dalry Road, in the west end of Edinburgh. The chef and owner Rosario Sartore made his mark on the Edinburgh food scene over a decade ago with the popular La Partenope. Locanda De Gusti is a smaller and more intimate affair, but lacks none of the charm of his earlier venture."
"When walking in, do not expect to find a modern and sophisticated place. This Italian restaurant has a more familiar and traditional style, where you will eat as if you were in the Italian Peninsula. Everything tastes like it looks, incredible, but without a doubt, fish and seafood in general are among their specialties."
"Located in the grounds of Edinburgh College of Art, this venue has a massive selection of club nights and gigs on offer. This place is a much-loved Edinburgh venue and prides itself on fantastic sound quality. It’s longest standing club night ‘The Egg’ has been going for over twenty years, consisting of themes like ‘David Bowie special’ until 3am every third Saturday of the month!"
"This small venue can be found in the Edinburgh Art College and it offers a mixture of indie nights and live gigs. It may be small but it's also cheap, comfortable and has a great student vibe although it is not restricted to students. If you want indie or rock at knockdown prices and you don't mind a lot of students then The Wee Red Bar is worth a visit."
"With many of its original Victorian features intact, such as stained-glass windows, reliefs depicting nautical scenes, dark-wood panelling and a long bar, this place wears its old-world charm on its sleeve. Under the management of Fay and Niall since 2010, the bar has built up a stellar reputation for its food and drink offerings, and for fiercely supporting Scotland’s best craft brewers and food producers. The lip-smacking brunch menu includes a decadent full Scottish with Stornoway black pudding and haggis."
"The trendy Leith Shore area has become one of the hottest places in Edinburgh to visit, with a growing scene of cool bars and restaurants. Nobles stands out from the crowd with its gorgeous premises, featuring large stained glass windows and original Victorian features. The ambience here is incredibly relaxed, so feel free to chat to the staff about the craft beers they have on offer that day, then sit back and relax while sampling your latest find from one of their quality local brewers."
"With it's pretty nautical-themed stained-glass windows, this award winning pub and restaurant in the heart of Leith serves seasonal dishes using the best Scottish ingredients, as well as an extensive selection of local craft beers, exquisite wines and cocktails. Small number of outdoor tables."
"Oink – about halfway down Victoria Street, with another branch near the foot of the Royal Mile – is a tiny shop serving hog roasts, and you’ll probably smell it before you see it. It sells fluffy morning rolls stuffed with moreish roast pork, crackling and a choice of sage and onion stuffing, apple sauce, chilli relish or haggis. The Piglet (£2.95) suits a smaller stomach, the Oink is somewhere in the middle (£3.95) and the Grunter (£4.95) is best for bigger appetites."
"If you’re hungry, you could stop at Oink for a roast hog sandwich, Scotland’s version of pulled pork, served piled high on your choice of bread, lashed with condiments and a serving of crackling on top. It’s simply delicious and extremely friendly on the budget. If you’re looking for more suggestions on what to eat in Edinburgh, check out this blog post."
"Possibly one of the most Instagrammable brunch spots in the city, Hula Juice Bar is Edinburgh’s first ever juice bar and healthy eatery designed to feel like an “island in the city”. With its bright interiors and even brighter smoothies, it really does feel like you’ve stepped right into a resort in Bali!. Hula’s dynamic menu offers a whole host of fresh, healthy treats: smoothie bowls topped with fruit and granola, poke bowls filled with grains, beans and veg, and some of the best avo toast around."
"Batting way ahead of the curve, Hula opened its original branch 12 years ago before the clean-living fad caught on. The latest opening in Fountainbridge, ironically enough, occupies the place where a burger joint once was. With vegetarian, vegan and (some) meat options all having a place on Hula’s menu, it has something for everyone."
"You can’t have a roundup of Leith’s best meals without the inclusion of seafood. If you’re a fan of seafood, The Ship on The Shore is sure to please. Sharing the seafood platter one sunny afternoon was one of our favourite dining experiences in Edinburgh (and one we’re looking forward to repeating soon)."
"Close to Leith’s tourist-friendly Royal Yacht Britannica museum, The Ship on the Shore is also well worth a voyage. The focus here is seafood. From the fresh-caught produce to the nautical maps on the walls this is a restaurant to give anyone their sea legs."
"If you’re looking for a good classic then Scotts is the venue for you. From burgers to mac ‘n’ cheese, they serve up tasty traditional fare at a reasonable price point. There’s a terrace looking over the gorgeous old town for drinks, and the interiors are clean and modern for a neutral backdrop to your event."
"Green tile, brown leather and arched Georgian windows lend an elegant feel to this modern cafe, which combines fine Scottish produce with great value. Fill up on a breakfast (served till 11.45am) of eggs... Top ChoiceCafe in Old Town"
"Papii may not seem like much from outside but this little café has a reputation as one of the best on Hanover Street. Their speciality is ''eggs Papii'': a toasted English muffin, poached free-range eggs and homemade hollandaise sauce (they also do more traditional options like eggs benedict, eggs florentine and eggs royale). If you don't fancy eggs, then don't miss their famous buttermilk waffles, which come with a number of different toppings including crispy bacon, fresh strawberries or honey and cream."
"What: Small and with no fuss, Papii is a very popular spot in the city, so you’ll have to make sure you get their early to secure a table. Although there’s no fried breakfast to be found here, there are plenty of other options to satisfy you, including the likes of filled breakfast rolls, paninis and bagels, as well as eggs any way you like. The main attractions though, are Papii’s indulgent buttermilk vanilla waffles and the smoothies which are made from fresh fruit."
"Finally, somewhat of a hidden gem on the brunch scene, Papii Café is a small, Mediterranean inspired café with a real neighbourhood feel to it. Their menu is varied, but the two dishes that get people talking are the waffles and the eggs benedict. Despite being a classic brunch food, waffles don’t seem to crop up on too many breakfast menus in Edinburgh."