Top, Best & Fun Rooftop Bars in Gilmerton

"Although not a distillery itself, The Scotch Whisky Experience is a five-star visitor attraction on Edinburgh's Royal Mile tells the tale of Scotland's national drink and is well worth a visit. With a stunning multi-sensory tour and tasting, The Scotch Whisky Experience fully immerses visitors in the water of life via a breath-taking 180° panoramic tour of Scotland’s five whisky-making regions, and a carefully crafted recreation of an 1870s Blender’s Room. Set up in 1987 to educate visitors to Edinburgh about the joys of Scotch whisky, it is now home to the world’s largest private collection of Scotch whisky, held in a glittering vault."

"The Scotch Whisky Experience is located at Castlehill on the Royal Mile, not far from the Castle. It offers excellent facilities for the less mobile. The Scotch Whisky Experience takes you through a replica distillery and allows you to see close up the World's largest whisky collection."

"At the Scotch Whisky Experience, learn about the distilling of scotch whisky. Your tour starts with a barrel ride through the virtual distillery and ends with a whisky tasting. We did the Gold Tour, which included a tasting of four whiskies from different regions of Scotland."

"Casual but stylish vegan restaurant Harmonium opened its doors in Leith in 2017, and has gone from strength to strength ever since. The airy ex-pub is friendly and has a great menu that changes regularly, but at various times of year you can expect to see their take on a surf n'turf: a large seitan steak served with creamy potato puree, garlic butter, seared vegan scallops, steamed kale and green beans with smoked paprika. Other popular menu items include their battered "to-fish" supper, and their spicy jackfruit curry."

"On top of my personal list of vegan eateries in Edinburgh is Harmonium in Broughton. The restaurant is the little sibling of Glasgow’s vegan icons Mono, Stereo and co. and offers top-notch vegan cuisine in the casual environment of a cosy pub. The menu is very diverse and includes comfort food classics, like pizzas, burgers and mac & cheese, but also more creative options like scallops made from King Oyster mushroom (I order these every time) or beer-battered nori banana blossoms with chips."

"Harmonium offers vegan cuisine that everyone will enjoy|© Harmonium. Brought to Edinburgh by the people behind Glasgow’s fashionable Flying Duck, Harmonium evokes Leith’s maritime history with nautical decor. With offerings like chicken parmigiana and ground beef tacos, it might not be obvious they are meat-free."

"The name Brew Lab alone evokes images of an experimental coffee house, run by an eccentric but genius barista on the hunt to achieve world coffee domination with his signature blend. Although there are no evil geniuses in sight, these guys do take coffee mega seriously and the tweaking and precision that goes into their brew methods are worthy of the laboratory name. The coffees they serve change week to week, so are ever seasonal and offer a rich and new experience every time."

"Brew Lab is the first choice of many a coffee connoisseur in Edinburgh, focusing on single-origin speciality-grade coffee provided by Union Hand-Roasted – those in the know appreciate this brand for its ethical sourcing and heritage in the UK coffee community. The shop itself is as trendy as they come with bare-brick walls, modern tunes and a happily drip-fed clientele of hipsters, university students and remote workers."

"They’ve been serving the best coffee in the city here since 2012. Brew Lab feels more like a high end cocktail bar than a coffee shop, and we love the uniqueness of the place. Their coffee menu features four rotating single-origin coffees: two brewed on their brew bar as pour-overs, and two on their espresso bar."

"Whiski Rooms, as the name suggests, is a highly recommended choice if you wish to sample some whisky alongside their meal, as they have over 300 to choose from!. As well as the restaurant, you can also visit their bar and shop, where they offer special whisky tasting experiences. In the restaurant itself, you will be seated in a cosy bistro, overlooking the New Town from the top of the Mound, with wooden furnishings and exposed stone walls, to match the historic style and spirit of the Old Town, where it is located."

"Give your next date night a sophisticated edge by heading to Whiski Rooms for an evening of tasting tipples and nibbling on cheese. Try out a selection of drams from all over Scotland, with paired bites for each drink."

"What: Roseleaf may be best known for its ‘pot-tails’ (cocktails served in teapots), but we’d also recommend stopping by here in the morning. To kick start your day, tuck into one of Roseleaf’s range of eggs Benedicts, which can be paired with everything from black pudding to spinach. Roseleaf is also good for anyone looking to enjoy breakfast in a venue with a difference, thanks to its Instagram-friendly interiors which include a collection of vintage furniture and lots of other random knick-knacks."

"Roseleaf Café is located in Leith near the port and Royal Yacht Britannia, so handy if you’re planning a visit there. Established in 2007, they’re family run and a cross between a gastro pub, cafe and bistro. Decorated with vintage furniture, hats from around the world and other quirky finds, they’re open from 10 am to 10 pm every day."

"This unusual pub is off the beaten track just beyond The Shore in Leith. It's a little bit quirky, offering an imaginative range of food and booze which extends to some great breakfast options. It's very friendly, the furniture is mismatched and you can get cocktails served in teapots for your very own Madhatter's Tea Party."

"Henry's Cellar Bar is perhaps best associated with jazz and blues but is actually home to a much wider variety of musical styles. It is one of the capital's lower-cost venues and only has a small stage and fairly basic décor so it is less likely to host the big-name acts you would find at other venues. However, this fact is easily balanced by the intimate friendly atmosphere, the reasonable cost of drinks and the much more eclectic range of acts that perform here."

"One Square provides amazing views of the city in their outdoor terrace, alongside their extensive gin collection, luxurious Scottish setting and 4.5 star Trip Advisor rating. With one of the largest collections of gin to hand, and all the types of cocktails you can imagine, One Square is a high-class trip for those looking for a sophisticated trip to Edinburgh's Festival Square."

"The One Square menu is home to a seasonal selection of signature creations, as well as our ever-popular Inverurie burger and dry-aged Flat Iron steaks. We work with leading local suppliers to ensure that our produce is fresh, traceable, and delicious. Open for breakfastDress code: CasualPhone: +44 131 229 9131"

"A beautiful Georgian town house in Edinburgh’s New Town offers local residents and visitors a fine dining experience in relaxed and distinguished surroundings. This private members club with superb views across the Firth of Forth is part of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. However, non-members are also offered a warm welcome and the opportunity to sample traditional cuisine including marinated scallops and sea bass, farm guinea fowl and tartare of Highland venison."

"Founded in 1983, the private club, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society opened some of its venue's doors to the public in 2016. Anyone can walk in for a drink in the bar or book a tasting or whisky pairing session, but if you join online beforehand there are savings. The society is based in a splendid Queen Street townhouse where the tasting rooms have retained their original circular or oval layout."

"We happened across The Boozy Cow with some friends a few years ago, but I decided to rediscover it for this collab. From starting off this list with a vegetarian place, I now give you the extremely anti-vegan Boozy Cow, which is essentially set up to look like an abbatoir. While it’s not for the faint-hearted, it is a really cool bar set right off Princes Street (there’s also an entrance on Rose Street) so it’s about as central as you can get in the New Town of Edinburgh."

"Bellfield Brewery is the UK’s first craft brewery dedicated to producing quality gluten-free beer. The gluten-free craft brewery in Edinburgh is located a short walk from Holyrood Palace with plans to fully launch its tap room in summer 2019. Located in the historic area of Edinburgh alongside the mainline train track, with a birds’ eye view of the London train, visitors to Bellfield Brewery are able to enjoy beer in the sunny yard or indoor taproom."

"One of the best breweries in the city also happens to house of the best beer gardens. Bellfield is sure to have you coming back for more, with its range of award-winning craft creations, alongside gins, whiskies and organic wines for those avoiding the hoppy stuff."

"This craft beer haven has a great atmosphere, offering a wide selection of both their own famous BrewDog beers in addition to a few guest names. The stainless steel and exposed brickwork of their Cowgate location gives the bar a funky industrial feel, which offers a nice alternative in an otherwise heavily influenced rock bar area in the heart of the Old Town. BrewDog's Lothian Road bar sits in what used to be a Clydesdale Bank - it's now home to 20 taps of craft beer and a killer take-away selection kept in chilled fridges."

"Brew Dog was established in 2007 by two young men who were passionate about craft beer and tired of uninspiring industrially produced beers and ales. They began to brew headline grabbing beers such as Tactical Nuclear Penguin (with an astonishing 32% ABV) and Sink the Bismarck (an incredible 41% ABV -the result of a beer arms race between Germany and Scotland). They opened their first bar in Aberdeen in 2010 and the following year opened a Brew Dog pub in the heart of Edinburgh which quickly became a local sensation."

"Located in the heart of Edinburgh’s old town, this bar is anything but old-fashioned. The styling is industrial featuring exposed brick and stainless steel but fret not, the atmosphere is warm and lively as residents and visitors flock to sample the now world renowned, headline grabbing beer. Perhaps unsurprisingly the beer offering is vast and not just from the brand itself, which can be sampled in a range of measures."

"Why: Don’t be alarmed by the blue and purple neon lighting and heavy black velvet curtains at Karen’s Unicorn – the food is as fun and inviting as its name. The subtle Cantonese cooking is evident in house specialities such as salt and spice squid, and steamed seabass in a black bean sauce. Right in the centre of town, it’s also good for lunch when sightseeing or a hearty meal before painting the town red."

"These guys do both sit-in and takeaway meals, and a quick glance at the reviews reveals that their dim sum is an out-and-out treat. For the restaurant to have had almost 1000 reviews and still sit near the top of the pile with such a fantastic rating tells you how good it is. However some do say it's a touch on the small side, so best to book to make sure you get a table."

"If the name isn’t enough of a lure (it should be), then the food will do the job. Hypnotic and boldly brilliant – just like a unicorn – Karen’s Unicorn successfully stays true to real Cantonese cooking, with the ingredients serving as the star of the show. Perfectly seasoned and meticulously crafted, each dish is authentic and unashamedly traditional."

"Pumpkin Brown serves up delicious breakfasts|Courtesy of Pumpkin Brown. Located in the busy Grassmarket, Pumpkin Brown prides itself on raw, organic vegan food which is also gluten-free. It’s particularly good for a healthy breakfast, serving their signature açaí bowls and porridge loaded with toppings."

"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Pumpkin Brown (@pumpkinbrowncafe) on Dec 18, 2018 at 4:33am PST"

"Edinburgh is home to fantastic 100% plant-based dishes, unique and tasty. From delicious vegan Mac & Cheese to baked goods. Union of Genius (Best soups in town)"

"Image SourceThe market is an ideal place in Edinburgh to explore shops from leading-edge designers to fashion origins. The market is filled with designers, artists, and individuals selling crafts and classy clothes. Take a look for designer hats at Fabhatrix and Mr. Wood’s Fossils and if what you are looking for are old trend hats then Armstrong’s is the place to be."