Top, Best & Fun Rooftop Bars in Southside

"You can do this of course just by popping into pretty much any pub in the city, but if you want to learn about the process of making whisky, as well as the various regions of Scotland and the flavours available, then the Scotch Whisky Experience is where you need to head. Here you’ll journey through the Whisky creation process, as well as learn about why Whisky from different parts of Scotland tastes different. Finally, you’ll be given the opportunity to taste one of four whisky flavours, before taking a look at the largest Scotch Whisky collection in the world. You can book your tickets in advance here."

"You’ll ride in a giant barrel on a historic ride to learn about how scotch is made. Then you enter a learning room where a live person will walk you through the regions of Scotland and the whisky produced in each one!. Everyone gets a taste of scotch with the Standard “Silver” tour ticket in this room."

"Although technically not a bar, it does have the largest range of whisky in Scotland, with more than 3,500 bottles. Book a tasting tour to kick off your stag do and grab a wee dram or four to road-test some of the best whisky in the world.."

"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."

"This bar and restaurant from the Stereo team doesn't even need to flag vegan options on its menu because the whole damn thing is free from any animal products. Offering all your favourite comfort eats, from burgers and macaroni cheese, to laverbread cakes with streaky bacon, they're easily one of the best vegan restaurants in Edinburgh."

"Situated on the streets of Old Town, Brew Lab prides itself on speciality coffee and artisanal delicacies, serving up a meticulously crafted espresso that will keep you focused all day (or at least until you reach the next coffee spot). With the mission to bring the best coffee possible to the people of Edinburgh, it would be a shame to not at least try this creative hot spot. These guys are so serious about creating exceptional coffee, that they also provide barista courses that teach you the beauty of creating an espresso, as well as creative latte art and filter brewing."

"Specializing in single-origin specialty-grade coffee, Brew Lab serves up beans from Union Hand-Roasted, featuring two different espressos and filters each day so there is always something fresh to try. But for non coffee drinkers, craft beers and local wines along with salads, soups and sandwiches from local suppliers around Edinburgh are also up for grabs in this modern coffee house with a science lab vibe. 6-8 S College St, Edinburgh EH8 9AA, UK"

"Situated within a short distance of Edinburgh Castle, the Whiski Rooms boast stunning views over the mound and Princes Street. With a bar, bistro, restaurant and shop, the Whiski Rooms neatly captures a superb food and drink experience under one convenient roof. Their food menu seamlessly blends classic and modern dishes using only the finest and freshest, locally sourced produce."

"A post shared by Whiski Rooms (@whiskirooms) on May 17, 2017 at 6:01am PDT. Now that you’re in Scotland and have probably tried a proper Scottish Breakfast as well as taken some great photos of the castle, you might feel like a night out on the town. Whiski Rooms has great haggis as well, but you’ll probably be a bigger fan of the beautiful views and Whisky Bar."

"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."

"This family-run café is renowned for their Pot-Tails – cocktails in teapots. Open from 10am to 10pm every day, they offer everything from brunch to dinner and Sunday roasts. A visual delight, the café is decorated with antique furniture and the walls are covered with artworks from aspiring artists trying to sell their wares."

"I skipped this since I’m a veg and went with the Roseleafer, which consists of vegetarian haggis, beans, tomatoes, mushroom, egg, spinach, and toast. Talk about major deliciousness!"

"Behind Usher Hall lies 4042 – a fun, late-night alternative to clubbing named after its address (40-42 Grindlay Street). Here, you can play games of ping-pong until 3am, with beer and cocktails to fuel your serve. The walls are stripped back to their old tile work with metal beams on show, giving it an industrial feel."

"From the ashes of the Citrus Club a new late-night bar, club and ping pong hall has arisen. That's right, ping pong hall. This odd, but strangely appealing, combination is called 4042 after its address (40-42 Grindlay Street)."

"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by 4042 Edinburgh (@4042edinburgh)"

"Twelve Picardy Place Hotel features individually designed bedrooms and suites. Each has a feature wall art of iconic Scottish landscapes , castles or coastal scenes, as well state of the art entertainment systems and luxury bathrooms with either a rainforest shower or over-sized tub. Mood lighting gives you the flexibility to create your own ambience, views from the bedrooms offer a variety of vistas towards the city, historical buildings or the Fife coast."

"Not strictly a restaurant, but, we felt we just had to include the John Lewis Cafe as it has stunning views of the north of Edinburgh, Firth of Forth, and over to Fife. Having recently undergone a refurbishment, “The Place to Eat’ has moved to the fifth floor after previously being located on the fourth floor. Now you can enjoy incredible views across the capital city through a window that spans 40 metres!"

"Cramond Island: This pretty tidal island is located an hour or so from Edinburgh’s Waverly Bridge by bus. Purchase some picnic essentials, grab a book and hop on a bus on a sunny day to make the most of this short day trip from Edinburgh. Nearby, there are coastal paths to follow and history to uncover; the most important Roman statue ever found in Scotland, the Cramond Lioness was uncovered in the estuary near Cramond Island!"

"Calton Hill sits in the center of Edinburgh and boasts the famous Duglad Stewart Monument. This structure is dedicated to the Scottish philosopher of the same name, who taught Economics, Natural Philosophy, and Greek and Logic at Edinburgh University. The monument, built in 1834, was designed by William Henry Playfair, who as we already know, was responsible for the designs behind The Scottish National Gallery."

"The Dugald Stewart Monument is based on the design of the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens. But who is Dugald Stewart?. Dugald Stewart was a philosopher and professor at Edinburgh University."

"Address: 1 Greyfriars, Edinburgh, EH1 2QQVisitor guide:Greyfriars Kirk. Greyfriars Kirk is another superb historic attraction in Edinburgh that’s located within walking distance of The Royal Mile. To find it head south on George IV Bridge and look for the National Museum of Scotland which is more-or-less opposite Greyfriars Kirk."

"Greyfriar’s Bobby is the tale of a wee dog from the Greyfriar’s area of Edinburgh. His is a tale of friendship and devotion. A kind local policeman named Jock Grey adopted a little Skye terrier and named him Bobby when he was just a couple of weeks old."

"The plans to construct an iconic city hall in Edinburgh were sparked in 1896 by Andrew Usher, renowned whisky distiller, who promised to fund the project. In 1914, Usher Hall was built by architects Stockdale Harrison and Howard H Thomson, a magnificent and classical beaux-arts-style concert hall which stood in defiance against the Victorian Gothic architecture so commonly found within the city of Edinburgh. Situated on Lothian Road in the west of the capital, Usher Hall is instantly recognizable with its curved walls, geometric precision and intriguing exterior design, featuring famous Scots such as Sir Walter Scott and Robert Burns."

"Usher Hall is Edinburgh’s premier concert venue and a must-visit for fans of entertainment and culture. The hall was built in 1914 and features beautiful architecture, including a curved exterior decorated with panels of famous figures such as Sir Walter Scott and Mozart. The hall has historically been used for a variety of events, including concerts, political events, and sporting events."

"The Palace of Holyroodhouse — usually simply referred to as Holyrood Palace — is the Queen's official Edinburgh residence and has frequently been at the center of Scottish history. Built in 1678, it was where James II and James IV were each married, where James V and Charles I were crowned, and where "Bonnie Prince Charlie" held court in 1745. When the Queen is away (which is typically 51 weeks of the year, as she's only here for "Royal Week" each summer), public access is permitted to the stunning Historic Apartments (former home of Mary Queen of Scots) and the State Apartments, famous for their fine furnishings, tapestries, and plasterwork."

"You can’t visit Edinburgh without wandering along the Royal Mile – from Holyrood House at one end to Edinburgh Castle at the other, past a thousand shortbread and souvenir shops. But as you walk, talk a small detour towards the Greyfriars Kirkyard to hear the story of Greyfriars Bobby, the dog so famous for his loyalty that there’s a statue to commemorate him. As the tale goes, he would walk the streets of the city with his owner, night watchman John – or Auld Jock – until John died and was buried in the churchyard."

"Probably the most popular photo opportunity in Edinburgh, the life-size statue of Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye terrier who captured the hearts of the British public in the late 19th century, stands outside Greyfriars..."

"Firstly, John Gray was an Edinburgh policeman and Bobby was his dog. When John Gray died he was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Bobby spent the remainder of his years sat on John’s’ grave."

"For a small fee, you can go up the Scott Monument and get a gorgeous view of the Old Town from the other side. However, it was sadly closed for renovations when I was there, so I didn’t get a chance to go up."

"After your visit, consider a stroll through the Princes Street Gardens or climb the Scott Monument for another bird’s eye view of Edinburgh. Royal Yacht Britannia"

"Climb to the top of Scotts Monument. This is a monument to the Scottish author Sir Walter Scott and is the largest monument to a writer in the world."