Edinburgh First Timer

Edinburgh First Timer

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*Badger*

Original Poster:

530 posts

175 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
I've had a thread up in the Holidays & Travel forum but had suggestions to post in here also to get some local opinion & review.

Never even been to Scotland. So I am planning a long weekend to Edinburgh just me and Mrs Badger.

Accommodation is now sorted.

I've just booked the TigerLilly in the Mini Georgian Suite. (I've chosen this over The George)

I booked it direct and got them to match the best Expedia/Booking.com/Trivago price I had and then added breakfasts separate - Saved me about £150 on the price that Expedia had for the same room incl. breakfast.

I am tempted to upgrade to The Black Suite for another £157 though......

Will be getting the train up to Edinburgh, so any out of city driving excursions are out. As a first time visitor I will have more than enough time to really enjoy the city and its sights during my 5 night stay.

In reality, we wont be there until 14:00 on day one, and will be leaving just after lunch on day six.

Food wise is the next challenge, really looking for recommendations as to where to eat.

Will be going on the train as parking looks too expensive!

Opinions sought and welcomed... Thanks.

awooga

358 posts

133 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
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Get yourself down Leith at least once for some superb food. The Shore on the street called The Shore is fantastic and not ridiculously priced. Fishers is pretty good, on the same street. Not eaten at Teuchter's Landing for a while, but it's a good priced bistro. Kings Wark is a good gastropub. The Kitchin, michelin starred place, is also down that way too (Leith, not the Shore). All of that dock area has been rejuvenated, so you can throw in a visit to the Royal Yacht while you're there. Plenty of buses go down that way from the city centre, although it's not that much in a cab, maybe a tenner.

Newro

703 posts

261 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
*Badger* said:
Food wise is the next challenge, really looking for recommendations as to where to eat.
I really should start writing down a list I can just copy past, ... but oh well, all depends what you like? Edinburgh is rich of choice.

Directly in George Street:
Gourmet Burger Kitchen www.gbk.co.uk/restaurant/edinburgh If you fancy a quick burger, that is where I usually get it.
Centotre now called Contini http://www.contini.com/contini-ristorante is a very nice Italian place
Le Monde lemondehotel.co.uk very nice cocktail bar

Bit further away,
The Apartment apartmentrestaurant.com a bit more expensive, but very good!
The Sheep Heid Inn www.thesheepheidedinburgh.co.uk is the oldest restaurant in town. I often end there with people visiting from abroad.
Room With a View http://www.roomwithaviewrestaurant.co.uk/ good traditional sea food.
Ghillie Dhu ghillie-dhu.co.uk if you look for some fancy pub food and drinks in an atmospheric place.

Asian:
Best Sushi in town is unquestionably Kanpai http://www.kanpaisushi.co.uk/
And I also really like Tangs http://tangsgohan.com/

Italian:
Valvona & Crolla Ltd www.valvonacrolla.co.uk in Elm Row (parallel Haddington Pl) it is more of a delicatessen merchant with a bistro in the back. Ideal for an afternoon snack and absolutely divine.
La Piazza http://www.lapiazzauk.com/ for a more formal dining

German: Falko http://www.falko.co.uk/ it is a bakery but they also do lunch/afternoon snacks. Cakes are amazing.

Vegetarian: David Bann http://www.davidbann.co.uk/
In the same street there is also the Empires, a Turkish place also great for vegetarians.

Middle Eastern: Hanam's http://www.hanams.com/ central Kurdish.

If you get a chance check out the Whisky Society. http://www.smws.co.uk/ The one in Leith is a bit more old fashioned, the one in Queens Street a bit more Modern (New Town). You can get in with a Member or buy a day Membership. I would tag you along, but am actually in London that weekend.

There are few more places that are on the expensive side. Such as www.prestonfield.com


That probably gets you started.

DottyMR2

478 posts

126 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
For an excellent place to eat, Gurkah Cafe on Cockburn Street. Nepalese curry, it's amazing! A few quid more than you'd expect to pay for a curry, but it really is the best I've had in a lnog time. Different from an Indian but very nice. Lovely people in there too.

RG63AMG

157 posts

123 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
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Go to the Ballie bar in Stockbridge, great pub ten mins from where you are, even a few pistonheaders there!!

Davie

4,732 posts

214 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
Hire a car for the day (or two) and do a couple of mini tours. You're perfectly sited for a lap round the borders or up to Pitlochry and round that area. Couple of hours out, lunch, couple of hours back plus detours round some of the pretty bits Scotland has to offer then dinner in South Queensferry under the Forth Bridge en route back in the evening.


Jer_1974

1,497 posts

192 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
Castle Terrace has a Michelin Star is very nice and do a great lunch menu. http://www.castleterracerestaurant.com/

MethylatedSpirit

1,893 posts

135 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
*Badger* said:
I am tempted to upgrade to The Black Suite for another £157 though......
Scrap that and hire a car for a day or two to explore some of the best of scotland.... Maybe even extend your trip and book a B&B in fort William or avimore for a night. It'll be way better than a more cushty room. Enterprise will pick you up from your hotel wink

Here's a website. Has loads of information on things to do/eat/drink in glasgow/edinbrugh. Maybe even try a comedy club?

http://www.theskinny.co.uk/listings?utf8=%E2%9C%93...


Once you get out of the city centre, parking is predominately free in scotland. People from England are always surprised by this.

Edited by MethylatedSpirit on Thursday 4th September 21:53

*Badger*

Original Poster:

530 posts

175 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
Comedy club is a great idea.

clarkmagpie

3,559 posts

194 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
Jer_1974 said:
Castle Terrace has a Michelin Star is very nice and do a great lunch menu. http://www.castleterracerestaurant.com/
That looks good, bit bored of the Witchery so might give that a whirl next time.

Newro

703 posts

261 months

Friday 5th September 2014
quotequote all
DottyMR2 said:
For an excellent place to eat, Gurkah Cafe on Cockburn Street. Nepalese curry, it's amazing! A few quid more than you'd expect to pay for a curry, but it really is the best I've had in a lnog time. Different from an Indian but very nice. Lovely people in there too.
Thanks for the advice! Never tried that one. Will give it a go.
Been to a couple of curry places in Edinburgh, some were okay, but none really great. At least none as good as the one in Glasgow wink


Jer_1974 said:
Castle Terrace has a Michelin Star is very nice and do a great lunch menu. http://www.castleterracerestaurant.com/
That does look interesting. Must have walked past that place like a 100 times and never really noticed. Also a great location, around Usher Hall and close to old town.

clarkmagpie

3,559 posts

194 months

Friday 5th September 2014
quotequote all
Jam House was good when we last went there.
Quite close to The Stand comedy club.

Patch1875

4,893 posts

131 months

Friday 5th September 2014
quotequote all
clarkmagpie said:
Jam House was good when we last went there.
Quite close to The Stand comedy club.
Not the place to go with your missus wink

0a

23,879 posts

193 months

Friday 5th September 2014
quotequote all
I love Edinburgh. I'd never been before when I started a 20 day contract here and that was 2 years ago.

My favourite place to eat is The Dogs http://www.thedogsonline.co.uk/our-menu/ - it's pretty informal and the owner is a bit mad. The food is varied and delicious. Ask them to bring out a dish per person plus one extra that they recommend (so long as you love food and are not picky!). I have always loved dining there this way!

speedysoprano

224 posts

118 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
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I'd recommend a trip to Lauriston Castle (not an actual castle, but a very large and beautiful home that's been turned over to National Trust) as it's less touristy and really interesting. They only do one guided tour a week, though, so best to check on the website.

Definitely go visit the Leith shore - very cosmopolitan, excellent bars and restaurants, although some of the surrounding areas are a little dodgy. Have had one or two less pleasant experiences.

Nobles gastropub is excellent on the Shore.

However, probably my favourite restaurant in all of Edinburgh is Vittoria - both the Leith Walk and George IV Bridge locations are superb. I'd also recommend The Witchery by the Castle for superb posh nosh and a beautiful atmosphere.

It's a brilliant city, you'll love it. Wish I could move there.

Catz

4,812 posts

210 months

Saturday 13th September 2014
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0a said:
My favourite place to eat is The Dogs http://www.thedogsonline.co.uk/our-menu/ - it's pretty informal and the owner is a bit mad.
Just a tad!

Also nearby is Thistle St where you have a choice of restaurants including Iris http://www.irisedinburgh.co.uk/, Fishers in the City http://www.fishersbistros.co.uk/fishers-in-the-cit... and for Thai there's The Dusit http://www.dusit.co.uk/.

The Royal Mile has a few good restaurants too. I'd recommend Angels with Bagpipes http://www.angelswithbagpipes.co.uk/, the tiny Dubh Prais http://www.dubhpraisrestaurant.com/ and Wedgwood http://www.wedgwoodtherestaurant.co.uk/.


R1gtr

3,423 posts

153 months

Sunday 14th September 2014
quotequote all
speedysoprano said:
I'd also recommend 'The Witchery' by the Castle for superb posh nosh and a beautiful atmosphere.

It's a brilliant city, you'll love it. Wish I could move there.
Went there when in Edinburgh and it was fantastic, service was great, food amazing and as you say a beautiful atmosphere, highly recommended, we ate in the 'secret garden' section which was lovely.
It is right next to the Castle too so easy to find.

DottyMR2

478 posts

126 months

Monday 15th September 2014
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Catz said:
Just a tad!

Also nearby is Thistle St where you have a choice of restaurants including Iris http://www.irisedinburgh.co.uk/, Fishers in the City http://www.fishersbistros.co.uk/fishers-in-the-cit... and for Thai there's The Dusit http://www.dusit.co.uk/.

The Royal Mile has a few good restaurants too. I'd recommend Angels with Bagpipes http://www.angelswithbagpipes.co.uk/, the tiny Dubh Prais http://www.dubhpraisrestaurant.com/ and Wedgwood http://www.wedgwoodtherestaurant.co.uk/.
Escellent shout, great resturant and pretty authentic Thai. They'll even do their dishes "Thai hot" on request. This is only recommended for people with iron stomachs!

ajmcampbell

514 posts

135 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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Castle Terrace Restaurant is to die for. Current favourite for cocktails is Panda and Son. As has been said, there are a fair few decent Old Town restaurants. Angels and Bagpipes was a good shout. Good luck with the trip!

ibizacupradan

5 posts

114 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
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The missus and I a few months ago, despite staying in Fife, had never actually stayed anywhere near Edinburgh city centre before so when we both had a weekend off we decided to go through. We ate in this beautiful Italian in Shandwick Place called La Piazza which was lovely. Went to the Indigo Yard hidden down a back street in the west end (head down the lefthand side road next to Ryan's bar and it's off to your right about halfway down the road) which was a cracking wee pub with a great outdoor space.

Not sure if your hotel is including breakfast too but we slept in for ours at our hotel and ended up having a full Scottish breakfast at this smashing wee "greasy spoon" style cafe on Rose Street called Gourmet Grub. Best fry up I've ever had to this day, cheap too. Enjoy your time up here regardless of where you go!