With year round festivals, a throbbing nightlife and an entertaining arts scene, Edinburgh has something for everyone.
Arriving into Edinburgh’s Waverley Station, one of the first things you will see is the imposing Balmoral hotel. Complete with a clock that runs five minutes early to assist commuters catch their trains.
Nightlife
Once the sun goes down, Edinburgh’s stone streets come alive. From cosy, literary bars to buzzing party scenes, this Scottish capital is packed with nighttime activities that are sure to satisfy every taste.
Live music is a staple of the city’s nightlife, and you can find quirky or sophisticated Edinburgh gig venues. You can catch gigs in tiny, old school venues dotted throughout the city, or see a symphony at one of the larger concert halls.
The club scene in Edinburgh isn’t quite what it used to be, but there are still plenty of options. For a more mature evening, head to George Street in New Town for a range of sophisticated bars and clubs that stay open until the early hours.
Pubs & Bars
Whether you like to dance the night away at a raging club or prefer a calmer evening with friends, Edinburgh has something for everyone. The center of town, around the Royal Mile and Princes Street, has plenty of pubs and bars but even the outlying neighborhoods are full of options.
Fly under the radar at this classy wine bar (and shop) tucked away on a quiet residential street. The look embraces every hipster cliche with exposed steel beams, bare brick and faux faded wallpaper but the real draw is the lip-puckering list of organic natural wines from independent Scottish producers.
Restaurants
The best restaurants in Edinburgh serve up everything from five-star fine dining (think roasted Orkney scallops with herb and white wine to haggis and samphire) to family friendly comfort food like chicken and leek pie. The BBC Good Food team dined all over the city to come up with their picks – from ‘cheap eats’ to places perfect for a special occasion.
Teviot Row, home to the oldest purpose-built student union building in the world, is a must for Harry Potter fans, while Armstrong’s is a vintage fashion lover’s dream on multicoloured Victoria Street. There’s also a fab Indian restaurant, New Chapter, whose warm ambiance and JK Rowling-themed graffiti make it one of the coolest restaurants in Edinburgh.
Shopping
Whether you’re looking for high street favourites or something a little more quirky, Edinburgh has it all. On the main shopping thoroughfare, Princes Street, you’ll find high street chains like M&S and Next alongside big name department stores such as Jenners (nicknamed the Harrods of the North).
Further along on Multrees Walk you’ll find a variety of designer shops including Emporio Armarni, Louis Vuitton and Calvin Klein, while nearby George Street is home to a range of luxury brand outlets too.
