Scottish food isn’t just about haggis and deep-fried Mars bars you know, although if you want to sample those delicacies they are of course readily available in Edinburgh. But Edinburgh is actually a gourmet’s paradise, packed with fantastic restaurants from the humble-yet-delicious to the Michelin-starred. And of course when dinner is over, there’s always a tempting-looking bar or pub round the corner to have a nightcap in. If you’re planning a short break full of eating and drinking to your heart’s content in the Scottish capital, it’s a good thing it’s easy to find a Travelodge in Edinburgh, so you can use the money you save on the hotel to put towards your dining fund!
Fine Dining
If you want to push the boat out to impress that certain someone, you’ve come to the right place. TV’s Saturday Kitchen regular, the aptly named Tom Kitchin is Edinburgh’s best-known celebrity chef and his two restaurants The Kitchin and Castle Terrace consistently receive rave reviews. Michelin-starred Martin Wishart in Leith also has the accolades and the waiting list to match.
Romance
Edinburgh is full of hidden gems worth tracking down for a date night to remember. The Stockbridge Restaurant, Le Café St Honoré and Angels With Bagpipes will give you the full candlelit experience but when it comes to rolling out the red carpet romance-wise, The Witchery, with its wood paneling, sumptuous food and Castle-side location will give you an evening out you’ll never forget.
Pubs
Edinburgh is famous for its pubs and with good reason – they’re plentiful and for the most part friendly and welcoming. If you fancy a bit of a pub-crawl, the Grassmarket area is the traditional place to start – try The Beehive for your first pint. Rose Street, which runs parallel to the main shopping streets of Princes Street and George Street is another favourite drinking drag – handy if all that shopping brings on a bit of a thirst. The best thing about Edinburgh pubs is of course the Scottish licensing laws, which mean that most venues are open till at least midnight, sometimes later.
On The Go
Edinburgh is packed with fabulous cafes serving up cakes, coffees and more substantial fare. Glass & Thomson in the New Town is the perfect place to relax with a coffee and a slice of cake and Urban Angel on Hanover Street is where to head for a lazy brunch.
Bars
If you fancy making a real night of it, Edinburgh has a thriving bar scene. Also home to the most upmarket shops, George Street is a good place to sample Edinburgh at its most glamorous – try Tigerlily for a pre-dinner drink and you’ll see why. Or Rick’s on Frederick Street and The Bon Vivant on Thistle Street, both of which also do great food, and are perfect places to party with Edinburgh’s beautiful people.
Phew, after all that, you’ll be ready for a good night’s sleep before getting up to do it all again. Cheers!
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