RECORRIDOS POR LA CIUDAD
The Cadies-Witchery Tours (tel: (0131) 225 6745; fax: (0131) 220 2086; e-mail: info@witcherytours.com; página web:
www.witcherytours.com/), organiza recorridos a pie por el casco antiguo, mezclando la historia con el humor y los fantasmas con la sangre. La tarifa para adultos es de £7,50 e incluye un libro de leyendas de brujería. El tour sale del restaurante The Witchery, cerca del castillo, y dura unos 90 minutos.
Mercat Walking Tours (tel/fax: (0131) 557 6464; e-mail: info@mercattours.com; página web:
www.mercattours.com/), opera un tour llamado "Ghosts and Ghouls" ("Fantasmas y cosas macabras") que sale todos los días a las 19.00 y a las 20.00. El tour cuesta £7,50 para adultos y dura 90 minutos, y hay otro que dura unos 30 minutos más. El recorrido empieza en el Mercat Cross, junto a St Giles Cathedral, y la compañía ofrece también otros recorridos macabros por la ciudad.
El tour de dos horas, Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour (tel/fax: (0131) 226 6665 ó (0800) 169 7410; página web:
www.edinburghliterarypubtour.co.uk/) está dirigido por actores que le llevarán por tabernas históricas, a las que solían acudir los escritores famosos. El tour nocturno sale del Beehive Inn, en el Grassmarket, y cuesta £7 para adultos (descuentos disponibles). El tour sale a las 19.30 y se organiza todos los días de junio a septiembre (con menos frecuencia en invierno).
RECORRIDOS EN AUTOBÚS
Edinburgh Bus Tours (tel: (0131) 220 0770; e-mail: edinburghtour@fsmail.net; página web:
www.edinburghtour.com/) organiza recorridos en autobús. Los autobuses salen cada 10/15 minutos desde Waverley Bridge (cada 30 minutos en invierno). El circuito es de aproximadamente una hora y cubre los sitios principales de la ciudad, como el Castillo de Edimburgo y el Palacio de Holyroodhouse. El billete de un día cuesta £8,50 y es válido por 24 horas. Highland Experience (tel: (0131) 331 1889; página web:
www.highlandexperience.com/) organiza tours a Rosslyn Chapel e incluso por las Highlands de Escocia.
COMIDA Y BEBIDA
Para comer, en cualquier restaurante o terraza de la Royal Mile te meterán el sablazo, para mi el mejor es el The Standing Order, es un antiguo banco donde se come muy bien y no es muy caro, tienen riquísimas cervezas y es un local muy bonito, cuando lo veais lo comprendereis, está situado en la parte de atrás de Princes Street, también hay otro que está muy bien y que por unas libras puedes comer todo lo que quieras, es el Italian Buffet, y está situado al final de Princes Street a mano izquierda justo cuando comienza la zona del Calton Hill.
Como no, tienes las cadenas de pizza y hamburguesas mundialmente conocidas que también te pueden sacar del apuro. Para salir a tomar unas pintas hay una zona con unos pubs muy bonitos y aimados que es la de las calles Rose y George.
Especialidades regionales:
Haggis (avena mezclada con menudillos).
Cullen skink (sopa de pescado).
Salmón ahumado.
Partan bree (cangrejo con arroz y crema).
Scones (panecillos escoceses)
Black bun (pastel hecho a base de frutas).
Bebidas regionales:
Whisky.
Cerveza.
Irn Bru (bebida que se dice que está elaborada a partir de vigas de metal).
Los horarios de los bares varían, algunos pubs están abiertos de 11.00 a 23.00, pero en las ciudades muchos establecimientos abren hasta más tarde. El Parlamento Escocés ha introducido una medida para prohibir el consumo de tabaco en bares, restaurantes, pubs, discotecas y oficinas a partir del 26 de marzo de 2006.
RECOMENDADO: THE STANDING ORDER
Address: 62-66 George Street, EH2 2LR Telephone: 0131 225 4460
Web address:
www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/
Opening hours, normal: 9.00am to 1.00am Opening hours, Sunday: 10.00am to 1.00am
Food: A wide range of modern cuisine and traditional Scottish dishes. A children's menu is available.
Food service times: Breakfast served from opening until 12.00noon. Main menu from opening until 10.00pm daily
Clientele: Popular with local business people popping in for lunch and with tourists - usually very busy during the day
EDIMBURGO PUB GUIDE
The Abbotsford
3 Rose Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PR
At first sight, this classic city centre bar looks like an old-fashioned spit and sawdust affair. But there's a real diversity of clientele here, from chattering ladies who lunch to the pinstriped suit brigade and hungover tourists seeking sustenance.
The Albanach
197 High Street, Royal Mile, Old Town, Edinburgh, EH11PE Right on the Royal Mile, the Albanach tempts tourists with a safe Scottish menu. Its bar, stocking 103 whiskies, leads to a wood and stone dining area out back. One may or may not appreciate the 'modern tartan' walls adorned with patriotic statements…
All Bar One
29–31 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PA
Once upon a time, All Bar One was the fresh-faced, exclusive bar-about-town frequented by apple flirtini-sipping suits. While never quite diverting the gastro-pub experts, it did embed the wine bar-diner concept in the nation's consciousness. But the…
Amicus Apple
17 Frederick Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2EY Amicus Apple has been under new ownership since 2007, and its basement area has been transformed into a chic, welcoming, boudoir-like space. Patterned black walls, twinkling light fittings and comfortable leather chairs accommodate shoppers and office…
Apero
34 Alva Street, Edinburgh, EH3 4PY Tucked away among the cobbled streets of Edinburgh's West End, Apero is a real hidden gem of a bar, which sits somewhere between exclusive cocktail bar and 'members only' supper club. The décor is adorable, even if it has the feel of having been thrown…
Aspen Bar and Grill 66-67 South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1LS
Assembly
41 Lothian Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1HB
You can view the Potterrow and Teviot student unions from the windows of this relaxed cocktail bar, so it's no great surprise that it attracts its fair share of students. With tight budgets in mind, the food is served in large, wallet-pleasing portions…
Avoca
4–6 Dean Street, Edinburgh, EH4 1LW
This is a bar that knows exactly what it's doing when it comes to food. It's not attempting to be a bistro: it's emphatically a bar and loves being a bar. Taste is everything in this little relaxing snug; music and chat don't intrude on your dining and…
The Bad Ass Bar, Bistro and Grill
167 Rose Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4LS
For a nine-year-old, the Bad Ass Bar, Bistro and Grill does an impressive job of feigning maturity. An old-fashioned pub exterior gives way to a smokily-lit, cosy bar where vintage mirrors and old photographs cover the dark walls …
Bank Hotel 1 South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1LL
Barioja
19 Jeffrey Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1DR
As the younger, funkier sibling to Iggs restaurant next door, Barioja serves traditional tapas in relaxed, style-bar surroundings. With large picture windows overlooking Calton Hill, their promise to bring you 'Spanish sunshine, whatever the weather…
Baroque
39-41 Broughton Street, New Town, Edinburgh, EH1 3JU You'd have called it a style bar back in the heady days of the late-90s, but Broughton Street's Baroque is no longer the epicentre of cool. Posing pre-club queens now move on to hipper joints and Baroque's former core clientele has either mutated into…
Basement Bar
10a–12a Broughton Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3RH
Situated below busy Broughton Street, The Basement is a lively little bistro where staff dressed in Hawaiian shirts often greet you at the door. Inside, tall gothic candles and 80s retro décor set the tone of fun, casual dining. The menu, which changes…
Bennets Bar
8 Leven Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9LG
This traditional pub next to the King's Theatre still has a wooden snug at the edge of the bar, where Victorian women used to drink out of sight of the menfolk. The listed building has kept other original features, such as stained glass windows and an…
Biblos
1 Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1HR Located close to the university, Biblos tends to be dominated by members of Edinburgh's student population. The venue has recently undergone a revamp: curtains, comfy armchairs and bright lampshades now lend the space a contemporary, clubby feel. The…
Biddy Mulligans 94-96 Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2JR
The Bon Vivant 55 Thistle Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1DY
Cache Bar Bistro 32 West Nicholson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DD
Café Royal Circle Bar
19 West Register Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2AA Café Royal doesn't take bookings, and it's nearly always full. Do persist, though, as you won't be disappointed. Ornate ceilings with gold cornicing and original tiled wall decorations frame the grand space, which has as its focal point the Circle Bar.
The Caley Sample Room
42–58 Angle Park Terrace, Edinburgh, EH11 2JR
Situated just off the beaten track in Craiglockhart, The Caley Sample Room is definitely one watering station to mark on the map. The venue uses every inch of its long, thin interior confidently to bridge the twilight worlds of bar and restaurant. At…
The Cambridge Bar
20 Young Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4JB
For simple, filling pub grub, you can't do much better than a well-made burger and chips. That's virtually all they serve at the Cambridge, besides home-made bean burgers for veggies and chicken breasts for non-beef fans. It's the attention to detail…
Cameo Bar
23 Commercial Street, Edinburgh, EH6 6JA
The Cameo's location by the waterfront in Leith means it regularly welcomes a lively crowd of locals and office workers. The bar menu, served all day, features a selection of pub favourites: nachos, sandwiches, baked potatoes, burgers and pasta, all…
Candy Bar
113–115 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4JN
Aimed squarely at the pretty young things, the Candy Bar really is the cheeky twinkle in the eye of Edinburgh's George Street. There's an air of backstreet chic about the place, with the emphasis on drinking and having a good time rather than eating.
The Canon's Gait
232 Canongate, Edinburgh, EH8 8DQ
The Canon's Gait boasts an impressively grand entrance on the Royal Mile, which carries a plaque detailing the history of the pub and the surrounding area. Inside, clean cream walls house a relaxed bar area dotted with large circular tables and a low…
Cargo
Edinburgh Quay, 129 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 9QA Cargo's chic and airy space has been designed to draw in a hip, young crowd. Large glass panes at the back show off the beer garden by the canal and illuminate a large seating area full of polished black furniture and leather booths. The outdoor area is…
Centre Court 124 Colinton Rd, Edinburgh, EH14 1BY
City Café
19 Blair Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QR
City Café has long been a buzzing starting-off point for a night out in Edinburgh. Live DJ sets at the weekend attract hordes of clubbers bound for Cabaret Voltaire across the street or the Bongo Club down the road. During the day, the American…
Cloisters
26 Brougham Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9JH
Occasionally, there's a short wait for chips at this Tollcross pub. It's nothing to do with bad service, though: the chef just needs freshly to peel more spuds. Great care is taken over the daily changing bar meal menu, which now includes extra dishes…
The Compass 44 Queen Charlotte Street, Edinburgh, EH6 7EX
Cozi Bar & Grill
44 St Stephen Street, Edinburgh, EH3 5AL
Cozi's basement space, with its low ceilings and open fire during the winter months, is a welcome change from the minimalist sterility of many style bars. The small bar is a homely jumble of stacked glasses, odd bottles and barflies nestled among the…
The Cramond Inn
30 Cramond Glebe Road, Cramond Village, Edinburgh, EH4 6NN
Wherever you travel around Britain, the sight of the village pub is generally a welcome one. It's no different in Cramond, even if the village is a suburb of Edinburgh and just 20 minutes' trundle along Ferry Road from the city centre. It's all there: a…
Dalriada
77 Promenade, Portobello, Edinburgh, EH15 2EL
Situated in an imposing building at the Joppa end of the Portobello Promenade, Dalriada is a fantastic bar-cum-café that's just perfect for an afternoon coffee and cake while you watch the waves roll in, or an evening drink as the sun sets over the…
Le Di-Vin 9 Randolph Place, Edinburgh, EH3 7TE
Dirty Dick's
159 Rose Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4LS
The name Dirty Dick's conjures up images of buxom wenches serving flagons of foaming ale. In reality, this tourist-friendly watering hole is closer in ambience to a Scottish theme bar than a Carry On film. From wall to ceiling, the interior is decked…
Dragonfly
52 West Port, Edinburgh, EH1 2LD
An effortlessly popular drinking spot for some years since its 2004 reimagining as a shiny new cocktail bar, Dragonfly – which has been voted Scotland's most stylish bar – shows no sign of letting its sheen tarnish. It still feels like one of the places…
Earl of Marchmont
22 Marchmont Crescent, Edinburgh, EH9 1HG The Earl of Marchmont, hang-out for generations of students from the surrounding tenements, comes under new ownership in summer 2008, with Billy and Jane Ross of Hillside's Café Renroc taking over. They plan to be open by late May or June 2008 and will…
Ecco Vino
19 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1BP
The casual, laid-back atmosphere of Ecco Vino is rarely achieved elsewhere in the capital. The chatter of the patrons and the clatter of the glasses encourage you to take a seat, take a menu, and take a glass . . . Or a bottle. The wine list is as…
Element
110–114 Rose Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SG
Enter Element from Rose Street and you immediately feel welcome – the proprietors have clearly followed the recent trend of making their restaurant look like someone's living room. The décor – high-backed easy chairs, large mirrors and gleaming…
Espy 62–64 Bath Street, Edinburgh, EH15 1HF
Favorit
19–20 Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH1 2QZ
Favorit is a late night diner for the young and hip and – most importantly – for those with the munchies. Black and white chequered tiles, retro tables and benches and a large, red neon Favorit sign set the scene. All that's missing is Pulp Fiction's…
56 North 2–8 West Crosscauseway, Edinburgh, EH8 9JP
Filmhouse Café Bar
88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH3 9BZ
It is rare thing these days to find a place to eat that truly serves a purpose and functions without pretension, unnecessary frills or ideas above its station. The Filmhouse Bar has fulfilled such a role in Edinburgh for over 20 years, providing a…
The Granary
32–34 The Shore, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6QN
Part of the Glasgow-based G1 Group's expansion into Edinburgh, the Granary is a new addition to the Shore's diverse line-up of eating and drinking spots. This mock-traditional pub has a dark timber interior, housing a bar area, a small balcony where…
Grand Cru
79 Hanover Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1EE
Tired shoppers, students and office workers have been coming regularly to Grand Cru for wine or cocktails for the best part of a decade. The interior of the busy bar recently underwent a thorough sprucing up, with the addition of comfy sofa booths as…
Grape
The Capital Building, 13 St Andrew Square, New Town, Edinburgh, EH2 2BH Grape is located in a beautiful, high-ceilinged building and well situated at the east end of George Street for a break from shopping or a swift drink after work. The room is divided into two spacious bar areas (largely to accommodate the office crowd…
The Guildford Arms
1–5 West Register Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2AA Homey and welcoming from the moment you enter, the Guildford Arms is a place where you can easily imagine sinking a few real ales (there are ten on offer) or glasses of wine (they serve 18 by the glass). While the menu lists traditional pub staples, the…
Guilty Lily 284 Bonnington Road, Edinburgh, EH6 5BE
Halo
3 Melville Place, Edinburgh, EH3 7PR One of the West End's style bars, Halo is just coming out of a period undergoing some changes in management. The trendy décor, however, is unchanged, with groovy lighting incorporated into elaborate picture frames and retro-look chairs. There is still…
Hectors
47–49 Deanhaugh Street, Edinburgh, EH4 1LR Hectors is a real neighbourhood bar whose clientele reflects the diversity of the area. There's a mix of youthful students, thirtysomething couples and older folk enjoying a relaxing evening in vibrant, smart and welcoming surroundings. It's a difficult…
The Hudson Hotel
7–11 Hope Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4EL When this former post office reopened in 2006 as a hotel, the idea was to create the atmosphere of a slick Manhattan hangout in Edinburgh's West End. Brick walls and dark floorboards on the ground floor bar may have you fooled that you're in a trendy…
Iglu
2b Jamaica Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6HH
Iglu is a venue that takes its organic, local and ethical food policy very seriously. But don't feel guilty if you need to take a taxi there should you find it hard to locate: it's hidden away from the main drag of the city centre and lurks…
Iguana 41 Lothian Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1HB
Indigo (yard)
7 Charlotte Lane, Edinburgh, EH2 4QZ
Indigo (yard) has been a fixture of the West End's eating and drinking scene for over a decade now, and shows no signs of losing favour with its regular crowd of workers and shoppers, who can be found here at all times of the day. Because of the…
Iso-bar
7 Bernard Street, Edinburgh, EH6 6PW
The iso-bar was once a shining star in Leith’s bar food firmament. While it still attracts a loyal local clientele, the eating and drinking side of the operation had become a bit of a battle recently, from struggling to order over the constant ‘ping’ of…
Ivory Lounge
126–128 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4HH
The Ivory Lounge is a new bar/restaurant at the west end of George Street on the site of the former Bar 38. Plush booths and pale blue lighting help create a vibrant atmosphere, and the wide, open aisles ensure that guests never feel confined. While…
The King's Wark
36 The Shore, Edinburgh, EH6 6QU
The Leith dining scene continues to change apace, so it's reassuring to see one of its longest established pubs staying ahead of the pack. The main bar offers a traditional bar menu spiced up daily to include blackboard specials; the adjacent dining…
Links Bar 2–4 Alvanley Terrace, Whitehouse Loan, Edinburgh, EH9 1DU
The Magnum Restaurant & Bar
1 Albany Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3PY With a decidedly masculine name, an imposing racing green exterior and jeroboams of port sitting proudly in the window, first impressions are that the Magnum might be slightly old-school. Appearances, however, can be deceptive, and new proprietor Chris…
Meadow Bar
42-44 Buccleuch Street, Southside, Edinburgh, EH8 9LP
With Edinburgh University around the corner, it is little surprise that the Meadow Bar has long been a favourite of students and academics. Those in the know forsake the self-consciously happening haunts in this part of town for the understated cool of…
The Merlin
168-172 Morningside Road, Southside, Edinburgh, EH10 4PU With bold patterned wallpaper, gilt frames and a blazing fireplace adorned with a dramatic stag's head, this expansive dining and drinking space is frequented by a mixed crowd of Morningside locals. Food is served from noon onwards, all day, every day…
Le Monde
16 George Street, New Town, Edinburgh, EH2 2PS
Behind Le Monde Hotel lies quite a seductive idea: each room exudes the ambience of one of the world's most iconic cities. Got your passport? First stop: Milan. It's Italian-style espresso central, so grab a coffee and lounge to your heart's delight.
Monteiths
57–61 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR Spanking new Monteiths brings a touch of glitz and glamour to this section of the Royal Mile, more commonly associated with pubs and tourist attractions. The entrance is down a vine-arched and lit alleyway next to Moubray House, at the bottom of which…
Morningside Glory
1 Comiston Road, Southside, Edinburgh, EH10 6AA Morningside Glory is the original venture in Edinburgh of the Glasgow-based G1 Group. Its clientele seem to be a mix of passers-by and locals popping in for a drink and a pew to watch the latest sporting fixtures. The furniture is a mix of leather sofas…
Mother India Café 3–5 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1LT
Negociants
45–47 Lothian Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1HB Long established as a late-night eatery for nighthawk students and Edinburgh festival-goers (the Teviot and Udderbelly venues are just across the road), Negociants has recently been taken over by members of staff and was implementing various changes at…
99 Hanover Street
99 Hanover Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1DJ Around the corner from the main drag of style bars on George Street, 99 offers a slightly warmer, more welcoming alternative to its sometimes pretentious neighbours. In keeping with the mission statement of 'music, liquor, fun', food menus are hidden in…
Oddfellows
14 Forrest Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2QN
Oddfellows is housed inside a beautiful building, which has been transformed into a student-friendly refectory by the Festival Inns chain. There are no booths or romantic nooks in this place, and you're unlikely to want to gaze into the eyes of another…
Old Chain Pier
32 Trinity Crescent, Newhaven, Edinburgh, EH5 3ED
Leith's Waterfront developments are bringing new residents and business to institutions such as the bustling Old Chain Pier, a historic location perched just above the Forth. There are outdoor tables in the summer, and the vast expanse of glass affords…
The Orchard
1/2 Howard Place, Canonmills, Edinburgh, EH3 5JZ The Orchard has done its best to be as accommodating as possible: you can cosy down on the squashy sofas over brunch at the weekends; grab a window table and watch the passing crowds or barfly it at the large central bar. Dark wooden furniture contrasts…
Oscars Bar & Grill 1-2 Moat Place, Edinburgh, EH14 1NY
Palm Court Bollinger Bar
The Balmoral Hotel, 1 Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2EQ The glamorous entrance into the Balmoral Hotel is an experience in itself, but when the soft notes of a harp reach your ears in the Palm Court Tearoom and Bollinger Bar, a proper sense of grandeur is felt. Staff attend to your every whim, and before you…
Reverie 1-5 Newington Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1QR
Revolution Bar
30a Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1HU
From the red VIP rope at the door to the faux chandeliers, carpet prints lining the walls and comfy leather chairs, Revolution is all about style. The proprietors may not be pumping in pure oxygen, but it's very easy to lose all sense of the world…
Rick's
55a Frederick Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1LH
Sunset-coloured lights shine from behind the bar in this chic, subterranean Frederick Street restaurant/hotel. Guests of Rick's enjoy the stylish atmosphere created by low lamps, sleek leather furniture and funky music. As for food, Rick's offers…
Roseleaf Bar Café
23–24 Sandport Place, Edinburgh, EH6 6EW
Leith's Roseleaf falls into that exclusive category of great new pubs you almost don't want to recommend because large crowds might spoil what makes them so enjoyable in the first place. The former old man's boozer was overhauled, filled with flea…
The Royal McGregor 154 High Street, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 1QS
Sami Swoi 28 Bernard Street, Edinburgh,
The Sheep Heid Inn
43 The Causeway, Duddingston, Edinburgh, EH15 3QA
Tucked away in Duddingston is Edinburgh's oldest pub, which has been around since 1360. For city dwellers the Sheep Heid Inn is well worth taking the trouble to get to as it's extremely pleasant to while away a few hours among the collected bric-a-brac…
The Ship on the Shore
24–26 The Shore, Edinburgh, EH6 6QN
The Ship on the Shore has often been overshadowed by its more prominent fishy comrades in this area of Leith, but this is sure to change with the arrival of new management and new chef Michael Pasiecznik. The wood-panelled bar area is good for a…
The Shore Bar & Restaurant
3 The Shore, Edinburgh, EH6 6QW The venerable and much-loved Shore Bar & Restaurant was taken over by immediate neighbours Fishers in the spring of 2008. The Shore has one of Edinburgh's most appealing old interiors, its separate bar and restaurant areas both featuring extensive dark…
The Slug and Lettuce - Edinburgh Unit 8, Omni Leisure Centre, Greenside Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3BN
St Vincent Bar 11 St. Vincent St, Edinburgh, EH3 6SW
The Stand Comedy Club
5 York Place, Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3EB
For ten years mirth-seekers have delved beneath York Place in search of something to tickle their ribs and split their sides – and the hugely successful comedy club has provided just that. To accompany the Thursday to Saturday night line-ups, a…
The Standard
24 Howe Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6TG
Stylish décor, with a nod to the old school Manhattan diner, lends the Standard an air of polished elegance. Adorning most of the walls are framed black and white photos, while the rest of the space is taken up by large TV screens that normally screen…
Stockbridge Tap 2 Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, EH4 1HN
The Street
2 Picardy Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3JT
At the corner of Picardy Place, right on the apex of Edinburgh's 'pink triangle' is the Street, a sociable, gay-friendly bar that also serves up tasty grub. It's shaped like a fishbowl, the wide glass walls and tall stools allowing guests to see and be…
Sygn
15 Charlotte Lane, Edinburgh, EH2 4QZ
Sygn has been quietly building a reputation for quality since it first appeared in a fuzzy pink glow in 2004. In both style and substance it is the equal of any of the bars on George Street. Subdued lighting, considered décor and plush furnishings set…
Tempus
19–21 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PB
In prime position on George Street, Tempus, which enjoyed a glamorous refurbishment in 2006, is the bar and restaurant of the George Hotel. Immerse yourself in lavish surroundings of leather banquettes, opulent jewelled mirrors and sparkling…
Theatre Royal 25-27 Greenside Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3AA
Tigerlily
125 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4JN
A couple of years on from its much-heralded arrival on Edinburgh's night-life scene, this smart hotel, bar and restaurant is very much the glitzy hotspot it always aspired to be. The urbane, affluent and highly presentable clientele descend on this…
Tonic (Devil's Kitchen)
34a North Castle Street, New Town, Edinburgh, EH2 3BN
When God (or whoever) created the hangover, they at least had the good grace to ensure that places like Tonic existed too. This quietly confident, compact bar is the perfect city centre bolthole for lunching or brunching away those boozy blues…
Traverse Bar Café
Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2ED Taking a room like this – a windowless subterranean theatre foyer-cum-passageway – and making something coherent and appealing is an achievement in itself, but the Trav is also a watering hole, nexus for cultural debate and, more importantly here, a…
Under the Stairs 3a Merchant Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2QD
Utopia
154–158 Easter Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5RL Easter Road's first style bar was intended as a diamond in the rough when it opened in 2006, with a sleek brown interior and smart cocktail menu. It's no longer the head-turner it once was but the area is transforming gradually and Utopia sees itself as…
Villager
49–50 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EJ
The first in the mini-empire of style bars that now includes Dragonfly and the Voodoo Rooms, Villager is run by three style-conscious, fun-loving Edinburgh businessmen. The décor is a mix of graffiti stencil art, vintage trainers and trashy-chic…
The Voodoo Rooms
19a West Register Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2AA When the Voodoo Rooms opened at the end of 2007 the promise of an intoxicating blend of tiki cocktails and live music in decadent surroundings created a fair old sensation. And if you're off to check it all out, know this: there's a Devil's Kitchen
The Waterline
58 The Shore, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 5RD
Renewal is as important in the hospitality world as it is in any relationship, and the people at the Waterline are hopeful the pub's recent spruce-up will strengthen its bond with customers. In both the interior and the menu
Whiski
119 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SG At the heart of tartan and heather tourist-land on the Royal Mile, Whiski serves up Scotland by numbers. Whisky? Check. There's an impressive range of 250 single malts and blends behind the bar, plus a range of whisky cocktails. Haggis, neeps and…