Edinburgh is just one of those cities that captures you—with its hilly streets, strong winds, vast green spaces, cozy pubs and intimate shops lining lanes built on top of one another (making it a tricky town to navigate at first with a map). With a reputation for Scottish whimsy, whisky, brutal winters, and inspiring a certain wizarding world, you might imagine there’s little else to uncover. But Edinburgh is a city that reveals itself slowly, then fully: its food, fashion, art and design scenes have never felt more vibrant, and the city keeps getting better with age. From the utterly charming Old Town to the grand Georgian New Town, across picturesque Stockbridge and trendy Leith, we tapped some of Edinburgh’s most knowledgeable locals to share their favorite recs and go-tos. Whether you’re visiting for the Fringe in August, the start of term in fall, Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve) and the broody romance of winter, or the cherry blossoms and the most beautiful spring imaginable, there’s so much to discover—and our guide is the perfect place to begin.
CONTRIBUTORS
Anna Šebelová is a forager and drinks developer working with Edinburgh-based restaurants Timberyard, Montrose, and Brown’s of Leith.
Chloe Frost-Smith is a freelance travel writer based in Edinburgh.
Chloe Mullen is the co-founder of Jorum, a Scottish perfume house founded, based, and handcrafted in Edinburgh.
Clara Hranek went to University in Edinburgh and is the associate editor at Yolo Journal.
Marie Bartlett has lived in Edinburgh for over 30 years and is the accessories buyer at Nordic Living.
Gunnar Groves-Raines is the Director of Edinburgh-based architecture firm, GRAS.
Hugo Macdonald and James Stevens are the founders of Edinburgh-based Bard, a shop and gallery showcasing Scottish art, design and storytelling.
Jess Elliot-Dennison is an Edinburgh-based food writer and the founder of Elliott’s, a cooking studio where she hosts events and cookery demonstrations.
Rosslyn Spencer is based in Edinburgh and is the co-founder of Edinburgh Mercantile.
Sarah Wood González is a NYC-based style and travel writer who lived in Edinburgh for many years.
Uli Schade and Andrew Dick, an Edinburgh native, are the owners of Dicks Edinburgh.
Yolanda Edwards is the founder of Yolo Journal and spent lots of time in Edinburgh over the past four years during her daughter Clara’s studies.
FOOD & DRINK
Your favorite restaurant?
Norah – A recent addition, it reminds me of one of my favourite cafes in London, Leila’s. Simple uncomplicated dishes, small plates.—Andrew and Uli
The Fin and Grape – Big fish to share, beautiful vegetables, salads and potatoes. Excellent Scottish food cooked with great skill and love.—Hugo and James
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