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Top 10 Edinburgh tips – from the locals Celebrate Scotland sticking with us by visiting its capital. The people at local accommodation company Reserve Apartments share their Edinburgh must-dos...
EAT, DRINK, SLEEP Fishers Bistro has three outlets around town, all serving up great seafood for a range of budgets. Mains start from less than £20. (fishersbistros.co.uk) Mum’s does a foolproof line in comfort staples such as sausage and mash and Scottish venison pie. Even better, it uses fresh local produce. Mains barely creep above a tenner. (monstermashcafe.co.uk) 1. Arthur or Martha One of the first things you should do upon arriving in Edinburgh is head up Arthur’s Seat. The view of Edinburgh and beyond from the top is second to none. It looks like a long, arduous climb to the top, but rest assured if you’re relatively fit it should only take about 30 mins to reach the summit, so no excuses. 2. Coffee & cake Climbing Arthur’s Seat is the perfect justification for a coffee accompanied by an enormous slice of delicious cake. Mimi’s Bakehouse is a real treat by anybody’s standards. The choice of cakes is incredible and the champagne afternoon tea the perfect way to reward yourself after such a gruelling, strenuous walk up that big-old volcano... 3. A mile of royalty Walking a mile might seem like an easy task, but with so many distractions it could take you a good couple of hours. Bagpipes, shortbread and tartan galore line the Royal Mile streets. Soak it all up meandering along the cobbled road, watching street performers and taking in a wee dram.
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4. Crammond beach Up to your eyes in tartan and looking for something a little less obvious? Head out to Crammond – you can easily jump on a bus from the city. Walk out to the island, enjoy a coffee overlooking the Forth or explore the pretty village. It’s stunning and if you get a sunny day – even better! 5. Frisky for whisky? Whisky connoisseur or first-time taster – you will love the Whiski Rooms in Old Town. This also has to be one of the best places to try haggis, neeps and tatties or enjoy some Scottish beef. Keep your eyes peeled for annual events too – Scotland’s History Festival, Hogmanay, Burns night... 6. Hoot and a half For a cheap and cheerful evening head to The Stand comedy club for a giggle. Make sure you get there early as it is an intimate venue and you probably don’t want to end up standing all night. If you have time to kill before the show begins we can vouch for the lamb burger. 7. Canoes & cocktails 52 Canoes Tiki Den is a
quirky, popular bar with locals. The cocktail menu is extensive and will be right up your street if you love rum. The food has a Mexican vibe – the sharing plate and nachos are very generous portions. Staff are friendly and the music good, making for a great night. 8. Scaredy-Mercat We all know about the Edinburgh dungeons, but what about taking things to the next level by signing up for a Mercat Tour? With a number of ghostly tours to choose from, the guides are natural storytellers full of personality and wit. 9. Ceilidh chaos If you’ve not experienced a true Scottish ceilidh – like a barn dance – then this is for you. Book in for Ghillie Dhu’s Friday night Rabbie Burns three-course supper, ceilidh, live bands and DJ. If you’re still standing by 3am when things wrap up you’ll have done well. 10. Farmer Giles Every Saturday morning provides the opportunity to visit Edinburgh’s awardwinning farmers’ market with stunning views of the castle. It is attended by more than 50
A unique pub made up of tiny, crooked rooms brimming with antique bric-abrac, the Canny Man’s should be a tourist attraction in itself. (237 Morningside Rd) The backpacker bar of choice, Last Drop is an enjoyably rowdy spot to get sociable. (74 Grassmarket) High Street Hostel’s central location, pretty 16th-century building and unfailingly clean rooms all get the thumbs up. There are communal pub crawls on Thursday nights. Dorm beds start about £12 a night. (highstreethostel.com) Just a 10-minute stroll from Leith’s waterfront in the northeast of town, The Sandaig is a cosy guesthouse in a Victorian terrace. Double rooms from £69pn. (sandaigguesthouse.co.uk) local producers with fish, eggs, cheese, seasonal fruit and veg, pate, organic beer, chutney... a food lover’s dream. Reserve Apartments offers short-term lettings and self-catering solutions in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Visit reserveapartments.co.uk for accommodation options.