Edinburgh anniversary weekend

[katienana]

Booked Edinburgh for 2 nights in July for our 10th wedding anniversary. We've both been to Edinburgh lots but in recent years only with the kids! Looking forward to mooching and people watching very much accompanied by a few drinks of course.
Where is good for cocktails? Where would be a good Friday night dinner venue with a good atmosphere? Will we need to book everything to avoid being stuck in queues? Staying at the Waldorf so v central. Any hidden gems or unique shops I should visit? Also anywhere for breakfast as it's not included in our room rate!

Cocktails:
Panda & Sons
Roseleaf at Leith
Le Monde
Bramble
Tiger Lily

What sort of food would you prefer for dinner / budget (price of a main course as rough guide)?

I would definitely book because it's likely we're still going to be in some sort of lockdown restrictions throughout July. I think the latest is that we should move to level 0 on 19th July although Edinburgh is still in level 2 with case numbers rising!

For Breakfast you've got the Huxley, Ryan's Bar, Vesta and the Red Squirrel all a stone's throw from your hotel. Rabble does breakfast and a boozy brunch.

Definitely got to mention Panda & Sons. Firstly, it’s disguised as a barbers. Secondly, you have to go downstairs and enter through a bookcase. I’m not sure if they still serve them in ridiculous ways, as all the cocktails I saw on some FB pictures were in normal glasses. On my first visit, my cocktail was served in a Chinese takeaway box and my friend’s was served in a teacup and handed to her on a book.
Panda & Sons is a 10 min walk from Stockbridge, a beautiful neighbourhood on the Water Of Leith. If you want some pretty photos, head to Circus Lane. Stockbridge is best experienced on a Sunday when the markets are there.

I want to come!

Also I’d recommend Badger and Co
For shops: Paper Tiger, Fudge Kitchen, Cranachan and Crowdie and Hannah Zakari.

Go to the fudge shops and get some tablet. There are shops at the bottom end of the Royal Mile. If you have English heritage or National trust you can use that membership in anything that is open.

A Mercat tour is awesome but might be restricted due to distancing.

Thanks some great ideas here!

@Fivemoreminutes1

Also I’d recommend Badger and Co For shops: Paper Tiger, Fudge Kitchen, Cranachan and Crowdie and Hannah Zakari.

Would you take teenagers to Badger & Co five?

@extravirginoliveoil I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s over 18 only but I can’t see anything on their website. If they allow kids in then yes I’d take them.

Ooh Brewhemia too, it’s a huge and very much an “anything goes” sort of place.

I would definitely book places in advance, just in case of restrictions, it's a nightmare just now.

Breakfasts - Dishoom, Loudons, Boozy brunch at Tigerlily or Rabble

Food/drinks - lady libertine, badger & co, el cartel (tacos & frozen margaritas), Ivy on the Square, Pickles (cheese & wine), Rollo (dinner). I haven't been, but Cold Town House for a rooftop drink seems to be popular just now.

Raeburn or Hamilton's for a casual drink/bite to eat if having a wander round Stockbridge.

There are loads of great places in Leith which isn't really far from the centre, but not been at that side of town for ages.

Go to the balmoral for a cocktail

Hannah Zakari has gone back to online only again now.

We're still in a bit of a 'just coming out of lockdown' phase which makes things a bit awkward and yes, you will have to book even for drinks right now. Curfew is 10.30 pm too! Hopefully this all changes by July but cases are really high in Edinburgh right now...

Anyway. Drinks - Bramble, Panda & Co, Hoot the Redeemer.
Food and drink - Lady Libertine, Bon Vivant
Casual - The West Room (10 mins from your hotel)
Breakfast - Dishoom, always. Or walk down to Stockbridge from your hotel (about 20 minutes down the Water of Leith) for good cafes
Other food - BABA is great and close to you, also Noto. Aizle also great but very full-on tasting menu type thing. The Little Chartroom if you can get in.

If you go east to Broughton Street you can have a merry wee time of it - margaritas in The Basement (bit of an Edinburgh institution), food at Taistel or the Ox and there's a new bar called Broughton or The Broughton (i can't remember because I haven't been out in forever!)

If it's sunny... there's no point in giving you any beer gardens because they're all booked out till Christmas but try the Holyrood Distillery. The places along George Street aren't my favourite (apart from Contini where you'll also get a great brunch) but they have outdoor seating and most of them keep spaces for walk-u ps.

Actually though your concierge may also be a good shout at the Waldorf - the fun is discovering new places yourself normally but those spontaneous days aren't quite back with us yet.

The new St James Quarter opened today, promising loads of new cool restaurants and a pop up cocktail/gin bar. Plus loads of nice nee shiny shops

If you breakfast at Dishoom, you'll be better to book. We tried to go last weekend and it was fully booked.

If you like Thai food, Passorn Thai was highly recommended to me recently and they do a good value lunch menu (I'm going for lunch tomorrow).

Wee Bhudda was great when I was there recently.

I'm also planning to try Rose Street Garden, which again has been recommended to me.

I'm also taking notes from the lists that everyone else has posted 😁