Things to do in Edinburgh

[SSADGM]

Hiya, we’re (DP and I) are going to Edinburgh next month for our anniversary. We’re also going be celebrating his promotion so I want to treat him to something nice. I was thinking maybe a whiskey tasting? We’ve been before and loved it but I just wanted book soemthing a little bit special/different. Does anyone have any recommendations? And also any nice pizza places?

Thanks!

Look up the Johnnie Walker experience. It's on Princes Street. They do all things whiskey including tours and tastings. They also have a roof top bar but that needs booked as it's often full.

Brilliant thanks, we’re staying on princes street so that will be ideal!

Fully
Booked on the Saturday we’re going, typical!

Good idea but practice spelling it as whisky. That's what it's called in Scotland. 'Whiskey' is Irish, Bourbon or Rye.

@Bideshi ok…. Thanks for the really excellent tip on things to do in Edinburgh 🤣🤣

There’s quite a fee Michelin started restaurants in Edinburgh. I’ve been to a few to have their 7 course taster menus. They are expensive but a really nice evening and you get to try some amazing tasting food.

I recommend ’Number One at the Balmoral’
and ‘Purslane restaurant’

bideshi very constructive comment there.

OP enjoy your trip.
Am fairly certain there are plenty of us Scots who also wouldn't know our whisky from their whiskey

[quote SSADGM]@Bideshi ok…. Thanks for the really excellent tip on things to do in Edinburgh 🤣🤣[/quote]
Just want to keep you out of trouble OP!

The Scran and Scallie is a nice gastro-pub but Edinburgh's not short of great places to eat. That's in Stockbridge though which is a lovely lively part of town and worth exploring - lots of atmosphere. Some pizza places in the Grassmarket, I think.

@Bideshi

Good idea but practice spelling it as whisky. That's what it's called in Scotland. 'Whiskey' is Irish, Bourbon or Rye.

It doesn’t matter and no one will get into trouble.

Shame about Johnny Walker but try this smws.com/events/whisky-tasting-events

They're a bit more serious (and will look at lots of different whiskies), food is great. The Scottish Whisky Experience on the royal mile is also a bit touristy but still pretty good, I wouldn't eat there but I would eat at the SMWS for sure.

Dd went to 21212 restaurant for her engagement meal and raved about it.
We used to go to The Kitchin, but not now after what came out.

Also tonnes of good pizza places in Edinburgh now. Pizzeria 1926 is my fave, there's also East Pizza, Pizza Geeks and Civerinos. Have a google around the reviews though - some of the smaller ones I get a bit annoyed with the delivery men coming in and out. 1926 is usually OK for that as its bigger and it's not far from Princes St. Have drinks at the Mad Hatter after on your way back to the hotel.

My sister is getting married in Edinburgh in a few months. She sent out things to do in the Edinburgh in the invites. There is the Royal yacht Britannia and Arthur's stone. I have been to the natural history museum, but I was a wee bit bored 😂

Arthur's stone

Seat?

I found the royal Britannia expensive and quite dull

Loved the Real Mary kings close .

We did a ghost tour as well - witcheries and cadies was excellent

I'd really recommend Forage and Chatter in the West End - we had a lovely dinner there recently. I also second the poster who recommended Stockbridge, definitely check out the market if you have time! The Sheep's Heid is also nice and in the perfect location to visit after a trip up Arthur's Seat...

Johnnie Walker was shite and a tourist trap. The rooftop bar was awful and like a mid price hotel lobby. You can’t be outside after 10pm so a grumpy staff member with a clipboard has to get everyone back in. Go to the Whisky Society either in Leith or on Queen Street. Or there’s a whisky bar in the Balmoral Hotel

@pizza is really good, they do dessert pizzas too, my favourite

Amarone on St Andrews Square

Salerno pizza in the new St James Quarter gets good reviews and is v popular. I recently had lovely pizzas at Franco Manca in south St Andrews St. Both are decent choices if you are city centre based. Otherwise pizza geeks or pizza 1926 at Daley road haymarket end

Can't recommend pizza places, but if you have time to spare, all of these are really worth seeing. Congratulations on your anniversary.

National Museum of Scotland
www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/

Scotish National Gallery anls Scottisn National Portrait Gallery
www.nationalgalleries.org/

National Gallery used to have EXCELLENT restaurant - have not been since Covid however.

Camera Obscura - fascinating
www.camera-obscura.co.uk/

Botanic Gardens - lovely
www.rbge.org.uk/

Edinburgh Zoo - pandas!!
www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/

Holyrood Palace
www.rct.uk/visit/palace-of-holyroodhouse

Dynamic Earth - science and environment - really interesting
www.dynamicearth.co.uk/

You can also book to visit the extraordinary Scottish Parliament building

booking advisable for all the above.

Also, if you are new to edinburgh, a tour on one of the open-topped buses is very scenic and usually very informative. Wrap up well if you are sitting on top in this weather, however.
There are several differnt companies - this is just one:
city-sightseeing.com/en/91/edinburgh/129/hop-on-hop-off-edinburgh?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=edinburgh_en&utm_term=open%20bus%20tour%20edinburgh&utm_content=Edinburgh&gclid=Cj0KCQiAxoiQBhCRARIsAPsvo-xcc0klNT-pN-McVG6vL32Z9_4Gm4xOJadR-HijonoOR84UWKvUoz4aAh3fEALw_wcB

Thank you all SO much. All amazing ideas, going have a sit down this afternoon and plan

I went for the Xmas markets with my daughter- recommend the open top bus tour as then you get to see loads and also can hop on and off. Also the Scottish national gallery just off princes street.

We ate at Pomo Pizzeria near Haymarket - and it was fabulous and great value!

Forgot - Holyrood Palace was fascinating

National Museum of Scotland is a great place to mooch about. The National Gallery is currently a bit restricted as they're doing a lot of work.

Stockbridge and the New Town for a wander, Circus Lane and Ann Street are my favourite bits of Edinburgh. There are good independent shops in Stockbridge and loads of good coffee shops (we like Soderberg particularly).

You can walk from there to the Botanical Gardens - unfortunately the Glass House is closed at the moment but the daffs will be out and it's a lovely place any time of year.

Really like the Royal Yacht. It's very homely in an odd sort of way.

Leith Walk is a horrible mess just now but there's some interesting shops - Topping & Co books, Valvona and Crolla deli.

Origano for pizza, or the Soderberg on Simpson Loan.