Best of Edinburgh- quirky

[Lovingthemalbec]

We have a rare x 2 nights, 3 days childfree and are planning a trip to Edinburgh, just dh and myself. We love pubs especially beer gardens, unusual or quirky ones. Sights, history. We aren't into spas or posh restaurants but appreciate nice food. Too old for clubs (40s) . Looking to hear what people's must see places that have been there please so we can cram as much into the trip as we can. We were interested to hear about the underground streets so might give that tour a whirl.

The grassmarket is lovely, there is a steak and mussels restaurant there. Stockbridge and Dean Village are other lovely areas, really nice coffee shops there. Bar wise on George street you will get Browns, nice to sit out there on a nice day! Copper Blossom is another good one as is Indigo Yard for outside seating. Edinburgh is beautiful, I am so sad every time I have to leave. We did Surgeons Hall museum when we were there, if you're interested in that sort of thing it's worth a visit.

Also really liked Vittoria on the Bridge - Italian restaurant with good food but unpretentious and family friendly. You get a good cocktail and their profiteroles are definitely home made. Scran and Scallie in Stockbridge is great also for more relaxed dining but great food.

There’s a really pretty little garden off the Royal Mile, on the left as you head down towards Holyrood, approximately opposite the Starbucks. It’s through a little archway so it’s easy to miss. Worth going in, feels sort of secret and peaceful.

The Mussel Inn in, I think, Rose Street is nice

I used to be a tour guide in Edinburgh!

Mercat Tours is, IMO, the best operator, and offers a good range of insightful, factual, historical tours (I highly recommend the Signet Library) and 'fun' ghost tours etc. They do both day and evening tours of the Vaults in the Old Town.

The 'underground streets' thing has now, IMO, been Disneyfied by the Mary King Experience, but it's okay (very expensive, though).

For food, Stockbridge has lots of nice options (especially veggie / vegan), and Dean Village is very Insta-worthy.

Here it is:

hiddenscotland.co/dunbars-close/

PS - Edinburgh Castle is expensive and normally HEAVING: tbh, I wouldn't bother, you'll get nice views from the Esplanade and it's free.

If you fancy a nice walk, the circumference of Holyrood Park is always nice on a good day, and you can have a beer at the Sheep Heid Inn.

@AffIt

PS - Edinburgh Castle is expensive and normally HEAVING: tbh, I wouldn't bother, you'll get nice views from the Esplanade and it's free.

If you fancy a nice walk, the circumference of Holyrood Park is always nice on a good day, and you can have a beer at the Sheep Heid Inn.

^^ Accurate on all counts

Vaults, definitely, and a tour of the burial ground. Also the mechanical clock in the museum if you like 'quirky' - get there for when it chimes on the hour.

Hoot the redeemer is a cool little bar and really hidden you have to look twice to find it

A couple of pubs in Rose Street are old and traditional, a bit like an old style London pub. Very popular and we enjoyed. O pub gardens.

The vaults are eerie, but well worth seeing.

Oh fab, thanks all!

All your suggestions sound right up our street. I’ll make a list of all the places you mentioned. Very much looking forward to our little trip now 😀

Glasgow.

Cold town house
Brewhemia
A drink at The Dome is pretty much compulsory
Badger & son (if you can find it!)
Howies
The Outsider on George IV bridge
Botanic gardens
Walk the water of Leith between dean village and Stockbridge
Carlton hill for good views without the hike of Arthur's seat
Gladstones land
Explore the closes off the royal mile
Evening stroll along the prom at portobello beach
Walk out to Cramond island (check the tide times carefully!)

There is a bank museum that's free and surprisingly interesting!

Was also going to say the streets beneath the city are pretty cool too.

Hope you have fun, we went their last year and had a great time

If you like nepalese food, The Gurkha Cafe on Cockburn Street off the Royal Mile is amazing.

Mary Kings Close
Camera Obscura (magic eye exhibition)
City of the dead tours
Calton Hill
Arthur's Seat
Portobello beach (a short bus ride away from the city centre)
Forth Road Bridge walk across to North Queensferry.
If you like cats, Maison de Moggy, a cat cafe just off the Grassmarket

@VenezuelaChant

Glasgow.

I agree: God's own city, and the best thing about the M8.

Oh, and the Four Sisters pub is good, and there is a lovely quaint little pub just off the Royal Mile called The Jolly Judge. It has a very cosy atmosphere and the staff are lovely!

Another mention for The Outsider.
I also used to love Tigerlily on George Street, but that was years ago. Is it still open?

Our last weekend away without kids was also Edinburgh. Also 40s and prefer casual! For quirky beer garden with decent food and amazing location you can't go wrong with the terrace at cold town house on the grassmarket. Need to pre-book though as it's not all that big.

https://coldtownhouse.co.uk

The shore at Leith is fab. Get the 22 down from Princes Street and stroll around. Fab pubs and restaurants.

The Pear Tree in Newington is the most famous beer garden in Edinburgh, always a good atmosphere.

Morningside has nice restaurants and shops too!

The Modern art gallery is fantastic, there are also several art galleries around the city with good offerings. Equally good offerings for alternative arts/theatre at the Traverse and Lyceum. Also a lovely art deco cinema called the Cameo, (filmhouse is also good if you are into alternative cinema).

Papilio

This is our favourite restaurant in Edinburgh, and isn’t that expensive either.

Have you considered The Royal Yacht Britannia?

Royal yacht

Wherever you go make sure you book. I was in Edinburgh on Saturday for lunch and a few drinks. Everywhere we went were turning people away for not booking.

the edinburgh dungeons is good fun actors take you round like a horrible history of edinburgh and the evening ghost walks