- This topic has 42 replies, 24 voices, and was last updated 12 years ago by yoshimi.
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3 Days in Edinburgh – what should I do?
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yoshimiFull MemberPosted 13 years ago
Just booked 3 days in Edinburgh on a bit of a whim for Mrs Yoshimi’s birthday. I’ve only been once for a night and that only consisted of the Fat Face night downhill race and then visiting the ‘pubic triangle’. I’ve really no idea what’s there – can anyone recommend some culture, some sights, some must do things, some good restaurants and boozers?
CheersCaptainFlashheartFree MemberPosted 13 years agoGo round to TJ’s place and see the astonishing collection of trolls.
roadie_in_denialFree MemberPosted 13 years agoRestaurant: La Favorita on Leith Walk (italian food)
Pub: They’re all a bit much of a muchness to be honest…but if you like cocktails then you could do worse than pay a visit to The Villager.
Culture/things to do etc: Walk up Arthurs Seat (free), Visit the Castle, Go on a Mary’s King Close walk (highly reccomended but book in advance).
Hope that helps.
yoshimiFull MemberPosted 13 years agoroadie
Italian my favorite!
Cocktails – love them
Guided walks – always enjoy these on the first day of a tripthanks
geoffjFull MemberPosted 13 years agoI’d be tempted to jump on one of the bus tours too. I know they can be a bit cheesy, but its a good way of seeing the main tourist bits at the start of a trip.
Oh and don’t forget to visit STW’s (unofficial) Favourite Bike Shop.
cynic-alFree MemberPosted 13 years agoPubs all of a muchness WTF?
Plenty good real ale pubs, and a “cycling” one down Leith way – the Tourmalet.
Modern and Dean art galleries are great (vg photography exhib in latter just now, Jeff Koons in former if that’s your thing) nice walk alkong water of Leith from here to Stockbridge for nice pubs (Hectors etc).
Castle is way over-rated IMO and not cheap. Queens’ Art Gallery is meant to be good, by the Parliament, which is also meant to be good – both free ane by Arthur’s Seat.
Jump on a no. 26 bus for Portobello – a nice 2 mile beach and a couple of good pubs one of which does great food (the Esplanade). I’ll see you down there for a pint if you like, I live there.
Leith (by TJ) has loads of nice bars too (Sofis and the Roseleaf are particularly good).
Seadogs, Dogs and Dogs Amore are great independant reasonable restuarants in town too.
rickmeisterFull MemberPosted 13 years agoI think there is a castle… If you go up there you can point and laugh at the tram debacle.
Botanic Gardens
Mercat Tours on teh ROyal Mile, then The Scotsman pub… Cockburn St
Harvy Nichols / Jennners for shopping
Galleries are greatojomFree MemberPosted 13 years agoPub: They’re all a bit much of a muchness to be honest…
😀 you are doing it wrong.
Come say Hi if you are passing. We might buy you lunch.
thesurfbusFree MemberPosted 13 years agoI would second the bus tour, even though I am from Edinburgh I went on a bus tour for the first time last year with the family and had a really good day out, you can buy a pass which allows you to jump on/off any of the tour companies buses.
molgripsFree MemberPosted 13 years agoOh yeah, Jenners.. go there just to check out the building with the galleries – it’s lovely.
BigButSlimmerBlokeFree MemberPosted 13 years agoI went to the Camera Obsscura next to the Castle. The camera obscura itself was reasonably interesting, but some of the rest of it was excellent, especially the maze and the rolling tunnel. One of the top attractions on Tripadvisor.
Youll be tempted to do the castle, but it’s way overhyped, although the views are good. Go if it’s a free day, otherwise don’t. Views from calton Hill are as good, Arthur’s Seat is better.
Molgrips has a point with Jenners – well worth sticking your head in for a look.
Think about a cruise – google forth cruises to get the drift, the Firth of Forth is pretty spectacular and South Queensferry is pretty little placeyoshimiFull MemberPosted 13 years agoNot been on for a few days so just wanted to say thanks for all the replies guys:)
We’re not going until 2nd June but……
@thebikechain – Yep I think it would be rude not to come in and see you (wallet in hand) – me to wife ‘Oh look a bike shop, I had no idea that was here, lets nip in’
@CynicAl – Some great advice, I like the look of Modern & Dean (i’ll check out when the tog exhib is on till as thats def my sort of thing
@Geoff,Surfbus,Rickmeister – Bus tour sounds good – we do quite a few city breaks and we always enjoy a good bus walking tour on the first day to get our bearings, learn a bit about the city and give us inspiration for what we’d like to see more of for the rest of the time there
@Hels, Molgrips and BBSB – I’m now off to google Jenners and Camera Obscura…….
I’ll resurrect this thread a few days before we head off – cheers all
yoshimiFull MemberPosted 13 years agoCamera Obscura looks Awesome!!
THe Photo exhibition will still be on:)
yoshimiFull MemberPosted 12 years agoThread resurrection:
We head off to Edinburgh tomorrow and the weather looks promising 🙂
So 2 questions – can you recommend any good art shops/galleries, we’re hoping to pick up something nice for the kitchen, pref fairly modern.
and, more bar/club recommendations please – I’ve been told about the Grassmarket and George Street/Rose Street but no specific places
thankshelsFree MemberPosted 12 years agoArt Galleries where one buys original art with one’s trust fund checks are on Dundas St and are fairly swanky.
If you want a print for the kitchen there are a few shops on the bridges, I think there is one near the Festival Theatre from memory.
The Dean Gallery at Stockbridge has a good selection of modern prints, the Gallery and RSA on Princes St not so modern.
jockhaggisFree MemberPosted 12 years agoLooks like a scorcher over the next few days, enjoy!
For galleries take a walk down Dundas Street, that’s where I buy all my art.
Modern art gallery down at Dean Bridge sells prints if that’s more what you’re after.
EDIT: Too slow, what hels said ^. That’ll teach me to go and make a cuppa mid post.
cynic-alFree MemberPosted 12 years agoyoshimi – Member
can you recommend any good art shops/galleries, we’re hoping to pick up something nice for the kitchen, pref fairly modern.and, more bar/club recommendations please – I’ve been told about the Grassmarket and George Street/Rose Street but no specific places
thanksGOMA and Dean by the West end (see my first post!)
Grassmarket is busy youth/stags etc, Rose St a quieter/older version, George St is a flashy/pricey 30-50 meat market.
“Cool” pubs (places) IMO: Villager, Dragonfly, (both near Grassmarket) Hectors (Stockbridge – nice), Guilty Lily, The Shore (an area of pubs etc in Leith), Roseleaf, The Port, Tourmalet, Victoria, Pond, (all Leith-ish, a bit grunger)
yoshimiFull MemberPosted 12 years agoGreat, thanks for that
Al – all those bars are now stored in my phone, seems to be quite a bit going on in Leith up near the Brittania
As we’re there for 3 nights once were showered and fed we’ll spend a nbight each round Leith, Grassmarket and George Street
During the day ~I think we’ll be doing a bus tour, a mercat walking tour, Camera Obscura, GOMA, Dean Gallery, Brittania, bit of shopping checking out the likes of Jenners etc. – castle is still up for discussion
stanfreeFree MemberPosted 12 years agoYoshimi If the weather Is going to be good as It looks to be , you could do a lot worse than head down the coast to the great East Lothian beaches. If you have a car head for Seacliff by North Berwick or Scoughall by Tyningham and have lunch In North Berwick. Take a wee stroll up the Pentlands and have lunch at The Steading or Flotterston In or if you want a good curry then The Verandah on Dalry road is good but looks like a dump.
cynic-alFree MemberPosted 12 years agoCool. George St and Grassmarket may be your thing, I (40+) prefer grungy/low key/real ale.
yoshimiFull MemberPosted 12 years agoHa ha – I’m in the nearly mid-30 grunge / band / trainer wearing bracket
talking of which, whats the dress code in general? can I wear trainers? they are very cool 8)
cynic-alFree MemberPosted 12 years agoI think you’ll be fine in trainers where you’re going, but I never go to the fanciest places.
andyl46Free MemberPosted 12 years agoPub, check out a place called Under the Stairs, good food, very relaxed atmosphere, superb cocktails. If there’s a big Irish fella behind the bar tell him Andy from Castlerock says hello, it’ll give him a laugh.
cynic-alFree MemberPosted 12 years agoAye it’s quite relaxed in there, a bit yuppie for me though.
studiodermFree MemberPosted 12 years agoPubs:
basement:
http://www.thebasement.org.uk/villager: (nice robots on the wall done by yours truly).
http://www.villager-e.comart:
red door gallery:
http://www.edinburghart.com/index_content.htmlAnalogue books:
http://www.analoguebooks.co.uk/things to do:
http://www.list.co.uk/
http://www.theskinny.co.uk/enjoy.
andylFree MemberPosted 12 years agoThe Mussel and steak place at the grassmarket is yummy.
A short walk away is The Brauhaus which we loved (great staff and loads of german beers) but some ropey reviews on sites (mainly about the toilets).
Just up from the Grassmarket (on a high up bit that comes out near the castle entrance) is a really good Kurdish/middle eastern place, think it was Hamans, and comes out on Johnston Terrace, also a good Thai place a few doors down.
Come to think of it, I think we also ate in Maxies which had some nice beer and game on the menu.
NobeerinthefridgeFree MemberPosted 12 years agoLast time we were there, we did the Literary pub tour, starts in a pub called the beehive iirc in the grassmarket, well recommended!. Takes you round 4 or 5 good pubs, and up some of the vennels and wee hidden squares off the canongate, for some stories and history.
Ends up in the cafe royale, one of my fave pubs in the city.
cynic-alFree MemberPosted 12 years agoOh aye Cafe Royal is good if a bit “rugby”.
City Cafe is youth-cool, near-ish Villager/grassmarket.
andylFree MemberPosted 12 years agooh and yup the Botanic gardens are lovely. Good cake too IIRC.
Also the whisky tour next to the castle and the dungeons tour is supposed to be good.
yoshimiFull MemberPosted 12 years agoHoly crap, it’s clear 3 days just won’t be long enough!!! I’m loving all the bar recommendations, getting all excited about this now:))
maccruiskeenFull MemberPosted 12 years agoFor buying art most of the dealer / galleries are in Dundas St, but Edinburgh Printmakers Workshop is also worth a look
For looking at art, aside from the big National Galleries/ Museums (note the Portrait Gallery is close for refurb just now), the smaller contemporary galleries are clustered around the edge of Waverley Station (Fruitmarket, City Art Centre) and Cockburn St (Stills, Collective). Nip through the station and find your way out onto Carlton Road and the very lovely, and often overlooked, Ingleby Gallery is also worth a look
bigyinnFree MemberPosted 12 years agoI used to LOVE going into the Guildford Arms, set back off Priness street opposite the North British Hotel. Only pub I’ve ever been into with a revolving door!
maccruiskeenFull MemberPosted 12 years agoA revolving door? I’d never manage to leave, you wouldn’t even be able to throw me out 🙂
rickmeisterFull MemberPosted 12 years agoYoshimi… dont do so much in the day that the little lady is “spent” for the evening…..
user-removedFree MemberPosted 12 years agoAlso, lots of yoof-type pubs on Broughton Street (top of Leith Walk) and a couple of oldman boozers too but a good mix of folk in all.
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