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Edinburgh recommendations

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  • Fletche 1 Nov 2010 15:08:22 3,418 posts
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    Will be going to Edinburgh for a long weekend in a few weeks so just wondering if there is anything I must see or must do whilst we are up there (Myself and Mrs Fletche) oh and any nice restaurant recommendations would be good as it will be our anniversary so have to make an effort :o)
  • darkmorgado 1 Nov 2010 15:09:06 22,572 posts
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    Well I hear that heroin is a cumpolsory activity

    *opens the racist door*

    Now with 80% more Cthulhu!

  • Alastair 1 Nov 2010 15:14:05 11,973 posts
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    If the weather is nice/clear, go up Arthur's Seat for a tremendous view over the city and across the Firth of Forth.

    Depends what you're interested in really. Plenty of historical things to see. The Castle is one end of the Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace at the other. Tons of good pubs.
    No idea on restaurants as I was there as a student so didn't really eat out.

    Not as nice as I used to be

  • dr_swin 1 Nov 2010 15:26:46 4,674 posts
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    The outsider on george the 4th bridge is a really nice restaurant. Tiger lilly on george street is lovely for just going and hanging out during the day with a bottle of wine.
    I had a lovely lunch in Newington at a place called Heller's kitchen.

    The botanical gardens is a nice place to go for a walk.
    As Alastair said the walk up Arthur's seat is great too.

    The national museum of scotland is impressive and free.

    Or perhaps a trip to Edinburgh Zoo to see the penguins.

    The national gallery is hard to miss on princes street.
  • CosmicFuzz 1 Nov 2010 15:32:56 18,817 posts
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    Lots of nice things to do here. Arthur's Seat as mentioned will have some nice views if the weather permits. Can go for a nice walk up the Royal Mile - links Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament (in all it's hideous glory) to the Castle at the top. Obviously you can then spend time at either end, by the Castle there's a nice whisky shop that gives you a tour of the history and production (and possibly a free sample at the end!) if you're into that.

    Unfortunately the weather will almost certainly be shit (it is today) which rules out a bunch if stuff such as Princes Street Gardens etc. Lots of shopping nearby though.

    Restaurant wise, there's loads to pick. The Outsider is really nice, and George Street (and all the roads off it) will have loads of nice Italian or French bistro/restaurants that do great lunch menus, three courses for 12-pound etc. I personally recommend La Laterna, it's a lovely Italian and the owner is really nice too.
  • Alastair 1 Nov 2010 15:33:36 11,973 posts
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    There's a great vodka bar on George IV bridge. You could attempt the Rose St run.

    I think, while Leith had a bad reputation when dr_swin and I were at uni (not together though!), it has smartened itself up and may well have some nice eateries.

    Have you checked to see the dates of the autumn internationals? You could go to Murrayfield to watch some rugger.

    Not as nice as I used to be

  • Alastair 1 Nov 2010 15:34:42 11,973 posts
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    Oh, and if you're a Rebus fan you could go to the Oxford Bar. Erm, it's in the New Town somewhere...

    Not as nice as I used to be

  • Alastair 1 Nov 2010 15:35:17 11,973 posts
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    We also did a field trip to the sewage works. I recommend that you *don't* go there!

    Not as nice as I used to be

  • CosmicFuzz 1 Nov 2010 15:36:47 18,817 posts
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    Ya, the vodka bar is Bar Kole, have literally hundreds of different stuff to try. Nice cocktails too. Tigerlily does indeed do nice food and drink, but pricey! Le Monde on George Street does good food and drink too.

    Leith, unfortunately, is still a bit of a shithole, especially now the tram work has blown through it (although the worst is thankfully over). La Favourite is down there though which is nice. Plus, hookers!
  • CosmicFuzz 1 Nov 2010 15:37:27 18,817 posts
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    Oh, and The Elephant House on George IV Bridge is where JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter if you're into that. Does quite nice lunches, soups and stews etc.
  • markh 1 Nov 2010 15:45:59 3,596 posts
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    Camera Obscura is a good museum full of optical illusions and the camera obscura (obviously!).

    Restarants I've been to there and enjoyed are David Bann and Tang's both of which can be Googled to find out more :)

    And to get in the missus' good books take her to Chocolate Soup which is basically a chocolate café, although it does do normal meals too :)
  • Alastair 1 Nov 2010 15:50:49 11,973 posts
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    CosmicFuzz wrote:
    Ya, the vodka bar is Bar Kole, have literally hundreds of different stuff to try.
    That's the place - been there for years.
    Leith, unfortunately, is still a bit of a shithole, ...... Plus, hookers!
    This is all I knew about Leith, and hence avoided it as a young, impressionable student.

    Not as nice as I used to be

  • Fletche 1 Nov 2010 15:53:19 3,418 posts
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    Excellent, thanks guys. Arthurs Seat sounds great as does the vodka bar, we havd already planned to see the castle and zoo (weather permitting)

    Camera Obscura sounds great, my kind of thing (although this probably will mean a promised trip to Chocolate Soup afterwards).
  • dr_swin 1 Nov 2010 15:54:26 4,674 posts
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    I thought she wrote it in Nicholson's cafe opposite the festival theatre on the first floor. Maybe she did both.
  • CosmicFuzz 1 Nov 2010 15:55:21 18,817 posts
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    dr_swin wrote:
    I thought she wrote it in Nicholson's cafe opposite the festival theatre on the first floor. Maybe she did both.

    Dirty slut!
  • Alastair 1 Nov 2010 16:12:55 11,973 posts
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    Fletche wrote:
    Camera Obscura sounds great, my kind of thing (although this probably will mean a promised trip to Chocolate Soup afterwards).
    I took my missus to the Camera Obscura and she liked it. It's up towards the Castle.

    Don't know how you're travelling about, but the zoo is in Corstorphine. You'll be able to get a bus from Princes St or Haymarket (can't remember what number, maybe 23).

    You should go to at least one pub on the Grassmarket. And go down the Cowgate as well.

    Not as nice as I used to be

  • pinebear 1 Nov 2010 16:16:41 8,555 posts
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    After you've beaten Arthur's Seat, you might like to consider eating and drinking at one of these fine establishments:
    The Sheep's Heid, Duddingston - Hearty and warming pub grub. Excellent choice of beers. Has a skittles alley.
    Blonde, 71/75 St Leonards Street - Scottish & European food. Very good and at a reasonable price.
    Kismot, 29 St Leonards Street - A very hospitable welcome and great Indian & Bangladeshi food. It's BYOB - if you want to do so, there's the Great Grog Co a few steps down the road, or Peckham's round the corner on South Clerk St which is open until later.

    And for an evening meal I can't recommend Maxies Bistro (5b Johnston Terrace) highly enough. One of the owners used to run five star restaurants but wanted to start up something with a (much) friendlier atmosphere. So, top quality food without the prices and a warm welcome. Scenic as well, right near the castle. It's near the Grassmarket and Cowgate too.

    Of course, if you want to splash the cash then there are plenty of places along or just off George Street, including Oloroso's rooftop restaurant. Cheaper if you just go for coffee and a snack though ;)

    ツ

  • MrDigital 1 Nov 2010 16:21:24 1,657 posts
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    Niddrie area is lovely around this time of the year.
  • markh 1 Nov 2010 16:23:40 3,596 posts
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    pinebear wrote:
    ... or Peckham's round the corner on South Clerk St which is open until later..
    That's across the road from my brother's flat! Really nice deli and an excellent selection of beers! Never tried the food from the restaurant there though.
  • Nexus_6 1 Nov 2010 16:24:24 3,506 posts
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    Take a tour of the Parliament and see a wonderful modern building inside and out.
  • Alastair 1 Nov 2010 16:24:36 11,973 posts
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    Oh, and when you go to Arthur's Seat, don't make the mistake of just walking up and across the Salisbury Crags, like I did the first time I tried to walk up there!

    Not as nice as I used to be

  • asphaltcowboy 1 Nov 2010 16:26:11 5,099 posts
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    Leith is meant to be quite up and coming. I've heard there are quite a lot of nice bars and restaurants up there now. It's the connecting link between town and Leith, Leith Walk that's horrible!

    I can recommend Hanams restaurant near George IV bridge is nice if you fancy some Middle Eastern food (it's actually right next to Maxie's restaurant that pinebear mentioned). As others have said, the walk up Arthur's Seat is lovely!
  • Alastair 1 Nov 2010 16:35:58 11,973 posts
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    In summary, Edinburgh is great and I am jealous of your trip there. Not been there since my stag do, approx 8 years ago. :o(

    Not as nice as I used to be

  • Fletche 1 Nov 2010 16:48:46 3,418 posts
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    We like to walk just hope we get at least one days dry weather so we can do Arthurs Seat, don't mind the cold plus I still have my cold weather clothes from our trip to Prague ealier on in the year.

    Like the look of The Sheep's Heid, well, I like the sound of excellent choice of beers anyway, also, I think the Christmas Market is starting up when we are up there, can't wait
  • santabakingapie 1 Nov 2010 17:07:28 353 posts
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    edinburgh recommendations. don't go. #glaswegian
  • Goban 1 Nov 2010 17:12:46 8,932 posts
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    If your wandering around George IV/Grass Market/Caste area one of the best pubs in town is located on one of the prettiest streetsThe Bow Bar.
  • Alastair 1 Nov 2010 17:15:53 11,973 posts
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    santabakingapie wrote:
    edinburgh recommendations. don't go. #glaswegian
    Boooo!

    /shuns weegie bast!

    Not as nice as I used to be

  • Alastair 1 Nov 2010 17:19:04 11,973 posts
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    Maggie Dickson's was my favourite pub, back in the day.
    Met a very fit law student in there, and spent many a happy Wednesday night bopping in Century 2000.
    :o)

    Not as nice as I used to be

  • Goban 1 Nov 2010 17:22:30 8,932 posts
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    Century 2000, you slapper ;)

    None of the Grass Market pubs are very good, unless of course you like hanging around with bladdered people on stag/hen doos.

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