We may not be out of the woods yet but there’s hope on the horizon, and with 2021 nearly upon us, we’re continuing our series of city guides with one of our favourite capitals—Edinburgh. Here's our guide on where to eat, drink, shop and stay in the Scottish capital.
Best coffee shops
Don’t miss Fortitude Coffee for their excellent flat whites and cinnamon buns—its York Pace outpost in the New Town is a stone’s throw from Harvey Nichols and there’s a venue in Stockbridge too. The Archipelago Bakery on Dundas Street is the perfect place to sit alongside the locals with the morning papers—their on-site bakery uses organic flour and local produce.
Calling itself ‘Edinburgh’s home for speciality coffee’, Brew Lab Coffee pumps out single-origin, speciality grade coffee. The team serves up brunch and lunch, and there's also a coffee store, so you can shop everything you need to brew your own at home.
Where to eat
The Witchery by the Castle is the place to book for dinner if you’re celebrating a special occasion. Timberyard near the Grassmarket sits in a beautifully converted warehouse with Scandi-inspired interiors, and serving fresh, seasonal produce.
The Bon Vivant in the New Town serves contemporary Scottish fare—arrive before dinner and make the most of the wooden-clad bar for a pre-dinner cocktail. If you’re staying in Leith, try The Little Chartroom.
Where to stay
Eden Locke is one of our favourite spots—an aparthotel near the castle in a beautiful Georgian building, with 72 instagrammable apartments. Dunstane Houses is an independent, family run hotel, set across two Victorian town houses across the road from each other. It's a beautiful spot—relaxed but luxurious, with contemporary, characterful interiors inspired by old-town Edinburgh and the owners’ Orcadian roots.
Possibly one of the most glamorous hotels we’ve ever seen in the best possible way, book in at 5-star Prestonfield House for a unique stay—opulent and theatrical and sitting in its own 20 acres of gardens, it doesn’t come much more indulgent than this.
Things to do
A trip to Edinburgh wouldn’t be complete without strolling the length of the Royal Mile, from the castle at the top down to the parliament at Holyrood. If the weather is in your favour, spend a morning walking up Arthur’s Seat—on a clear day you’ll be rewarded with an incredible view of the city and out over the Firth of Forth. Don’t miss The National Gallery of Scotland on the Mound in the city centre, and for a hidden view of the city, find the terrace at the National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street.
Where to shop
Curiouser and Curiouser on Broughton Street is packed with gifts, stationery and unique prints. Lifestory has a beautiful collection of Scandi-inspired products and locally made jewellery. And we can’t resist including independent cheesemonger I.J. Mellis for its huge variety of cheeses and charcuterie—you have been warned.
Ready to pack? Shop our collection of hand luggage or weekend holdalls.
