Things to do and see in Edinburgh

Also anything that's fun to do, and cheap, because I'm still looking for a job. What's the nicest area of Edinburgh to just amble round,
for instance?

The Egg - If you take indie to mean The stooges, kings of leon, white stripes, sonic youth, stereolab, motorhead then it's indie. Great guitare based music only club I know of where you can guarantee hearing Teenage Riot every single week. £3 entry, as it's at the art school the drinks are maddeningly cheap. You'll need a student to sign you in first time you go, ask about a membership.

Record Shops
Fopp - Cockburn St. good on cheapness, dance, jazz, reggae, general leftfieldness and standard stuff. Cheapo books too.

Avalanche, many locations (lady Lawson st. teviot row, cockburn st) - used to be waaay important years ago when it was one of the first places in the uk to import flying nun stuff from NZ. Since then has dropped the ball a bit but is the place to go for 2nd hand / indie stuff.

Underground Solush'n - Cockburn St. THE place to go for hip hop, DNB, techno etc. etc. People who run it are intimately connected to the edinbrugh club scene - one of them runs Hip Hop night Scratch)

Book shops - start at the West Port (the street at the south west corner of the grassmarket). There's loads up that way. Also check out Word Power on lady Lawson St. for all your feminist, politcal, philosophy and right-on goodness. They organise a wicked independent book festival every year. check.

More on rambling, pubs and other stuff later after I've done some work. enjoy.

Dont believe people who tell you to get to glasgow you'll just get beaten up. i come from glasgow and live there again now, but i reckon edinburgh is much friendlier and more stimulating. in fact Edinburgh rocks!

I think my sister was telling me about the honeycomb...although I wasn't really listening so could be wrong. She lives here too but we don't have a lot in common as far as tastes in music go. She took me out to a mexican resturant the other night though, it was nice but not that cheap.

I'm very big on Leith at the moment -- the port is a wierd mish-mash of new yuppie flats and older council housing; the Links is the birthplace of golf (ok fair enough a reason to hate it). The Abbeyhill / Easter Road / bottom of Leith Walk zone is still vaguely affordable for young professionals, so must be newly cool.

Running all summer meant I discovered loads of nice bits -- good run down across Leith Links, along Seafield Road to Portobello (Edinburgh's seaside! It rocks in a concrete promenade, and slot machine kind of way) and then up round Arthur's Seat and back or on along the coast towards Musselburgh. (And then back).

Edinburgh is overburdened with cinemas at the moment. Support the Cameo, because it's always in danger, especially now the UGC at Fountain Bridge shows many of the same movies. Warner Village at the top of Leith Walk is shit, but the SterCentury at Ocean Terminal has amazing views (across the Forth and towards the hills).

Oh yeah -- Newhaven is nice, and some friends have just moved to Trinity which also looks pretty nice. The path alongside the Water of Leith is great because it gives you the feeling that all the bits of Edinburgh are connected in ways which you can't access by bus or main road.

Don't really know about clubs anymore I'm afraid, but any band nights promoted by SL records are usually worth going to.

I've realised that I need to get a hat and possibly some mittens if I'm going to be rambling around Edinburgh.

Current favourite restaurants: still Khushi's (now right beside Uni) for cheap and gorgeous curry, Room in The Town (Howe St.) for reasonable 'Scottish' cooking -- lots of fish.

2nd hand book shops: not as good as they should be, really.

Council-subsidised evening classes: great, and cheap.

Lothian buses. Pretty good, especially compared with Bristol where I lived last year, where the buses were shit.

That would involve some semblance of order from the Glaswegians and as we cant even manage to organize a FAP I don't think you have much to worry about!

I used to work for a hall of residence and the best bit about the job was the room that was completely full of pillows and duvets. We used to go in and just jump around on them, it was like swimming in a beautiful sea of duvet-ness.

http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/cityguide.cfm?vid=1774

As for that shopping centre, Ocean Terminal is the only place in Edinburgh where you can find branches of Bear Factory, Gadget Shop, Boredom Free Zone and Thomas Kinkade within easy distance of each other. Oh and one very, very good Chinese restaurant.

I think a glasgow FAP is impossible until someone arranges one and I cannot because.

My only plea: come to The Winchester Club. I would give me an excuse to play

St*p

Th*t

G*rl. Ho ho.

Actually how easy is it to get to Glasgow and back in a night? My friend's band are playing there on the 7th and I'd like to go, but I don't want to be stranded in Glasgow in the middle of the night. I hear it's cold.

Since I now work in Glasgow, which side of the FAP divide would I really be on?

and a medal.

Brass Monkey
Royal Oak
City Cafe

this is very funny.

I've been to the Royal Oak once but it was very late and i was very pissed so my recollections are a bit hazy.

The City Caff does lovely cooked breakfasts, don't think i've ever been there at night.

perhaps she just has one of those kinds of faces

(whatever that means)

the subsequent couple of times were ok too - sort of lackadaisical barman, but got served at least

last time, no less than 3 barmen stood there all ignoring us for about 10 seconds, no-one else waiting, then some cheeky wee twat with 'something about mary' type hair gel thing going on looks straight over my mate's shoulder and serves someone who has just walked in

A: 'was there any particular reason for that?'
Twunt-Barman: (smirking)'no, none at all mate'
A: 'so we'd be as well just fucking off right now then wouldn't we?'
Twunt-Barman: (laughs)

while this exchange is going on, i'm asked by a diff barman whether we're being served - but A has turned and walked out, so i have to follow...

i have no idea what the twunt's problem was

apart from the obvious

Can anyone recommend some record stores/cool shops/cafes/things to do in Edinburgh (that are definitely still in operation - this thread's pretty old school!)... I have a 4 day work trip coming up.... thank you!

Avalanche records on Cockburn Street, on the corner just up the steps from the station.

this book/record/t-shirt/print shop is great

http://www.analoguebooks.co.uk/

I don't know where in town you're going to be based but I would say that you want to venture away from Princes Street as much as you can.

Edinburgh's one of those cities that's compact enough (well the centre anyway) that walking is probably the best option if it's not totally pouring down with rain. You'll get a better sense of the place and come across more interesting stuff if you do that.

Thanks a lot, guys. I am staying at a fancy pants Sheraton across from the Castle, as I understand it. It looks like the book shop and Avalanche are both within walking distance. Any good places to eat?

The same request, but five and a half years later. Record stores (since I've been here, I went to one called "Unknown Pleasures" and found a couple 90s punk LPs I was excited about, but haven't seen other shops)? Any interesting restaurants? It's Fringe time, so it's madness everywhere, but anything you can recommend for someone here for a couple more weeks would be much appreciated...

classic thred

I haven't been up in six months but I've heard good things about the Potting Shed on Potterrow (site of the former Native State). It's run by the people behind the fantastic Sun Inn in Dalkeith (which in itself is more than worth a visit if you don't mind heading half an hour outside of the city) but is a bit more bar-food focused, and supposedly quite good value. Beer from Meantime/Camden/the like.

I'm also dead fond of Blonde on St Leonards (over the road and up a wee bit from the pleasance). Not too pricey, really good food.

I'm way out of the loop on record shops, but I used to like Elvis Shakespeare on Leith Walk (if it's still there..!)

Thanks for those.

To follow up with my own discoveries from wandering the city on the record shop front, a place with the horrible name Underground Solu'shn is a really nice little indie shop with mostly new vinyl, but along the lines I'm into (weird re-issues / Light in the Attic, Numero, that kind of thing). That's on Cockburn Street right off the Royal Mile. I thought Avalanche was kind of a mess. I know people like that kind of digging (huge stacks everywhere, most things beat to hell (probably from after arriving in the shop), little organization), but I just get kind of overwhelmed and couldn't find anything, really. Some stuff seemed a bit expensive or was in boxes saying "just ask," which is weird.
I don't know how far I am from Leith Walk, but I'll see if I can find Elvis Shakespeare.

Thanks again!

I didn't realise underground solushn was good for sounds of the universe-type stuff. Will defo go in next time I'm there! I've never been a massive fan of avalanche for the reasons you say, and because the owner seems to spend his life martyring himself on twitter about how they're the last independent record shop on earth and we should be lucky they let us in at all. (I'm probably being unfair here..)

If you're up for a while, Glasgow has always been way better for buying music. IIRC ilxor Krakow can suggest places to go.

Leith Walk runs almost to the centre of town - if you know where the John Lewis behind the east end of Princes Street is, it's basically just down a bit and on the other side of the roundabout. It's a long road so Leith itself is a bit further out, but if you want some respite from people on stilts throwing flyers at you it's a nice place to go. Lots of really nice pubs and restaurants around the shore. I'm sure it's changed a lot even in the past year but if I was eating down there I'd go to the King's Wark or Fishers.

Hope you have fun!

Avalanche would have been my suggestion, and Vinyl Villains on elm row - cant remember the last time I was in there though. What part of Edinburgh is 'local' to you while you're here?
If you already know Cockburn Street, there's a great Mexican place - Viva Mexico that I'd recommend for food (was in there last Friday and it wasn't crazy busy in spite of the festival). Also, Chez Jules if you want some decent, cheap ish French food. Can never remember what street that's on, possibly Hanover street? One of those ones that run parallel to each other off princes street anyway.

Oh and, yeah, as above you can't go too far wrong down the shore in leith. Lots of good bars and restaurants. Bar wise I'd recommend The Vintage, and Sophie's. dunno what the food's like in those though.

Ate at Viva Mexico yesterday - thanks! I'm sort of right in the middle of the Royal Mile (I'm here for the Fringe for one more week, though mercifully not walking on stilts, flyering). I'm hoping I'll get a long morning off to go Leith - I appreciate all the tips.

what should we take care not to miss (on vacation with an 8yo)?

My daughter was just there for a few days, visiting my sister. She recommends all the stuff that inspired Harry Potter! Cafes, alleys. etc. And there's a castle or something to see, but she says don't take the tour, take the ... go to see the war memorial, and that gives you access to the castle? Also, she hiked up Arthur's Peak and said it was pretty.

Bump

what should we take care not to miss (on vacation with an 8yo)?

LOL. I'd say boozers, but I don't know if your 8 year old drinks.

Mary Kings Close is a good tour if you are or are accompanying an 8 year old who is not easily spooked.

bizarro otm

Sculpture park and gallery Jupiter Artland on the outskirts of Edinburgh is an absolute must.

https://culturenl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/jupiter-artland.jpg

https://www.jupiterartland.org/

I wouldn't book in advance, I'd just wait for the nicest day of your visit.

Thank you!

Will be staying there for four days starting tomorrow. Any good recommendations for a nice bite to eat on Thurs or Fri? We're staying near the castle/Fountainbridge.

(Jupiter Art Land looks pretty neat but it's closed!)

Any good recommendations for a nice bite to eat on Thurs or Fri?.

otm

scran & scallie is alright. don't know if you'd have to book
https://scranandscallie.com

timberyard is alright too but can be fussy & pricey

https://www.timberyard.co
https://brossbagels.com
http://www.marysmilkbar.com

Glasgow, aye.. Nae this time.

Scran & Scallie looks really nice, thanks! (reservations through the website looks easy enough)

xp

Thanks!

The Gardener's Cottage has my favourite tasting menu in the city - https://www.thegardenerscottage.co/ - real local focus on ingredients.

Pizzeria 1926 - cheap but by far my favourite Edinburgh pizza joint - Neapolitan-style with excellent flavour combinations.

Pera - not quite haute cuisine but perfect if you're super hungry for delectable selections of Turkish food served by a gent.

I should note Pera is also BYOB with £2.50 corkage which may have influenced why I am so fond of it.

Ohh, Gardener's Cottage certainly looks the part! Jotted down these suggestions with some fierce, thanks all!

this place was great when I visited http://educatedflea.co.uk/

Scran & Scallie, Gardener's Cottage and Educated Flea are all 1.5 miles away from my hotel, which is a pretty perfect walking distance to and fro if you ask me!

Had a great time. We ended up eating somewhere else, but we did stumble upon the Brauhaus, a small but cosy pub with a staggering selection of around 300 beers. Recommended!

Brauhaus looks great. Excellent to see some quality cider options on the list too.

For those in Edinburgh with kids, someone I know just wrote this, which could be a handy compendium of ideas, both well-known and otherwise : https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/oct/22/city-breaks-with-kids-edinburgh-family-trip-museum-beach