Moi’s Shortlist: Great local places to dine, visit and shop.
Great Vegetarian (and non-veg!) places to eat nearby
I'm vegetarian and Edinburgh is a great place to find a wide range of veggie eats. All are an easy stroll from the apartment.
Inventive menus and a relaxed atmosphere. More upmarket than many vegetarian eateries.
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David Bann Restaurant
56-58 St Mary's StInventive menus and a relaxed atmosphere. More upmarket than many vegetarian eateries.
This is a super choice for breakfast, lunch or brunch. It's not a veggie place but has a great choice of vegetarian and vegan eats.
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Loudons
94B FountainbridgeThis is a super choice for breakfast, lunch or brunch. It's not a veggie place but has a great choice of vegetarian and vegan eats.
This five star eatery is in the same block as the apartment and offers a veggie breakfast for under a tenner! The surroundings are sumptuous, and it's such a relaxing experience. Meat options too! Go back at night time and enjoy a cocktail and live music. Highly recommended.
Grand Cafe
20 North BridgeThis five star eatery is in the same block as the apartment and offers a veggie breakfast for under a tenner! The surroundings are sumptuous, and it's such a relaxing experience. Meat options too! Go back at night time and enjoy a cocktail and live music. Highly recommended.
We often have brunch at this Anglo-Indian eatery (although it's open for lunch and diner too). A quirky, eccentric and unusual menu offers a great veggie (and meat selection) in fabulous surroundings overlooking St Andrew Square. Get there early for Sunday brunch, as there are often queues outside!
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Dishoom Edinburgh
3a St Andrew SquareWe often have brunch at this Anglo-Indian eatery (although it's open for lunch and diner too). A quirky, eccentric and unusual menu offers a great veggie (and meat selection) in fabulous surroundings overlooking St Andrew Square. Get there early for Sunday brunch, as there are often queues outside!
Quirky places to shop!
I like to avoid the big High Street stores and to shop at little independent places. Here are my favourites.
This is a lovely gift shop just around the corner from the apartment. It's a great place to get quality items to take home - no nasty tourist tat there! They also sell a nice range of items made from recycled whisky barrels.
Time & Tide
48 High StThis is a lovely gift shop just around the corner from the apartment. It's a great place to get quality items to take home - no nasty tourist tat there! They also sell a nice range of items made from recycled whisky barrels.
Another local favourite with quirky and unusual objects and gifts. Even if you're not planning on buying, a visit to this shop is a great treat for the eyes! Definitely worth a visit - and I guarantee you won't leave empty handed!
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Museum Context
40 Victoria StAnother local favourite with quirky and unusual objects and gifts. Even if you're not planning on buying, a visit to this shop is a great treat for the eyes! Definitely worth a visit - and I guarantee you won't leave empty handed!
This is a good choice for cards and tasteful Scottish souvenirs. It's always popular with locals and visitors alike.
Eden
37 Cockburn StThis is a good choice for cards and tasteful Scottish souvenirs. It's always popular with locals and visitors alike.
Free museums!
If you're travelling on a budget, visit these free museums. They might not charge an entry fee, but they are fabulous places to visit - and all a short walk from the apartment.
This museum has an amazingly diverse collection of exhibits housed in a superb building of great architectural merit - and there's a nice cafe too. A super morning out for all the family.
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National Museum of Scotland
This museum has an amazingly diverse collection of exhibits housed in a superb building of great architectural merit - and there's a nice cafe too. A super morning out for all the family.
Aside from the wonderful portraits and special exhibitions, this gallery is housed in THE most beautiful Gothic Revival building. If you do nothing else, visit the amazing double-height atrium. The cafe is also lovely for tea and cake, or a tasty breakfast or lunch.
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Gallerija Nazzjonali ta 'Ritratti Scozzesi
1 Queen StAside from the wonderful portraits and special exhibitions, this gallery is housed in THE most beautiful Gothic Revival building. If you do nothing else, visit the amazing double-height atrium. The cafe is also lovely for tea and cake, or a tasty breakfast or lunch.
This is a real trip down memory lane! Find toys and games to remind you of childhood. Kids young and old will love it. My favourites are the dolls' houses. There are some real gems in the collection, including a number of very valuable dolls' houses.
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Mużew tal-Ħdud
42 High StThis is a real trip down memory lane! Find toys and games to remind you of childhood. Kids young and old will love it. My favourites are the dolls' houses. There are some real gems in the collection, including a number of very valuable dolls' houses.
This museum is all about money - you can even see £1,000,000 in cash! It's hugely more interesting that you might imagine, and can be seen in an hour or so. A nice way to spend a spare hour without spending a penny!
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Museum on the Mound
23 The MoundThis museum is all about money - you can even see £1,000,000 in cash! It's hugely more interesting that you might imagine, and can be seen in an hour or so. A nice way to spend a spare hour without spending a penny!
This gallery is - like most of Edinburgh's galleries and museums - housed in a beautiful building (in this case, classical). There is much to see, but check out the Phoebe Traquair tapestries. Beautiful!
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Royal Scottish Academy
The MoundThis gallery is - like most of Edinburgh's galleries and museums - housed in a beautiful building (in this case, classical). There is much to see, but check out the Phoebe Traquair tapestries. Beautiful!
Ever-changing and permanent exhibitions make this a firm favourite. If you've an hour or so to kill before catching your train home, this is a great choice as it's at the back of the railway station - and the Fruitmarket Gallery over the road is also worth a visit (and also free!)
34 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
City Art Centre
2 Market StEver-changing and permanent exhibitions make this a firm favourite. If you've an hour or so to kill before catching your train home, this is a great choice as it's at the back of the railway station - and the Fruitmarket Gallery over the road is also worth a visit (and also free!)
This photography museum hosts talks and events too - and it's just around the corner from the apartment!
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Tills
1 Hope Park CresThis photography museum hosts talks and events too - and it's just around the corner from the apartment!