A Week in Edinburgh
Written by Shawna Law
If you find yourself blessed with a week to spend in Edinburgh, I've put together a seven-day itinerary to help you make the most of your visit!
9am: Breakfast at Loudons
Loudons New Waverley (2 Sibbald Walk) is known for its healthy, homemade dishes with plenty of gluten-free and vegan options. Its breakfast menu includes a full breakfast (vegetarian and vegan alternatives), hot-filled rolls, pancakes, eggs benedict and more.
10am: Explore the Royal Mile
The Royal Mile is made up of five streets which run through the heart of Old Town. It was coined the Royal Mile as it’s a ‘Scots mile’ long and connects Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Walking the full length of the Royal Mile and exploring its various...
12pm: Lunch at Clarinda's Tearoom
Clarinda’s Tearoom (69 Canongate) has been delighting visitors with its homemade scones, China teacups and lace tablecloths since 1976. Interestingly, the tearoom is named ‘Clarinda’ as a nod to one of Edinburgh’s love stories. Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns met Agnes (Nancy) McLehose and the pair began a secret love...
2pm: Visit One of Edinburgh’s Royal Residences
As we’ve mentioned, the Royal Mile is bookended by two royal residences. Edinburgh Castle sits at one end on top of Castle Rock and is one of the oldest fortified places in Europe and the most besieged place in Britain. Within the castle walls is a mix of museums, historic...
6pm: Dinner at Arcade Bar Haggis & Whisky House
The Arcade Bar (48 Cockburn Street) is the only Haggis & Whisky Pub in Edinburgh. If you’re visiting Scotland for the first time, you may be looking to try our national dish and enjoy a dram and the Arcade Bar has you covered with one hundred whiskies and various ways...
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9am: Breakfast at Söderberg The Meadows
Soderberg is a well-loved independent Edinburgh chain. Its Meadows branch (27 Simpson Loan) was the first to open and won over locals and students with its delicious array of authentic Swedish sandwiches, bread, pastries, and cakes. If you’re blessed with good weather, why not grab a to-go drink and pastry...
10am: National Museum of Scotland
You could easily spend a whole day at the National Museum of Scotland. Located on Chambers Street, the museum is spread out over eight floors with a large portion of the museum dedicated to taking you on a journey through Scotland’s fascinating history. There are also wonderful exhibitions for little...
12pm: Lunch at the Outsider
Sitting on George IV Bridge, the Outsider (15-16 George IV Bridge) is a popular bistro with wonderful views over to Edinburgh Castle. It’s known for its modern European cuisine using fresh, seasonal produce and offers an ever-changing selection of specials as well as a lunch menu which includes its popular...
1pm: Greyfriars Kirkyard
Greyfriars Kirk and Kirkyard have played an important part in Scottish history including being the site of the signing of the National Covenant in 1638. At the entrance to the Kirkyard, you’ll spot a bronze statue of the beloved Greyfriars Bobby and as you walk around the Kirkyard, you’ll spot...
3pm: Victoria Street and Grassmarket
The Grassmarket is a hub of hotels, small businesses and places to eat with marvellous views up to Edinburgh Castle. The area was once a market for Old Town with many drovers coming to sell their cattle. Today, the area continues to host a popular market featuring food and craft...
6pm: Dinner at Angels with Bagpipes
Located in a 16th-century building, Angels with Bagpipes (343 High Street) is an independent family restaurant. Since it opened in 2010, the restaurant has quickly become one of the best Scottish restaurants in the city offering visitors a modern Scottish seasonal menu using fresh ingredients from Scotland’s natural larder.
8am: Calton Hill
Let’s begin our day with a walk up Calton Hill. The hill is one of the smallest of the city’s seven hills, but it still offers some of the best views over the Capital and beyond. Look north for views over the Firth of Forth and Fife; you’ll spot another...
9am: Breakfast at Papii
Papii (101 Hanover Street) is a well-loved neighbourhood café that offers a range of scrumptious breakfast and brunch options. One of its specialities is its homemade buttermilk waffles that come with a range of topping options such as fresh strawberries & maple syrup and crispy bacon with maple syrup.
10am: The Georgian House
Completed in 1820, Charlotte Square was the climax of James Craig’s New Town plan. The National Trust for Scotland has beautifully restored no 7 Charlotte Square for visitors to discover what life in a typical, wealthy New Town home of the early 19th century would have looked like. The museum covers...
12pm: Lunch at Contini Scottish Cafe & Restaurant
Situated at Princes Street Gardens entrance of the Scottish National Gallery, Contini Scottish Cafe & Restaurant offers a seasonal a la carte, set lunch menu and all-day Scottish brunch menu which features ingredients from local suppliers and fresh produce from its one-acre Kitchen Garden on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
1pm: The Scottish National Gallery & Princes Street Gardens
After lunch, why not enjoy a wander through the Scottish National Gallery which showcases some of the greatest art in the world including a mixture of Botticelli, Rembrandt and Raphael, as well as covering the history of Scottish painting which includes Ramsay, Raeburn and Wilkie. Depending on how long you...
6pm: Head to Thistle Street for Dinner
Head along to Thistle Street which is home to a wonderful selection of places to dine including Dusit (49A Thistle Street), Cafe Marlayne (76 Thistle Street), Noto (47 Thistle Street), Fishers In The City (58 Thistle Street), and Cafe St Honorė (34 Thistle N W Lane).
9am: Breakfast at The Beach House
Sitting on the Promenade, The Beach House Café aims to provide simple, delicious, and, where possible, locally sourced food. Their breakfast offerings include seasonal porridge, pancakes with various toppings, “Porty Smash”, as well as a range of pastries.
10am: A Walk Along the Promenade
Portobello’s main feature is its beautiful, sandy beach and Promenade which stretches out for nearly two miles and boasts views across to Fife and North Berwick. For this reason, on sunny days, it’s a favourite among Edinburgh locals so it can get pretty crowded but with it comes a wonderful...
1pm: Lunch
Civerinos Slice (Portobello): Situated just a short stroll from the scenic Portobello beach, Civerinos Slice introduces a burst of Italian flair to Edinburgh's coastal district. Since its opening, this pizzeria has become a favourite for its hand-stretched, New York-inspired pizzas served by the slice. Boasting a vibrant atmosphere and a...
2pm: Explore Portobello’s High Street
Portobello is also known for its wonderful community spirit and independent shopping scene so why not take a stroll along Portobello High Street which has managed to retain some of its charming town centre traits with its local greengrocer (Root Down, 81 Portobello High Street), award-winning butcher (Findlays of Portobello,...
5pm: End the Day with a Chippy
For many, a trip to the seaside wouldn’t be complete without a chippy and where better to go than St Andrew’s Fish and Chip Shop (280-284 Portobello High Street) which has been open for over 100 years and has won various ‘Best Chippy’ Awards. As well as the traditional dishes...
9am: Breakfast at the Edinburgh Larder
The Edinburgh Larder (15 Blackfriars Street) is a hugely popular spot for breakfast and brunch and is a short walk from Holyrood Park. The café is aptly named as since it opened in 2009, it’s made a name for itself by serving delicious and seasonal food using local ingredients sourced...
10am: Walk through Holyrood Park to Duddingston
Make your way to Duddingston Low Road which skirts past Duddingston Loch, the largest of the three lochs within Holyrood Park, and onto Duddingston Village. Some of you may have spotted Henry Raeburn’s painting ‘The Skating Minister’ in the Scottish National Gallery yesterday which features the Reverend Robert Walker skating...
11am: Dr Neils’ Garden
Dr Neils’ Garden sits on the banks of Duddingston Loch and was created in 1963 by doctors Andrew and Nancy Neil. Along the way, the doctors had help from some of their patients and to this day the Garden is maintained with the help of a wonderful group of volunteers....
1pm: Lunch at Sheep Heid Inn
The Sheep Heid Inn is one of Scotland’s oldest surviving public houses. Despite being located in a small village, the Sheep Heid Inn has had a long history with royalty. Mary Queen of Scots was fond of stopping here and more recently, regulars at The Sheep Heid Inn were left...
2pm: Wander around the Village
Before we leave Duddingston, why not take a stroll through its quaint streets. Along the way you'll spot various lovely cottages, Georgian Villas, and keep an eye out for a house at 8 The Causeway with a plaque above its door reading:
“In this house on 19th September 1745, PRINCE CHARLES...
3pm: Explore Holyrood Park
As you head back to the city centre, there’s the option of climbing the extinct volcano Arthur’s Seat. This is a wonderful option if you’re visiting the city for the first time as you get the chance to climb Edinburgh’s iconic Arthur's Seat which boasts 360-degree views of the city.
6pm: Dinner at White Horse Oyster & Seafood Bar
Situated on the site of the oldest inn on the Royal Mile, White Horse Oyster & Seafood Bar (266 Canongate) offers a range of small plates, sides and sharing platters featuring the best of British seafood and shellfish.
9am: Breakfast at Cairngorm Coffee
Since it opened in 2016, Cairngorm Coffee (1 Melville Place) has become one of the West End’s most popular coffee shops. The bright and airy space is a lovely spot to start your day while enjoying their speciality coffee or loose-leaf teas with a pastry, bacon sarnie or avocado toast.
10am: Dean Village
Dean Village is one of Edinburgh’s oldest and most picturesque villages. Nestled in the valley of the Water of Leith, with Telford’s great bridge towering above, it was once home to several industries. Since its decline in industry, the leafy neighbourhood has become an attractive place to stay and has...
12pm: Lunch at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is a must-visit if you’re in the West End. The gallery is home to two cafes. Cafe Modern One opens out onto a stone terrace in the tranquil walled garden and serves a range of light lunch options using produce from their kitchen...
1pm: Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
The gallery is split between two grand buildings. Modern One houses a range of permanent exhibitions as well as an exciting programme of temporary art installations. Across the road from Modern One is Modern Two which is dedicated to showcasing the Gallery of Modern Art’s extensive collection of Dada and...
3pm: The Water of Leith Walkway
The Water of Leith Walkway is a popular pathway that runs alongside the Water of Leith from Balerno to the Shore in Leith. The river has played a key role in Edinburgh’s history, having powered over 76 mills in the late 1700s and provided a clean water supply for the...
5.30pm: Forage and Chatter
Forage and Chatter (1A Alva Street) is a lovely, cosy nook to end your day. The restaurant is tucked away on Alva Street and offers a menu featuring seasonal dishes made using Scotland's natural bounty and as its name suggests, a large percentage of it is foraged.
9am: Breakfast at The Pantry
Since it opened its doors in 2012, The Pantry (1 N W Circus Place) quickly won over locals with its seasonal, fresh dishes and is now a firm favourite brunch spot among many locals. It offers a breakfast menu till 11am as well as a delectable all day brunch menu...
10am: Circus Lane
It’s time to wander through one of Edinburgh’s most famous lanes, Circus Lane. Charming mews houses line each side of the lane which historically would have been stables and carriage houses with living quarters above them, commonly built behind large townhouses. As you wander through, you'll encounter a slight bend...
10.30am: St Stephen Street
St Stephen Street is known for its variety of independent stores including the beautiful independent bookshop, Golden Hare Books (68 St Stephen Street); popular lifestyle store, The Method (9 St Stephen Street); charming children’s bookshop, Ginger and Pickles (51 St Stephen Street); stylish vegan clothing store, Treen (2-4 St Stephen...
12pm: Lunch at Cowan & Sons
Cowan & Sons (33 Raeburn Place) is a long-running family café with plenty of character. The cafe offers various light lunch and brunch options including homemade soup, toasties and filled rolls.
1pm: Stockbridge’s High Street
The neighbourhood’s vibrant high street has a wide variety of independent shops, places to eat, and an impressive collection of charity shops. There are too many places to mention but a few to look out for are Caoba (56 Raeburn Place), a quirky shop specialising in Mexican crafts and decorations;...
3pm: Royal Botanic Gardens
Known locally as “The Botanics”, the Royal Botanic Gardens stretches out over 72 acres of magnificent scenic gardens which are divided into various segments including the Rock Garden, the Alpine Houses, Woodland Garden, the Chinese Hillside, the Rhododendron Collection and the Scottish Native Plants Collection in the Heath Garden. Furthermore,...
6pm: Dinner at Purslane
Tucked away on St Stephen Street, Purslane (33a St. Stephen Street) is run by head chef and owner Paul Gunning who has created a high-quality dining experience without the formality. For dinner, Purslane offers either a five or seven-course seasonal tasting menu paired with matching wines.
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