Dayna McAlpine

If you’re after a quaint, picture-postcard alternative to gritty, cosmopolitan Glasgow, you’re in the right place. The city of Edinburgh is a trusted destination for enchanting strolls, whether you're walking among the elaborate medieval attractions or through the scenic natural sights of Arthur's Seat or Holyrood Park. Your adventures could even lead you to a street or landmark that inspired the Harry Potter books – not something that can be said about many cities. Apart from being visually stunning, it's a hotspot for nighttime revellers thanks to the colourful array of bars, music venues and restaurants that bring its historic streets to life.  The arts and cultural scene is celebrated through a variety of events throughout the year, the most notable being Edinburgh Fringe – the world's largest performance arts festival that attract visitors from all across the globe.  Many hotels live up to the Scottish capital’s history and innate sense of drama. There are some in gothic buildings, some stuffed with antiques, and others with rooms boasting views to swoon over. To help you find the perfect base, here’s our pick of the absolute best hotels in Edinburgh.  RECOMMENDED:🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The best Airbnbs in Edinburgh🏘️ Where to stay in Edinburgh🍻 Get out and about in Edinburgh💰 The best cheap hotels in Edinburgh Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial rev

Edinburgh’s food scene is thriving. Attracting some of the best chefs in the country, brand-new ventures are popping up all the time; for our summer 2024 update, small plates spot Eleanore has been crowned our number one, followed closely by Heron in second, which retained its Michelin star in 2024. But it’s not just exciting newbies on our list. Here you’ll find everything from old classics to neighbourhood joints, from super-fresh seafood and gorgeous local produce to daring twists on international flavours and innovative plant-based dining. Hungry? Us too. Whatever you’re craving, here are the best restaurants in Edinburgh right now.  RECOMMENDED: 🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Edinburgh🥑 The best brunch in Edinburgh🥪 The best cheap eats in Edinburgh📍 The best things to do in Edinburgh🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Where to stay in Edinburgh This guide was last updated by Time Out’s features editor Chiara Wilkinson, who is from Edinburgh. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

You can’t help but want to treat yourself when you’re in Edinburgh. This city is dripping with grandeur, filled with top-notch restaurants and magnificent castles, and pretty much everywhere you go feels fit for royalty.  So why not round the weekend off with one of the most indulgent activities there is? And by that we mean, of course, afternoon tea. And unsurprisingly, Auld Reekie boasts a whole number of brilliant spots for it. From croissants and caviar to scones, cream and jam, here are the best afternoon teas in the city. Thank us later.  RECOMMENDED: 🥐 The best brunch in Edinburgh🍝 The best restaurants in Edinburgh🥂 The very best bars in Edinburgh🏨 The best hotels in Edinburgh This guide was recently updated by Dayna McAlpine, a writer based in Edinburgh. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Edinburgh can get a little pricey (especially once you’ve added up the restaurant reservation and the hotel stay), but that doesn’t mean there aren’t affordable food options here. You just need a bit of local knowledge.  And that’s exactly what we’ve got right here. On our list you’ll find £4.50 pizza slices bigger than your head, burritos for under a tenner and a cult pie shop for a post-clubbing fix (and plenty, plenty more). Ready to feast? Here are the best cheap eats in Edinburgh, right now. RECOMMENDED:🥞 The best brunches in Edinburgh📍 The best things to do in Edinburgh🍰 The best afternoon tea in Edinburgh🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Where to stay in Edinburgh This guide was recently updated by Dayna McAlpine, a writer based in Edinburgh. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.   

Sure, you’re in Edinburgh to climb Arthur’s Seat and have the time of your life at Edinburgh Fringe, but do you know what you’ll need for all that mooching? A delectable cup of coffee. And possibly a baked good, too. Luckily for you, the Scottish capital takes its coffee seriously. Over the years Edinburgh has become home to a glorious collection of speciality cafés serving up heavenly flat whites, cinnamon buns and a whole lot of people watching. Whatever corner of Edinburgh you find yourself in, here are the best cafés in the city.  RECOMMENDED:🥞 The best brunches in Edinburgh🍴 The best restaurants in Edinburgh📍 The best things to do in Edinburgh🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Where to stay in Edinburgh🏨 The best hotels in Edinburgh This guide was recently updated by Dayna McAlpine, a writer based in Edinburgh. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Edinburgh’s restaurants are up there with the best in the UK, so it’s no surprise that its breakfast and brunching scene is pretty perfect too. Seriously hungover, a little peckish or just starving from all the fun at the Fringe, Edinburgh has you covered.  Here you’ll find everything from nutrient-packed granola bowls to a whole menu dedicated to eggs benny, and a full Mexican taco brunch thrown in there for good measure. If you fancy it, Edinburgh’s got it. Trust us on that one. Here are the best brunch spots in the city.  RECOMMENDED:🏘️ Where to stay in Edinburgh🥙 The best cheap eats in Edinburgh🏨 The best hotels in Edinburgh📍 The best things to do in Edinburgh This guide was recently updated by Dayna McAlpine, a writer based in Edinburgh. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Here for the Fringe or just for a holiday, Edinburgh is alive all summer long with good vibes, great food and some seriously good drinks. And if it’s raining? Hey, even better.  As well as its cracking pubs and bars, this is a city that is home to a number of specialist cocktail dens for when you’re feeling a little fancy. From small, hidden speakeasies to an all-new bar dedicated to only rum, you’ll never go thirsty in Scotland’s capital. Here are the best cocktail bars in Edinburgh.  RECOMMENDED:🏘️ Where to stay in Edinburgh🍝  The best restaurants in Edinburgh🏨 The best hotels in Edinburgh📍 The best things to do in Edinburgh This guide was recently updated by Dayna McAlpine, a writer based in Edinburgh. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Edinburgh has plenty of cracking pubs to warm up in. From fancy booxzers with 350 beers to choose from to low-key local hangs with excellent live music, this city boasts an abundance of cherished traditional boozers and ever-emerging new establisments. So, whether it be a casual catch-up, a sophisticated date night or an all-out celebration, there’s a boozer here for you.  Plus, there’s more to a good pub than just it’s liquid offerings. Our carefully curated selection features venues with intriguing histories, warm and knowledgable staff, charming beer gardens, cult film screenings and live traditional Scottish music.  So, ready to decide your destination for the evening? Our list of Edinburgh’s best pubs should have you covered. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best bars in Edinburgh This guide was last updated by Time Out’s features editor Chiara Wilkinson, who is originally from Edinburgh. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

The Kimpton Charlotte Square makes it really damn hard to leave your hotel when visiting Edinburgh. Housing two of the capital’s best restaurants and boasting a seriously chic spa and swimming pool offering, it’s easy to forget there’s anything outside the Georgian walls of the West End hotel.  The Kimpton’s whopping 199 rooms pay homage to its Scottish setting, with kitsch drawings of local wildlife adorning the muted plaid walls, with tartan soft furnishings aplenty. But before you think this all sounds a bit stuffy – you’re wrong. Expect leafy green plants, tweed covered record players and radios, bright red telephones, hidden coffee machines and velvet touches – oh and, you know, huge TV screens perfectly watched from big, fluffy beds made up of handmade mattresses (best enjoyed with a room service cocktail in hand). Their staff, meanwhile, somehow manage to do it all – being chatty while professional, funny while serious about top service and every member comes armed with an endless list of Edinburgh recommendations.  Spread across seven traditional Georgian houses, The Kimpton has plenty of space for its food and drink offerings – but be warned, these spots are so popular that guests will find themselves battling it out against locals for a seat. Aizle is Edinburgh’s famed fine dining restaurant (no, really, it’s recommended by the Michelin Guide) from chef Stuart Ralston, which showcases an ever-evolving menu of local produce. Baba is a more casual affair, offering rus

What’s the vibe?  The Spence at Gleneagles Townhouse is an all-day restaurant based within a luxury five-star hotel offering (yes, it’s the sister hotel of that famous Gleneagles). The property was a bank for over 200 years so the interiors are quite the thing to behold – think glass domed ceilings, ornate cornicing, stone columns, ornamental gold details, original vaults and floor tiles, all encompassed by gorgeous soft pastels.  And the afternoon tea? Forget your boring run of the mill wee finger sandwiches when it comes to this seriously decadent line-up. Curated by Head Pastry Chef Renato Blinder, this tiered offering boasts inventive savoury delights like wild mushroom cappuccino and west coast crab crumpets. For those of you with a sweet tooth, there's also bitter chocolate and apricot gateaux and scones with Cornish clotted cream and Glen & Co strawberry and champagne jam (because what is an afternoon tea without scones after all?). All of this and more comes paired with loose-leaf teas, coffee, or a glass of Veuve Clicquot, darling.  How much is it? Afternoon tea at The Spence starts at £60pp – but with ten intricate items on your stand, we're not arguing. Upgrade it with a glass of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label NV and you're looking at £75pp.  Should I book in advance?  Afternoon tea at The Spence can only be enjoyed if you book in advance – perfection takes time after all. All bookings require 48 hours notice.  What is there to do nearby?  Satiated now that you’ve had

What’s the vibe?  With its army of loyal brunch-demolishing customers, it’s easy to see why Loudons is one of Edinburgh’s must-visit brunch spots – airy, relaxed and always buzzing, this is the perfect spot for a post-night-out debrief, a business breakfast or a peaceful solo date. As for the food? Every Edinburgher worth their salt knows Loudons equals eggs benedict or pancakes – there’s an entire section dedicated to both on the menu.  What are the prices like?  You’re probably looking at a respectable £35 for two for brunch (two main dishes and two coffees) – but Loudon’s don’t scrimp on portion sizes. If you fancy something lighter (porridge, granola and the likes), prices drop to about £7 per dish.  What should I order?  Sure, Loudons do a cracking full breakfast and banging toasts topped with all manners of toppings, but real ones know it’s got to be pancakes or eggs benedict at this Edinburgh institution. The Pina Colada pancakes come coated with rum and pineapple compote (which in our opinion counts as a hair of the dog), golden syrup, whipped cream and toasted coconut. The eggs benedict menu is equally as lavish, but the best without a doubt is cajun beef brisket.  What’s worth visiting nearby?  Dining at Loudon’s New Waverley venue leaves you smack bang in the middle of Edinburgh’s city centre – the most difficult decision is whether to venture into the winding cobbled streets of the Old Town and head towards the castle or go to the endless chic shops of the New Tow

What’s the vibe?  Located on Edinburgh’s bustling Leith Walk (a haven of indie businesses), Chorrito often has a queue of hungry locals lingering around in the hopes of bagging a seat at its counter. Tables you ask? There’s just the one. Owners Dan Bentlett and Dawn Freeman dish out brunches and dinners of breakfast tacos, quesadillas and chilaquiles – all served up with their own brand hot sauces.  What are the prices like?  Brunch dishes range from a very reasonable £4.95 to £9.95 for a larger plate. When it comes to how much a meal at Chorrito sets you back, it's all about how much self-control you can express. Many a diner has gone in hellbent on having just one large plate, but caved at the need to order a smaller plate of tacos or quesadillas as everything is so damn delicious. We don’t judge.  What should I order?  Take a friend and eat your way through the menu as much as you can. Chorritio’s menu does change every now and then but everything rotates around classic Mexican staples. Make sure to wash it all down with a margarita and buy a bottle of hot sauce to take home – you won’t regret it.  What’s worth visiting nearby?  We’ve previously named Leith one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world so there’s no shortage of things to do before or after eating an alarming amount of Mexican food. Head to the Depot for a gig, New Barns taproom for a pint and billiards or stroll the famous Water of Leith. 📍 More stops to make on Leith Walk📍 Discover the best things to d