Your Guide to Edinburgh Shopping, Restaurants & Businesses
Discover Edinburgh
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Reviews about Edinburgh
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Edinburgh Neighborhoods
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Discover Edinburgh: Shops, Restaurants & Highlights
Edinburgh, the city of seven hills, boasts gothic architecture, a busy nightlife, world-class restaurants, and historic buildings. Winding shop-filled lanes and cobbled alleys give way to a modern high street, the parliament building at the bottom of the Royal Mile, and the castle on the hill. With so many attractions and history, one trip is never enough.
From boutiques and tourist shops to high-street names and designer stores, Edinburgh’s sprawling shopping scene offers vintage and quirky goods as well as luxury goods.
Mainstream Shopping
Princes Street is the city's main high street, offering well-known brands and department stores. Opposite the train station and on the tram route, it is where tourists and locals go for a familiar shopping experience.
Luxury Shopping
For designer stores and high-end shops, St. Andrew Square, next to St. Andrew Square Gardens, is a compact area for up-market retail therapy.
Boutique Shops
There are boutique shops on The Royal Mile and Grassmarket, but head to Stephen Street for vintage stores and quirky shopping.
Shopping Centers & Retail Parks
Straight off the train, the Waverly Market is a small shopping centre in the station with a good selection of small stores. Across the road from the station, St James’s Quarter is a bigger, galleria-style shopping centre with high-street brands and restaurants, which is popular with locals and tourists. At the Port of Leith, the Ocean Terminal houses gift shops and well-known stores in a bright mall serving tourists straight off ships and local residents.
From fine dining to fast food and takeaways, Edinburgh has everything a foodie could want, plus lots of options for those wanting a quick bite. Restaurants get busy during the high season and on weekends, but the choice of cuisine and budgets is wide and eclectic.
Traditional Cuisine
The Old Town is where you’ll find traditional Scottish food, from haggis in whisky sauce to old-fashioned bar meals.
High-End Dining
Fine dining spots can be found on the Royal Mile and at the top of Princes Street, where guests can enjoy Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury foodie experiences.
Casual or Trendy Spots
The Cowgate, off the Royal Mile, was once a rough part of town. It has been rejuvenated and is now a trendy area where takeaways and bagel shops sit beside craft beer pubs.
Food Markets
While the Farmer’s Market is in the city centre, a more diverse food market can be found in the Stocksbridge district. Pitt Market in Granton is another foodie favorite.
This historic city has many ancient and intriguing attractions.
- Edinburgh Castle: Seen from all over the city and found at the top of Castle Hill.
- Palace of Holyrood: The royal residence in Edinburgh, opposite the parliament building at the bottom of the Royal Mile.
- Museum of Scotland: A vast museum on Chambers Street in the Old Town with free entry.
- Arthur’s Seat: This hill forms the backdrop to the city and offers a moderate walk up to the top for incredible views.
This city has multiple popular neighborhoods for both locals and tourists.
- Old Town: Dominated by the castle on the hill, this old part of the city has cobbled streets, historic churches, and multiple local shops. Traditional pubs and independent cafes offer a place to relex from your stroll in the neigborhood.
- Haymarket: A trendy area with boutique hotels, a high street of small shops, and a magnificent cathedral.
- Portobello: The perfect area for a lazy Sunday by the beach, you’ll find a laid-back atmosphere and beachfront cafes and bars here.
- Leith: Once a run-down area of town, this port neighbourhood has been rejuvenated and now features artisan bakeries and boutique restaurants.
- Stockbridge: Close to the Botanical Gardens, this quiet area of town offers a local’s eye on the city, with Georgian architecture and relaxing walks by the river.
Public Transport: Apart from the much-maligned tram system, which only goes from the train station to the airport, public transport is good in Edinburgh. The bus service can take you all over the city. In addition there are Train stations in most major neighbourhoods.
Driving Directions: The A1 travels up the coast to Edinburgh and is a scenic drive with viewpoints along the way. Once in the city, it’s easy to drive around. There is some congestion on weekends and during high season, but it’s a driveable city.
Walking/Cycling: Edinburgh is great for exploring on foot and by bike, but be warned: Some of the hills are very steep and can be taxing for anyone with mobility issues. The city center is compact, and it’s easy to walk or cycle from the Old Town to the New Town, with some shortcuts and accessible bridges.
For a capital city, parking in Edinburgh is easy and not too expensive. St James’s Quarter is a great place to park, close to shops with direct access to the shopping centre, while over in the Old Town, the NCP at Holyrood is ideal.
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