I finally got to visit Edinburgh! I was really smitten with this city and I really can’t wait to go back. Here’s what I got into while I was there for a few days before heading to London. Let’s go!
Edinburgh Attractions
Edinburgh is full of things to see. The city has a vibe all just from the architecture! The stone buildings, cobblestone roads, chimney smoke, and double decker buses. I was really taken in by the city and just walking around. It felt small and big all at the same time. Here’s some of the memorable stops I made while exploring the town!
Edinburgh Eats
Edinburgh eats were surprisingly good! There are several restaurants from the Michelin Guide in town and we were able to check out 2 places! One big reminder is to make reservations as soon as possible, these places fill up quick!
Noto
Emily discovered Noto from some online videos and so we booked the spot. It was a tasting menu and shared dish for each phase of the meal. We ordered 7 plates from the menu and a mix of meats, seafood, and continental dishes. This place was also a “Bib Gourmand” Michelin restaurant. This means it’s “good quality, good value cooking”.
The food did unexpectedly fill us up and the waitress even recommended delaying ordering dessert due to the fact our 7 courses may be too much! The food was great, unique and tasty. The price point wasn’t horrible but I’m someone who can just as happily explore the McDonald’s menu in a new place. It was a cool hip spot to get away just us for the evening and I didn’t feel robbed after the fact!
The Black Grape
The Black Grape was a wonderful unexpected surprise. It isn’t an official award winning place but it felt just as good! It too was a small plate tasting menu and I finally got to enjoy some of those world renowned Scottish oysters and a Scotch Egg. All went down quickly and I left really fulfilled…and again, didn’t feel like it broke the bank for some yummy food!
Little Capo
Little Capo was another stop for dinner. This place was a Michelin Guide recommended restaurant. It was a fun atmosphere and had a really fun Italian-inspired menu. We really enjoyed the appetizer menu and got a lot of those items but the mains was hit and miss. The risotto really shined but a few other menu items were just ok. We were happy to go and make a reservation but it left us with some mixed feelings.
Activities Around Edinburgh
Edinburgh really felt snug and welcoming and there were tons of things to do in the downtown area. Shopping, parks, history, and even hiking were all very close. Here’s after few things we got into while we visited.
Arthur’s Seat Hike
The hike up to the top of Arthur’s Seat was a real highlight of the trip. We decided to start early so we could be at the top of the mountain for sunrise. It was an easy trail hike. We left about 45 minutes before sunrise to make it in time. There were a few people already at the top so we were in good company! It was really worth it and I’d highly recommend you do it too!
Victoria Street
We visited Victoria Street and this is considered the “home” of Harry Potter. Many consider it the backdrop for places like Diagon Ally and the wizarding world of J.K Rowling. She lived in this neighborhood while writing the books and used the magical world of Edinburgh as inspiration. The street, the local church cemetery names, and living in magical Edinburgh all contributed to the books.
The Vennel Steps
The Vennel Steps was just a quick stop while we were walking about the town. This place is well known location due to several movies and TV shows like “One Day” using this impressive vantage point of the castle. It also inspired the backdrops of the Wizard of Oz movie and the Emerald City. It’s easy to access and a fun viewpoint for movie fun or a great view of the castle.
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