Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
transformed into a flamboyant design extravaganza;
indulgent pink or black bedroom suit
es are
kitted out with
hi-tech gadgets and decadent fabrics.
£145
availa
ble as
well as t
he usua
l dorm beds. Twins
£80
; family
rooms
£115
; dorms
£26.50
1
CAMPING
There are only a couple of established campsites within half
an hour's travel of central Edinburgh.
Drummohr Caravan and Camping Park
Levenhall,
Musselburgh, on the B1348
T
0131 665 6867,
W
drum
mohr.org; bus #15, #26, #30 or #44;
map pp.56-57.
A
large, pleasant site on the eastern edge of Musselburgh, a
coastal satellite town to the east of Edinburgh, with excellent
transport connections to the city centre. As well as the usual
pitches, there are a few bothys (basic wooden hut
s tha
t sleep
four) a
nd the
more luxuriou
s sta
tic homes. Huts
£65
; static
homes
£675
/week; camping
£25
/pitch
Edinburgh Caravan Club Site
35 Marine Drive,
Silverknowes, 5 miles northwest of the centre
T
0131
312 6874,
W
caravanclub.co.uk; map pp.56-57.
Caravan-dominated site in a pleasant lo
cation
close to the
shoreline, though there's little else here.
£9.20
/pitch
APARTMENTS
Blue Rainbow Apartments - Royal Garden
York Buildings, Queen St
T
0845 045 2222,
W
bluerainbowapartments.com; map pp.60-61.
Superbly equipped, comfortable modern one- and two-
bedroom serviced apartments very centrally ocated
opposite the Scottish
Nation
al Portrait Gallery. Studio
apartments for two from
£110
HOSTEL
Edinburgh Central SYHA
9 Haddington Place
T
0131
524 2090,
W
edinburghcentral.org; map pp.60-61.
In a
handy location at the top of Leith Walk, this five-star hostel
has single, double and eight-bed rooms with en-suite
facilities. There is a reasonably priced bistro in addition to
self-catering kitchen facilities. Twins and family rooms are
EATING
The last decade has seen a marked upsurge in style, sophistication and good taste in Edinburgh's restaurants and cafés.
Café culture
has hit the centre of the city, with tables spilling onto the pavements in the summer, and this has been
matched by the rise of a clutch of original, upmarket and stylish
restaurants
, many identifying their cuisine as modern
Scottish and championing top-quality local meat, game and fish. With five establishments holding
Michelin stars
,
Edinburgh can justifiably claim second place behind London in the UK's fine-dining pecking order. As well as the wide
choice offered in the Old Town and New Town, there are some great
neighbourhood
restaurants and cafés outside the
centre - for example, in and around
Stockbridge
, on the northern fringe of the New Town; the student area encompassing
Southside
, south of the old town; and particularly in the
Shore of Leith
, the city's most inviting gastro hub. Just west
of the Old Town, in the area around
Lothian Road
, you'll also find a good choice of economical pre-theatre menus.
Aug daily 7am-10pm; Dec & Jan daily 8am-4pm.
Ì
Fruitmarket Gallery Café
45 Market St
T
0131
226 1843; map pp.64-65.
This attractive café feels like an
extension of the gallery space, its airy, reflective ambience
enhanced by the wall of glass onto the street. A coffee and
a cake here shouldn't go much over £5-6 whereas for a
light lunch, £4.25 is enough for the soup of the day.
Mon-
Sat 11am-5.30pm, Sun noon-4.30pm.
THE OLD TOWN
There's a wide choice of restaurants and diners to suit all
budgets and it doesn't take too much investigative work to
track down places of character tucked away down the lanes
and closes of the Old Town. In summer, this is the busiest part
of town, so it's advisable to book a table for an evening meal.
CAFÉS
Café Truva
251 Canongate
T
0131 556 9524; map
pp.64-65.
If you like good, strong coffee and sticky
pastries then this Turkish café is an ideal stop on the Mile
especially on a nice day; its arcaded frontage allows for
tables outside. Mediocre meals are offered so best stick
with the coffee (£2.20 a cup).
Daily 8.30am-7pm.
The Edinburgh Larder
15 Blackfriars St
T
0131 556
6922,
W
edinburghlarder.co.uk; map pp.64-65.
Just
yards off the Royal Mile, but acting like a neighbourhood
café-cum-bistro, this place makes an ideal stop for cream
teas (just £5) or pre-theatre mains (£9). The food dares to
depart from the norm, and almost all ingredients are sourced
from smaller producers around Edinburgh.
Feb-July &
Sept-Nov Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat & Sun 9am-5pm;
RESTAURANTS
Amber Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre,
354 Castlehill
T
0131 477 8477,
W
amber-restaurant.co.uk; map
pp.64-65.
Contemporary-styled restaurant offering the
TOP 5 MUST
TRY
RESTAURANTS
Chaophraya
See p.93
David Bann's
See p.92
The Gardener's Cottage
See p.93
The Kitchin
See p.95
Wedgwood
See p.92
