Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh TourismEdinburgh HotelsEdinburgh Bed and BreakfastEdinburgh Holiday RentalsFlights to EdinburghEdinburgh RestaurantsEdinburgh AttractionsEdinburgh Travel ForumEdinburgh PhotosEdinburgh Map
HotelsAll Edinburgh HotelsEdinburgh Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in EdinburghBy Hotel Type
Things to DoRestaurantsFlightsHoliday RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesCar HireMoreEdinburgh HostelsEdinburgh CampsitesRomantic Hotels EdinburghLuxury Hotels EdinburghBusiness Hotels EdinburghSpa Hotels in EdinburghFamily Hotels EdinburghEdinburgh ResortsEdinburgh Green Hotels
By Hotel ClassBy Hotel BrandLeonardo Hotels in EdinburghHotels Indigo in EdinburghPremier Inns in EdinburghTravelodge Hotels Ltd in EdinburghWorldhotels in EdinburghDoubleTree by Hilton Hotels in EdinburghMarriott Hotels in Edinburghibis Hotels in EdinburghVoco Hotels in EdinburghMoxy (Marriott Bonvoy) Hotels in EdinburghHampton by Hilton Hotels in EdinburghMotel One Hotels in EdinburghWyndham Hotels in EdinburghRadisson Hotels in EdinburghAccor Hotels in Edinburgh
Popular AmenitiesPopular NeighbourhoodsOld Town HotelsBruntsfield HotelsStockbridge & Dean Village HotelsWest End HotelsBroughton & Calton HotelsNew Town HotelsPrinces Street and Gardens HotelsGrassmarket HotelsHotels near East CraigsHotels near Craiglockhart
Popular Edinburgh CategoriesBudget Hotels in EdinburghEdinburgh City Centre HotelsApartment Hotels EdinburghCheap Hostels in EdinburghHoneymoon Hotels EdinburghHotels with Hot Tubs in EdinburghEdinburgh Hotels with ConciergeEdinburgh Hotels with Laundry FacilitiesEdinburgh Hotels with GymEdinburgh Hotels with Tennis Courts
Near LandmarksHotels near Edinburgh CastleHotels near Royal MileHotels near Royal Yacht BritanniaHotels near National Museum of ScotlandHotels near The Real Mary King's CloseHotels near Arthur's SeatHotels near Camera Obscura and World of IllusionsHotels near Edinburgh Old TownHotels near Palace of HolyroodhouseHotels near Calton Hill
Near Train StationsHotels near Kinghorn StationHotels near Glenrothes with Thornton StationHotels near Prestonpans StationHotels near Newcraighall StationHotels near Wallyford StationHotels near Musselburgh StationHotels near Brunstane StationHotels near Burntisland StationHotels near Aberdour StationHotels near Dalmeny Station
Near AirportsHotels near Turnhouse Airport (EDI)Hotels near Dundee Airport (DND)Hotels near Glasgow Intl Airport (GLA)Motels near Dundee Airport (DND)Motels near Turnhouse Airport (EDI)
Near CollegesPopular Hotel CategoriesPlan Your Trip to Edinburgh: Best of Edinburgh Tourism
What is Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best?
This award is our highest recognition and is presented annually to those businesses that are the Best of the Best on Tripadvisor, those that earn excellent reviews from travellers and are ranked in the top 1% of properties worldwide.
Learn moreSponsored by Johnnie Walker Princes Street
This content is sponsored by Johnnie Walker Princes Street. Sponsored content is created by Tripadvisor Editorial, and sponsors pay Tripadvisor to create this content.
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
History, culture, and non-stop festivals—Edinburgh is jam-packed with things to do around the clock. An easy way to get to know the city is by taking a long walk around the centre to see the World Heritage Sites in Old Town, trendy shops and restaurants in New Town, and a handful of museums and galleries in both. Take a break for afternoon tea and scones at a cosy tea room or duck into a traditional pub to grab a bite and a drink. And if you do find yourself at a festival, the city’s got tons: from live music performances in the summer to traditional Burns Night celebrations honouring the poet Robert Burns (complete with bagpipes, haggis, and whisky), in the winter.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Essential Edinburgh
Pick a category to filter your recs
Properties ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, and number of page views.
Things to do
Food & drink
How to do Edinburgh in 3 days
From a striking castle to whiskey tastings, plus spooky night tours
Read on
Traveller Guides
Eat your way through Edinburgh at any budget
It doesn’t matter how often I return to Edinburgh; there’s always somewhere new to eat. The city of seven hills has everything from lavish tasting menus and Michelin-starred restaurants to cafes and fast food joints. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten in the same restaurant twice. Here’s my guide to the high-end eateries and the low-tier takeaways.
Samantha Priestley, Yorkshire, UK
Wedgwood The Restaurant2,467This small and intimate restaurant on the Royal Mile served my partner the best venison he’s had to date (seriously, he still talks about it). We ordered from the a la carte menu rather than choosing the tasting menu, but it looked so good on other tables that we regretted not getting it. The staff here is kind and attentive. Our helpful waiter even told us where to go in town to buy our favourite cheese from the cheese board.
Wahaca Edinburgh1,220We had lunch at this Mexican place behind the rows of High Street shops while we waited for our train. It’s perfect for a fast meal. They serve street-food-style Mexican dishes, the service is quick, and the food is good. We ordered tacos, quesadillas, and the crispy cauliflower bites, and everything was tasty.
Number One at The Balmoral1,951We were lucky enough to stay at the iconic Balmoral Hotel for a few nights, but you don’t have to be a guest here to dine in their Michelin-starred restaurant, Number One. The tasting menu has seven courses that include local dishes ranging from langoustine from the Isle of Skye to Roe deer from a nearby estate. You can also request a three-course dinner menu ahead of time if you prefer.
Hummus60Don’t be fooled by the name of this cute little café in the Morningside neighbourhood of the city; they serve much more than hummus! That said, the hummus here is the best I’ve ever had, and if you do like a simple bowl of hummus and some flatbread, you’ll be in heaven. It’s a Lebanese café, so they also serve tabbouleh, falafel, and spiced cakes. The food is delicious, and the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming.
Dean Banks At The Pompadour372Upstairs in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel is The Pompadour, a Michelin-starred restaurant. There’s a bit of a nautical theme, which we liked, and the menu is seafood-heavy. The 10-course tasting menu includes an Arbroath Smokie and Blue Finned Tuna but also a vegan menu. Go for the wine pairing, or delve straight into the long list of whiskeys with the Whisky Flight Experience.
The Alchemist Edinburgh St James Quarter314This bar and restaurant in New Town creates unusual and bizarre cocktails that arrive in the kind of containers you probably used in chemistry class. But they also serve good bar food that works perfectly for a night out or lunch. They serve a collection of dishes as varied as their cocktails - mostly Asian-inspired and including Tempura Hake and Katsu Curry, though you can also choose a simple chicken in a basket or a steak.
The Cellar Door Restaurant1,669Edinburgh gets busy on weekend nights, and we stupidly hadn’t booked anywhere to eat dinner. We walked into The Cellar Door, not expecting any luck, but the manager kindly seated us by the bar upstairs. While downstairs was busy, upstairs was quiet and suited us perfectly. I had the spring rolls to start, followed by roasted carrot risotto. They do a six-course tasting menu with a wine pairing, which I’m definitely getting next time.
Cafe Miro361We had half a day in the coastal area of Portobello on our last visit to Edinburgh, and we stopped for a quick lunch in Miro’s on the Prom. It sits opposite the beach, on the promenade, and serves light bites and cakes. We ordered the haggis fritters, which are a must-try while you’re in Edinburgh. There’s a laid-back seaside atmosphere in this quiet café, but it does get busy on weekends.
Monteiths1,658Down a side street off the Royal Mile, Monteith’s is underground in the basement of the building. We had small plates at the bar on our first visit and returned a second time for the venison loin and the mushroom and goat’s cheese Wellington. The food is impressive, but the atmosphere makes it unique. The cosy low lighting, tartan upholstery, and intimate bar area bring home the hidden basement feeling.
Holy Cow362We stopped here for a quick burger for lunch before visiting the Surgeon’s Hall Museum. If you’re vegan or have someone vegan in your party, this is a top-quality café that serves the best vegan burgers I’ve tried in Edinburgh. The burgers all come with chips, and you get a lot of food for the money, but leave room for the cheese-free cheesecake; it’s not to be missed.
Browse collections
Get ideas on what to do, see, and eat
More UK cultural capitals
Explore more from our sponsors