Hi
I'm working on booking the Edinburgh portion of our trip - September 3-7. RS recommends the Dalkeith road area and there does seem to be good places at decent prices $90 - $ 175. So you have a place you recommend?. Are there good places for similar prices north of the royal mile?
Also, do you recommend a good splurge restaurant specializing in local foo. I see a lot of buzz about the Witchery, ,would you recommend it?
Thank you
We stayed at The Bonham on a RS tour. It was charming and walking distance to many sights.
Also, if your dates are at all flexible, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo was fabulous! Yes, lots of bagpipes, but also entertainment and spectacle from all over the world. It's throughout the month of August. Be sure to book in advance.
I think that the name of where we stayed was called Priestville b&b. We got the idea and contact information from Rick’s book. We stayed there twice. The first time we had an early flight and the owner packed us a breakfast to eat at the airport. Nice guy.
Dalkeith road area is 30 minutes walk from the centre. For the same price you could get a Travelodge in the central area, once the Festivals have ended.
I've stayed in the Dalkeith road area and I've stayed closer to city centre and I've stayed at the bottom of the hill near the Royal Botanical Gardens. It can be a bit of a hike in from Dalkeith, but the day pass on the bus is very affordable and worth doing. My favorite place to stay is still the Inverlieth Hotel. I like it because it is a small family hotel, but with lovely rooms and a resident's bar. So, you can have that night cap after dinner back at the hotel. It's a bit closer than Dalkeith, but is uphill into town, so I usually bussed it up in the AM and walked back at the end of the day. I would do dinner there or down in Leith or back up the hill in New Town. I think I may have stayed at the Salisbury Arms for my Dalkeith Road stay. And I will admit that my preference for the Inverleith may be highly influenced by the fact that I came down with a really wretched cold while staying on Dalkeith Road. I did love seeing the Salisbury Crags every day though.
For a splurge restaurant I would recommend the Tower Restaurant, located in the building of the National Museum. It has a stunning view of the skyline and if you time it right you can get the sunset over the castle. We still talk about the lovely helpful waiter who took care of us there in 2016.
Not sure if I would say they specialize in local food, but by local do you mean traditional Scottish dishes or locally grown, farm to table?
Everyone
Thank you for all your info. Our dilemma is trying to choose between close to the center of town or a nice place with a good breakfast for good price that is farther out. To add to our dilemma, many places are either booked or have permanently closed (afraid the place recommended by Scot.dailey is closed).
So, we found a place along Dalkeith road that is on the high end of our budget, but sounds lovely. A half our walk or bise ride sounds perfectly doable.
Also, the Tower restaurant is closed but will keep looking at restaurants.
Also look at the Bruntsfield area.
It's the other side of the main area, but still lovely, with great bus services.
Also the Haymarket area, at the West End of Princes Street.
Edinburgh is very easy to get around by bus.
You can buy a 24 hour bus ticket for about Five Pounds, and go everywhere .
Ooh I missed the splurge restaurant. We had a wonderful meal at The Gardener's Cottage a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. It has several communal tables. It was lovely.
Several years ago we went to Stac Polly. They serve Scottish food and it was wonderful too.
If you like seafood, consider Fishers. There are a couple of places. I don't think that they will have Arbroath Smokies while you are there as they don't have them during the festival-or at least they didn't used to--but the seafood of Scotland is wonderful. You can branch out from Salmon.
I also like The Mussel Inn in New Town. I've usually had lunch there but dinner is likely very nice.
We found The Gardner's Cottage when I looked for new restaurants and decided to try a new place. You might also want to explore what is new. Here's an article from December. Here's another article to check out.
And I have to share what also came up from my search! The best "American" restaurants in Edinburgh!
Lots of good eats in Edinburgh.
We ate at The Witchery on our last visit to Scotland -- 20 years ago -- and it was one of many highlights of our trip. Very atmospheric and wonderful food. We have a reservation for our June trip so hoping for a repeat.
Sherri, a meal at the Witchery has been on my list for. a while. :)
Thank you all for the suggestions. Sounds like there are a lot of wonderful restaurants in Edinburgh. Will be hard to choose.
