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Queen’s Arms: Casual Classy

With a touch of casual class, the Queen’s Arms sits comfortably the city centre, just down Frederick Street from the busy and posh George Street scene. This cosy and (usually) quiet pub services up delicious pub grub with a smile – try the Steak and Ale pie or the Sheppard’s pie. You will be guaranteed to enjoy a nice evening here, whether just on your way home from work or to end the night on a positive note. Ambience: Light and airy despite being below ground...

August 17th, 2008 | Edinburgh | Read More

Real Ales on the Royal Mile

Just east of Saint Mary’s Street on the Royal Mile one can find the unassuming Canon’s Gait, one of my favourite Edinburgh pubs (not just because I live quite nearby). Many tourists and locals easily miss this establishment, opting for more the boisterous locales found just a block closer to the castle, which suits me just fine. The atmosphere here is relaxed, the bar staff friendly, and in the downstairs bar you will find a full calendar of events throughout the year. Ambience: ...

August 17th, 2008 | Edinburgh | Read More

Trams Coming to Edinburgh

As Edinburgh rolls full swing into the 2008 Fringe Festival, many visitors will notice signage about the launch of trams in the city in 2011. You might also notice the scars left on the city’s winding roads due to the heavy amounts of road works in progress to prepare for the trams’ arrival. PlanetEye’s Edinburgh Local Expert Andy Hayes had an opportunity to speak with Nisha Kharbanda from the office of the Scottish Road Works Commissioner to find out a bit more about the...

August 11th, 2008 | Edinburgh | Read More

Good Wine, Boring Food on Cockburn

Cockburn Street (pronounced ‘co-burn’) winds steeply downward from the Royal Mile to Waverley Station and is home to number of very diverse businesses. Ecco Vino, a food and wine bar, is one of them. With an entire wall full of wine and over 50 on the menu at any one time, one will certainly not be disappointed in finding a vintage suitable to their palate. However, the food menu has a lot of room for improvement. Taste & Flavour: 5 / 10 Wines are...

August 9th, 2008 | Edinburgh | Read More

Sweden Comes to Edinburgh

Peter’s Yard Quartermile 27 Simpson Loan Edinburgh EH3 9GG 0131-228 58 76 http://www.petersyard.com Rising from the former home to the Royal Infirmary, Peter’s Yard is the first non-chain cafe to join the Quartermile, Edinburgh’s new steel-and-glass posh development on the northern edge of the Meadows. I was eager to see what Peter has come up with as this will likely set the scene for how the character of this particular area will develop, and I have to say I was pleasantly...

August 8th, 2008 | Edinburgh | Read More

Holiday Lets: Comfortable Accommodation

Edinburgh has plenty of hotel accomnodation (some say too much), but if you miss the creature comforts of home, maybe you should consider what is called a holiday let. Holiday lets are simply apartments or flats that can be rented for shorter stays. While these are typically more expensive, they can sometimes offer a higher level of comfort not to mention old world charm. There are a number of providers available to search for flats, including: - http://www.edlets.com/ offers...

August 6th, 2008 | Edinburgh | Read More

Fish and Chips for Royalty

The fish and chips shop, more affectionately known as a ‘chippy’, is part and parcel of daily life in Scotland. The king of them all though is Bene’s, relaxing cosily near the bottom of the Royal Mile. When I say king, I do mean it, as Bene’s is rumoured to be a favourite haunt for Prince William and Prince Henry. Taste & Flavour: 10 / 10 You will not find greasy chips sitting under a heat lamp here. Bene’s is food is always made fresh to...

August 2nd, 2008 | Edinburgh | Read More

HAGGiS Adventures Top Tips

The team over at HAGGiS Adventures offers a number of excellent day trips or overnight excursions out of Edinburgh. I would suggest having a look though their website – be sure to tell them PlanetEye sent you - but one of my favourites is there ‘Top 20 Embra Experiences’, which are below. The original list can be found on their website. Top 20 Embra Experiences 1) Take a stroll along the Water of Leith Walkway- in particular the stretch from Canonmills to the Dean...

August 2nd, 2008 | Edinburgh | Read More

Be in the Know

As you might have guessed after reading my post about Edinburgh’s Festival Calendar, the Scottish capital is a busy place. Live music, theatre, and art exhibitions are only a few examples of the rotating array of talent coming through Edinburgh in any given month. To best plan for your visit, there are a couple of web resources that will give you the best insight on what’s happening. The Skinny: Scotland’s ‘cutting edge culture magazine’, published...

July 31st, 2008 | Edinburgh | Read More

Useless Trivia about Edinburgh

Who does not love useless trivia? Well, Scotland – and in particular its capital, Edinburgh – has enough fruitless factoids to give every visitor one as they disembark from the airplane. Some of them are quite a laugh, so study the list below and impress your travel partners with your in depth knowledge. Edinburgh is… • the first city in the world to have had its own fire department. • the birthplace of actor Sir Sean Connery •...

July 28th, 2008 | Edinburgh | Read More

Edinburgh

Tucked away in a small street just behind the Festival Theatre, you will find a small and very unassuming restaurant. Do not be quick to judge this book by its cover, though, as it is here where you can find one of the best curry houses in all of Edinburgh. The team at Saffrani offer an excellent array of choice for discerning curry lovers of all palates, including some spectacular seafood portions. Taste & Flavour: 10 / 10 Saffrani ‘s menu is exhaustive yet not overwhelming. ...

July 28th, 2008 | Edinburgh | Read More

Edinburgh Festivals Calendar

In my haste to report my recommendations for this year’s Fringe Festival , I neglected to point out that there are a number of other good festivals in Edinburgh – not only during the month of August but year-round. Some of my favourite ones include: April Beltane Fire Festival: half naked people recreating ancient pagan rituals atop Calton Hill late at night. Lots of fire and dancing. Good fun but not a child-friendly experience. June Edinburgh International Film...

July 28th, 2008 | Edinburgh | Read More

Bienvenue a Cafe Rouge

Pulling off a classic French cafe without seeming faux is a difficult thing to do – especially for a chain – but Cafe Rouge here in Edinburgh does it flawlessly. Excellent service, tasty pastries, and caffeine-infused drinks are all on offer. Top this off with an excellent central location and you have a winning combination. On those rare sunny days the terrace is the perfect place to enjoy a latte and croissant. Taste & Flavour: 10 / 10 Excellent pastries...

July 21st, 2008 | Edinburgh | Read More

Tea and Scones with Clarinda

Resting quietly near the bottom of the Royal Mile, Clarinda’s is overshadowed by its impressive neighbour, the Scottish Parliament. Behind this unassuming window front, however, is some of the best brunch food in Scotland. Taste & Flavour: 10 / 10 Do not expect anything too outrageous on the menu, but the team here in the kitchen serves up all the classics to perfection. The overflowing cake and pastry tray is simply divine – it is difficult not to stare during your...

July 21st, 2008 | Edinburgh | Read More

2008 Edinburgh Festival Top Ten

This August, the world’s largest arts event will descend upon the Scottish capital of Edinburgh. With a 288-page festival guide, you might find the never-ending agenda of comedy, theatre, dance, and music a bit too overwhelming. Fear not – have a read through my top ten suggestions to ensure you make the most of this year’s fest. The Aluminium Show This visual arts extravaganza hailing from Israel looks to represent a completely new angle on...

July 19th, 2008 | Edinburgh | Read More

Tempting Tattie is Tops

While it is rumoured that Edinburgh has the most restaurants per person than anywhere in Europe, the Tempting Tattie is definitely at the top of this veritable buffet of choice. Ask any local and they will tell you that this ‘wee shop’ just off the Royal Mile is the best place in town to get your carbohydrate dose. Taste & Flavour: 10 / 10 All ingredients are fresh and tasty. The Tempting Tattie Team also makes sure the fillings are put on in the right order to ensure...

July 19th, 2008 | Edinburgh | Read More

Welcome Aboard with Britannia Spice

Perched comfortably in the shadow of the Royal Yacht Britannia, this curry house has been feeding hungry tourists and locals alike since 2000. The menu represents a number of ethnic cuisines, including Indian, Nepali, Bangladeshi, and Thai. Taste & Flavour: 8 / 10 Ingredients are carefully blended to give dishes a very nice, light taste. However, I felt many of the starters were made spicy just for the sake of it, overpowering some of the gentler flavours. Ambience:...

July 19th, 2008 | Edinburgh | Read More