Neighbourhood Watch: Broughton Street, Edinburgh
A guide to Edinburgh's hip gay hub
What’s it like?
A street full of bars, restaurants and delightful eateries nestled underneath old tenement flats. Ideal for stuffing your face full of food and hitting a pub with friends just a stone’s throw from the centre of the city.
Where’s it, like?
Just to the east of Edinburgh city centre, it’s about a two-minute walk from the St James’ Centre and five minutes down the hill from Princes Street.
Who’s from there?
Now, Broughton Street is a hub of pretty stylish gay bars at the centre of Edinburgh’s so-called ‘pink triangle’ but it was also once home to Scottish folk band Silly Wizard, if anyone remembers them. Gayfield Square police station in south Broughton is also the star (ish) of Ian Rankin’s Inspector Rebus tales.
Why would I go there?
For the plethora of stylish LGBT joints, including the Blue Moon, which is allegedly the oldest gay café in the UK. L’Escargot Bleu does a mean pan-friend duck. For tasty sandwich fillings, there’s the New Town Deli and Broughton Deli just round the corner on Barony Street, or Something Fishy is a good shout for fresh sea-related goods. Wash it all down with some special vino from Villeneuve Wines or a fresh coffee from Artisan Roast. Head to Joey D’s for some bespoke vintage pieces (if you can fit into any of them after eating all that grub).
Artisan Roast
57 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RJ
Originally a bean company, Artisan Roast started brewing in 2007 and has not looked back, now with venues in Edinburgh’s Broughton and Bruntsfield districts. With a shabby chic décor that would not be out of place in San Francisco or Seattle, the…
Broughton Delicatessen
7 Barony Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6PD
With deli goods and takeaway sandwiches to the front, and 24 covers of eclectic furniture to the rear, Broughton Deli does not concern itself with vanities. The international menu has a surprising mixture of platters, burgers and noodles available all…
L'escargot Bleu
56 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3SA
The humble snail is a byword for French cuisine and the symbol of the international Slow Food movement, both of which are well represented by this popular Broughton Street restaurant. There’s a real French ambience in the high-ceilinged dining room with…
Joey D
54 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3SA
Local designer Joey D's clothes are remade and recycled from old items of clothing. Boiler suits, army tunics and tweed jackets are embellished and tweaked into styles that vary from clubby to downright flamboyant. Make sure you take a wander through…
New Town Deli
42 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3SA
A smaller sister venue to the New Town Deli on Henderson Row. Also on a corner site, there are a few perching stools for keeping an eye on Broughton Street's ever-absorbing daily flow. The main emphasis is on takeaway, with soups, stovies, sandwiches…
Something Fishy
16a Broughton St,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RH
This traditional, independent fishmonger offers a large and varied selection of fresh fish – from monkfish, bass and bream, to pollack and salmon and a whole host of shellfish. They also produce their own delicious smoked salmon and haddock, which they…
Villeneuve Wines
49a Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RJ
With outlets in Edinburgh and Peebles and online ordering, Villeneuve Wines boasts more than 2,000 wines and 200 malt whiskies on its list, as well as all the ingredients for a rainbow of cocktails. The management pride themselves on keeping their…
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