Student friendly and "Edinburgh"
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- David Bann
Vegetarian Restaurant in Edinburgh, Scotland. Serving Top Class Vegetarian Cuisine. - The Canon's Gait
Impeccable gastro pub food, Royal Mile’s best real ale, with cellar bar available for hire - Bell's Diner
Visit this Edinburgh institution for a warm welcome and the best burgers in town - Filmhouse Café Bar
fresh affordable food - breakfast, lunch & dinner, cakes & snacks, vegetarian selection. Open 7 days 10am–late.
The Caley Sample Room
42–58 Angle Park Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2JR
Nowadays, with every establishment that serves more than crisps seeing fit to label themselves a ‘gastropub’, it’s refreshing to discover somewhere that’s actually deserving of the title. The Caley Sample Room’s commitment to using artisan suppliers and…
Edinburgh Napier University
School of Design and Media Arts Merchiston Campus, 10 Colinton Road,
Edinburgh,
EH10 5DT
Scotland
The Merlin
168-172 Morningside Road, Southside,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4PU
With bold patterned wallpaper, gilt frames and a blazing fireplace adorned with a dramatic stag's head, this expansive dining and drinking space is frequented by a mixed crowd of Morningside locals. Food is served from noon onwards, all day, every day…
District
3 Queensferry Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4PF
Selection of cool house nights. See
listings for details.
Avoca Bar & Grill
4-6 Dean Street,
Edinburgh,
EH4 1LW
Set into a relatively snug pair of rooms on a side street off Stockbridge’s main drag, this modern but lived-in bar feels like a bit of a nook, a welcome discovery when you find it. It’s a proper local for the diverse clientele of Stockbridge and…
The Hudson Hotel
7–11 Hope Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4EL
On first appearance there is very little to lift the Hudson out of that popular subcategory of pub that should perhaps be termed 'elegant Edinburgh bars that also serve food'. Like so many it is a haven of shining dark wood, subtle lighting and leather.
Filmhouse Café Bar
88 Lothian Road,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9BZ
Any self-respecting cinema-goer knows that no trip to the Filmhouse would be complete without a pre-movie bowl of nachos from their bustling café-bar. A haven for lovers of independent and arthouse film, the Filmhouse is awash with cinéastes nursing one…
Filmhouse
88 Lothian Road,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9BZ
Beginning in 1979, Edinburgh's Filmhouse was gradually converted from St. Thomas Church into a three screen cinema. Sometime host of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, it features a café bar and monthly quiz.
Citrus Club
40–42 Grindlay Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9AP
Mainly studenty venue that goes for an indie vibe as well as a dash of punk, new wave and 80s classics. See listings for selected highlights.
7 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AN
If your restaurant is really only serving two things, you’d better make sure you do those things well. Bell's Diner has been doing steak and burgers well for over 40 years and there are no signs of things changing. Behind its anonymous exterior, there’s…
Hamiltons Bar and Kitchen
16–18 Hamilton Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AU
This dusky Stockbridge stronghold never looks the most inviting, yet is always busy – packed with pram-pushing mothers during the hours of daylight, and stuffed with drink-quaffing suits of an evening. And, with separate menus on offer for breakfast…
Burlington Bertie’s
11-13 Tarvit Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9LB
Ask anyone behind the bar to name the best feature of Burlington Bertie’s, and they’ll all come back with the line that they’ve got the best jukebox in town. That might be open to debate, but there’s no doubting that its selection of classic and…
The Blue Parrot Cantina
49 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AH
Tucked away downstairs, this cosy basement cantina has been serving the residents of Stockbridge for almost 20 years. The open plan kitchen is the first sight to greet you as you enter; once into the dining room the mood is simple and stripped back with…
14/14a Brougham Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9JH
It’s rare in Edinburgh to find Indian restaurants with regional specificity, so Mezbaan is welcome in introducing flavours from the country’s south, especially since it has one of Britain’s best South Asian chefs at the helm. Coconut is a prominent…
The Cloisters
26 Brougham Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9JH
Despite the name and former-church setting, the only monks you’ll find in The Cloisters are those behind the bar – in the form of guest beers like the fruity (and potent) Westmalle, brewed by Belgian Trappists. They’d no doubt approve of the no-frills…
Tonic
34 North Castle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3BN
While first and foremost a cocktail bar, Tonic also manages to produce a small but appetising menu. And although the surroundings might bear more than a passing resemblance to a Polish casino, the food is both tasty and good value. Succulent prawn…
Iglu
2b Jamaica Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6HH
For all that it is tucked at the far end of a side-street, Iglu has established an enviable profile, priding itself on serving seasonal, locally-sourced, organic and wild foods in the cosy upstairs restaurant and downstairs bar area. Proving high…
Dragonfly
52 West Port,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2LD
A step away from the Grassmarket rugby pubs is a bar with a different attitude to the serious business of drinking. The conscientious eclecticism of the décor – think palatial chandeliers and kung fu stencilled walls – extends to the DJ deck and the…
30 Grassmarket,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2JU
This Grassmarket stalwart seems to exert a gravitational pull on small to medium sized groups of both locals and tourists looking for an impromptu food stop. Starters like sweet potato fries and macho nachos are decent enough, but their function is to…
The Orchard
1/2 Howard Place, Canonmills,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5JZ
A bar with a sense of refinement in keeping with the area around it, the Orchard is a wood-panelled old man’s boozer recast as an elegant bar and restaurant in light pastel tones. It’s been around for a few years now but it doesn’t feel tired, and the…
Earl of Marchmont
22 Marchmont Crescent,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1HG
Much like its Canongate sister the White Horse, the Earl is a grand mixture of classic Edinburgh local and funked-up eclectic touches. The crowd is a hotch-potch of students, cheery thirty-somethings and a clutch of venerable regulars decorating the…
Hard Rock Café
20 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2PF
Some restaurants are all about the expectation game. Launched in London over 40 years ago, the Hard Rock has since exported its rather cookie cutter approach all over the world, but should you go in expecting generous portions of decent, if rather…
Howies (Victoria Street)
10–14 Victoria Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2HG
Long time favourite on the Edinburgh dining scene, the Howies Restaurants group has waxed and waned over the years. Now operating from two locations, their Victoria Street operation, close by the Royal Mile, is well placed for tourists and locals alike.
Espionage
4 India Buildings, Victoria Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2EX
Five floors of varied chart and dancey action.
University of Edinburgh
Chrystal Macmillan Building School of Social and Political Studies, 15a George Square,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9LD
Scotland
Malone's Irish Bar
14 Forrest Road,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QN
Malone's Irish Bar certainly can’t be accused of misrepresenting itself. Owned and run by natives of the Emerald Isle, the cavernous property oozes Irishness from its street-level entrance area, the large central room with tables for dining and large…
Monster Mash
20 Forrest Road,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QN
In April 2010, Monster Mash relocates a grand total of 15m up the road. But fans need not fear: the biggest change will simply be more space to spend your money. As 20 Forrest Road will see restaurant seating for 65, private dining for 25 and outdoor…
The Elephant House
21 George IV Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1EN
Perhaps hoping that diners will be distracted by its association with the boy wizard and his chums, the erstwhile haunt of JK Rowling appears to lavish more attention on its Potter-themed loos than it does on its food. While, admittedly, it has recently…
Villager
49–50 George IV Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1EJ
One of those versatile bars that often seems like a good idea for its perky cocktail list (a modernised one will be introduced very soon, retaining six old favourites and the same proactive attitude to decent ingredients), comfy sofas, and very…
Subway Cowgate
69 Cowgate,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1JW
Not to be confused with the after office chart & party hell of the Subway on Lothian Road, Subway Cowgate is in the process of establishing itself as an alternative club night with loads of rock, punk, Britpop, metal and indie blasting out of their…
Biblos
1 Chambers Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1HU
With a name that means ‘book’ it is hardly surprising Biblos has gone for the decadent library theme. Leather Chesterfield sofas, wingback chairs and dark wood abound, and, in case the point still hasn’t hit home, they even have small pictures of famous…
Favorit
19–20 Teviot Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QZ
Favorit is a late night diner for the young and hip and – most importantly – for those with the munchies. Black and white chequered tiles, retro tables and benches and a large, red neon Favorit sign set the scene. All that's missing is Pulp Fiction's…
Ecco Vino
19 Cockburn Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1BP
This understated, grown-up wine bar has been calmly getting it right for over a decade. The bottles that line the walls are laid out intuitively in the wine list, and there’s a reassuringly generous hand with the advice and the tasting glasses if you’re…
University of Edinburgh
School of Arts, Culture and the Environment Minto House 20 Chambers Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1JZ
Scotland
Assembly
41 Lothian Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1HB
A popular student venue despite – or indeed perhaps because of – its closeness to the ubiquitous student unions. No doubt another plus is its good value food and two-for-one drinks deals. The battered leather sofas and twinkling fairy lights are…
Negociants
45–47 Lothian Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1HB
Negociants celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year as one of the most popular bars among Edinburgh’s student population. Year-round the place bustles, particularly at weekends, while the Edinburgh Festival brings a tourist clientele attracted by…
Gordon's Trattoria
231 High Street, Royal Mile,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1PE
Gordon Scott is keen to promote his restaurant as a family venue. And there is no risk that he will fall foul of the trade descriptions act, with brother Gary imparting his profound industry knowledge, daughters Daniela and Vanessa now involved in the…
36–39 Market Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DF
Eclectic dance beats and indie plus private rooms with karaoke for a unique clubbing experience.
The Fruitmarket Gallery Café
Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DF
The Fruitmarket Gallery is well respected for its cutting edge contemporary art exhibitions, its specialist bookshop crammed full of artist publications and a café that is well established on the Edinburgh food scene. Located at the back of Waverley…
The Hive
15–17 Niddry Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1LG
The Hive is a popular late night haunt known for its generous promotions and varied music policy. Any given night you can be treated to pop and chart, indie and electro, rock and metal or drum and bass - so check listings in advance. Holding up to 650…
Whistlebinkies
4-6 South Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1LG
Open seven nights a week until 3am with live music (new bands, singers and musicians). Cover charge on Fridays and Saturdays after midnight.
City Café
19 Blair Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1QR
Pull up your pop socks and pick a song for the juke box: the City Café is your Grease-shaped American diner. Its red banquettes are just right for a short lie down after eating more than your fill of the great BBQ sharing platter, with sticky pork ribs…
Cabaret Voltaire
36–38 Blair Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1QR
Triple-roomed subterranean venue set into the caverns of the Old Town with a musical programme that covers all aspects of underground music seven nights a week. Expect big name DJs in an intimate surrounding as well as up and coming artists along with…
Elephants and Bagels
37 Marshall Street (Nicholson Square),
Edinburgh,
EH8 9BJ
If you’re looking for a lunch or snack option that healthy and filling, planet-friendly and low in salt, sugar as well as food miles, then Elephants and Bagels offers a handy solution. A penchant for pachyderms is a bonus; mostly customer-drawn they…
Nile Valley
6 Chapel Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9AY
Nile Valley has remained almost completely unchanged for years. The posters wallpapering the stairs down to the dingy basement dining area rotate, advertising new club nights and student drama productions. It’s a Sudanese restaurant, with popular Middle…
Ego
14 Picardy Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3JT
Home to some of the capital¹s best loved nights as well as a selection of big gay clubs. See listings for details.
The Original Mosque Kitchen and Café
Edinburgh Central Mosque, 50 Potterrow,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9BT
First set up to ease the burden of daylight fasting during Ramadan on the congregation of Edinburgh's Central Mosque, this outdoor cafeteria-style restaurant has undergone several upgrades and upheavals down the years. Most recently the founders…
The Meadow Bar
42-44 Buccleuch Street, Southside,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9LP
With Edinburgh University around the corner, it is little surprise that the Meadow Bar has long been a favourite of students and academics. Those in the know forsake the self-consciously happening haunts in this part of town for the understated cool of…
The Basement Bar and Restaurant
10–12a Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RH
Situated below street level, this bar looks like the sort of place American sitcom characters would head for after a hard day’s mirth-making, thanks to the obligatory neon sign, mustard-coloured walls and staff dressed in Hawaiian shirts. It could be…
The Brass Monkey
14 Drummond Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9TU
Drummond Street’s long-established original branch of the Brass Monkey is a bar with a mainly studenty crowd and a bunk-seated cinema in the back room showing classic films at 3pm every day. It now has a sister venue on Leith Walk with its own big…
2 Picardy Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3JT
With its Coronation Street-aping sign, its dual-aspect floor to ceiling windows and the big iron ramp which stretches almost the length of the bar and back, the Street is a landmark pub in the Broughton/Picardy Place area. Its main business is a more…
Pivo Caffè
2–6 Calton Road,
Edinburgh,
EH8 8DL
A selection of the best Edinburgh DJs play every night for free.
Barioja
15-19 Jeffrey Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DR
Barioja has been dishing out its albondigas for over a decade, so could be considered a pioneer of the still relatively youthful Edinburgh tapas scene. Sitting alongside its big sister restaurant, Iggs, it’s seen competition come and go over the years…
CC Blooms
23–24 Greenside Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3AA
One of the city¹s most enduring gay clubs, with hi-NRG tracks every night of the week.
David Bann
56–58 St Mary's Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1SX
David Bann has been at the forefront of Edinburgh’s vegetarian scene for over a decade, and his restaurant continues to combine modern decor with an innovative menu that eschews vegetarian clichés. Protein staples tofu and chickpeas may be on offer, but…
232 Canongate,
Edinburgh,
EH8 8DQ
The Canon’s Gait is a pub with plans. It has become something of a hub for Edinburgh’s Gaelic community, and hosts Scottish folk music three nights a week: as a large space in the traditional heart of the city it takes to these roles well. It backs up…
Horse Wynd,
Edinburgh,
EH99 1SP
Designed by Spanish architect Enric Miralles, who died before its completion in 2004, the Scottish Parliament building occupies an architecturally diverse corner of Edinburgh at the foot of the Royal Mile, with Dynamic Earth, the Queen’s Gallery and the…
Rosslyn Chapel
Roslin,
Edinburgh,
EH25 9PU
The 15th century building of Rosslyn Chapel is located seven miles south of Edinburgh, and boasts many significant architectural features, including the Apprentice Pillar and carvings of ‘green men’. The chapel has experienced an upsurge in popularity…
Mariners
40 Commercial Street Leith,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6JD
Semi regular nights in this old church from lesbian club Velvet to techno and house. See listings for details.
Found 105 places.
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