Edinburgh Entertainment
Edinburgh is a great city for an evening night out whether you want to splash out on a top class show and a meal at a Michelin starred restaurant or go for a ghost walk and finish off in the pub or with fish & chips the options are endless.
There are world class theatres with everything from classical to the most avante garde performances, from up market bars where royalty are spotted to the dark and dingy pubs appearing in Ian Rankin novels, chain multi-plex cinemas with the latest films as well as the more exotic films available at the Filmhouse or Cameo Theatres.
As for eating out – well the choice is mind boggling. You can get a deep fried Mars bar if you want it, we recommend you try some other dishes. Go cheap and cheerful and try some great fish and chips – many people forget Edinburgh is a coastal city and really good fish is available – try some of the excellent award winning fish and chip shops from the list below. You can go up-market by heading out to Leith where Martin Wishart has Edinburgh’s first Michelin starred restaurant. If you don’t want to spend quite that much there are other excellent restaurants out in Leith which has become a bit of a foody enclave.
Edinburgh’s Italian community means there are some fantastic Italian restaurants – casual as well as more formal. The Valvonna and Crolla delicatessen has a wonderful café which is not often open in the evening unfortunately – but there is Vincaffe – part of the same group which has a café and restaurant serving all day and dinners. Up near Edinburgh Castle is the wonderfully atmospheric Witchery – do book in advance here.
The 5 star hotels have good (not cheap) formal restaurants – notable are the Scotsman, No1 at the Balmoral and Santini’s in the Sheraton. Less expensive, but very enjoyable meals out are available in Edinburgh’s very good fish restaurants (as well as the fish &chip shops), the French restaurants and café’s as well as from the vast range of Chinese, Indian and Thai establishments. And, of course, there are Scottish restaurants.
We’ve listed a few ideas with some web-links below
Walking Tours
Mercat Tours
Mercat Tours of Edinburgh provides a range of Ghost and History tours. They specialise in walking tours around Edinburgh’s Old Town featuring the most haunted locations, the scariest stories and most spectacular candlelit underground vaults.
The tours run all year round. You don’t always have to book, you can just take a chance and turn up. They normally meet on the Royal Mile. It’s safer to book, which you can do on-line. See Mercat Tours
Witchery Tours
Witchery tours run a range of ghost and scary walks in the evenings all year round – and they give you a free book. They normally start outside the Witchery restaurant. For how to book, see their web-site at Witchery Tours.
Edinburgh Medical Tour
The tours are available 31 March to 31 October and you need to book for this one. See Edinburgh Medical Tours.
Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
Performed in and out of Edinburgh’s famous - and infamous - taverns; the tour takes the form of a debate between two fictional characters. The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour starts in the historic Old Town and finishes in the magnificent New Town. Tickets can be bought from the website.See Theatres And Concert Halls
Edinburgh Festival Theatre
The Edinburgh Festival Theatre is an international theatre presenting a variety of entertainment from opera, ballet, to children entertainment which is suitable for the entire family all year round. Its outstanding facilities include one of the largest stages in the UK. See Edinburgh Festival Theatre
Edinburgh Kings Theatre
The Kings Theatre presents high quality drama, alongside dance, comedy and musical theatre, with continued commitment to local amateur companies. The King's annual Pantomime is an established tradition within Edinburg and is usuall on throughout December and January. A must see for a family Christmas.. See Edinburgh Kings Theatre.
The Edinburgh Playhouse
The Edinburgh Playhouse has established itself as Scotland's host to large scale West End Musicals. Their programme covers a broad range of performance including Opera, Ballet, Rock, Pop and Comedy. Booking is essential. See Edinburgh Playhouse.
The Royal Lyceum
The Royal Lyceum Theatre Company is one of Scotland's leading theatres. The company has a reputation for excellent productions of classic and contemporary drama and a commitment to developing new Scottish writing. For further information on events see Edinburgh's Lyceum Theatre.
The Traverse Theatre
Edinburgh's famous new Writing theatre and home of the legendary Traverse Bar Cafe, produces and hosts the best contemporary plays from Scotland and overseas and is a leading venue for the Edinburgh Fringe. See Traverse Theatre.
The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh
Brunton Theatre is a wonderful gem hidden on the edge of the east side of Edinburgh in the town of Musselburgh. The theatre boasts 300 of the best seats in town and productions that are second to none in quality and variety. See Brunton Theatre.
The Usher Hall
The Usher Hall is one of the most outstanding concert halls in the world. A landmark in the heart of Edinburghl. The area is becoming known as the Theatre district with the Lyceuam, Usher Hall, and Traverse Theatre all sitting side by side. , The Usher halls stages the highest level of musical and civic participation, and been host to some of the most memorable concerts and events in the city. See Usher Hall.
Cinemas
Edinburgh has some excellent independent cinemas:
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The Dominion.This Family run cinema in the heart of Morningside which is just south of the city centre. Easily accessible by bus, and there is also off-street parking. .See Dominion Cinema.
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Cameo - The Cameo is a unique cineman which started life as the King's Cinema on 8 January 1914 and is one of the oldest cinemas in Edinburgh, or even Scotland. In the recent past, there have been attempts to sell the cinema and have it turned into a nightclub. But due to public protest (and from high profile entertainers), the decision was made to keep the Cameo in its present form. Check out Cameo Cinema to see a list of what' on.
- The Edinburgh Filmhouse, is perhaps the largest of the independant cinemas in Edinburgh. It is central to the International Film Festival, and it offers a variety of movies that are normally not available at the more commercial cinema houses. To see a list of what is on screen look at Edinburgh Filmhouse.
- Of course Edinburgh is also host to the commercial cinemas like the Odeon, Vue and Cineworld; For complete list of films on in Edinburgh look at the Edinburgh Cinema Guide.
Restaurants
The choice of where to eat out in Edinburgh is amazing. The city has literally turned into a fabulous city for eating out. There are many famous chefs that have now chosen to host their wares in the city. Below are just a few places listed here, with a bias towards ones we like, or good friends have raved on about.Martin Wishart
In the heart of Leith lies the first Michelin star restaurant. For further information at Martin Wishart.
The Witchery
A wonderful atmospheric restaurant very near Edinburgh Castle. Booking is essential at The Witchery.
The Kitchin
Another of Edinburgh’s Michelin star restaurants challenging Martin Wishart in Leith. The Kitchin.
The Tower
The tower has great views of Edinburgh’s skyline being on top of the new Museum of Scotland. The Tower Restaurant.
David Bann
A highly regarded vegetarian restaurant in Edinburgh’s old town David Bann.
Vincaffe
Vincaffe is the restaurant that is part of the famous Valvonna and Crolla group. It is in Edinburgh’s upmarket shopping area near Harvey Nichols. The same family have a café at the back of the delicatessen which is well worth a visit. http://www.valvonacrolla.co.uk/html/vincaffe.html
Urban Angel
Edinburgh’s budget restaurant of the year – 2006/2007. Well worth trying Urban Angel.
Hendersons
A long established Edinburgh vegetarian institution. http://www.hendersonsofedinburgh.co.ukhttp://www.hendersonsofedinburgh.co.uk
And don’t forget some of Edinburgh’s great fish and chip shops. Try L’Aquila Blanca in Stockbridge L'Aquila Blanca or Alba Dora not far away in Henderson Row
It’s generally worth checking out reviews of places, so you could try www.list.co.uk www.s1play.com both of which have reviews of eating places in Edinburgh.
Opal Lounge
Not just a bar – it’s a boutique hotel and an eatery in the New Town on George St. It claims an atmosphere of unabashed glamour and unparalleled luxury. Tiger Lilly also on George St, is now considered another one of the new Trendy Restaurants on George Street. If you would like to dine there (lunch or dinner), it is strongly suggested that you make a reservation . Oloroso is a bar and restaurant – from the bar you get a special double aspect view of Edinburgh out to both the Castle and the Firth of Forth.
The Cumberland
The Cumberland is perhaps less upmarket than the George St establishments, nevertheless a very popular Edinburgh pub with a much more traditional atmosphere. It’s in the New Town on Cumberland St. Cumberland Bar
The Oxford bar is a very traditional pub made famous by the Ian Rankin/Rebus connection. It is also a very popular bar to visit after a Rugby International. It’s behind George St on Young St. Oxford Bar
Bennett's Bar
Bennett’s bar in Tollcross is a local for the nearby King’s Theatre and has a wonderful range of malt whiskey’s and no web-site that I could find.