Off Topic Edinburgh : Hidden bits n bobs

Off to Edinburgh soon for a few days, never been before.

Obviously know about the obvious sights..... But wondering if anyone knows of any hidden treasures, cracking pubs, fabulous eating spots etc

Any recommendations?

Cheersaroonie

 

One of the original brew dog bars is under the castle walls....
Ghost tour good for a laugh.
Small old pub on the mile...has Celtic music every night...Sorry can't remember it's name...but just walk past it at 10 and you will find it

 

The Forage and Chatter Restaurant is rather good. All the old style boozers I used to drink in have shut down.

 

My favourite bar is WhistleBinkies, just off the Royal Mile - small door off of South Bridge, or main entrance on Niddry Street. It's got live music til 3am every day - can get a bit busy, but you should be ok this time of year. The other bars on the Royal Mile are ok, in general the further away from the castle the more authentic the atmosphere. Unfortunately, as Stan mentioned, all the real pubs have been closed down - even the Volunteer Arms immortlised by Irvine Welsh!

Steer clear of the Grassmarket, it's become very tacky and is full of hen and stag parties (don't think there's any rugby on this weekend, as that's also where the egg-chasers normally end up). If you do end up there, the Beehive is probably the better of a bad bunch.

Plenty of boozers up on Rose Street too, just behind all the shops on Princes Street - leave the women to browse whilst you have a drink! There's an excellent Tapas restaurant El Paso Tapas Bar on Dundas Street not far from there.

Go to the Camera Obscura up by the castle - I loved it. It's like a funky art gallery, a world of illusions which is good for a laugh, especially if you've had a couple of drinks - the turning tunnel is a hoot....The Whiskey Museum is on the other side of the street and is worth a look, although it's always busy (I was lucky enough to be working in there a couple of times, so have had the free tour!!)

There's plenty of ghost tours, some better than others so be a bit choosey - they do offer warnings for some of them, and they are the better laugh (or scare, depending on your outlook). The dungeon is good too, underneath Waverley Station.

Been hearing a couple of good reviews about an "Escape Room" near Holyrood - Can You Escape? Think you may need to book though.....

Dynamic Earth is good too! And take the open-topped bus - it always pisses down in Edinburgh, so why they have no tops I'll never know! Pack warm gear too, as the wind will cut you in half at this time of year!

Enjoy, I love going through there for a weekend, but it's a **** of a city to work in......

 

My daughter got married at the castle & that would be good tour, pubs stacks of them on the mad mile.

 

Thanks everyone

 

Cheers 9's......already booked into Kylo for one evening

 

I'm off to Amsterdam in a few hours. Has anyone done the Heineken tour and can recommend or not? Might want a break from the *usual* Amsterdam stuff at some point.

 

Not done that. But if you get hungry at any stage head to an Indonesian restaurant (lots of them) and have the ‘rice table’ best if you have 4 or more people.

 

Did it about 15 years ago, may have changed but it was interesting however it's still excuse for the **** beer