Thistle Street Bar Recommends
We’re passionate about Edinburgh and we just love sharing our passion with others. So, here are some suggestions for things to do and places to stay, eat, drink and visit while in Scotland’s capital city based purely on our own experiences. We also run our own historical walking tours and can arrange a personal guide to show you around if you would prefer to get some insider knowledge from a born & bred local.
Scroll down the page for a snapshot of our personal recommendations and click on the pics of the venues to be redirected to their websites. We hope you find it useful.
Sláinte
Robert Shepherd
Landlord
Where to Stay
There is no shortage of places to stay in Edinburgh with a wide variety of accommodation styles available from floating hotels to self-catering apartments. Here are just two of our own recommendations.
Destination Edinburgh
York Place
This Edinburgh-based company offers self-catering accommodation within Georgian apartments in York Place, right in the heart of the New Town and within walking distance of all local amenities
Thistle Short Stays
Thistle Short Stays offers self catering accommodation for leisure or corporate guests. Each property is furnished with all of the comforts of home including a fully-equipped kitchen, bed linen, towels, TV, free WiFI, and more.
Where to Shop
If you’re looking for some kilts, clothing accessories or interesting and often unique souvenirs which are all made in Scotland, here are some of our recommendations
Tron Kirk Market
Royal Mile
The Tron Kirk Market is a welcoming modern market bringing together artists and designers from all over Scotland to the iconic Tron Kirk on the Royal Mile.
Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers
St Mary's Street
Looking to buy or hire a beautiful handmade kilt? Gordon Nicolson offers the complete bespoke Highlandwear tailoring experience.
Scottish Textiles Showcase
St Mary's Street
Working directly with Scottish wool mills and independent artisans all over Scotland, from the far flung Highlands and Islands to the southern Border country.
Celtic Design
Rose Street
Genuine Celtic Jewelry, designed in Scotland with traditional and modern designs that radiate elegance and charm. This image shown is of a pendant inlaid with Scottish marble.
Mackenzie Leather
St Mary's Street
Mackenzie Leather Edinburgh is a traditional leather artisan shop producing the finest quality leather bags, briefcases, belts and accessories on-site, by skilled craftsmen.
Black Moon Botanica
Thistle Street & Candlemaker Row
Offering a personally curated collection of beautiful tarot, artwork, sustainably sourced crystals, herbs, books, and importantly, handmade artisan candles.
Where to Eat
Here are just a handful of Edinburgh restaurants and diners we recommend based on our own personal experiences. Bon appetit.
Howies
Waterloo Place
A stunning Georgian building, high ceilings, light and airy built in 1815. An iconic Edinburgh landmark at the foot of Calton Hill, a 5 minute walk from Waverley Station. 15 minutes walk from Howies Victoria Street.
Fishers In The City
Thistle Street
Fishers in the City is set in an old converted warehouse on Thistle Street and is perfect for a casual lunch or evening out. A firm favourite with locals and visitors to the city for over 10 years.
Cannonball Restaurant
Castlehill
Owned by the Contini family, Cannonball Restaurant serves Scottish Brasserie style dining serving the very best of locally-sourced seasonal produce
Dusit
Thistle Street
Quite simply one of the finest Thai restaurants in Edinburgh, if not Scotland. Since it opened in 2002, Dusit has consistently received great reviews from locals and visitors alike. The only downside is that it's just a few doors along from the Thistle Street Bar so we tend to eat there more often than we should!
The Abbotsford Bar & Restaurant
Rose Street
We often get asked about the best place to go for traditional pub food. The Abbotsford has to be around the top of the list. If you like steak pie, fish & chips or sticky toffee pudding, this is the pub to visit.
PIGGS
Canongate
PIGGS wine and tapas bar is a more recent discovery of ours but it's now firmly in our top 10 recommendations. If you love the laid back, Spanish way of life with tasty tapas, fine wines, sherries and vermuts you need to visit.
Where to Drink
Naturally we would like you to visit one of the best traditional pubs in Edinburgh…ours! But, it’s good to know what else our fine city has to offer. Here are some of our recommendations from cask ales to cocktails. Some bars also serve food.
Gleneagles Townhouse,
St Andrew Square
The Gleneagles Townhouse in St Andrew Square is the perfect place for a chilled glass of wine or champagne while you marvel at the architecture and interior design which the New Town is famous for.
The Guildford Arms
West Register Street
This beautiful Victorian pub has been owned by the Stewart family since 1896 and is famous for its wide range of cask & keg beers from across the UK.
Sandy Bell's
Forrest Road
Sandy's...or Bell's, depending on your preference for shortened names, is a local pub and a world-famous meeting place for Scottish & Irish musicians.
Stockbridge Tap
Raeburn Place
The Stockbridge Tap is worth a visit for the great range of beers and fantastic bar snacks including scotch eggs and Baynes steak mince pies.
Panda & Sons
Queen Street
Don't be fooled by the barber's pole and offer of a haircut for 25c! Pass through the bookcase below and enter one of the best speakeasy cocktail bars in town.
The Ensign Ewart
Lawnmarket
It may be just stone's throw from Edinburgh Castle, Scotland's top attraction but the Ensign Ewart is a real pub with good beer and a great selection of whiskies
Bellfield Brewery
Stanley Place (GF, VG)
Winner of 'Taproom of the Year' at the Scottish Beer Awards, Bellfield Brewery creates exceptional, flavoursome beer with the added benefit of being gluten free and vegan which is why we have a dedicated Bellfield tap at the Thistle Street Bar.
The Bow Bar
Victoria Street
Located in one of the busiest streets in the Old Town, the Bow Bar is the eye of the storm; a haven of calm, good beer and whiskies. Just don't expect a pie with your pint after 2pm as they get snapped up early.
The Abbotsford Bar & Restaurant
Rose Street
We've already mentioned the Abbotsford under the 'places to eat' section, but it also serves a decent pint and worth a visit for the beer alone.
What to Do
Edinburgh Castle
From its vantage point atop an extinct volcanic rock, Edinburgh Castle is the most besieged fortress in Britain. It also houses the oldest building in Edinburgh, St Margaret's chapel which dates from 1130. The castle was also the site of the infamous medieval 'Black Dinner' which partly inspired George RR Martin's 'Red Wedding' sequence in Game of Thrones.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Built centuries ago, the Palace of Holyroodhouse was the main residence of Scotland's royal family, the Stewarts (which later became the Stuarts), including Mary Queen of Scots and Prince Charles Edward Stuart during the Jacobite rebellion of 1745.
Riddle's Court, Lawnmarket
Riddle’s Court is a picturesque Category A-listed merchant’s tenement with a 500 year history, located just off the Lawnmarket section of the Royal Mile. James VI & I held a royal banquet here in the late 16th century. You can also stay here or hire it as a wedding venue.
National Museum of Scotland
This is a must-see attraction when visiting Edinburgh. If you are interested in Scottish history, but short on time, head straight to the adjoining New Museum of Scotland (shown above) which tells Scotland's history from the bronze age to the industrial revolution. It's free to enter but leave a small donation if you can.
Greyfriars Bobby
The story of Greyfriars Bobby is well known. In fact Disney has now made two versions of it and the statue is near the National Museum of Scotland. But, if you do decide to visit it please don't rub his nose; it's not a thing and frowned upon by locals.
Burke & Hare: West Port Murders Tour
As seen on Vicky McClure and Jonny Owen's documentary 'Britain's Murder Map' this is the definitive and most accurate tour on the subject of Burke & Hare who murdered 16 people in a 10 month killing spree in Edinburgh in 1828 and sold the bodies to anatomist Dr Robert Knox
Click the pic to find out more.
Calton Hill
A short walk east of Princes Street Calton Hill gives a spectacular 360 view of Edinburgh, the Pentland Hills and over the river Forth to Fife. Calton Hill is also the site of the National Monument, City Observatory and has steps to help you get to the top.
Arthur's Seat
A morning hike to the summit of Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano within Holyrood Park, will waken you up for the day ahead. Take a warm jacket and decent outdoor footwear as it's always cold and windy at the top. Click the picture for a guide to the best way of getting there.
Museum of Edinburgh
The Museum of Edinburgh dates back to the 16th century when the Flodden Wall still surrounded the city and the Canongate was a separate burgh. Here you will see iconic items, beautiful objects and learn fascinating facts and gruesome tales. The museum is well worth a visit and free to enter but leave a small donation if you can.
Dean Village
Dean Village is only a 20 minute walk from the city centre and is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike because of its tranquil setting and beautiful architecture.
Edinburgh Historic Tour
Beginning on the Castle Esplanade, our 3-hour tour will take you across the centuries from the birth of the Old Town to the present day. We will not only cover the key, historic events which took place in our glorious city, but also point out film locations for programmes and movies such as Outlander and Avengers: Infinity War.
Georgian House
In the late 1700s, this grand townhouse was at the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town development. The house was designed by acclaimed Scottish architect Robert Adam and was a true statement of luxury in an era of enlightenment – for those who could afford it.
Click on the pic to find out more