Things to do and see in Edinburgh

The Penny Black may well be open earlier than that - it is long since I tried. They basically close for 10 mins to sweep the floor, then reopen. It's an alright boozer for its type (it is up some stairs) and dead handy for the bus station too!

Special buses for festival time? Only ones that drive at tourists.

I think when you posted Ally, BRMC had just come on and it made suitable background music for Richard to tell me of all his crimes.

People at the Corn Exchange kept coming up to us and being weird, including someone middle aged of indeterminate gender and long blonde harit who thought I was very handsome and in Franz Ferdinand and then told me he/she used to be in the New York Dolls and disappeared.

2ManyDJs were pretty fun. I can't remember. But I don't like the Corn Exchange.

I should eat something.

Brass Monkey
Royal Oak
City Cafe

this is very funny.

I've been to the Royal Oak once but it was very late and i was very pissed so my recollections are a bit hazy.

The City Caff does lovely cooked breakfasts, don't think i've ever been there at night.

perhaps she just has one of those kinds of faces

(whatever that means)

the subsequent couple of times were ok too - sort of lackadaisical barman, but got served at least

last time, no less than 3 barmen stood there all ignoring us for about 10 seconds, no-one else waiting, then some cheeky wee twat with 'something about mary' type hair gel thing going on looks straight over my mate's shoulder and serves someone who has just walked in

A: 'was there any particular reason for that?'
Twunt-Barman: (smirking)'no, none at all mate'
A: 'so we'd be as well just fucking off right now then wouldn't we?'
Twunt-Barman: (laughs)

while this exchange is going on, i'm asked by a diff barman whether we're being served - but A has turned and walked out, so i have to follow...

i have no idea what the twunt's problem was

apart from the obvious

Can anyone recommend some record stores/cool shops/cafes/things to do in Edinburgh (that are definitely still in operation - this thread's pretty old school!)... I have a 4 day work trip coming up.... thank you!

Avalanche records on Cockburn Street, on the corner just up the steps from the station.

this book/record/t-shirt/print shop is great

http://www.analoguebooks.co.uk/

I don't know where in town you're going to be based but I would say that you want to venture away from Princes Street as much as you can.

Edinburgh's one of those cities that's compact enough (well the centre anyway) that walking is probably the best option if it's not totally pouring down with rain. You'll get a better sense of the place and come across more interesting stuff if you do that.

Thanks a lot, guys. I am staying at a fancy pants Sheraton across from the Castle, as I understand it. It looks like the book shop and Avalanche are both within walking distance. Any good places to eat?

The same request, but five and a half years later. Record stores (since I've been here, I went to one called "Unknown Pleasures" and found a couple 90s punk LPs I was excited about, but haven't seen other shops)? Any interesting restaurants? It's Fringe time, so it's madness everywhere, but anything you can recommend for someone here for a couple more weeks would be much appreciated...

classic thred

I haven't been up in six months but I've heard good things about the Potting Shed on Potterrow (site of the former Native State). It's run by the people behind the fantastic Sun Inn in Dalkeith (which in itself is more than worth a visit if you don't mind heading half an hour outside of the city) but is a bit more bar-food focused, and supposedly quite good value. Beer from Meantime/Camden/the like.

I'm also dead fond of Blonde on St Leonards (over the road and up a wee bit from the pleasance). Not too pricey, really good food.

I'm way out of the loop on record shops, but I used to like Elvis Shakespeare on Leith Walk (if it's still there..!)

Thanks for those.

To follow up with my own discoveries from wandering the city on the record shop front, a place with the horrible name Underground Solu'shn is a really nice little indie shop with mostly new vinyl, but along the lines I'm into (weird re-issues / Light in the Attic, Numero, that kind of thing). That's on Cockburn Street right off the Royal Mile. I thought Avalanche was kind of a mess. I know people like that kind of digging (huge stacks everywhere, most things beat to hell (probably from after arriving in the shop), little organization), but I just get kind of overwhelmed and couldn't find anything, really. Some stuff seemed a bit expensive or was in boxes saying "just ask," which is weird.
I don't know how far I am from Leith Walk, but I'll see if I can find Elvis Shakespeare.

Thanks again!

I didn't realise underground solushn was good for sounds of the universe-type stuff. Will defo go in next time I'm there! I've never been a massive fan of avalanche for the reasons you say, and because the owner seems to spend his life martyring himself on twitter about how they're the last independent record shop on earth and we should be lucky they let us in at all. (I'm probably being unfair here..)

If you're up for a while, Glasgow has always been way better for buying music. IIRC ilxor Krakow can suggest places to go.

Leith Walk runs almost to the centre of town - if you know where the John Lewis behind the east end of Princes Street is, it's basically just down a bit and on the other side of the roundabout. It's a long road so Leith itself is a bit further out, but if you want some respite from people on stilts throwing flyers at you it's a nice place to go. Lots of really nice pubs and restaurants around the shore. I'm sure it's changed a lot even in the past year but if I was eating down there I'd go to the King's Wark or Fishers.

Hope you have fun!

Avalanche would have been my suggestion, and Vinyl Villains on elm row - cant remember the last time I was in there though. What part of Edinburgh is 'local' to you while you're here?
If you already know Cockburn Street, there's a great Mexican place - Viva Mexico that I'd recommend for food (was in there last Friday and it wasn't crazy busy in spite of the festival). Also, Chez Jules if you want some decent, cheap ish French food. Can never remember what street that's on, possibly Hanover street? One of those ones that run parallel to each other off princes street anyway.

Oh and, yeah, as above you can't go too far wrong down the shore in leith. Lots of good bars and restaurants. Bar wise I'd recommend The Vintage, and Sophie's. dunno what the food's like in those though.

Ate at Viva Mexico yesterday - thanks! I'm sort of right in the middle of the Royal Mile (I'm here for the Fringe for one more week, though mercifully not walking on stilts, flyering). I'm hoping I'll get a long morning off to go Leith - I appreciate all the tips.

what should we take care not to miss (on vacation with an 8yo)?

My daughter was just there for a few days, visiting my sister. She recommends all the stuff that inspired Harry Potter! Cafes, alleys. etc. And there's a castle or something to see, but she says don't take the tour, take the ... go to see the war memorial, and that gives you access to the castle? Also, she hiked up Arthur's Peak and said it was pretty.

Bump

what should we take care not to miss (on vacation with an 8yo)?

LOL. I'd say boozers, but I don't know if your 8 year old drinks.

Mary Kings Close is a good tour if you are or are accompanying an 8 year old who is not easily spooked.

bizarro otm

Sculpture park and gallery Jupiter Artland on the outskirts of Edinburgh is an absolute must.

https://culturenl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/jupiter-artland.jpg

https://www.jupiterartland.org/

I wouldn't book in advance, I'd just wait for the nicest day of your visit.

Thank you!