• (Collaboration with Hotels.com) I was challenged to find hidden gems such as galleries, restaurants, bars and hotels in Edinburgh that are slightly off the beaten track. The spending money for this challenge was gifted by Hotels.com, but all views are, of course, my own.

I love Edinburgh and I’m lucky that I live roughly 20 miles away. On the other hand being so close often means that you take it for granted. When I was younger I always went clubbing in Edinburgh (and gigs in Glasgow at the Barras). I can’t go clubbing now but I still love to go out to an art gallery, restaurant or a coffee shop when I can. (Pain and mobility problems, plus a 5 year old make socialising hard). My trusty companion (husband) and I decided to start our Edinburgh adventure with lunch at the wonderful Timberyard in the Old Town. I love this part of Edinburgh although if you have walking difficulties/wheelchair user this isn’t the easiest place to navigate. It’s all cobbles and winding alleys. It’s positively medieval (which funnily enough it is). History is very much alive and breathing in Edinburgh’s Old Town.

Timberyard is just off the Grassmarket. You can’t miss it on Lady Lawson Street, its bright red exterior doors belie the calm Scandinavian inspired interior. The restaurant sits inside a brick warehouse where exposed timber, candles and other natural textures soften the starkness of the stone. The food here is all mindfully thought through and sourced from small local growers, foragers and Timberyard’s own garden. What I especially loved about Timberyard was the experimentation. I had endive which I had never heard of before (this is part of the vegetarian menu at Timberyard). One of the staff, I think he was one of the family members who run Timberyard, explained what the vegetable was and I never felt as if I were being spoken down to, rather he was excited that I was trying something I had never experienced before. For main I had a celeriac dish, while my husband had cured meats and pickles for starters and salt cod, smoked roe with vegetables (you can have a look at the current menu here– the vegetarian option isn’t shown).

Timberyard have an incredible drinks menu too with unusual cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks which myself and husband had (I had Apple and Fir while my husband had Sour Elderflower). The atmosphere was so nice in there that before we knew it we’d already been in for 2 hours. The service was brilliant too, we were made to feel very welcome. We’ll definitely be back!

After our lovely lunch we wandered round to one of my favourite places ever, I’m not exaggerating either! I have been visiting Lovecrumbs for years now, since it opened in fact. It’s became a firm favourite with locals too so if you go it can be difficult to get a seat. Lovecrumbs is just around the corner from Timberyard in an area known locally as the ‘pubic triangle’ (I’m in a cafe writing this and I’m finding it difficult not to laugh out very loudly). It’s called this glorious name due to their being quite a few adult dancing establishments in the area, but it’s not a seedy area honestly so don’t let that put you off! There’s also amazing second hand book shop packed to the roof with old books and Armstrong’s Vintage is also there so it’s definitely worth a visit! Lovecrumbs cakes are like little squidgy, sugary pieces of heaven. I had the chocolate and lavender cake which was insanely good. Lovecrumbs also cater to vegans and vegetarians, with their vegan cakes some of the best I’ve tried. You *have* to include Lovecrumbs in a visit to Edinburgh.

Heading back up to the Grassmarket you pass lots of little interesting little shops and cafes. This is also where Edinburgh College of Art is. If you’re in the area at the start of June you can catch the ECA degree show where you might get a glimpse of a future art star. By this time I was needing a seat again. One of the things about having walking difficulties and pain is that you have to find places to rest. If you don’t have walking difficulties like I do or not a wheelchair user Edinburgh is actually really easy to navigate. It’s a small city that’s easily walkable, there’s also trams and buses, and of course taxis. If I could I think I would have stayed the night in the stunning Linton Collection Blackfriars Lofts, they look incredible. As does Eden Locke.

One of the places I just happened to decide to rest was one of the best cocktail bars in Edinburgh, The Dragonfly, what a bit of lucky happenstance! Edinburgh has an amazing cocktail bar scene with Dragonfly being one of the bars to kick start this little revolution in Edinburgh. Now there are loads with the likes of Panda & Sons one of the best.

Despite knowing about Dragonfly this was the first time I had actually been in it. They have an extensive cocktail menu and some being designed especially for the ‘gram (not my words btw, they’re actually described as that). They didn’t have my favourite cocktail on the menu but the knowledgeable bartenders will make anything for you. My Bramble was perfect with a nice little kick to it. Again this is a place to while away the time either romantically or with a group of friends. Another place I’ll definitely be returning too.

I was getting really sore by this point so we decided to go back to the car and drive over to Stockbridge and Dean Village before calling it a day. Stockbridge is to the north of the Old Town, just touching the New Town (which is actually not very new, it started being built in the 18th giving it that very distinguishable Georgian architecture). St Stephen Street has all kinds of wonderful things in one place; restaurants, vintage boutiques, another Lovecrumbs (yay!), Stockbridge Market (on Sundays) and a very aesthetically pleasing lifestyle and massage shop called Method.

Nearby is one of the most instagrammable places in Edinburgh, and arguably Scotland (although Scotland is totally ‘grammable- just making up words as I go along). Dean Village is fairytale beautiful (have a look at the hashtag on Instagram to get an idea of it). Unfortunately it was dark by the time we got there and I was pretty wiped out so I don’t have any of my own photos. If you’re visiting Dean Village definitely needs to be included in your trip. Dean Village sits alongside the Water of Leith, the river that runs through Edinburgh. You can take a leisurely stroll west where you’ll find the National Galleries of Modern Art. Modern 2 (which was previously named Dean Gallery) is another place that I really love. Within this gallery is some of the best Surrealist and Dada pieces, plus it has a cabinet of curiosities and Sir Penrose’s library which are absolutely fascinating.

A couple of other art galleries/spaces I want to quickly mention as I think they’re amazing hidden gems of Edinburgh is the contemporary art gallery The Fruitmarket Gallery and the newly opened Collective on Carlton Hill. I haven’t yet been to Collective yet but even if you aren’t that into art the views from Carlton Hill are breathtaking and there’s also the National Monument of Scotland, which is modelled on the Parthenon. Not for nothing is Edinburgh known as the Athens of the North.

I honestly could go on as you can probably tell from the length of this post! Edinburgh has some of the best streets including Cockburn Street which is definitely worth a mention, and Rose Street too. I haven’t even touched on Leith! Or the castle, the zoo, the Botanical Gardens, the Voodoo Rooms, The Playhouse, the comedy clubs, nightclubs… you get the idea. Edinburgh has lots and lots to offer.

Do you have a favourite place in Edinburgh to go to?

(*my food etc was paid for but all my meandering thoughts, as always, my own.)

Tags: art, culture, disability, edinburgh, lifestyle