In a picnic frame of mind
Head to the Saturday morning farmers’ market at the foot of the Edinburgh Castle where you can snack on a fine organic sausage bap or deliciously virtuous porridge. Then stock up on perfect pies and gourmet crisps.
Time for tea
Elephant House coffee and tea shop is as famous for its clientele as it is for its Arabica coffee; J.K. Rowling wrote some of her early Harry Potter novels here, and Ian Rankin, author of the Rebus novels, has also been a frequent customer. A warm, friendly atmosphere.
Fill those baskets
The team at Manna House on Easter Road bake overnight, every night, to ensure maximum freshness for their cakes and breads. Famous for extravagant meringues, the sweet treats range from muffins and madeleines to slabs of light and moist carrot or banana cake. There’s a small number of tables and bar stools to rest up on while you indulge. Stockbridge is the place to head on Sunday morning for a renowned farmers’ market.
Eat well
Gardener’s Cottage on London Road is a gem of a place. Ingredients are plucked straight from the garden outside and cooked in a teeny kitchen. The results are brilliantly inventive. There’s vinyl playing and the best Bloody Marys anywhere. Brunch on Arbroath smokies or feast on roe deer or halibut.
Leith waterfront is the place to find The Kitchin, one of the first places to put the area on the culinary map. The Shore is home to some of the city’s best eateries. The Ship on the Shore offers superb steamed Shetland mussels and other dishes from the sea, alongside champagne.
thekitchin.com
theshipontheshore.co.uk
Lay your head
The Chester Residence is made up of 23 luxuriously contemporary Georgian townhouse apartments in Edinburgh’s chic West End.
Experience a room with some quirky history, Edinburgh’s Hotel du Vin has been poorhouse, asylum and science lab – none of which boatsed a roll top bath and softy robe! It’s boutique hotel guise is the best yet with al fresco dining or a nightcap in the Whisky Snug.
Diary date
Go West and set out on the Seafood Trail, a driving route that links 11 different Scottish establishments offering the best local seafood and oysters.
theseafoodtrail.comwww.theseafoodtrail.com
