At boom saloon, we’re incredibly privileged to collaborate with a community of hundreds of talented creatives all around the world, stretching from Ecuador to Egypt, China to Canada, Austria to Angola. Our strong relations have afforded us a wealth of insider insights into the best places to visit, eat and stay, all around the world. Now, we want to share this information with you as we work with our community to map the world and share their best recommendations of how to enjoy destinations both near and far. Our version of a city guide, delivered interactively and in real time – curated for all to enjoy and presented as a saveable Google Map for our members to download and bookmark a wealth of future adventures.

For our latest instalment, we’re looking closer to home as we curate our teams’ favourite places in and around Edinburgh. Having spent the majority of September on the road, we’re enjoying casting our gaze in and around our doorstep to make the most of the wealth of exciting places our home city has to offer. So often we overlook the potential closest to hand, and so we hope this curated list encourages any fellow Edinburgh dwellers to try somewhere new or revisit an old favourite long overdue a visit. 

01_Elliott’s

A firm favourite for a lunch time treat or pick-me-up cake, Elliott’s is hard to beat for both food and atmosphere. Having expanded from the single café to also include a shop, studio and events space, be sure to keep an eye out for a whole host of happenings above and beyond a takeaway sarnie.

02_Scotsman cinema

Very much a hidden gem, The Scotsman’s Picture House offers an exclusive and intimate experience harking back to the days of cinematic opulence. Enjoy cocktails and snacks in the specially renovated, 48 seat venue, nestled beneath one of Edinburgh’s plushest hotels.

03_Noto

A rare example of a restaurant which gets everything right; from the perfectly selected soundtrack to the soothing interiors to the distance between each individual table. Peaceful, delicious and welcoming – be sure to order the North Sea Crab, which is unmissable. 

04_Timberyard

Edinburgh’s finest, serving better-than-fine-dining at modest prices. Family run, the restaurant sits within a 19th Century warehouse and focuses on ingredient led cooking created with respect to nature and produce sourced from Scotland’s larder.

05_Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill

Arthur’s Seat is often top of many visitors’ hitlists, but avoid the crowds and head to Blackford Hill instead for some of the best views across the city. Particularly pleasing in Autumn, stroll through the Hermitage of Braid en route to enjoy the changing of the leaves amongst a backdrop of calm right within the city. 

06_Jupiter Artland

An outdoor art gallery to rival any other, Jupiter Artland presents a unique opportunity to view contemporary sculpture created in response to, and in dialogue with, the surrounding landscape. To really make the most of your visit, be sure to make it to the X Muse Temple, designed by Formafantasma; alongside Joana Vasconcelos’s Gateway – which includes a fully functioning swimming pool which can be enjoyed during the summer months. 

07_Bridge 8

An outdoor centre which places community at the heart of everything it does, it’s hard not to feel part of the family after even a single visit. Hire a canoe and head out along the canal [via gravity defying viaduct] for one of the most peaceful ways of exploring the city. Our top tip? Stop off at the Bridge Inn for a satisfying pit-stop before ambling back along the picturesque waterway.

08_Stills

With a long history of supporting the advancement, enjoyment, exploration and understanding of photography in Scotland, Stills has secured its place as the city’s top go-to for all things photography related. Above and beyond the exquisite gallery space, the centre also offers a number of courses, access to production facilities and events to support photographers throughout their career and nurture the medium within Scotland.

09_The Last Word

In our opinion, Edinburgh’s best cocktail spot. Dark and atmospheric, with a roaring fire in the winter and an intriguing cocktail list to sample. Order off menu for the city’s finest [and our long standing favourite] drink, the Saint James.

10_Mistral, Spry, Eleanore

Don’t miss these three spots if you’re looking for the best places in the city to enjoy a skilfully selected glass of wine. Each offers something slightly different – from Mistral’s friendly neighbourhood atmosphere to Spry’s polished excellence and Eleanore’s fantastic menu. None to be outdone. 

11_Ingleby

A long standing, consistently ambitious space, Ingleby showcases a program of exhibitions and off-site projects by established and emerging artists. boom saloon favourites Callum Innes, Thomas Joshua Cooper and Katie Paterson all enjoy a home within Ingleby, and the quality of both exhibitions and publications under the gallery’s umbrella are testament to the vision of the project.

12_Fortitude

For a hot chocolate, plus the infamous marshmallow; enough said.

13_Aurora

Intimate, independent, ingenious. Eschewing tradition, the Aurora team throw focus on their time spent travelling to inform their experimental modern European cuisine.  Refined yet exciting, unusual yet delicious.

14_Sierra Metro

As an independent gallery, creative studio space and coffee shop, Sierra Metro offers something for all – from a flat white to a workspace to an exhibition. The curated programme is currently on hiatus, but filling its place is a dynamic, exciting collection of associate events worth keeping an eye out for. 

15_Porteous Studio

A peaceful, architect designed retreat in the heart of the city, Porteous Studio offers a warm and peaceful holiday home to escape to after a busy day in the city. Filled with specifically commissioned Scottish design, it’s a true showcase of the breadth of Scotland’s creative talents across industries.