Emily’s guidebook
Portobello Guidebook
A guide to the bohemian seaside district of Portobello.
A relaxed and stylish cafe bar and restaurant. They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch and late-night drinks. The food is often seasonal and local with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available. Also a nice place to grab a glass of wine or a beer in the evenings.
47 locals recommend
Skylark
243 Portobello High StA relaxed and stylish cafe bar and restaurant. They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch and late-night drinks. The food is often seasonal and local with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available. Also a nice place to grab a glass of wine or a beer in the evenings.
An award-winning family run bar in a big old stone house right on the beach. There is a big outdoor seating space leading onto the beach at the front and a cosy little cider garden out the back. You can get your drinks in plastic cups so that you can take them onto the beach. Frequent live folk and acoustic music, usually from Wed-Sun. They serve snacks on the weekends up until 3 pm. There is an open fire inside for when the sea breezes are chilly.
41 locals recommend
Dalriada
An award-winning family run bar in a big old stone house right on the beach. There is a big outdoor seating space leading onto the beach at the front and a cosy little cider garden out the back. You can get your drinks in plastic cups so that you can take them onto the beach. Frequent live folk and acoustic music, usually from Wed-Sun. They serve snacks on the weekends up until 3 pm. There is an open fire inside for when the sea breezes are chilly.
Comfy pub and restaurant on the beachfront with outdoor seating on the promenade. A nice place to watch the moonrise. Serving food all day with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Dog friendly.
275 locals recommend
The Shore Restaurant
1 ShoreComfy pub and restaurant on the beachfront with outdoor seating on the promenade. A nice place to watch the moonrise. Serving food all day with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Dog friendly.
A stylish brunch, brunch and dinner spot on the promenade. Fresh and locally sourced food, homemade cakes, coffees and a wide selection of soft and alcoholic drinks. Outdoor seating on the promenade. Dog friendly.
23 locals recommend
Miros
25-25a PromenadeA stylish brunch, brunch and dinner spot on the promenade. Fresh and locally sourced food, homemade cakes, coffees and a wide selection of soft and alcoholic drinks. Outdoor seating on the promenade. Dog friendly.
A licenced cafe selling organic and locally sourced food. Outdoor seating on the promenade. There is also a handsome ginger cat who sometimes dozes in a cardboard box behind the homemade gelato and ice-cream counter. One of the earliest places on the promenade open, so good for morning coffee. I sometimes buy a coconut milk mocha and stroll along the promenade.
81 locals recommend
The Beach House
57 Bath StA licenced cafe selling organic and locally sourced food. Outdoor seating on the promenade. There is also a handsome ginger cat who sometimes dozes in a cardboard box behind the homemade gelato and ice-cream counter. One of the earliest places on the promenade open, so good for morning coffee. I sometimes buy a coconut milk mocha and stroll along the promenade.
A proper old-school pub full of locals. Friendly and down to earth. You always get good chat from the locals. Expect classic beer and spirits. Don't expect fancy cocktails.
Ormelie Tavern
44 Joppa Rd.A proper old-school pub full of locals. Friendly and down to earth. You always get good chat from the locals. Expect classic beer and spirits. Don't expect fancy cocktails.
Authentic Montreal style bagels with a wide range of fillings to suit all tastes.
91 locals recommend
Bross Bagels
6 Manderston StAuthentic Montreal style bagels with a wide range of fillings to suit all tastes.
An award-winning, non-profit social enterprise making healthy bread using fully organic ingredients and slow fermentation techniques.
You can buy bread and cakes from the bakery, and they also serve coffees, teas and other light snacks.
They also do community outreach, workshops and farmer's markets to educate and spread awareness of the nutritional benefits of real bread. I have heard good things about their bread baking courses.
7 locals recommend
Breadshare Community Bakery
11-12 Seafield Rd EAn award-winning, non-profit social enterprise making healthy bread using fully organic ingredients and slow fermentation techniques.
You can buy bread and cakes from the bakery, and they also serve coffees, teas and other light snacks.
They also do community outreach, workshops and farmer's markets to educate and spread awareness of the nutritional benefits of real bread. I have heard good things about their bread baking courses.
A stylish and friendly little bottle shop selling a wide selection of craft beer from Scotland and beyond. They also sell some beer, cider and wine. Worth going in just to marvel at all of the beautiful bottles and labels.
BEER ZOO
219 Portobello High St A stylish and friendly little bottle shop selling a wide selection of craft beer from Scotland and beyond. They also sell some beer, cider and wine. Worth going in just to marvel at all of the beautiful bottles and labels.
A relaxed cafe and bar dedicated to the 'jaffle' (Australian for toastie/toasted sandwich) with all sorts of delicious fillings. They serve drinks and jaffles late into the evening. Occasional live music, board games and video games.
The Jaffle Joint
87 Portobello High StA relaxed cafe and bar dedicated to the 'jaffle' (Australian for toastie/toasted sandwich) with all sorts of delicious fillings. They serve drinks and jaffles late into the evening. Occasional live music, board games and video games.
A tiny little bakery selling authentic Greek sweet and savoury treats, and coffee.
18 locals recommend
Greek Artisan Pastries
32-34 Portobello High StA tiny little bakery selling authentic Greek sweet and savoury treats, and coffee.
The best fishmonger for miles around. As well as a wide variety of fresh fish they also sell little plastic cups of pickled mussels that you can take out to Fisherrow Harbour or the beach. Lots of nice South Asian condiments too.
Clark Bros
224 New StThe best fishmonger for miles around. As well as a wide variety of fresh fish they also sell little plastic cups of pickled mussels that you can take out to Fisherrow Harbour or the beach. Lots of nice South Asian condiments too.
I'm not saying that you SHOULD go and get a pirate tattoo because you are staying on the beach, I am just saying that you could.
St.Clair's Tattoo
84 Portobello High StI'm not saying that you SHOULD go and get a pirate tattoo because you are staying on the beach, I am just saying that you could.
A short walk from the flat, Twelve Triangles does incredible coffee, pastries, sourdough breads and doughnuts, all from their own Edinburgh bakery. They also open at 8.30, so are good for an early morning coffee.
171 locals recommend
Twelve Triangles
90 Brunswick StA short walk from the flat, Twelve Triangles does incredible coffee, pastries, sourdough breads and doughnuts, all from their own Edinburgh bakery. They also open at 8.30, so are good for an early morning coffee.
The closest supermarket to the flat. Sells all of the usual groceries, food, alcohol, etc.
457 locals recommend
Sainsbury's Local
45 Bernard StThe closest supermarket to the flat. Sells all of the usual groceries, food, alcohol, etc.
ALDI
Gilmerton RoadThe biggest and cheapest supermarket in Portobello.
Situated directly on the beachfront, beautiful restored Victorian baths with the last remaining publicly open 'hot-air' Turkish baths in Scotland.
42 locals recommend
Portobello Swim Centre
57 The PromenadeSituated directly on the beachfront, beautiful restored Victorian baths with the last remaining publicly open 'hot-air' Turkish baths in Scotland.
Lindsay & Gilmour Pharmacy
11 Elm RowThe closest pharmacy to the flat.
COVE
250 Portobello High StGift shop selling work by local artists and craft makers.
The Velvet Easel is a contemporary art gallery which exhibits an eclectic range of modern art by local, Scottish and international artists. The gallery offers a rolling programme of mixed exhibitions which includes exhibits by painters, printmakers, ceramicists and jewellery makers.
7 locals recommend
The Velvet Easel Gallery
298 Portobello High StThe Velvet Easel is a contemporary art gallery which exhibits an eclectic range of modern art by local, Scottish and international artists. The gallery offers a rolling programme of mixed exhibitions which includes exhibits by painters, printmakers, ceramicists and jewellery makers.