DINNER
CAFE ST HONORE
34 Thistle Street
This is a welcome sight after the shiny bars of George Street. The French menu changes daily and comprises locally sourced, seasonal produce. LB
CREELERS RESTAURANT
3 Hunter Square
If seafood is your thing, this place won't disappoint. The fish is brought in daily by the owners from their smokehouse on the Isle of Arran. Gordon Brander, display pilot
ATRIUM
10 Cambridge Street
Based in the same building as the Traverse Theatre, this is a superb stop for a bite before or after a show. Sam Holcroft, playwright
STAY
THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE HOTEL
15 Calton Hill
Among the monuments on Calton Hill, this tiny boutique hotel has a central location and is easy on the purse strings. Meg Monteith,
music promotions
DRINKS
THE ABBOTSFORD
3-5 Rose Street
For a real-ale bar, the Abbotsford hits the spot. Settle in at the circular bar for the evening. GB
HECTOR'S BAR
47-49 Deanhaugh Street
Hector's Bar in trendy Stockbridge has a cosy atmosphere with leather sofas and an open fire for those winter nights. Great if you're trying to impress. Michael Evans, surveyor
SHOPPING
ARMSTRONGS
83 The Grassmarket
Established in 1840, Armstrongs is a Tardis-like treasure trove of costume, vintage clothing, quirky accessories and antique uniforms. You can pick up cashmere for a snip of the price you'd normally pay on the high street. LB
MR WOOD'S FOSSILS
5 Cowgatehead
A unique shop full of local and international fossils and with a startling blue shop front adorned with paintings. LB
AVALANCHE RECORDS
63 Cockburn Street
Scotland's largest independent music shop is heaven if you're searching for cool CDs and books. MM
FOOD SHOPPING
EDINBURGH FARMERS' MARKET Castle Terrace
In the shadow of the castle, every Saturday this farmers' market offers a great range of fresh food, from wild boar to duck eggs. You can find everything you need for a feast. Gordon Innes, property manager
S LUCA
10 Morningside Road
The Luca family have been making delicious ice cream in Edinburgh for more than 100 years. The original shop was opened in 1908 in the town of Musselburgh, and now there's a branch in Morningside. GI
PECKHAM'S
Family-owned deli-restaurant with two branches in the city. Its display of delectable cheesecakes could make a grown woman cry.
Anna Borthwick, product executive
DEMIJOHN
32 Victoria Street
A 'liquid deli' in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town offering a plethora of unusual liqueurs, whiskies, wines and spirits
from small British outfits. You'll be hard-pushed to leave the place sober. Michael Paul, internet marketing
DAY OUT
LEITH
Leith and the old docks area is pretty much a self-contained town within Edinburgh, away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. These days it has stylish bars, a Michelin-starred restaurant, modern architecture, shopping at Ocean Terminal and the Royal Yacht Britannia. Graham Little, RAF officer
GULLANE BEACH
A walk on the sand dunes of Gullane beach on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth always blows away the city cobwebs. The beach has golden sands and is often deserted. GI
A PERFECT SUNDAY
Seek out the Parliament building and the dramatic cliffs of the Salisbury Crags that jut out on your way up Arthur's Seat. On the other side is the tiny, picturesque village of Duddingston, which is next to a small loch and a ruined 15th-century chapel. A fuel stop at the oldest pub in Scotland, the Sheep Heid Inn, is mandatory. It has plenty of fine Scottish fare and a wide range of beers to quench your thirst. LB
Laura Brander works for BBC World News and BBC World Service.
