Best Cafes & Culture Neighborhoods in Edinburgh

Edinburgh may be the most naturally cafe-and-culture-friendly city in Britain, with a compact center that places world-class museums, historic sites, and atmospheric coffee shops within minutes of each other. The city's dramatic topography -- the castle rock, the volcanic Arthur's Seat, the Georgian New Town -- means even walking between venues is a visual experience.

The National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street is a spectacular free museum whose Grand Gallery alone -- a soaring Victorian iron-and-glass hall -- justifies a visit. The collections range from Scottish history to world cultures to science and technology. The museum cafe is good, but the coffee shops on Forrest Road and Bristo Place just outside are better -- Brew Lab is a specialty coffee spot with a loyal following.

The Scottish National Gallery on the Mound sits between the Old and New Towns, with a collection that includes Raeburn, Ramsay, and a superb group of Impressionist paintings. In summer, the outdoor cafe overlooking Princes Street Gardens is a fine place to sit. The connected Royal Scottish Academy hosts temporary exhibitions that frequently rival anything in London.

The Old Town's closes and wynds -- narrow passages leading off the Royal Mile -- are cultural experiences in themselves. Writers' Museum in Lady Stair's Close celebrates Burns, Scott, and Stevenson. The Real Mary King's Close takes you beneath the Royal Mile into preserved 17th century streets.

For coffee, Edinburgh has a thriving specialty scene. Artisan Roast on Broughton Street, Cairngorm Coffee on Frederick Street, and The Milkman on Cockburn Street are all excellent. The Elephant House on George IV Bridge is famous as a place where J.K. Rowling wrote early Harry Potter chapters, but the coffee at the nearby Black Medicine Coffee Co is better.

Performing arts are world-class year-round, not just in August. The Traverse Theatre on Cambridge Street is Scotland's new writing theatre and programs bold contemporary work. The Usher Hall hosts the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and visiting ensembles. The Edinburgh Playhouse and Festival Theatre share touring productions between them. The Filmhouse on Lothian Road -- check if it has reopened after its recent difficulties -- was the city's best independent cinema.