Edinburgh: New places to visit this summer

Edinburgh’s Old Town and New Town feature some of the most well-known buildings and streets in Europe, but Edinburgh is a city that’s always changing. For every grand old church there’s an exciting new bar to check out; for every historic venue, there’s a new hotel, attraction or exhibition that’s just opened its doors.

New Food and Drink in Edinburgh

The Royal Mile has been at the heart of the city ever since King David I rolled into town in the 1100s and started developing the long sloping road down from Castlehill. At the heart of the Royal Mile, Luckenbooths is the latest venture from the Bon Vivant Group behind some of Edinburgh’s coolest bars and restaurants. Named after the 15th-century tenements that once stood on the iconic site, it’s the perfect all-day venue, serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner in a cool, stylish atmosphere. The family-run venue also features an outside terrace at the centre of the Old Town that’s ideal for people-watching.

Interior of Luckenbooths restaurant on the Royal Mile. Photo: Forever Edinburgh

From some of Edinburgh’s oldest buildings to one of its newest, the Bonnie & Wild food market at the St James Quarter – the city's newest shopping district – has a couple of new vendors to check out. Radge Chaat, the street food-inspired venture from Edinburgh restaurateur Tony Singh, has been lighting up Tollcross with amazingly colourful Indian dishes, and now it’s moved across town to the St James Quarter. Bonnie & Wild has also welcomed the brilliant, award-winning burgers from El Perro Negro; their Top Dog, with bone marrow butter and black truffle mayo, is incredible.

Heading north, Leith's unique character dates back hundreds of years – it's only officially been part of Edinburgh since 1920 – and that energy has remained intact despite the area's recent transformation. In the past few decades, Leith has gone from industrial port to one of Europe's coolest neighbourhoods, a creative hub and bustling foodie destination. If you fancy a spritz and a light bite, check out Bittersweet which opened last month on Henderson Street, a Leith street that's a historic home for the Italian diaspora in the city. The cocktail bar near the vibrant waterfront at The Shore is a slice of Italian aperitivo culture in Edinburgh, with drinks devised by Old Poison, a craft distillery based out of a 1940s biscuit factory a brief walk away.

Elsewhere in Leith, the fantastic Eleanore on Leith Walk have been blowing away Edinburgh diners with their exciting flavours and precise, skilful cooking since opening their doors at the turn of the year. Meanwhile, up in Newington, Ikigai Ramen have just opened a super-cool second location in the shadow of the University of Edinburgh (and directly above the world-famous 18th century vaults) on South Bridge.

New Edinburgh hotels and places to stay

India Buildings, on the corner of Victoria Street, has been part of the Old Town’s architecture for centuries. Built in 1864, it was once home to the city's Registry Office, and it's part of a cluster of buildings that includes the city's Central Library and a host of Edinburgh Festival Fringe venues. This summer it will open in its new guise as the Virgin Hotel (the brand's first hotel in Europe), retaining many of the Buildings' original features while offering a cutting-edge experience including multiple bars and regular live music. There's also plenty for four-legged residents to look forward to, as Virgin Hotel's Pet Perks mean a comfy bed, dog-friendly environment and snazzy bandana await your pooch on their trip to Edinburgh. 

Artist's impression of The Commons Club Bar at the Virgin Hotel Edinburgh. Photo: Virgin Hotels/ Forever Edinburgh 

The Virgin Hotel will be joined by Gleneagles Townhouse, which will bring glamour and charm to the former Bank of Scotland building on St Andrew Square. There are 33 rooms, original features throughout, and a rooftop bar with views across the city. 100 Princes Street is another boutique hotel reviving a piece of the city’s history, opening later in 2022. Having started out as a hotel in the 1800s, 100 Princes Street is now the first Scottish hotel from the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, and features a hand-painted mural in its central staircase.

This winter, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced it will debut the iconic W Hotels brand in Scotland. The W Edinburgh will open its doors at the brand-new St James Quarter; the 12-floor hotel is still in the works, but promises brilliantly comfortable rooms for its guests, and a rooftop terrace with panoramic views over the city for visitors.

New Edinburgh experiences, events, and exhibitions

Princes Street is one of Edinburgh's main thoroughfares, as well as one of the city centre's most iconic green spaces. Princes Street Gardens sit opposite the shops and cafes, with the iconic Edinburgh Castle and the recently-revamped Ross Fountain offering a unique backdrop for your trip into town. 

Johnnie Walker Princes Street is a shiny new exclamation point on the famous street. The Experience tells the story of Johnnie Walker and immerses visitors in the sights, smells and tastes of the national drink. Go on a Journey of Flavour with a whisky expert and delve deep into the history of Johnnie Walker, head for the 1820 Rooftop Bar for views of Edinburgh Castle and across the Old Town, or meet a pal under the refurbished Binns' Clock by the entrance. The cantilever clock gives a unique display of marching figures in Highland dress when it rings out at the unusual times of 7 and 37 minutes past the hour.

The Van Gogh Alive exhibition continues its Edinburgh run until July, offering a new way to experience the work of the Dutch artist. The multi-sensory experience is presented in a purpose-built venue at Festival Square, and brings a new dimension to Van Gogh’s work. Over at the National Gallery of Modern Art, a Barbara Hepworth retrospective presents a huge collection of the artist’s sculptures, paintings and drawings. The gallery is just 15 minutes walk from Princes Street, but for a more involving route to the Gallery, take a stroll down the Water of Leith path. The Water of Leith is the city's main river, flowing through delightful woodlands while criss-crossing central Edinburgh via Murrayfield, Stockbridge and Inverleith before connecting up with the Firth of Forth down by The Shore. 

While you’re walking around Edinburgh this summer, you might be in for a big surprise, in the form of Giraffe About Town. The art trail, presented by Edinburgh Zoo and Wild in Art, will drop uniquely designed and decorated giraffe models at locations around the city – if you want to immerse yourself in Edinburgh but need a route to follow, just look out for the giraffes.

And speaking of exploring an evolving and ever-changing city, the Edinburgh Festivals make a welcome full-scale return this August. It's the 75th year of the Edinburgh International Festival, which once again brings theatre, music and dance from around the world to some of the city’s grandest venues. Meanwhile the Edinburgh International Film Festival will present a programme of exciting stories from Scotland and around the world at Filmhouse and cinemas across the city.

The Edinburgh Art Festival showcases new contemporary art at galleries all over Edinburgh, and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe fills the city with groundbreaking comedy and theatre throughout August. The Festivals have brought new stories to the city for three-quarters of a century; no matter what artform you're into, a trip to the Edinburgh Festivals this August is sure to create some brand-new memories. 

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For more inspiration for visiting Edinburgh this summer, visit Forever Edinburgh's Official Guide to Edinburgh at edinburgh.org for more ideas about what to do in the city