One of Edinburgh’s most photographed rooftop bars has just levelled up — and it’s ready to bring the party  this Easter. Cold Town House , the Grassmarket hotspot famous for its jaw‑dropping Edinburgh Castle views, has unveiled a £500,000 makeover  that turns its rooftop into a year‑round playground of cocktails, sunshine (when we get it) and seriously good vibes. Since opening in 2019, it’s been the go‑to for anyone chasing that perfect castle‑backdrop pint. Now, thanks to a

Ciccetta’s pops out on Bruntsfield Avenue like a burst of colour against Edinburgh stone. Butter-yellow walls, curling pink lettering, and a softly glowing interior promise something cheerful before you’ve even stepped inside. And inside, the promise is kept: peach-toned light warms the space, Italian posters line the walls, and stacks of branded takeaway cups sit ready behind the counter. It’s the kind of place that makes you pause and smile, even on a dull day. Opened in

Once a humble outpost for beat officers, the Leith Walk Police Box has become one of the city’s most distinctive tiny landmarks — a pocket‑sized space with an outsized creative life. These iconic blue boxes were once scattered across Edinburgh as essential communication points for police on foot. Today, the Leith Walk box has been reimagined as a micro‑venue for makers, artists, and community projects. Its compact footprint invites ingenuity: pop‑up shops, exhibitions, tasti

Bite’s interest goes beyond simply tasting and sipping on your behalf. Sometimes, as on a recent evening, we have the chance to explore where tasty ideas are hatched, and a new independent launch, The Cookbook Shop, situated on the lower section of Haddington Place, provides the opportunity to stoke some sweet and savoury dreams in this lavish repository of food & drink inspiration. Conceived by Martyn & Liz Bryson as a ‘community base’ as well as a prime resource for hospi

What makes East Lothian such a special county for food and drink? East Lothian has an extraordinary geographic, fertile farmland, a stunning coastline and rolling heather- clad hills, all within a compact area. This diversity shapes what we grow, make, catch, brew, and bake. Add this to a strong sense of community and collaboration and you have a food and drink scene that is high quality but also deeply rooted in place What can readers expect to find in the book? What started

Cate Devine finds that Finnieston’s former fine‑dining institution The Gannet has reinvented itself as Eleven Fifty Five, a warm, buzzing neighbourhood bistro where Irish roots, French classics and a new ease of service signal a bold and successful transformation. For an established fine-dining restaurant to address the challenges currently facing the hospitality sector by almost completely reinventing itself into a neighbourhood bistro-snug surely takes a hefty dollop of cou

Time for another nibble! On the Grapevine We hear that Mara on The Shore has been taken over by they folks at Nauticus and Dogstar! The rooftop bar at Cold Town House is having a glow up and a retractable glass roof will be put in place to keep the iconic castle views. Eleven Fifty Five the new restaurant from Peter McKenna and Kevin Dow has opened at 1155 Argyle Street. Duck & Waffle celebrates the return of Waffle Week! Two Edinburgh venues, McLarens on the Corner and Col

Bodega, Lucky Yu, The Captain Darling and now Uncle Tiger : the Edinburgh‑based hospitality firm Òir Group has launched its fourth new restaurant on Bristo Place. When I pull up with Simone to taste the Hong Kong edition of a rotating suite of Asian‑inspired menus , I recognise the space as the former Forest Café, then Checkpoint. The student‑cum‑fringe energy still hums through the industrial, cavernous room where the music properly thumps. Scarlet mushroom‑shaped table la

Waffle Week Monday 23 rd - Sunday 29 th March 2026 | International Waffle Day - March 25th Duck & Waffle Edinburgh marks International Waffle Day with a playful week-long menu that reimagines takeaway favourites as bold, indulgent waffle creations — from döner kebab riffs to over-the-top sweet treats. Running 23–29 March, Waffle Week brings big flavours, cheeky twists and plenty of fun to the capital. Duck & Waffle Edinburgh celebrates International Waffle Day with a week