My gut feeling is that Side Street will thrive in Leith. It’s found (for better or worse) that a post-pub niche location and price points will work well.
Leith is a port area in the north of Edinburgh, Scotland. It has a long and varied history, dating back to the 12th century. Leith was once an important trading port and essential to the Scottish Enlightenment. Today, Leith is a vibrant and cosmopolitan neighbourhood with a thriving arts scene, diverse restaurants, and lively nightlife.
Things to do in Leith
- Visit the Royal Yacht Britannia: This former royal yacht is now a museum, and it's a fascinating place to learn about the history of the British Royal Family.
- Explore the Shore: This historic waterfront has various shops, restaurants, and bars. It's a great place to wander around and soak up the atmosphere.
- Take a walk along the Water of Leith: This river runs through Leith, and it's a beautiful place to take a stroll. You can also rent a boat and explore the river by water.
- Visit the Leith Farmers Market: This market is held every Saturday, and it's a great place to find fresh, local produce. There are also a variety of other stalls selling food, crafts, and other goods.
- Visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society: This society has many bars and shops in Leith, and it's a great place to learn about Scotch whisky. You can also sample a variety of different whiskies.
Review: Cheesin’ at Edinburgh Street Food
Delicious and morish. Now, morish is a double-edged sword. I’ve never left Cheesin’ feeling full and always wanted more. The only straight-up niggle is that I thought that each time my food could have been faster, but, yes, I’m impatient.
Review: Fiver Pizza, a pizza takeaway on Easter Road
Fiver Pizza is a relaunched takeaway on Easter Road, which really does sell pizzas to walk-in customers for £5, and they’re good!
The Best Places to Get Ice Cream in Edinburgh
Girdy has been to many but not all of Edinburgh’s best ice cream shops and gelato parlours, and all in the selfless quest to guide hungry people to delicious frozen treats.
Review: SoftCore, an ice cream and dessert parlour at ESF
SoftCore offers delicious warm cookies and artisanal ice cream at fair prices, with generous hours and from the thumping beat of Edinburgh Street Food’s busy city centre location. Want to perk up any ESF meal? Add SoftCore.
Review: La Cime Deli in Trinity
La Cime is a lovely little deli cafe in Trinity, just a stone’s throw from Victoria Park. You can pop in for a coffee, buy some sauces from the shop, or stay longer for a little sit-down meal and tempting cake. The deli has been an immediate hit; one visit will be enough to tell you why.
Review: Ozen Street Food, a bao bun shack outside St James Quarter
There’s now a surprising number of bao specialists in Edinburgh! I’ll have to write up a top list at this rate, and when I do, you can count on Ozen Street Food being in it.
Review: Port of Leith Distillery tour
A tour and whisky-tasting experience in the world’s tallest vertical Distillery is another reason to come to Leith. The Port of Leith Distillery is history in the making and the tour is interesting, tasty and a chance to be part of the story.