Places to Stay in Edinburgh – East New Town

This week in our ‘Places to Stay in Edinburgh’ series we are exploring the East New Town. Just two streets over from our offices! Forming part of the larger New Town, we may be a bit biased, but we feel the east side deserves a spotlight all of its own. Continue reading to discover something to see, something to do and something to eat as well as wonderful places to stay during your next visit to the East New Town of Edinburgh.

View over the East New Town from Calton Hill

Places to stay in Edinburgh – why the East New Town?

Coined the ‘East Village’ by Pete Irvine, Scottish Guidebook guru, we have to believe this is because of bustling Broughton Street. Broughton Street has a village feel, providing everything from small local shops and creative spaces to some of the most buzzed about bars and restaurants in town and yet it’s seconds from the tram stop, moments from St Andrew Square and minutes from Princes Street. Finding a village like feel in such a central spot is what makes the East New Town special and a very popular place to stay.

Local Broughton Street florist Narcissus

Something To See in the East New Town

Calton Hill

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Calton Hill is set just off the east of Princes Street. With some of the best vantage points over the city and so many special things to see there, take a wander up and enjoy the sunrise, sunset and all moments in between at the top (and it’s nowhere near as steep as climbing Arthur’s Seat!)

Many of the historic monuments on Calton Hill

Once you get there, you will soon see the City Observatory which has been recently refurbished by Collective and is now open to visit for the first time in decades. You’ll find modern art here and delicious food with extraordinary views at The Lookout by Gardeners Cottage. There are several monuments to spot too including The National Monument, Nelson Monument and Dugald Stewart Monument. But the 360 degree views across Edinburgh are the real star of the show on Calton Hill.

Some of those special views from Calton Hill

Something To Do In the East New Town

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery

The magnificent galleried hall in The Scottish National Portrait Gallery

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world and is certainly a must see! It was the world’s first purpose built portrait gallery and is set in an iconic red sandstone neo-gothic palace. Designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson as a shrine for Scotland’s heroes and heroines. The cafe here is great too and a popular meeting place for locals.

The gallery’s displays explore different aspects of the story of Scotland. The collection includes many famous portraits, such as Mary Queen of Scots and Robert Burns and there’s always an interesting exhibition to see.

Be sure to take in the Photography Gallery and Victorian Library on your visit. Displays change on a regular basis and some exhibitions are free. Click the link above and find the most up to date information.

Our one bedroom home on Broughton Street is just around the corner from the Portrait Gallery

And The Shopping Is Good Too!

Broughton Street is where you can find a bundle of hidden gems for shopping. From Crombies the butcher, known locally as the best in town and the winners of many awards from sausages to haggis, Real Foods, a local grocery and health food store to Vino, a local wine shop. You can get all the ingredients for a night in which is perfect because all of our homes in Edinburgh are self catering. Broughton Street is also home to one of a kind stores such as Curiouser & Curiouser and The Dragonfly offering homewares, locally made products and gifts.

East New Town Eating Hotspots

Artisan Roast

Start your day at local legends, Artisan Roast for your morning pick me up. First opened in 2007, it was the first specialist coffee shop and roastery in Scotland. Along with their expert coffee, they offer a range of baked goods, soups and a great atmosphere.  After introducing the hipster coffee scene in Edinburgh, they now have two other locations in the city. Our beautiful two bedroom home on Hopetoun Crescent is just a short walk away.

Artisan Roast

Guests love staying in our two bedroom home in Hopetoun Crescent

The Educated Flea

Another stop along Broughton Street is the Educated Flea. A relaxed and welcoming space, The Educated Flea offers a tasty and exciting menu with some items you may be surprised to see. How do Ox cheeks braised in cider and liquorice sound? We highly recommend their lunch for an international and punchy take on Scottish produce.

The Gardener’s Cottage

Finally, named after the building’s original purpose is the quaint cottage which was home to the gardener of the Edinburgh Regent Terrace Gardens. It is now home to this intimate and refined restaurant. The Gardener’s Cottage offers and encourages communal dining as well as growing its own produce in the garden. The tasting menu will give you a great insight to seasonal Scottish cuisine.  and is just a 5 minute walk from our Brunton Place property.

Excellent Places To Stay – East New Town

The East New Town is one of our favourite parts of the city and luckily, we have some fantastic homes here, so that you can stay here and enjoy it too.

Broughton Place

There’s an absolutely wonderful vibe about this two bedroom home on Broughton Place, so much so, it was recently featured in our blog. Here’s a link Our Homes from Home – Broughton Place

It’s a main door flat with two pretty bedrooms and two bathrooms and guests adore it.

The pretty sitting room in Broughton Place

Hopetoun Crescent

Hopetoun Crescent is in a brilliant central location. Much loved Broughton Street is a few minutes walk away and there are so many great local restaurants at the top of Leith Walk and around The Playhouse. It has a luxury feel and is so spacious. Guests love it here. There are two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Parking is available here too.

Brunton Place

As soon as you walk through the front door of this fabulous apartment just along the road from Gardeners Cottage, you’ll feel glad you booked it and will know that you’ll have a great stay there. There are two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The owner of this home has thought of everything – you’ll even find a basket of slippers!

 Annandale Street

If you prefer a more cotemporary vibe, then our Annandale Street home may be for you. You’ll find two bedrooms and two bathrooms here and a lovely open plan living space. You can bring your car too as parking is available with this home.

Contemporary vibe with pops of colour in Annandale Street

We hope that we’ve let you know why Edinburgh’s East New Town is such a great place to stay.

We have more places to stay in the East New Town and you can view the full collection here.