hostelmania.com

Hostelmania brings mobile app to Android platform

2011-09-23T02:47:00.000-07:00

With over 500 million+ mobile internet users worldwide, Hostelmania has extended its availability search application to a free mobile application on the Android platform. Contrary to the desktop experience, the traveller using their mobile device to search for local information is typically already on the ground in their destination city. They want to use their smart phones to find an address to a famous local attraction, directions to and from the airport, the check-in time of their hotel/hostel, and anything else that will improve their overall trip.

The demographics of these users fit into the target audience for Hostelmania.

The app is available on Android OS 2.2.1 or higher which will enable users to locate and book properties, check reservations and get details about where they will staying, including photographs.

The app has been built with the customer at heart, to give them more freedom and convenience.

One of key features would be the usage of “saved mode” which enables a customer to preview all the available properties(prices, details, maps etc) for a particular date and save it offline to share with people or view it again when no internet coverage is available ( for example whilst flying or travelling on the tube).

The app can be downloaded using this URL:
http://www.hostelmania.com/Application/mobile/mobile.html

Hostelmania has been nominated in the “Best Online Hostel Booking Company”

2011-07-07T03:38:00.001-07:00

Hostelmania has been nominated in the “Best Online Hostel Booking Company” category in the 2011 British Travel Awards.

These awards are voted for by the public, making them some of the most coveted prizes in the travel industry.

We are up against the industry leaders in this category but we are honoured to have received this nomination, as it recognises our commitment to delivering excellent customer service and great value accommodation across the world.

Travel industry experts compile the shortlists and the awards are based on votes from consumers and travel agents.

http://www.britishtravelawards.com/

Hostelmania.com has been short-listed for a Travolution Award

2011-06-24T01:37:00.000-07:00

Hostelmania.com has been nominated for a Travolution Award 2011 in the Best Agent-Only Website category.

The winner of each category will be announced at the ceremony on 11th October 2011 at the Roundhouse in London.

We are excited to be nominated. The Awards celebrate the achievements of the industry and recognise innovation and outstanding strategy. They are judged by an independent panel of experts and a committee of senior people from the online travel industry who review the entries and select a winner for each category.

Hostelmania goes to ITB BERLIN 2011

2011-03-31T07:14:00.000-07:00

With more than 180,000 visitors, among these 108,000 trade visitors, and over 10,000 exhibitors from 180 countries ITB Berlin is the leading B2B-Platform of all tourism industry offers. In addition, the world's largest tourism convention Market Trends & Innovations provides unique opportunities to benefit from the leading think tank of the global tourism industry. All levels of the value added chain are present: Tour operators, booking engines, destinations, airlines, and hotels right through to car rental companies.

Hostelmania goes to TUR 2011 - SWEDEN

2011-03-31T07:09:00.000-07:00

Tur 2011 is Sweden's leading trade fair for tour & travels industry, it is one of the biggest fair for this type of exhibiton, Swedish Exhibition Center (Svenska Massan) will serve as fair place for Tur 2011 from 24 to 27 march 2011. Being Organised by Sweden's leading trade fair organizer Svenska Massan.

FESTIVALS IN AUGUST

2010-07-15T05:28:00.000-07:00

MOUNT ISA (AUSTRALIA) (From the 4th to the 8th of August)

The Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo is where the romance of the Australian Outback meets the grit of an international resources boom. During Rodeo Week, Mount Isa's 20,000-strong population swells almost three-fold with travellers coming from throughout the country and overseas to witness the thrills, the excitement, the raw power and courage that is rodeo.

Book with us your accommodation before it is too late!

www.hostelmania.com/Application/groups/request.aspx

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY Sziget Festival Official (11-16 August)

Up-to-date stars of the international festival scene, well-known favorites of the local audience from the past few years, and internationally popular acts that are not yet well-acquainted in Hungary – this year's Sziget Main Stage is going to be populated by productions of the above-mentioned kind. On the minus first day Kispál will do their farewell-gig, and day zero will see a Reggae-Ska Celebration. The program of the Main Stage of Sziget from 11th to 16th August is ready for you to check now.

Sziget is more than just a festival: a place to meet, a place to make friends and fall in love; where one can spend a week self-abandoned, where parties and sporting programs await the inquirer.
Book with us your accommodation before it is too late!

www.hostelmania.com/Application/groups/request.aspx

BUÑOL SPAIN (40 kms from VALENCIA). (25 AUGUST 2010) LA TOMATINA

Tens of thousands of participants go from all over the world to fight in a harmless battle where more than one hundred metric tons of tomatoes are thrown in the streets. At around 11 a .m. the first event of the Tomatina begins. A ham is placed upon a cocking pole (a large, greased pole), and the tomato fight can begin only when someone is able to climb to the top and bring it down. People struggle against each other, climbing atop one another, in order to be the one to pull down the ham. With this victory, the tomato-throwing begins.

Book with us your accommodation before it is too late!

www.hostelmania.com/Application/groups/request.aspx

LIVERPOOL UK (29th and 30th AUGUST)MATHEW STREET MUSIC FESTIVAL

Mathew Street Music Festival is the annual celebration of one of the city’s cultural cornerstones music. It celebrates cover, original and new bands which attract local people and guests from all over Europe.

You can’t miss the Over 95 bands perform from as far as USA, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Switzerland, Russia, Sweden and Scotland!!! Bands come as far as Australia, Chile, Russia and Indonesia to be a part of this exciting element.
Two days, free event, 80 hours of outdoor music and huge TV screen!!! Check the webpage.

Book with us your accommodation before it is too late!

www.hostelmania.com/Application/groups/request.aspx

LONDON UK. The Notting Hill Carnival (29th and 30th AUGUST)

Held each August Bank Holiday since 1966, the Notting Hill Carnival is the largest festival celebration of its kind in Europe. Every year the streets of West London come alive, with the sounds and smells of Europe's biggest street festival. Twenty miles of vibrant colorful costumes surround over 40 static sound systems, hundreds of Caribbean food stalls, over 40,000 volunteers and over 1 million Notting Hill carnival revelers.

Book with us your accommodation before it is too late!

www.hostelmania.com/Application/groups/request.aspx

Hostelmania visits Spain during "La Diada de Sant Jordi!"

2010-06-23T08:16:00.000-07:00

Hostelmania visits Spain’s Barcelona during the month of April to celebrate “La Diada de Sant Jordi”!

La Diada de Sant Jordi is often compared to Valentine's Day. The main event is the exchange of gifts between sweethearts -- men give their novias roses, and women give their novios a book to celebrate the occasion.

The legend says that St George slew a terrifying dragon, saved the gorgeous princess and gave her a red rose that grew up from the blood spilt from the dragon. Thousands of stands selling dragon’s blood red roses, decorated with the red and yellow Catalan colours and improvised bookstalls are speedily set up for the day all over Catalonia. Street performers and musicians add a romantic ambience to nearly every public square and plaza.

Even though La Diada de Sant Jordi is not an official non-working holiday, most romantics ditch the office to take a stroll through the beautiful Mediterranean streets and enjoy the sultry springtime weather.

If you are lucky enough, you can spot our team member walking through streets with a rose in this video!

THINGS TO DO IN SPAIN:

2010-06-15T04:55:00.000-07:00

THINGS TO DO IN SPAIN:

EAT TAPAS :

Served in bars all over Spain, tapas are the ultimate in bar snacks. From a simple bowl of olives to a mouthwatering selection of seafood, there is always something for everyone. Fish and Seafood are an essential part of any tapas menu and include delicious morsels such as Gambas al Ajillo (garlic prawns) and Tigre Tapas (mussels in overcoats), Cordero al Limon (lamb with lemon) and Chorizo al Vino (chorizo in red wine). Vegetables and Little Extras include classics such as Tortilla Espanola (Spanish omelette) and everyone's favorite vegetarian tapas dish, Patatas Bravas (potatoes in sauce)

SEE A BULLFIGHT

Love it or hate it, bullfighting is one of the most characteristic aspects of Spanish culture. The Spanish people consider them art forms which are intimately linked with their country’s history, art and culture. Although is very controversial, bullfighting is Spain’s oldest and best loved national sport. There are several bullrings in all Spain; some of the most important are located in Madrid, Seville and Ronda. Madrid's Bullring is called "La Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas", was built in 1929 and first used in 1931.

SEE THE ARCHITECTURE OF ANTONIO GAUDI (BARCELONA)

Antoni Gaudi was born in Reus, Spain in 1852. Gaudi developed a sensuous, curving, almost surreal design style which established him as the innovative leader of the Spanish Art Nouveau movement. Places to see like: Sagrada Família, La Colonia Güell, Casa Milà,etc.

VISIT THE ALHAMBRA (GRANADA)

The Alhambra isn't just one building, but a complex of buildings and their fortifications. Their construction occurred over a long period of time, resulting in some remarkable contrasting architectural styles.

SEE A FLAMENCO SHOW (SOUTH OF SPAIN)

Flamenco dancing is one of the three integral parts of the art of flamenco. The flamenco came from Andalucia in the south of Spain, influenced heavily by the local gypsy population, the Gitanos. Large amounts of the musical styling and dance movements of flamenco come from the Jewish tradition, as well as from Moorish culture.

SEE SEGOVIA’S AQUEDUCT & FAIRTALE CASTLE

Most cities can only claim to have one truly iconic sight - Segovia has two. Segovia has a 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct which is still in immaculate condition despite while its Alcazar is said to have inspired Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle .

EAT A PAELLA (VALENCIA)

Paella is a cornerstone of traditional Spanish cuisine, originating in Valencia, although it is served all over the nation. Superficially, it resembles a risotto, since the dish is made with rice, meats, and vegetables cooked together in a large pan. It is also too famous the paella with seafood. Paella is designed to be a communal style food, meaning that everyone finds a place around the pan and eats directly from it. If group dining is not an option, individual portions can be spooned out onto separate plates for service.

SEVILLE

Seville certainly is one of the most beloved places by visitors to Spain. When you visit this city, you are in the very heart of Andalusian culture, the center of bullfighting and Flamenco music. Take it easy, relax have a glass of wine, tapas or even a cold sangria drink!

CAMINO DE SANTIAGO (GALICIA)

The Camino de Santiago de Compostela, also known in English as The Way of St James, is a collection of old pilgrimage routes which cover all Europe. They all have Santiago de Compostela in North West Spain as their final destination. For more than 1000 years pilgrims have been walking along the Camino de Santiago. The Camino de Santiago is for everyone, young, old, fit, unfit, religious or otherwise and you can do it walking, cycling or however you want. You will meet a lot of nice people from all over the world. Pilgrims painstakingly cross parts of Spain on foot aiming to arrive at the beautiful medieval city of Santiago de Compostela for the Feast Day of Saint James celebrations (25TH of July)

RUNNING OF THE BULLS. SAN FERMIN (PAMPLONA)

Sanfermin festivals take place in Pamplona (Navarra) north of Spain. They start on the 6th of July at 12.00 pm with the Txupinazo Rocket. This festival is internationally known for the event of the running of the bulls. The first running of the bulls is on the 7th of July and the last one is on the 14th inclusive at 8.00 am in the morning

The fiestas are celebrated in honor of Saint Fermin, saint of Navarra; The Fiesta of San Fermin is to honor Pamplona's Patron Saint. San Fermin has been taking place since the 1500's, and not until Hemingway's book The Sun Also Rises was the fiesta so popular.

ART IN SPAIN (MIRO FOUNDATION IN BARCELONA, GOYA IN MADRID AND PICASSO’S GUERNICA IN MADRID AND MALAGA)

Pablo Ruiz Picasso (25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973) was a Spanish painter, draughtsman, and sculptor. He is best known for co-founding the Cubist movement and for the wide variety of styles embodied in his work. Joan Miró i Ferrà (April 20, 1893 – December 25, 1983); was a Spanish Catalan painter, sculptor, and ceramist born in Barcelona. Earning international acclaim, his work has been interpreted as Surrealism.

GRAND MOSQUE (CORDOBA)

The (Great) Mezquita (of Córdoba or Cordova), is a Roman Catholic Cathedral originally built as a Mosque on the place (and partly with materials) of what previously had been a Christian Visigothic Church in the Andalusian city of Córdoba, Spain

TENERIFE (BEACH+VOLCANO)

Tenerife is the biggest island of the Canary Islands. The Tenerife beaches are so different one from other: there are beaches with black sand, consequence of the eruption of the Teide volcano. The Teide Tenerife Volcano is one of the must visit in the island of Tenerife. You can go up to 3.719 meters to see the rest of the Canary Islands from the highest point in Spain.

Eivissa 5 reasons to visit the island:

1: There are more than 50 stunning beaches

2: Back in time: Take a walk through Ibiza Old Town on a lazy summer morning and take a trip back in time. Gorgeous whitewash buildings, Carthaginian and Arab conquerors dot the stone streets, while the imposing cathedral of Our Lady of the Snows crowns the historic Old Town.

3: If you love partying you will love Ibiza. Superclubs, superstar DJs and super-hot clubbers have made Ibiza infamous for decades. Just try to resist - you don't stand a chance.

4 : Knock that hangover on the head with a lazy late lunch, liquid or otherwise, in the beaches. A sunset drink is a must.

5: In the market for a bargain? Go to Sant Carles, in the heart of the island, for a taste of the hippy life that drew many thousands here three decades ago. Jewelers, clothes and kitsch souvenirs, it's all here.

Its all about the Beer!

2010-05-07T04:39:00.001-07:00

Oktoberfest is a sixteen-day festival held each year in Munich, Germany during late September (and running to early October). This year's Oktoberfest is Munich's 176th Oktoberfest!

The event has 14 giant tents, serve 5.5 million litres of ‘March beer’, more than 600,000 fried chickens and 84 heads of cattle. Drink beer by the litre, eat traditional Bavarian, listen to live brass bands playing traditional Bavarian music and enjoy!

Today, the Oktoberfest is the largest festival in the world, with some six million people attending every year.

If you are planning to attend, make sure you plan ahead. Accommodations should be booked by June. Don’t leave it to the last minute and book your bed with us at http://www.hb-247.com/aff/hostelmania/germany/munich

For further information visit www.oktoberfest.de/en

About Edinburgh

2010-04-28T03:33:00.000-07:00

Casually cosmopolitan, Edinburgh abounds with culture and suave vitality.

Take a tour

Where can you find a cosmopolitan yet undeniably Scottish city with a wealth of architecture from all eras, dating back millennia, with a volcano within the city limits? Edinburgh has all that and far more. Whether you like to eat at the best restaurants, be blown away by the beauty of a city, learn about some pretty dramatic history, have a great night out, get some serious nature or all of the above, you won’t find Edinburgh wanting. Add to that the friendliness of the people and the accessibility of the place, and you have no excuse not to go!

Transport
Edinburgh has some very good transport links, and you won’t struggle to get there or around. Here are some tips and basics to help you out:

Getting There

Train
As mentioned above, Edinburgh is dead easy to get to. These days, the train is a great option, with National Express East Coast trains taking all of about 4 ½ hours from London all the way up there. Book in advance and reserve your seat for the smoothest ride, and try and make sure you travel in enough light to see the ocean before you hit Edinburgh. Edinburgh Waverly is the most central train station: next to Princes Street and close to the Royal Mile.

Plane
You can indeed fly, although if you’re coming from the UK it might be less hassle to get the train. If not, Edinburgh airport is only about ten miles away from the city centre, and a fair number of budget airlines fly into it. The best and cheapest option for getting to the city centre from the airport is the Airlink 100 buses, which go at the least every twenty minutes and often every ten. It makes a lot of very central stops, but if you’re staying on the Royal mile then get off at Waverly Bridge and walk from there. A single will cost about £3.

Coach
To be avoided, to be honest. Takes hours. On the other hand, you’ll probably end up being dropped at St Andrews Square, which is very central in the New Town and close to Princes Street. National Express takes a minimum of nine hours from London (ouch) and often much longer. On the other hand, it’s so very much cheaper, with fares looking like about £15 each way. You have to weigh up the pros and cons, there. And if you’re coming from somewhere much nearer, it’s a more plausible option.

Getting Around

Buses
The bus situation in Edinburgh is pretty good. There are many maps of the bus routes knocking around. The main bus company is Lothian buses, for which you can get a day pass for £2.50 or a single for £1.10. A word of warning – the buses don’t do change, so make sure you’ve got the exact money. The bus drivers are generally friendly and used to tourists, so just ask them to give you a shout at your stop if you’re not sure where you’re meant to be getting off.

Walking
Edinburgh’s actually pretty walkable. Don’t get us wrong; it’s a long walk. But it’s long without being silly, and it’s very pretty so at least you’ll have good views. It’s definitely worth having a good long hike of the Royal Mile, particularly since you have Edinburgh Castle at one end and Holyrood Palace at the other end. The important thing to remember is that Edinburgh ain’t flat, not by a long way, and you will be panting your way up hills. This is by no means a bad thing; it’s good for you!

Taxis
Night buses aren’t brilliant, so you might well want to opt for a taxi instead of hanging around in the dark being rained on. The good news is that they are all metered and the drivers tend to be friendly. The bad news is that they’re not the cheapest way of getting around, though not London-standard-extortionate.

Things to Do and See

Royal Mile
Running through the centre of Edinburgh and on the other side of the train tracks to Princes Street, the Royal Mile, as it is known to tourists, is a long walkway comprising three linked streets, with Edinburgh Castle at one end and Holyrood Palace at the other. Leading away from the castle is Castlehill, which joins onto High Street, which in turn leads to Canongate, at the end of which you’ll find the palace. The strip runs through the old town, with plenty of little winding streets running off the main road. As a major tourist attraction it has many themed shops where you can buy red Scottish wigs and Viking hats, but it also has a lot of charm and character helped in part by the many historic buildings dotted along the road. There are several good shops along here, listed below. During the Edinburgh Festival, or the Fringe, the Royal Mile is packed with street performers and processions, and the atmosphere is alive with excitement.

Edinburgh Castle - www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk
Edinburgh’s biggest tourist attraction, the Castle has been standing in one form or another for close on 1000 years. The oldest building, St. Margaret’s Chapel, was built by King David I at the beginning of the 12th century. The castle is famous for being the location of numerous traditional events, such as the one o’clock gun which is fired daily bar Sunday, the Military Tattoo which is performed every August during the Fringe (the Edinburgh Festival) and the Hogmanay celebrations for New Year’s Eve. The area gets very busy, but there are good views from here and you can book tickets online at the above website to save queuing. Adults £12, Children 5-15 £6. Opening hours 9.30am-6pm in the summer and 9.30am-5pm in the winter.

Holyrood Palace
One of the Queen’s many official residences, Holyrood Palace is a beautiful building at the Canongate end of the Royal Mile. One ticket will get you an audio-guided tour around several of the beautiful rooms, including Mary Queen of Scots’ old bedroom. The palace is chock-full of royal memorabilia from centuries past, all beautifully preserved, and the audio-guide is very clear and thorough. It also includes a guide of the ruined Abbey in the palace grounds, and a walk around the grounds themselves in the summer months when it’s not too muddy. An adult ticket for the palace is £9.80, for both the palace and Queen’s gallery the price is £13. Open 9.30-16.30 Nov – March, 9.30-18.00 March – Oct. Closed whenever the Queen’s swinging by for a visit.

Arthur’s Seat

Arthur’s Seat and the surrounding Salisbury Crags dominate Edinburgh’s skyline and add a touch of raw natural beauty to this very urban city. Arthur’s seat is an extinct volcano that falls within the city limits, and is a favourite for locals and tourists alike for a good climb and wonderful city views. There are several ways of getting up there; you can follow the crowds up the long green stretch, or a slightly more challenging way of doing it is to walk around the crags to the base of Arthur’s seat, then take the rocky stepped path straight up to the top. Realistically you should have decent shoes – definitely not heels! – but since drunken teenagers often stagger up there at night, we’re sure it’s plausible to make your way up there without heavy hiking gear. There are no signs, so follow the crowds and just aim for the top!

Scotland’s National Gallery - www.nationalgalleries.org
The biggest and best art gallery in Edinburgh with key works of art from Botticelli, Cezanne, Monet, El Greco, Constable, Degas, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Raphael and many, many others. Open daily, and admission is free. There’s a lot to see in Edinburgh, but if you have some time to spare after seeing all the main tourist sites, this gallery is incredibly comprehensive and housed in an amazing neoclassical building in the New Town. Opening hours are 10am-5pm with late opening on Thursdays until 7pm.

New Town and Princes Street
Making up one of if not the main street in the New Town (a mere 150 years old), Princes Street runs next to Waverly train station and faces the Old Town. It is the main shopping street in Edinburgh and is famous as such. Running parallel to Princes Street is George Street, known for being one of the best roads for upmarket bars and restaurants. Running between these two main streets you will find a pedestrian way called Rose Street, which has become the favourite for smaller, more individual restaurants and bars, although this is now being challenged by the introduction of some great bars to the street running parallel on the other side of George Street: Thistle Street. Some wonderful eateries have been opened up here of late. See below for some listings.

Shopping

Whiskey Shopping
It’s the traditional Scottish drink, and you can get some good stuff from Edinburgh! If you’re on the lookout for whiskey to slurp down in the name of experiencing the culture, here are the results of our exploration of where to buy:

Cadenhead’s Whiskey Shop, 172 Canongate, Royal Mile
Lovely people who are happy to advise you on your purchase. There’s a lot of variety and rare brands on offer here too. Oh, and they have a cute little terrier-type dog that yips very sweetly.

Royal Mile Whiskies, 379 High Street, Royal Mile
Hm. Maybe we caught them on a bad day, but the service in this place was really not all it could have been. A combination of sarcasm and ignoring isn’t the ideal way to run a shop. We recommend the guys above instead.

Scottish Whiskey Heritage Centre, 354 Castle Hill, Royal Mile
This is a bit of a theme park of a Whiskey Centre, and you come here for the experience as well as the actual whiskey purchasing activities. You’ll know a lot more about whiskey than you did before you went in.

Confection – Sweets and Chocolate

Cafe Truva, 251 Canongate
This is the recently opened second restaurant of Cafe Truva, after the success of the one in Leith. And this one is just as good. More about it as a cafe below, but for now let us just say that the chocolate on display in the counter is just as good as they look, if not better. Mm-mm.

Jim Garrahy’s Fudge Kitchen, Royal Mile
Beware. If you take these people up on their seemingly catch-free offer of a free sample of fudge, please be assured that the next thing you know you will be falling over yourself to buy some more of this incredibly delicious stuff. It comes in all sorts of flavours like Rocky Road (chocolate, shortbread and marshmallow) and Belgian Chocolate Swirl. Excuse us while we drool at the thought...

Eating – Restaurants and Cafes
A general rule of thumb goes like this: the Royal Mile will be expensive and hit-and-miss; George Street will be expensive but generally very good; and Rose Street and Thistle street, flanking George Street will be less expensive but still pricey, and very good. If you get out these main restaurant streets you can find a couple of good bargains, however, and there are always one or two exceptions among the tourist dross. Eating out in Edinburgh is often not a cheap experience though, and those who are on a really tight budget will do well to eat at bakeries, cafes off the main streets and supermarkets. If you have a little spare cash, however, there are some wonderful restaurants in Edinburgh, and a few are listed below.

Wedgwood – 267 Canongate
Wedgwood – The Restaurant is somewhere to go for a treat. It’s not staggeringly expensive, but a quick glance down the price list will make it clear that this place is a cut above your average and the cost will reflect that. If you’re travelling on a budget then this isn’t the place for you, but if you can possibly splash out then you should, because ever since this place opened the elegance, style and exceptionally high standard of cuisine has had critics falling over themselves to recommend it. You can’t beat the location, either.
www.wedgwoodtherestaurant.co.uk

Dusit – 49a Thistle Street
A popular and efficient Thai place with delicious and beautifully presented food and friendly staff who go out of their way to try to accommodate you, even if you haven’t booked. Good if you need to be in and out in a hurry, too.
www.dusit.co.uk

Cafe Truva – 251 Canongate
Incredible – somewhere this wonderful bang on the Royal Mile. The original Truva cafe is in Leith, and its popularity was such that they were able to open another, and this is the result. This is a Turkish/Mediterranean cafe, so there’s a lot of hummus, cous cous, grilled vegetables, moussaka and the like. It’s served by friendly and welcoming Turkish guys, the food looks great and tastes great and there’s lots of it. And there’re the afore-mentioned chocolates for dessert if you don’t fancy the baklava.

Canongate Cafe – 274 Canongate
Another Royal Mile find – this lovely little cafe will serve you mugs of tea and yummy, good-sized portions of salads, hummus or slightly heavier dishes if you wish. It’s a good place to relax, and it’s incredible value for money given its location.

Fishers in the City – 58 Thistle Street
Hidden away down Thistle Street and opposite Dusit you’ll find this excellent fish restaurant. The prices are about average for this area, so not exactly cheap, but the standard is known to be very high and you’ll need to book a table here to guarantee a place.
www.fishersbistros.co.uk

A Room in the West End – 26 William Street
Heading away from the usual haunts, A Room in the West End is exactly what it says on the tin and has become very popular due to its excellent Scottish/European menu, reasonable prices and Bring Your Own Bottle policy. Good way to cut down on the price of your meal, despite the £2 corkage fee.
www.aroomin.co.uk/west-end

The Olive Branch Bistro – 91 Broughton Street
Broughton Street is getting very popular and it has many good restaurants and bars that are well worth venturing out of the central areas for. The Olive Branch Bistro has several restaurants, but this is the first and arguably the best. There are excellent lunch and brunch options, as well as the slightly pricier dinner options.
www.theolivebranchscotland.co.uk

Smoke Stack – 53-55 Broughton Street
A place that appreciates its char-grilled meat and does it well! This place has a great chilled-out atmosphere during the day and becomes a lively bar during the night.
www.smokestack.org.uk

Drinking – Out on the town in Edinburgh
Drinking in Edinburgh is, sadly, not cheap. It’s roughly the same as in London, in fact, so budget for that. In order to give you a good idea of where to go, it’s probably best to list some good bars by area. The most popular places to drink are Grassmarket and Cowgate in the Old Town and George Street and Rose Street in the New Town. Check out a few of the suggestions below.

Grassmarket
A great nightlife area in the old town where, somewhat morbidly, people used to be hanged. As such there are plenty of themed bars around here, their beer pumps draped with nooses and the stories of the unfortunate ones put up on the walls for posterity. But a big plus to this area is the many pizzerias and Italian delis around here among the bars that open late for when you need a late-night pizza. Try the following:

The White Hart – 34 Grassmarket
The oldest pub in Edinburgh, and yet still one of the best. Famous for having live music, but bear in mind that Tuesday nights are traditional Scottish music nights.

Maggie Dickson’s – 92 Grassmarket
A themed bar depicting the dramatic circumstances of Maggie Dicken’s life; a woman who was hanged for infanticide and survived it. The bar has a few nooses strung up around the place and cocktails with charming names like “Half-hung”, but mostly what they have is a less-rowdy-than-some atmosphere, good music and nice, efficient staff.

The Beehive Inn – 18-20 Grassmarket
Another Grassmarket favourite, the Beehive tends to have a DJ on Fridays and Saturdays, a good selection of alcohol, a beer garden out the back and tables out front. Great atmosphere.

Bar Salsa – 3 Cowgatehead
Should really qualify as Grassmarket rather than Cowgate given its location. Not really very salsary at all, very hot and sticky and often packed. On the other hand, the drinks are notoriously cheap and the people who frequent the place are usually in genially drunken good humour.

Dragonfly – 52 West Port
Quickly becoming known for being one of the trendiest (is that still a good thing?) cocktail bars of the moment, Dragonfly is very nice indeed. Very elegantly decorated with a hint of the ethereal and there’s even a chandelier. And yes, the cocktails are great.

Cowgate
Not far from Grassmarket, Cowgate used to be one of the city’s main slums down which cows were herded. It just goes to show how much times change, because today it’s one of the wealthier areas of Edinburgh with several good bars and clubs. Here are a few of the popular ones:

Opium – 71 Cowgate
Opium is a bit more aimed at the alternative crowd and is quite into its heavy rock, but serious rock lovers are advised to go somewhere else, as this place will break into more poppy stuff if the mood takes them that way. Usually very busy, too, and gets very hot.

Espionage – 4 India Buildings, Victoria Street
One of those giant clubs with little individuality but a choice of music and a chance to get down and boogie. Best to go with your friends when you’re in a great mood and make your own fun. Drinks are a little pricey but entry is free.

Three Sisters – 139 Cowgate
A real mixture of a place – you’ve got the cool outside cobbled courtyard that often even has a burger grill going on; and on the other hand you go inside and find you have a giant cellars-style club that gets extremely rowdy with stag parties and drunken muppets. Very odd. Prices about average, closes 1am, but open later during the Fringe.

Niddry Street
Walk a little further along Cowgate and you’ll find Niddry Street on your left. This street leads up to the High Street, but along here you’ll find quite a few good cellar-bars with live music and drinks offers. Usually quite a good atmosphere.

George Street and Rose Street
Running parallel to Princes Street, George Street is host to many upmarket and more laid-back bars.

Opal Lounge – 51a George Street
Bar and club, this place is a stylish underground joint with an Asian vibe. The food is mostly Japanese fusion with a few other Oriental twists. Dress up to fit in here.

Dome – 14 George Street
Incredibly swish building and very elegant, refined atmosphere with very good cocktails. Not cheap, which shouldn’t be a surprise. Don’t turn up in jeans and trainers.

Standing Order – 62-66 George Street
Wetherspoons pub, therefore cheap drinks, and the place is massive. Food all day long, too, and on George Street which is pretty impressive. The building used to be the main office of the Bank of Scotland. Wear whatever you like.

The Abbotsford – 3-5 Rose Street
Traditional Scottish Pub with real ale, whiskies and food. What more could you want? Relaxed armosphere.

The Black Rose Tavern – 49 Rose Street
Grungy-looking rock bar with food and wi-fi!

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