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Date spot in Edinburgh

Victoria Street and the Grassmarket

Wander down the curve of colourful shopfronts on Victoria Street into the Grassmarket for a drink under the castle rock.

Victoria Street's curving row of red, blue and pink shopfronts beneath tall stone tenements

Victoria Street and the Grassmarket, Old Town

The Bow Bar, 80 West Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2HH
  • Bar
  • Romantic

Why it's a good date: Independent shops on the way down, old pubs at the bottom and the castle above you. It's busy by day, so come in the evening when the pubs are lit up.

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Photo: Daniel Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)

More from our Edinburgh guide

  • Sandy Bell's bright blue corner pub front on Forrest Road, with its sign above the door

    Sandy Bell's

    Forrest Road, near the Meadows

    25 Forrest Road, Edinburgh EH1 2QH

    Squeeze into the small Old Town bar that has hosted traditional music sessions every night for decades.

    Why it's a good date: Live fiddles and pipes a few feet away, and the music is free. It fills up fast, so go early for a seat, or turn up for a weekend afternoon session.

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    Photo: Mike Pennington, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)

  • The Cameo cinema's red canopy and film listings board above its entrance on Home Street

    The Cameo

    Home Street, Tollcross

    38 Home Street, Edinburgh EH3 9LZ

    Catch a film at one of Scotland's oldest working cinemas, open since 1914, with a bar to take your drinks into the screen.

    Why it's a good date: An old-fashioned cinema date with a good mix of new releases and classics. Get there early for a drink in the bar, then pick up dinner in Tollcross afterwards.

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    Photo: Mike Shaw, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

  • The nave of St Giles' Cathedral, looking east past green pews to a tall stained-glass window

    St Giles' Cathedral

    High Street, Royal Mile, Old Town

    High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1RE

    Step inside the High Kirk on the Royal Mile for its stained glass, blue vaulted ceiling and the carved Thistle Chapel.

    Why it's a good date: One of the few big Old Town sights you can see with your dog: dogs are allowed in the building, and staff or volunteers will bring water if yours needs some. You'll need a ticket now (free with a Resident Pass if you live in Scotland), and it's a dry half hour before a wander down the Royal Mile.

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    Photo: Eveline Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)

From our guide to date ideas in Edinburgh

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