The Brooklyn
of Edinburgh is
Leith.

See the 24 venues →Where to stay
Waterfront Fine dining Craft beer Live music Emerging Laid-back
The case for Leith

Leith is the coolest neighborhood in Edinburgh for seafood and wine on the Shore, hours nursing waterside pints, and browsing Argonaut Books.

Leith is Edinburgh's port town that swallowed its pride and became the best place to eat and drink in the city. The Shore still smells like salt water. Constitution Street has more interesting restaurants per block than the Royal Mile has tartan shops. People nurse pints at waterside tables for hours, watching the boats do nothing, and that's the point.

Leith packs 3 Michelin-starred restaurants into a neighbourhood most of Edinburgh still thinks of as the rough end of town.
Close contenders

Other cool neighborhoods in Edinburgh.

Stockbridge

Stockbridge has a killer Sunday farmers market, charity shops that actually have good stuff, and enough independent coffee to keep you wired through a Scottish winter.

Bruntsfield

Bruntsfield is where young professionals walk their dogs on the Links and argue about which brunch spot has the better eggs. Quietly excellent.

Portobello

Portobello is Edinburgh's beach neighborhood. Yes, beach. The water is freezing but locals swim year-round. Fish and chips on the promenade hit different.

See the full shortlist, ranked →
Three sides of the neighborhood

Where to go in Leith.

01
Stay in Leith

Leith puts you on the water and off the Royal Mile tourist circuit entirely.
02
Eat & Drink in Leith

Constitution Street has more good restaurants per block than the rest of Edinburgh combined.
03
Do & Shop in Leith

Port of Leith Distillery on Whisky Quay does floor-by-floor tours of Scotland's first vertical whisky distillery, ending at a rooftop bar with Firth views.
All 24 spots mapped out

Leith, corner to corner.

Open in Maps →
Our 24 top picks

The Leith guide.

Practical info

Good to know.

The boring numbers that decide whether you stay three days or four.

CurrencyGBP
LanguageEnglish
Cost level $$$Moderate to expensive
Best monthsMay and June, plus September
Local time UTC+1
Plug type UK plug · 230V/50Hz
Emergency999
Local tip
Walk down to the Shore around 4pm on a weekday. The light on the water is the best free thing in Edinburgh.
Europe · UK

If you like Edinburgh, try one of these.

Bristol — Stokes Croft
The Brooklyn of
Bristol
Stokes Croft
UK · Europe
Hamburg — Schanzenviertel
The Brooklyn of
Hamburg
Schanzenviertel
Germany · Europe
Porto — Cedofeita
The Brooklyn of
Porto
Cedofeita
Portugal · Europe
Gothenburg — Majorna
The Brooklyn of
Gothenburg
Majorna
Sweden · Europe
Head to head

How does Edinburgh stack up?

All comparisons →

Bristol vs Edinburgh

Europe

Dublin vs Edinburgh

Europe

Edinburgh vs Gothenburg

Europe

Edinburgh vs Leeds

Europe

Edinburgh vs London

Europe
Common questions

Things to know about Leith.

What is the Brooklyn of Edinburgh?
The Brooklyn of Edinburgh is Leith. Leith is Edinburgh's port town that swallowed its pride and became the best place to eat and drink in the city. Leith packs 3 Michelin-starred restaurants into a neighbourhood most of Edinburgh still thinks of as the rough end of town.
What is the coolest neighborhood in Edinburgh?
Leith is widely considered the coolest neighborhood in Edinburgh. Leith is Edinburgh's port town that swallowed its pride and became the best place to eat and drink in the city. The Shore still smells like salt water. Constitution Street has more interesting restaurants per block than the Royal Mile has tartan shops. People nurse pints at waterside tables for hours, watching the boats do nothing, and that's the point.
Where should I stay in Leith, Edinburgh?
The best boutique hotels in Leith include Fingal Hotel, Ocean Mist, and No11 Brasserie & Boutique Hotel. Fingal Hotel is the one to book first. A 1963 lighthouse tender permanently berthed in Alexandra Dock, converted into a 22-cabin Art Deco hotel with an onboard restaurant holding two AA Rosettes. Cabins are named after the lighthouses this ship once served, and waking up on the water never gets old.
Is Leith in Edinburgh safe at night?
Leith is safe for visitors, including walking back from dinner along the waterfront. The old reputation from the 1990s is outdated. Stick to the main streets around the shore and the central thoroughfare after dark. The quieter industrial blocks near the docks are fine but feel empty late, so taxis or the tram are easy alternatives.
Is Edinburgh expensive?
Edinburgh sits at the higher end for the UK, though Leith softens the blow. The tram from the airport runs about 50 minutes to your door, and boutique rooms here typically run 20 to 30 percent below the New Town. Restaurants often add a 12.5 percent service charge, so check the bill.
When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?
May and June bring the longest daylight, with sunset past 10pm near the solstice, and the lowest rainfall of the year. August is warmer but the Fringe packs the city wall to wall. September is the quiet winner: still mild, far thinner crowds, and beautiful light for photography. Pack a waterproof no matter when you visit.

Last updated

The dispatch

Want more cities like Edinburgh?

New cities and updated guides. Nothing else.