The most romantic things to do in Edinburgh

Do you have the feeling that there is romance in the air in Edinburgh? Atop the open hills or through the cobbled streets? But, are you finding it hard to choose where to go on a date because there are so many good options? If you’re feeling a bit out of your depth for romantic things to do in Edinburgh, we’ve put together some of the best ones.

We’ve tried to cover all dating styles and tastes, take a look at the list below to see if any of our romantic things to do in Edinburgh take your fancy.

Dinner date

If you’re lucky enough to score seats in Edinburgh’s renowned restaurant, The Witchery by the Castle, your date will surely be impressed. The opulent Gothic-style candle-lit dining rooms set the scene for an evening of romance.

If you’d prefer to go somewhere with a laid-back atmosphere and top-quality Scottish cuisine, head to The Scran and Scallie in Stockbridge. This gastropub is the creation of two Edinburgh chefs both with Michelin stars. For delicious vegetarian food, David Bann is the perfect restaurant for a meat-free date.

READ MORE: If you’d like more dinner date suggestions, check our shortlist of the top ten romantic restaurants in Edinburgh

Drinks for two

Does your list of romantic things to do in Edinburgh include meeting for a drink? You’re in luck: from traditional Scottish pubs to stylish cocktail bars, the city has somewhere for everyone. One of more romantic bars on the scene is Panda and Sons, a modern day speakeasy hidden through the facade of barbershop on Queen Street. Travel in time back to the prohibition era and get acquainted with your date over cocktails.

Those who love to spend an evening in a cosy and inviting bar, look no further than Pickles on Broughton Street, where you can bond with your date over a bottle of wine and delicious Scottish cheese platter.

If you’d rather date in the daytime, suggest meeting for a coffee in Brew Lab, which is one of the best coffee spots in Edinburgh.

Go outdoors

If the weather is pleasant, you could get to know one another on a romantic, leisurely walk up Carlton Hill. Pack a picnic and admire the Edinburgh skyline over lunch at the top. Alternatively, you could meet in the Royal Botanical Garden and if it starts to rain you can huddle up underneath an umbrella together.

If you meet on a Saturday you could peruse Edinburgh Farmers’ Market together; or if it’s a Sunday, visit Stockbridge Market. Both offer a wide range of street food, take a risk and a classic romantic thing to do is choose a food or flavour combination you both haven’t tried before to bond over your new shared foodie experience.

Want to try out our Edinburgh date ideas? Register with EliteSingles and start meeting interesting Edinburgh singles!

Culture date

Feeling arty? Want to get your creative juices flowing? Suggest visiting The Fruitmarket Gallery and get the conversation started by asking your date their thoughts on the contemporary art on display. Ever wondered what it is like to be in a museum in the night? You and your date could find out by attending one of the Museum Lates events at the National Museum of Scotland, when their doors are open to the public outside of the usual hours.

Alternatively, stick to the classic date idea of going to the cinema, but make the evening feel more special by going to the dreamy art deco styled Dominion Cinema, which has comfy leather sofas to cuddle up on. Now that’s a romantic idea!

Read more: looking for even more insights? Try our Edinburgh Trams Date Map, with 16 great Edinburgh date ideas!

See a show

One of the signs that a date is going well is if you’re both able to laugh a lot, so what could be a better place for this than a visit to a comedy club. The Stand shows major touring acts alongside emerging talent and at lunchtime you can seen an improv performance for free.

For an intimate evening of live music, take your date to The Jazz Bar hidden in a basement on Chambers Street or to The Voodoo Rooms, a bar with cabaret nights and where you can drink delicious cocktails to accompany the show.

So, if you’ve met someone in Edinburgh you’d like to get to know better, ask them to join you to one of these date locations and you’ll surely have a date to remember.

If you have any questions or you’d like to share a romantic tip for Edinburgh, please email us at [email protected]

About the author: Esther Moriarty

Esther Moriarty is an editor for EliteSingles.

See more articles written by Esther Moriarty