I returned to Edinburgh yet again for a day out. However, this time, David and I chose to head to the Old Town area of the city; focussing on the famous Royal Mile. My gorgeous raspberry tights were gifted by Snag Tights!

The spending money was gifted by Hotels.com, but all opinions are my own.I wanted to explore a different area of Edinburgh with David, and find some hidden gems on a day out. We just came through from Glasgow on the train for a day, but if you are further afield or want to stay for longer, there are so many different hotels in Edinburgh and I actually visited one of them on this day out. It’s a great city to use as a base to explore more of Scotland or as a stop before beginning the West Highland Way.David and I arrived in Edinburgh around 1pm and went straight for lunch at a place we found whilst Googling on the train. Vittoria on the Bridge is a modern, chic Italian restaurant just off the Royal Mile on George IV Bridge. It’s a 5-10 minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley. We ate from their lunch menu, which is amazing value and has great choices. It’s available Monday-Friday, 12pm ‘til 5pm, and it’s £8 for a main course and £5 for a starter. The portions are very generous unlike a lot of restaurants’ lunch menus.I went for the Foccacia (handmade flatbread with herbs, garlic and olive oil), then the Pollo Alla Milanese (chicken coated in fresh breadcrumbs, with spaghetti Napoli on the side). This was the meal I was craving on the train, and it did not disappoint. It was so tasty and satisfyingly carb-y!David went for the Nduja & Bean Stew (Nduja sausage slowly melted with a selection of beans in a tomato sauce, served with warm focaccia) to start, and then a Tricolore Pizza (tomato sauce, mozzarella, roasted corn-fed chicken breast, rosemary-infused roast potatoes, sliced potatoes and basil pesto). He really enjoyed it and said that I chose a great place.We then went to get a takeout cake for dessert from the cute Mimi’s Little Bakehouse on the Royal Mile. It’s at the other end from George IV Bridge, so on the way we tried to decide what pubs we would head to later.Mimi’s Little Bakehouse makes amazing cupcakes, brownies and traybakes, and you can sit in or take away. There are only a few tables though. I got a Jammie Dodger Slice (a biscuit and white chocolate slice with jam and Jammie Dodger pieces) and David got a Mint Aero Slice (a biscuit and milk chocolate slice topped with milk chocolate, peppermint cream and Mint Aero pieces).On the way back up the cobbled Royal Mile, after eating our treats, we visited the free Museum of Childhood – this is somewhere that my parents used to take me lots as a child, and it’s a museum of childhood toys and nostalgia across the decades. Such a peaceful and heartwarming place for all ages. We also popped into permanent Christmas shop The Nutcracker, as who doesn’t want the chance to experience Christmas all year round?!Once we got back up to the main area on the Royal Mile, we decided to try Deacon Brodie’s Tavern pub and The Royal MacGregor pub (which specialises in whiskies if that’s your bag). Deacon Brodie’s Tavern was very busy and very much standing room only, so if you want a quieter drink and a place to sit, you’ll find that at The Royal MacGregor. I stuck to my favourite pink gin and lemonade – The Royal MacGregor has a great range of gins too. David had a whisky tasting and some pints of lager. If this area of Edinburgh doesn’t appeal, there are lots of other places to go to on an Edinburgh one-day trip!I had been invited to an influencer event that night at some luxury serviced apartments, so David went on a free ghost walk whilst I was at my event. He loved it and had been talking about a ghost called Bloody MacKenzie ever since. They visited graveyards and learnt lots about Old Town Edinburgh’s history. The walk he went on was with City Explorers.

Meanwhile, I headed to a girl’s night in event in the penthouse suite of Old Town Chambers – a great hotel on the Royal Mile. The views over Prince’s Street were stunning, and the apartment was so beautiful and modern. We were treated to Chinese cooking from TV chef Jimmy Lee, amazing cakes from The Great British Bake-Off’s Tom Hetherington, a screening of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and lots of champagne. I will definitely stay at Old Town Chambers on a future visit to the city.

David and I really enjoyed our day in Edinburgh, and you can read lots more about the city from my previous Edinburgh travel posts.

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