Edinburgh continues to amaze us with its growing culinary sphere. And so, it's hard to be all that surprised that a phenomenal French-inspired tasting menu "from nature to plate" can be found on the streets of Leith. Taking you through a journey of the seasonal Scottish larder, the wild countryside and the sea; the Kitchin has to make it to the top of your go-to list. 

Relaxed fine dining is having its moment. We see why when we enter the Michelin-starred spot, Heron on Leith shores. Here, hand dived scallops are served with a spoonful of pata negra on a bed of squash, chipotle and juniper, the langoustine comes as a nori crème patissiere and mackerel is rightfully paired with hand-foraged gooseberries. 

A cross between a gallery and a shop – albeit one with a homely domestic layout – Bard has work by around 50 makers on rotation. The line-up includes Juli Bolanos-Durman, who transforms recycled glass into vessels and objects; Joshua Williams’ drip glaze caramel-coloured bowls; merino throws by Drove Weavers that use surplus wool; and Jasmine Linington’s cushions, made from SeaCell (a fibre derived from seaweed) and embroidered with metallic bamboo silk threads.  

On a cobbled lane just off the Shore, Custom Lane is one of Leith’s most creative corners. Set inside a restored customs building, it’s a collaborative hub for designers, makers and cultural projects, with studios upstairs and a public ground floor housing a café, gallery, shop and event space. Exhibitions, talks and workshops run throughout the year, while the resident community spans jewellers, architects, photographers and artists. It’s part workspace, part cultural venue, and a genuine engine of Edinburgh’s design scene.