Guide to Bruntsfield
Welcome to the Edinburgh Women’s Fiction Festival!
We’re delighted you’re here and can’t wait to meet you! This guide will help you get to know the local area.
Getting Here:
The festival is located in the Bruntsfield neighbourhood of Edinburgh at a crossroads known as Holy Corner (due to having four churches on one corner).
Public transport
From Waverley train station:
Lothian Buses (the burgundy ones):
Get the 15 or 16 from bus stop PP at the top of the Waverley Steps
Walk down Princes St past the National Gallery, turn left on The Mound to stop MD for the 23
Other buses that go past Holy Corner include the 11, 36, and 45
You can tap on and off and each journey is £2. An app is available (search “Lothian buses”).
Taxi/Uber will be around £15-20.
Walking will take around 40 minutes, and you’ll pass many Edinburgh landmarks along the way! Check Google Maps or…
Walk up Cockburn Street
Walk up the Royal Mile towards the Edinburgh Castle
Take a left on the road after St Giles Cathedral (George IV Bridge)
Continue past the National Library and National Museum
Veer along Forrest Road (right-ish)
Cross the road onto Middle Meadow Walk, then along Jawbone Walk (second path to the right)
Continue through the meadows towards Bruntsfield Links
Follow the paths to Bruntsfield Place
From the airport:
You can take a bus (Airlink 100) or a tram. Both take around 30 minutes and cost around £9 open return.
Taxi/Uber will be around £30 and will take around 30 minutes.
GET TO KNOW BRUNTSFIELD
Bruntsfield is a buzzy neighbourhood with loads of independent shops, cafes, and restaurants. We hope you have time to get to know this lovely part of our city!
Even numbers are on the northwest side of Bruntsfield Place, odd numbers on the southeast. Listed in order of proximity to our venues, but nothing is more than a 10-minute walk away.
Cafes
Heart & Bottle • coffee and snacks • 15 Colinton Road
181 Deli • cheese, bread, artisan gins, wine (9-5) • 181 Bruntsfield Place
Honeycomb & Co • coffee, breakfast, brunch (9-4) • 1 Merchiston Place
La Barantine • French patisserie (7:30-4) • 202 Bruntsfield Place
Project Coffee • coffee, breakfast, brunch, lunch (7:30-7) • 192-194 Bruntsfield Place
Artisan Roast • hipster coffee shop (9-5) • 138 Bruntsfield Place
Maytree Cafe • women-owned cafe (11-7) • 123 Bruntsfield Place
Cuckoo’s Bakery • cupcakes and coffee (10-5) • 116 Bruntsfield Place
Restaurants
McLarens • offering all attendees a ‘locals card’ giving 20% off all food and drinks - keep the card and use it forever! • 8 Morningside Road, across from the venue
Fin & Grape • where Edinburgh chefs go on their nights off • 19 Colinton Road
Decanter • wine bar and restaurant • 183 Bruntsfield Place
Piggs Wine Bar • tapas and wine (12-11) • 171 Bruntsfield Place
Seeds for the Soul • vegan restaurant (10-9) • 167 Bruntsfield Place
Cafe Grande • family-run bistro and cafe (9-9) • 182-184 Bruntsfield Place
Montpelier’s • brasserie and bar • 159-161 Bruntsfield Place
Papillo • neighbourhood Italian • 158 Bruntsfield Place
Three Birds • locally run restaurant with excellent food and service (10-10) • 3-5 Viewforth
Shopping Most shops are open from 10-5
The Edinburgh Bookshop • the best independent bookshop • 176 Bruntsfield Place
Chez Roger • French deli and food • 11 Colinton Road
Rosevear Tea • large selection of tea and accessories • 100 Bruntsfield Place
Curiouser • upmarket Scottish gifts, books, ceramics, art • 106 Bruntsfield Place
The Bay Tree Company • cards and notebooks • 110 Bruntsfield Place
Swish • backpacks, hats, accessories • 118 Bruntsfield Place
Thorne Records • independent record shop • 125 Bruntsfield Place
Nice Stuff • gifts and homewares • 141 Bruntsfield Place
Biscuit • boutique and lifestyle shop, sustainable brands • 137 Bruntsfield Place
Snapdragon • flowers, plants, and other lovely things • 146 Bruntsfield Place
Rosie Brown • handmade jewellery • 148 Bruntsfield Place
Raf • artisanal Scottish gifts • 170 Bruntsfield Place
Gulliver’s Toys • “what did you bring me?” • 165b Bruntsfield Place
Nordic Living • Scandinavian lifestyle home accessories shop • 175 Bruntsfield Place
Everyone’s Designs • cards and gifts • 213 Bruntsfield Place
Bits and Bobs
News Plus • newsagents • 196 Bruntsfield Place (6.30am-7pm)
Paton & Finlay • pharmacy • 177 Bruntsfield Place (9:30-5:30)
Tesco • 2a Colinton Rd (8am-10pm)
Sainsbury’s Local • 159 Sainsbury’s Local
Dig In organic market & co-op • 119 Bruntsfield Place