A dog-friendly guide to Edinburgh

Telegraph

a day ago

Edinburgh is as enchantingly old and picturesque as it is thrillingly modern. This city has several sides to its personality; from the staid history of its castle and the spooky, gruesome tales of its past residents, to the modern, hipster cafés and restaurants of its more suburban neighbourhoods, and the natural wonders on its doorstep.
Here, there are myriad smells to set a dog's senses alight, and the city really knows how to cater for both its local and visiting canines – there's even some dog-related history you'll want to sniff out while you're here.
Whether you're coming for a romantic break and the dog's tagging along or you're bringing the kids and their furry companion for an urban adventure, there's much to enjoy in this enthralling city.
Here's how to have the best dog-friendly city break in Edinburgh.
In this guide:
Things to do
Dining out
Where to stay
Insider tips
Things to do
A dog-friendly weekend in Edinburgh combines all of the city's greatest draws: a little history, plenty of family fun and ample time in the great outdoors that surround the urban sprawl. Here are five great things to do with your dog in Edinburgh.
Summerhall Arts
Most of the museums in Edinburgh don't allow dogs, but this arts centre south of the Old Town is a brilliant spot to see something a little avant garde. There are ever-changing exhibitions alongside a dog-friendly café. The vast Meadows park is opposite, too – ideal for a leg stretcher before you take the dog for a cultured afternoon. The Royal Dick Pub, next to the veterinary school on the same site, is also dog-friendly.
The Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
Extremely silly family fun can be had at this multi-floored mad house. Expect distorting mirrors, plasma globes you can touch to conduct your own electricity, and a deeply disconcerting mirror maze. The dog can join you for all of it, including a trip to the rooftop. From the outside terrace near the Camera Obscura there are excellent views to be enjoyed.
Portobello Beach
A 20-minute ride on the 19 bus takes you from Edinburgh Waverley to the seaside suburb of Portobello, where locals spend their weekends walking their own dogs along the gorgeous sandy beach. Expect to see kites flying in the breeze, kids building sand castles, and a few brave swimmers in the sea (there's even a sauna for the serious swimming types; no dogs allowed, obviously).
There's a promenade for those who prefer not to get the sand between their paws, and you can pick up treats for good boys and girls by heading onto the High Street to Harry's Gourmet Treats, where home-cooked dog biscuits come in lamb and mint or fish flavours.
The Scottish Seabird Centre & Bass Rock
A 30-minute train journey from Waverley Station takes you from the city centre out to the handsome little town of North Berwick. Here, dogs can race around on two dog-friendly beaches, while at the Scottish Seabird Centre you can explore an interactive exhibition on Scotland's marine life and book boat trips to the famous Bass Rock.
Dogs can join you in the exhibition, the café, and on the boat to see over 50,000 gannets nesting on its cliffs – you'll hear and smell them before you get close enough to look into their icy blue eyes, and the boat guides will regale you with fascinating facts about these elegant creatures. If coming by public transport, take the number 49 bus from South Bridge towards the Royal Infirmary.
Craigmillar Castle
Edinburgh Castle doesn't permit dogs for good reason – there are simply too many visitors. But Craigmillar makes a worthy alternative. A fine medieval castle, this is where Mary Queen of Scots retreated after the birth of her son, and where the 'Craigmillar Bond' scheme, a plan to murder her husband, was hatched.
Today, you can wander around its ruins with the dog (although they're not allowed to join you in roofed areas), while the wider grounds offer hours of lovely strolls.
Return to index
Dining out
Whether you find yourself hungry in the old town, new town or beyond the city centre in neighbourhoods like Leith or Stockbridge, there's plenty of good food on offer for dog owners in the Scottish capital.
Sip & Bark
In trendy Stockbridge, Sip and Bark is a dog's dream dining venue. Sitting on the seats is very much allowed and eating at the table is encouraged – there's a whole menu just for dogs including dog-friendly donuts, cupcakes, cookies and even 'Bottom Sniffer Beer'.
For those on two legs, the menu is very brunchy, with shakshuka, rolls with bacon, Lorne sausage, black pudding and eggs. There are cocktails for boozy brunching, as well as a small wine list.
Barry Fish
New for 2025, this fish restaurant in Leith is already winning awards for its finely cooked fruits de mer. Headed up by Barry Bryson, it champions Scottish seafood and other British produce, with the likes of Exmoor caviar, Loch Fyne oysters and lemon sole on the menu. Dogs are welcome to sit beside you while you feast.
The Port of Leith Distillery
There's decent food and excellent cocktails and whisky to be enjoyed here, but the main event at this distillery in Leith is the view. Located on the eighth floor, the bar has floor-to-ceiling windows offering a view across the Albert Dock Basin and the Firth of Forth. Expect plates like gnocchi with lovage pesto or venison charcuterie boards, as well as some excellent whisky cocktails.
Cold Town House
Craft beer, excellent pizzas and fine views of Edinburgh Castle come together at this excellent brew pub in the heart of the Old Town. There are burgers, hot dogs and grazing plates – the dog will be tempted by the sausage platter, no doubt – and an excellent cocktail list. Their home-brewed beers range from typical refreshing lagers to pale ales and even a raspberry Berliner weissebier.
56 North
This small, casual gin bar was one of the first to pop up in the city. Today, it has morphed into a micro-distillery with South Loch Gin distilled on site. They do self-guided gin tastings, should you fancy an in-depth exploration of this popular spirit, or you can simply enjoy a G&T with your dinner. Plates range from haggis bon bons and salt and pepper calamari to Thai salads and hearty burgers.
Return to index
Where to stay
Sleeping well in Edinburgh isn't difficult: this city is packed with lovely hotels. For those with hounds, though, the pickings are a little slimmer. These are five of the best dog-friendly properties.
Wilde Edinburgh
Few hotels in Edinburgh's Old Town can offer a secure garden, but this aparthotel has a small courtyard with a lawn and long grassy plantings perfect for letting the dog off the lead for a quick morning constitutional. Located beneath Edinburgh Castle and just around the corner from Grassmarket, the studio apartments themselves are excellent, too.
There are dog-friendly rooms on the ground floor with direct outdoor access to that handy courtyard, and each one has a large king bed, small kitchenette (ideal for those who feed raw), and a dining area. Dogs get beds, bowls, a treat and a toy in the room.
The Balmoral
Set right above Waverley Station, few hotels are better located than The Balmoral for exploring both Edinburgh's new and old towns, and even fewer offer such a fancy experience for dogs, too. Your pet is well pampered here, with their own welcome pack including a guide to the city's green spaces, a tailored tweed bandana and matching toy; best of all, there's a whole in-room dining menu for dogs. They can expect to choose from chopped raw beef fillet with boiled eggs and peas, roast chicken with rice and dog-safe broth, or a grilled 8oz fillet steak with boiled vegetables and rice, all prepared by the hotel's own chefs.
Rooms and suites here are sublime: expect vast marble bathrooms, exceptionally soft mattresses and mesmerising views over Edinburgh's old town. This hotel accepts pets under 20lbs (9kg), so your labradors and Newfoundlands will need to book elsewhere.
Edinburgh Caravan & Motorhome Club Site
An urban sprawl such as Edinburgh might not seem like an obvious camping destination, but if you've got a tent, campervan, tentbox, caravan or motorhome – or converted truck, as is often seen on this site – the Edinburgh Caravan & Motorhome Club Site offers a very reasonably-priced city break.
It's a 25-minute journey on the bus into the city from here, and just a 10-minute walk to the gorgeous Cramond beach, where Edinburgh's local dogs strut along the seafront promenade before breakfast. There's a small enclosed dog park on site and it's just a 20-minute bus journey to the brilliant bars and restaurants in Leith, too. Toilets and showers are modern, plentiful and pristine, and you can even order Uber Eats to your pitch if you're feeling lazy.
Website: caravanclub.co.uk
Price: Pitches from £25 per night; dogs stay free.
Kimpton Charlotte Square
Right in Edinburgh's New Town, this vast Kimpton hotel is a fantastic base for a few days in Edinburgh. The hotel has a dog-friendly restaurant on the ground floor and they'll send breakfast up to the room if you don't fancy going downstairs for it. There are no rules on size of dog and they get to stay for free, with beds and bowls provided in the rooms.
The bedrooms themselves are contemporary cool, with leather chesterfield sofas and, in some, pre-mixed cocktails on the drinks trolley. The best part for dog owners is access to Charlotte Square's enclosed lawn – ask at reception for the key and you'll get to head inside the iron gates that keep the riff raff out and let the dog run free for a game of fetch.
Prestonfield House
Located right in the middle of a leafy golf course and less than a kilometre south of Arthur's Seat, this is the place to stay if you want ample green space for the dog's morning walk. Expect serious country house opulence inside Prestonfield House, with antler chandeliers, carved wood panelling and heavy curtains with jaunty tassels. Dogs will get a bed in the room and can join you for meals and drinks in all bar one of the drawing rooms. Afternoon teas are particularly lavish here, so come with an appetite.
Return to index
Insider tips
Edinburgh has a handful of excellent city-centre parks for walks, most notably Princes Street Gardens, which fills with locals and visitors eating picnics and drinking gins in tins on sunny days. But don't miss a wander through a graveyard here. It might seem morbid, but Greyfriars Kirkyard is a beautiful, leafy cemetery with some seriously extra gravestones.
It's most famous among Harry Potter fans as the site of Tom Riddell's grave, but dog lovers will be most charmed by the gravestone of little Greyfriars Bobby, whose statue sits opposite the entrance to the graveyard on Candlemaker Row.
The story goes that this little terrier spent 14 years guarding the grave of its owner until he too passed away. His own gravestone, just inside the entrance to the burial site, is now piled high with sticks, an offering of respect from passing dog lovers.
Bobby isn't the only dog memorialised in an Edinburgh graveyard, though: head to St Cuthbert's Kirkyard at the far western end of Princes Street Gardens, to also place a stick at the feet of Bum, a street dog from San Diego (Edinburgh's twinned city) who is cast in bronze and was left with only half a front leg after a railway accident.
Local etiquette
Generally, it's safest and kindest to keep your dog on a lead throughout Edinburgh – this city is busy with both people, traffic and trams, so dogs can be endangered or cause havoc if roaming free.
If you want to let yours off the lead, those with good recall can enjoy a runabout up Arthur's Seat without worry, and those who prefer the safety of a secure field should book an Unleashed dog park for an afternoon of fun with agility equipment inside a six-foot fenced field.