I visited one of the 'best cities in the world' — one thing will live in my mind forever
Edinburgh. A city steeped in history and culture, regarded by many as one of the best in the world — but did you know it is home to its fair share of ' spiritual ' powers? Experienced traveller Jason Cranwell found this out first-hand, opening his mind, and his taste buds, to the lavish Scottish locale.
"Whisky drinking is a pastime I have always been happy to leave to other people," he wrote in the The Express. "In truth it was to avoid the risk of it leading to a more fulfilling existence than my overdraft can handle."
As part of his two-day escapade, Jason visited the Johnnie Walker Experience on Princess Street. Despite being a self-confessed ' Peroni guy', this eye-opening event required him to broaden his horizons and sample some heartburn-inflicting scotch.
Jason explained: "After answering some questions about my palate, I was soon tentatively sipping my first tailored whisky sample. Decent. Then the second. OK, this is not unpleasant, and then the third, a celestial cocktail creation whose recipe is now committed to memory in perpetuity like a school assembly hymn."
It became easily apparent just why the facility cost a mammoth £150million as soon as Eleanor started taking everyone on a tour throughout what Jason described were "immersive rooms". Inside were a maze of sleek, 360-degree wall projections, hand gesture recognition and cool LED effects.
The chief storyteller was Evie who was a "genius" when it came to narrating the whole experience. "Close your eyes and you could be listening to a Wikipedia biog entry," Jason remarked, "Open them and you find yourself captivated by this Whisky Wonka."
Next on the itinerary was a visit to The Real Mary King's Close, an underground labyrinth of 17th century dwellings off the Royal Mile that is remarkable preserved. Makenzi was appointed as tour guide for this activity, playing an ancient maid for an hour-long journey through the ages, spanning plagues and bomb shelters.
Away from the dramatic activities, Edinburgh boasts exceptional places to eat and drink. Jason and company, wanting a quick change of pace, opted to visit Valvona & Crolla, a traditional Italian deli on an artisan stretch by Leith Walk. Established in 1934 by Alfonso Crolla and now run by his great-granddaughter Olivia, what initially appears to be a quaintly single-file family shop stretches out to a series of extensions with treasures at every turn.
Whether it was the tasty cheese counter, the realms of custom-labelled wine bottles hand selected by the team, and then just up the stairs was a restaurant with the most eclectic clientele. "With the possibility of delicious antipasti, panatella and pasta paired with a highly recommended wine-tasting session hosted by the in-house sommelier for £38, who says you can't put a price on authenticity?" Jason asked.
Further down Leith Walk are the more hipster parts of town. Seafood restaurant Plaice at host venue ASKR on Constitution Street is officially a pop-up restaurant and is covered in spray paint decor and a health-obsessed offering.
Jason continued: "I had a starter plate of scrumptious peri-peri tiger prawns that I scooped out on to my oyster-buttered warm sourdough bread, inadvertently creating the bougiest sandwich ever. My main course of bluefin tuna, caught in British waters but served up Japanese-style and bathed in sesame oil, topped it all off."
For the fun-filled vacation, he stayed at Moxy Edinburgh Fountainbridge, situated a 15-minute stroll from Haymarket train station. On the sixth floor you'll find the Moxy's crown jewel, the Lochrin Rooftop Bar, voted Hotel Bar of the Year at the prestigious 2024 Scottish Bar and Pub Awards.
According to TimeOut, Edinburgh is one of the 53 best cities in the world to live in. Among its attractions is a food and drink scene which they say features an 'ever-evolving selection of forward-thinking bars and eateries'. In 2023, TimeOut said Edinburgh is one of the 53 best cities in the world to live in. Among its attractions is a food and drink scene which they say features an 'ever-evolving selection of forward-thinking bars and eateries'.
Earlier in 2024, the Scottish capital was named one of the 'best places for an autumn city break' by The Times, the only British place to make the list. They wrote: 'Edinburgh's snug restaurants, historic hotels and warming whiskies only get better in the cooler months. 'Hike around this sloping city of quirky alleys, a waterfront port and towering castle walls in jumper-and-jeans weather, allowing time to reach its blustery natural viewpoint, Arthur's Seat.'
Summarising, Jason simply finished by saying: "Oh, Edinburgh, I think I'm smitten."
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