For more food and drink visit www.list.co.uk/food-and-drink THE PEAR TREE HOUSE 34 West Nicolson Street, Southside, 0131 667 7533. Open Mon–Thu 11am–11.45pm; Fri & Sat 11am–12.45am; Sun 12.30pm–11.45pm. The granddaddy of all beer gardens and where most of Edinburgh heads the minute sunshine is suspected, mixing up the usually student-focused crowd. Go early, stay late and be prepared to share your bench – it’s all part of the charm.
DRINKING SUGGESTIONS THE ESPY
62-64 Bath Street, Portobello, 0131 669 0082. Open Sun–Wed 9am–11pm; Thu–Sat 9am–1am. www.the-espy.co.uk Not the biggest seating area, but definitely one of the best, slap-bang in the middle of Portobello promenade. Beer on the beach is always a good thing, and with Espy’s better-than- average pub grub added to the mix – what’s not to like?
HOTEL DU VIN 11 Bristo Place, Old Town, 0131 247 4900. Mon-Sat noon–1am; Sun 12.30pm–1am. www.hotelduvin.com A sweet wee courtyard with the expected excellent wine list is funked up with the addition of a rather cool cigar shack: basically an open-sided wooden teepee where sipping and smoking one of Cuba’s finest is positively encouraged.
BOND NO. 9 84 Commercial Street, Leith, 0131 555 5578. Open Mon–Sun, noon–1am. www.bondno9.co.uk Focusing on grown-up drinks like cocktails and fizz, Bond 9 is a sophisticated place to let your hair down. There’s plenty of outside seating, as well as a big conservatory for when the weather (inevitably) lets you down.
SPECIAL MENTIONS: Bisque Bar for family-friendly dining on their outdoor terrace, with heaters for the cold weather; Hawke & Hunter for late night drinking outdoors; Mamma’s American Pizza Company and Maxies Bistro & Wine Bar for making the most of the Grassmarket area; The Starbank Inn for traditional boozing on their cosy, sunny patio.
PICNIC HOTSPOTS Niki Boyle lists the best places in Glasgow and Edinburgh for a civilised picnic
GLASGOW CROOKSTON CASTLE Aside from the grassy parkland all about, Crookston Castle is also used as an occasional venue for outdoor events such as magic shows and storytelling sessions. And let’s not forget the castle itself – a climb up the tower ladder is rewarded with great views of the Southside and beyond. How to get there: In the Southside, travel along Paisley Rd West, then turn south onto Crookston Rd. Turn left at Brockburn Rd; the castle is ahead on the left.
NECROPOLIS CEMETERY There is a dedicated picnic area in the Necropolis, Glasgow’s answer to the famous Père Lachaise cemetery
in Paris. It’s a beautiful, peaceful part of the city – perhaps more of a white-wine-and- cheese-selection picnic than somewhere to let the kids run riot with a Frisbee. How to get there: From George Sq, head east. Turn right onto High St and then turn right at St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, onto Cathedral Sq. QUEEN’S PARK Certain spots in Queen’s Park, such as the hill tucked away at the back, have been left uncultivated: the grass grows wild and it’s very sheltered from the city, giving picnickers the feeling that they’re out in the countryside rather than the south side of Glasgow. How to get there: In Southside, head south down Eglinton Rd/Pollockshaws Rd;
20 THE LIST 22 Jul–5 Aug 2010
the park is on the left- hand side. EDINBURGH
CHESSEL’S COURT A favourite with List staffers at lunchtime, this old courtyard is accessible through an arcade on the Royal Mile. Once in, you can sit on the raised grassy area and enjoy the sight of pink cherry blossoms drifting to the ground as you tuck in to your cheese rolls. How to get there: On the Royal
Mile, head east towards Holyrood, then turn left into Chessel’s Court just before the Canon’s Gait pub. SILVERKNOWES WATERFRONT The coastal path that runs from Granton to Cramond is one massive picnic-friendly
promenade, but we like this spot especially: there’s great views across the Forth and Cramond Island, and when
the sandwiches are finished, there’s steep grassy banks to roll down or storm-tossed boulders to leap around on. How to get there: From the city centre, head down Hanover/ Dundas/Brandon St, then onto Inverleith Row. From there, turn left onto Ferry Rd, then continue on until you reach the roundabout at Silverknowes Rd, which takes you all the way down to the seafront.
DEAN VILLAGE The picturesque Dean Village sits on the
banks of the Water of Leith; take a stroll under the massive viaduct, and there’s a wide triangular grassy area perfect for outdoor eating.
From there, it’s just a short stroll to the Dean and Modern art galleries to round off a thoroughly pleasant afternoon. How to get there: From the city centre, head to the West End, and travel northwest up Queensferry St/Queensferry Rd. Turn left down Bells Brae, and follow into Dean Village. BLACKFORD HILL Like Arthur’s Seat’s less touristy little brother, Blackford Hill rises up in the Southside. Chill out by the duck pond at the bottom, or hike up to the summit to chow down next to the Royal Observatory. How to get there: From city centre, travel south to Morningside. Continue south down Morningside/Comiston Rd, turning left onto Braid Hills Rd. Blackford Hill is ahead on the right.