Edinburgh is one of the great European cities, with a distinctive architectural heritage, the famous International Arts Festival and the added status of the arrival of the Scottish parliament. This pocket guide gets under the skin of the city, covering it area by area, with critical reviews of restaurants, hotels, bars, cafes and pubs, including Five of the Best ratings, as well as the festivals, from the world's greatest arts festival to the biggest New Year's Eve party in Europe. The book also covers: shopping - how to get the most out of retail therapy; watering holes - where to enjoy the city's liberal licensing laws; top music venues - the low-down on vibes from folk to flava; and accounts of all the sights from the castle to Leith.