Joanie Gal, Gillian from Elevator Musik blog shows us around her hometown of Edinburgh, from brunch spots to Castle stops, here's Gillian's Edinburgh City Guide...

I love showing people round my hometown of Edinburgh, so today I put on my cosiest Joanie jumper for a tour around the city. How lovely is the Bianca jumper with its embroidered slogan and frilled sleeves? Cute and cosy is always a winning combo!

Here are a few of my must-see places for any Joanie gals visiting Edinburgh this year.

Edinburgh City GuideBrunch at The Pantry

Any day out has to start with brunch, right? One of my favourite spots is The Pantry in Stockbridge. They do the prettiest, tastiest avocado on toast with poached eggs, pico de gallo salsa and chunky sourdough. I’d recommend the “San Fran” variety with added bacon, or opt for the “NY” with smoked salmon for a little bit of luxury.

Edinburgh City GuideEdinburgh City GuideEdinburgh City GuideThe café is really relaxed and rustic, perfect for spending a couple of hours catching up over coffees (and the cakes are amazing too if you can fit one in after brunch!). The Pantry’s neighbourhood, Stockbridge, is ideal for a wander afterwards, thanks to its picturesque cobbled lanes, boutique shops and weekly farmers market.

National Museum of Scotland

Edinburgh City GuideThe National Museum of Scotland is one of my favourite places to spend an afternoon – especially if it’s rainy, which happens quite a lot in Edinburgh. The museum is completely free to enter, and houses fascinating collections ranging all the way from fashion to science and technology.Edinburgh City GuideStart in the main Grand Gallery, a stunning Victorian atrium, and explore from there. I always love looking around the Natural World galleries which are all about animals, earth and space. I’ve also got a soft spot for the Scottish History and Archaeology galleries as I studied Scottish History at university. The museum is a great introduction to Edinburgh’s past, especially if you’re visiting Scotland for the first time.

Edinburgh City GuideShopping in the Grassmarket

Edinburgh has lots of amazing independent shops and quirky boutiques, and you’ll find many of them in the Grassmarket. This historic area of the city is beautiful, especially the colourful and very Instagrammable Victoria Street.

Edinburgh City GuideIf you’re looking for a souvenir to take home that isn’t tacky, pop in to some of the shops along Victoria Street, Candlemaker Row and West Port in the Grassmarket. A few of my favourites include Hannah Zakari for jewellery, Red Door Gallery for prints and art, Godiva for indie clothes designers, Armstrong’s for vintage fashion, and the Isle of Skye Candle Co for candles and gifts.

Edinburgh City GuideIn the Grassmarket, you’ll also find lots of pubs and cafes, including Mary’s Milk Bar, a retro ice cream parlour serving the best gelato in Edinburgh.

Cake at Lovecrumbs

Just along the street, you’ll find Lovecrumbs. This quirky little café serves up my favourite cakes in Edinburgh. Each day, they have a selection of different cakes and bakes to choose from. This time, I went for the salted caramel, pecan and pretzel cake (and also managed to steal a taste of the chocolate and coconut cake) with a mug of hot chocolate.Edinburgh City GuideIt’s always busy here so be prepared to wait for a table at the weekend, or take your cake to go and enjoy it outside in the sunshine. If you’re lucky, you might be able to grab the window and get comfy with cushions as you watch the world go by, or perch on the piano underneath the “nice times” neon sign.

Edinburgh City GuideEdinburgh Castle

A visit to Edinburgh wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Edinburgh Castle, would it? This iconic landmark is one of the most famous parts of Edinburgh, sitting high on top of an old volcanic rock in the middle of the city. It can get pretty windy up here, I had a couple of Marilyn moments with my Quinn skirt!

Edinburgh City GuideTours are pricy at £17 per adult, but it’s worth doing if you have plenty of time to explore properly. If you can only fit in a quick visit, you can access the castle esplanade for free to see the castle up close. There are also amazing views from up here and you can see all across the city.

Edinburgh City GuideTo see more of my Edinburgh adventures, be sure to have a read of my blog at elevatormusik.com or follow along on Instagram at @elevatormusik_

Happy travels gals!

Gillian