10 reasons why Portobello is a great place to live after being named best neighbourhood in the UK and Ireland

Judges were wowed by Porty’s community spirit

The seaside suburb of Portobello has been voted the best neighbourhood in the UK and Ireland at the 2020 Urbanism Awards in London.

Judges were wowed by Porty’s community spirit while locals were welcoming of, but not surprised by, the accolade.

You can read more about the prestigious award and read what residents had to say HERE

With that in mind, we thought we'd take a stroll around Porty, and look for ourselves at some of the bit things on offer...

1 Really wild swimming

No matter how far below freezing the air temperature might fall, spotting the swimmers has become a daily ritual on the Prom. If that’s not your bag, then there is always Porty Baths.

2 Butternut Squash

What’s a seaside without a good cafe? From Popeyes on the High Street to Miro’s on the Prom there is no shortage of choice. Butternut Squash on Bath Street is perhaps the pick of the bunch. Great home cooked food at ridiculously reasonable prices – and some of the friendliest service in Edinburgh.

3 Crumbs or the Little Green Van?

For coffee on a cold day, the question is how far along the Prom do you want to walk? Do you want to go as far as Crumbs caravan or the Little Green Van? Neither will disappoint. Crumbs even offers liver cake treats for your dog.

4 The Wash House

The people of Portobello made history with the first community buy-out of its kind by purchasing the Portobello Old Parish Church. It is now a thriving venue for arts events and community hub on Bellfield Street. It is not, however, the only community space in Porty with the old Wash House surviving as a busy community hall too.

5 The Big Beach Busk

You can often catch a busker or two on the Prom, but for one day every August it becomes a heaving mass of musicians. Having just celebrated its tenth event, the Big Beach Busk has provided a platform for countless professionals as well as giving many young musicians a first taste of performing in public.

6 St Andrews Takeaway

It isn’t the only great chip shop in the area, but it is the best... in Edinburgh. St Andrews has been voted the city’s best chippy for two years in a row by you, the readers of the Edinburgh Evening News. You can’t get batter than that... (sorry!)

7 High Street shopping

With Findlays the butcher, Williamson’s the fishmonger, Greek Artisan Pastries, the newly opened Portobello Book Shop, a series of gift shops including the wonderful Cove you can spend hours browsing shops in Porty. Don’t miss Martha’s Attic Vintage shop on Brighton Place.

8 Tribe Porty

From photographers to translators, graphic designers to pilates classes, an old warehouse on Windsor Place has become a bustling hub for entrepreneurs, workshops and classes.

9 Beer on tap

There is no shortage of great bars to choose from. One of the new kids on the block is the Portobello Tap which is becoming a major attraction for craft beer fans. It’s also dog-friendly and serves great burgers.

10 Jump Around

For generations of Edinburgh children – and their parents – a party at “the trampoline centre” in Porty was a rite of passage. And it still is. Much more goes on at the Orcadia Creative Learning Centre these days, but it’s still a great place for a birthday party.