Explore Calton Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated as the “Athens of the North” for its iconic neoclassical monuments and spectacular views across Edinburgh.
As summer approaches and we all look forward to spending more time outdoors, our team at Cullerton’s has chosen to feature a place long associated with welcoming in the new season for this month’s blog: Calton Hill. One of Edinburgh’s famous seven hills, it is a remarkable green space where history, architecture, ritual and relaxed dining sit comfortably within modern city life.
We take a closer look at the culture on the hill, including the Beltane Fire Festival and Café Calton, alongside the architecture and landscape that have earned this open-air gallery the nickname ‘Athens of the North’ and secured its place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Rising gently at the eastern end of Princes Street, Calton Hill sits right in the heart of the capital. A short climb brings you to one of the most photographed perspectives in the city, taking in the medieval silhouette of the Old Town, the ordered elegance of the New Town, and the stretch of Leith down to the Firth of Forth.
Image courtesy of Cafe Calton
In the early 1800s, an ambitious vision saw Edinburgh aspire to become the ‘Athens of the North’, with Calton Hill as its symbolic acropolis. Guided by one of Scotland’s most renowned architects, William Henry Playfair, the result is a collection of monuments unlike anywhere else in Britain.
Designed in the neoclassical style, these include the unfinished National Monument with its solemn row of columns, the Nelson Monument rising against the skyline, and the elegant Dugald Stewart Monument, now one of the city’s most recognisable viewpoints. Together, they form an open-air gallery, closely tied to Edinburgh’s intellectual and cultural identity.
Once a year, the atmosphere on the hill shifts. A modern interpretation of an ancient pagan festival begins on May Eve at sunset and continues into the early hours of 1 May. In the Gaelic calendar, this marks the beginning of summer, when pastures were opened for grazing and homes were decorated with seasonal blooms. Bonfires, lit on the last night of April, were believed to offer protection to livestock and those who tended them.
Today, one of the largest pagan gatherings in the world takes place here. On Thursday 30 April at 7:30pm, the Beltane Fire Festival returns to Calton Hill, telling the story of the Green Man and the May Queen through fire, performance, music and movement. As evening turns to night, the hill fills with the rhythm of drums and the glow of firelight. A spectacular display, not to be missed, with some tickets still available:
Ticket link:
https://www.citizenticket.com/events/beltane-fire-society/beltane-fire-festival-2026/
Tucked into the hillside, with views that reward the climb, Café Calton has become part of the Calton Hill experience. Nominated by Mark Cullerton, CEO of Cullerton’s, as one of his favourite places for a relaxed brunch, we asked the owner, Stefano, to share a little more about the thinking behind it.
After The Broughton and The Seafood Ristorante, what led you to begin this project on Calton Hill?
Calton Hill has something special. You feel Edinburgh’s history the moment you arrive. I wanted to create a place that sits naturally within that setting and gives people a way to take it in. It was never just about opening a restaurant; it was about becoming part of the landscape.
Has Café Calton become a destination rather than a stop-off, and what brings people back?
It has, which is incredibly rewarding. We’ve had locals say they’ve lived in Edinburgh for years but never made it up Calton Hill until there was somewhere to go at the top. People may come for the view, but they return for the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It’s a place to slow down, and that’s what stays with people.
Images courtesy of Cafe Calton
What is the ethos behind Café Calton?
Keep it simple, do things well, and make people feel welcome. Good food, genuine service, and a space that feels easy and natural.
Do you get involved in the wider community on the hilltop?
Yes, it’s important to us to contribute to the hill, not simply operate on it. We’ve hosted community pilates classes over the winter, supported a local children’s charity by offering the café as a filming location, and recently held a series of wine tastings in support of Alzheimer’s Scotland. We’re always looking at ways to collaborate with creative and charitable initiatives, both on the hill and across Edinburgh.
Images courtesy of Cafe Calton
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