All the way back in the 90s, which was over 30 years ago - the capital had a lot of loved and lost venues that are sorely missed today.
As the saying goes - you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone, which certainly applies to these spots that we took for granted.
We’ve put together a list of some of our dearest lost businesses, but make sure to let us know if your favourite is missing.
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Celebrate at Little Marcos
Opened in 1980 as Scotland’s first indoor soft play area, it was the place to be for any kids birthday party.
When it finally closed its doors in 2008, over a million children had been welcomed to the Grove Street venue.
The Demarco family, who ran the business, continue to operate Marcos Pool Hall which sits on the site. If you head down for a game of pool, you’ll still find the Marco Bear height measure.
See in Hogmanay in the Old Town
Long before the ticketed event on Princes Street, Edinburgh locals once saw in Hogmanay around the Tron Kirk.
It wasn’t until 1993 that the event was moved to Princes Street, and ceased to become a free celebration. By 1996, over 300,000 people attended.
A round of pool at Diane’s
The Haymarket institution finally closed up shop in 2017, after 31 years of serving the city.
The whole time it was open, a game of pool was just 20p - with owner Diane McNair never raising the price. After it closed, sports bar Malones took its place.
Get a single bus ride for less than a £1
During the 90s, a single ticket for an adult was once just 70p. It wasn’t until 2008 that the price was raised above £1, sitting at £1.10.
Over the last 14 years it’s gone up to £1.80, which has us feeling extremely nostalgic for those early 90s prices.
A day at Leith Waterworld
First opening in 1992, Leith Waterworld was built on the site of the former Leith Central railway station. At the time, it was the only pool in Edinburgh with flumes.
Though campaigners protested against the closure, it was eventually turned into a soft-play area in 2012 - but those of a certain age will always miss the excitement at Waterworld.
Grab a bag of sweets at Casey’s
Whether it was a soor ploom or a toffee daudle, Casey’s was the place to go for all your confectionary needs.
Their shop in Abbeyhill was a popular spot for Hibs fans, who would pop in for an ‘Easter Road rock’ - coloured green and white for the team.
After serving the city for over 70 years, hearts were broken across Edinburgh when they closed up shop in 2009.
Spend the night at Century 2000
The ultimate destination for a cheap night out, Century 2000 had a reputation for being a bit of a ‘dive’ when it was open - but many had a secret love for the place.
The cheap thrills were kept alive when the venue rebranded as Revolution, and stands today as the Caley Picture House.
Visit the Cutty Sark Tall Ships
In July 1995, the legendary Cutty Sark Tall Ships descended on Leith Docks.
Tens of thousands flocked to the shore to see the ships in all their glory - with approximately 150,000 people attending a fireworks display to say farewell to the vessels.
Mecca bingo at the Festival Theatre
Originally serving as the Empire Theatre, the venue became a bingo hall in 1963.
Live music and performances would happen in the building once the bingo players had left in the late evening, before the Empire Theatre finally reopened in full in 1994 - now renamed the Edinburgh Festival Theatre.
See the dinosaurs at the City Art Centre
Britain’s first robotic dinosaur exhibition came to Edinburgh in 1990, with Dinosaurs Alive at the City Art Centre.
Thousands flocked to the exhibition to see the prehistoric creatures in all their glory, three years before Jurassic Park had the whole world raving about dinos.
See the Ross Fountain in its golden glory
First donated to Edinburgh in 1867, the Ross Fountain was once described as one of the most ‘elaborate and ornate’ structures of its kind in Europe.
While it stands today mainly green, there was once a time in the 90s when the whole statue sparkled in gold.
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Enjoy the flumes at the Commie
A whole generation of Edinburgh locals have never quite recovered from the removal of the Commie’s flumes.
The thrilling slides that once dominated the Commonwealth Pool were installed in the 80s, with four speedy tubes to slide through. Most will remember the Stingray, which was only for the bravest.
After rumours of razor blades being stuck in the flumes, the flumes were removed - bringing more heartache for locals.
Following it up with a trip to Brattisani’s
First opened in 1889 in Stockbridge, the Brattisani family went on to run several chippy’s throughout the city.
For many locals, a trip to the Commie wasn’t complete without stopping at the Newington Road Brattisani’s. Between the 70s and 90s, the restaurant was a key feature of an Edinburgh family day out.
The chippy’s began to close in the early 00s, with the Newington Road branch closing up shop in 2004.
An afternoon at Leisure Land
Once an amusement arcade of wonderment with fruit machines as far as the eye could see, Leisure Land was rendered to ash in a fire in 2002.
A blaze that tore through La Belle Angele, the Gilded Balloon, and the University of Edinburgh’s School of Informatics, it was a great loss for the capital.
A piercing at Whiplash Trash
Once the go to stop for any teen looking for a piercing their parents wouldn’t approve of, Whiplash Trash was a wondrous emporium.
The tattoo and piercing shop, along with Fopp and Avalanche, made a trip up Cockburn Street a must do for every weekend. Groans were heard from teen bedrooms across the city when the shop closed for good in 2016.
Getting a cab from inside Waverley
That’s right, once upon a time hailing a cab could be done from right inside Waverley.
The rank was removed in the 00s in a hope to reduce fumes, and much like lighting up a cigarette in the pub, it's become a thing of the past.
Stay at the Palace Hotel
The grand, six-storey Palace Hotel graced the corner of Princes and Castle Street for over a century.
Built in 1888, the long legacy came to an end in a devastating fire. On June 1, 1991, a fire broke out after youths managed to break into the building.
After setting alight pieces of paper to help find their way in the dark, the teens discarded the burning paper on their way out - which led to flames bursting through the building.
Get your goth on at Jekyll and Hyde
Now reopened as the Hanover Tap, Jekyll and Hyde was Edinburgh’s premo goth spot.
A cosy yet unique spot, the venue was filled with hidden doors and quirky fittings. Part cocktail bar, part mad-scientists-lab, this city centre favourite is sorely missed.
Shop at the Jolly Giant in Peffermill
Once everyone’s favourite toy shop, the Glasgow based firm Jolly Giant had stores in Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.
The Peffermill outlet first opened in 1991, and had children across the city flocking in. Sadly, the business folded in 2002 and we lost yet another local favourite.
