Budget, Child friendly, Student friendly

27 places

Sorted by popularity

The King's Wark

36 The Shore, Edinburgh, EH6 6QU

With a history dating back to 1432, this is one of Leith’s most venerable buildings. Although it has only been in its present guise for a comparatively short 22 years, its stone walls, hardwood floorboards, open fire and dark wooden furniture lend it an…

Bell's Diner

7 St Stephen Street, Edinburgh, EH3 5AN

Now in its forty-first year, Bell’s Diner has an old-school charm and a resolutely lo-fi feel about it. Its red painted walls – hung with prints of Native American scenes – and simple wooden tables and chairs have remained unchanged for years, if not…

Mono

12 Kings Court, King Street, Glasgow, G1 5RB

Microbrewery appreciation starts early at Mono, where vast silver vats line one wall, piping homemade lemonades directly to the bar for a refreshing alternative to the usual drinks, which are of course also available. Young parents bring their kids to…

Mezbaan South Indian Restaurant

14/14a Brougham Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9JH

South Indian restaurants offer a refreshing change from the Punjabi-based menus normally on offer in Edinburgh. Old favourites are still available for the less adventurous, but for anybody looking to experiment, Mezbaan is a great place to start. Wheat…

The Rio Café

27 Hyndland Street, Glasgow, G11 5QF

Brightening up Partick for several years now with its 1950s American diner-style décor and assorted retro touches such as big tubs of sweets behind the bar, Rio Café offers a little something for everyone. Serving food from breakfast through dinner…

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Earl of Marchmont

22 Marchmont Crescent, Edinburgh, EH9 1HG

Much like its Canongate sister the White Horse, the Earl is a grand mixture of classic Edinburgh local and funked-up eclectic touches. The crowd is a hotch-potch of students, cheery thirty-somethings and a clutch of venerable regulars decorating the…

See Woo Restaurant

The Point, 29 Saracen Street, Glasgow, G22 5HT

See Woo is a cavernous hall attached to Scotland's biggest Chinese supermarket. Ideal for large weddings and New Year celebrations, the vast dining area is bookended by a stage and a bar. Tanks of fish keep some younger diners entertained but, while…

The Balcony Café

Upstairs @ The Glasgow Climbing Centre, 534 Paisley Road West, Glasgow, G51 1RN

Well above par for any sports centre’s in-house catering, this café in the rafters of the converted church housing the Glasgow Climbing Centre is both a welcome pitstop for dedicated climbers and a dining venue with an unusual and transfixing view for…

The City Café

19 Blair Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QR

Having adopted the theme of a classic American diner, the City Cafe, with its chequered floor, cosy booths and old-fashioned jukebox, makes a definite nod to 1950s USA. With a menu packed with burgers and fries, pancakes and milkshakes, the City Cafe’s…

WEST Brewery

Building 4 Templeton Building, Glasgow Green, Glasgow, G40 1AW

New breweries are springing-up across Scotland amid the craft beer revolution, but the country’s only German-style microbrewery sits apart from that trend, by drawing its inspiration from centuries-old Bavarian traditions. WEST can be found in most good…

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Cottier's

93–95 Hyndland Street, Glasgow, G11 5PU

Despite being festooned with an abundance of fairy lights and flickering candles and boasting a burnished golden ceiling, the dining room of this converted church has an intimate, relaxed feel. Chef Jonathon Macfarlane (formerly Ubiquitous Chip) is a…

Bar Milano – Giffnock

2 Mains Avenue, Eastwood Toll, Giffnock, Glasgow, G46 6QZ

From its pleasantly neutral décor and friendly service to the suburban location, Bar Milano ticks all the boxes for a comfortable neighbourhood trattoria. It’s housed in a converted bank but where such buildings often possess a cold grandeur, the…

Howies (Victoria Street)

10–14 Victoria Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2HG

In 2012 Howies was bought back by the original owners, who now own three restaurants in Scotland – two in Edinburgh and one in Aberdeen. They are keen to show that the original ideas and standards are back in operation: simple cooking of seasonal…

The 13th Note Café/Bar

50–60 King Street, Glasgow, G1 5QT

A long-established live venue, the 13th Note mixes cool retro booths in its spacious bar with an ever-so-slightly more formal dining area in the back, while the jukebox battles occasional thumps of bass from basement gigs. Outside of big nights out…

Baby Grand

3–7 Elmbank Gardens, Glasgow, G2 4NQ

Tucked away behind the King's Theatre, this brasserie has been on the city restaurant scene for 20 years. The layout includes a long, thin bar with an open kitchen, a blackboard showing specials, quirky artworks and candles flickering on black tables.

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The Bank Café Bar

443 Clarkston Road, Glasgow, G44 3LL

The Maclay Inns group, five of whose premises are featured in this section, tend to choose interesting buildings for their ventures that add a nice bit of character. In the case of The Bank it is, indeed, a former bank, now popular residential café/bar…

Firebird

1321 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8TL

While the origin of the name may have been lost in the mists of time, the team at Firebird are certainly taking the ‘fire’ part seriously. A wood-fired oven bakes the signature sourdough pizzas to a pleasing crunch, while a blazing stove keeps the…

The 78

10–14 Kelvinhaugh Street, Glasgow, G3 8NU

Chintzy armchairs, soft blue velvet chesterfields and rustic wooden dining tables give The 78 a homey, inclusive air that spans all generations, no mean feat given the area in which it sits. Dogs, families, and solitary drinkers reading the paper are as…

The Tearooms@The Butterfly and the Pig

151 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4SQ

There is a buzz of excited pleasure as you enter this artfully designed retro dining room; lacy tablecloths, mismatched flowery cups, saucers and teapots provide the setting for groups of friends quaffing fizzy wine and feasting on cakes and sandwiches…

The Orchard

1/2 Howard Place, Canonmills, Edinburgh, EH3 5JZ

The Orchard is a popular stopping point for passers-by heading to and from the Botanic Gardens and tempted by a refreshment in the wood panelled bar or possibly at the outdoor tables if weather permits. It also has a loyal band of regulars and is a…

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The Elephant House

21 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EN

Perhaps hoping that diners will be distracted by its association with the boy wizard and his chums, the erstwhile haunt of JK Rowling appears to lavish more attention on its Potter-themed loos than it does on its food. While, admittedly, it has recently…

The Left Bank

33–35 Gibson Street, Glasgow, G12 8NU

The Left Bank has a truly varied clientele; from families to students and even the odd dog. Chunky wooden tables, big glass windows and a smattering of fairy lights make it feel warm and intimate both downstairs or on the mezzanine. Thanks to a cracking…

Hamilton's Bar and Kitchen

16–18 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh, EH3 5AU

Hamilton’s is a real treat for Pop Art fans, with its décor and drinks menu emblazoned with glamorous women and tough guys. The fine range of cocktails will have you salivating over such intriguingly named creations as French Nuclear Test and the Jayne…

The Lansdowne Bar & Kitchen

7a Lansdowne Crescent, Glasgow, G20 6NQ

There’s a whole lot going on beneath this leafy residential crescent – themed-dining events, DJs, quiz nights and Six Nations Rugby equate to something for all. Spacious yet homely, it’s a true laidback local that extends a warm reception beyond its…

Café Hula

321 Hope Street, Glasgow, G2 3PT

Café Hula entertains immediately with its eclectic décor and bohemian atmosphere, offering relaxed, informal dining with better food than many restaurants. Located just opposite the Theatre Royal and frequented by students of the Royal Conservatoire…