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The Butterfly and the Pig
153 Bath Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4SQ
Going for a meal at The Butterfly and the Pig is something of an Alice in Wonderland experience. Beyond its unprepossessing basement entrance, the bar is decorated like the Mad Hatter's front room, with chintz sofas, doilies and Welsh dressers bursting…
Mother India
28 Westminster Terrace, Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7RU
Style and elegance radiate throughout this justifiably renowned restaurant, from the small bistro-style area on the ground floor to the more formal room upstairs, with its comfortably used wooden tables, subdued lighting and wood panelling. It is a…
The King's Wark
36 The Shore,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6QU
The Leith dining scene continues to change apace, so it's reassuring to see one of its longest established pubs staying ahead of the pack. The main bar offers a traditional bar menu spiced up daily to include blackboard specials; the adjacent dining…
Chop Chop
248 Morrison Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8DT
'Authentic' may be an over-used claim on many menus, but at Chop Chop it's entirely appropriate. Don't be fooled by the garish red and yellow façade: it might look like any other takeaway, but Chop Chop is the real deal. Genuinely charming and…
The Dogs
110 Hanover Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DR
Ascending the stairs of this sharply decorated, stylish bistro is a little like walking into a friend's lovely living room for dinner. Stark white walls and simple furnishings are set against pictures of the eponymous dogs liberally scattered around the…
Pani Solińska
73 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RJ
Pani Solinska is Polish for 'Mrs Solinska'. Dorothy Nowak-Solinska took over Broughton Street landmark Café Mediterraneo last year, but before putting her name above the door in spring 2008 took some time to design a restaurant she could be proud of.
The Stockbridge Restaurant
54 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AL
Following the twinkling fairy lights down the old stone steps, it's difficult not to be charmed by this charismatic St Stephen Street retreat. It's laden with bold Scottish Colourist prints, near-black walls are offset by crisp white linen and golden…
Mother India's Cellar
28 Westminster Terrace, Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7RU
Tucked below street level down a spiral staircase from the main Mother India foyer is Mother India's Cellar. It's decorated in the style of a hip and trendy wine bar with clean white walls, semi-open kitchen and exposed masonry, and the atmosphere still…
The Grain Store
30 Victoria Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2JW
Overlooking one of Edinburgh's most attractive streets, the Grain Store is a capital institution, and has been under the stewardship of chef Carlo Coxon and manager Paul MacPhail for more than 15 years. A warm greeting awaits you after the climb up from…
Roastit Bubbly Jocks
450 Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow,
G11 6SE
Amidst the charity shops at the long end of Dumbarton Road, Roastit Bubbly Jocks might seem out of the way. For many, however, it's a well-loved dining institution. The emphasis is on the food and atmosphere: it's bustling, loud and warm – the way any…
Toast
146 Marchmont Road,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1AQ
There really should be more establishments like Toast in Scotland's suburbs. The restaurant, in the heart of cosmopolitan Marchmont, offers lovingly crafted meals using ingredients sourced from a butcher, fishmonger and greengrocer whose premises are…
Ad Lib
33 Ingram Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1HA
Glasgow's two Ad Libs have carved a niche as perhaps the more mature establishments that focus on US-style cuisine. The newer Merchant City outlet has a grander atmosphere, with marble walls and well-spaced booths that give it a chic, cosmopolitan…
Buffalo Grill
1 Raeburn Place,
Edinburgh,
EH4 1HU
'Native American' is very much the theme at both Buffalo Grills, which means steak, Corona and a veritable tribe of chiefs in monochrome bedecking the walls. Right next to the university, the Southside branch is unsurprisingly lively. But for the…
La Favorita
325–331 Leith Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH6 8SA
The glow from the twin log-fired ovens is the first indication that pizza is taken seriously at this Leith Walk eatery. La Favorita combines the lightest, crispest bases (also available gluten-free) with a long list of both classic and more inventive…
La Vallée Blanche
360 Byres Road,
Glasgow,
G12 8AY
A former antique complex above the West End's beloved branch of Fopp has been chosen as the reunion venue for many members of the team that once made Princes Square's étain such a success. The space has been transformed into a calm, low-lit haven of…
Alla Turca
192 Pitt Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4DY
This ambitious newcomer, from Òran Mór's former brasserie manager Burak Soyusinmez, has an agenda: to show that there's a lot more to Turkish cuisine than dodgy post-pub kebabs. And so Alla Turca's menu is one of two halves, with traditional dishes on…
The Boat House
22 High Street,
South Queensferry,
EH30 9PP
South Queensferry's Boat House restaurant has outgrown its original walls and a couple of years back part of the garden was sacrificed to make way for what is now a thriving bistro and bar with stunning picture windows over the Forth. Cleverly, however…
Fifi and Ally
80 Wellington Street,
Glasgow,
G2 6UA
Spawned from the success of the original Princes Square emporium/café, the new Fifi and Ally sits squarely in the city's financial district, so polished even in its early days that it seems to have sprung up fully formed. The design-led monochromatic…
La P'tite Folie
61 Frederick Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1LH
Like the best local chains, the two branches of La P'tite Folie seek out and serve quite distinctively different customer bases in their different locations. The West End branch in Randolph Place buzzes with business talk at lunchtime. Its popularity is…
Urban Angel
121 Hanover Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DJ
More urbane than urban, this bustling Hanover Street basement is an ever-popular choice, and it's easy to see why. With simple prints on the white walls, solid pine furniture and flock-printed menus, the aesthetic lends the restaurant a cool…
Zanzero
15 North West Circus Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6SX
Opened in 2007, this is the younger, slightly brasher sibling of the city centre establishment Centotre, owned by Victor and Carina Contini. Many aspects of the two are consistent, including the insistence on high quality, largely organic local produce…
Bar 91
91 Candleriggs,
Glasgow,
G1 1NP
The refurbished Bar 91 has retained its aloof smartness and lack of pretention, with new chunky tables, dark red and oyster walls and a refitted bar stocking beers by West Brewing Company. Light and airy, it has a steady office lunchtime trade that…
Bonsai
46 West Richmond Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DZ
With the convivial hubbub of the closely packed tables, the sizzling steam and enticing aromas emerging from the kitchen, and the bold white, crimson and black décor, at Bonsai it's easy to imagine yourself in an izakaya in downtown Tokyo. And indeed it…
Café Salma
523 Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7PQ
Since opening in 2007, the charming and informal Café Salma has quickly gained a loyal custom – and a reputation that belies its youth. The bright interior's idiosyncratic décor, wall-mounted television and busy open kitchen give the place an authentic…
Chinaski's
239 North Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7DL
The almost anonymous exterior and dimly lit, stylish interior makes Chinaski's a secret and sophisticated haven from the city rush, epitomised by the sunken M8 across the road. Even if you have never heard of Henry Chinaski, the relaxed approach of bar…
Fishers in the City
58 Thistle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1EN
This busy, townie sister of the fabulous original at the Shore has gained a great reputation for finesse and atmosphere since it opened in 2001. It's chock-a-block all day (booking is essential), and, in the evening, the shoppers and business lunchers…
Heart Buchanan
380 Byres Road,
Glasgow,
G12 8AR
Since opening seven years ago, this shop has become a food lover's Mecca, complete with impressive assistants who truly know their stuff. Office workers looking to find their evening's sustenance flock to the deli counter, which holds the day's…
Kokuryo
1138 Argyle Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8TD
When faced with handfuls of fresh chillies alongside dried chilli peppers in what seems like a never-ending bowl of beef soup (a starter so intense, it might take until dessert time to finish), it's clear that the chef isn't holding anything back.
The Liquid Ship
171 Great Western Road,
Glasgow,
G4 9AW
With its dark wood, whitewashed brick walls and quirky array of clocks, posters and nautical paraphernalia, The Liquid Ship is a laid back location in which to drink and dine. The menu, though compact, is dominated by well-sourced ingredients and…
279 Café Bistro
279 Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow,
G11 6AB
During the day, this café offers a selection of reasonably priced ciabattas, sandwiches, home-made pizzas and pasta dishes. By night, it turns itself into an elegant bistro offering an equally well-priced but inventive a la carte menu. The garlic…
Amicus Apple
17 Frederick Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2EY
Amicus Apple has been under new ownership since 2007, and its basement area has been transformed into a chic, welcoming, boudoir-like space. Patterned black walls, twinkling light fittings and comfortable leather chairs accommodate shoppers and office…
Delizique
70–72 Hyndland Street,
Glasgow,
G11 5PT
No longer just a deli, the gleaming new premises of Delizique now include an in-store bakery, which emits that distinctive, delicious smell. The takeaway food can include dishes such as a puy lentil and oak barrel-aged feta salad, which balances soft…
The Dhabba
44 Candleriggs,
Glasgow,
G1 1LE
This Merchant City establishment continues to consolidate its place among the best Indian restaurants in Glasgow. The open, airy venue is sleek and modern with bare wooden furnishings and minimal decorative embellishments, which encourages diners to pay…
Eastern Spices
2 Canonmills Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5LF
Eastern Spices has been a popular and reliable pit stop for lovers of Indian takeaway since it opened 11 years ago. The friendly staff manning the smartly appointed outlet will pass the time of day with regulars or warmly welcome a new face. The menu is…
First Coast
97–101 Dalry Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2AB
What inspired Skye-born brothers Alan and Hector MacRae to open First Coast, slightly off the beaten track on Edinburgh's Dalry Road, is something of a mystery. That said, a restaurant with such a simple, adaptable ethos – local, good value produce…
Grassroots Café
93–97 St Georges Road,
Glasgow,
G3 6JA
This café/restaurant is worth a small diversion off the well-beaten track of Woodlands Road; its creative menu (with blackboard specials, too) and relaxed atmosphere are of a higher calibre than the usual vegetarian operation. Purple curtains divide…
The Green Room
Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3NY
The Green Room is a bit like a rare exotic bird: dazzling and memorably beautiful when it appears, but blink and you miss it. This is because the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall's fine dining restaurant is only open before evening shows and matinées.
Wok and Wine
57a Frederick Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1LH
Subtlety is key to Wok and Wine: its large honey-toned basement dining area is devoid of chintz and is lent an artful intimacy by bamboo blinds and screens. This tasteful neutrality rightly ensures that the focus is on the well-executed food. The…
blue
10 Cambridge Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2ED
In applying Slow Food philosophies, properly educating its staff and delivering superbly designed dishes, blue is doing a lot of things right. A fastidious sourcing policy forms the restaurant's backbone, the name of the game being those elusive goals…
Fanny Trollopes
1066 Argyle Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8LY
The narrow dining room here has only a handful of tables, and the feeling is genuinely relaxed and warm. As you browse through the menu, staff may offer to tell you the story of Fanny – or perhaps discuss the eclectic range of art and ceramics that…
Gamba
225a West George Street,
Glasgow,
G2 2ND
Gamba celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2008, and one would be hard-pressed to name a more consistently excellent, top-end restaurant in Glasgow over the same time period. It's not only that chef and co-owner Derek Marshall doesn't ever settle for…
Glass & Thompson
2 Dundas Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6HZ
Glass & Thompson's regulars were doubtless unsurprised to find their favoured haunt nominated for Most Stylish Café at the 2007 Scotland with Style awards. With its gleaming wood floor, muted silver tables and sedate lighting it easily deserves such an…
Kebabish
323–325 Victoria Road,
Glasgow,
G42 7SA
While no longer a part of the Kebabish Original chain, this Govanhill eatery continues to lure customers with its flame-filled open kitchen, contemporary interior and tremendous value for money. Above all, it still delivers on its promise of 'the thrill…
Salsa
63 Carlton Place,
Glasgow,
G5 9TW
Technically on the Southside, Salsa is just a pleasant five-minute walk from the city centre via the Clyde's suspension pedestrian bridge. The discreet location suits the ambience of the restaurant, which is refreshingly unlike most Mexican-themed…
The Ship on the Shore
24–26 The Shore,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6QN
The Ship on the Shore has often been overshadowed by its more prominent fishy comrades in this area of Leith, but this is sure to change with the arrival of new management and new chef Michael Pasiecznik. The wood-panelled bar area is good for a…
Thai Lemongrass
24 Renfrew Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3BW
Thai Lemongrass exudes an almost spa-like calm. Ceiling fans rotate hypnotically, ushering a cool breeze along cushioned booths; meditative lights shine through intricate wood carvings. Staff are genteel, making you feel pampered as they explain the…
Café Marina
61 Cockburn Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1BS
The Valvona & Crolla dynasty just goes from strength to strength. In this modern diner-style café Marina Crolla offers the best of home-cooked Italian food. Be it panini, risotto or one of the fabulous pastas, you can eat in or takeaway with style.
Café Marlayne
76 Thistle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1EN
Both restaurants share the same name, have interchangeable chefs and waiting staff and almost identical menus of gusty, well-flavoured French, no-fuss food with a Scottish twist, but offer quite different atmospheres. The Old Town café is a charming…
Cottier's
93–95 Hyndland Street,
Glasgow,
G11 5PX
Nestled in the eaves of one wing of an old church that also houses a theatre and bar is Cottier's restaurant. Decorated in gold and blue and lit with fairy lights, the dining room can feel like one of Glasgow's more romantic settings. The food is…
David Bann
56–58 St Mary's Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1SX
The luscious David Bann's is the smartly dressed uncle of the vegetarian scene, striding forward with a sophisticated menu and without a hippy in sight. Its well-deserved reputation is based on the quality of its ingredients, its creativity and its…
Dusit
49a Thistle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DY
Hearty Scottish produce and exotic Thai flavours may not make for the most obvious culinary marriage, but it's one that Dusit's skilled chefs consistently pull off with aplomb. All the usual favourites, such as intensely hot and sour tom yum soup…
The Engine Shed Cafe
19 St Leonard's Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9SD
The Engine Shed has the delicious privilege of taking ethical business to a higher, smarter level. It was founded on a principle of truly equal opportunities by employing trainees with learning difficulties, but the quality of the food is even better…
Esca
27 Chisholm Street,
Glasgow,
G1 5HA
Offering classic Mediterranean dining with a stylish Merchant City twist, Esca is a cut above your average Glasgow Italian restaurant. Recently refurbished, it is subtly smart: red and pale blue chairs, grey ceiling-to-floor curtains, wood tables and…
Fishers Bistro
1 The Shore,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6QW
Ah, Fishers – this place just does it better. From the wood-panelled entrance into the circular bar area to the view out to the Water of Leith from the dining room, the relaxed but superlative service all adds to the star of the show here: the food. The…
Rapido
77–79 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RJ
The usual chip shop favourites are neatly arrayed in sparkling stainless steel counters, but Rapido's vibrant blue and orange frontage promises – and delivers – more than your average chippy. The wide-ranging menu truly does offer something for…
Restaurant Martin Wishart
54 The Shore,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6RA
With its chic, neutral colour scheme, soft carpeting and cream upholstering, Restaurant Martin Wishart wears its Michelin star with Hollywood ease. The food is so mind-alteringly pleasurable, so far removed from mere sustenance that you might forget…
Two Fat Ladies
88 Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow,
G11 6NX
An average two-course dinner at Two Fat Ladies costs what top-end restaurants charge for a single main course these days. Such economies have an obvious appeal and this restaurant helps its cause by putting generally excellent food on the table, to…
Wedgwood the Restaurant
267 Canongate,
Edinburgh,
EH8 8BQ
Behind a modest cream and brown exterior lies an elegant dining room producing imaginative Scottish dishes of the highest quality. The menu changes with the seasons and subtly combines elements of Asian cuisine with more traditional takes on carefully…
The Wee Curry Shop
7 Buccleuch Street,
Glasgow,
G3 6SJ
The sentiments of the 'small is beautiful' saying are certainly supported by Glasgow's various Wee Curry Shops. The newest one, opened towards the end of 2007 in Byres Road, is the latest tiny jewel in the crown of the empire of its parent group, Mother…
Berits & Brown
6 Wilson Street,
Glasgow,
EG1 1SS
Berits & Brown is a chic, bustling New York-style deli-café where chefs work busily behind a glass-fronted counter, which displays the ingredients that make up a simple menu enlivened by numerous inventive twists. A smoked salmon salad, for instance, is…
Café Sejuiced
77 Hanson Street,
Glasgow,
G31 2HF
In a gloriously airy and open space on the ground floor of the WASPS studio building, in-house artists rub shoulders with workers from local businesses or Royal Infirmary employees over excellent breakfasts, lunches and snacks at this gem of a café. The…
Dakhin
89 Candleriggs,
Glasgow,
G1 1NP
With its discrete entrance and first-floor location, Dakhin could easily be missed among the plethora of busy restaurants and bars in Candleriggs. Those who are curious – or cunning – enough to venture upstairs, however, will be welcomed into an…
The Fruitmarket Gallery Café
Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DF
Many who regularly drop into this contemporary gallery housed in an old Victorian fruit and vegetable market don't make it past the ground floor café, such is the singular draw of the food. With a dedication to fresh produce and menu choices, lunch can…
Karen Wong's Chinese Restaurant
107–109 St Leonard's Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9QY
Slightly off the beaten track, this cute and kitsch wee place is dominated by its eponymous hostess. Whether she is dancing to the 80s power ballad soundtrack (don't worry, the music isn't that loud), or posing for photographs with one of the birthday…
Khushi's
9 Victoria Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2HE
If there is anyone out there who still yearns for the bygone days of flock-wallpapered Indian restaurants, a trip to Khushi's will soon sort them out. Buzzing with energy, the vast, grand, contemporary dining environment that is home number five for…
The Kitchin
78 Commercial Quay,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LX
He trained at some of Europe's finest restaurants under Pierre Koffman and Alain Ducasse, so it is not surprising that Tom Kitchin has made such a fast success of his Leith establishment. He returned to Scotland two years ago and within six months had…
La Lanterna
35 Hope Street,
Glasgow,
G2 6AE
For almost four decades, the Martinolli family have been serving up traditional Italian cuisine in their attractive, cavernous restaurant beneath the otherwise unedifying, traffic-choking Hope Street. The décor has remained almost untouched – a warm…
Mise en Place
122–124 Nithsdale Road,
Glasgow,
G41 5RB
By day a very good deli and café, by night (four times a week, that is) a delightful bistro, Mise en Place is one reason why Southsiders don't need to rely on the transport infrastructure to maintain a good quality of life. Clean white lines and…
Piccolo Mondo
344 Argyle Street,
Glasgow,
G2 8LY
Piccolo Mondo (meaning 'small world') is the reincarnation of a once award-winning Renfrew restaurant of the same name, opened in 1974 by Tony and Giuliana Pierotti. After selling up in 1989, the couple missed the place so much that they opted to give…
Sabor Criollo
36 Deanhaugh Street,
Edinburgh,
EH4 1LY
The sign outside says this is a 'Latin American' restaurant. This ensures no breaches of the Trades Description laws when the chef pulls dishes from the likes of Peru, Mexico and Colombia into his specials menu. But at the heart of the place is a…
The Sisters
1a Ashwood Gardens, 512 Crow Road,
Glasgow,
G13 1NU
Since moving from Ashton Lane to Jordanhill a few years back, the Sisters restaurant has become regarded as one of the better options in Glasgow. But its location off the beaten track made it one of the trickiest to find (though once you've been, it is…
Stravaigin
28–30 Gibson Street,
Glasgow,
G12 8NX
With more foodies demanding the best of world flavours without the carbon footprint to match, never has Stravaigin's motto 'think global, eat local' been more appropriate. The ever-evolving menu ticks all the latest food fashion boxes, and features…
Urban Bar & Brasserie
23–25 St Vincent Place,
Glasgow,
G1 2DT
Elegance and glamour are evident when you enter this venture owned by the team behind the successful Gamba restaurant. Dark wood flooring, black leather banquettes and white linen table clothes give a classic feel to the dining room, while a centrepiece…
The Vintners Rooms
The Vaults, 87 Giles Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6BZ
Relive the days when vintners would discuss the latest wine imports from France in this beautiful 18th century stucco sale room which is still only lit with candles. Named after the original diners, The Vintners Rooms makes a gracious nod to history…
Where the Monkey Sleeps
182 West Regent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4RU
At WTMS, street-smart staff behind the counter cheerfully take orders from office-workers, students and the assorted hipsters who descend the steps to this basement café with comfy mismatched sofas. Inked on a giant whiteboard, the epic menu offers a…
Amber
The Scotch Whisky Experience, 354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2NE
Amber is ideally placed to capitalise on the tourist trade – it's close to Edinburgh Castle and forms part of the Scotch Whisky Experience – but don't let visitors to the city be the only ones to enjoy its charms. Dispensing with folksiness, Amber…
Arisaig
140 St Vincent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 5LA
Co-owners Naveed Rashid and Stephen Bonomi have a passion for quality Scottish produce that makes dining at Arisaig a thoroughly satisfying experience. In this attractive dining room, large, almost abstract paintings of foaming oceans and crashing waves…
Avoca
4–6 Dean Street,
Edinburgh,
EH4 1LW
This is a bar that knows exactly what it's doing when it comes to food. It's not attempting to be a bistro: it's emphatically a bar and loves being a bar. Taste is everything in this little relaxing snug; music and chat don't intrude on your dining and…
Bar Gandolfi
64 Albion Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1NY
Housed in the loft above the much-loved Café Gandolfi, this warm, tiny bar eschews the cuisine and décor of its older sibling in favour of an identity all of its own. Quirky wooden furniture, steel beams and candlelight reflecting off battered cream…
Café Cossachok
38 Albion Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1LH
Cossachok successfully embraces multiple identities: it's part gallery, part cultural centre and part music venue, yet still essentially a restaurant. Temporarily relocated until 2009 (while their ten-year home on the other side of the Trongate is…
The Cambridge Bar
20 Young Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4JB
For simple, filling pub grub, you can't do much better than a well-made burger and chips. That's virtually all they serve at the Cambridge, besides home-made bean burgers for veggies and chicken breasts for non-beef fans. It's the attention to detail…
La Cantina
72 Commercial Quay,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LX
When you enter La Cantina, the décor and ambiance leave you in little doubt that you're in a Mexican restaurant. The place is decked out in red and green, and pulses with salsa rhythms. Ranch-style furniture is laid out in rows and there are sombreros…
Dragon-i
311–313 Hope Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3PT
Since opening opposite the Theatre Royal in 2003, Dragon-i has sat at the top table of Glasgow's Chinese restaurants, and owners Raymond and Susie Man are proud that their venture attempts something markedly different. With the décor, they've opted for…
Eusebi Deli
793 Shettleston Road,
Glasgow,
G32 7NN
Formerly called Garlic, Eusebi Deli continues the tradition of a classic Italian delicatessen, updated with the contemporary cooking associated with today's modern fine food outlets. There is the stock in trade of various imported salami, hams and…
Mancini
315–317 Great Western Road,
Glasgow,
G4 9HR
Located closer to the St George's Cross end of Great Western Road, Mancini is a bit away from the hub of the West End. This intimate place feels a little like a well-lit wine cellar with bare brick walls (hung in places with fairly lights), leather…
Nanakusa
441 Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3LG
Before Nanakusa opened in November 2007, manager David Wan flew to the Far East to see exactly what made an authentic Japanese restaurant. Wan adored the teppanyaki, tempura and yakitori joints he stumbled upon, although nowhere could he find all the…
La P'tite Folie
Tudor House, 9 Randolph Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 7TE
Like the best local chains, the two branches of La P'tite Folie seek out and serve quite distinctively different customer bases in their different locations. The West End branch in Randolph Place buzzes with business talk at lunchtime. Its popularity is…
Queen Street Café
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1JD
The term 'home-made' is thrown about by restaurants as carelessly as 'local ingredients' and 'authentic cuisine', and not always entirely truthfully. This modestly sized café in a secluded corner of the National Portrait Gallery is one of the few which…
Rick Shaws
248 Causewayside,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1UU
As it offers no less than Chinese, Thai, Indian and Italian cuisines, one would be excused for suspecting that Rick Shaws has bitten off more than it can chew. Thankfully, for owners Andrew Smith and Richard Munro, quality is all. With a professionally…
Tinderbox
14 Ingram Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1EJ
Appreciating the Tinderbox vision is like being in a successful long-term marriage: it's easy to take for granted yet vital to remember how good it actually is. Celebrating a decade in Byres Road, the original Tinderbox is still a contender for the…
Ubiquitous Chip
12 Ashton Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 8SJ
With its fish-filled pond, cobbled courtyard and abundant plant life tumbling from overhead beams, this is as close as one can get to dining in the elegant Victorian glasshouses of the Kibble Palace up the road. The theatrical al fresco atmosphere is…
Zucca
15–17 Grindlay Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9AX
Zucca, which is situated next door to the Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh's West End, opened in September 2007. The brainchild of Richard Glennie, previously of Santini's, it comprises two very separate areas: on the ground floor there's an easy-going café…
Bacco Italia
67–69 Kilmarnock Road,
Glasgow,
G41 3YR
Anyone wondering why Italian restaurants have such a special place in the hearts of Scots in general and Glaswegians in particular should visit Bacco Italia. The designer décor and concept of this 'style wine bar/restaurant' illustrate the intentions of…
Bibi's Cantina
599 Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow,
G11 6HY
Bibi's Cantina is a recent but welcome arrival on the restaurant scene. It's like stepping into someone's living room – you'll find it has a welcoming and homely vibe with subtle touches of Latin American design in the décor. A few kitsch Mexican…
City Merchant
97–99 Candleriggs,
Glasgow,
G1 1NP
Celebrating its 20th birthday this year, the City Merchant restaurant offers its loyal clientele an extensive menu showcasing the very best of Scottish produce. Fresh lobster, oysters, platters of shellfish, venison served rare with rowan jelly, and…
Go Slow Café
452 Victoria Road,
Glasgow,
G42 8YU
Tucked between an amusement arcade and an optician, the Go Slow Café provides a peaceful oasis among the hurly-burly of Victoria Road. Ochre walls, day-glo artwork and a bulletin board (which wouldn't look out of place in a backpackers' hostel) help to…
Mai Thai
The Tun, 111 Holyrood Road,
Edinburgh,
EH8 8AE
The entrance to this stylish restaurant – which is housed in the Tun, close to the Scottish Parliament – is via a modernist bar with leather couches and stripped back décor then up a small flight of stairs. The dining area is small but lively with an…
sygn
15 Charlotte Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4QZ
Sygn has been quietly building a reputation for quality since it first appeared in a fuzzy pink glow in 2004. In both style and substance it is the equal of any of the bars on George Street. Subdued lighting, considered décor and plush furnishings set…
L'Ariosto
92–94 Mitchell Street,
Glasgow,
G1 3NQ
Named after the Renaissance bard, L'Ariosto has many surprises. Designed to resemble an Italian courtyard and exuding a cosy atmosphere, it still has room to put on dinner dances with a live band five nights a week. It's almost 40 years old, but there's…
