Experience rustic, family style cooking at award-winning French restaurant La Garrigue. Sample the tastes of Languedoc at one of the most authentic restaurants in Edinburgh (Hitlisted in The List Eating & Drinking Guide 2012) or visit our fantastic little bistro in Leith.
Restaurants, Bistros & brasseries and Outdoor dining
- The Magnum Restaurant & Bar
At the Magnum we combine Scotland's best local ingredients with traditional flavours - Tempus
Our concept is quite simple: fresh, local, uncomplicated and delicious food - The Living Room
The Living Room offers an abundance of choice with a wide range of high quality food - The Boat House
Fresh local seafood with world class views!
Monteiths
57–61 High Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1SR
Monteiths’ discreet menu board at the head of one of the Royal Mile’s darker closes is easily missed. But don’t, because this subterranean bar and restaurant’s low-key Scottish style is a welcome antidote to the energetic tartanry to be found nearby.
Chinaski's
239 North Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7DL
Named after a Charles Bukowski alter ego, Chinaski’s maintains its underground roots by eschewing any signage on the exterior in an effort to deter large groups of rowdy drinkers from nearby Sauchiehall Street. During daylight hours the bar is bright…
The Basement Bar and Restaurant
10–12a Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RH
Situated below street level, this bar looks like the sort of place American sitcom characters would head for after a hard day’s mirth-making, thanks to the obligatory neon sign, mustard-coloured walls and staff dressed in Hawaiian shirts. It could be…
Favorit
19–20 Teviot Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QZ
Favorit is a late night diner for the young and hip and – most importantly – for those with the munchies. Black and white chequered tiles, retro tables and benches and a large, red neon Favorit sign set the scene. All that's missing is Pulp Fiction's…
Ketchup
44 Ashton Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 8SJ
Cynics may muse that Ketchup is Stefan King’s attempt to ‘start them early’ into the G1 mind-set, as the burgers and milkshakes ethos is clearly aimed at both students and children alike. Whatever ethos lies behind it, it is clearly working, as the…
Crabshakk
1114 Argyle Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8TD
All senses are stimulated on entering this lively little enterprise – the effusive rush of ginger, chillis and herbs, the burble of chatty voices and the heartening sizzle of fresh seafood in the pan, creates an explosion of gastric expectation.
Wildfire Restaurant and Grill
192 Rose Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4AZ
There’s nothing wild about Wildfire. That’s an excellent thing. This little gem – nine tables in a cosy space – is worth discovering at the Charlotte Square end of Rose Street for its lack of pretension and gimmick. With a core steak-and-seafood…
Cafezique
66 Hyndland Street,
Glasgow,
G11 5PT
Fun, unpretentious, quality, value and, tasty are the adjectives which apply to cafezique. Service is informal, but friendly and attentive in this quirky laid back bar/restauraunt. Nibbly things include great olives and delicious cheese fondue…
OKO Express
78 Queen Street,
Glasgow,
G1 3DN
Now under new ownership OKO has raised its game, with all dishes being fresher and better presented than ever, and when it comes to Japanese food that is imperative. The setting is typical for a sushi bar with cafeteria style bench seating that is good…
Big Slope
36a Kelvingrove Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7SA
It would be interesting to know how many folk come into Big Slope for a drink, but end up having something to eat. That's what makes a good bar food menu: perched on the table, teasing and appetising. Here we have pub favourites with lovely twists…
Sideways
141 Elderslie Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7AW
This café-bistro may be in an area short on dining options – unless you fancy a curry – but that is to its great credit, offering an attractive, laid-back and really rather cool neighbourhood eatery for a bite and a drink. The menu blends brunch…
The Living Room
150 St Vincent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 5NE
Weekends at this popular bar and diner feature live music and even a regular magician – helping to create a lively infectious buzz that is easy to get caught up in. Couples and groups are seated in leather booths, helping to break up the restaurant…
Restaurant Mark Greenaway at No 12 Picardy Place
12 Picardy Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3JT
Mark Greenaway’s take on dining is unashamedly modern. With deconstructed creations, foams, smokes and multi-ingredient theatrics aplenty, this is a sophisticated, highly confident offering. A starter of Loch Fyne crab cannelloni is a good introduction…
1780
167 Rose Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4LS
Formerly known as the Bad Ass Bistro, this Rose Street pub has a dusky but snug interior, with walls peopled with iconic photos of the twentieth century’s good and great, making for a slightly clichéd yet classic pub vibe. Although 1780 seems to be in…
Opal Lounge
51 George Street, New Town,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2HT
This labyrinthine, subterranean bar/restaurant below George Street is a stylish venue for a meal, a quiet drink, or, very late in the day, a spot of clubbing. The mood is funky and très chic, with a motif of hot-pink and 1970s stylised flowers - the…
Arcaffe
7 North Claremont Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7NR
Tucked into a side street joining nearby offices to Kelvingrove Park, Arcaffe is an unassuming and friendly little Italian bistro, with tables on the pavement outside and large windows for catching the midday sun. Bustling with a mix of young families…
Bar 50
50 Blackfriars Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1NE
Set inside a shiny modern hostel and marketing itself squarely at its backpacker residents and the students from the halls next door, Bar 50 is the kind of place it’s easy to walk past. While not exactly a hidden gem, its location and focus on cheap…
The Boat House
22 High Street,
South Queensferry,
City of Edinburgh,
EH30 9PP
The undisputed gem in South Queensferry’s culinary crown, The Boat House has great Rail Bridge views, relaxed surrounds and a confident, creative pair of hands in the kitchen. Split into two parts – with a newly renovated seating area upstairs sans…
Cottier's
93–95 Hyndland Street,
Glasgow,
G11 5PX
Stencils on the walls, fairy lights and candles add plenty of character and atmosphere to proceedings in this converted church. Service is genuinely warm and helpful while suitably informal given the relaxed surroundings. The carpaccio of Inverurie beef…
Epicures of Hyndland
159 Hyndland Road,
Glasgow,
G12 9JA
It was one of the mysteries of the age; why didn’t Hyndland boast a decent restaurant? After all, this fragrant area of Glasgow’s West End was scarcely short of disposable income. Then, like buses, two came along in quick succession, both run by…
The Partners Italian Bistro
1051 Great Western Road,
Glasgow,
G12 0XP
This classy looking bistro tucked away near Anniesland offers an upmarket experience within a highly stylised, spacious interior. A lovely buttery, rich crab fettucine is a great opener, but though the dolcelatte soufflé is in itself satisfying, the…
A Room in Leith
1c Dock Place,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LU
With its prime waterfront setting, complete with large wooden conservatory, outdoor dining terrace and even a small floating pontoon, the Leith outpost of the 'A Room In …' chain is a busy and buzzing destination. There is more than a little European…
Bibi's Cantina
599 Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow,
G11 6HY
It’s often said that if you venture off the beaten track you’ll find treasures. This is true of Bibi’s – a cosy candlelit bistro offering fresh authentic Mexican-inspired cuisine at the west end of Dumbarton Road, but just a stroll from Partick Station.
The Bothy
11 Ruthven Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 9BG
The Bothy enjoys an unusual location hidden amongst the quirky businesses of Ruthven Lane off Byres Road. That’s about the extent of any Bohemian pretensions though – once inside, it’s a slick, efficient member of the G1 Group and one of five Bothies…
Crabby Macs Seafood Café
61 Otago Street,
Glasgow,
G12 8PQ
Based in the former Tattie Macs, Crabby’s is the ideal relaxed, friendly destination for those who may be curious but unconfident about delving into the magical world of Scottish seafood. The small shopfront opens into a large warm contemporary setting…
Boaters Café
Rouken Glen Park,
Glasgow,
G46 7UG
Boaters Café is well known to the residents of Giffnock and Newton Mearns but less so to those outside Glasgow's southern suburbs. Situated by the boating pond at the edge of the rolling green expanses of Rouken Glen Park, it's an especially popular…
Chez Jules
109 Hanover Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DJ
It's twenty years since the plain but distinctive red-and-yellow colour scheme of Pierre Victoire off-shoot Chez Jules first appeared in Edinburgh. Its comeback over the last couple of years – first on Hanover Street then, towards the end of 2010, a…
Hotel du Vin
11 Bristo Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1EZ
Fact: eating out is way nicer than eating in. Or at least it is when the people who bring your food and pour your drinks are really, really lovely. This is well understood in Hotel du Vin, where the service is full of personality and pretty much…
1901
1534 Pollokshaws Road,
Glasgow,
G43 1RF
Though a little removed from the main Shawlands dining strip the value of the food along with the decidedly relaxed and jovial atmosphere at this unassuming corner pub and bistro make it worth the venture. New owner Graham Sutherland, who also has the…
Urban Angel
1 Forth Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3JX
Seasonal, local and organic are the buzz words for these bright, informal, modern bistros. A high proportion of the menu is made up of daily specials making the most of what produce is best that day. A nourishing parsnip soup is enlivened with mustard…
Elliot's Restaurant
Apex Hotel, Waterloo Place, 23–27 Waterloo Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3BH
Competing with hundreds of bars and eateries, it’s a hard-knock life for hotel restaurants in Edinburgh. Elliot’s, part of the Apex chain’s Waterloo Place hotel, does its best to keep guests in and even tempt the locals along with some smart deals…
Le Monde
16 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2PF
If you’re an Edinburgh WAG looking for a bite to eat before a night on the town with your footballer boyfriend, Le Monde will be one of your first choices. The world is your oyster in this boutique hotel with international themed bedrooms, dining areas…
Teuchters Landing
1c Dock Place,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LU
The pub sister of the A Room In… chain of restaurants, both Teuchters are directly connected to the Leith and West End branches of the restaurant. As if offering a frankly stunning range of alcohol (over 90 single malts in Teuchters; a wealth of…
Amarone
2 Nelson Mandela Place,
Glasgow,
G2 1BT
Enter the plate-glass doors and down the elegant stairway into this basement venue, and it is clear that Amarone is at the classier end of the Di Maggio's chain. There's the slick modern décor, warm chocolate and neutral colours, and mix of open tables…
Babbity Bowster
16–18 Blackfriars Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1PE
Located in an old tobacco merchant’s house on the periphery of the Merchant City, Babbity Bowster is a pleasantly secluded place for a drink and some good food, particularly in the beer garden if the sun is shining on this evocative street. Babbity…
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…
Battlefield Rest
55 Battlefield Road,
Glasgow,
G42 9JL
Prepare for your senses to go into overdrive when you visit this gem of a restaurant. It's brimming with tables, diners and waiters, and if you could bottle the atmosphere then you’d surely be able to sell it, if only to the people who fill this place…
Café Andaluz
2 Cresswell Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 8AA
Glasgow’s original of two Café Andaluz restaurants is notable for its unique West End location – nestled down rustic wooden steps below Cresswell Lane’s quaint cobbles. Inside, it’s all Moorish blue, white terracotta tiles, stained-glass lanterns…
City Café
Hilton Garden Inn, Finnieston Quay,
Glasgow,
G3 8HN
The City Café is a riverside hotel restaurant (under new ownership this year) boasting great riverside views and convenient proximity to concert venues. Servings are relatively small, so if ravenous then it’s probably best to plump for the full three…
Maggie May's
60 Trongate,
Glasgow,
G1 5EP
If you believe the deep-fried Mars bar is an urban myth, proof of its existence can be found at Maggie May’s, an indie/folky music venue and pub with a surprisingly civilised restaurant tucked away at the back of the bar. The crisply battered…
Metropolitan
Merchant Square, Candleriggs,
Glasgow,
G1 1LE
Given the weather, Metropolitan’s indoor terrace overlooking Merchant Square is the safest way to dine al fresco in Glasgow. It’s a very pleasant place to be, with the sandstone walls, linen napkins and twinkling fairy lights adding atmosphere to the…
Mulberry Street Bar
778 Pollokshaws Road,
Glasgow,
G41 2AE
A bright spot on an otherwise drab stretch, Mulberry Street’s warming red hue draws you in, where you’re met by the steady chatter of its regulars, and a garland of fairy lights across the bar. It’s a family affair, co-owned by Stuart Corvi and his…
R34 at India of Inchinnan
Greenock Road,
Inchinnan,
PA4 9LH
Part canteen, part fine-dining restaurant, chef-owner John Shields’ operation is housed in the impressive extension to an A-listed Art Deco former rubber factory, with Saturday-evening dining and brunches most catching the imagination.
Rick’s
55a Frederick Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1LH
A stalwart of Edinburgh’s style bar scene for over a decade, Rick’s is gently re-inventing itself with accessible, casual dining at its heart. The space works well, divided by banquettes and wood panels into lots of cosy nooks and crannies, all…
Smoke Stack
53–55 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RJ
A meat-lovers’ mecca since 1996, Smoke Stack reinforces its menu’s focus on beef with its spartan interior, the deep-crimson walls visually echoing the shade of a quiveringly rare fillet steak. While there are salads, fajitas and a few vegetarian…
Stravaigin 2
8 Ruthven Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 9BG
The younger Stravaigin, located near Byers Road, is an invitingly intimate space if lacking something of the character and quirkiness of the original. The food, however, is all you expect: imaginative combinations from around the globe impressively…
The Terrace Brasserie
Royal Terrace Hotel, 18–22 Royal Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5AQ
Situated on one of the grandest Georgian streets in Edinburgh is the dining-room of the Royal Terrace Hotel. The concise menu features some interesting ideas that lift it above the usual brasserie fare. For starters the soft sweetness of the scallops is…
Toast
146 Marchmont Road,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1AQ
Marchmont's residents have been withholding information from the rest of the city: they have jealously guarded the fact that Toast, tucked up at the top of Marchmont Road, is such a delight. It's understandable, given that queues for seats in the small…
The Corinthian Club
191 Ingram Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1DA
The brasserie and bar area in the Corinthian must be one of the most beautiful rooms in Scotland. If you want to impress then this dramatic central hall of the former High Court is certainly the place to come. The food can’t really compete with such…
The Grosvenor Café
The Grosvenor Theatre, Ashton Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 8SJ
Located above the well-known Ashton Lane cinema, the Grosvenor is a bar which captures the atmosphere of the film experience. A large projector screen plays out silent pictures throughout the day, while the bar’s décor harks back to the cinematic…
Indigo Yard
7 Charlotte Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4QZ
While not as conspicuously trendy as some of its West End neighbours, Indigo Yard’s exposed walls and unusual shape create a cosy, cave-like feel – although at weekends it can be cramped. It’s a popular spot for a tipple, with 15 beers on tap, another…
The Italian Caffè
92 Albion Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1NY
The food here more than matches the elegant surroundings dispelling any initial fears over Merchant City style over substance. Serving a tapas-style menu invigorates a scene overladen with the usual pizza and pasta suspects, and the ability to sample a…
Ivory Lounge
126–128 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4JN
For an after-work drink and bite to eat the Ivory Lounge is a comfortable option. A flamboyant entrance with patterned mirrors and upholstered seating gives way to a large bar and dining area. Part of a chain of similar bars, the interior is a…
The Left Bank
33–35 Gibson Street,
Glasgow,
G12 8NU
Within its warren of nooks and crannies, the Left Bank offers a kaleidoscopic take on casual dining. Aimed squarely at the broadsheet-reading classes of this undergraduate-heavy area, and housed within a refurbished, multi-levelled bank building, it…
Maxies Bistro and Wine Bar
5b Johnston Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2PW
An up-to-date review of Maxies will appear here shortly …
No. Sixteen
16 Byres Road,
Glasgow,
G11 5JY
In this small but perfectly formed restaurant at the bottom of Byres Road, attention to detail is a speciality. Fresh bread comes with a rosemary and parmesan infused dipping oil, simple but stunning. The diminutive size of the kitchen dictates that…
One Square
1 Festival Square,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9SR
The Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa may struggle to call itself the loveliest looking hotel in Edinburgh, but it does have an outlook to rival its fellow big hitters. You can make the most of it at the rooftop Spa or, now, the revamped bar and brasserie…
The Pelican Café
1377 Argyle Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8AF
Sitting opposite the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery means there is plenty of footfall for the retro-style Pelican. Yet clearly they're intent on matching quantity with quality, for there's a careful attention to detail on their menu, which proudly…
Porto & Fi on the Mound
9 North Bank Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2LP
Those who cherish Porto and Fi's café in Newhaven will feel right at home in this city centre offshoot. The morning rolls and muffins, gorgeously Bunterish home-made cakes plus dishes adaptable to a light lunch or hearty supper are all here. But while…
The Shore Bar & Restaurant
3 The Shore,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6QW
Down by the water in Leith this dark wood-paneled bar is strong on seafood, served by attentive staff in a pub that has retained is character and friendly informal atmosphere. Loch Fyne oysters taste as fresh as the crest of a wave, sweet and plump and…
Tigerlily
125 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4JN
Tigerlily is the flagship venue for the Montpelier Group, a set of well-liked, bold restaurants and bars in the city, centred around this boutique hotel, restaurant and bar on George Street. The restaurant layout is charmingly haphazard, with mismatched…
Urban Angel
121 Hanover Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DJ
Seasonal, local and organic are the buzz words for these bright, informal, modern bistros. A high proportion of the menu is made up of daily specials making the most of what produce is best that day. A nourishing parsnip soup is enlivened with mustard…
Agenda
92/98 Corstorphine Road,
Edinburgh,
EH12 8AT
Glass-fronted and set back from St John's Road on the main Corstorphine drag, Agenda is a bar, restaurant and hotel. In the comfy bar area, which contains scattered leather sofas, you'll find a younger crowd drinking and listening to the latest tunes.
Amicus Apple
17 Frederick Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2EY
Although you may expect to pay a premium for food at a cocktail bar betwixt George Street and the Castle, Amicus Apple manages to buck the trend. On weekdays it offers 2-for-1 meals for those who book online and with the recent introduction of a £5…
Browns Bar & Brasserie
131–133 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4JS
A decent all-round package should be an upmarket chain’s stock in trade, and Browns Bar and Brasserie in George Street has a slick take on most eating and drinking options. The chandelier wouldn’t disgrace Phantom of the Opera, while smart white-aproned…
Café Cassis
Salisbury Hotel, Salisbury Road,
Edinburgh,
EH16 5AA
Tucked under the Salisbury Hotel in the quieter reaches of Edinburgh’s southside, Café Cassis makes good use of its semi-basement situation. Beyond the tight entranceway, the interior is warmly lit, welcoming and relaxed, and backs onto a…
Cookie
72 Nithsdale Road,
Glasgow,
G41 2AN
Cookie’s owners are passionate about food and source it in all kinds of cookie ways, even bartering with allotment owners to get ultra local produce. No two visits are the same as there’s always something new and interesting to eat or drink. This is no…
iKafe
138 Nithsdale Road,
Glasgow,
G41 5RB
Ikafe has been popular with Southsiders for over a decade now, and seems to remain so all day long. The menu is extensive and although the choices can sometimes be predictable, the place has a character that is anything but. Certain sweet and savoury…
Merrylee Road Bar and Kitchen
128 Merrylee Road,
Glasgow,
G44 3DL
Candles, soft lighting and a piano player give this neighbourhood brasserie something of a posh hotel lobby atmosphere. The service is warm and informal though, and a mainly local and family clientele mean the place is actually quite relaxed. The menu…
Mise en Place
122–124 Nithsdale Road,
Glasgow,
G41 5RB
The locals in Pollokshields are very lucky to have this café/deli on their doorstep. It’s the ideal place to visit when faced with an empty fridge. Bright airy clean space with a reassuringly small menu, given the size of the room. The simple starters…
Mono
12 Kings Court, King Street,
Glasgow,
G1 5RB
Mono has been serving Glasgow’s veggie and vegan clientele for ten years now and it’s easy to see the attraction. The room has an indie vibe with a raised platform for the eating area, a good-sized stage for visiting musicians and a long colourful bar…
Peckham's
61–65 Glassford Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1UB
Peckham’s was once the go-to Merchant City deli, packed with pâtés, Scottish fruit cordials, olive oils and as fine a selection of wines as you could find in Glasgow. But it has suffered in recent years – and many competitors have stepped into the…
Reds
254 Portobello High Street,
Edinburgh,
EH15 2AT
The sign reading ‘Six buggy limit’ says it all. If you live in Portobello and have small children, chances are you’ll know Reds and its large, soft cage – sorry, play frame – in the back room, where your offspring can slide and scamper while you eat or…
Saint Judes
190 Bath Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4HG
This ivy-clad basement townhouse on the Bath St social hub is an interesting and attractive mix of bar/bistro and hotel with a dark and dangerous (especially when you trip on the way to the toliet) interior and a public yet surprisingly intimate…
The Social
27 Royal Exchange Square,
Glasgow,
G1 3AJ
Location is key for this trendy city centre bar/brasserie in the G1 Group's stable of stylish ventures. A huge square bar dominates the interior space, surrounded by dark wooden tables and leather pouffes. A mixture of suits and pre-clubbers rub…
Tempus
25 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2PB
Large mirrors and bold works of art line the walls of the George Hotel's plush dining room, the ceiling is elaborately decorated and lit by huge chandeliers. Understated it isn’t but, despite the opulent surroundings the atmosphere is one of casual…
Trans-Europe Café
25 Parnie Street,
Glasgow,
G1 5RJ
The retro Trans-Europe Café, fitted out with bus seats, board games and roadmaps, may be playful in appearance but it is very serious about the food served up. On the menu are imaginative dishes brought in by former Ubiquitous Chip chef Andy Stewart…
Baby Grand
3–7 Elmbank Gardens,
Glasgow,
G2 4NQ
With its proximity to Charing Cross Station, the Premier Inn and the motorway, the long-established Baby Grand is handily placed to cater for commuters, visitors and business folk, particularly during the day. At night the area is quieter but a…
Bigos
277 Leith Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH6 8PD
There is a home-spun image created by the rough hewn wooden word 'Bigos' nailed on to the front of this tiny restaurant. And despite the dangerous looking agricultural implements and animal skins hanging on the walls, Bigos does without doubt have a…
The Bridge Inn
27 Baird Road,
Ratho,
West Lothian,
EH28 8RA
Those familiar with the Bridge Inn at Ratho before its recent renovation, will remember a decent watering hole located partway up the Union Canal. But since its facelift in 2010-11 it’s become even more worth a visit. Not only has the inside undergone a…
Café Rouge
43 Frederick Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1EP
The name conjures up a cosy bistro on La Rive Gauche. Yet, while the chansons belt forth from the stereo and the menu features a handful of familiar regional specialities such as boeuf bourguignon, there's nothing particularly intimate about Café Rouge.
Citation
40 Wilson Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1HD
Once the home of the Sheriff Court, this imposing structure is now in session as a lively multi-levelled bar/restaurant complex. The Taverne's right up at the top, with traditional styling and dark décor complemented by a large outdoor seating area. But…
Darcy's
The Courtyard, Princes Square,
Glasgow,
G1 3JN
After a refit last winter, Darcy’s has a modern French bistro feel, black and white pictures of Parisian street life on the walls, with brushed-steel detailing evoking a bit of New York too. Wine glasses hang above the bar, twinkling under the…
The Dome Grill Room
14 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2PF
Edinburgh’s George Street doesn’t lack fine buildings, but even so the Dome’s imposing pillared and porticoed street frontage makes quite a statement. The interior is every bit as grand: the Grill Room was originally a 19th-century banking hall, and…
Good Seed Bistro
101/102 Dalry Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2DW
With terracotta flagstones, dark red walls and dim lighting there’s a definite Mediterranean feel to the surroundings at Good Seed, in keeping with the food. It’s one of a clutch of good restaurants now established in an area that was long…
The Italian Kitchen
64 Ingram Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1EX
It could be argued the Italian Kitchen is a victim of its own success – it is almost always busy so service can occasionally stretch, and booking ahead is pretty much a must. Put that aside and what you get is a restaurant with a lovely atmosphere, a…
Ivory Bar & Restaurant
2–4 Camphill Avenue,
Glasgow,
G41 3AY
Situated adjacent to the greenery of Queens Park on a relatively quiet residential street, The Ivory Hotel looks like it could almost be the eatery and watering hole in a rural town. It feels like it inside too, with an informal atmosphere generated by…
Kyloe Restaurant & Grill
The Rutland Hotel, 1–3 Rutland Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2AE
Kyloe, previously the Restaurant at the Rutland, has been reborn as a place for all things beef. Occupying a grand, first floor space, it’s decked out with cowhide booths and other bovine-themed furnishings. The playful interior, however, belies a…
Negociants
45–47 Lothian Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1HB
Negociants celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year as one of the most popular bars among Edinburgh’s student population. Year-round the place bustles, particularly at weekends, while the Edinburgh Festival brings a tourist clientele attracted by…
Sannino Pizzeria
61 Bath Street,
Glasgow,
G2 2DG
More than 20 years after it was established, this handsome pizzeria continues to lure customers into its underground chamber of dark wooden booths, chrome railings and Tiffany-style lamps. Regulars appreciate the reasonably priced set lunch and…
Stravaigin Café Bar
28 Gibson Street,
Glasgow,
G12 8NX
Founded by the son of the chap who established the Ubiquitous Chip, Stravaigin has long pursued an equivalent policy of culinary curiosity. Where the Chip focuses on the native larder, though, Stravaigin tries to scan wider horizons, in keeping with the…
Sygn
15 Charlotte Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4QZ
Sygn’s geometric print wallpaper, grey fabrics and beech tables create a retro-chic vibe that’s simple yet elegant, proving to George Street’s style bars that you don’t need to be ostentatious to be cool. And if you can resist the temptation to go home…
La Tasca
39–43 Renfield Street,
Glasgow,
G2 1JS
La Tasca must be doing something right. The flamenco guitars being piped through the PA are competing with boisterous chatter and the relentless tattoo of cutlery on plates. The place is packed. A cursory glance at the menu reveals what may be…
Tibo
443 Duke Street, Dennistoun,
Glasgow,
G31 1RY
As the paper lanterns bob gently in the breeze from the ceiling fans and soulful tunes play, you enter a spiritual oasis on Duke Street at Tibo. Everything about the place is calming. Angus MacLeod at the helm likes to keep things this way. Dishes are…
Tron Theatre
63 Trongate,
Glasgow,
G1 5HB
Long respected for its theatrical offerings, the Tron’s also built a reputation for reliably good food. The menu features well-executed gastropub favourites such as ham and eggs, risotto and braised lamb shank. A starter of button mushrooms in garlic…
Wee Lochan
340 Crow Road,
Glasgow,
G11 7HT
A good local restaurant gives its neighbourhood exactly what it wants, and at Wee Lochan, Aisla and Rupert Staniforth are hitting the nail on the head for Broomhill. A restaurant-café-bar in a pretty much pub-free zone, with a casual, family-friendly…
Whiski Rooms
4, 6 & 7 North Bank Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2LP
Despite sitting in the heart of tourist territory, Whiski Rooms attracts a mixture of diners including professionals, locals of all ages and students, as well as the expected flow of visitors. Created in 2011 from a former bank and bookshop, the Whiski…
Barça Tapas and Cava Bar
Princes Square, 48 Buchanan Street,
Glasgow,
G1 3JN
Situated in upmarket Princes Square, Barça’s top floor terrace is a prime spot overlooking the courtyard and soak up the buzz. Inside this spacious urban style brasserie is a lively cava bar at one end with regular cocktail masterclasses and salsa…
The Birdcage
Stuart House, Eskmills, Station Road,
Musselburgh,
East Lothian,
EH21 7PQ
The Birdcage resides in a thoroughly modern conversion of a Victorian building, in the courtyard of a restored cotton mill. It’s a lovely light-filled space, with lots of glass and contemporary furnishings lending a stylish feel that sits comfortably…
