Restaurants, Bistros & brasseries

It’s what everyone wants to find, local or visitor: the hidden gem that, through clever use of ingredients, manages simultaneously to guarantee you a good meal, offer something a bit unusual, and do it for blindingly good value. Since taking on this…

Bibi’s Cantina feels like a friendly, casual neighbourhood bistro geared towards passing Partick and Broomhill locals, but with only 35 covers and some terrific online reviews, getting a table may require a little planning (or at least a phone call).

The gem in South Queensferry’s culinary crown, The Boat House has great views, relaxed surrounds and a confident, creative pair of hands in the kitchen. Split into two main areas, with a cocktail bar thrown in for good measure, the bistro and restaurant…

One way to sum up the contrast between this Stockbridge version of the Bon Vivant and its Thistle Street sibling is that there are no weekend DJs but instead there is brunch. Such are the priorities beside the Water of Leith. Otherwise it follows a…

There is no escaping the Scottish theme in G1's the Bothy, from the kilt-wearing staff to the steak and haggis burgers on the menu. A welcoming space with dark wood walls and soft lighting, it is tucked down cobbled Ruthven Lane in the heart of the…

Located partway up the Union Canal, this country pub is well worth a visit. The interior is seriously slick, with roaring fire and comfy seating, while the food is just as appealing. Local, seasonal specials and fresh produce (much of it grown in their…

Set in a bright, large and pleasantly laid out extension to Royal Deeside's primary arts space, this new café-bistro is run by highly respected local cooks and caterers Val and Calum Buchanan. Dishes are at once informal and expertly constructed…

Bringing some cool West End vibes to the traditionally reserved Southside, Bungo Bar and Kitchen attracts a range of regulars, from families taking advantage of its dog- and child-friendly policies, to young professionals doing the weekly pub quiz.

The two Café Andaluz branches in Glasgow share menus, deals and décor, but while there isn’t much to separate them in culinary terms, there is a distinctly West End feel about the (original) Cresswell Lane restaurant. Glasgow University’s main campus is…

Café Andaluz has been in business for ten years, opening first in the West End before adding a City Centre branch in 2006, and then a third outpost in Edinburgh. Sharing menus, prices, deals and décor (Spanish ceramics and Moorish lighting) makes for an…

There’s a resonance upon entering Café Grande, on the main drag of Bruntsfield, that makes it clear you have arrived in a neighbourhood institution. The easy friendliness with which the staff greet customers, the sense that diners at separate tables…

As this Partick café next to Kelvinhall subway nears its 30th birthday, it shows little sign of losing its appeal for the regulars and passers-by tempted in by its cosy space and comforting menu. Big windows look out onto bustling Dumbarton Road while…

Under new owner Pelham Hill, Café Renroc has been redesigned into a welcoming destination for the Hillside set. The ground floor and basement bistro has a European feel, with wood panelling, Czech beer on tap and a smorgasbord of pastries to wolf down…

Housed in the former Sheriff Court there are few building fronts as impressive anywhere in the city. Gone are any remnants of law court life. Split between a ground floor with a massive glitzy cocktail bar, and an upstairs restaurant that has a more…

Clark & Sons is so big it could be could be mistaken for a hotel dining room. Comfy fabric booths, plush sofas and floor to ceiling windows give it an ultra contemporary feel. The bar and restaurant are at their best at the weekend when the…

If you can, grab a window seat at Coltman’s to make the most of its picturesque views over the River Tweed. If not then console yourself with the fact that the food here is also worth admiring. Kenny Coltman opened in Peebles High Street two years ago…

In the art deco-style surroundings of Hatfield's Ramada Hotel, The Comet Brasserie & Bar is a relaxed place to dine for sightseers, locals and shoppers alike. Located in the original part of the building, designed to reflect the iconic de Havilland…

It's a simple concept – a café style venue, a kitchen for all to see and a head chef not bound by a printed menu. Since its opening Cookie has succeeded in being a bit different. It is home of Chef Wars, where once a month chefs from around the city…

This multi-level eating, drinking and gambling emporium is one of the G1 group’s flagship enterprises, with attention paid to creating a dazzling venue. The main dining room is astonishing; everything is on a huge scale, from the enormous glazed dome…

Chef/owner Logan Thorburn is a force to be reckoned with. Essentially a one-man band, from careful sourcing of ingredients to producing each and every dish, he delivers the sense of a much larger operation. The concise but well-balanced menu is built on…

What’s on offer in this upmarket eatery is far removed from the rustic style of cooking you’ll find in any roadside café after which it is named. The chefs have previously cooked for India’s rich and famous bringing with them a majestic, refined…

In the battle of opulent one-upmanship that is George Street’s social scene, The Dome stands out like a precious gem set amongst the Swarovski-studded bling of its New Town neighbours. Marble, mosaic and the impressive glass-coffered dome itself all…

Laid-back, kitsch and a real hipster heaven, The Drake seems to appeal to a subtly upmarket yet down to earth throng of 30-something professionals. The main attraction is the bar: with its big sofas and bookshelves, it’s as relaxed as a lounge, with a…

This miniscule 24-cover café/deli caters to an astounding range of customers, especially on weekends. Couples devour the brunch special, friends chat over coffee and cakes, families lunch with kids opting for crispy bread, ham, cheese and fruit platters…

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…