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 Wi-Fi
- Mother India
Mother India provides you with the freshest, most wholesome Indian dishes in Glasgow - Maggie Mays
Outstanding contemporary Scottish restaurant, with a bustling bar and all-year entertainment - Guy's Restaurant & Bar
From sushi to steak pie the menu is as eclectic, but the guiding philosophy in Guy's is to create food people want to eat - The Living Room
The Living Room offers an abundance of choice with a wide range of high quality food
The Bon Vivant
55 Thistle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DY
With its Gallic flair for gluttony and enough wine on hand to raise the level of the Loire, this Thistle Street bar is aptly named. Oenophiles will be bowled over by a menu that offers some 42 wines, by the glass alone, and – if you really want to show…
The Grill on the Corner
21–25 Bothwell Street,
Glasgow,
G2 6NL
This busy central restaurant is quite imposing from the outside, looking in through the fairy light-covered windows to the arguably cold minimalist chrome and black leather interor. But the warmth of the welcome, the friendly vibe (especially in the…
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…
A Room in the Town
18 Howe Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6TG
A Room in the Town claims to be the place that ‘started it all’. ‘It’ is using quality Scottish produce to produce excellent eating at reasonable prices. Oh, and in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere too. Nearly 15 years on, this Room is still bang on…
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…
Iglu
2b Jamaica Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6HH
For all that it is tucked at the far end of a side-street, Iglu has established an enviable profile, priding itself on serving seasonal, locally-sourced, organic and wild foods in the cosy upstairs restaurant and downstairs bar area. Proving high…
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…
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…
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…
Spoon Café Bistro
6a Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DH
Home life getting you down? Move here. Seriously. It’s open from 10am till 10pm, serving everything from morning rolls through to a three-course dinner. There’s free wi-fi. People bring you drinks. The furniture is cool kitsch-retro-chic. If only the…
A Room in the West End
26 William Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 7NH
A cheery atmosphere awaits in a Room in the West End in the basement under Teuchters pub in William Street. With its red walls, chunky furniture and three wee booths at the back if you want a bit of privacy, the style is informal. Here you’ll find…
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…
Guy's Restaurant & Bar
24 Candleriggs, Merchant City,
Glasgow,
G1 1LD
It's almost certainly worth booking at this well-established Merchant City favourite. At the end of the bar, the dining area is bright and buzzy, with some of the tables quite close together – more suited to social rather than intimate dining. Service…
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…
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…
Metropole
33 Newington Road,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1QR
Taken over recently by the folks who make Canonmills’ Circle Café go round so nicely, the improvements at Metropole are clear. Always a pleasant, airy space, the mix and match floral crockery remains, as do the diner-style booths, though they’ve been…
110 Restaurant
Genting Club, 124 Dundee Street, Fountainpark,
Edinburgh,
EH11 1AF
Genting Club Fountainpark was formerly known as Edinburgh Circus Casino.
Situated at Fountainpark in the heart of the Capital, moments from Edinburgh Castle, you will be sure to have a fantastic time.
Whether you are planning to celebrate a night…
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…
North Bridge Brasserie
20 North Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1YT
If you wish a little 19th-century grandeur with your dinner, the North Bridge Brasserie will fit the bill. Now a hotel but originally the home of the Scotsman newspaper, dark wood panelling and marble columns give a period feel, while the adjacent bar…
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…
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…
Brian Maule at Chardon d'Or
176 West Regent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4RL
Trained in France, and having lead the Michelin-starred La Gavroche kitchen in London, one expects Mr Maule to conjure up truly accomplished dishes. And he does. Everything from the crisp white table cloths, black leather chairs to the sharply dressed…
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…
One Ten Bar and Grill at Marks Hotel
110 Bath Street,
Glasgow,
G2 2EN
The One Ten Bar and Grill offers a calm and classy escape from the more jumping bars and restaurants that populate Glasgow's Bath Street. While there's nothing strikingly distinctive about this establishment in comparison to any other hotel restaurant…
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…
Two Fat Ladies in the City
118a Blythswood Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4EG
With its curved windows and polished wooden surround it’s easy to spot this plush sibling of the TFL franchise situated just shy of Blythswood Square. The swooping artistry is continued inside where latticed ironwork fish dive beneath undulating…
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 Drake
1 Lynedoch Street,
Glasgow,
G3 6EF
While the basement bar is a cosy, casual hangout, the unusual restaurant upstairs is a surprise: two beautiful Victorian dining rooms which create an atmosphere more like an evening at Downton Abbey than a restaurant. With a fine view onto Woodlands…
E:S:I - Englishman, Scotsman and an Irishman
46 Queen Charlotte Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 7EX
Located just off the Links this modern split-level bistro draws in both Leith professionals and passing visitors. The restaurant’s name is a reference to the nationalities of the guys behind the venture: the Scotsman has since left, the Englishman is…
Fifi and Ally
51–52 Princes Square, 48 Buchanan Street,
Glasgow,
G1 3JN
Fifi and Ally may have a reputation as a girly cup-cake café but its coffee is strong, rich and memorable and their menu reveals a deep source of local produce and home-made delicacies. The warm chèvre salad with beetroot and butternut squash (one of…
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…
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 Lansdowne Bar & Kitchen
7a Lansdowne Crescent,
Glasgow,
G20 6NQ
With walls covered in plasma screens and a plethora of comfy booths, it is easy to see why the Lansdowne is considered by many to be among the best sports bars in town. To the rear of the spacious bar is a conservatory area, primarily a function room…
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…
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…
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…
The Voodoo Rooms
19a West Register Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2AA
While the food may not claim as much focus as the music, events and super-smashing cocktail list in the sexy, sultry and edgy Voodoo Rooms, it's more than just an afterthought. Tucked beside the main bar, a small, black linen and leather restaurant…
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…
The Bungo Bar & Kitchen
17–21 Nithsdale Road,
Glasgow,
G41 2AL
Accessed through the welcoming bar dishing up a range of drinks and cocktails, this latest venture from the successful team behind the Left Bank and the Two Figs is characterised by low lighting, exposed brick, sandstone, wood and leather. There are two…
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…
Gamba
225a West George Street,
Glasgow,
G2 2ND
The sign of a good fish restaurant is how well the front and back of house work in close synchronicity. Gamba has that instinctive, almost telepathic communication between cook and floor staff meaning everyone is alert to the unique properties of your…
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…
Mother India
28 Westminster Terrace, Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7RU
A much-loved Glasgow institution, Mother India's flagship restaurant is set over three floors, each with its own unique character. The small dining area on the ground floor is bright and casual, the first floor is grand with dark wood and candles, and…
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…
Topolino's
285 Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3HQ
A low-key doorway leads down from the main drag of Sauchiehall Street to this basement bistro, which has an airy and comfortable atmosphere thanks to uncluttered wooden tables, stripped floors and warm reds. Mirrors on the wall add to the sense of…
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…
La Bonne Auberge
161 West Nile Street,
Glasgow,
G1 2RL
Tacked on to the reception area of the Holiday Inn, the overly fussy décor of La Bonne Auberge may make you think that the restaurant hasn’t changed much since the late 1970s when French food became popular in the UK. Still, when the starters arrive the…
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 Hula
321 Hope Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3PT
It isn't Morocco and it ain't hot outside but somewhere just north of Sauchiehall St, time moves a bit more slowly. For a long, lingering coffee and some people-watching through the huge windows, this is ideal. But Hula does meals, too, and a loyal core…
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…
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…
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…
The Restaurant Bar & Grill
Princes Square, Buchanan Street,
Glasgow,
G1 3JX
It may not be the most distinctive, and it has a corporate whiff about it, but this restaurant blends wood, leather and glass to create a smart, contemporary yet comfortable diner – well suited to business lunches, shopping bites, office nights out or a…
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…
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…
The Water of Leith Café Bistro
52 Coburg Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6HJ
Set on a sunny corner beside the water of Leith this bright little café-bistro draws locals, families and couples alike with its quality food and friendly ambience. A printed menu covers the basics but the blackboard is the main show here, presenting a…
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…
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…
Bisque Bar & Brasserie
Bruntsfield Hotel, 69 Bruntsfield Place,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4HH
Bisque is the restaurant for the Bruntsfield Hotel, next to Bruntsfield Links, found down a set of steps from the car park. Unassuming at the front, the focus inside is on a wall of glass leading into an unusually large, paved, afternoon sun-trap…
Black Sheep Bistro
10 Clarendon Street,
Glasgow,
G20 7QD
Tucked into a side street near St George’s Cross, this tiny family-run bistro has a stylishly mysterious exterior but inside bursts out in a riot of cheerful chintz, plaques with homely sayings and ornamental hearts: it’s like Mumsnet and Etsy rolled…
