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, BYOB and Outdoor dining
- Filtered by:
- Restaurants
- The LIST Card
- Hitlisted
- Online booking
Scotch Beef Club- Budget
- BYOB
- Late dining
- Outdoor dining
- Child friendly
Student friendly- Wi-Fi
Video- Pre-theatre menu
Sorted by place / most viewed / distance. Showing 25, 50, 100 per page.
- The Boat House
Fresh local seafood with world class views! - Athena Greek Taverna
The simple Greek recipe for a great night out - Hanam's
This is the home of truly authentic Kurdish & Middle Eastern Cuisine, set right in the heart of Edinburgh - Cafe India
Glasgow's favourite - a new jewel in the Merchant City
ArtCafe Morita
204 Canongate,
Edinburgh,
EH8 8DQ
Positioned halfway down the Royal Mile, ArtCafe Morita combines traditional café, Japanese fast food outlet and ambitious gallery space. Proprietor Kozo Hoshino is the custodian of a large private art collection, the Victor Murphy Trust, from which he…
Bonsai Bar Bistro
46 West Richmond St,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DZ
What Bonsai Bar Bistro lacks in size, it makes up for in atmosphere. Bustling and sociable, you’ll have some friendly banter with your waiter, and wind up in conversation with your neighbouring table. The menu, based on small dishes to share, invites a…
Tanjore
6–8 Clerk Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9HX
Relative newcomer Tanjore brings a wealth of south Indian cuisine to its Newington locale, wrapped up in a friendly and relaxed café setting. Owner and head chef Boon Ganeshram switches between open kitchen and compact dining area, describing tapas…
Red Fort
10 Drummond Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9TU
This modern-style, 50-seater restaurant shows an engaging determination to tick every box you could possibly desire. Open seven days, service kicks off at noon with a buffet lunch (free for under threes, £3.50 for under tens, £6 for students, or £6.85…
Beirut
24 Nicolson Square,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9BX
In the mini Middle Eastern pocket growing around Edinburgh's Mosque, which began with Kebab Mahal and Jordan Valley and continues with the newly added Mosque Kitchen and Nawroz, Beirut adds Lebanese food to the mix. Owner Ahmed Saadi opened in 2010, and…
Double Dutch
27–29 Marshall Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9BJ
Under new management since the summer of 2008, but still trading under the same name, any former Dutch influence which this café boasted has long since disappeared. There’s plenty to take its place, although it could be argued that the extensiveness of…
Howies at Waterloo
29 Waterloo Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3BQ
While things below the waterline have been a bit frantic since the original owners bought back Edinburgh’s two remaining Howies in late 2011, above the surface everything is typically calm. The Waterloo Place restaurant is a stylishly decorated, well…
Kam Po
34 West Preston Street, Southside,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9PY
A relative newcomer to the Edinburgh restaurant scene, Kam Po has set its standards pretty high. With beautifully fresh fare and service so attentive it borders on embarrassing, it's only a matter of time before news of this family-run Southside gem…
Café Marina
61 Cockburn Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1BS
Forget Ikea: this is where you’ll find the best meatballs in town. They're more of a hearty sausage shape than a ball here: get them cut up in pasta or squeezed into a ciabatta for a chin-dripping panini – but whatever you do, get them. With just a…
Viva Mexico
41 Cockburn Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1BS
In existence for 28 years, Viva Mexico – run by the Gonzalez family – is the grand-daddy of Edinburgh’s Mexican restaurants. Inside, kitsch abounds with pictures of hirsute horsemen and Mexican puppet dolls staring down from the walls. There are plenty…
Gurkha Brigade Nepalese Restaurant
9a Antigua Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3NH
This small homely restaurant with colourful Nepalese paper ceiling lights and photos of the Annapurna range of mountains adorning the walls is at the top of Leith Walk. Its position makes it very convenient if you have been to The Edinburgh Playhouse or…
Frankfurter Eck
62 Elm Row,
Edinburgh,
EH7 4AQ
German food can suffer from people's unfair preconceptions. Seek out Edinburgh’s first German restaurant, Frankfurter Eck to have these prejudices overturned. Behind a blink-and-you’ll miss it frontage on an unlikely block is a basic interior with…
Word of Mouth
3a Albert Street,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5HL
It’s only five years old, but already Word of Mouth is one of Edinburgh’s definitive neighbourhood cafés, a recommended stop not just for the food but for the range of activities they manage to cram into the small dining space. An open mic poetry and…
Gaia Delicatessen
32 Crighton Place, Leith Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH7 4NY
The bustle is infectious in Leith Walk café Gaia, as various members of the Dragotta family busy themselves preparing food behind the counter. A family-run Sicilian delicatessen and café, everything here is homemade from scratch, including various meaty…
Hanam's
3 Johnston Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2PW
Hanam’s is rightly revered for its Kurdish cooking. The restaurant is spread over two floors of a characterful period building, including a terrace that’s – unsurprisingly – in demand on summer days and a separate dining room that's ideal for private…
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…
Ristorante Gennaro
64 Grassmarket,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2JR
The busy Grassmarket area attracts a mix of tourists, revellers and locals, and the same can be said of this family-run establishment. It claims to offer a true taste of Italy, and that starts from the moment you are greeted by one of a clutch of…
Petit Paris
38–40 Grassmarket,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2JU
Cheek by jowl in the middle of the traffic-eased Grassmarket, Petit Paris uses all available spaces to fit check-clothed tables into its lively, friendly venue. More enthusiastically French than many of its competitors, a genuine welcome greets each…
Blackcherry Café
29 Grassmarket,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2HS
If it’s a hangover breakfast, pre-lecture fuel-up or lunch-hour pitstop that’s required, Black Cherry in the Grassmarket is there to satisfy. A tiny but cheery café serving breakfast rolls, sandwiches, wraps and bagels, coffee and cakes to students…
The Pastures
24 Marchmont Crescent,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1HG
Sequestered among the tenements of Marchmont, this new small-scale venture is a local gem, serving homely comfort food in a bright and cheery setting at a tariff well suited to threadbare student pockets. They don’t back off on quality, though: poached…
The New York Steam Packet
31 Rose Street Lane North,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2NP
There’s probably some money to made by standing on Rose Street and directing lost diners to this almost invisible restaurant, hidden down an alley and then up a steep spiral staircase. It feels more like a treehouse than a restaurant and the boisterous…
Bijou
2 Restalrig Road,
Edinburgh,
EH6 8BN
Since coming under new management in late 2011 this small bistro on the edge of Leith Links has been spruced up and dusted down. The atmosphere is casual and the welcome friendly, and as for the food, it puts many pricier city centre places to shame.
Eteaket
41 Frederick Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1EP
Eteaket has a target market and lads, you’re not it. From the pop-vintage hot pink chairs to the powder blue tea menus, this tea boutique is best for tête-à-têtes over a cuppa and cake. The extensive drinks menu is full of pretty things to drink, from…
Two Thin Laddies
103 High Riggs,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9RP
Pitch pine, exposed timber and white walls – the interior of Two Thin Laddies is reminiscent of an alpine ski resort, which is appropriate really, considering they serve the sort of food you’d want after a hard morning on the pistes. The décor might be…
Leo's Beanery
23a Howe Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6TF
While it’s not unusual for a New Town café to go the extra distance in terms of befriending its regulars, Leo’s Beanery’s young owners Joe and Marie Denby have really stamped their personality on the place, right down to the photos of their family which…
The Prince Balti House
11/12 Seafield Road East, Portobello,
Edinburgh,
EH15 1EB
It may not be the most enticing spot for a restaurant, being wedged between a busy roundabout and a bus depot at the end of Seafield industrial estate, but the enthusiastic, cheery welcome from staff at this Portobello curry house more than compensates…
The Lee On
3–5 Bruntsfield Place,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4HN
This year marks the 40th anniversary of this family-run Bruntsfield institution and it shows no signs of slowing down. Unusually, the main dining area is situated in a downstairs warren of intersecting rooms, while upstairs absorbs the overspill and…
Sprio
37/39 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AH
St Stephen Street on a summer’s day could almost be mistaken for a Milanese back street, and it’s this atmosphere the owners of Sprio succeed in reflecting. This isn’t just an Italian-themed café, it’s one which reflects the sights and smells of the…
Chop Chop
76 Commercial Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LX
The lively Morrison Street outpost of this popular restaurant continues to draw a crowd who enjoy the hustle and bustle of its sparsely furnished cafeteria-style room. Known primarily for boiled and fried dumplings, the idea is to place your order and…
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…
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…
Taste Good
67-71 Slateford Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 1PR
Taste Good doesn't exactly fit the stereotype of a Chinese restaurant. At street level it is a busy takeaway catering for locals in the know, while in the basement there's a bright, airy dining space with modern décor and pleasant background music. The…
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…
The Kingarroch Inn
5 Main Street,
Craigrothie,
Fife,
KY15 5QA
Never judge a book by its cover because this seemingly simple whitewashed cottage, which sits precariously on a corner of a busy Fife road, might seem a bit bleak and dated yet its below ground level entrance could well be described as a gateway to…
The Cocoa Tree Cafe
9 High Street,
Pittenweem,
Fife,
KY10 2LA
A dedicated chocolate shop and café selling high-end Belgian and other imported chocolate. For main entry see Where to Eat (p.36).
Thai Teak
Muirhead of Pitcullo Farm, Dairsie,
by Cupar,
Fife,
KY15 4SF
One of Fife’s more unusual farm diversification enterprises, Thai Teak comprises a converted farm building full of chunky, carved wood furniture and other artefacts imported from Thailand, with a separate, raised wooden cabin housing a daytime café. The…
Café India
29 Albion Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1LH
Having recently been taken over by Tony Hussain, Café India has some big ideas and great expectations. From a Sunday morning cookery school to Indian tapas and Scottish ale evenings, there’s plenty going on. The large dining area remains divided, with a…
Berits & Brown
6 Wilson Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1SS
In the heart of the merchant City, which is particularly good looking at night these days, Berits and Brown offers a small taste of a New York style neighbourhood diner. It is a big draw for wine buffs – any bottle on sale in the off license can be…
Windows Restaurant
Carlton George Hotel, 44 West George Street,
Glasgow,
G2 1DH
The kitchen – under award-winning young chef Michelle Dempsey – is doing a sterling job. There are few surprises on the menu, but dishes are beautifully executed, and attention to detail is excellent. Fondant potato – so often badly prepared elsewhere…
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…
Gizzi's
87 Cambridge Street,
Glasgow,
G3 6RU
Previously known as Bistro du Sud but renovated and renamed Gizzi's in 2007, this bistro has a small, unassuming exterior and, inside, may be mistaken for a café with limited seating. There is more space upstairs, and the place would no doubt be full…
Nur
22 Bridge Street,
Glasgow,
G5 9HR
Run by a Scots-Egyptian couple, Nur is an oasis of warmth, friendliness and good food. A cosy mezzanine is furnished with low tables, divans and plenty of cushions, while the downstairs dining space is dotted with shisha pipes, papyrus and pottery. As…
Jade Garden
303 Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3HQ
A Sauchiehall Street fixture since 1971, the Jade Garden feels little affected by the passing of time. A well-trod carpeted staircase leads up to its genteel, pastel-tinted dining room where, within minutes of sitting down, a little basket of light…
Tawa & Grill
146–148 Nelson Street,
Glasgow,
G5 8EJ
The smart and contemporary Tawa & Grill provides proof – if you needed reminding – that a trip to Nelson Street in Tradeston possesses nearly all the virtues of a journey halfway across Asia. That this dilapidated zone south of the Clyde has become…
Canasta Bistro
1102 Cathcart Road, Mount Florida,
Glasgow,
G42 9EG
Within a pizza throw of Hampden stadium, Canasta has become a celebrated restaurant in Glasgow's Mount Florida – an area not known for great dining options. It's cosy inside, with chequered tablecloths and scatter cushions contributing to an informal…
Beanscene
40-42 Woodlands Road, West End,
Glasgow,
G3 6UR
It may be part of a chain, but Scottish café enterprise Beanscene stands out by selectively adopting hallmarks such as consistency and friendly service and rewriting them in its own style. The deep leather couches, scattered tables and down-lighting…
PJ’s India
15–17 Kent Road,
Glasgow,
G3 7EH
PJ, the owner of the restaurant (which used to be Panjea) apparently has ‘mad visions’ of curries in his dreams. This could explain some of the more inspired dishes on the menu, such as almond-honey curry, tandoori trout and banana pakora. But it’s not…
Café La Padella
124 Woodlands Road,
Glasgow,
G3 6HB
A bright turquoise exterior is the first clue that Café La Padella is definitely not another corporate café. Idiosyncratic is the word that best describes this Mediterranean/Middle Eastern eatery, exemplifying, as it does, an 'original mix of…
Go Slow Café
452 Victoria Road,
Glasgow,
G42 8YU
Six years of taking it easy at Go Slow Café (to paraphrase the blurb), but the place is thriving and popular, so it’s no mean feat that during the busiest times owner/factotum Rose manages to keep the happy, calm vibe alive. Like most places run with…
78 places.
Sorted by place / most viewed / distance. Showing 25, 50, 100 per page.
