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 and BYOB
- Namaste Kathmandu
Unique royal Nepalese and North Indian cuisine awarded with a 'HITLIST' - Athena Greek Taverna
The simple Greek recipe for a great night out - New Edinburgh Rendezvous
Rendezvous is one of Edinburgh's original Chinese restaurants, specialising in authentic Chinese cuisine - Time 4 Thai
Time 4 Thai is Edinburgh’s first contemporary chic Thai restaurant- offering a three course lunch for £9.80
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…
Kampong Ah Lee Malaysian Delight
28 Clerk Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9HX
The feverish popularity of this canteen style Malaysian eatery with Edinburgh’s Asian student population is testament to its affordability and authenticity. The compact interior is an entirely unpretentious mix of basic seating, odd-coloured walls…
Loon Fung
2 Warriston Place, Canonmills,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5LE
No restaurant stays in business for almost 40 years without doing something right and Loon Fung evidently has a tried-and-tested recipe for success in its little corner of Canonmills. Although some of the ingredients feel a bit dated (staid decor…
Khushi's
10 Antigua Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3NH
Sixty-five years since its first appearance and half a dozen venues later, Indian stalwart Khushi’s has popped up on Antigua Street near the top of Leith Walk. Behind its extensive glazed frontage waiters bustle between a separate raised area reserved…
L'escargot Bleu
56 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3SA
The justly popular L’escargot Bleu generates an air of welcome as you enter the bright, airy rooms one flight up on Broughton Street. The buzz feels embracing rather than exclusive, as much coming from the patrons as the proprietors. Co-owners Betty…
Thai Lemongrass
40–41 Bruntsfield Place,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4HJ
Thai Lemongrass is a twin operation with restaurants in both Glasgow and Edinburgh. At the capital’s branch in Bruntsfield, a golden Buddha on the wall is the focus of the calm, candle-lit dining room. Friendly staff lead guests to tables adorned with…
Thai Lemongrass
24 Renfrew Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3BW
To enter Thai Lemongrass is to step off a grubby street of buses and building work and into a little bit of zen, where ceiling fans slowly whirl and muzak never sounded so good. Exquisitely uniformed staff swiftly present Thai prawn crackers (infinitely…
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…
The Ashoka
108 Elderslie Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7AR
A Glasgow fixture since 1982, this Ashoka is not part of the popular Harlequin-owned chain of the same name. Downstairs is the 110-capacity Curryoke restaurant, where you can experience a full banquet plus a spot of singing, while upstairs the…
Shilla
1138 Argyle Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8TD
Glasgow’s only Korean restaurant, Shilla, occupies a cosy corner on old Argyle street. With tightly packed tables and friendly staff the restaurant has a bustling yet welcoming atmosphere. The wide range of dishes, and their unfamiliar names can be a…
Time 4 Thai
45 North Castle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3BG
Subtle spotlights, purple flowers and leather banquettes create a refined atmosphere at Time 4 Thai on North Castle Street. A variety of luxurious menus are on offer, including three and four course lunches, banquet and à la carte. Meals are presented…
The Blue Parrot Cantina
49 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AH
Tucked away downstairs, this cosy basement cantina has been serving the residents of Stockbridge for almost 20 years. The open plan kitchen is the first sight to greet you as you enter; once into the dining room the mood is simple and stripped back with…
Mithas
7 Dock Place,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LU
From the people behind the ever-popular Khushi’s comes a more glamorous taste of India that freely announces its ambition to fit right in with the neighbouring Michelin-starred restaurants of The Shore. Carefully arranged low lighting and classy dark…
Steak
12 Picardy Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3JT
Steak is one of a new wave of Edinburgh steakhouses influenced by the likes of London’s much-lauded Hawksmoor. It’s aiming for hi-octane glamour that would be more at home in the Meatpacking district in New York City, but Edinburgh could do with a dose…
Empires
24 St Mary's Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1SU
There’s a dark, exotic, Aladdin’s Cave feel to Empires – a one-off kind of place that has walls covered with Middle Eastern fabrics and tiles, multi-coloured globe lamps dangling from the ceiling, and an upstairs seating area full of scatter cushions…
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…
Creedence
48a West Regent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 2RA
There ain’t no bad moon risin’ in this fun and feisty Delta-inspired bistro. A deep down, underground entrance off the busy roads of West Regent and Renfield streets reveals a chic interior of dark browns and muted yellows with pooled lighting, wooden…
Leven's
30-32 Leven Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9LJ
With its shiny surfaces, colour-changing LED lighting and leather chairs, Leven’s could be any type of eatery on first appearances. It’s only on entering that the warm welcome and seductive sweety-spicy smells make it clear that this is a Thai…
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…
Pho Vietnam House
3 Grove Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8AF
Tucked away on a side street, family run Pho Vietnam House is Edinburgh's only Vietnamese restaurant. Eating here is a bit like having dinner in your best friend's living room: it's small and cosy and owner Jodie Nguyen will offer a warm greeting when…
Chang Thai Restaurant
29 Cockburn Street, 1 Craig's Close,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1BN
Down the wynd of stairs between Cockburn and Market streets is Chang Thai, a vibrant establishment serving delectable dishes. The subterranean setting is enlivened by a canopy of fake ivy on the ceiling, copper-coloured walls and smiling golden buddhas.
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…
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…
Chop Chop
248 Morrison Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8DT
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…
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…
Indian Lounge
129a Rose Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3DT
The family-run Indian Lounge is central enough for most of the city to grab a curry on their way home, and there’s a lot to recommend that you do. Prices are considerably more reasonable than you might expect from the central – or any – location, staff…
Kampung Ali Malaysian Delight
97–101 Fountainbridge,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9QG
Kampung Ali is larger and brighter than the Lee family’s Clerk Street original Kampong Ah Lee. A huge Kuala Lumpur skyline dominates the airy dining room, contrasting rather oddly with a ceiling of Roman frescos remaining from the previous occupant.
Khushi’s Diner
32b West Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DD
For the last couple of years this has been the locus of the veteran Khushi’s brand, long-time staple of the Edinburgh curry scene. The Newington incarnation is designed with good cheer in mind, with a mix of red banquettes and cosy tables interspersed…
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…
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 Hidden Lane Tearoom
8 Argyle Court, 1103 Argyle Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8ND
Tucked down a cobbled lane off Argyle Street, the Hidden Lane Tearoom is one of those rare places where everything comes together seamlessly. The décor is shabby chic – all duck-egg blue highlights, floral bunting, artfully mismatched furniture and…
Miso & Sushi
46a Haymarket Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH12 5LA
Going to Miso and Sushi is like going back in time. The décor can't have changed in years. Glaring lights preside over a corridor of booths lined with wood and ancient flock wallpaper. It's in desperate need of a spruce up. However, if there's no love…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Rivage
126–130 Easter Road,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5RJ
Owner and head chef Ryad Meeajane oversees this stylish Easter Road restaurant from behind the open tandoor oven counter while wife and co-owner Catherine runs an efficient and informative front of house. Attention to detail stretches from preparation…
Spirit of Thai
44 Grindlay Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9AP
Strategically positioned near the Lyceum Theatre and Usher Hall, Spirit of Thai is well placed to make the most of the regular traffic to both venues. The décor is what you would expect of a traditional Thai restaurant, with golden Buddhas, muted…
Sweet Melindas
11 Roseneath Street,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1JH
Sweet Melindas is the very definition of cosy neighbourhood hangout. The one-room Marchmont restaurant’s white-painted wooden panelling, found black-and-white photographs and shelves of assorted bric-a-brac lend it a quaint but pleasant ambience, and…
Absolute Thai
22 Valleyfield Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9LR
The Tollcross area of Edinburgh isn’t short of Thai restaurants. Absolute Thai is hidden away down a side street but still stands out from the crowd through its unpretentious feel, reasonable prices and BYOB approach to booze. Since opening in 2009…
Ann Purna
45 St Patrick's Square,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9ET
Tucked away in the corner of St. Patrick’s Square, Ann Purna offers a wide range of vegetarian cuisine inspired by the state of Gujarat on India's west coast. Popular mixed veg bhajias and pakora starters mix with Indian street snacks such as kachori…
Bluerapa Thai
6 Torphichen Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8DU
Bluerapa Thai sits in the Haymarket area of Edinburgh and is a recently opened (2011) restaurant and takeaway. Run by the former owners of Chiang Mai, the jovial dining area has lime green walls, ruby lamps and teak furniture and there’s a popular BYOB…
Buffalo Grill
12–14 Chapel Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9AY
Pictures of the big beasts may decorate the walls but no, you won’t find buffalo meat on the grill here. However, there are plenty of other options available on the surprisingly wide-ranging menu from this veteran of the Stockbridge dining scene…
Buffalo Grill
1 Raeburn Place,
Edinburgh,
EH4 1HU
Pictures of the big beasts may decorate the walls but no, you won’t find buffalo meat on the grill here. However, there are plenty of other options available on the surprisingly wide-ranging menu from this veteran of the Stockbridge dining scene…
Hot Hot Chinese
60 Home Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9NA
Open since 2008 but in new hands since 2010, Hot Hot was one of the original restaurants offering Chinese hot pot in Edinburgh. Behind its steamed-up windows is a sparsely decorated room where diners are presented with a simple concept: dip an array of…
Papoli
244a Morrison Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8DT
Papoli really is a little gem. Outside, the Haymarket traffic rumbles by, while inside its dinky dining room is a retreat of warm orange and yellow pendant lighting hanging low. Prints of Provence (perhaps?) and Greece hint at the culinary offering but…
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…
University Café
87 Byres Road,
Glasgow,
G11 5HN
Established in 1918, the University Café is a Byres Road institution, serving fish suppers, fry-ups and homemade lasagne for nearly a century. Inside, the décor is practically unchanged since opening, original wood panelled walls, narrow formica tables…
Assam’s
57 West Regent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 2AE
Assam’s has quickly affirmed itself as a City Centre mainstay, having only been in its current premises two years. The restaurant is grand and elegant, with split level dining and huge luxurious circular booths – it certainly has the air of fine dining…
L'escargot Blanc
17 Queensferry Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4QW
Tucked high above Queensferry Street is a cosy retreat that manages to celebrate the Auld Alliance without being either too Scottish or too French. Yes, full size French advertising posters and French pop do lend L’escargot Blanc a distinctly Gallic…
Fanny Trollopes
1066 Argyle Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8LY
From its cheeky name and origin story (see the portrait inside or on their website) to the lively weekend crowds attracted by pre-theatre deals, Fanny's doesn't seem exactly a subtle place. Yet a glance at its inventive menu contradicts that: it's a…
North Star
108 Queen Margaret Drive,
Glasgow,
G20 8NZ
This cosy café – under new ownership since late 2011 – is now seeking to blend traditional café options with a little Italian style and flair. On offer is a range of options cooked to order – which does, however, mean some choices are not suited to…
Songkran
24a Stafford Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 7BD
Down in a West End basement, Songkran is in its tenth year of serving local professionals and those patrons who look hard enough to find it. The small venue maintains a very personal operation through staff that make that extra effort and does a brisk…
The Stockbridge Restaurant
54 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AL
Tucked into a two-room basement on St Stephen Street, the Stockbridge Restaurant is a quirky establishment. With its chic black walls, heavy golden drapes and luxurious table settings you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve entered a private boudoir.
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…
Assam's Café
1 Albert Street,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5HN
Opened in March 2012, Assam’s brings to Edinburgh a combination of Indian café and deli that has become a feature in Glasgow. On street level, under a glittering chandelier and surrounded by gold-flecked tiles, a smattering of informal tables sit…
Beanscene
110 Battlefield Road, Battlefield, Southside,
Glasgow,
G42 9JT
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…
Brooklyn Café
21 Minard Road,
Glasgow,
G41 2HR
Year of Opening: 1931. This fact alone says so much about the obvious enduring appeal of the Brooklyn Café. Generations of local custom must mean dramatic change is difficult but while crowd-pleasers like the famous ice-cream remain (plus the many…
The Cellar Door
44–46 George IV Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1EJ
Located on the Old Town's busy George IV Bridge, the Cellar Door dishes up sweet treats and coffee in a small street-level patisserie, while hidden from view downstairs is the restaurant. The unassuming interior has high ceilings, warm beige walls and…
Killermont Polo Club
2022 Maryhill Road,
Glasgow,
G20 0AB
Killermont Polo Club is hidden away on the Maryhill Road in a former polo clubhouse, attracting much of is custom through recommendations and word of mouth, rather than passing trade. The main dining area is divided into a conservatory/clubhouse area…
MacCallum’s of Troon Oyster Bar
Harbourside,
Troon,
Ayrshire,
KA10 6DH
A harbourside seafood restaurant run by fishmongers, with a much-loved fish and chip stop (the Wee Hurrie) next door. Expect an array of fruits of the sea and not too much fussing at all.
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…
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…
Rocksalt Café Deli
46 Constitution Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6RS
In recent years owner Callum Morrison has established a strong local reputation for café Rocksalt and its sister deli, Relish, just round the corner. Although the departure of talented chef Craig Long has been felt, Morrison is keen to move forward and…
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…
Beanscene
1-3 Helena Place, Busby Road, Clarkston, Southside,
Glasgow,
G76 7RB
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…
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…
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…
Dragon Way
74–78 South Clerk Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9PT
Dragon Way is certainly not your run-of-the-mill Chinese restaurant. Yes, the friendly staff serve up generous portions of shredded duck rolls and sesame prawn toast, spicy Lar Chee beef and slightly-less-spicy Cheung Bau chicken. And yes, you can get a…
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…
Golden Bridge
16 Henderson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6BS
If your experience of Szechuan food is limited to the solitary ‘Szechuan chicken/ beef/ pork’ off the typical Chinese menu, then think about visiting the Golden Bridge next time you’re in Leith. This unpretentious, welcoming little restaurant…
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…
Hanedan
41 West Preston Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9PY
Ebullient head chef and owner Gursel Bahar orchestrates operations in busy, bustling Hanedan, whirling between tending meat on the grill and whipping away meze plates from delighted diners. Bahar has been turning out Turkish favourites to a loyal…
Hong Fu Noodle
3–7 Waterloo Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3BG
Owner Jing Si promises real Chinese cooking at Hong Fu Noodle Bar. The recently revamped menu has some genuinely unusual dishes, with Szechuan and Northern Chinese influences predominating. Gone are the ubiquitous prawn toast and chow mein, to be…
Karen's Unicorn
8b Abercromby Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6LB
Karen’s Unicorn sets out to subvert your preconceptions of a typical Chinese restaurant. Whether you choose the original, cosy Stockbridge branch or its newer and more glamorous sister in the New Town’s Abercromby Place, any Chinatown clichés are firmly…
Karen's Unicorn
112 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AD
Karen’s Unicorn sets out to subvert your preconceptions of a typical Chinese restaurant. Whether you choose the original, cosy Stockbridge branch or its newer and more glamorous sister in the New Town’s Abercromby Place, any Chinatown clichés are firmly…
Neelim
1590 Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow,
G14 9DB
After two decades of serving loyal Scotstoun locals, Neelim must be doing something right. Couples and families flock here, whether it be for a sit-down dinner or some takeaway dishes to enjoy at home, and it can fill up even on week nights. The menu…
New Edinburgh Rendezvous
10a Queensferry Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4PG
After the dubious-looking shared entranceway with its faded carpets and dirty walls, the restaurant at the top of the stairs is a surprisingly bright, clean and welcoming place. It does double-duty on the service front, offering a set price buffet at…
Nile Valley
6 Chapel Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9AY
Nile Valley has remained almost completely unchanged for years. The posters wallpapering the stairs down to the dingy basement dining area rotate, advertising new club nights and student drama productions. It’s a Sudanese restaurant, with popular Middle…
Offshore
3/5 Gibson Street,
Glasgow,
G12 8NU
It’s impossible not to mention the view from Offshore. Large windows looking out onto Gibson Street and onto the beginnings of Kelvingrove Park give the café a laid-back feel that makes it the perfect haven for anybody looking to chill out and watch the…
Punjab'n de Rasoi
122–124 Leith Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH6 5DT
A community café whose set-up was funded by a government grant sounds like a very worthy affair, but such a description, while accurate, doesn't do justice to this fantastic venture serving up home-cooked style Sikh cuisine at the foot of Leith Walk. A…
Rafael's
2 Deanhaugh Street,
Edinburgh,
EH4 1LY
Descending into this Stockbridge basement restaurant is a bit like entering the house of some idiosyncratic but much-loved aunt. It’s resolutely unfashionable, drastically dated and intensely peach in colour, but you can’t help liking it. It’s as warm…
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 Bay Tree Café
403 Great Western Road,
Glasgow,
G4 9HY
Around since 1960, the Bay Tree Café has a relaxed air to it, the walls and shelves decorated with various Arabian/Mediterranean knick-knacks. If the décor evokes one region though, then the menu is far broader ranging. The breakfast menu is available…
The Calabash Restaurant
57 Union Street,
Glasgow,
G1 3RB
What The Calabash Restaurant lacks in interior décor, it makes up for in brilliantly imaginative cooking. Located down a steep flight of stairs at an unremarkable Union Street address, the menu is packed with colourful dishes from all over Africa…
EH15
Jewel and Esk College, 24 Milton Road East,
Edinburgh,
EH15 2PP
Jewel & Esk College's the Club offers a variety of recreational facilities, open to the general public, which provide students with an opportunity for real-life work experience. EH15 Restaurant & Bar is the hospitality arm of this set-up 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…
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…
Gusto & Relish
729–731 Pollokshaws Road,
Glasgow,
G41 2AA
You may not want to leave afterwards but the half-hour walk back into town (for City Centre dwellers) is recommended to burn off the calories. That's because the food here is moreish in the extreme – and that's not just the mountainous meringues. The…
Hay Sushi
15 Dalry Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2BQ
Conveniently located close to Haymarket Station, Hay Sushi is spacious and boldly designed in red, black and white, with blue twinkly lights thrown in for good measure. The menu is huge, with glossy photographs of many dishes to make choosing easier. As…
Howies (Victoria Street)
10–14 Victoria Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2HG
Long time favourite on the Edinburgh dining scene, the Howies Restaurants group has waxed and waned over the years. Now operating from two locations, their Victoria Street operation, close by the Royal Mile, is well placed for tourists and locals alike.
Iman's
4–6 Lochrin Buildings, Gilmore Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9NB
Sitting across from the King's Theatre, Iman’s delivers hearty Punjabi fare with a sociable BYOB vibe. The restaurant splits into two rooms of randomly pebble-dashed sandy walls, driftwood ceilings and agreeable lighting set against the background hum…
Kwok Brasserie
44 Ratcliffe Terrace, Causewayside,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1ST
Kwok Brasserie is a well-established family business with a loyal clientele. So new manager Stephen Lin (a cousin of the Kwok family) faces a dilemma: how to attract new customers to his Southside eatery without losing the essence of what his regulars…
McKirdy's Steakhouse
151 Morrison Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8AG
While certain steakhouses have moved elegantly into more upmarket pastures, McKirdy's continues with its proven formula unchanged. In a modest setting on Morrison Street, it’s all about the meat, not the décor. Delivering consistent quality beef…
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…
Nawroz
26–30 Potterow,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9BT
Nawroz is the new kid on the exotic block of mainly Middle Eastern eateries surrounding Edinburgh Central Mosque. Run by four close friends who pride themselves on offering authentic Kurdish and Middle Eastern cuisine, it is still finding its feet, but…
Phuket Pavilion
8 Union Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3LU
Veteran restaurateur Bill Parkinson has been in the business for 46 years and it shows. Service is a speciality: he wants people to relax while they eat. If you’re enjoying his pre-theatre menu before heading across the road to the Playhouse you might…
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…
Saigon Saigon Restaurant
14 South St Andrew Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2AZ
Locals and tourists alike will probably have passed people on Princes Street holding huge signs advertising Saigon Saigon’s buffet lunches. What the signs don’t convey is that this isn’t just another all-you-can-eat snooze-fest of the greatest hits of…
Spoilt for Choice
19 Marionville Road,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5TY
Billing itself as Edinburgh's new home of 'soul food' this Afro-Caribbean take away in Meadowbank has big plans: lunchtime opening starts in May 2012 and they are scouting sites for a dedicated restaurant. These are bold moves for a tiny site with just…
