La Garrigue has been named as the Scottish regional winner of the Good Food Guide Readers' Restaurant of the Year. Featured on Ramsey's Best Restaurants Gordon described La Garrigue as an "amazing little bistro". Come along and sample the flavours of the Languedoc at either in Edinburgh's New Town or City Centre.
Restaurants, BYOB and "Edinburgh"
Sorted by place / most viewed. Showing 25, 50, 100 per page.
- Hanam's
This is the home of truly authentic Kurdish & Middle Eastern Cuisine, set right in the heart of Edinburgh - Valvona & Crolla Caffé Bar
Worldwide food products and wines from an Italian family company, established 1934 - Petit Paris
Authentic French flavours and cheerful décor make this enjoyable place to eat! - L'escargot Bleu
French cuisine with a Scottish twist
A Room in Leith
1c Dock Place,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LU
If you pitch up here late or without booking, it may be wise to have a plan B. On sunny days, the waterside tables outside fill up fast with people enjoying a platter of mussels and a well chosen glass, while for chillier occasions, there’s candle…
A Room in the Town
18 Howe Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6TG
A Room in the Town resembles the well known and colourful mural lining its main wall more often than one suspects. High jinks and merriment co-exist alongside locals having a casual meal in the simply furnished and softly lit, long dining room. Staff…
A Room in the West End
26 William Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 7NH
The 'Room in the…' chain has won considerable popularity in Edinburgh thanks to unpretentious surroundings, fulsome food and that rare beauty, a BYO policy. The West End branch, a snug basement beneath the frequently rowdy Teuchter’s pub on William…
Absolute Thai
22 Valleyfield Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9LR
Tucked behind the King's Theatre, Absolute Thai is a hidden gem. Admittedly, first impressions may be a little less generous – the aesthetic is certainly skewed more towards unpretentious café than exclusive dining. However, this friendly, family-run…
Ann Purna
45 St Patrick's Square,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9ET
Having undergone a makeover in 2008, the white tablecloths, lace curtains and doilies that once gave Ann Purna the air of a 1950s living room have been replaced by an unfussy but smart, contemporary décor. The cosy St Patrick’s Square restaurant still…
Beirut
24 Nicolson Square,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9BX
Welcome to Edinburgh’s first Lebanese restaurant, which has a sleek modern interior, scenic views adorning the walls and the cream of Beirut’s music scene on the plasma screen. Sourcing Lebanese ingredients from suppliers in London, all dishes are…
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…
Bijou
2 Restalrig Road,
Edinburgh,
EH6 8BN
If not quite a diamond in the rough, Bijou is certainly a lovely find in an unlikely locale. This low-key café/bistro by Leith Links is frequented by locals and intrepid visitors for breakfast, lunch, dinner and take-away. The tiny kitchen dishes up…
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 Blue Parrot Cantina
49 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AH
With 17 years of producing spicy delights from under its bejewelled wings the Parrot can lay claim to status as a Stockbridge institution and it’s easy to see why it has survived so long in locals' affections. The menu may not stray too far from…
Bluerapa Thai
6 Torphichen Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8DU
Given the number of Thai restaurants operating in Edinburgh at the moment, any new contender is going to have to go out of its way even to be noticed. The owners of the family-run Bluerapa Thai in Haymarket do at least have the advantage of ten years…
Bonsai Bar Bistro
46 West Richmond St,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DZ
Pruning. An under-rated skill, but in the world of tiny trees – as in Japanese restaurants – a vital one. Luckily they have it in spades at Bonsai, with a commendably focused menu that doesn’t try to cover too many bases. And, where they do go in for…
Brazilian Sensation
117–119 Buccleuch Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9NG
From the outside, Brazilian Sensation looks unprepossessing, even puzzling, with its life-size bikini-clad model perched in the window. Inside, this restaurant – unique in Scotland – serves hot and cold snacks including the typically Brazilian pão de…
Broughton Delicatessen
7 Barony Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6PD
Recently voted among the top 50 delis in the UK, this little deli/café champions the relaxed, community-based ethos of Broughton Street. There’ll be no pursed lips if you sit all day over your coffee and a book, there’s no BYOB corkage, and regular…
Buffalo Grill
12–14 Chapel Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9AY
For some it may be a let-down to find that buffalo is not actually on the grill, but any disappointment should be tempered by some rather fine steak. After all, that's what customers have been coming for for more than twenty years. But before jumping…
Buffalo Grill
1 Raeburn Place,
Edinburgh,
EH4 1HU
For some it may be a let-down to find that buffalo is not actually on the grill, but any disappointment should be tempered by some rather fine steak. After all, that's what customers have been coming for for more than twenty years. But before jumping…
Café Domenico
30 Sandport Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6EP
Café Domenico may be a stone’s throw from Leith shore’s Michelin-studded gastro corner but it's a million miles from its swish neighbours in style. The interior is mostly narrow and hall-like, covered in space-enhancing mirrors, and there’s little else…
Café Marina
61 Cockburn Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1BS
With ancestry of Edinburgh’s legendary Elm Row deli, it’s not surprising that Marina Crolla places an emphasis on using good quality, simple ingredients in her home-style Italian lunches. The blackboard behind the counter shows off an endless list of…
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…
Chop Chop
76 Commercial Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LX
With a hugely successful restaurant, a wholesale operation and TV appearances with Gordon Ramsay under her belt, Jian Wang’s Chop Chop is already a success story. It stands to reason that expansion was on the cards, and as such the Leith branch has…
Chop Chop
248 Morrison Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8DT
Be sure to phone up in advance of heading to Chop Chop, not least because the well-lit, no-frills canteen is busy at the quietest of times. The newer Commercial Street incarnation, with its classical Chinese prints and more clinical décor, generates a…
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…
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…
Empires
24 St Mary's Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1SU
Family run and with the emphasis on fresh, simple Turkish dishes, Empires is like another world just off the Royal Mile. With a custom-built and beautifully carved interior on two cosy levels, this magical space is adorned with traditional rugs…
L'escargot Blanc
17 Queensferry Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4QW
Cosy L'escargot Blanc in the West End is slighter cheaper and more bustling than its Broughton Street sister restaurant but is trying to maintain similar standards – with not always perfect results. It has done this by introducing some quality local…
L'escargot Bleu
56 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3SA
Broughton Street is full of trendy cafés and bistros but L’escargot Bleu stands out from the crowd with its French menu, chic bric-a-brac interior and superior sourcing policy highlighted through its own delicatessen in the basement. Owner Frederick…
eteaket
41 Frederick Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1EP
Taking time out for pleasure is not only celebrated but expected at this stylish, cosy New Town café where the humble cuppa is reclaimed as a luxury. Owner Erica Moore travelled the world to source eteaket’s extensive selection of teas, which includes…
Frankfurter Eck
62 Elm Row,
Edinburgh,
EH7 4AQ
The name might not suggest there’s much more to German cooking than sausages ‘n’ sauerkraut, but Edinburgh’s first Deutsch restaurant possesses a menu that might convince you otherwise. With more the air of a shabby chic grassroots café – the toilets…
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…
Golden Bridge
16 Henderson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6BS
If the traffic and unrelenting noise of Leith Walk and Great Junction Street are getting you down, then Golden Bridge is a quiet centre of calm and an ideal place to recharge and raise your spirits. Everything from the classical Chinese music and the…
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…
Hanam's
3 Johnston Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2PW
Now a well-rooted fixture by the top of the Lawnmarket, three-year-old Hanam’s is deservedly popular with locals and tourists alike. Offering an extensive menu from his native Kurdistan, owner Jamal Ahmed is a genial host who takes additional delight…
Hanedan
41 West Preston Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9PY
From the moment you arrive in the West Preston Street restaurant Hanedan is a delight. It's a cute and cosy space on two levels frequented by regulars and the lucky few passers-by who manage to secure a table. Starters are numerous and it's well worth…
Hay Sushi
15 Dalry Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2BQ
With Dalry Road rapidly becoming a smorgasbord of culinary choices, ex-Londoner Alex Sy has chosen a prime location for his new Edinburgh adventure. Hay Sushi looks great – big windows look out into the hustle of Haymarket, while inside there are clean…
Hot Hot Chinese
60 Home Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9NA
True, you could mistake Hot Hot’s opaque steamy windows for those of a launderette. And yes, the lighting and décor are only slightly more atmospheric than those of a prison canteen – but that’s not the point. Hot Hot does only one thing – the Hot Pot…
Howies at Waterloo
29 Waterloo Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3BQ
Howies has established itself as something of an Edinburgh institution over the past 21 years, so much so that it’s hard to think of a time when it didn’t exist at one site or another. Currently trading from four disparate Edinburgh locations spread…
Iman's
4–6 Lochrin Buildings, Gilmore Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9NB
Located across the road from the King's Theatre at Tollcross, Iman's is the ideal spot for a pre- or post-theatre meal. The very reasonable prices and BYOB mean it's possible to enjoy a two-course meal with wine without compromising your budget. With…
Indian Lounge
129a Rose Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3DT
This traditional family restaurant is a stalwart of the Edinburgh Indian restaurant scene having opened its doors 25 years ago. A neat interior, with clean table wear and a calm, relaxing atmosphere is set off with a beautifully colourful wall painting…
Izzi
119 Lothian Road,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9AN
Izzi is a restaurant of two halves, with the front dining room clearly visible to the passers-by on busy Lothian Road through a huge plate glass window. The second room is curiously featureless but feels a little more private. Friendly staff greet…
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…
Kampong Ah Lee Malaysian Delight
28 Clerk Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9HX
Every city has its secrets, those in-the-know places that are easy to miss in the search for better and brighter eating experiences. While it’s hardly off the beaten track, Kampong Ah Lee Malaysian Delight’s unassuming shop front and barely decorated…
Kampung Ali
97–101 Fountainbridge,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9QG
Kampong Ali’s new restaurant, its second in the city, replicates the successful formula of cheap, cheerful and under-decorated. Arguably, it does so to the point of perversity, with a brace of fluffy angels and a photo of the Bay of Naples unchanged…
Karen's Unicorn
8b Abercromby Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6LB
Owner Danny So is nothing if not ambitious. Both branches of Karen’s Unicorn aspire to be more than just another Chinese restaurant: they aim to be classy establishments that happen to serve Chinese food. The presentation, attention to detail and the…
Karen's Unicorn
112 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AD
When booking Karen’s Unicorn, it’s probably best to specify which of the two locations you are intending to visit. If a Monday or Tuesday, you might just find the one you arrive at is closed. Both restaurants share the same phone numbers and menu, but…
Katie's Diner
12 Barclay Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4HP
It’s a fine establishment that can pull off relaxed ambience with sophisticated flair, but Katie’s Diner does just that, attracting as many loyal locals as curious passers-by. With a lip-smackingly good menu, husband and wife team Geoff and Kate Ness…
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…
Khushi's
10 Antigua Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3NH
When Khushi's was engulfed in fire just before Christmas 2008, you might have been forgiven for speculating if it had flown just a bit too close to the sun. In a few years the restaurant had shifted from being an old-fashioned curry café on Drummond…
Kim's Mini Meals
5 Buccleuch Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9JN
That’s one way to beat empty nest syndrome. When the Kim kids left home for Edinburgh Uni, Mum and Dad came with them. And, having spent years feeding their children’s friends, continuing the tradition seemed like a logical step. The resulting Kim’s…
Kwok Brasserie
44 Ratcliffe Terrace, Causewayside,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1ST
The ever-cheery Peter Kwok appears to have a loyal following and he offers them what they want, with a menu covering all the dependable classics from Singapore noodles to sesame prawn toasts. The additional daily specials menu injects some welcome…
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…
Leo's Beanery
23a Howe Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6TF
Tucked away in a New Town basement, Leo’s Beanery has bucketfuls of charm without ever trying too hard. The owners hand-crafted the counter, tables and furniture themselves out of reclaimed church pews and every picture and piece of bric-a-brac tells a…
Leven's
30-32 Leven Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9LJ
Just remember that faint heart never won fair anything, take a deep breath and plunge headfirst into Leven’s crazy, mixed-up world of fusion. There’s a lot going on, much of it good, and while every plate could do with losing at least one ingredient…
Loon Fung
2 Warriston Place, Canonmills,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5LE
Loon Fung has been dishing up Cantonese dishes to the residents of Canonmills for almost forty years and regulars still count for the majority of the business. And it is clearly the food as opposed to the functional décor that is the lure. Classics…
McKirdy's Steakhouse
151 Morrison Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8AG
McKirdy’s Steakhouse is a steak and burger joint owned and run by a fourth generation East Lothian butcher. It’s an unusual consolidation of supplier and restaurant, and excellent steaks are the result. You can choose your preferred cooking method…
Mimi's Bakehouse
63 Shore, Leith,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6RA
With its vintage décor and classic lounge music, Mimi’s is a family-run venture that has quickly made its mark. The emphasis is on the home-made cakes – traybakes, beautifully iced cupcakes, and enormous sandwich cakes. A pear, apple and cinnamon cake…
Mithas
7 Dock Place, Leith,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LU
Mithas is the latest venture from the people behind Edinburgh institution Khushi’s. This isn’t just another new curry house, however. From the crisp white linen napkins that are unfolded onto your lap, to the sea kelp moisturiser dispensers in the…
Namaste Kathmandu
17–19 Forrest Road,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QH
This Nepalese/Indian mashup is a cheerful place, festooned in swags of red fabric and sundry subcontinental artefacts, with an air of contented bustle. Starters include kukhuri ko sekwa (chunks of chicken dry-fried in mild herbs) and traditional…
New Edinburgh Rendezvous
10a Queensferry Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4PG
The New Edinburgh Rendezvous probably has the most misleading moniker in Edinburgh. There is absolutely nothing new about this grand old timer, which first opened its doors back in 1956. The faded entrance sadly looks like it has not been refurbished…
The New York Steam Packet
31 Rose Street Lane North,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2NP
The rather grand-sounding name is something of a misnomer for one of the smallest dining spaces in Edinburgh. Duck into an unassuming entrance that has lain hidden from Rose Street throngs for the best part of 40 years, haul up the spiral staircase and…
Nile Valley
6 Chapel Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9AY
At lunchtime, this Sudanese restaurant ranks high as uni students' fast food of choice with its huge khobz wraps of falafel, hummus, aubergine or grilled chicken salads. After the afternoon lull, it is nice to see the transformation from a takeaway…
9 Cellars Thali
1–3 York Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3EB
For a true taste of India seek out 9 Cellars Thali. Inside it’s basic and functional with red walls and bright pictures, but there are lots of nooks and crannies for romantics or a large dining area perfect for parties. The menu is slim but, while…
No 1 Sushi Bar
37 Home Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9JP
With cinema, theatre, pubs, students – heck, even a ‘gentlemen’s club’ or two on its doorstep, No 1 Sushi Bar is a great place to sit and watch the world go by. There’s real pleasure to be found in sipping miso soup and looking at a pretty platter of…
Papoli
244a Morrison Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8DT
Now in its third year Papoli is an eclectic mix of cultures and influences. Its owners hail from Iran and the menu, described as Mediterranean, is mainly composed of Italian pasta and pizza options with the odd dish from Spain and Greece. The dining…
Petit Paris
38–40 Grassmarket,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2JU
Cheerful checked tablecloths set the scene in the Grassmarket’s Petit Paris, along with retro French posters and a quirky clock made of kitchen utensils. A recent refurb has introduced some solid, nicely made benches, wine boxes and pewter worktops…
Pho Vietnam House
3 Grove Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8AF
Operating out of a small shopfront, Pho Vietnam House is tiny with just five tables. This isn’t much of a problem, thanks to owner Jodie Nguyen. Having learned to cook at her parents’ restaurant in Vietnam, she prepares the food before handing over to…
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…
Point Hotel
34 Bread Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9AF
With the Traverse, Lyceum, Usher Hall and Filmhouse all within a five-minute meander, the Point is ideally placed for those out to enjoy the delights of Edinburgh's cultural quarter. Those deterred by the hotel's minimalist reputation should note that…
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…
Rafael's
2 Deanhaugh Street,
Edinburgh,
EH4 1LY
Homely, unflashy and resolutely untrendy, chef and owner Rafael Torrubia’s eponymous restaurant has built a strong local following over his near-decade in business. Set in a cosy corner basement premises on the Water of Leith, the restaurant’s ambience…
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…
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…
Café Renroc
91 Montgomery Street,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5HZ
Few cafés offer the pleasures of a hot stone massage alongside your latte, but then Café Renroc (’Corner’ spelt backwards) is certainly not short of individuality. From the downstairs pampering spot to the funky furnishings, this is a comfortable home…
Rivage
126–130 Easter Road,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5RJ
Away from the city centre on busy Easter Road, Rivage is worth seeking out. Light and airy inside, the tandoori kitchen is open plan so all can see owner and head chef Ryad Meeajane cooking the food from scratch. The menu is relatively short, only two…
Rocksalt Café Deli
46 Constitution Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6RS
This converted Georgian printers’ in deepest old Leith is a gem of a find. High ceilings, huge windows and a grand chandelier are offset by comfy sofas and a split-level eating area to create a bright and welcoming space. It’s an ideal place to linger…
Russian Passion
5 Canonmills,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5HA
The clue is in the name of this quirky, tiny Canonmills café. Russian food and drink is made on the premises and, complemented by some imported Slavic goodies, is presented with a passionate belief in the product and where it comes from. Proprietor…
S Luca of Musselburgh
16 Morningside Road,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4DB
It may be hard, but try not to be waylaid by the sweetie emporium that greets you on first entering S Luca. This is kiddie heaven and it's hard to imagine anyone, even the adults, getting past the selection of chocolates, ice-cream, sorbets and other…
Saigon Saigon Restaurant
14 South St Andrew Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2AZ
Increasingly renowned for dim sum, it could be all too easy to fill up on the wide variety of dumplings and wonder how you’re going to find room for a main course. But delicious (and, at £3.30 for three, good value) though the prawn and bean curd rolls…
Shilla
13b Dundas Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6QG
As far as entrances go, it’s far from grand. But persevere – after an uncertain trip down a dodgy staircase, Shilla opens out into a maze of individual dining rooms, all exposed brick, lacquered tables and quirky wall paintings. Korean food is…
Sing Thai
42 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AL
Sing Thai is a neighbourhood restaurant in the true sense of the phrase. The interior looks as though the owner has just decided to open up his home to cater to some friends, and regulars popping in for a takeaway are greeted like long lost pals. If…
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…
Spirit of Thai
44 Grindlay Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9AP
Spirit of Thai is a very professional outfit. It’s obvious from the moment you step into the tastefully dressed room – all muted tan shades and carefully positioned woodcarvings – and are greeted by the immaculately turned out staff, that this is more…
Sprio
37/39 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AH
Sprio is a small and chic Italian deli and café located in Stockbridge. The compact space and modern interior has 60s comic art on the walls, a range of Italian goods for sale, and piles of magazines to peruse. Hosting regulars during the week dashing…
The Stockbridge Restaurant
54 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AL
Scratch the surface of boho St Stephen Street, and underneath there’s something quite glossy going on. It’s the same with the Stockbridge Restaurant. Steep steps trailing ivy and fairy lights pitch down from the street to astragalled basement windows.
Suruchi
14a Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DH
Bang opposite the Festival Theatre, Suruchi (sister to Suruchi Too, in Leith) is a familiar and well-loved resident of Nicholson Street. Opened in 1986, it hasn’t changed much since. The staircase to its first-floor home is looking tired and the decor…
Suruchi Too
121 Constitution Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 7AE
Not quite in buzzing Leith and some way beyond the Foot of the Walk, Suruchi Too sits discretely behind a grand facade on Constitution Street. Inside this roomy restaurant, the bright and cheery cream and red décor, replete with Indian knick knacks and…
Sweet Melindas
11 Roseneath Street,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1JH
This charming Marchmont bolthole is easily the cosiest fish restaurant in Edinburgh and also one of the capital’s most romantic wee retreats. Old paintings, photos and wooden panelling on the walls give it a nostalgic ambience more reminiscent of a…
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…
Thai Lemongrass
40–41 Bruntsfield Place,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4HJ
There’s no escaping that Thai Lemongrass is a classy looking place. The décor is a soothing blend of the contemporary and the traditional, with discreet lighting casting a warm glow over the dark wood tables and tastefully golden-brown wallpaper.
Time 4 Thai
45 North Castle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3BG
Whilst the décor in Time 4 Thai reflects the conventions of George Street style-bar chic, and comes off looking more like an airport’s executive lounge, the welcome is pure class – there’s enough warmth here to power a small country. Choose between…
Two Thin Laddies
103 High Riggs,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9RP
Cannily painted bright yellow to catch your eye as you walk down Earl Grey Street, the surprisingly spacious interior is almost Alpine with its wooden ceiling, wood and stone floors and slate bar. The food would go down a storm après-ski as well, as…
Valvona & Crolla Caffè Bar
19 Elm Row, Leith Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH7 4AA
At the back of the famous and delightful delicatessen is the long, glass-ceilinged, bustling caffe bar. Serving coffees, breakfasts and lunches, it’s popular and can get very busy, so you may have to book or wait for a table. The menu consists of…
Wannaburger
7–8 Queensferry Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4PA
A first date joint this is not, but there’s something refreshingly simplistic about Wannaburger. Forget table service: a recent revamp means customers order at the counter, then pick up when a buzzer says it’s ready. Forget plates too, with various…
Wing Sing Inn
147–149 Dundee Street,
Edinburgh,
EH11 1BP
Often the plainest Chinese restaurants serve the best food. Well, Wing Sing Inn is no beauty queen but it’s what’s inside the kitchen that counts. This is not a first-date place: from the outside it looks like a takeaway joint. Lighting is harsh, the…
Word of Mouth
3a Albert Street,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5HL
Word of Mouth is a friendly, community-focused hub with bags of rugged charm near the heart of lively Leith Walk. Enthusiastic staff create wholesome, tasty breakfasts, lunches and all-day mezze. Choose five mezze and they’ll throw in some garlic…
Xanadu Chinese Restaurant
13–14 Dalziel Place, Meadowbank,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5TP
This restaurant's Hong Kong husband and Malaysian wife team chose to name it after Kublai Khan’s summer palace, over a hundred miles north of Beijing. Edinburgh’s Xanadu is not quite inner Mongolia, but it is a bus ride from the city centre and the…
