Restaurants, Cafés, BYOB within 5 miles of Edinburgh

It would be easy to wander past the narrow St Mary’s Street frontage of Empires. However, an inquisitive peer inside reveals a compact dark-wood interior that comes to life when illuminated by candles and coloured lanterns. A handful of ground-level…

In 2005, at the Scottish Parliament, the Dalai Lama told Reka Gawa: ‘Don't forget you’re Tibetan; keep the culture alive.’ She had long dreamed of opening a shop, and in 2007, inspired by his words, she did so: the photo of their meeting hangs proudly…

Visiting Brazilian Sensation is a unique and somewhat eccentric experience. For a start, it only opens in the evening if you make a reservation, so it really does feel like owner John Falconer and his Brazilian wife Lucia are expecting you. There’s a…

With the previous proprietor having left to open the Skylark in Portobello, Word of Mouth has reverted to its original ownership, although the menu of French-influenced cafe favourites remains the same. A pre-noon breakfast menu takes in the traditional…

A bustling and friendly family-run café and deli, Gaia boasts a proudly Sicilian influence over everything it does. The coffee is excellent although very strong, the noises from the open kitchen lend a lively air as you enjoy one of the homemade paninis…

With deli goods and takeaway sandwiches to the front, and 24 covers of eclectic furniture to the rear, Broughton Deli does not concern itself with vanities. The international menu has a surprising mixture of platters, burgers and noodles available all…

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…

This homely little Marchmont café is easy to wander past, but after you’ve stopped once, you won’t walk by again. Jane Kermack is a cheery, engaging host, ensuring everyone, from students to grannies, feels at ease. The generous full Scottish breakfast…

Two Thin Laddies is a friendly neighbourhood café on High Riggs, the kind of place that feels sunny even when it's raining, decorated with paintings from the nearby Art College and alpine furniture worn smooth by years of hands and feet. Dishes are…

With its mismatched vintage furniture and air of aspirational bohemianism this is a definitively Stockbridge café. With weekly French classes and monthly supper and baking clubs, the efforts to establish itself within the neighbourhood clearly run more…

Note 23 May 2013: Russian Passion has been closed following a restriction placed on owner Maria Belyaeva by the UK Border Agency. Further updates can be found at their Facebook page (link below). Challenging preconceived notions of her native cuisine…

The colourful, design savvy interior and good coffee at this little deli/café give a nod to owner Marcello Sprio’s home town of Milan. With imported Italian sweets, Italian newspapers, magazines and radio it is only the Tunnock’s teacakes that remind…

The stylish, undemanding charm of this neat wee cafe makes it a welcome addition to a largely neglected section of Morrison Street. Having left a career in accountancy to start up her own successful cupcake business, Edel Porter has taken things to the…

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…

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…