Restaurants, Child friendly within 5 miles of Edinburgh

Occupying a prime double shop front on Portobello's main drag, Skylark is just what the neighbourhood has been crying out for, since evening eating options are somewhat thin on the ground. A daytime café with toys, books, food and events for kids (check…

Anyone with an interest in Scotland’s liquid refreshments should visit one of the two Teuchters, both of which offer an encyclopaedic selection of the country’s whiskies and beers. The Leith version has the added attraction of being housed in a cosy…

Portobello Promenade has a faded seaside charm that’s equally appealing for eating chips from a wrapper in the sun or watching rain stream down a window in grey winter light. With its traditional bay frontage looking out over the sea and now opening all…

There’s a resonance upon entering Café Grande, on the main drag of Bruntsfield, that makes it clear you have arrived in a neighbourhood institution. The easy friendliness with which the staff greet customers, the sense that diners at separate tables…

Useful to keep in mind when the urge to eat a full cooked breakfast strikes in the early afternoon (breakfast is served until 3pm), Maxi’s other brunch options include pancakes or French toast with bacon and maple syrup, porridge and fruit compote, or…

Not far from Haymarket’s busy hub, Morrison Street’s Papoli is a little ray of sunshine. While still retaining its roots in Italian cuisine, in August 2012 it welcomed new management and a slowly evolving shift in emphasis towards a more rounded…

With a plain and pleasant interior that’s more mess hall than Manchuria and a noisy, welcoming buzz about it, Chop Chop has built its popularity and reputation around its homemade dumplings, which are served boiled or fried with assorted, mixed meat…

There’s a laidback, Australian vibe to the Esplanade – the ‘Espy’ – bar and bistro on Portobello’s beachfront, with its cheery service, beer, burgers, live music and comedy, and tables overlooking, okay, not the Indian Ocean, but the Firth of Forth to…

While their original Morningside deli (a Mecca for cheese addicts) has very limited sit-in capacity, the Stockbridge branch is significantly larger, with a smart seating area at the back, and a packed deli counter up front. Excellent French cheeses are…

Bruntsfield doesn't suffer from a lack of sociable coffee venues, but that hasn't deterred relative newcomer Project Coffee. Like sister businesses Kilimanjaro, Press and Wellington Coffee, they use beans from small artisanal roasters to make their…

Any Edinburgher knows the weather down Portobello beach can be changeable, but it’s always summer in this charming, family-run beachfront café which blends the simplicity of an old-fashioned seaside greasy spoon with a strong emphasis on quality and…

Convenience food doesn’t usually equate to quality food, but for any hungry rail commuters looking for a sophisticated restaurant experience, Ignite’s location so close to Haymarket station bucks that trend. The interior reflects the menu’s willingness…

Nestled in the grand streets of the West End, The Bonham is a boutique hotel located in an imposing row of Victorian townhouses. The dining room is a stylish and quiet setting, although the urban style that the hotel is striving for can sometimes feel…

Le Marché Français markets its wares from a handsome Victorian shop frontage close to Haymarket station. This combined deli, cafe and restaurant promises a taste of French food throughout the day, in a laidback, rustic style that deliberately contrasts…

The joint venture between two of Edinburgh's Michelin-starred chefs, Tom Kitchin and Dominic Jack, in opening a pub – or 'public house with dining' – in Stockbridge has opened a new front in casual eating in the capital. The stripped-back, bare-brick…

In the same family hands for over 30 years, Dalry Road’s Verandah Tandoori continues to serve its loyal clientele with well-prepared Bangladeshi and Indian cuisine. Overseen by images of celebrity diners from decades past, Manager Foisol Choudhury and…

Sushiya is Edinburgh’s bite-sized taste of Tokyo, as tiny, bright and inviting as the futo maki sushi. With only 25 covers it is undeniably small, but the stylish, minimalist interior keeps the feel spacious even when it’s busy and there’s a steady…

To say there’s a nautical air to Britannia Spice is an understatement. Sails and brass fittings adorn the walls and the waiters – sorry ‘crew’ – are decked out in white uniforms with braided epaulettes. The feeling is one of luxury, rather than…

The hilltop Terrace Café in Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Gardens has an unparalleled view of the city's skyline. The inviting outdoor tables make it an obvious place for an alfresco lunch in fine weather. Inside, small tables are placed near long windows…

It’s what everyone wants to find, local or visitor: the hidden gem that, through clever use of ingredients, manages simultaneously to guarantee you a good meal, offer something a bit unusual, and do it for blindingly good value. Since taking on this…

A bowl of steaming chicken and coconut stew with huge hunks of bread reveals an enthusiasm for fresh home-cooked food at Rocket Cafe. Portions are generous and almost everything here is made on the premises, down to their own hummus and pesto. Ideally…

Owner Gino Stornaiuolo named his establishment in tribute to his two grandmothers, whose faces adorn the walls of a room in which space has been well exploited. However, it is the contribution of his parents that brings the restaurant to life. While…

There's a tranquil feel to the Gateway Restaurant located upstairs in the John Hope Gateway Centre, a biodiversity and information centre in Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Gardens. Set in a long, bright room, the lovely interior features leaf-green ceilings…