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, Hitlisted and "Edinburgh"
- Valvona & Crolla Caffé Bar
Worldwide food products and wines from an Italian family company, established 1934 - Jasmine Chinese Restaurant
Jasmine offers fantastic Cantonese dishes- open late all week - Mother India's Café
Our ‘twist on tapas’ has rapidly become a firm favourite with both locals and visitors to Scotland’s Capital - Calistoga
The Californian Twist in Edinburgh and Speciality Restaurant of the Year 2010
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…
21212
3 Royal Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5AB
A meal at 21212 is a memorable event, as much theatre as gourmet dining. Depart the Georgian reserve of Royal Terrace and enter rooms of sleek lines and sweeping furniture lit by a modern take on chandeliers that emphasise brain-teasing art. The…
57–61 High Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1SR
Monteiths’ discreet menu board at the head of one of the Royal Mile’s darker closes is easily missed. But don’t, because this subterranean bar and restaurant’s low-key Scottish style is a welcome antidote to the energetic tartanry to be found nearby.
Number One
1 Princes Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2EQ
Nestled below the Balmoral Hotel, Number One is a little world of luxury. Blood-red lacquer walls are studded with a vibrant array of artworks, and all is softened by plush, mushroom-coloured furnishings. Bland hotel homogeneity is eschewed in favour of…
Nonna's Kitchen
45 Morningside Road,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4AZ
With a warm welcome from the Stornaiuolo family, this corner venue in Morningside is everything anyone could want in a neighbourhood restaurant. One thing certain is that you could never get bored of the menu – despite a short à la carte selection, the…
The Kitchin
78 Commercial Quay,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LX
A meal at Tom Kitchin’s much-acclaimed restaurant offers a taste of his vivid imagination. Cocooned within a sophisticated, smoky-blue cave, it feels intentionally separated from the outside world. Expectations are high, and generally they’re swiftly…
Restaurant Martin Wishart
54 The Shore,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6RA
With a Cook School, a second Michelin star restaurant at Cameron House and a recently opened Edinburgh brasserie Martin Wishart could be forgiven for taking his eye off the ball at his signature Leith restaurant. Far from it. If anything Wishart is…
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…
7 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AN
If your restaurant is really only serving two things, you’d better make sure you do those things well. Bell's Diner has been doing steak and burgers well for over 40 years and there are no signs of things changing. Behind its anonymous exterior, there’s…
Iglu
2b Jamaica Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6HH
For all that it is tucked at the far end of a side-street, Iglu has established an enviable profile, priding itself on serving seasonal, locally-sourced, organic and wild foods in the cosy upstairs restaurant and downstairs bar area. Proving high…
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…
The Holyrood 9A
9a Holyrood Road,
Edinburgh,
EH8 8AE
If you can’t remember your last really great burger, head to Holyrood Road to have your faith in the patty renewed. Savouries are split between ‘one’ and ‘two handers’ – the former being edible with a fork while chatting, the latter needing both hands…
Sushiya
19 Dalry Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2BQ
Enter through a lime green door into a tiny, minimal and stylish sliver of Japan. Everything at Sushiya is neatly and prettily presented, from the chopstick rests and soy sauce pourers to the special sashimi set, a selection of 20 pieces of the day’s…
Wildfire Restaurant and Grill
192 Rose Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4AZ
There’s nothing wild about Wildfire. That’s an excellent thing. This little gem – nine tables in a cosy space – is worth discovering at the Charlotte Square end of Rose Street for its lack of pretension and gimmick. With a core steak-and-seafood…
El Quijote
13a Brougham Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9JS
This modest little Brougham street restaurant is the sort of place you’d be happy to find in the narrow streets of Seville. Just as well, as that’s precisely what Andalusian owners Oscar Mateos and Maria Giminez set out to do. It’s not exactly smart…
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…
Jasmine Chinese Restaurant
32–34 Grindlay Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9AP
Located opposite the Lyceum, Jasmine entices prospective customers with a selection of fresh fish dishes listed on a blackboard outside, reflecting their more seafood-oriented approach to Chinese cooking. Inside, tables are quite close together, but…
The Honours
58a North Castle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3LU
There was little doubt that a brasserie developed under the keen eye of Martin Wishart, Edinburgh's advocate of French cuisine, was going to be something special. Taking over the Castle Street site once home to Tony's Table, Wishart’s team have turned…
Centotre
103 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3ES
Centotre manages to pull off a neat trick. Despite the austere, ex-bank interior, from those lost days when financial edifices were akin to cathedrals, it still manages to maintain a feeling of warmth and intimacy in the evenings or bright and breezy…
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…
Restaurant Mark Greenaway at No 12 Picardy Place
12 Picardy Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3JT
Mark Greenaway’s take on dining is unashamedly modern. With deconstructed creations, foams, smokes and multi-ingredient theatrics aplenty, this is a sophisticated, highly confident offering. A starter of Loch Fyne crab cannelloni is a good introduction…
Spoon Café Bistro
6a Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DH
Home life getting you down? Move here. Seriously. It’s open from 10am till 10pm, serving everything from morning rolls through to a three-course dinner. There’s free wi-fi. People bring you drinks. The furniture is cool kitsch-retro-chic. If only the…
Joseph Pearce’s
23 Elm Row,
Edinburgh,
EH7 4AA
Pearce's huge popularity is testament to the warm and genuine welcome it extends to a diverse clientele. During the day a raised area to the back is a family-friendly haven, stocked with all the toys, highchairs and feeding paraphernalia that junior…
Mother India's Café
3–5 Infirmary Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1LT
The Edinburgh outpost of this Glasgow favourite has gained and retained its popularity through its trademark style of eating Indian food in tapas-sized portions. This way, a wider range of dishes can be tried even if not with a large group, and the menu…
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…
La Garrigue
31 Jeffrey Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DH
There are no cheesy photos of the Place du Tertre here. Paris does not even get a look in as old assured hand Jean Michel Gauffre instead delves south to the sun drenched Languedoc for serious regional cooking with an intoxicating Mediterranean swagger.
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.
Kanpai
8–10 Grindlay Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9AS
Designed by Edinburgh based interior designers Four-by-Two, newcomer Kanpai is Sushiya’s elegant, clean lined, grey toned, fine dining, grown up sister. It’s all natural wood, shiny black pendant lights and soft music. Delicately presented dishes are…
19 Elm Row, Leith Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH7 4AA
No one who cares about good food in Edinburgh is unaware of the Contini family’s excellent Italy-inspired deli and café, the former being an Aladdin’s Cave of cured meats, fine cheeses and fresh-baked breads. The caffè bar itself is a deserving stop for…
David Bann
56–58 St Mary's Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1SX
David Bann has been at the forefront of Edinburgh’s vegetarian scene for over a decade, and his restaurant continues to combine modern decor with an innovative menu that eschews vegetarian clichés. Protein staples tofu and chickpeas may be on offer, but…
The Dining Room
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, 28 Queen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1JX
While a fantastic selection of spirits is the focus in the Scotch Malt Whisky Society Scotland’s famous members’ bar, the food is definitely the star in the Dining Room, its upscale restaurant. A handful of tables in a light Georgian drawing room with…
15 Salisbury Place,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1SL
Richard and Michelle Heller have moved on from the popular New Bell in Causewayside, and Hellers Kitchen (previously their second string) is now basking in the full focus of their attention. It’s your typical friendly wee neighbourhood bistro, but…
Ondine
2 George IV Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1AD
Ondine has quickly established itself as a respected fixture on the city-centre dining scene. Located next to the smart Missoni Hotel, the second-floor restaurant offers mesmerising views over George IV Bridge and Victoria Street, while diners can also…
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…
Café Marlayne
76 Thistle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1EN
Longevity is not something always associated with Edinburgh’s French restaurants. That Café Marlayne has stuck around for a decade is testament to its ability to consistently please an eclectic range of diners. Tucked just north of George Street the…
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…
The WestRoom
3 Melville Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 7PR
Whether it’s a Bellini or a Bramble, a Martini or a Margarita, the folks at the WestRoom know their mixology. And like any good cocktail, the success of this small, oddly shaped bar is due to getting the blend of ingredients just right. Low lighting…
70 Rose Street North Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3DX
Tucked away behind Rose Street, Calistoga’s insalubrious location belies a welcoming, chic bistro that aims to bring a little Californian sunshine to Edinburgh. Posters of vineyards on the cream-coloured walls declare the restaurant’s passion for wine…
Earthy Market Café
33–41 Ratcliffe Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1SX
With reclaimed wood panelling and rustic hues, this converted warehouse could easily be the set for a new Channel 4 cookery show (you half-expect to see Jamie or Hugh pottering about). Thankfully though, like the food market upstairs, the style doesn’t…
Miro's Cantina Mexicana
184 Rose Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4BA
The atmosphere at Miro’s is bright and cheery and the welcome from staff is warm. The decor reflects the colours of the Mexican flag and candles twinkle on brightly clad tables. Those looking for the usual suspects will find enchiladas, fajitas and…
Dusit
49a Thistle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DY
For the past ten years, Dusit has been a strong contender for the best Thai food in town due to the owners’ aesthetic vision of the appearance and flavour of their dishes. Takeaway, à la carte and the ‘floating market’ menus are available, the last…
Home Bistro
41 West Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DB
Quite why owners Richard Logan and Rowland Thomson chose to homage the seventies with their charming bistro isn’t clear, though the wallpaper, trio of flying ducks and elongated wooden antelopes are endearingly quirky. But the nostalgia ends right where…
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…
Teuchters Landing
1c Dock Place,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LU
The pub sister of the A Room In… chain of restaurants, both Teuchters are directly connected to the Leith and West End branches of the restaurant. As if offering a frankly stunning range of alcohol (over 90 single malts in Teuchters; a wealth of…
Castle Terrace
33/35 Castle Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2EL
It’s no mean feat to collect a Michelin star just over a year after opening. Nor is it Castle Terrace's only accolade. It’s hard to quibble with any of them. At every level, this relative newcomer excels. Chef Dominic Jack has a dexterity with flavours…
15 Blackfriars Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1NB
Tucked just off the Royal Mile, Eleanor Cunningham’s café features a menu that's a roll call of Scottish food heroes. From Creelers’ smoked salmon to Great Glen venison, Rannoch smoked chicken and Cunningham's mum’s jam and dad’s chutneys, everything…
14/14a Brougham Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9JH
It’s rare in Edinburgh to find Indian restaurants with regional specificity, so Mezbaan is welcome in introducing flavours from the country’s south, especially since it has one of Britain’s best South Asian chefs at the helm. Coconut is a prominent…
The Scottish Café
National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2EL
Run by the acclaimed team from Centotre – Victor and Carina Contini – the Scottish Café and Restaurant has been a stylish addition to arts venues in Edinburgh since 2009. There is a Garden Café within the gallery reception, but the main operation is a…
The Ship on the Shore
24–26 The Shore,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6QN
A popular fixture on the Leith scene for nearly a quarter of a century, the Ship on the Shore can genuinely be said to offer something for everyone – as long as you’re not averse to fresh, beautifully prepared fish and seafood. Opening its doors with…
The Fruitmarket Gallery Café
Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DF
The Fruitmarket Gallery is well respected for its cutting edge contemporary art exhibitions, its specialist bookshop crammed full of artist publications and a café that is well established on the Edinburgh food scene. Located at the back of Waverley…
The Shore Bar & Restaurant
3 The Shore,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6QW
Down by the water in Leith this dark wood-paneled bar is strong on seafood, served by attentive staff in a pub that has retained is character and friendly informal atmosphere. Loch Fyne oysters taste as fresh as the crest of a wave, sweet and plump and…
Underdogs
104 Hanover Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DR
This latest addition to the capital’s canine cohorts might have the slight air of an old folks’ home but, if you intend to see out your days on a battered sofa surrounded by animals, this would be the place to do so in style – with a head full of…
Café Fish
15 North West Circus Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6SX
Having moved premises from Leith in July 2011, Café Fish’s new home in the heart of Stockbridge is double the size of its predecessor at 76 covers, comfortably but sparely decked out with the original art deco features brought to the fore and a…
Café Milk
232 Morrison Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8EA
Sporting bright white tiles, pale pastel colours and reclaimed benches, Café Milk could easily have been plucked straight from the streets of trendy Shoreditch (although thankfully there's not a hipster in sight). But, while the interior decoration…
Falko (Konditormeister)
185 Bruntsfield Place,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4DG
A firm fixture on Edinburgh’s foodie scene Falko continues to deliver goods be it rye breads, pastries or some of the finest, traditional cakes outside of central Europe. Produced to strict standards, no raising agents are used in the cakes, only beaten…
The Manna House
22–24 Easter Road,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5RG
In its few short years on earth, the Manna House has become an institution beloved of ladies from Morningside, builders on their way to a job and all walks of life in between. A first-class bakery and patisserie, it’s also branched out of late into full…
The Spice Pavilion
3a1 Dundas Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6QG
What do you get if you cross Italian hospitality and Indian inventiveness in the kitchen? Husband and wife team, Parwaiz and Cristina Khan have done just that and come up with a superb neighbourhood restaurant. With the exception of tandoori dishes…
Wing Sing Inn
147–149 Dundee Street,
Edinburgh,
EH11 1BP
Wing Sing Inn is the kind of inconspicuous place you could pass a hundred times and never consider going into, which would be a real shame. Despite its plain décor, overly bright lights and lack of music, there’s an air of conviviality and adventure…
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…
Bia Bistrot
19 Colinton Road,
Edinburgh,
EH10 5DP
'I do the food and he does the booze and the money.' It obviously works, because Roisin and Matthias Llorente’s unassuming little eatery in a run of shops near Morningside’s Holy Corner has won a Michelin mention and a following of locals who, if they…
The Caley Sample Room
42–58 Angle Park Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2JR
Nowadays, with every establishment that serves more than crisps seeing fit to label themselves a ‘gastropub’, it’s refreshing to discover somewhere that’s actually deserving of the title. The Caley Sample Room’s commitment to using artisan suppliers and…
Locanda de Gusti
7–11 East London Street,
Edinburgh,
EH7 4BN
The restaurant formerly known as Bella Mbriana continues to choose the road less travelled by and offer what they describe as a genuine Italian experience as opposed to the more anglicised fare available elsewhere. Tucked around the corner from…
Museum Brasserie
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1JF
They invented a lot of stuff, did the Scots, and many of those inventions are on display at the all-new National Museum of Scotland. The equally all-new Museum Brasserie echoes this pioneering spirit by quietly reinventing the tourist attraction dining…
Port of Siam
3 Pier Place,
Edinburgh,
EH6 4LP
Given its position on Newhaven Waterfront and the proximity of Edinburgh fish market, it’s no surprise that Port of Siam’s menu has a distinct focus on fresh seafood. What does surprise however is the exciting fusion of Scottish and Thai ingredients. A…
Under the Stairs
3a Merchant Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QD
While many basement bars are decidedly gloomy, this bastion of Bohemia succeeds in making its underground nature a strength – this is the sort of subterranean den where you can imagine avant-garde theatre being scripted by the hipsters who grace its…
Broughton Delicatessen
7 Barony Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6PD
It’s rare for a café to try so hard to be all things to all people and not overstretch itself. Broughton Delicatessen doesn’t disappoint, though, with its front shop selling take-out snacks like baguettes, grilled sandwiches and crepes alongside cakes…
Italian Kitchen
18-24 Deanhaugh Street,
Edinburgh,
EH4 1LY
This small basement restaurant shows promising will to put the mediocre high-street Italian chains in their place by bringing original dishes and quality produce to Stockbridge village. A relationship with the community is evident with their sourcing of…
Itri
169–173 Gilmore Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9PW
Stylish, contemporary Itri is a great find for Edinburgh residents in the Polwarth area and if you're prepared to venture off the beaten track is not too far for those paying a visit to the Cameo cinema or King’s Theatre. Opened in 2008 by three friends…
Malvarosa
262 Portobello High Street,
Edinburgh,
EH15 2AT
Until recently, Portobello's links to Spain were pretty much limited to its name and a strip of sand. Madrid native Alvaro Bernabeu opened Malvarosa’s doors in 2011, and has gained an enthusiastic following since. Greeting guests with a wry smile and…
Turkish Kitchen
120-122 Rose Street South Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4BB
Located down an unassuming lane off Rose Street, Turkish Kitchen does a thriving takeaway trade but is well worth seeking out, not just for a post-pub kebab, but for a slap-up banquet of traditional Turkish cooking. Fret-cut sconces, decorative mirrors…
Voujon
107 Newington Road,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1QW
Despite sitting at the bottom of Newington Road, Voujon has always eschewed the traditional neighbourhood restaurant look and gone for a more polished, city centre feel. The primarily Bengali and North Indian menu has plenty of familiar names, but more…
First Coast
97–101 Dalry Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2AB
Anyone who believes great food can’t be found west of Haymarket is missing out. First Coast’s marine wainscoting, cream walls and natural wood create a serene blend of smart, bright and comforting. So it is with the food. A menu featuring grain salad…
Harvey Nichols, 30–34 St Andrew Square,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2AD
Following its recent makeover, the new softer shades of pinks, browns and muted reds of Harvey Nichols’ Forth Floor Restaurant create a warm glow that sets the scene for exceptionally stylish dining. Priding itself on high quality produce sourced…
Hadrian's Brasserie
The Balmoral, 1 Princes Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2EQ
Hadrians may be located within the iconic Balmoral Hotel, but it manages to avoid the usual hotel restaurant curse of deserted dining rooms and sub-par food by enticing in locals with tempting menus which change frequently. Service is faultless, with…
Porto & Fi
47 Newhaven Main Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 4NQ
Open views across the Firth of Forth make this bright, modern café-bistro the ideal place to admire Edinburgh’s stunning seascape. Indeed, a love of this setting is evident in everything from the artist paintings on display to the owners' sourcing of…
Café Portrait
Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1JD
When Edinburgh's Portrait Gallery opened with new-found swagger and style, at the end of 2011, art fans had plenty to get their teeth into: a stunning, multi-million pound facelift with glorious works by Scottish greats like Henry Raeburn and…
The Engine Shed
19 St Leonards Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9SD
Well off the beaten track in the Pleasance area of the Southside sits this quiet little gem of a café, run by the Garvald Community Enterprise, a charity which helps people with learning disabilities into the workplace. Despite its inconspicuous…




