Restaurants, Late dining within 5 miles of Edinburgh

Proud to call itself Edinburgh’s first Lebanese restaurant, Beirut offers some of the best-value lunch deals in town. Its keen pricing and reasonable BYOB charges make it an attractive option for anyone looking for interesting food without breaking open…

Something of a Glasgow stalwart, the Edinburgh branch of Mother India’s Cafe opened in 2008 and has replicated the popularity of its western sibling. Serving up Indian food in tapas-sized portions ensures the restaurant maintains a buzzing social feel…

With the Traverse and Royal Lyceum theatres and the Usher Hall on its doorstep, you would think this Chinese restaurant with its distinctive, red-painted façade would be ideal for a quick pre-theatre fuel stop. Yet Jasmine's varied menu and focus on…

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…

From its location to its choice of pizza toppings, Kilderkin is slightly odd but pretty great. Initial impressions are of a slightly dodgy boozer, with its dim lighting, basic decor and unprepossessing exterior. Inside, however, you’ll find one of…

Bonsai Bar Bistro provides a clear rebuttal to the notion that Japanese cuisine in the UK is expensive and exclusive. The small but perfectly formed restaurant is known for its welcoming atmosphere and has a wide-ranging menu that offers something for…

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…

Beer and burgers are the main draw at Holyood 9a, and both are worth a trip to this corner of the Old Town. A selection of 11 beers is permanently on draught and, combined with another 10 rotational pumps, constitutes one of Edinburgh’s best selections…

Kampong Ah Lee Malaysian Delight is a compact, canteen-style restaurant serving authentic Malaysian food in basic but comfortable surroundings. Its small shop front may be easy to miss, but it remains well known and popular with students seeking an…

Kampung Ali is the younger, more westernised sister of the original Kampong Ah Lee in Clerk Street. Larger in size and presented a little more for western tastes, she appears that bit more sophisticated than her smaller, plainer sibling. Both excel in…

Friendly and speedy service, and a lunch menu deal of two courses for £7 (three for £10) make Kurdish and Middle Eastern Nawroz a popular choice among the student population, who pop in for a hearty kebab or shawarma after lectures. It’s spacious and…

After launching in 2012, Steak has settled into its stride, delivering its red meat extravaganza to an enthusiastic audience. It’s all here: a trio of breeds, all Scottish, served on or off the bone, in (standard) 200g all the way up to (Man vs Food…

Since opening in late 2012, Bees has garnered its own budding community, from small clubs using it as a base, to fellow hospitality professionals who congregate in the early hours when it transforms from daytime café to late-night hangout. Inside, it’s…

At first glance, the inexplicably named Saigon Saigon looks like another all-you-can-endure buffet, perfectly located for Topshop customers requiring an MSG rush of a Saturday afternoon. Peer a bit further, however, and this bustling two-floor…

Having navigated the vertiginous steps, the rich red walls, exposed brickwork, warm wooden floors and even warmer greeting of the Spice Pavilion await. Cristina Khan greets each guest by name, and does everything in her power to ensure that you will…

A traditional pub that is as comfortable as an old pair of jeans and also as frayed around the edges. The tables might be scratched, the walls worn and food limited to toasties, but this is all part of the charm and it is to be hoped that nobody tries…

Hotel du Vin has always sought to rise above its peers in the often-dubious chain-hotel restaurant business. Here, snuggled between the National Museum of Scotland and Edinburgh University’s central campus, it succeeds. Upon leaving the hectic churn of…

Variously known as The Indian Lounge, Tipu's Indian Lounge, or Tippoo Sahib (its previous moniker that lingers on menus and framed certificates on the walls), this stalwart of Rose Street has been serving up traditional curries and Punjabi specialities…

Kweilin has something of a split personality. On the face of it, it’s a traditional Cantonese restaurant complete with red carpets, red-covered chairs and red-jacketed waiters, and all the expected dishes present and correct. But peeking out from time…

An up-to-date review of Maxies will appear here shortly …

Red Squirrel follows a recipe of premium burgers and beer similar to its older sibling Holyrood 9a – indeed the menus at both bars are practically identical. Substantial burgers, including three vegetarian versions, dominate the menu and provide a…