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 and Late dining
- Athena Greek Taverna
The simple Greek recipe for a great night out - Stereo
A great vegan themed bar in a Mackintosh-designed building - Jasmine Chinese Restaurant
Jasmine offers fantastic Cantonese dishes- open late all week - Ubiquitous Chip
Traditional Scottish food complemented by a good wine list
The Outsider
15/16 George IV Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1EE
‘Pink fur potatoes’ is probably a typo, but with a wine list that describes a South African chenin as ‘like falling from a white-water raft whilst passing through a peach grove’, all bets are off. The Outsider buzzes. A suspended mezzanine hovers over a…
Asia Style
185–189 St George's Road,
Glasgow,
G3 6JD
There is something refreshing and apt in the fact Asia Style doesn’t have its own website. Since its inception in 2004, the canteen-style eatery has transcended its hidden gem status and established itself as somewhat of an institution without the need…
The Grill on the Corner
21–25 Bothwell Street,
Glasgow,
G2 6NL
This busy central restaurant is quite imposing from the outside, looking in through the fairy light-covered windows to the arguably cold minimalist chrome and black leather interor. But the warmth of the welcome, the friendly vibe (especially in the…
Monteiths
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.
The Apartment Bistro
7–13 Barclay Place,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4HW
The Apartment has been going strong since 1999, and its 2010 refurb seems to have rebooted things nicely. Here, ‘modern bistro’ means seasonality and an evolving menu, as evidenced by a neat little daily set menu, plus specials. A starter of pork…
Kampong Ah Lee Malaysian Delight
28 Clerk Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9HX
The feverish popularity of this canteen style Malaysian eatery with Edinburgh’s Asian student population is testament to its affordability and authenticity. The compact interior is an entirely unpretentious mix of basic seating, odd-coloured walls…
Loon Fung
2 Warriston Place, Canonmills,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5LE
No restaurant stays in business for almost 40 years without doing something right and Loon Fung evidently has a tried-and-tested recipe for success in its little corner of Canonmills. Although some of the ingredients feel a bit dated (staid decor…
Khushi's
10 Antigua Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3NH
Sixty-five years since its first appearance and half a dozen venues later, Indian stalwart Khushi’s has popped up on Antigua Street near the top of Leith Walk. Behind its extensive glazed frontage waiters bustle between a separate raised area reserved…
La Favorita
325–331 Leith Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH6 8SA
The hectic craft of kneading and folding pizza dough is the first thing you see on entering this busy Leith Walk eatery. Walk past the front counter, through the lively, three-pronged dining area, and you'll notice most diners are working their way…
Thai Lemongrass
24 Renfrew Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3BW
To enter Thai Lemongrass is to step off a grubby street of buses and building work and into a little bit of zen, where ceiling fans slowly whirl and muzak never sounded so good. Exquisitely uniformed staff swiftly present Thai prawn crackers (infinitely…
Zen Kitchen
138 Dundas Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5DQ
Zen kitchen serves up unique pan-Asian cuisine. The premises are bright and sleekly designed and the well-laid out menu outlines cooking times, spice levels and potential allergies as well as identifying the origin of each dish. The menu includes small…
Divino Enoteca
5 Merchant Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QD
Divino is the charming, seductive brother to fun-loving sister restaurant Vittoria upstairs. Pretty well hidden under George IV Bridge, this wine bar and restaurant combines candle-lit romance with cutting-edge wine gadgetry. In its strictest sense, an…
Ketchup
44 Ashton Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 8SJ
Cynics may muse that Ketchup is Stefan King’s attempt to ‘start them early’ into the G1 mind-set, as the burgers and milkshakes ethos is clearly aimed at both students and children alike. Whatever ethos lies behind it, it is clearly working, as the…
Tinto Tapas Bar
138 Battlefield Road,
Glasgow,
G42 9JT
This Southside neighbourhood treasure feels exactly like a rustic and cosy local tapas bar should. Dark wooden tables sit against a backdrop of regional Spanish wines, beers, liqueurs and knick-knacks, while a leg of Iberico ham lies ready to be carved.
Mamma's American Pizza Company
30 Grassmarket,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2JU
This Grassmarket stalwart seems to exert a gravitational pull on small to medium sized groups of both locals and tourists looking for an impromptu food stop. Starters like sweet potato fries and macho nachos are decent enough, but their function is to…
Steak
12 Picardy Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3JT
Steak is one of a new wave of Edinburgh steakhouses influenced by the likes of London’s much-lauded Hawksmoor. It’s aiming for hi-octane glamour that would be more at home in the Meatpacking district in New York City, but Edinburgh could do with a dose…
The Street
2 Picardy Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3JT
With its Coronation Street-aping sign, its dual-aspect floor to ceiling windows and the big iron ramp which stretches almost the length of the bar and back, the Street is a landmark pub in the Broughton/Picardy Place area. Its main business is a more…
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…
OKO Express
78 Queen Street,
Glasgow,
G1 3DN
Now under new ownership OKO has raised its game, with all dishes being fresher and better presented than ever, and when it comes to Japanese food that is imperative. The setting is typical for a sushi bar with cafeteria style bench seating that is good…
Kweilin
19–21 Dundas Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6QG
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…
Barioja
15-19 Jeffrey Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DR
Barioja has been dishing out its albondigas for over a decade, so could be considered a pioneer of the still relatively youthful Edinburgh tapas scene. Sitting alongside its big sister restaurant, Iggs, it’s seen competition come and go over the years…
Chang Thai Restaurant
29 Cockburn Street, 1 Craig's Close,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1BN
Down the wynd of stairs between Cockburn and Market streets is Chang Thai, a vibrant establishment serving delectable dishes. The subterranean setting is enlivened by a canopy of fake ivy on the ceiling, copper-coloured walls and smiling golden buddhas.
The Grill Room at the Square
29 Royal Exchange Square,
Glasgow,
G1 3AJ
Part of private members club ‘29’ this restaurant thinks of itself as a place to see and be seen. Slick black interior dotted with white linen table cloths, chandeliers and sparkling glassware give a city chic look to the long rectangular space. If you…
The Kilderkin
67 Canongate,
Edinburgh,
EH8 8BT
With a name like this (it’s a unit of measuring ale equivalent to two firkins or half a barrel) it’s no surprise to find that Kilderkin is serious about its alcohol. Under the co-ownership of James Nisbet, also of Leith Walk’s Windsor Buffet and…
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…
Indian Lounge
129a Rose Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3DT
The family-run Indian Lounge is central enough for most of the city to grab a curry on their way home, and there’s a lot to recommend that you do. Prices are considerably more reasonable than you might expect from the central – or any – location, staff…
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.
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…
Amarone
13 St Andrew Square,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2BH
This vast contemporary Italian themed restaurant complete with pastoral photographs, high domed roof and colourfully lit ceiling art opened in the summer of 2011 and is already bustling. From the restaurant family that includes DiMaggio’s and Café…
Gandhi's
50 East Fountainbridge,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9BH
Gandhi's narrow frontage just off Lothian Road frames a compact restaurant of muted tones offering distinctively flavoured and well balanced Indian and Bangladeshi fare. There’s no alcohol licensing so sparkling mango juice and creamy thick sweet or…
Miso & Sushi
46a Haymarket Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH12 5LA
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…
Vittoria
113 Brunswick Street, Leith Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5HR
The latest addition to the Vittoria family comes in the shape of a stylish and atmospheric basement wine bar, Divino Enoteca, in the belly of their George IV bridge outlet. Divino is proof positive that the Vittoria formula is a winning one, and the…
Giuliano's
18–19 Union Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3NQ
Situated directly across the road from the Playhouse Theatre, Giuliano’s has achieved Edinburgh institution status due to its popularity with theatre-goers, tourists and large parties – including hen and stag dos. Its cavernous interior is resplendent…
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…
Stravaigin
28–30 Gibson Street,
Glasgow,
G12 8NX
As this place pops up in most Glasgow guides, many a nationality can be found rubbing shoulders with die-hard regulars enjoying interesting Scottish produce given an international twist. Stravaigin’s well-known branding is ‘think local, eat global’. The…
Akbar's
573–581 Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7PQ
A bold new arrival on the Glasgow curry scene, Akbar's 11th UK restaurant is its first in Scotland. This is a large venue (formerly the Tiffin Rooms) where you're never more than a few feet from an enthusiastic member of staff. Hundreds of tangerine…
Ann Purna
45 St Patrick's Square,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9ET
Tucked away in the corner of St. Patrick’s Square, Ann Purna offers a wide range of vegetarian cuisine inspired by the state of Gujarat on India's west coast. Popular mixed veg bhajias and pakora starters mix with Indian street snacks such as kachori…
Dragon-i
311–313 Hope Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3PT
Both the sharp, minimalist surroundings and quasi-Asian menu serve to underline Dragon-i is anything but a traditional Chinese restaurant. There is an undoubted Scottish element running through the menu, with Stornoway black pudding accompanying crispy…
Hotel du Vin
11 Bristo Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1EZ
Fact: eating out is way nicer than eating in. Or at least it is when the people who bring your food and pour your drinks are really, really lovely. This is well understood in Hotel du Vin, where the service is full of personality and pretty much…
Petit Paris
38–40 Grassmarket,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2JU
Cheek by jowl in the middle of the traffic-eased Grassmarket, Petit Paris uses all available spaces to fit check-clothed tables into its lively, friendly venue. More enthusiastically French than many of its competitors, a genuine welcome greets each…
La P'tite Folie
Tudor House, 9 Randolph Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 7TE
For 15 years La P'tite Folie has been part of Edinburgh's dining scene, initially in the bustle of Frederick Street and joined, six years later, by the venue that has come to overshadow the original, set behind a quirky Tutor façade looking out on the…
Pinto Mexican Kitchen
138 Queen Street,
Glasgow,
G1 3BX
Off George Square, this fast-food bar kitchen serves Tex-Mex-style food in a clean, bright and lively space. From the bright lights, stools and tables to the Mexican print feature wall, colours are eye-catching chilli red, sunshine yellow and lime.
Stereo
20-28 Renfield Lane,
Glasgow,
G2 5AR
Although it’s hard to catch the full vista from the narrow lane, Stereo is housed in a superb Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed building, all exterior white tiles and square windows with double doors opening into a leisurely eating and drinking space…
La Vita Spuntini
199–201 Byres Road,
Glasgow,
G12 8TN
Italian tapas is an intriguing concept, with the menu at La Vita Spuntini offering a host of small mix-and-match meat, fish and vegetable dishes, larger bowls of pasta for sharing, and dinky ‘pizzettes’. Duck and black pudding in red currant jus is…
Assam’s
57 West Regent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 2AE
Assam’s has quickly affirmed itself as a City Centre mainstay, having only been in its current premises two years. The restaurant is grand and elegant, with split level dining and huge luxurious circular booths – it certainly has the air of fine dining…
Tower Restaurant
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1JF
For the best view in the Southside, try the roof terrace of the Tower, looking over to the Castle. Inside, the National Museum’s restaurant has dark, glossy tables and a modern take on food. Like the crisp fish finger which really tastes of crab.
Ashoka Ashton Lane
19 Ashton Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 8SJ
You’d be forgiven for thinking you had stepped back in time upon entering the charming Ashton Lane branch of the popular Ashoka chain. Things haven’t changed much since they first opened their doors 20 years ago – but that’s exactly the point, they…
Assam's Café
1 Albert Street,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5HN
Opened in March 2012, Assam’s brings to Edinburgh a combination of Indian café and deli that has become a feature in Glasgow. On street level, under a glittering chandelier and surrounded by gold-flecked tiles, a smattering of informal tables sit…
