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, Late dining and "Edinburgh"
- Mother India's Café
Our ‘twist on tapas’ has rapidly become a firm favourite with both locals and visitors to Scotland’s Capital - Petit Paris
Authentic French flavours and cheerful décor make this enjoyable place to eat! - China Town
Simply the best Chinese food in Edinburgh - our acclaimed menu is complimented by a diverse wine list - Ignite
Relax in a stylish and modern Indian restaurant while enjoying all the flavour and colour of Northern India
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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.
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…
B'est
16 Drummond Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9TX
The open, simple, spacious rooms at B’est are a fitting setting for this relaxed bistro that has become a favourite with students and summer festival goers. A cannily priced three course set menu for under £15 is a very welcome dinner option during…
The Clay Oven
86 Morningside Road,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4BY
A steady stream of business flocks to this neighbourhood restaurant, and passing trade is not the secret. Loyal Morningside residents provide the mainstay for success in an establishment where pristine white linen tablecloths and handsomely uniformed…
Guchhi Indian Seafood and Bar
9/10 Commercial Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6JA
Head chef and owner Vishant Das blends together his Indian influences and seafood restaurant experience in this restaurant-bar in the heart of Leith. Extensive à la carte and tapas offerings capture vegetarian specials, biryani, tandoori kebab and…
Mezbaan South Indian Restaurant
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…
Rick’s
55a Frederick Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1LH
A stalwart of Edinburgh’s style bar scene for over a decade, Rick’s is gently re-inventing itself with accessible, casual dining at its heart. The space works well, divided by banquettes and wood panels into lots of cosy nooks and crannies, all…
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…
Zest
15 North St Andrew Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1HJ
A sophisticated restaurant just off St Andrew Square, Zest has a short menu with a focus on North Indian cuisine and it's packed with dishes rarely, if ever, seen elsewhere in the city. Salmon 65, a dish pioneered in the high-end hotels of Goa, is a…
Al Fresco
22 Union Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3NQ
There’s something of a Giuliano’s theme to this stretch of Union Street, with the original restaurant, the takeaway next door and this incarnation, Al Fresco, just a few doors down. Try and get a table before a show at the Playhouse opposite, however…
China Town
3 Atholl Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8HP
Don’t be fooled by China Town’s modest whitewashed frontage at the end of Shandwick Place. Step inside and you’ll find a stylish dining room that’s all muted colours, luxe upholstery and statement lighting. The Chinese influence shows in the old musical…
Dragon Way
74–78 South Clerk Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9PT
Dragon Way is certainly not your run-of-the-mill Chinese restaurant. Yes, the friendly staff serve up generous portions of shredded duck rolls and sesame prawn toast, spicy Lar Chee beef and slightly-less-spicy Cheung Bau chicken. And yes, you can get a…
Gusto
135 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4JH
The bars and restaurant’s of Edinburgh’s George Street are a magnet for youthful business people, footballers (and their wives), and the wealthier section of the city’s student population. A pretty girl in a mini skirt meets diners at Gusto’s door and…
Hong Fu Noodle
3–7 Waterloo Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3BG
Owner Jing Si promises real Chinese cooking at Hong Fu Noodle Bar. The recently revamped menu has some genuinely unusual dishes, with Szechuan and Northern Chinese influences predominating. Gone are the ubiquitous prawn toast and chow mein, to be…
Ignite
272–274 Morrison Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8DT
The name of this Haymarket restaurant implies something different than its simple, smartly decorated interior. Perhaps it refers to the food from a menu offering the north Indian and Bengali dishes now so familiar to us in the UK. Here they're certainly…
Karen Wong's Chinese Restaurant
107–109 St Leonard's Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9QY
Karen Wong will tell you that she likes to keep her customers happy and her family-run restaurant certainly tries hard to cater for all comers. There are set menus galore – including both the traditional pre-theatre and a bargain mini-banquet which…
Karen's Unicorn
8b Abercromby Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6LB
Karen’s Unicorn sets out to subvert your preconceptions of a typical Chinese restaurant. Whether you choose the original, cosy Stockbridge branch or its newer and more glamorous sister in the New Town’s Abercromby Place, any Chinatown clichés are firmly…
Karen's Unicorn
112 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AD
Karen’s Unicorn sets out to subvert your preconceptions of a typical Chinese restaurant. Whether you choose the original, cosy Stockbridge branch or its newer and more glamorous sister in the New Town’s Abercromby Place, any Chinatown clichés are firmly…
Kebab Mahal
7 Nicolson Square,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9BH
Situated in Nicolson Square since the late 1970s, Kebab Mahal is a no-frills Indian café and takeaway offering hearty fare at affordable prices. The menu favours the hungry meat-eater, with chicken and lamb classics, kebabs and tandoori dishes well…
Mariachi
7 Victoria Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2HE
With room for 120 diners this father-and-son-run operation can pack in the punters. The dining space divides into several areas and staff work the floor efficiently. Walls are painted terracotta, sombreros hang above the bar and there is Mariachi music…
Maxies Bistro and Wine Bar
5b Johnston Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2PW
An up-to-date review of Maxies will appear here shortly …
Wok and Wine
57a Frederick Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1LH
Tucked among the stylish venues of the New Town, Wok and Wine is one of Edinburgh’s most forward-thinking Chinese restaurants. Instead of employing tired clichés, its enthusiastic proprietor Stephanie Lo has taken a potentially awkward basement space…
BrewDog Edinburgh
143–145 Cowgate,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1JS
Considering you are essentially entering a life-size advert when you step through the door of a Brewdog bar, the experience is surprisingly enjoyable. The carefully styled surroundings are rough-hewn concrete cool, with ‘bar rules’ graffiti (‘No…
Hay Sushi
15 Dalry Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2BQ
Conveniently located close to Haymarket Station, Hay Sushi is spacious and boldly designed in red, black and white, with blue twinkly lights thrown in for good measure. The menu is huge, with glossy photographs of many dishes to make choosing easier. As…
Iman's
4–6 Lochrin Buildings, Gilmore Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9NB
Sitting across from the King's Theatre, Iman’s delivers hearty Punjabi fare with a sociable BYOB vibe. The restaurant splits into two rooms of randomly pebble-dashed sandy walls, driftwood ceilings and agreeable lighting set against the background hum…
Kwok Brasserie
44 Ratcliffe Terrace, Causewayside,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1ST
Kwok Brasserie is a well-established family business with a loyal clientele. So new manager Stephen Lin (a cousin of the Kwok family) faces a dilemma: how to attract new customers to his Southside eatery without losing the essence of what his regulars…
Phuket Pavilion
8 Union Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3LU
Veteran restaurateur Bill Parkinson has been in the business for 46 years and it shows. Service is a speciality: he wants people to relax while they eat. If you’re enjoying his pre-theatre menu before heading across the road to the Playhouse you might…
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…
Spoilt for Choice
19 Marionville Road,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5TY
Billing itself as Edinburgh's new home of 'soul food' this Afro-Caribbean take away in Meadowbank has big plans: lunchtime opening starts in May 2012 and they are scouting sites for a dedicated restaurant. These are bold moves for a tiny site with just…
Thai Orchid
5A Johnston Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2PW
Sitting in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle and bang on the tourist trail, this busy Thai eatery is lined with dark wooden walls and muted colours yet feels open and light thanks to large and strategically placed mirrors. A giant painting of a smiling…
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…
The Witchery by the Castle
Castlehill, Royal Mile,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2NF
From its grand seat atop the Royal Mile, The Witchery’s lavishly designed suites and busy restaurant have been drawing a mix of locals and visitors for over 30 years. This medieval merchant’s house is graced with bespoke panelled ceiling, sumptuous…
Ghillie Dhu
2 Rutland Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2AD
You might have misgivings about visiting a Scottish theme pub, but Ghillie Dhu manages to pull off the shtick without resorting to the expected tartan twee. Instead, the interior is reminiscent of a simple Highland shooting lodge, with exposed…
Kama Sutra
105-109 Lothian Road,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9AN
Following in the footsteps of Glasgow and Stirling, November 2011 saw the appearance of Kama Sutra on Lothian Road. With menu and décor consistency across all venues, exposed brickwork, dark wood furniture and imported carved artwork lend warmth to the…
Namaste Kathmandu
17–19 Forrest Road,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QH
Nepalese and Indian crossover Namaste Kathmandu brings a splash of Himalayan colour and cuisine to its busy Forrest Road location. Influences from neighbouring Tibet and beyond deliver Szechuan spicing and the satisfying minced chicken or vegetable…
Negociants
45–47 Lothian Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1HB
Negociants celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year as one of the most popular bars among Edinburgh’s student population. Year-round the place bustles, particularly at weekends, while the Edinburgh Festival brings a tourist clientele attracted by…
9 Cellars Thali
1–3 York Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3EB
Don’t judge this restaurant by the glowing photographs of food in the window display. To get an idea, just speak to chef and owner Phool Thakur, who’ll tell you of his history cooking in some fine establishments in India, and now serves much more than…
Purslane
33a St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AH
Purslane might well have a claim to be Edinburgh’s smallest restaurant, but that’s hardly cramping this newcomer’s style. Into a very cosy basement in Stockbridge – formerly Redwood – chef Paul Gunning is bringing the influences gathered from cooking as…
Sing Thai
42 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AL
Sporting a fresh lick of paint and a new menu, Sing Thai sits at the top of a small flight of steps in Stockbridge’s cosmopolitan St. Stephen’s Street. Run by a husband and wife team, this cosy restaurant has built up a strong reputation with locals for…
Sygn
15 Charlotte Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4QZ
Sygn’s geometric print wallpaper, grey fabrics and beech tables create a retro-chic vibe that’s simple yet elegant, proving to George Street’s style bars that you don’t need to be ostentatious to be cool. And if you can resist the temptation to go home…
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…
The Verandah Tandoori
17 Dalry Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2BQ
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…
Xanadu Chinese Restaurant
13–14 Dalziel Place, Meadowbank,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5TP
Husband and wife team Colin and Irene Chiu run this friendly neighbourhood restaurant perched just off the main road through Meadowbank. Named after an emperor’s summer palace, Xanadu’s own decor is simple and functional with Chinese scenes on the pale…
Yes Sushi
89 Hanover Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1EE
Centrally located Yes Sushi attracts a mix of city folk and visitors. The pleasant red and black interior is generic Japanese (paper lanterns, drawings of geishas etc.) and yet the place has a decidedly Chinese undertone. The hotpot and sushi…
The Blue Blazer
2 Spittal Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9DX
Apparently Rod Stewart frequented this establishment in his younger days, and in many ways, the Blue Blazer is just like an ageing rock star, with its whiff of nostalgia and an unmistakeable smell of stale booze. And despite the fact that is has seen…
Celadon
49–51 Causewayside,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1QF
A stone’s throw from the Meadows, Celadon boasts a calming atmosphere and delightful dishes. Apple-green walls, ribbon-bound napkins and stout wooden tables fill up the two dining sections. Pre-theatre and banquet menus are priced reasonably at £12.99…
Charleston Restaurant
Gala Maybury Casino, 5 South Maybury Road,
Edinburgh,
EH12 8NE
To travel beyond the front desk of this neon-lit 1920s landmark you must first join Gala Casinos, surrender an ID, register your name and address and look into one of the many wall cameras for a photograph. Now free to roam, diners walk up the art deco…
Greenmantle
133 Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9JP
With a scoreboard of their top beers on the wall and poker nights on Sundays, this old-fashioned corner bar’s relatively recent update appears to have taken place with the local student population in mind. The atmosphere is somewhere between shabby-chic…
The Indian Cavalry Club
22 Coates Crescent,
Edinburgh,
EH3 7AF
This West End institution, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2012, is where the old Raj meets modern day Edinburgh. Funky screen prints on the wall look down on crisp linen tablecloths and waiters in military-style uniforms serve classic Indian…
Itchycoo Bar & Kitchen
80 High Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1TH
Sleek and glossy, the tables in the Radisson Blu’s Itchycoo are wisely clustered round a small central bar area, helping a buzzy atmosphere to form even with relatively few diners. The lounge menu is available all day, and is exactly what you’d expect…
Montpeliers Bar and Brasserie
159–161 Bruntsfield Place,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4DG
A favourite of Bruntsfield’s young professional set for two decades, the apparently recession-proof Montpeliers sowed the seed for a successful and diverse group of bars and restaurants including George Street glam joints Tigerlily and Rick’s. Here…
No 1 Sushi Bar
37 Home Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9JP
In a handy spot for some pre or post cinema sushi munching, No 1 Sushi’s glowing red lamps draw you in from the cold. Inside, you’re surrounded by a crazy clash of black patterned wallpapers as you peruse the classic-filled menu. A sashimi salad – a…
Ocean Kitchen Bar & Grill
Ocean Terminal, Ocean Drive,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6JJ
A shopping mall wouldn’t be everyone’s choice of an ideal dining experience, and slap bang in the middle of the main food court, Ocean Kitchen Bar & Grill isn’t the most atmospheric dining experience. However, if you’re lucky enough to get a seat by…
Silver Bowl
311 Leith Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH6 8SA
With three branches in the area, Silver Bowl has something of a monopoly in Leith when it comes to Chinese and Thai take-away. Thai is available from the Albert Place branch, while Chinese can be picked up or delivered from the other two. Booking can be…
Suruchi
14a Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DH
Sitting directly opposite the Festival Theatre, Suruchi will always attract late-night diners and pre-theatre bargain hunters. The real challenge is to inspire regulars in this highly competitive neck of the woods. The owners seem alive to criticism of…
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…
Yocoko
45 South Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1LL
Open ‘til 11.30pm every night of the week, Yocoko is the kind of place you find yourself in when everywhere else is closed and you really need some salty snacks to soak up that last pint. It’ll satisfy that craving, but it probably won’t do a huge…
L'Alba D'Oro/Anima
5–11 Henderson Row,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5DH
Opened in 1975 by Filippo and Maria-Celeste Crolla, L’Alba d’Oro is a proper old fashioned local chippy, supplying New Town residents with a stream of fish suppers, pies and puddings, chip butties and other deep fried delights. With plenty of vegetable…
Bonoful
13–17 Brighton Place,
Edinburgh,
EH15 1LH
Situated in Portobello, Bonoful has successfully built a reputation among regulars, and as word spreads is attracting custom from further afield. With a pristine modern minimalist interior, the menu specialises in Bangladeshi food but also includes…
Hard Rock Café
20 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2PF
Some restaurants are all about the expectation game. Launched in London over 40 years ago, the Hard Rock has since exported its rather cookie cutter approach all over the world, but should you go in expecting generous portions of decent, if rather…
Lancers Brasserie
5 Hamilton Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5BA
Lancers Brasserie continues to bring Bengali-inspired North Indian cuisine to its long-established Stockbridge setting. Split across two ground floor rooms and a separate basement area for private dining, the décor is crisp and contemporary with…
The Living Room
113–115 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4JN
The large dining room, filled with business people and tourists easing into the cream leather booths, oozes laid-back sophistication. It is all surface shine, with smart, attentive staff and vases of orchids, but the substance, the food, doesn’t quite…
Saffrani
11 South College Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9AA
This small restaurant tucked away off Nicolson Street has retained its all-round quality through a recent change in ownership, with an extensive list of curries from a variety of Indian regions. To start, chicken chat is a substantial dish of spicy…
Samphire Seafood Bar and Grill at Orocco Pier
17 High Street,
South Queensferry,
City of Edinburgh,
EH30 9PP
As the go-to destination for a drink in South Queensferry, Orocco Pier’s stunning views of the Forth Rail and Road Bridge ensure it’s a popular haunt with the many locals and visitors seeking a stylish place to hang out. While the Antico bar at Orocco…
Sonar Gao
191 Great Junction Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 5LQ
Since opening its doors in 2004, this family-run Bangladeshi restaurant’s fame has slowly spread from its Leith base to the further reaches of the city, and it is now consistently touted among the capital’s top takeaways. Offering an eye-watering…
Kasturi
35–37 Shandwick Place,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4RG
When Kasturi opened its doors in 2010, the owners talked of their delight at securing a site that they had wanted for years – you wonder if they feel the same today. The closure of Shandwick Place for over a year due to tramworks will undoubtedly hurt…
Nagoya Original Sushi Restaurant
21 Dalziel Place,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5TP
New to Meadowbank, Japanese restaurant Nagoya feels like it needs a little time to grow into itself. Let’s hope that it does, because this is an area that sorely needs a cosy neighbourhood restaurant or two. It’s a promising beginning – a neat-as-a-pin…
