Restaurants, Online Booking
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- Vittoria ‘On the Walk’
One of Edinburgh’s best known Italian Restaurants. - Vittoria ‘On the Bridge’
The perfect restaurant to experience a real taste of Italy.
The Grill on the Corner
21–25 Bothwell Street,
Glasgow,
G2 6NL
With its shiny black wooden furniture, mirrored surfaces and private booths, each with their own rather decadent crystal chandelier, this luxurious restaurant has a distinct air of the moneyed 1980s. The time travel effect is further enhanced by the…
Arta
The Old Cheesemarket, 62 Albion Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1PA
When the smart restaurant within the G1 Group's Arta complex of bars and opened its doors in 2000, the menu was largely Spanish and in keeping with the design of the building (although it's a former cheese market, the interior has been modelled on a…
Two Fat Ladies
118a Blythswood Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4EG
An average two-course dinner at Two Fat Ladies costs what top-end restaurants charge for a single main course these days. Such economies have an obvious appeal and this restaurant helps its cause by putting generally excellent food on the table, to…
Roastit Bubbly Jocks
450 Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow,
G11 6SE
Amidst the charity shops at the long end of Dumbarton Road, Roastit Bubbly Jocks might seem out of the way. For many, however, it's a well-loved dining institution. The emphasis is on the food and atmosphere: it's bustling, loud and warm – the way any…
The Grill Room at the Square
29 Royal Exchange Square,
Glasgow,
G1 3AJ
With stylish private bars and a swanky spa on the same level as the restaurant, this members-only club has thankfully kept its dining room doors open to mere mortals – apart from Saturdays after 7pm. Mirrors, polished surfaces and full-length windows…
The Stockbridge Restaurant
54 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AL
Following the twinkling fairy lights down the old stone steps, it's difficult not to be charmed by this charismatic St Stephen Street retreat. It's laden with bold Scottish Colourist prints, near-black walls are offset by crisp white linen and golden…
Abstract
33/35 Castle Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2EL
It's important to set aside an entire evening for a visit to Abstract: a quick bite before curtain up at one of the nearby theatres would be doing it a great injustice. There's just so much vying for your attention here, from the mirrored pillars and…
The Jam House
5 Queen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1JE
Dusky purple lights cast romantic shadows on the walls of this funky, jazz-centric venue once occupied by BBC Scotland. Guests dine on the balcony above the main stage where soulful musicians entertain throughout the evening. A fixed-price set menu with…
blue
10 Cambridge Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2ED
In applying Slow Food philosophies, properly educating its staff and delivering superbly designed dishes, blue is doing a lot of things right. A fastidious sourcing policy forms the restaurant's backbone, the name of the game being those elusive goals…
Olive Branch Bistro
91 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RX
Broughton Street is not lacking in places to eat, so any restaurant looking to make its mark has to offer great food with an atmosphere to match. The Olive Branch has both in spades. In a compact, almost post-industrial-style setting, candle-lit tables…
Monteiths
57–61 High Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1SR
Spanking new Monteiths brings a touch of glitz and glamour to this section of the Royal Mile, more commonly associated with pubs and tourist attractions. The entrance is down a vine-arched and lit alleyway next to Moubray House, at the bottom of which…
Urban Bar & Brasserie
23–25 St Vincent Place,
Glasgow,
G1 2DT
Elegance and glamour are evident when you enter this venture owned by the team behind the successful Gamba restaurant. Dark wood flooring, black leather banquettes and white linen table clothes give a classic feel to the dining room, while a centrepiece…
Amarone
2 Nelson Mandela Place,
Glasgow,
G2 1BT
Conceived as a more upmarket venture by the owners of the popular Italian restaurant chain DiMaggio's, Amarone immediately impresses with an elegant entrance and staircase leading to a stylish, modern basement dining room. High stained glass windows…
The Living Room
113–115 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4JN
As the Edinburgh representative of a 13-branch national chain, the Living Room fits snugly into George Street's plush aesthetic. A busy bar leads into a vast dining area, hemmed in by brown leather booths and backlit drapes. Soft browns and beiges run…
An Lochan
340 Crow Road,
Glasgow,
G11 7HT
To wander through Broomhill, at least up the Crow Road from Partick towards Anniesland, is to witness a dearth of dining out options. But amid the virtual desert this oasis emerges modestly amid of a row of shops. The former Café Royale, An Lochan is…
Chop Chop
248 Morrison Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8DT
'Authentic' may be an over-used claim on many menus, but at Chop Chop it's entirely appropriate. Don't be fooled by the garish red and yellow façade: it might look like any other takeaway, but Chop Chop is the real deal. Genuinely charming and…
Strata
45 Queen Street,
Glasgow,
G1 3EH
Strata offers two different experiences. An intimate cocktail bar occupies the ground floor, while the mezzanine space serves as an informal dining room with a handful of tables and plenty of twinkling candles. A relatively small but still ambitious…
Café Andaluz
St Vincent Place,
Glasgow,
G1 2DW
There are two Café Andaluz restaurants in Glasgow – at St Vincent Place in the city centre and Cresswell Lane in the West End – and there are plans to open another in Edinburgh's George Street in 2008. The tapas format fits well into each location, with…
Catch 22 Restaurant & Bar
158–166 Bath Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4TB
Stefan King's various holdings are not best known for their cuisine, but from its launch in 2006 the G1 Group's Catch 22 Restaurant & Bar has put food to the fore. Chef David Thompson's predominantly but not exclusively fish and seafood oriented menu…
La P'tite Folie
61 Frederick Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1LH
Like the best local chains, the two branches of La P'tite Folie seek out and serve quite distinctively different customer bases in their different locations. The West End branch in Randolph Place buzzes with business talk at lunchtime. Its popularity is…
Wedgwood the Restaurant
267 Canongate,
Edinburgh,
EH8 8BQ
Behind a modest cream and brown exterior lies an elegant dining room producing imaginative Scottish dishes of the highest quality. The menu changes with the seasons and subtly combines elements of Asian cuisine with more traditional takes on carefully…
Amber
The Scotch Whisky Experience, 354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2NE
Amber is ideally placed to capitalise on the tourist trade – it's close to Edinburgh Castle and forms part of the Scotch Whisky Experience – but don't let visitors to the city be the only ones to enjoy its charms. Dispensing with folksiness, Amber…
Barioja
19 Jeffrey Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DR
As the younger, funkier sibling to Iggs restaurant next door, Barioja serves traditional tapas in relaxed, style-bar surroundings. With large picture windows overlooking Calton Hill, their promise to bring you 'Spanish sunshine, whatever the weather…
La Lanterna
35 Hope Street,
Glasgow,
G2 6AE
For almost four decades, the Martinolli family have been serving up traditional Italian cuisine in their attractive, cavernous restaurant beneath the otherwise unedifying, traffic-choking Hope Street. The décor has remained almost untouched – a warm…
Zucca
15–17 Grindlay Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9AX
Zucca, which is situated next door to the Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh's West End, opened in September 2007. The brainchild of Richard Glennie, previously of Santini's, it comprises two very separate areas: on the ground floor there's an easy-going café…
Creelers
3 Hunter Square,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1QW
Creelers at Hunter Square has been wowing fans for almost 13 years. A range of tourists, regulars and locals – though not the goths that hang out by the Tron – make up the clientele in this establishment, which comes to life in the evenings. Although…
Dionika
3–6 Canonmills Bridge, Canonmills,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5LF
Dionika's welcoming owner and head chef Juan Blanco – who was taught to cook by his large extended family back home in Galicia, an Iberian region just on the Spanish side of the Portuguese border – would take offence if people referred to his restaurant…
Atrium
10 Cambridge Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2ED
Residing in the upper echelons of the capital's food chain since opening in the early 90s, Atrium is clearly unafraid to move with the times. As those with coffers sufficiently well-lined to dine here regularly will know, the venue took a post-Festival…
The Bothy
11 Ruthven Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 9BG
Tucked away in Ruthven Lane, a stone's throw from the hustle and bustle of Byres Road, the Bothy combines modern design with traditional touches, creating a look somewhere between country hotel sitting room and trendy style bar. The kitchen aims to…
Tang's
44 Candlemaker Row,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QE
As a head chef in London, Qun Tang could boast the likes of Jonathan Ross among his regulars. Now relocated north, and settled into an airy, pleasant space in the heart of Edinburgh, Tang and his Japanese wife Yoshiko Nakano are hoping to win over the…
The Vintners Rooms
The Vaults, 87 Giles Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6BZ
Relive the days when vintners would discuss the latest wine imports from France in this beautiful 18th century stucco sale room which is still only lit with candles. Named after the original diners, The Vintners Rooms makes a gracious nod to history…
Arisaig
140 St Vincent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 5LA
Co-owners Naveed Rashid and Stephen Bonomi have a passion for quality Scottish produce that makes dining at Arisaig a thoroughly satisfying experience. In this attractive dining room, large, almost abstract paintings of foaming oceans and crashing waves…
B'est
16 Drummond Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9TX
B'est may only have been up and running for less than two years, but it's already a popular venture, attracting lively parties as well as courting couples with its cheap dining offers. Set menus include a three-course dinner for £14.90 and a two-course…
Gamba
225a West George Street,
Glasgow,
G2 2ND
Gamba celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2008, and one would be hard-pressed to name a more consistently excellent, top-end restaurant in Glasgow over the same time period. It's not only that chef and co-owner Derek Marshall doesn't ever settle for…
Iglu
2b Jamaica Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6HH
Iglu is a venue that takes its organic, local and ethical food policy very seriously. But don't feel guilty if you need to take a taxi there should you find it hard to locate: it's hidden away from the main drag of the city centre and lurks…
No. Sixteen
16 Byres Road,
Glasgow,
G11 5JY
Since opening in 1991, No. Sixteen has consistently been regarded by foodies as a mainstay of the ever-changing landscape of Byres Road. Owners Margaret and Ronald Campbell continue to uphold their reputation of excellence through a commitment to…
Vittoria
19 George IV Bridge, Old Town,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1EN
'It's not that big,' the waiter protests, seeing your eyes pop as he sets before you a magnificent ham shank reposing on a pile of borlotti beans and attended by five little mounds of herb-flecked mash. And this could follow three golf ball-sized…
Alla Turca
192 Pitt Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4DY
This ambitious newcomer, from Òran Mór's former brasserie manager Burak Soyusinmez, has an agenda: to show that there's a lot more to Turkish cuisine than dodgy post-pub kebabs. And so Alla Turca's menu is one of two halves, with traditional dishes on…
Bonsai
46 West Richmond Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DZ
With the convivial hubbub of the closely packed tables, the sizzling steam and enticing aromas emerging from the kitchen, and the bold white, crimson and black décor, at Bonsai it's easy to imagine yourself in an izakaya in downtown Tokyo. And indeed it…
Corinthian/Lite Bar
191 Ingram Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1DA
As we went to press with the 15th edition edition of The List Eating & Drinking Guide, this G1 Group-run landmark was preparing for another rejigging (with the six-week works due to commence in spring 2008). But as the building is listed, its owners can…
9 Cellars Restaurant and Bar
1–3 York Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3EB
As Indian restaurants go, 9 Cellars is one of the more unusual. Not only does its impressively long menu boast unfamiliar dishes unseen anywhere else, but the space itself is a labyrinth of intimate eating corners on different levels rather than the…
Ad Lib
111 Hope Street,
Glasgow,
G2 6LL
Glasgow's two Ad Libs have carved a niche as perhaps the more mature establishments that focus on US-style cuisine. The newer Merchant City outlet has a grander atmosphere, with marble walls and well-spaced booths that give it a chic, cosmopolitan…
Ad Lib
33 Ingram Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1HA
Glasgow's two Ad Libs have carved a niche as perhaps the more mature establishments that focus on US-style cuisine. The newer Merchant City outlet has a grander atmosphere, with marble walls and well-spaced booths that give it a chic, cosmopolitan…
Driftwood
2–4 St Georges Road,
Glasgow,
G3 6UJ
Driftwood has been a fixture of Charing Cross for a few years now, offering cheap and cheerful food to hungry students and weary shoppers. The dining area is decked out in the 'traditional' Mexican terracotta and yellow, though it's actually barely…
Iggs
15 Jeffrey Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DR
Now approaching its 20th year, Iggs has become a byword for quality and consistency in Edinburgh's fickle restaurant scene. Where previously the menu meandered from classical Spanish to Scottish fusion, recently it has been reinvigorated by a focus on…
Pani Solińska
73 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RJ
Pani Solinska is Polish for 'Mrs Solinska'. Dorothy Nowak-Solinska took over Broughton Street landmark Café Mediterraneo last year, but before putting her name above the door in spring 2008 took some time to design a restaurant she could be proud of.
Petit Paris
38–40 Grassmarket,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2JU
'Le respect de la tradition Française' is the strapline to this lively bistro, whose Grassmarket headquarters has plied a successful trade for a decade, with a further branch opening on Queensferry Street in 2005. While the décor of blue, white and red…
Suruchi
14a Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DH
Suruchi prides itself on representing every corner of India within its expansive menu. So you'll find plenty of paneer – cheese – dishes from the north, Goan king prawn curry from the west, and spicy chicken and fish dishes from the east. The chef has…
Two Fat Ladies
88 Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow,
G11 6NX
An average two-course dinner at Two Fat Ladies costs what top-end restaurants charge for a single main course these days. Such economies have an obvious appeal and this restaurant helps its cause by putting generally excellent food on the table, to…
Vittoria
113 Brunswick Street, Leith Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5HR
Professional waiting staff, the babble of Italian voices and food that remains loyal to its roots – close your eyes and it could be Lucca rather than Leith. Vittoria on the Walk has become an Edinburgh institution over the last four decades and now, for…
Borough
72–80 Causewayside,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1PY
Borough has long been one of Edinburgh's best-kept secrets, serving up cocktails and chilled beats, but just beyond the retro chic of the bar rests a small but perfectly formed restaurant. Mellow lighting from a galaxy of small, scattered light bulbs…
Viva
77 Bothwell Street,
Glasgow,
G2 6TS
With its proximity to Glasgow's business district, Viva entertains a sizeable number of office workers for lunch. But its handsome, dark wood interior, with some big, soft leather booths, retains a relaxed atmosphere that, come evening and muted…
The Bank
443 Clarkston Road,
Glasgow,
G44 3LL
Housed in an impressively spacious former bank building, this pub and restaurant shows that catering for a wide range of tastes – and keeping standards reasonably high – is possible. Vast brown sofas, long wooden tables and a stained glass dome in the…
El Barrio
119 Rose Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3DT
While the attendance of a bouncer on the door may hint at the party going on downstairs, a relatively modest exterior gives little suggestion of the fiery Latin spirit waiting inside. With a well-stocked bar – complete with exotic beers, rums, tequilas…
Budda
8 Cresswell Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 8AA
Four years after opening in the West End, Budda still offers something of an ethnic cocoon. Gold statues line the bar, Balinese lanterns hang from rich orange walls and twisted wooden chairs create a sense of far-eastern intimacy overlooking the cobbles…
Duck's at Le Marché Noir
14 Eyre Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5EP
If you are looking for an intimate dining experience with attentive service and classic, well-executed cooking, Duck's certainly fits the bill. It may be a bit out of the centre for true urbanites but it's certainly worth the walk down that steep hill.
Iris
47a Thistle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DY
Iris only opened its doors in December 2007, but, thanks to the competence of owners Mark Lawrence and Kenny Waugh – part of the team that founded the Apartment and the Outsider – the restaurant already seems confident. It's charming too: three petite…
Lombardi's Ristorante Grill
Unit 4/5, Merchant Square, Candleriggs,
Glasgow,
G1 1NY
With more than a half-dozen eateries vying for customers in the Merchant Square, the competition can be a bit fierce at the renovated market – now a dining and entertainment destination in the heart of the Merchant City. Previously a French restaurant…
Number One
1 Princes Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2EQ
This is no ordinary hotel restaurant, which is hardly surprising given that it is situated in the basement of the Balmoral, Edinburgh's grandest hotel. However, Number One is surprisingly cosy for a sophisticated and contemporary Michelin-starred…
Daniel's Bistro
88 Commercial Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LX
Situated in the modern development along Commercial Quay, Daniel's is a temple to all things French – with a good dose of Scottish thrown in. Owner Daniel Vencker is originally from Alsace, but is keen to embrace his adopted country in all aspects of…
JT Rochead
60 Trongate,
Glasgow,
G1 5EP
Walking through a busy bar into this recently reconstructed restaurant is such a contrast that it feels a little like entering a theatre set. The décor might be described as Caledonian gothic, exemplified by wallpaper with giant thistle motifs on a…
Konaki
920 Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7TF
Family is important at Konaki. The kitchen uses home-grown olive oil matured in Grandma's cellar, wild herbs gathered on island holidays and recipes handed down through generations. Front of house, children receive an indulgent welcome, the whole…
The Living Room
150 St Vincent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 5NE
Slightly adrift from the hub of the city centre, this stylish bar and restaurant pulls in a mix of fashionable twentysomethings and corporate diners on expense accounts. It's dark and moody inside, the long rectangular space divided between cocktail bar…
Michael Caines @ ABode
129 Bath Street,
Glasgow,
G2 2SZ
Situated off the foyer of Glasgow's grand ABode hotel, chef Michael Caines' restaurant emits a sense of assured calm thanks to the sunny, efficient staff and some subtle orange back-lighting. Underneath a high, mirrored wall sit banquettes of dark grey…
Salsa
63 Carlton Place,
Glasgow,
G5 9TW
Technically on the Southside, Salsa is just a pleasant five-minute walk from the city centre via the Clyde's suspension pedestrian bridge. The discreet location suits the ambience of the restaurant, which is refreshingly unlike most Mexican-themed…
The Sizzling Scot Steakhouse & Grill
103–105 Dalry Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2AB
Once upon a time there were four directors of one Sizzling Scot restaurant in Edinburgh, and it was based in Dalry Road. After a difference of opinion over the direction of the fledgling franchise, one of the directors left the team and set up his own…
Tron Theatre
63 Trongate,
Glasgow,
G1 5HB
The Tron Theatre enjoys a reputation for its commitment to producing innovative original work and the thriving bar is evidence of the venue's continuing popularity with the Glasgow arts crowd. The Victorian Bar, the oak-panelled dining room in the heart…
L'Ariosto
92–94 Mitchell Street,
Glasgow,
G1 3NQ
Named after the Renaissance bard, L'Ariosto has many surprises. Designed to resemble an Italian courtyard and exuding a cosy atmosphere, it still has room to put on dinner dances with a live band five nights a week. It's almost 40 years old, but there's…
Cottier's
93–95 Hyndland Street,
Glasgow,
G11 5PX
Nestled in the eaves of one wing of an old church that also houses a theatre and bar is Cottier's restaurant. Decorated in gold and blue and lit with fairy lights, the dining room can feel like one of Glasgow's more romantic settings. The food is…
Di Maggio's Theatreland
163 West Nile Street,
Glasgow,
G1 2RL
More than two decades old, the Di Maggio's chain is going strong and regularly wins awards for its 'family-friendliness'. This outlet, formerly known as Pronto, is the so-called Theatreland branch and now uses the same menu as the others. But it's…
La Favorita
325–331 Leith Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH6 8SA
The glow from the twin log-fired ovens is the first indication that pizza is taken seriously at this Leith Walk eatery. La Favorita combines the lightest, crispest bases (also available gluten-free) with a long list of both classic and more inventive…
Number Twenty-five
25 South Tay Street,
Dundee,
DD1 1NR
Scotland
Number Twenty Five manages to house a late night bar in the basement and a handful of boutique hotel rooms upstairs, as well as being a café during the day and a restaurant by night. The café is open all day, whereas the action moves to the first floor…
La Partenope
96 Dalry Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2AX
La Partenope's new afternoon trading hours offer West End nine-to-fivers a convenient haven for a late-in-the-day work meeting. But be warned – once you sample a little something from the interesting nibbles menu and extensive regional wine list, you…
Red Onion
257 West Campbell Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4TT
John Quigley, occasional celebrity chef and Ready Steady Cook crackerjack, is a reliable presence at this popular city centre bistro, which he co-owns with his wife. Gags and TV studio lights aren't much in evidence at Red Onion, which rather blends an…
Windows Restaurant
Carlton George Hotel, 44 West George Street,
Glasgow,
G2 1DH
Crowning the Carlton George Hotel, right in the heart of Glasgow, Windows Restaurant boasts a fantastic view of the surrounding city. Far from the noise and traffic below, diners can watch the cityscape light up while sipping aperitifs, safe from the…
Blonde
75 St Leonard's Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9QR
Jokes mocking the fairer-haired may be ten-a-penny but this Blonde is certainly no dummy. Situated in a sleepy Southside street, the restaurant positively buzzes during the Festival due to its proximity to the Pleasance, but pulls in a regular crowd…
Circus Wine Bar & Grill
58a North Castle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3LU
Tucked discreetly away from the style bar excess of the west end of George Street, Circus offers an oasis of refined charm, albeit of the more old-school variety. Entering through a small foyer, complete with decorative piano, diners are received in a…
La Garrigue
31 Jeffrey Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DH
La Garrigue takes its name from the Languedoc region of France and this dictates the style of food and wine on the menu. Warm orange and red-hued paintings from the area line the white wood-panelled walls and are also for sale, and hand-carved chunky…
Mr Singh's India
149 Elderslie Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7JR
During our reviewing period for this edition of the Eating & Drinking Guide in early 2008, Mr Singh's was undergoing a bit of cosmetic surgery. We expect that after the building renovations are completed, however, this stylish restaurant will remain one…
78 St Vincent
78 St Vincent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 5UB
A celebration of the Auld Alliance, 78 St Vincent brings France to Scotland with both its décor and menu. Acknowledging more than a slight influence from the famous Restaurant Chartier in Paris, the dark wood and brass railings together with tinkling…
Stravaigin
28–30 Gibson Street,
Glasgow,
G12 8NX
With more foodies demanding the best of world flavours without the carbon footprint to match, never has Stravaigin's motto 'think global, eat local' been more appropriate. The ever-evolving menu ticks all the latest food fashion boxes, and features…
La Tasca
39–43 Renfield Street,
Glasgow,
G2 1JS
La Tasca is a chain covering the whole of the UK (including five Scottish locations) and Glasgow's branch conforms to a corporate model that dictates menu, drinks and décor. But don't let that put you off. It may function with the ruthless efficiency of…
Tusk
18 Moss Side Road,
Glasgow,
G41 3TN
This vast G1 Group bar/club and restaurant has an interior of truly striking extravagant opulence, with a vast gold-painted Buddha overlooking the dining room. Rich, dark red walls plus cream and gold curtains offer appropriately theatrical touches in…
Bar Soba
11 Mitchell Lane,
Glasgow,
G1 3NU
It may feel at first like a standard city-centre style bar with its muted lighting, studiously minimalist décor and languorous background beats, but Bar Soba's food is more than an afterthought to complement the range of fancy bottled beers. The kitchen…
Café Cossachok
38 Albion Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1LH
Cossachok successfully embraces multiple identities: it's part gallery, part cultural centre and part music venue, yet still essentially a restaurant. Temporarily relocated until 2009 (while their ten-year home on the other side of the Trongate is…
Café Français
4 Byres Road,
Glasgow,
G11 5JY
Extravagantly fitted out fin de siècle style, with globe lamps and brass railings aplenty, Café Français exudes an informal class that draws a steady trade, perhaps due to its flexible menu. There's a big selection of crêpes, salads and baguettes and a…
Namaste Kathmandu
17–19 Forrest Road,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QH
In a city with no shortage of Indian restaurants, it would be easy for a new kid on the block to blend into the crowd. Namaste, however, is a very welcome addition to the Edinburgh scene. Combing elements of Indian and Nepalese cuisine, the menu here…
Rab Ha's
83 Hutcheson Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1SH
Named after a famed, long-since-departed Glasgow glutton, this hotel bar and restaurant is a well-established Merchant City favourite. Diners pass through the friendly, welcoming buzz of the bar before heading for the basement restaurant where white…
The Rainbow Arch
8–16 Morrison Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8BJ
Hopefully a planned refurbishment in 2008 will breathe new life into this well-established and popular restaurant. Owner Henry Tse also owns the downstairs Henry's Cellar Bar, with which the restaurant shares its rather basic toilets. The planned…
La Tasca
9 South Charlotte Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4AS
These might be two branches of a nationwide chain, but don't let that put you off. Both of Edinburgh's La Tascas do just enough to convince you of their Spanish pedigree, although the food they serve is perhaps no more than your average Brit abroad on…
Yo!Sushi
Silverburn Shopping Centre, Barrhead Road,
Glasgow,
G53 6QR
Stroll through the huge new Silverburn shopping centre and you're likely to stumble across a gaggle of gawping bystanders. The doorless and roofless Yo!Sushi is plonked in the middle of the mall's walkway, and many shoppers find its dinky conveyor belt…
The Arches Café Bar & Restaurant
253 Argyle Street,
Glasgow,
G2 8DL
The Arches has long held a reputation for being one of the coolest venues in the city. Its club nights are legendary, its music programme adventurous, its theatre daring and eclectic. Various events and festivals throughout the year, such as Arches…
Le Café St Honoré
34 North West Thistle Street Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1EA
At the beginning of April 2008, just as this guide was going to press, Le Café St Honoré was passed from the hands of Chris and Gill Colverson, proprietors for the past 15 years and more, to Andrew Radford and Neil Forbes of Atrium and blue restaurants.
Dakhin
89 Candleriggs,
Glasgow,
G1 1NP
With its discrete entrance and first-floor location, Dakhin could easily be missed among the plethora of busy restaurants and bars in Candleriggs. Those who are curious – or cunning – enough to venture upstairs, however, will be welcomed into an…
The Dhabba
44 Candleriggs,
Glasgow,
G1 1LE
This Merchant City establishment continues to consolidate its place among the best Indian restaurants in Glasgow. The open, airy venue is sleek and modern with bare wooden furnishings and minimal decorative embellishments, which encourages diners to pay…
Plumed Horse
50–54 Henderson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6DE
A year or so after upping sticks from Dumfriesshire and trotting off to this unprepossessing Leith corner – surrendering its Michelin star on the way – there are signs that the Plumed Horse's teething problems have been tempered. Subtle refinements…
Le Sept
5 Hunter Square,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1QW
Le Sept's airy dining room is all casual Gallic chic rather than over-coiffed stuffiness or Eiffel-and-onions pastiche. Black and white photographs crowd one wall and ledges are decked with red rosehip fairy lights. By day the lunch deal attracts both…
Café Mao
84 Brunswick Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1TD
The relaxed atmosphere and pan-Asian menu at Café Mao have attracted a steady flow of easygoing diners for nearly a decade. Big windows, bright lighting and the primary colours of its branding make sure things don't get too formal, and the winning staff…
La Cantina
72 Commercial Quay,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LX
When you enter La Cantina, the décor and ambiance leave you in little doubt that you're in a Mexican restaurant. The place is decked out in red and green, and pulses with salsa rhythms. Ranch-style furniture is laid out in rows and there are sombreros…
