Restaurants, Outdoor dining

Disguised as an old warehouse, Earthy Market Café is a surprising hidden gem for those who love all things wholesome and hearty. Earthy, which also operates a bistro-café and small shop in Canonmills, is an operation run by people who care about food…

With new management since August 2012 there has been a renewed focus on the quality of the wine and food. There is an Italian focus to the wine list but it also features interesting choices from around the world, with 30 or so available by the glass and…

Eating at the 18th-century estate house in glorious Pollok Country Park is like being invited for lunch at Downton Abbey. Sitting downstairs in the old kitchen, surrounded by artefacts –- including copper pans and an original cast-iron stove – of the…

While the origin of the name may have been lost in the mists of time, the team at Firebird are certainly taking the ‘fire’ part seriously. A wood-fired oven bakes the signature sourdough pizzas to a pleasing crunch, while a blazing stove keeps the…

With cafés sprouting up around the New Town, survival depends on being different, and this establishment with its French-themed décor is working hard on that. An extensive range of teas and coffees is the domain of John Thomson, while his wife Gail…

Fressh is just off George Square, and a refreshing antidote to some of the big commerical outfits in the area. It serves a limited menu but does it very well. Soups are always excellent, and the sandwich fillings are fresh and colourful if a little…

This bistro bar on the edge of the Meadows has carved a niche between formal dining and local pub grub. It attracts a pre-theatre crowd with the King's near-by, lunchtime couples, those seeking brunch at week-ends, late-night drinkers and many in…

One of the more self-consciously ‘Scottish’ of the restaurants in this section (it defines itself as such on the signage and on its website) Ingram Wynd is a good bet for traditional dishes such as skirlie, stovies or cranachan – which can be…

Having given up his very popular Gorgie bakery, Jacob Philip has moved more ambitiously upmarket with his spacious new Haymarket cafe. Sited in a freshly decorated corner unit with a high ceiling and lots of classic touches, the new premises were still…

With a menu that carries as many superlatives as it does dishes, the proprietor’s personality is evident throughout Glasgow’s take on what is now part of a global chain. The vast ground-floor area is usually packed, providing a warm atmosphere while the…

Jute offers a bit of everything for those interested in checking out Dundee Contemporary Arts, or indeed anyone just passing. A reasonably priced snack menu is available alongside a full dinner menu. Fish and Vegetarian options are a big feature on the…

There’s a reason why Kebab Mahal has been a part of Edinburgh’s dining scene since 1979, and that is its adherence to the maxim ‘keep it simple’. Its cafe feel and hard-worn chairs and tables give the room an air of the late-night takeaway, an…

Themed around the Coen Brothers’ cult movie, it’s easy to assume that this Finnieston bar-restaurant is beholden to tacky gimmickry. But there’s much more to Lebowskis beyond a big picture of the Dude, bowling-pin adorned fittings (homage to his…

Tucked away in Merchant City, Lily’s may look like your average café from the outside but the menu tells a different story. Successfully combining paninis, burgers and baked potatoes with Chinese dishes, the noodle soup sprinkled with roast sesame seeds…

Weekends at this popular bar and diner feature live music and even a regular magician – helping to create a lively infectious buzz that is easy to get caught up in. Couples and groups are seated in leather booths, helping to break up the restaurant…