Restaurants, Outdoor dining

If it wasn't for the grounding nature of the predominantly British food and décor, the view out of Cranberry's huge windows into an architecturally attractive corner could take you on all sorts of fancy flights around the globe, imagining life in Paris…

The small deli nestling next to Mother India's Cafe might seem an afterthought – but it's certainly not, for the refreshingly different intimate restaurant sharing space with the takeaway counter offers excellent quality authentic Indian food which…

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…

In the 18 years since Glass & Thompson opened, it has adapted to keep pace with Edinburgh’s evolving café landscape. The latest change is a slimmed-down menu, although it still includes perennial favourites of regulars and those taking time out from…

Six years of taking it easy at Go Slow Café (to paraphrase the blurb), but the place is thriving and popular, so it’s no mean feat that during the busiest times owner/factotum Rose manages to keep the happy, calm vibe alive. Like most places run with…

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…

When it comes to knowing what students want, you’ve got to hand it to Ketchup. Set on the ground floor of a block of Ashton Lane venues, the American feel may not quite fit the cobbled lane, but inside, large booths and benches are crammed full of teens…

Everyone in Glasgow and beyond knows the live venue regularly voted one the of the UK’s best. Less well known is that Tut’s goes beyond simply having a bar for the nightly gigs. Food is surprisingly good and makes it a good option for a bar meal in…

The Left Bank has a truly varied clientele; from families to students and even the odd dog. Chunky wooden tables, big glass windows and a smattering of fairy lights make it feel warm and intimate both downstairs or on the mezzanine. Thanks to a cracking…

Massimo's popularity seems as much to do with its location, opposite King's Theatre, as the typically Italian fare served up in this basement venue. Modern stylings such as wooden floors and glass partitions give the space a surprisingly light and airy…

MJ’s gold-embossed frontage justifiably claims that it is a brasserie. It also has an appropriately Scottish twist and a daytime alter ego as a popular café. Customers are offered a cocooning and enjoyable experience, for which they usually return.

It’s beginning to test the meaning of careworn slightly these days, but there’s still no café in Glasgow homelier than Offshore, nor even as homely. Hugging the corner of Gibson Street where it crosses the River Kelvin, with leafy views to the park…

There's an old-time feel to the fixtures and fittings in this former village bakery, but the approach is contemporary and imaginative, with children's, high tea and Sunday brunch menus alongside a weekly market menu and main à la carte.

The grande dame of the Southside drinking scene has been standing proud on the spot since 1749, and 2012 sees the thirtieth anniversary of its current incarnation. The Pear Tree’s justifiably famed selling point is the large walled beer garden…

Set within a whitewashed detached villa, Pittenweem Inn brings bags of kerb appeal and a renewed commitment to all things food. A change of owners in 2011 and a comprehensive refurbishment has heralded a shift in emphasis with the kitchen now taking…

Bruntsfield doesn't suffer from a lack of sociable coffee venues, but that hasn't deterred relative newcomer Project Coffee. Like sister businesses Kilimanjaro, Press and Wellington Coffee, they use beans from small artisanal roasters to make their…

Part canteen, part fine-dining restaurant, chef-owner John Shields’ operation is housed in the impressive extension to an A-listed Art Deco former rubber factory, with Saturday-evening dining and brunches most catching the imagination.

Now firmly established after its rebirth from the Liquid Ship, this revamped bar is ideal for weekend and post-work socialising. The menu is a considered improvement on the predecessor's which felt like an afterthought – now there are even cheese and…

This newcomer to the Southside café scene is a cheerful and unpretentious place to pass an hour or two. Having opened its doors just before Christmas 2011, Tea at 94 still feels as if it's finding its feet somewhat in terms of the fare on offer. While a…

Scallops wrapped in pancetta is a good way to start in this large, airy and stylish basement dining room. The portion is generous and the scallops not overcooked. The antipasto misto is described as a signature dish, but is a little disappointing. It…

With a name like Angels with Bagpipes and a location opposite St Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile, this restaurant is a tourist magnet. The upstairs area is compact with a pretty Edinburgh street view – but fear not, there is extra room on the lower…