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, Outdoor dining and Student friendly
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- King Tut's Wah Wah Hut
A legendary live music venue serving cosmopolitan pub food - Maggie Mays
Outstanding contemporary Scottish restaurant, with a bustling bar and all-year entertainment - Moskito
Moskito is a laid-back bar with an extensive drinks list as well as great food
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…
The Original Mosque Kitchen and Café
Edinburgh Central Mosque, 50 Potterrow,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9BT
First set up to ease the burden of daylight fasting during Ramadan on the congregation of Edinburgh's Central Mosque, this outdoor cafeteria-style restaurant has undergone several upgrades and upheavals down the years. Most recently the founders…
Elephants and Bagels
37 Marshall Street (Nicholson Square),
Edinburgh,
EH8 9BJ
If you’re looking for a lunch or snack option that healthy and filling, planet-friendly and low in salt, sugar as well as food miles, then Elephants and Bagels offers a handy solution. A penchant for pachyderms is a bonus; mostly customer-drawn they…
City Café
19 Blair Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1QR
Pull up your pop socks and pick a song for the juke box: the City Café is your Grease-shaped American diner. Its red banquettes are just right for a short lie down after eating more than your fill of the great BBQ sharing platter, with sticky pork ribs…
Gordon's Trattoria
231 High Street, Royal Mile,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1PE
Gordon Scott is keen to promote his restaurant as a family venue. And there is no risk that he will fall foul of the trade descriptions act, with brother Gary imparting his profound industry knowledge, daughters Daniela and Vanessa now involved in the…
Assembly
41 Lothian Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1HB
A popular student venue despite – or indeed perhaps because of – its closeness to the ubiquitous student unions. No doubt another plus is its good value food and two-for-one drinks deals. The battered leather sofas and twinkling fairy lights are…
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…
Ecco Vino
19 Cockburn Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1BP
This understated, grown-up wine bar has been calmly getting it right for over a decade. The bottles that line the walls are laid out intuitively in the wine list, and there’s a reassuringly generous hand with the advice and the tasting glasses if you’re…
Favorit
19–20 Teviot Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QZ
Favorit is a late night diner for the young and hip and – most importantly – for those with the munchies. Black and white chequered tiles, retro tables and benches and a large, red neon Favorit sign set the scene. All that's missing is Pulp Fiction's…
Biblos
1 Chambers Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1HU
With a name that means ‘book’ it is hardly surprising Biblos has gone for the decadent library theme. Leather Chesterfield sofas, wingback chairs and dark wood abound, and, in case the point still hasn’t hit home, they even have small pictures of famous…
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…
The Basement Bar and Restaurant
10–12a Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RH
Situated below street level, this bar looks like the sort of place American sitcom characters would head for after a hard day’s mirth-making, thanks to the obligatory neon sign, mustard-coloured walls and staff dressed in Hawaiian shirts. It could be…
Malone's Irish Bar
14 Forrest Road,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QN
Malone's Irish Bar certainly can’t be accused of misrepresenting itself. Owned and run by natives of the Emerald Isle, the cavernous property oozes Irishness from its street-level entrance area, the large central room with tables for dining and large…
Monster Mash
20 Forrest Road,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QN
In April 2010, Monster Mash relocates a grand total of 15m up the road. But fans need not fear: the biggest change will simply be more space to spend your money. As 20 Forrest Road will see restaurant seating for 65, private dining for 25 and outdoor…
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…
Earl of Marchmont
22 Marchmont Crescent,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1HG
Much like its Canongate sister the White Horse, the Earl is a grand mixture of classic Edinburgh local and funked-up eclectic touches. The crowd is a hotch-potch of students, cheery thirty-somethings and a clutch of venerable regulars decorating the…
Tonic
34 North Castle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3BN
While first and foremost a cocktail bar, Tonic also manages to produce a small but appetising menu. And although the surroundings might bear more than a passing resemblance to a Polish casino, the food is both tasty and good value. Succulent prawn…
The Hudson Hotel
7–11 Hope Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4EL
On first appearance there is very little to lift the Hudson out of that popular subcategory of pub that should perhaps be termed 'elegant Edinburgh bars that also serve food'. Like so many it is a haven of shining dark wood, subtle lighting and leather.
The Orchard
1/2 Howard Place, Canonmills,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5JZ
A bar with a sense of refinement in keeping with the area around it, the Orchard is a wood-panelled old man’s boozer recast as an elegant bar and restaurant in light pastel tones. It’s been around for a few years now but it doesn’t feel tired, and the…
Cameo Bar
23 Commercial Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6JA
The Cameo Bar doesn’t seem to have settled on a single decorative style. There is a touch of the contemporary (see the beige suede benches); there is a little Edwardian (see the red and brown flock wallpaper) and there is a bit of traditional pub (dark…
The Granary
32–34 The Shore, Leith,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6QN
This split-level restaurant and bar is well positioned on the Shore with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and views of the Water of Leith. With its seductive brown leather sofas, dark wood floors, rugs and realistic-looking gas-powered fires, you’ll…
The Inn at Lathones
By Largoward,
St Andrews,
Fife,
KY9 1JE
The Inn at Lathones to the south of St Andrews is around four hundred years old; its age apparent in the stone-clad fireplaces, whitewashed ceilings and exposed roof beams on display. Then, alongside, you'll find gig posters (the former stables now…
Jute Café Bar
Dundee Contemporary Arts, 152 Nethergate,
Dundee,
DD1 4DY
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…
WEST Brewery
Building 4 Templeton Building, Glasgow Green,
Glasgow,
G40 1AW
With many bars in Glasgow and beyond stocking their excellent beers – brewed in accordance with German Purity Laws (meaning they include water, malt, hops and yeast, and nothing else touches them other than a skilled brewer's hand) – WEST's impact on…
Home
80 Albion Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1NY
The decoration at this city centre hang-out is indeed a bit like home – if you happen to live somewhere that’s the ‘before’ part of a makeover. The furniture is a random mixture of leather booths (some with ripped seats), squashy sofas and gaudy chairs…
Bar 91
91 Candleriggs,
Glasgow,
G1 1NP
Regularly filled with an eclectic mix of professionals, students and families, Bar 91’s welcoming vibe and contemporary interior see it busy all day. In addition to the usual array of mainstream lagers, there are beers from the nearby West Brewery…
Maggie May's
60 Trongate,
Glasgow,
G1 5EP
If you believe the deep-fried Mars bar is an urban myth, proof of its existence can be found at Maggie May’s, an indie/folky music venue and pub with a surprisingly civilised restaurant tucked away at the back of the bar. The crisply battered…
Mono
12 Kings Court, King Street,
Glasgow,
G1 5RB
Mono has been serving Glasgow’s veggie and vegan clientele for ten years now and it’s easy to see the attraction. The room has an indie vibe with a raised platform for the eating area, a good-sized stage for visiting musicians and a long colourful bar…
Waxy O'Connor's
44 West George Street,
Glasgow,
G2 1DH
The first thing you notice on entering Waxy O’Connor's is the sheer size of it. The different rooms and levels make it possible to find a cosy nook even when the pub is busy. Added to this, the wood interior gives a reassuringly traditional feel for an…
Walkabout
128 Renfield Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3AL
Part of a chain, Australian-themed sports bar Walkabout offers a budget-friendly dining experience for a young, noisy, studenty crowd. The Boomerang card entitles patrons to 25% off all food and drink once purchased for just a few quid. A jumble of…
TGI Friday's
113 Buchanan Street,
Glasgow,
G1 3HF
Now in its 15th year of serving up hearty American favourites to families, office parties and numerous other punters, TGI Friday's is as busy as ever (and by some accounts it's the most popular restaurant in the city). The chain operation's formula of…
Barça Tapas and Cava Bar
Princes Square, 48 Buchanan Street,
Glasgow,
G1 3JN
Situated in upmarket Princes Square, Barça’s top floor terrace is a prime spot overlooking the courtyard and soak up the buzz. Inside this spacious urban style brasserie is a lively cava bar at one end with regular cocktail masterclasses and salsa…
Bar Soba
11 Mitchell Lane,
Glasgow,
G1 3NU
One of the first restaurants in Glasgow to serve fashionable ‘fusion’ food, Bar Soba serves up a mix of Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese and Chinese influenced dishes including the soba noodles that the restaurant’s name suggests. Bar Soba claims that its…
Bunker
193–199 Bath Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4HU
For such grand subterranean dimensions, Bunker does an impressive job of always feeling busy. Even during quiet afternoons a healthy young crowd fills the bright, airy space. When lights go down and the indie/chart music gets louder, it’s busier still…
Moskito
200 Bath Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4HG
The ambient beats and distinctive green-turquoise hue of Moskito have been with us for more than a decade now, making it the elder statesman of Bath Street. Like its neighbouring bars, the location’s great for workers from the nearby offices, as well as…
King Tut's Wah Wah Hut
272a St Vincent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 5RL
There was a time when every young buck in town knew Tut’s as the venue where Oasis famously got signed. It’s still going strong in the music stakes, with an impressive list of of artists that have graced the stage listed on the staircase leading up to…
Baby Grand
3–7 Elmbank Gardens,
Glasgow,
G2 4NQ
With its proximity to Charing Cross Station, the Premier Inn and the motorway, the long-established Baby Grand is handily placed to cater for commuters, visitors and business folk, particularly during the day. At night the area is quieter but a…
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…
The Local
427 Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3LG
The quirky mix of ceiling lamps and a spherical white TV add a bit of character to the otherwise rectilinear furnishings of The Local: tables, chesterfields, empty picture frames and a free-standing bar on which the youthful clientele can rest their…
Chinaski's
239 North Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7DL
Named after a Charles Bukowski alter ego, Chinaski’s maintains its underground roots by eschewing any signage on the exterior in an effort to deter large groups of rowdy drinkers from nearby Sauchiehall Street. During daylight hours the bar is bright…
The Big Blue
445 Great Western Road,
Glasgow,
G12 8HH
A perennial student favourite and something of a West End institution, the Big Blue endures in its picturesque location by the Kelvin. Portions are hearty enough to satisfy diners with big appetites. The fried calamari with lemon is a tasty starter and…
The Left Bank
33–35 Gibson Street,
Glasgow,
G12 8NU
Within its warren of nooks and crannies, the Left Bank offers a kaleidoscopic take on casual dining. Aimed squarely at the broadsheet-reading classes of this undergraduate-heavy area, and housed within a refurbished, multi-levelled bank building, it…
Big Slope
36a Kelvingrove Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7SA
It would be interesting to know how many folk come into Big Slope for a drink, but end up having something to eat. That's what makes a good bar food menu: perched on the table, teasing and appetising. Here we have pub favourites with lovely twists…
Ivy
1102–1106 Argyle Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8TD
From the street there’s little to see, but the heavy doors of the Ivy open into a small bar manned by some of the most enthusiastic staff you’ll meet in Glasgow. It plays host to six draft beers including the citrusy Joker IPA and more unusually 100…
The Ben Nevis
1147 Argyle Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8TB
The Ben Nevis is well worth a visit if you’re after whisky, contemporary Scottish folk or just a chance to hang out with some real Glaswegians in an agreeable environment. With slabs of slate, ropes and wood, the interior evokes a fantastical Highland…
The 78
10–14 Kelvinhaugh Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8NU
This charming laid-back café/bar has the feel of a country house – set incongruously just off Argyle Street. A long bar dominates the rustically informal room with a line of aged wooden tables, an open fireplace and comfy armchairs hogging its large…
The Bank Café Bar
443 Clarkston Road,
Glasgow,
G44 3LL
The Maclay Inns group, five of whose premises are featured in this section, tend to choose interesting buildings for their ventures that add a nice bit of character. In the case of The Bank it is, indeed, a former bank, now popular residential café/bar…
Firebird
1321 Argyle Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8TL
A West End institution over the past decade or so, Firebird has always been known primarily for its pizzas (which can be bought to takeaway). Hand-made and cooked in a wood-fired oven, giving them a faint smokey flavour, they are thin and crispy with an…
Brel
39–43 Ashton Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 8SG
Brel's become a West End fixture not just for its European-influenced food and drink but for a certain relaxed continental vibe giving it a rare sophistication so close to the university. The back beer-garden fills up on sunny days and also offers a…
Bar Budda
8 Cresswell Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 8AA
Although Thai-influenced food has been a characteristic of this high-concept chain for several years, more recently the West End branch has also been focusing on Scottish ingredients while still retaining a flavour of the Far East. Embedded in Cresswell…
54 places.
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