La Garrigue has been named as the Scottish regional winner of the Good Food Guide Readers' Restaurant of the Year. Featured on Ramsey's Best Restaurants Gordon described La Garrigue as an "amazing little bistro". Come along and sample the flavours of the Languedoc at either in Edinburgh's New Town or City Centre.
Restaurants, Outdoor dining and "Edinburgh"
Sorted by place / most viewed. Showing 25, 50, 100 per page.
- Urban Angel
Urban Angel use local, organic and fairly traded produce in a cool environment - Centotre
Centotre serves food made from locally sourced ingredients in a great location - La Lanterna
Real Italian home-made dishes in a homely dining experience like that of a real Italian family - Café Milk
Café Milk offers seasonal, delicious food at fantastic prices!
A Room in Leith
1c Dock Place,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LU
If you pitch up here late or without booking, it may be wise to have a plan B. On sunny days, the waterside tables outside fill up fast with people enjoying a platter of mussels and a well chosen glass, while for chillier occasions, there’s candle…
The Abbotsford
3 Rose Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2PR
Many of Edinburgh’s traditional, independent pubs have disappeared in recent years, replaced by heavily branded chains. So, when a perennial favourite remains untouched, it must be doing something right. The Abbotsford continues to offer amicable…
Above Abbotsford
3-5 Rose Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2PR
The Abbotsford has been a bastion of the Rose Street scene since the Jenner family commissioned the present building in 1902. The restaurant 'Above' may not have quite the authenticity of the bar at street level, but there’s enough ornate dark wood and…
Agenda
92/98 Corstorphine Road,
Edinburgh,
EH12 8AT
Glass-fronted and set back from St John's Road on the main Corstorphine drag, Agenda is a bar, restaurant and hotel. In the comfy bar area, which contains scattered leather sofas, you'll find a younger crowd drinking and listening to the latest tunes.
Agua
Apex City Hotel, 61 Grassmarket,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2JF
The leading restaurant in the set of three Apex Hotels in Edinburgh, Agua, as the name implies, offers some piscine-influenced dining. The loss of the fresh crustacean menu is a bitter blow, but the canny owners of Agua have racked up the ambition of…
Al Fresco
22 Union Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3NQ
Step off of Leith Walk, almost directly across from the Playhouse, into bright and shiny Al Fresco. Cut from a very similar cloth to its very popular near neighbour and sister restaurant Giuliano’s, Al Fresco is the newest member of the ‘family…
The Albanach
197 High Street, Royal Mile, Old Town,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1PE
Right on the Royal Mile, the Albanach tempts tourists with a safe Scottish menu. Its bar, stocking 103 whiskies, leads to a wood and stone dining area out back. One may or may not appreciate the 'modern tartan' walls adorned with patriotic statements…
All Bar One
Exchange Plaza, 50 Lothian Road,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9BY
Once upon a time, All Bar One was the fresh-faced, exclusive bar-about-town frequented by apple flirtini-sipping suits. While never quite diverting the gastro-pub experts, it did embed the wine bar-diner concept in the nation's consciousness. But the…
All Bar One
29–31 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2PA
Once upon a time, All Bar One was the fresh-faced, exclusive bar-about-town frequented by apple flirtini-sipping suits. While never quite diverting the gastro-pub experts, it did embed the wine bar-diner concept in the nation's consciousness. But the…
Always Sunday
170 High Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1QS
This blueprint for a successful café is as easy as a Sunday morning. The clear glass frontage provides space, light and the perfect vantage point from which to spy on tourists photographing the Royal Mile. A fresh and very friendly tearoom, Always…
Amarone
13 St Andrew Square,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2BH
Having stood empty for a time after Grape wine bar drained away, this prime and airy site looking onto St Andrew Square has been swept up into the Glasgow-based Di Maggio’s chain. They've recreated the theme of their original west coast branch of…
Amicus Apple
17 Frederick Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2EY
For five years now, Amicus Apple has been the preferred venue of many for after-work cocktails. The bar, which also has outdoor seating, is decked out with comfortable sofas and bright lighting to help overcome its subterranean feel without detracting…
Angels With Bagpipes
343 High Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1PW
The Royal Mile has a new charmer in residence. Sleek, modern, understated and calming, Angels with Bagpipes encapsulates many of the characteristics of its owner Marina Crolla, making you feel immediately welcome and at ease. Like Marina, this place is…
Ann Purna
45 St Patrick's Square,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9ET
Having undergone a makeover in 2008, the white tablecloths, lace curtains and doilies that once gave Ann Purna the air of a 1950s living room have been replaced by an unfussy but smart, contemporary décor. The cosy St Patrick’s Square restaurant still…
Anteaques
17 Clerk Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9JH
If Alice in Wonderland had a local, it would be Anteaques. For a start, co-owner and antiques dealer Cedric is a small, very friendly, quick man who wears a waistcoat and pocket watch. He’s also brave: this is a tightly packed antiques shop, bursting…
The Apartment Bistro
7–13 Barclay Place,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4HW
The Apartment Bistro, older sibling to the Outsider restaurant, has completed its first year since a radical overhaul of both interior and menu. Deep red walls, low hanging pendant lamps and mismatched canteen chairs create a stylish and intimate vibe.
Appetite Direct
42 Howe Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6TH
Most of Appetite Direct’s business is outside catering, from small private dinners to weddings and gallery openings. So it follows that their shop is no run-of-the mill deli. It’s a wonder what they produce from the small kitchen every day: several…
L'Aquila Bianca
17 Raeburn Place, Stockbridge,
Edinburgh,
EH4 1HU
L'Aquila Bianca is the grand old dame of Edinburgh chippies, with a shelf full of awards and numerous press clippings adorning its pristine walls. This Stockbridge favourite attracts punters from across the city as a result of the quality of both its…
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…
The Atholl Dining Room
The Howard Hotel, 34 Great King Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6QH
The Atholl Dining Room speaks in hushed tones. First, step into the tranquil world of the Howard Hotel, set in a Georgian townhouse on the grand parade that is Great King Street. You can ponder the Atholl's concise but interesting menu from the comfort…
The Auld Hoose
23–25 St Leonards Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9QN
If the key to a successful pub is being different, the Auld Hoose is guaranteed to thrive. The bare wooden floors, neutral walls and central bar all point to an atmosphere that is repeated across the city – but, on closer inspection, this place differs…
Avoca Bar & Grill
4-6 Dean Street,
Edinburgh,
EH4 1LW
Just a few steps from the hurly burly of Stockbridge, Avoca attracts more drinkers than diners during the week but normally sees that trend reversed at weekends. A traditional wooden bar is the centrepiece, with stools, settees and a couple of window…
La Bagatelle
22a Brougham Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9JU
Unashamedly old-fashioned, La Bagatelle doesn’t do itself any favours in attracting passing trade. Many will be put off by its nylon tablecloths, bric-a-brac style framed prints and thick, green patterned carpet. Generous patrons may consider water and…
The Baked Potato Shop
56 Cockburn Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1PB
The Baked Potato Shop has gained legendary status for keeping the crowds on the Royal Mile well-fed during the month of August. But it isn’t just during the summer that they’re busy. Crisp-skinned and fluffy inside, the potatoes are served in small…
The Bakehouse Bistro Bar
125 Dalry Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2DR
On entering the Bakehouse on Dalry Road, you can expect a friendly welcome from staff behind the food counter. Choose from a range of pre-prepared sandwiches and pizzas to enjoy as takeaway, or opt for table service when sitting in. There are plans…
The Bakehouse Co.
32c Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3SB
NOTE: THE BAKEHOUSE IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED AFTER A FIRE
A compact local café sitting easily alongside the ethical boutiques of Broughton Street, the Bakehouse is a cheaper, more casual alternative to nearby Urban Angel and the Olive Branch. Rusty tin…
The Bank Bar
Bank Hotel, 1 South Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1LL
This pub/hotel offers nine rooms named after legendary Scottish figures, including Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson, Alexander Graham Bell and John Logie Baird. Inside the bar the décor seems formal, with a high, frescoed ceiling and lustrous…
Bar 50
50 Blackfriars Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1NE
Edinburgh's Smart City Hostel is in the heart of the Old Town and offers budget accommodation for visitors and students. Bar 50 is their popular restaurant and drinking den sited in an expansive basement that opens out onto the Cowgate (with some…
Bar Roma
39a Queensferry Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4RA
Set among a clutch of West End style bars, Bar Roma has packed its bright, roomy interior for three decades – seemingly without too much effort. The large, kitsch, plastic tree helps set a vibe that's low in pretension and high in conviviality; often…
Barioja
15-19 Jeffrey Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DR
The older establishment of the burgeoning Edinburgh tapas bar scene, Barioja remains a popular and central destination for diners looking for quick snacks or an evening meal. Its red-hued interior is fresh and modern, and makes a centre-piece of a…
The Basement Bar and Restaurant
10–12a Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RH
While the bustle of city life proceeds at street level, down below, and largely hidden from view, drinkers in this traditional bar sip beers from around the world, whether it’s the local Innis & Gunn or far-travelled favourites Corona and Tiger.
Bay of Bengal
164 High Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1QS
Situated slap bang in tourist central on the Royal Mile, Bay of Bengal is well placed to attract passing trade. Established in 1978, it has recently given itself a modern makeover, replacing its dark reds and Indian fabrics with turquoise flock…
The Beach House
57 Bath Street,
Edinburgh,
EH15 1HE
The Beach House is very much a community venture with a relaxed friendly feel and beautiful seaside view, situated right on the promenade in Portobello. In keeping with the seaside setting, a pale blue interior and simple wooden furniture welcome a…
Beirut
24 Nicolson Square,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9BX
Welcome to Edinburgh’s first Lebanese restaurant, which has a sleek modern interior, scenic views adorning the walls and the cream of Beirut’s music scene on the plasma screen. Sourcing Lebanese ingredients from suppliers in London, all dishes are…
Bell's Diner
7 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AN
If you're looking for proper quality fast food; plump and juicy burgers that sing with sweetness and steaming piles of chips, if you’re looking for a cosy restaurant with battered wooden furniture and soft lighting that exudes warmth and friendliness…
Bennets Bar
8 Leven Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9LG
Established in 1875, Bennets feels reassuringly as if little has changed in over a century. This is not the place to come looking for lattes, cocktails or wi-fi. It is most definitely somewhere to come and see the original Victorian fittings of the…
Bennets of Morningside
1 Maxwell Street,
Edinburgh,
EH10 5FT
Not to be confused with the establishment of the same name located on Leven Street, this Bennets Bar is to be found on Maxwell Street in Morningside. With the same owners as The Cumberland Bar, Bennets is another very traditional pub specialising in…
B'est
16 Drummond Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9TX
Tucked around the corner from the Festival Theatre, B’est is one of those 'you know it or you don’t' type places. Unsurprisingly, due to its location and set-menu pricing structure it’s been discovered and nurtured by university students and staff. Due…
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…
Biddy Mulligans
94–96 Grassmarket,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2JR
After a couple of pints, a pie at Biddy Mulligans will see your hunger away. This traditional-style drinking spot is the antithesis of the modern minimalist bar, though much of the décor is also possibly not that authentically ancient. Overall the…
Bigos
277 Leith Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH6 8PD
There is a home-spun image created by the rough hewn wooden word 'Bigos' nailed on to the front of this tiny restaurant. And despite the dangerous looking agricultural implements and animal skins hanging on the walls, Bigos does without doubt have a…
Bijou
2 Restalrig Road,
Edinburgh,
EH6 8BN
If not quite a diamond in the rough, Bijou is certainly a lovely find in an unlikely locale. This low-key café/bistro by Leith Links is frequented by locals and intrepid visitors for breakfast, lunch, dinner and take-away. The tiny kitchen dishes up…
Bisque Bar & Brasserie
Bruntsfield Hotel, 69 Bruntsfield Place,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4HH
Nestled in the basement of the Bruntsfield Hotel, Bisque offers a busy bar and separate restaurant frequented by a mix of hotel guests, locals and families from both camps. The contemporary boutique-style interior feels a little dated and hard-edged…
Black Bo’s (Bar)
57-61 Blackfriars Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1NB
Bo’s has secured a reputation as a bar dripping with a kind of reliable cool. It counts among its clientele an assortment of wistful students, musicians, artists and journalists; you half hope to see some old Parisian in the corner with a paintbrush…
Black Bo's (Restaurant)
57–61 Blackfriars Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1NB
Black Bo’s is another restaurant which has graced the Edinburgh vegetarian scene for over 20 years. If this were to draw you to the conclusion that they must be doing something right you’d be spot on. The shabby chic bistro-style interior is…
Black Medicine Coffee Company
2 Nicolson Street, Southside,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DH
The area near Edinburgh University's Southside campus is certainly not short of sandwich and coffee bars in which to grab a bite between classes. It proves a little harder, however, to find fresh, quality ingredients and a knowledge of how to combine…
Black Medicine Coffee Company
108 Marchmont Road, Southside,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1BG
The area near Edinburgh University's Southside campus is certainly not short of sandwich and coffee bars in which to grab a bite between classes. It proves a little harder, however, to find fresh, quality ingredients and a knowledge of how to combine…
Blackcherry Café
29 Grassmarket,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2HS
If it’s a hangover breakfast, pre-lecture fuel-up or lunch-hour pitstop that’s required, Black Cherry in the Grassmarket is there to satisfy. A tiny but cheery café serving breakfast rolls, sandwiches, wraps and bagels, coffee and cakes to students…
Blonde
75 St Leonard's Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9QR
Sunlit by summer’s day and candle-lit by winter’s night, Blonde’s stylish-but-plain premises can feel a little harsh with its hard surfaces and basic wooden chairs. However, this lack of luxury is quickly overshadowed when the comfort food arrives.
The Blue Blazer
2 Spittal Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9DX
The Blue Blazer moniker may only have been in place since 1975 but there has been a pub on this site since 1889. This may account for how comfortably it sits among the books and bosoms of West Port, drawing a crowd as diverse as the surrounding art…
Blue Moon Café
36 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3SB
It's hard to believe, but Broughton Street's Blue Moon Café, located in the heart of Edinburgh’s gay scene, has been a lively social hub for over 30 years. A few things have altered over time. The Broughton Street wing is now a separate diner…
Bluerapa Thai
6 Torphichen Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8DU
Given the number of Thai restaurants operating in Edinburgh at the moment, any new contender is going to have to go out of its way even to be noticed. The owners of the family-run Bluerapa Thai in Haymarket do at least have the advantage of ten years…
The Boat House
22 High Street,
South Queensferry,
City of Edinburgh,
EH30 9PP
There is much to enjoy in this waterfront South Queensferry gem. Ambitious owner and head chef Paul Steward has conjured up a bijou cocktail bar that tempts at street level. Downstairs, floor to ceiling windows offer views of the dramatic iron sweep of…
Boda Bar
229 Leith Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH6 8NY
There is much to like about Edinburgh’s original Swedish bar, from the quirky junk-shop aesthetic, complete with wall-mounted antlers and tea cups as candle holders, to the equally creative cocktail list – mixing absinthe and Baileys shouldn’t work but…
Bombay Bicycle Club
6–6a Brougham Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9HW
This Tollcross stalwart of 18 years has been refurbished with sultry red walls, ceiling spotlights, air conditioning, white tablecloths and fresh flowers imported from Holland, but the menu could also do with a revamp. King prawn puris and prawn…
Bombay Feast
32 Hillhouse Road, Blackhall,
Edinburgh,
EH4 2AG
Bombay Feast provides a wide-ranging menu of Indian standards that those familiar with the cuisine would expect to see, as well as some more unusual options for those who wish to experiment. Choices such as lamb sarisha (in a mustard sauce), chicken…
The Bon Vivant
55 Thistle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DY
The Bon Vivant is a stylish and well-stocked bar where the innovative cocktails are expertly made and the wine list is huge (44 available by the glass including 12 champagnes). Dark walls and candlelight set the scene, and amid the cosiness are decks…
Bond No. 9
84 Commercial Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LX
With an upmarket focus on champagnes and cocktails, Bond No. 9 seeks to provide Leith’s residents and visitors with something different to other watering holes in the area, and succeeds in attracting a stylish and diverse clientele. Classic cocktails…
Bonsai Bar Bistro
46 West Richmond St,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DZ
Pruning. An under-rated skill, but in the world of tiny trees – as in Japanese restaurants – a vital one. Luckily they have it in spades at Bonsai, with a commendably focused menu that doesn’t try to cover too many bases. And, where they do go in for…
Bread and Olives
17A Queensferry Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4QW
In a prime spot for office workers, shop staff and even shoppers who fancy a quick bite, the simply named Bread & Olives seems to be doing a deserved roaring trade. It doesn’t look like much, its dark green shopfront filled with old-fashioned…
Bread Street Brasserie
The Point Hotel, 34-36 Bread Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9AF
The Bread Street Brasserie, attached to the Point Hotel, is a typically dark and sleek hotel restaurant, populated on a weeknight by just a few diners, and one or two brusque waitresses. It does manage to create a suitably upmarket atmosphere, with a…
BrewDog Edinburgh
143–145 Cowgate,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1JS
Love or hate the aggressive branding aesthetic of young Fraserburgh-based brewery BrewDog, it’s impossible to deny that their brash signature beers like Trashy Blonde, Punk IPA and 5AM Saint have blown a whole nest of cobwebs from the national real ale…
Britannia Spice
150 Commercial Street, Ocean Drive,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LB
Britannia Spice is located in a rather austere converted whisky bond. Behind the stony façade, however, is a bright and open space containing long tables for large parties as well as a mezzanine and corner booths for intimate dining. The restaurant is…
Broughton Delicatessen
7 Barony Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6PD
Recently voted among the top 50 delis in the UK, this little deli/café champions the relaxed, community-based ethos of Broughton Street. There’ll be no pursed lips if you sit all day over your coffee and a book, there’s no BYOB corkage, and regular…
Browns Restaurant and Bar
131–133 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4JS
Browns is the only Scottish branch of a well-established chain that installs its popular brasserie template in historic buildings around the UK. Their mission, from conception in the 1970s, was to offer 'classic food, well-delivered in a stylish…
La Bruschetta
13 Clifton Terrace, Haymarket,
Edinburgh,
EH12 5DR
Chef/owner Giovanni Cariello clearly loves his little Haymarket restaurant. Warmth and comfort pervade, despite the stiff Mackintosh furniture and the elbows-to-neighbours intimacy of the place. It feels rustic and convivial, augmented by the charm and…
Buffalo Grill
1 Raeburn Place,
Edinburgh,
EH4 1HU
For some it may be a let-down to find that buffalo is not actually on the grill, but any disappointment should be tempered by some rather fine steak. After all, that's what customers have been coming for for more than twenty years. But before jumping…
Café Andaluz
77B George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3EE
Edinburgh’s branch of the Glasgow-founded tapas bar chain may have something of the city centre canteen about it, perfectly placed as it finds itself for Saturday afternoon shoppers and groups of office staff seeking an after-work bite. It’s a…
Café Blush
219 Morningside Road,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4QT
Morningside Road is not short of cappuccino options, but this dusky-pink painted café stands out, not just because of its adventurous coloured exterior but also its warm, friendly table service, easy-to-read simple menu and neighbourhood feel with…
Café Camino
Parish Centre, 1 Little King Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3JD
Pick your moment at Café Camino and you could find your coffee and sandwich accompanied by the solemn, yet uplifting, tones of a Catholic Mass being sung next door. This is the St Mary's Cathedral café and, since 2005, it has been doing excellent…
Café Cassis
Salisbury Hotel, Salisbury Road,
Edinburgh,
EH16 5AA
Newington newcomer Café Cassis is doing its bit to transform the much-maligned image of the hotel dining room. Out go pink tablecloths and warm, sweet wine, in comes laid-back bistro cooking with a strong French accent and one of the best outdoor…
Café Fish
15 North West Circus Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6SX
Note: in July 2011 Café Fish moved to a new location in Stockbridge. This review, first published in April 2011, refers to its previous venue in Leith.
It is a brave restaurant that opens a few doors along from the Michelin-starred Plumed Horse, but…
Café Grande
184 Bruntsfield Place,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4DF
Perhaps it's the red with yellow trim colour scheme, or the asymmetric arrangement of rickety tables, but there is something vaguely down-at-heel Gallic about Café Grande. Edinburgh scenes (for sale) dot the walls of this rough-round-the-edges…
Cafe Hub
Castlehill, Royal Mile,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2NE
Home of the Edinburgh International Festival, this lofty and imposing former church at the top of the Royal Mile is almost the last stop before Edinburgh Castle. It houses a box office, a rather splendid main hall (which hosts weddings, business events…
Café Lucia
Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9FT
The Festival Theatre’s spacious ground-floor bar has long been a place to gather for a pre-concert drink, catch-up with friends or spot of people watching through the giant windows. It might not be the first place in the area that springs to mind for a…
Café Marina
61 Cockburn Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1BS
With ancestry of Edinburgh’s legendary Elm Row deli, it’s not surprising that Marina Crolla places an emphasis on using good quality, simple ingredients in her home-style Italian lunches. The blackboard behind the counter shows off an endless list of…
Café Marlayne
76 Thistle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1EN
Café Marlayne has established itself firmly on the Edinburgh French restaurant scene, having survived 10 years and a move of its second branch from off the Royal Mile to new premises opposite the Playhouse Theatre. The two venues are markedly…
Café Milk
232 Morrison Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8EA
Café Milk is a fabulous find in an area where a good café is something of a rarity. With its unprepossessing exterior, it’s easy to miss, but do so and you’ll miss out. The interior design is a contemporary take on a milk bar or diner, with…
Café Modern One
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art One, 75 Belford Road,
Edinburgh,
EH4 3DR
A stalwart in Edinburgh’s arts-venue dining scene, the gallery café has become synonymous with quality food. A recent refurb has brought a more modern, streamlined feel to the operation, although the overall approach remains the same. Operating a…
Café Nom de Plume
60 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3SA
Café Nom de Plume is a welcome addition to a street already lined with bars, cafés and restaurants setting the standard high. Both LGBT and straight-friendly, it’s a haven of chilled-out homeliness from the moment you step through the door. The décor…
Café North
North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, Muirhouse,
Edinburgh,
EH4 4TZ
If Café North was in the centre of Edinburgh, you would be fighting to get a table. So perfect is it for family lunches, every toddler in town would treat it like a second home. In reality, North Edinburgh Arts Centre (NEAC) is a little off the beaten…
Café at the Palace
Palace of Holyroodhouse,
Edinburgh,
EH8 8DX
Situated next door to Holyrood Palace, this café is the obvious place to grab a sandwich or hearty bowl of soup after visiting the Queen’s Gallery and Palace, or after an invigorating trek round Arthur’s Seat or tour of the Scottish Parliament. With…
Café Rouge
43 Frederick Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1EP
The name conjures up a cosy bistro on La Rive Gauche. Yet, while the chansons belt forth from the stereo and the menu features a handful of familiar regional specialities such as boeuf bourguignon, there's nothing particularly intimate about Café…
Café St Honoré
34 North West Thistle Street Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1EA
With its wood-panelled and mirrored interior, black and white chequered floors and spindly tables with white cloths, Café St Honoré certainly has the power to make you feel like you’re in 1940s Paris. Fortunately for Edinburgh diners, 2011 Scottish…
Café Truva
77 The Shore,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6RG
This is no run of the mill soup and sandwich emporium: the food at Café Truva has the authentic flavour of the owner's Turkish heritage. The décor also brings a touch of Mediterranean warmth: deep red and yellow walls sport patterned plates and…
Caffe Espresso
15 Bank Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2LN
Head chef and owner Piera Campanile is reluctant to let anyone else cook in her kitchen until certain they can make food ‘just like we would at home’. This straightforward confidence with food has won fans near and far and, together with the unique…
The Caley Sample Room
42–58 Angle Park Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2JR
Proximity to Tynecastle and Murrayfield stadiums has long made this bar a busy watering den but recent years have seen a more serious food offering emerge, making this a very worthwhile venue all week and not just on match days. The bare brick wall and…
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…
Candy Kitchen and Bar
113–115 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4JN
This George Street favourite screams class and decadence, with its gleaming wooden floor and tables, smooth leather booths and dinky eggcup-shaped swivel chairs. It also says clearly night-time fun and frolics for the hip and happening. More sedately…
The Canny Man's
239 Morningside Road,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4QU
From the signs outside the door, to the ephemera hanging from the ceiling, to the impenetrable ordering system – everything about the Canny Man’s is unique. They paste the front page of The Times up in the gents’ every day. They give you little snacks…
The Canon's Gait
232 Canongate,
Edinburgh,
EH8 8DQ
Located further down the Royal Mile than the plethora of bars and restaurants surrounding St Giles, the Canon’s Gait is a stone’s throw away from the Palace of Holyrood at the bottom. The gilt lettering and rich red exterior are difficult to miss, and…
Captain Taylor's Coffee House
18 South Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1LL
If the Eating & Drinking Guide had a 'one to watch' category then Captain Taylor’s would undoubtedly be in there. Opened in August 2010, this is a side project from the incredible minds behind long-standing homeless charity Streetwork. Essentially…
Cargo
Edinburgh Quay, 129 Fountainbridge,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9QA
Cargo enjoys an attractive easy-to-access location at the beginning of the Union Canal towpath and also is only a five-minute walk from Lothian Road. The two-storey bar/restaurant has sleek dark wood tables, a glass-fronted bar and large picture…
Carrubbers Café
Carrubbers Christian Centre, 65 High Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1SR
It’s the café wing of Carrubbers Christian Centre, but only the occasional food-related Bible quote on the wall or the menu hints at these origins. Still, it’s worth pondering the notion of Christian charity a little more, because with some of their…
Il Castello
36 Castle Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2EL
Il Castello takes its name from Edinburgh’s best-known landmark, which towers over this compact, split-level restaurant in the city's busy theatre-land. They have been feeding hungry theatre-goers here since 1991, from a menu that reads as a long list…
Castle Terrace
33/35 Castle Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2EL
The opening of Castle Terrace in July 2010 saw its Edinburgh-born chef-patron Dominic Jack thrust into the spotlight. Having shone at iconic Paris restaurant Taillevent among others, hopes were high and Castle Terrace was quickly awarded a Michelin…
Celadon
49–51 Causewayside,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1QF
Celadon’s façade may well be unassuming to the point of anonymity, but to walk on by is to miss a treat. Inside is a gloriously unfussy and welcoming restaurant that manages to combine simplicity and style without ever making a big deal of it. Sit on a…
