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 and Pre-theatre menu
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- L'escargot Bleu
French cuisine with a Scottish twist - Hellers Kitchen
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Outside Catering - Valvona & Crolla VinCaffé
Classic Italian cooking using the finest ingredients and a tasting list of over 50 wines by the glass - Assam's
Assam's is has cleverly produced a contemporary take on traditional Indian fine dining
Xanadu Chinese Restaurant
13–14 Dalziel Place, Meadowbank,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5TP
Husband and wife team Colin and Irene Chiu run this friendly neighbourhood restaurant perched just off the main road through Meadowbank. Named after an emperor’s summer palace, Xanadu’s own decor is simple and functional with Chinese scenes on the pale…
Karen Wong's Chinese Restaurant
107–109 St Leonard's Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9QY
Karen Wong will tell you that she likes to keep her customers happy and her family-run restaurant certainly tries hard to cater for all comers. There are set menus galore – including both the traditional pre-theatre and a bargain mini-banquet which…
The Terrace Brasserie
Royal Terrace Hotel, 18–22 Royal Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5AQ
Situated on one of the grandest Georgian streets in Edinburgh is the dining-room of the Royal Terrace Hotel. The concise menu features some interesting ideas that lift it above the usual brasserie fare. For starters the soft sweetness of the scallops is…
Circus
8 St Mary's Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1SU
The stone-walled courtyard in the back of this Old Town café/ restaurant is a mini sun-trap in the summer, and a good spot for enjoying some calm while the High Street might be getting unpleasantly hectic with crowds. Circus is run by the same folks who…
The Salisbury Arms
58 Dalkeith Road,
Edinburgh,
EH16 5AD
Opened in June 2011, the Salisbury Arms was the first Scottish venture of the Village Pub and Kitchen group (their takeover of the Sheep’s Heid being a close second). With 39 establishments across the UK their ethos is to keep an independent spirit in…
B'est
16 Drummond Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9TX
The open, simple, spacious rooms at B’est are a fitting setting for this relaxed bistro that has become a favourite with students and summer festival goers. A cannily priced three course set menu for under £15 is a very welcome dinner option during…
Monteiths
57–61 High Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1SR
Monteiths’ discreet menu board at the head of one of the Royal Mile’s darker closes is easily missed. But don’t, because this subterranean bar and restaurant’s low-key Scottish style is a welcome antidote to the energetic tartanry to be found nearby.
Tanjore
6–8 Clerk Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9HX
Relative newcomer Tanjore brings a wealth of south Indian cuisine to its Newington locale, wrapped up in a friendly and relaxed café setting. Owner and head chef Boon Ganeshram switches between open kitchen and compact dining area, describing tapas…
Ti Amo
16 Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DH
Ti Amo's position opposite the Festival Theatre ensures its enduring success. Amusingly dated décor distracts from perusing menus bearing the brunt of many a thumb and spilled vino: menu-matching, smoke-aged, stencilled walls; pillars, statues, and an…
Suruchi
14a Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DH
Sitting directly opposite the Festival Theatre, Suruchi will always attract late-night diners and pre-theatre bargain hunters. The real challenge is to inspire regulars in this highly competitive neck of the woods. The owners seem alive to criticism of…
Red Fort
10 Drummond Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9TU
This modern-style, 50-seater restaurant shows an engaging determination to tick every box you could possibly desire. Open seven days, service kicks off at noon with a buffet lunch (free for under threes, £3.50 for under tens, £6 for students, or £6.85…
Spoon Café Bistro
6a Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DH
Home life getting you down? Move here. Seriously. It’s open from 10am till 10pm, serving everything from morning rolls through to a three-course dinner. There’s free wi-fi. People bring you drinks. The furniture is cool kitsch-retro-chic. If only the…
Home Bistro
41 West Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DB
Quite why owners Richard Logan and Rowland Thomson chose to homage the seventies with their charming bistro isn’t clear, though the wallpaper, trio of flying ducks and elongated wooden antelopes are endearingly quirky. But the nostalgia ends right where…
Dragon Way
74–78 South Clerk Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9PT
Dragon Way is certainly not your run-of-the-mill Chinese restaurant. Yes, the friendly staff serve up generous portions of shredded duck rolls and sesame prawn toast, spicy Lar Chee beef and slightly-less-spicy Cheung Bau chicken. And yes, you can get a…
Saffrani
11 South College Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9AA
This small restaurant tucked away off Nicolson Street has retained its all-round quality through a recent change in ownership, with an extensive list of curries from a variety of Indian regions. To start, chicken chat is a substantial dish of spicy…
Pink Olive
55–57 West Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DB
Tucked in beside the Fringe hotspot of Bristo Square, Pink Olive is a charming, snug, family-run and eponymous bistro. Olive, the owner’s gran, supplies the rhubarb from her garden, and granddad-in-law grows the apples for the delightful chutney which…
Café Cassis
Salisbury Hotel, Salisbury Road,
Edinburgh,
EH16 5AA
Tucked under the Salisbury Hotel in the quieter reaches of Edinburgh’s southside, Café Cassis makes good use of its semi-basement situation. Beyond the tight entranceway, the interior is warmly lit, welcoming and relaxed, and backs onto a…
Howies at Waterloo
29 Waterloo Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3BQ
While things below the waterline have been a bit frantic since the original owners bought back Edinburgh’s two remaining Howies in late 2011, above the surface everything is typically calm. The Waterloo Place restaurant is a stylishly decorated, well…
Elliot's Restaurant
Apex Hotel, Waterloo Place, 23–27 Waterloo Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3BH
Competing with hundreds of bars and eateries, it’s a hard-knock life for hotel restaurants in Edinburgh. Elliot’s, part of the Apex chain’s Waterloo Place hotel, does its best to keep guests in and even tempt the locals along with some smart deals…
Creelers
3 Hunter Square,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1QW
Creelers’ proprietor, Tim James, started work as a fisherman a quarter of a century ago and he and his wife Fran are co-founders of the Arran Smokehouse and regularly sell fresh fish and seafood at local farmers' markets. With such a pedigree you’d…
Le Sept
5 Hunter Square,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1QW
Le Sept has been around on the Edinburgh dining scene in one form or another since 1982 and they have honed their formula down to a fine art. You won’t find thrilling culinary experimentation or fancy foams here, just honest competently cooked French…
Classic's
10 Windsor Street,
Edinburgh,
EH7 5JR
Situated beneath the Cairn Hotel, Classic’s basement restaurant is a story of two halves, one part lying fallow beyond the breakfast service while the understated, stone-clad main dining area is dominated by a large wooden bar that hints at the room’s…
North Bridge Brasserie
20 North Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1YT
If you wish a little 19th-century grandeur with your dinner, the North Bridge Brasserie will fit the bill. Now a hotel but originally the home of the Scotsman newspaper, dark wood panelling and marble columns give a period feel, while the adjacent bar…
Vermilion
The Scotsman Hotel, 20 North Bridge, Old Town,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1YT
The glamorous descent down Vermilion's candle-lit marble staircase may lure you into thinking 'huge menu and starchy service', but the only starchy thing about this intimate basement restaurant in The Scotsman Hotel is the white tablecloths. An…
Celadon
49–51 Causewayside,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1QF
A stone’s throw from the Meadows, Celadon boasts a calming atmosphere and delightful dishes. Apple-green walls, ribbon-bound napkins and stout wooden tables fill up the two dining sections. Pre-theatre and banquet menus are priced reasonably at £12.99…
Hewat's Restaurant
19–21b Causewayside,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1QF
Hewat’s certainly promises much. This plushly appointed room on Causewayside is all maroon velvet chairs, chandeliers and original artworks – plenty to make eating here feel like a special occasion. Husband and wife team Richard (the chef) and Margaret…
Hellers Kitchen
15 Salisbury Place,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1SL
Richard and Michelle Heller have moved on from the popular New Bell in Causewayside, and Hellers Kitchen (previously their second string) is now basking in the full focus of their attention. It’s your typical friendly wee neighbourhood bistro, but…
Jolly Ristorante & Pizzeria
9 Elm Row, Leith Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH7 4AA
A bright red sign pronouncing the restaurant's whereabouts cheerfully stands out amid Elm Row's other established businesses, beckoning in passers-by from the bustle of the town centre. The interior is dark and slightly worn by contrast, but incoming…
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…
Al Fresco
22 Union Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3NQ
There’s something of a Giuliano’s theme to this stretch of Union Street, with the original restaurant, the takeaway next door and this incarnation, Al Fresco, just a few doors down. Try and get a table before a show at the Playhouse opposite, however…
Café Marlayne
13 Antigua Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3NH
Longevity is not something always associated with Edinburgh’s French restaurants. That Café Marlayne has stuck around for a decade is testament to its ability to consistently please an eclectic range of diners. Tucked just north of George Street the…
Gurkha Brigade Nepalese Restaurant
9a Antigua Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3NH
This small homely restaurant with colourful Nepalese paper ceiling lights and photos of the Annapurna range of mountains adorning the walls is at the top of Leith Walk. Its position makes it very convenient if you have been to The Edinburgh Playhouse or…
Giuliano's
18–19 Union Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3NQ
Situated directly across the road from the Playhouse Theatre, Giuliano’s has achieved Edinburgh institution status due to its popularity with theatre-goers, tourists and large parties – including hen and stag dos. Its cavernous interior is resplendent…
Chang Thai Restaurant
29 Cockburn Street, 1 Craig's Close,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1BN
Down the wynd of stairs between Cockburn and Market streets is Chang Thai, a vibrant establishment serving delectable dishes. The subterranean setting is enlivened by a canopy of fake ivy on the ceiling, copper-coloured walls and smiling golden buddhas.
Hotel du Vin
11 Bristo Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1EZ
Fact: eating out is way nicer than eating in. Or at least it is when the people who bring your food and pour your drinks are really, really lovely. This is well understood in Hotel du Vin, where the service is full of personality and pretty much…
Steak
12 Picardy Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3JT
Steak is one of a new wave of Edinburgh steakhouses influenced by the likes of London’s much-lauded Hawksmoor. It’s aiming for hi-octane glamour that would be more at home in the Meatpacking district in New York City, but Edinburgh could do with a dose…
Phuket Pavilion
8 Union Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3LU
Veteran restaurateur Bill Parkinson has been in the business for 46 years and it shows. Service is a speciality: he wants people to relax while they eat. If you’re enjoying his pre-theatre menu before heading across the road to the Playhouse you might…
Restaurant Mark Greenaway at No 12 Picardy Place
12 Picardy Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3JT
Mark Greenaway’s take on dining is unashamedly modern. With deconstructed creations, foams, smokes and multi-ingredient theatrics aplenty, this is a sophisticated, highly confident offering. A starter of Loch Fyne crab cannelloni is a good introduction…
Angels With Bagpipes
343 High Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1PW
Don’t let the High Street buskers put you off. Through the back in the restaurant you won’t hear them. Instead, the smart sophisticated décor and modern tableware sets off an approach to Scottish ingredients that acknowledges centuries of continental…
Tower Restaurant
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1JF
For the best view in the Southside, try the roof terrace of the Tower, looking over to the Castle. Inside, the National Museum’s restaurant has dark, glossy tables and a modern take on food. Like the crisp fish finger which really tastes of crab.
The Voodoo Rooms
19a West Register Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2AA
While the food may not claim as much focus as the music, events and super-smashing cocktail list in the sexy, sultry and edgy Voodoo Rooms, it's more than just an afterthought. Tucked beside the main bar, a small, black linen and leather restaurant…
Ondine
2 George IV Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1AD
Ondine has quickly established itself as a respected fixture on the city-centre dining scene. Located next to the smart Missoni Hotel, the second-floor restaurant offers mesmerising views over George IV Bridge and Victoria Street, while diners can also…
Siam Thani
14 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RH
Sitting at the top of Broughton Street, Siam Thani is well positioned for pre-theatre/cinema/comedy dining with the Playhouse, Omni Centre and The Stand all nearby. However, the relaxed ambience is much more that of a friendly local than a busy city…
Urban Angel
1 Forth Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3JX
Seasonal, local and organic are the buzz words for these bright, informal, modern bistros. A high proportion of the menu is made up of daily specials making the most of what produce is best that day. A nourishing parsnip soup is enlivened with mustard…
Cucina
Hotel Missoni, 1 George IV Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1AD
One thing that can be said for dining in a hotel restaurant owned by a multi-national, designer fashion house, is that it's likely to be a glamorous affair. From the smile on the Missoni-kilted doormen to the toilets worthy of a film star, the…
The Old Bell Restaurant
233 Causewayside,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1PH
This welcoming restaurant above a bar still has its dark wood, white tablecloths and walls covered with pictures, but chefs rule now they have taken over the running of the Old Bell. Their ambition is to provide Newington with fine dining on Scottish…
Merchants
17 Merchant Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QD
Having reached a quarter of a century Merchants doesn't want for staying power in Edinburgh's changeable restaurant scene. So the décor is functional rather than flashy, with plain burgundy coloured walls, the occasional framed print and timeless bistro…
Smoke Stack
53–55 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RJ
A meat-lovers’ mecca since 1996, Smoke Stack reinforces its menu’s focus on beef with its spartan interior, the deep-crimson walls visually echoing the shade of a quiveringly rare fillet steak. While there are salads, fajitas and a few vegetarian…
Howies (Victoria Street)
10–14 Victoria Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2HG
Long time favourite on the Edinburgh dining scene, the Howies Restaurants group has waxed and waned over the years. Now operating from two locations, their Victoria Street operation, close by the Royal Mile, is well placed for tourists and locals alike.
Valvona & Crolla Vincaffè
11 Multrees Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3DQ
Valvona & Crolla’s Vincaffe is only a short distance but several years away from the densely packed cornucopia of the family-run business’s original branch on Elm Row. With a bright, contemporary décor, evenly spaced, white dressed tables and a bank…
387 places.
Sorted by place / most viewed / distance. Showing 25, 50, 100 per page.
