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, Pre-theatre menu and "Edinburgh"
- Centotre
Centotre serves food made from locally sourced ingredients in a great location - McKirdy's Steakhouse
Edinburgh's only Steakhouse owned & supplied by Award Winning butchers - Hellers Kitchen
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Outside Catering - Maison Bleue
Visit Maison Bleue, Edinburgh and enjoy French & Mediterranean cuisine in intimate surroundings.
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.
Nonna's Kitchen
45 Morningside Road,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4AZ
With a warm welcome from the Stornaiuolo family, this corner venue in Morningside is everything anyone could want in a neighbourhood restaurant. One thing certain is that you could never get bored of the menu – despite a short à la carte selection, the…
The Apartment Bistro
7–13 Barclay Place,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4HW
The Apartment has been going strong since 1999, and its 2010 refurb seems to have rebooted things nicely. Here, ‘modern bistro’ means seasonality and an evolving menu, as evidenced by a neat little daily set menu, plus specials. A starter of pork…
L'escargot Bleu
56 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3SA
The justly popular L’escargot Bleu generates an air of welcome as you enter the bright, airy rooms one flight up on Broughton Street. The buzz feels embracing rather than exclusive, as much coming from the patrons as the proprietors. Co-owners Betty…
Iglu
2b Jamaica Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6HH
For all that it is tucked at the far end of a side-street, Iglu has established an enviable profile, priding itself on serving seasonal, locally-sourced, organic and wild foods in the cosy upstairs restaurant and downstairs bar area. Proving high…
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…
The Honours
58a North Castle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3LU
There was little doubt that a brasserie developed under the keen eye of Martin Wishart, Edinburgh's advocate of French cuisine, was going to be something special. Taking over the Castle Street site once home to Tony's Table, Wishart’s team have turned…
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…
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…
Centotre
103 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3ES
Centotre manages to pull off a neat trick. Despite the austere, ex-bank interior, from those lost days when financial edifices were akin to cathedrals, it still manages to maintain a feeling of warmth and intimacy in the evenings or bright and breezy…
Leven's
30-32 Leven Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9LJ
With its shiny surfaces, colour-changing LED lighting and leather chairs, Leven’s could be any type of eatery on first appearances. It’s only on entering that the warm welcome and seductive sweety-spicy smells make it clear that this is a Thai…
Asti
73 Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RJ
Owned by the same people who run the neighbouring Rapido, Asti is a refined, relaxed eatery in comparison to its neighbour, specialising in decent Italian dishes rather than fast food. Painted a pleasing shade of mocha, this café-cum-restaurant takes…
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…
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…
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.
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…
Indian Lounge
129a Rose Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3DT
The family-run Indian Lounge is central enough for most of the city to grab a curry on their way home, and there’s a lot to recommend that you do. Prices are considerably more reasonable than you might expect from the central – or any – location, staff…
Amarone
13 St Andrew Square,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2BH
This vast contemporary Italian themed restaurant complete with pastoral photographs, high domed roof and colourfully lit ceiling art opened in the summer of 2011 and is already bustling. From the restaurant family that includes DiMaggio’s and Café…
The Dining Room
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, 28 Queen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1JX
While a fantastic selection of spirits is the focus in the Scotch Malt Whisky Society Scotland’s famous members’ bar, the food is definitely the star in the Dining Room, its upscale restaurant. A handful of tables in a light Georgian drawing room with…
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…
Maison Bleue
36–38 Victoria Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2JW
Maison Bleue is defiantly not a typical French restaurant. Or certainly not one from the mainland, as the influence here comes from further south than Marseilles. The culinary net soars across France’s once mighty empire, from spicy North African…
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…
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…
The Jam House
5 Queen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1JE
Dusky purple lights cast romantic shadows on the walls of this funky, jazz-centric venue once occupied by BBC Scotland. Guests dine on the balcony above the main stage where soulful musicians entertain throughout the evening. A fixed-price set menu with…
110 Restaurant
Genting Club, 124 Dundee Street, Fountainpark,
Edinburgh,
EH11 1AF
Genting Club Fountainpark was formerly known as Edinburgh Circus Casino.
Situated at Fountainpark in the heart of the Capital, moments from Edinburgh Castle, you will be sure to have a fantastic time.
Whether you are planning to celebrate a night…
Sweet Melindas
11 Roseneath Street,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1JH
Sweet Melindas is the very definition of cosy neighbourhood hangout. The one-room Marchmont restaurant’s white-painted wooden panelling, found black-and-white photographs and shelves of assorted bric-a-brac lend it a quaint but pleasant ambience, and…
Absolute Thai
22 Valleyfield Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9LR
The Tollcross area of Edinburgh isn’t short of Thai restaurants. Absolute Thai is hidden away down a side street but still stands out from the crowd through its unpretentious feel, reasonable prices and BYOB approach to booze. Since opening in 2009…
Café St Honoré
34 North West Thistle Street Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1EA
Romantic Café St Honoré feels ideally placed tucked away in its cobbled New Town lane, but quiet locations can be deceiving. Inside, its charming, old-fashioned mirrored rooms are often bustling with exuberant diners. At nearly twenty years old, it is a…
Calistoga
70 Rose Street North Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3DX
Tucked away behind Rose Street, Calistoga’s insalubrious location belies a welcoming, chic bistro that aims to bring a little Californian sunshine to Edinburgh. Posters of vineyards on the cream-coloured walls declare the restaurant’s passion for wine…
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…
Petit Paris
38–40 Grassmarket,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2JU
Cheek by jowl in the middle of the traffic-eased Grassmarket, Petit Paris uses all available spaces to fit check-clothed tables into its lively, friendly venue. More enthusiastically French than many of its competitors, a genuine welcome greets each…
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…
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…
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…
L'escargot Blanc
17 Queensferry Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4QW
Tucked high above Queensferry Street is a cosy retreat that manages to celebrate the Auld Alliance without being either too Scottish or too French. Yes, full size French advertising posters and French pop do lend L’escargot Blanc a distinctly Gallic…
Fishers in the City
58 Thistle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1EN
Fishers Restaurant Group now comprises two main branches as well as the Shore Bar & Restaurant, which stands adjacent to the original Leith eaterie. While both the Leith and city centre restaurants bear the Fishers moniker, the two venues couldn’t…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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…
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…
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…
Mezbaan South Indian Restaurant
14/14a Brougham Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9JH
It’s rare in Edinburgh to find Indian restaurants with regional specificity, so Mezbaan is welcome in introducing flavours from the country’s south, especially since it has one of Britain’s best South Asian chefs at the helm. Coconut is a prominent…
The Ship on the Shore
24–26 The Shore,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6QN
A popular fixture on the Leith scene for nearly a quarter of a century, the Ship on the Shore can genuinely be said to offer something for everyone – as long as you’re not averse to fresh, beautifully prepared fish and seafood. Opening its doors with…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
China Town
3 Atholl Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8HP
Don’t be fooled by China Town’s modest whitewashed frontage at the end of Shandwick Place. Step inside and you’ll find a stylish dining room that’s all muted colours, luxe upholstery and statement lighting. The Chinese influence shows in the old musical…
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…
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…
Iris
47a Thistle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DY
It’s hard to leave Thistle Street without eating a great meal somewhere, but Iris easily holds its own in this competitive neighbourhood in which every square foot of restaurant space is put to work. Here, however, soft panelling and carpeting in a…
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…
La Partenope
96 Dalry Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2AX
Named after a mythological maiden who died of heartache on the Bay of Naples, La Partenope offers a taste of Napoli on Dalry Road. This family restaurant is operated by a sibling trio: chef Paolo creates magnificent dishes, brother Renato is the…
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…
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…
Zucca
15–17 Grindlay Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9AX
Adjoining the Royal Lyceum, Zucca is an obvious target for pre or post-theatre diners, with the ground floor café serving sandwiches and deli snacks until late, and the upstairs dining room offering hearty dishes which fuse Italian and Scottish flavours…
Browns Bar & Brasserie
131–133 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4JS
A decent all-round package should be an upmarket chain’s stock in trade, and Browns Bar and Brasserie in George Street has a slick take on most eating and drinking options. The chandelier wouldn’t disgrace Phantom of the Opera, while smart white-aproned…
Café Andaluz
77B George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3EE
This outpost of a successful Glasgow chain is the biggest of Edinburgh’s Spanish restaurants, and acts accordingly. It is Spanish dining at its most accessible, designed to fill seats and please crowds; something it does with aplomb. A multitude of…
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 (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.
McKirdy's Steakhouse
151 Morrison Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8AG
While certain steakhouses have moved elegantly into more upmarket pastures, McKirdy's continues with its proven formula unchanged. In a modest setting on Morrison Street, it’s all about the meat, not the décor. Delivering consistent quality beef…
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…
Tempus
25 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2PB
Large mirrors and bold works of art line the walls of the George Hotel's plush dining room, the ceiling is elaborately decorated and lit by huge chandeliers. Understated it isn’t but, despite the opulent surroundings the atmosphere is one of casual…
The Witchery by the Castle
Castlehill, Royal Mile,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2NF
From its grand seat atop the Royal Mile, The Witchery’s lavishly designed suites and busy restaurant have been drawing a mix of locals and visitors for over 30 years. This medieval merchant’s house is graced with bespoke panelled ceiling, sumptuous…
Bar Roma
39a Queensferry Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4RA
Celebrating its 31st birthday this year, Bar Roma remains the consummate family run, and family friendly, Italian restaurant. This is a large, bustling, brightly lit place – and while they’re more than happy to cater to couples, this is a perfect venue…
Bia Bistrot
19 Colinton Road,
Edinburgh,
EH10 5DP
'I do the food and he does the booze and the money.' It obviously works, because Roisin and Matthias Llorente’s unassuming little eatery in a run of shops near Morningside’s Holy Corner has won a Michelin mention and a following of locals who, if they…
The Blue Goose Country Pub
27 Lanark Road,
Edinburgh,
EH14 1TG
Now split into a restaurant and bar, which serves a handful of lighter meals and tapas throughout the day, the Blue Goose is a vast improvement from its previous incarnation as the Dell Inn. However, the style (country pub meets colonial) doesn’t quite…
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…
Dragon Way
10d/10e Bath Street, Portobello,
Edinburgh,
EH15 1HZ
Dragon Way knows how to make a first impression. Crammed with ornate artefacts imported from China, the larger Southside restaurant includes a huge water feature and gold decorations galore, its sumptuous surroundings bordering on 'ghetto chic'. It's a…
Kama Sutra
105-109 Lothian Road,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9AN
Following in the footsteps of Glasgow and Stirling, November 2011 saw the appearance of Kama Sutra on Lothian Road. With menu and décor consistency across all venues, exposed brickwork, dark wood furniture and imported carved artwork lend warmth to the…
Locanda de Gusti
7–11 East London Street,
Edinburgh,
EH7 4BN
The restaurant formerly known as Bella Mbriana continues to choose the road less travelled by and offer what they describe as a genuine Italian experience as opposed to the more anglicised fare available elsewhere. Tucked around the corner from…
My Big Fat Greek Kitchen
6 Brougham Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9JH
The back room of this Tollcross restaurant is decorated with a giant floor to ceiling photo of Santorini – where whitewashed villas zigzag the hillside down to turquoise seas below. The whole experience of My Big Fat Greek Kitchen aims to magic up…
9 Cellars Thali
1–3 York Place,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3EB
Don’t judge this restaurant by the glowing photographs of food in the window display. To get an idea, just speak to chef and owner Phool Thakur, who’ll tell you of his history cooking in some fine establishments in India, and now serves much more than…
The Sizzling Scot Steakhouse & Grill
103–105 Dalry Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2AB
Tucked away on Dalry Road, the Sizzling Scot Steakhouse & Grill serves exceptional cuts of beef in subtle tartan surroundings. Scottish folk music plays merrily in the background while energetic servers scribble orders. Though the menu is laden with…
Whiski Rooms
4, 6 & 7 North Bank Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2LP
Despite sitting in the heart of tourist territory, Whiski Rooms attracts a mixture of diners including professionals, locals of all ages and students, as well as the expected flow of visitors. Created in 2011 from a former bank and bookshop, the Whiski…
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…
La Bagatelle
22a Brougham Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9JU
When La Bagatelle first flung open its doors with a distinctly Gallic shrug of its Francophile shoulders 15 years ago it was a welcome addition to a limited selection of French restaurants in Edinburgh. Times have moved on with a plethora of French…
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…
La Garrigue Bistro
88 Commercial Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LX
La Garrigue has a 'wee brother' operation down on Commercial Quay in Leith; set in the former Daniel's, it has much more of the classic French bistro about it, serving up coq au vin, tartiflette, confit duck leg and simple omelettes, pasta bowls or fish…
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…
The Magnum Restaurant & Bar
1 Albany Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3PY
A genuinely warm welcome and an impressive côte de boeuf are but two memorable highlights of a visit to the Magnum. Or, there’s the light, thin pastry of crab and Lammermuir smoked cheese tart and its unusual accompanying salad of red peppers and smoked…
Le Mouton Noir
3–5 Viewforth,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4JD
In no sense is Le Mouton Noir the black sheep of French dining, other than in the literal translation of its name. Instead, this clean-cut yet warmly inviting Bruntsfield restaurant leads the flock with an uncompromising attitude that well warrants a…
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…
Ristorante Ferrari
1 Merchiston Place, Bruntsfield,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4NP
What was once the Bruntsfield Post Office has now been transformed into an airy oasis of tea lights and exposed stonework, chocolate brown walls and cream tablecloths. A correspondingly modern yet classic menu accompanies a stunning wine list, offering…
Ruan Siam
48 Howe Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6TH
Fairy lights illuminate the cavernous space of Ruan Siam, a quaint basement restaurant tucked under Howe St. Leafy plants and sea-green napkins brighten up the intimate dining space. Lunch, banquet and pre-theatre menus are offered throughout the day…
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…
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…
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…
Suruchi Too
121 Constitution Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 7AE
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…
Turkish Kitchen
120-122 Rose Street South Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4BB
Located down an unassuming lane off Rose Street, Turkish Kitchen does a thriving takeaway trade but is well worth seeking out, not just for a post-pub kebab, but for a slap-up banquet of traditional Turkish cooking. Fret-cut sconces, decorative mirrors…
Bread Street Brasserie
The Point Hotel, 34-36 Bread Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9AF
Point Hotel, also home to Monboddo Bar and the monthly top-floor Sky Bar, the Bread Street Brasserie is designed to reflect a classic French bistro, kitted out with smart wooden café chairs and polished floors. It’s a large space, which can seem a bit…
First Coast
97–101 Dalry Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2AB
Anyone who believes great food can’t be found west of Haymarket is missing out. First Coast’s marine wainscoting, cream walls and natural wood create a serene blend of smart, bright and comforting. So it is with the food. A menu featuring grain salad…
Khublai Khan Mongolian Barbecue Restaurant
43 Assembly Street, Leith,
Edinburgh,
EH6 7BQ
Mongolia may be best known for its goat broth, yak butter and fermented mare’s milk, but it’s the sheer incongruity of Khublai Khan’s that draws most people in. Although there is an element of gimmickry – not least the chance (by prior arrangement) to…
Leith Lynx
100-102 Constitution Street,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6AW
Since taking over Leith Lynx in July 2011 new owner and chef John Winnik has overhauled the menu and modernised the cooking. The dishes make good use of seasonal ingredients sourced locally – as a result the menu changes constantly and offers plenty of…
The Living Room
113–115 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4JN
The large dining room, filled with business people and tourists easing into the cream leather booths, oozes laid-back sophistication. It is all surface shine, with smart, attentive staff and vases of orchids, but the substance, the food, doesn’t quite…
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…
The Mulroy
11a–13a William Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 7NG
The Battle of Mulroy between the MacDonalds and the Mackintoshes took place in 1688. The Edinburgh restaurant which takes its name from this Highlands’ clan feud is a much more peaceful affair, thanks in large part to the charmingly impeccable manners…
