Restaurants
Found 968 places.
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- Vittoria ‘On the Walk’
One of Edinburgh’s best known Italian Restaurants. - Vittoria ‘On the Bridge’
The perfect restaurant to experience a real taste of Italy.
A Room in the West End
26 William Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 7NH
Happily roosting under Teuchters bar on upmarket William Street, A Room in the West End shares many a trait with its older New Town sibling – not least its focus on modern Scottish cookery. The option to BYOB also runs in the family, making both popular…
The Butterfly and the Pig
153 Bath Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4SQ
Going for a meal at The Butterfly and the Pig is something of an Alice in Wonderland experience. Beyond its unprepossessing basement entrance, the bar is decorated like the Mad Hatter's front room, with chintz sofas, doilies and Welsh dressers bursting…
A Room in the Town
18 Howe Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6TG
A Room in the Town is a great place to have in the back pocket if you happen to have friends in from, well, out of town. Managing to combine the warmth and friendliness of a neighbourhood restaurant with some seriously fine cooking, it's the kind of…
The Dogs
110 Hanover Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DR
Ascending the stairs of this sharply decorated, stylish bistro is a little like walking into a friend's lovely living room for dinner. Stark white walls and simple furnishings are set against pictures of the eponymous dogs liberally scattered around the…
A Room in Leith
1c Dock Place,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LU
There's definitely room for a branch of this well-established Edinburgh chain in Leith, which, over the past few years has been overly dominated by high-brow and fish-based establishments. The Room in Leith has taken over the popular and comfortable…
The Apartment
7–13 Barclay Place,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4HW
This landmark Tollcross diner has been putting style and ambience at the heart of the eating experience for nearly ten years now. Lights are dimmed to seductive levels, with funky beats gently reverberating through the multi-annexed floor space. Staff…
The Grill on the Corner
21–25 Bothwell Street,
Glasgow,
G2 6NL
With its shiny black wooden furniture, mirrored surfaces and private booths, each with their own rather decadent crystal chandelier, this luxurious restaurant has a distinct air of the moneyed 1980s. The time travel effect is further enhanced by the…
Roastit Bubbly Jocks
450 Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow,
G11 6SE
Amidst the charity shops at the long end of Dumbarton Road, Roastit Bubbly Jocks might seem out of the way. For many, however, it's a well-loved dining institution. The emphasis is on the food and atmosphere: it's bustling, loud and warm – the way any…
International Starters
82 Commercial Quay,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LX
This well-oiled machine, which sits near the banks of Edinburgh's increasingly prosperous Shore area, has something for everyone. With a menu boasting dishes from around the world, the premise is simple: each person selects two or three starter-sized…
The Outsider
15/16 George IV Bridge,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1EE
With its dark exterior and candle-lit, cavernous interior, the Outsider lives up to the mysterious ambience its moniker suggests. A mix of small and large tables fills the wide dining room, and guests can also sit in the upstairs loft or the snug on the…
B'est
16 Drummond Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9TX
B'est may only have been up and running for less than two years, but it's already a popular venture, attracting lively parties as well as courting couples with its cheap dining offers. Set menus include a three-course dinner for £14.90 and a two-course…
Chop Chop
248 Morrison Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 8DT
'Authentic' may be an over-used claim on many menus, but at Chop Chop it's entirely appropriate. Don't be fooled by the garish red and yellow façade: it might look like any other takeaway, but Chop Chop is the real deal. Genuinely charming and…
Khushi's
9 Victoria Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2HE
If there is anyone out there who still yearns for the bygone days of flock-wallpapered Indian restaurants, a trip to Khushi's will soon sort them out. Buzzing with energy, the vast, grand, contemporary dining environment that is home number five for…
Abstract
33/35 Castle Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2EL
It's important to set aside an entire evening for a visit to Abstract: a quick bite before curtain up at one of the nearby theatres would be doing it a great injustice. There's just so much vying for your attention here, from the mirrored pillars and…
The Italian Kitchen
64 Ingram Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1EX
A sleek, stylish and airy character-setter for its corner of the Merchant City, the Italian Kitchen has a striking atmosphere of buzz and bustle at lunchtime, with relaxed business people competing with smatterings of recharging shoppers to be heard…
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…
The Loft Bar & Restaurant
The Grosvenor Theatre, Ashton Lane,
Glasgow,
G12 8SJ
Set above the Grosvenor Cinema, The Loft is one of the largest establishments on Ashton Lane and as such is packed at the weekend with students and young professionals from across Glasgow. Midweek sees more locals venturing into this vast, airy space.
Mosque Kitchen
Edinburgh Central Mosque, 50 Potterrow,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9BT
Mosque Kitchen is a singular dining experience, satisfying a very diverse clientele from all walks of life, staff and students from the nearby university and Muslim families. It's located in the Southside under a corrugated iron canapé at the back of…
10 Cambridge Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2ED
In applying Slow Food philosophies, properly educating its staff and delivering superbly designed dishes, blue is doing a lot of things right. A fastidious sourcing policy forms the restaurant's backbone, the name of the game being those elusive goals…
Petit Paris
38–40 Grassmarket,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2JU
'Le respect de la tradition Française' is the strapline to this lively bistro, whose Grassmarket headquarters has plied a successful trade for a decade, with a further branch opening on Queensferry Street in 2005. While the décor of blue, white and red…
Sushiya
19 Dalry Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2BQ
Amid the clutter of small shops and restaurants that line the end of Dalry Road, it's easy to walk past this tiny sushi and noodle bar without even noticing it. The simple glass façade is embellished only with a row of suspended crimson lanterns, while…
Coconut Grove
3 Lochrin Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9QJ
The Coconut Grove is a small, friendly diner by Tollcross – an ideal spot for an enterprising restaurant, which the Grove certainly is. For instance, the subtle décor eschews the heavy-handed approach of sombreros and chilli motifs, replacing them with…
Avoca
4–6 Dean Street,
Edinburgh,
EH4 1LW
This is a bar that knows exactly what it's doing when it comes to food. It's not attempting to be a bistro: it's emphatically a bar and loves being a bar. Taste is everything in this little relaxing snug; music and chat don't intrude on your dining and…
Balbir's
7 Church Street,
Glasgow,
G11 5JP
Balbir's modern interior is plush and well lit, decorated in warm reds and clean whites, and the space is large and open enough for bigger parties while still accommodating those looking for a more intimate meal. The food is as modern as the setting.
The King's Wark
36 The Shore,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6QU
The Leith dining scene continues to change apace, so it's reassuring to see one of its longest established pubs staying ahead of the pack. The main bar offers a traditional bar menu spiced up daily to include blackboard specials; the adjacent dining…
Amicus Apple
17 Frederick Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2EY
Amicus Apple has been under new ownership since 2007, and its basement area has been transformed into a chic, welcoming, boudoir-like space. Patterned black walls, twinkling light fittings and comfortable leather chairs accommodate shoppers and office…
17a West Register Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 2AA
Hidden away down an alley close to, but sufficiently away from, the bustle of Princes Street is this sumptuous snapshot of architectural Victoriana. Designed by Robert Patterson in 1862 as a showroom for the latest in high-tech fixtures and fittings…
Arta
The Old Cheesemarket, 62 Albion Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1PA
When the smart restaurant within the G1 Group's Arta complex of bars and opened its doors in 2000, the menu was largely Spanish and in keeping with the design of the building (although it's a former cheese market, the interior has been modelled on a…
The Blue Parrot Cantina
49 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AH
The Blue Parrot isn't a place that shouts about itself. From the road outside, there are few signs that this compact restaurant exists at all. If there was a prize for subtlety, this place would win hands down. It doesn't even do garish wall mounts or…
Drawing Room
1055 Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7UD
With the neo-gothic Glasgow University tower and the formidable Kelvingrove Museum dominating the horizon outside, Drawing Room boasts one of the most glorious views for a West End bar. Window seating has been maximised so that punters can take in the…
The Engine Shed Cafe
19 St Leonard's Lane,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9SD
The Engine Shed has the delicious privilege of taking ethical business to a higher, smarter level. It was founded on a principle of truly equal opportunities by employing trainees with learning difficulties, but the quality of the food is even better…
The Grill Room at the Square
29 Royal Exchange Square,
Glasgow,
G1 3AJ
With stylish private bars and a swanky spa on the same level as the restaurant, this members-only club has thankfully kept its dining room doors open to mere mortals – apart from Saturdays after 7pm. Mirrors, polished surfaces and full-length windows…
King Tut's Wah Wah Hut
272a St Vincent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 5RL
While it's famous as the place to hear many of the best up-and-coming bands, King Tut's is just as adept at feeding and watering the local office population. The basement bar, featuring worn wooden tables around the walls – themselves a gallery of…
The Universal
57-59 Sauchiehall Lane, City Centre,
Glasgow,
G2 4JD
Flashier town centre bars may struggle to fill their sofas on an early week evening, but this little bar is buzzing pretty much every night. Hidden away on a side street, it can't attract much walk-up, so what's its secret? On two floors, bare brick…
24 Candleriggs,
Glasgow,
G1 1LD
Guy's twinkles warmly in the Merchant City firmament. It's a big, long room, but you can feel at home amid the accumulated bric-a-brac sprinkled lightly about the interior. These include Mexican Day of the Dead plates, an imposing carved bird lectern…
The Kitchin
78 Commercial Quay,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6LX
He trained at some of Europe's finest restaurants under Pierre Koffman and Alain Ducasse, so it is not surprising that Tom Kitchin has made such a fast success of his Leith establishment. He returned to Scotland two years ago and within six months had…
Merchants
17 Merchant Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QD
Opened over 20 years ago, this Edinburgh restaurant has become a bit of an institution with a regular flow of local custom. It is tucked away down a side street in the Old Town, yet, with its red-painted stone walls, an open bar and scattered tables and…
Nanakusa
441 Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3LG
Before Nanakusa opened in November 2007, manager David Wan flew to the Far East to see exactly what made an authentic Japanese restaurant. Wan adored the teppanyaki, tempura and yakitori joints he stumbled upon, although nowhere could he find all the…
The 78
10–14 Kelvinhaugh Street,
Glasgow,
G3 8NU
Named after 78rpm vinyl records (a pile of which sit next to an antique gramophone), the 78 is several miles away from its previous incarnation as the grungy indie hangout Stereo. Bright and airy but still intimate, the café bar's relaxed atmosphere…
Urban Angel
121 Hanover Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DJ
More urbane than urban, this bustling Hanover Street basement is an ever-popular choice, and it's easy to see why. With simple prints on the white walls, solid pine furniture and flock-printed menus, the aesthetic lends the restaurant a cool…
La Vallée Blanche
360 Byres Road,
Glasgow,
G12 8AY
A former antique complex above the West End's beloved branch of Fopp has been chosen as the reunion venue for many members of the team that once made Princes Square's étain such a success. The space has been transformed into a calm, low-lit haven of…
Wok and Wine
57a Frederick Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1LH
Subtlety is key to Wok and Wine: its large honey-toned basement dining area is devoid of chintz and is lent an artful intimacy by bamboo blinds and screens. This tasteful neutrality rightly ensures that the focus is on the well-executed food. The…
192 Pitt Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4DY
This ambitious newcomer, from Òran Mór's former brasserie manager Burak Soyusinmez, has an agenda: to show that there's a lot more to Turkish cuisine than dodgy post-pub kebabs. And so Alla Turca's menu is one of two halves, with traditional dishes on…
Amber
The Scotch Whisky Experience, 354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2NE
Amber is ideally placed to capitalise on the tourist trade – it's close to Edinburgh Castle and forms part of the Scotch Whisky Experience – but don't let visitors to the city be the only ones to enjoy its charms. Dispensing with folksiness, Amber…
Biblos
1 Chambers Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1HR
Located close to the university, Biblos tends to be dominated by members of Edinburgh's student population. The venue has recently undergone a revamp: curtains, comfy armchairs and bright lampshades now lend the space a contemporary, clubby feel. The…
Buffalo Grill
1 Raeburn Place,
Edinburgh,
EH4 1HU
'Native American' is very much the theme at both Buffalo Grills, which means steak, Corona and a veritable tribe of chiefs in monochrome bedecking the walls. Right next to the university, the Southside branch is unsurprisingly lively. But for the…
Centotre
103 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 3ES
With its funky hot-pink walls, edgy uplighting and smooth background jazz, über-cool Centotre dresses to impress, and equally style-conscious diners pack out the place pretty much every night of the week. The downside of this popularity is that smaller…
Creelers
3 Hunter Square,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1QW
Creelers at Hunter Square has been wowing fans for almost 13 years. A range of tourists, regulars and locals – though not the goths that hang out by the Tron – make up the clientele in this establishment, which comes to life in the evenings. Although…
La Tasca
39–43 Renfield Street,
Glasgow,
G2 1JS
La Tasca is a chain covering the whole of the UK (including five Scottish locations) and Glasgow's branch conforms to a corporate model that dictates menu, drinks and décor. But don't let that put you off. It may function with the ruthless efficiency of…
Urban Bar & Brasserie
23–25 St Vincent Place,
Glasgow,
G1 2DT
Elegance and glamour are evident when you enter this venture owned by the team behind the successful Gamba restaurant. Dark wood flooring, black leather banquettes and white linen table clothes give a classic feel to the dining room, while a centrepiece…
Vittoria
19 George IV Bridge, Old Town,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1EN
'It's not that big,' the waiter protests, seeing your eyes pop as he sets before you a magnificent ham shank reposing on a pile of borlotti beans and attended by five little mounds of herb-flecked mash. And this could follow three golf ball-sized…
Ad Lib
33 Ingram Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1HA
Glasgow's two Ad Libs have carved a niche as perhaps the more mature establishments that focus on US-style cuisine. The newer Merchant City outlet has a grander atmosphere, with marble walls and well-spaced booths that give it a chic, cosmopolitan…
The Albanach
197 High Street, Royal Mile, Old Town,
Edinburgh,
EH11PE
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…
Amber Chinese Restaurant
130-132 Byres Road, West End,
Glasgow,
G12 8TD
The idea of a classy Chinese restaurant conjures up images of dimly-lit interiors with plush flock wallpaper and maybe an aquarium. The Amber retains the classiness and tries to refresh the traditional style with dark wood and drapery adorning the…
Brian Maule at Chardon d'Or
176 West Regent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4RL
It's seven years since Brian Maule moved back to his native Scotland to develop his philosophy of bold, classic cuisine (initially nurtured by the brothers Roux in London). In this time, Chardon d'Or has become one of Glasgow's few destination…
Café Cossachok
38 Albion Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1LH
Cossachok successfully embraces multiple identities: it's part gallery, part cultural centre and part music venue, yet still essentially a restaurant. Temporarily relocated until 2009 (while their ten-year home on the other side of the Trongate is…
Capitol
468 Sauchiehall Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3LN
Capitol is a bar that markets itself as the epicentre of lad and ladette culture, boasting endless sport on 11 televisions and a big screen, regular DJ sessions, quizzes and live music events five nights out of seven. (There are even private karaoke…
Fishers Bistro
1 The Shore,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6QW
Ah, Fishers – this place just does it better. From the wood-panelled entrance into the circular bar area to the view out to the Water of Leith from the dining room, the relaxed but superlative service all adds to the star of the show here: the food. The…
Italian Caffè
92 Albion Street,
Glasgow,
G1 1NY
Styled on the Italian enoteca, literally meaning 'wine library', this recent Merchant City arrival knows its Chianti from its Montepulciano. With 24 labels by the glass and double that number by the bottle, it may be easy to overlook the tapas-style…
4 Grassmarket,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2JU
Despite its rather grand situation in an old church, which nestles in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, The Lot is a colourful, somewhat unassuming café-cum-restaurant with a lot of charm. The ceilings are high, the colours bright, and people come at all…
The Ship on the Shore
24–26 The Shore,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6QN
The Ship on the Shore has often been overshadowed by its more prominent fishy comrades in this area of Leith, but this is sure to change with the arrival of new management and new chef Michael Pasiecznik. The wood-panelled bar area is good for a…
The Social
27 Royal Exchange Square,
Glasgow,
G1 3AJ
Location is key for this trendy city centre bar/brasserie in the G1 Group's stable of stylish ventures. A huge square bar dominates the interior space, surrounded by dark wooden tables and leather pouffes. A mixture of suits and pre-clubbers rub…
Amarone
2 Nelson Mandela Place,
Glasgow,
G2 1BT
Conceived as a more upmarket venture by the owners of the popular Italian restaurant chain DiMaggio's, Amarone immediately impresses with an elegant entrance and staircase leading to a stylish, modern basement dining room. High stained glass windows…
Atrium
10 Cambridge Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2ED
Residing in the upper echelons of the capital's food chain since opening in the early 90s, Atrium is clearly unafraid to move with the times. As those with coffers sufficiently well-lined to dine here regularly will know, the venue took a post-Festival…
Maxies Bistro and Wine Bar
5b Johnston Terrace,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2PW
Long an Edinburgh institution, Maxies knows its loyal audience of tourists and locals and caters to them well, especially in the summer months when the long outdoor terrace offers the chance to while away the hours in the sun, away from the hordes on…
Sabor Criollo
36 Deanhaugh Street,
Edinburgh,
EH4 1LY
The sign outside says this is a 'Latin American' restaurant. This ensures no breaches of the Trades Description laws when the chef pulls dishes from the likes of Peru, Mexico and Colombia into his specials menu. But at the heart of the place is a…
The Stockbridge Restaurant
54 St Stephen Street,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5AL
Following the twinkling fairy lights down the old stone steps, it's difficult not to be charmed by this charismatic St Stephen Street retreat. It's laden with bold Scottish Colourist prints, near-black walls are offset by crisp white linen and golden…
Thai Lemongrass
40–41 Bruntsfield Place,
Edinburgh,
EH10 4HJ
The entrance to this deceptively large restaurant is via a small reception and bar area where silk-suited waiting staff exude an air of modesty and proficiency. The rust-coloured walls, hessian wallpaper and wood floors evoke a peaceful atmosphere, and…
Two Fat Ladies
118a Blythswood Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4EG
An average two-course dinner at Two Fat Ladies costs what top-end restaurants charge for a single main course these days. Such economies have an obvious appeal and this restaurant helps its cause by putting generally excellent food on the table, to…
Wedgwood the Restaurant
267 Canongate,
Edinburgh,
EH8 8BQ
Behind a modest cream and brown exterior lies an elegant dining room producing imaginative Scottish dishes of the highest quality. The menu changes with the seasons and subtly combines elements of Asian cuisine with more traditional takes on carefully…
Barioja
19 Jeffrey Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DR
As the younger, funkier sibling to Iggs restaurant next door, Barioja serves traditional tapas in relaxed, style-bar surroundings. With large picture windows overlooking Calton Hill, their promise to bring you 'Spanish sunshine, whatever the weather…
Basement Bar
10a–12a Broughton Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 3RH
Situated below busy Broughton Street, The Basement is a lively little bistro where staff dressed in Hawaiian shirts often greet you at the door. Inside, tall gothic candles and 80s retro décor set the tone of fun, casual dining. The menu, which changes…
Cargo
Edinburgh Quay, 129 Fountainbridge,
Edinburgh,
EH3 9QA
Cargo's chic and airy space has been designed to draw in a hip, young crowd. Large glass panes at the back show off the beer garden by the canal and illuminate a large seating area full of polished black furniture and leather booths. The outdoor area is…
The Doric Tavern
15/16 Market Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DE
Conveniently located just a hop and a skip from Waverley Station's south entrance, the Doric Tavern has been providing relief for the travel-weary since trains began chugging in and out in the mid-1800s. It's steeped in history, and rumour has it the…
Dragon-i
311–313 Hope Street,
Glasgow,
G2 3PT
Since opening opposite the Theatre Royal in 2003, Dragon-i has sat at the top table of Glasgow's Chinese restaurants, and owners Raymond and Susie Man are proud that their venture attempts something markedly different. With the décor, they've opted for…
First Coast
97–101 Dalry Road,
Edinburgh,
EH11 2AB
What inspired Skye-born brothers Alan and Hector MacRae to open First Coast, slightly off the beaten track on Edinburgh's Dalry Road, is something of a mystery. That said, a restaurant with such a simple, adaptable ethos – local, good value produce…
The Fruitmarket Gallery Café
Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DF
Many who regularly drop into this contemporary gallery housed in an old Victorian fruit and vegetable market don't make it past the ground floor café, such is the singular draw of the food. With a dedication to fresh produce and menu choices, lunch can…
Garibaldi's
97a Hanover Street, New Town,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1DJ
The extensive drinks menu warns of cocktails containing no less than 50ml of spirit per glass, and patrons would be well advised to take note: Garibaldi's sells some of the strongest alcoholic concoctions in town. It's located down a flight of stairs…
Moskito
200 Bath Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4HG
Bath Street has seen many a pub come and go but Moskito is now something of an old hand, having been trading steadily here since 2000. This seems largely due to its ability to appeal to a mixed crowd, offering a wide variety of beers, a comprehensive…
Tang's
44 Candlemaker Row,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2QE
As a head chef in London, Qun Tang could boast the likes of Jonathan Ross among his regulars. Now relocated north, and settled into an airy, pleasant space in the heart of Edinburgh, Tang and his Japanese wife Yoshiko Nakano are hoping to win over the…
Café Marlayne
76 Thistle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1EN
Both restaurants share the same name, have interchangeable chefs and waiting staff and almost identical menus of gusty, well-flavoured French, no-fuss food with a Scottish twist, but offer quite different atmospheres. The Old Town café is a charming…
Catch 22 Restaurant & Bar
158–166 Bath Street,
Glasgow,
G2 4TB
Stefan King's various holdings are not best known for their cuisine, but from its launch in 2006 the G1 Group's Catch 22 Restaurant & Bar has put food to the fore. Chef David Thompson's predominantly but not exclusively fish and seafood oriented menu…
Chinaski's
239 North Street,
Glasgow,
G3 7DL
The almost anonymous exterior and dimly lit, stylish interior makes Chinaski's a secret and sophisticated haven from the city rush, epitomised by the sunken M8 across the road. Even if you have never heard of Henry Chinaski, the relaxed approach of bar…
La Favorita
325–331 Leith Walk,
Edinburgh,
EH6 8SA
The glow from the twin log-fired ovens is the first indication that pizza is taken seriously at this Leith Walk eatery. La Favorita combines the lightest, crispest bases (also available gluten-free) with a long list of both classic and more inventive…
Fishers in the City
58 Thistle Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 1EN
This busy, townie sister of the fabulous original at the Shore has gained a great reputation for finesse and atmosphere since it opened in 2001. It's chock-a-block all day (booking is essential), and, in the evening, the shoppers and business lunchers…
Howies
10–14 Victoria Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2HG
This excellent value restaurant chain is now an Edinburgh institution and deservedly so. There are four restaurants, conveniently situated in the four areas of the compass of central Edinburgh. Waterloo Place, in the east, has been recently renovated…
Salsa
63 Carlton Place,
Glasgow,
G5 9TW
Technically on the Southside, Salsa is just a pleasant five-minute walk from the city centre via the Clyde's suspension pedestrian bridge. The discreet location suits the ambience of the restaurant, which is refreshingly unlike most Mexican-themed…
Ad Lib
111 Hope Street,
Glasgow,
G2 6LL
Glasgow's two Ad Libs have carved a niche as perhaps the more mature establishments that focus on US-style cuisine. The newer Merchant City outlet has a grander atmosphere, with marble walls and well-spaced booths that give it a chic, cosmopolitan…
Arisaig
140 St Vincent Street,
Glasgow,
G2 5LA
Co-owners Naveed Rashid and Stephen Bonomi have a passion for quality Scottish produce that makes dining at Arisaig a thoroughly satisfying experience. In this attractive dining room, large, almost abstract paintings of foaming oceans and crashing waves…
Bonsai
46 West Richmond Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DZ
With the convivial hubbub of the closely packed tables, the sizzling steam and enticing aromas emerging from the kitchen, and the bold white, crimson and black décor, at Bonsai it's easy to imagine yourself in an izakaya in downtown Tokyo. And indeed it…
La Bruschetta
13 Clifton Terrace, Haymarket,
Edinburgh,
EH12 5DR
Considering its name, it comes as little surprise that the bruschette at Giovanni Cariello's deceptively modest-looking Haymarket restaurant are something special, the Napoletana balancing the salty tang of anchovies and capers against the sweetness of…
Calistoga
93 St Leonard's Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9QY
Calistoga is Edinburgh's only dedicated Californian restaurant. It also has its own wine shop, Sideways, in which curious Chardonnay quaffers can take a personally tutored wine tasting before dinner. There is an astounding range of expertly selected…
Candy Bar
113–115 George Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4JN
Aimed squarely at the pretty young things, the Candy Bar really is the cheeky twinkle in the eye of Edinburgh's George Street. There's an air of backstreet chic about the place, with the emphasis on drinking and having a good time rather than eating.
Cruz
The Shore,
Edinburgh,
EH6 6QN
Built almost 90 years ago in Greenock, the former steam trawler Ocean Mist moored by the Shore in Leith is a surprisingly venerable setting for the style-infused bar, nightspot and restaurant these days known as Cruz. Round leather booths sit beneath…
Duck's at Le Marché Noir
14 Eyre Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 5EP
If you are looking for an intimate dining experience with attentive service and classic, well-executed cooking, Duck's certainly fits the bill. It may be a bit out of the centre for true urbanites but it's certainly worth the walk down that steep hill.
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…
Fenwicks
15 Salisbury Place,
Edinburgh,
EH9 1SL
This neighbourhood restaurant was taken over by new owners just over a year ago and their enthusiasm to please the local clientele really shows. The setting is a split-level, airy, open space with dark panelling and wooden tables. It has a comforting…
La Garrigue
31 Jeffrey Street,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1DH
La Garrigue takes its name from the Languedoc region of France and this dictates the style of food and wine on the menu. Warm orange and red-hued paintings from the area line the white wood-panelled walls and are also for sale, and hand-carved chunky…
Home Bistro
41 West Nicolson Street,
Edinburgh,
EH8 9DB
A number of neighbourhood bistros have popped up around Edinburgh in recent years. The concept is a good one: locally sourced foods in a cosy and welcoming atmosphere. Inevitably, some work and some don't, but you would be hard pushed to find any…





