Where to Eat in Edinburgh, Scotland

07 August, 2018

restaurant

The Scran & Scallie

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Chef Tom Kitchin’s newly-opened gastropub exhibits a casual hunting lodge vibe, with bleached antlers, blankets thrown over chairs and subtle tartan upholstery. The menu might take a bit of deciphering – ‘oor menu’ (our menu, get it?) is written in a Scottish dialect – but offers an impressive array of ‘pub grub’ favourites such as oysters, crab claws with lemon mayonnaise and venison sausages. The seasonal cocktails menu is equally impressive. Booking is recommended, though 50% of tables are available on a walk-in basis.

Address

1 Comely Bank Road EH4 1DT

+44 131 332 6281 Go to website

restaurant

Kanpai Sushi

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

This intimate Japanese restaurant has a slick, neutral interior that gives diners a stylish and calming environment to enjoy their meal in. The menu is extensive but offers none of the noodle-based comfort food you might expect elsewhere; this is serious sushi, best served with sake. The scallop sashimi is excellent, and if it’s in season, be sure to try the surf clam nigiri. Booking is essential.

Address

8-10 Grindlay Street EH3 9AS

+44 131 228 1602 Go to website

restaurant

Gardener's Cottage

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Sitting at the foot of Calton Hill on Edinburgh’s Royal Terrace Gardens, The Gardeners’ Cottage was built in 1836 as a home for the then gardener. Now a restaurant dedicated to seasonal cooking, communal tables populate the central dining area. With a daily changing menu, enjoy weekend brunches, a la carte lunches or an inventive, seven-course set dinner menu. When the late A. A. Gill visited some years ago he remarked: “The piece de resistance – a very Edinburgh expression, that – was the five-year-old mutton with winkles and a mild onion puree. This was exceptional.” We’ll have the same.

Address

1 Royal Terrace Gardens London Road EH7 5DX

+44 131 558 1221 Go to website

restaurant

Urban Angel

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

For a leisurely weekend brunch, look no further than Urban Angel. The eggs Benedict with smoked salmon is delicious, while the French toast with free-range bacon and maple syrup is also a marvel. The café prides itself on locally sourced ingredients – it even employs a band of foragers who decamp to nearby woodland in search of edible flowers.

Address

121 Hanover Street EH2 1DJ

+44 131 225 6215 Go to website

restaurant

Peter's Yard

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

This Swedish bakery-cum-café serves delicious soups, open sandwiches and salads at lunchtime and is popular for its irresistible selections of breads and cakes in the afternoon. They also serve seriously good coffee starting at just £1.65. The biggest outlet is conveniently located on the pleasantly leafy Middle Meadow Walk, though the smaller Stockbridge branch serves delicious sourdough pizza.

Address

27 Simpson Loan, EH3 9GG

+44 077 155 72104 Go to website

restaurant

The Witchery

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Just off the Royal Mile and nestled in the shadows of Edinburgh Castle, The Witchery is Edinburgh’s most atmospheric dining option. Now in its fourth decade, the restaurant has become something of a landmark of Scottish fine dining. The food is good but the setting is better – with sumptuous upholstery and dark wooden seating offset by soft candlelight.

Address

Castlehill The Royal Mile EH1 2NF

+44 131 225 5613 Go to website

restaurant

Timberyard

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Family-run Timberyard keeps things local. All ingredients are sourced from local artisan growers, breeders, producers, suppliers and foragers, and natural wine is sourced from small producers and growers from across Europe. Situated in an repurposed brick warehouse, choose from a four-, six- or eight-course meal, with a focus on traditional dishes (with a contemporary bite). Enjoy on cooler nights be a wood-burning stove in the main dining area.

Address

10 Lady Lawson Street Midlothain EH3 9DS

+44 131 221 1222 Go to website

restaurant

Dusit

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Word of mouth alone has ensured that this authentic and discrete Thai restaurant, nestled along Thistle Street, is a firm Edinburgh favourite. Opening in 2002 by chef Pom, this is some of the tastiest contemporary Thai food ​to have ever passed our lips. The menu is vast so save yourself some time and brain fatigue and order the “Dusit banquet menu”.

Address

49a Thistle Street EH2 1DY

+44 131 220 6846 Go to website

restaurant

Casa Angelina

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Tucked away at the very bottom of Broughton Street, this quaint vintage tearoom is a haven for sweet-toothed tea connoisseurs. An irresistible selection of baked goods is made fresh everyday by the owner, Marie-Claire Semeraro, and her talented pastry chefs. Their afternoon tea has been unanimously dubbed the best in Edinburgh and is a cut above the rest in taste, presentation and flavour combinations.

Address

42 London Street EH3 6LX

+44 131 558 1002 Go to website

restaurant

Artisan Roast

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

A long-time favourite of students and east-end inhabitants, the coffee here is expensive but second to none. All the baristas seem to genuinely care about their craft, and don’t expect the same blend twice as it constantly changes. Grab your cup to go or sit in the cosy back room with guitars hanging from the walls.

Address

57 Brompton Street EH1 3RJ

+44 078 588 84756 Go to website

restaurant

The Larder

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Casual and cosy, The Larder is a homemaker’s ultimate aspiration. Long wooden tables, hotchpotch chairs and the smell of freshly baked currant scones make this the optimum spot for a laid back lunch or a late-afternoon tea break. Choose from a menu of soups, hearty sandwiches and baked goods With two locations in Edinburgh – a café and takeaway just off the Royal Mile – we’re twice as likely to pop by The Larder for a quick bite post-shopping.

Address

15 Blackfriars Street Lothian and Borders EH1 1NB

+44 131 556 6922 Go to website

restaurant

BABA

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Open daily from noon, BABA plates up Middle Eastern delights. Located off Charlotte Square, dishes are inspired by the flavours of the Levant – the butter bean hummus, beiruti burrata and labneh with cherry tomatoes, harissa and dill are must-orders.We could write sheets and sheets about the mezze alone and don’t even get us started on the mains.

Address

130 George Street EH2 4JZ

+44 131 527 4999 Go to website

restaurant

Yamato

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Our new favourite sushi restaurant in Edinburgh, Yamato steals gold from its sibling restaurant, Kanpai, by a whisker. Delicate interiors – think pale-pink lighting features and tatami-mat-style woven seat covers – set the tone for this subtle sampling of Japanese fodder. The snow-crab vulcan, assorted tempura and nigiri, vye for top-billing.

Address

11 Lochrin Terrace EH3 9QJ

+44 131 466 5964 Go to website

restaurant

Broughton Deli

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Works by local artists populate the walls at Broughton Delicatessen. Here, brunch is the main event – served weekdays until 2pm and on weekends until 3pm (no judgment to the sloth-like among you). Gluten-free pancakes with bacon, shakshuka and a vegan breakfast burrito are all winners.

Address

7 Barony Street Midlothian EH3 6PD

+44 131 558 7111 Go to website

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restaurant

101 Bakery

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

An Instagrammer’s dream come true, 101 Bakery’s baby-pink and jade-green walls provide the perfect backdrop to the vast selection of cakes, buns, cookies and cupcakes immaculately presented inside the glass countertop. Order a cappuccino to accompany your perfectly iced bun, and admire the mural by Luke Edward Hall adorning one of the cafe’s walls.

Address

101 Newington Road EH9 1QW

+44 773 963 9252 Go to website

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restaurant

Chez Jules

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

This charming French bistro sits pretty Edinburgh’s New Town. Its subterranean location makes for an intimate dining experience, complete with red-and-white chequered tablecloths and traditional cuisine including French onion soup topped with gruyère croutons, and perfectly cooked steak with a heap of crunchy fries. Pair your meal with a bottle of the Montsablé pinot noir – or any of the bottles from the carefully curated wine list.

Address

109 Hanover Street EH2 1DJ

0131 226 6992 Go to website

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restaurant

Pitt Street Market

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Located in an industrial yard in Edinburgh’s Leith area, Pitt Street Market is open every Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer. Street food and drink stalls set up camp around warming fires and live music performances, selling everything from Vietnamese pho made inside Pitt Noodle’s bright-red tuk tuk to locally sourced fish and slow-cooked meat at Ròst Eats.

Address

125 Pitt Street EH6 4DE

+44 773 628 1893 Go to website

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restaurant

Civerinos

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

This neighbourhood pizza bar is a relatively new addition to the Edinburgh foodie scene, but it’s definitely here to stay. This is Italian street food done right. Enter the neon-themed dining room and perch on a bright-yellow stool before browsing the extensive pizza menu. Choose between a generous slice of the “Getting Piggy With It” (featuring tomato sauce, mozzarella, braised pork shoulder, charred pineapple and barbecue sauce) or the “Polar Pear” for a white base piled high with mozzarella, njduja, pancetta, roasted pear, pecorino and a pistachio crumb.

Address

49 Forrest Road EH1 2QP

0131 225 4026 Go to website

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restaurant

Tupiniquim

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

The only place you really need to know about during the festival, this cute kiosk sits just behind Fringe hub, Bristo Square. It serves gluten-free Brazilian crepes, and you can choose between sweet or savory fillings. We can promise that any future crepes you eat will pale in comparison.

Address

Green Police Box Lauriston Place EH3 9AU

+44 790 888 6184 Go to website

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restaurant

Union of Genius

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Scotland’s first soup café, this cute restaurant offers true comfort food in the heart of the city. Slurp – or “souk” as the Scots say – away on any of its warming, daily changing bowls, or opt for the menu stalwart of vegan chilli for a tasty treat. If you’re looking for a quick meal in between shows, stop by its van, which is parked in Bristo Square at lunchtime.

Address

8 Forrest Road EH1 2QN

+44 122 644 36 Go to website

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restaurant

The Bon Vivant

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

This candlelit bar is located on New Town’s Thistle Street. Start your evening with expertly mixed cocktails (we recommend the Boudicca, a strong cocktail made with whisky, mead, bramble and lemon that’s sure to put hair on your chest) at the white marble bar, before settling down for an evening of inventive tapas and bistro-style mains.

Address

55 Thistle Street EH2 1DY

0131 225 3275 Go to website

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restaurant

The Nile Valley Café

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

This bustling Sudanese café is a firm favourite among locals and Edinburgh University students. Specialising in wraps with Middle Eastern and North African fillings including spiced chicken, falafel, baba ganoush, feta and hummus, it’s the place to queue up amid bright yellow walls adorned with African art and Fringe fliers. Ask for a “barry wrap” for the all the trimmings.

Address

6 Chapel Street EH8 9AY

0131 667 8200 Go to website

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restaurant

Ting Thai Caravan

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Serving authentic Thai street food in Edinburgh’s city centre, Ting Thai Caravan is an ideal stop off between shows. During the day, it Sun Up menu features fresh dishes such as zingy green papaya salad with long beans, crushed peanuts and grilled king prawns. Alternatively, stop by in the evening to taste the Sun Down menu for traditional pad thai, massaman curry or tom kha gai.

Address

Teviot Place EH1 2RA

0131 225 9801 Go to website

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restaurant

El Cartel

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Hidden down picturesque Thistle Street, El Cartel serves authentic Mexican street food including homemade corn tacos, innovative tapas and frozen margaritas. While you can’t book a table, you can put your name on the list and pop over to the Bon Vivant (across the alley) for a cocktail as you wait, before ordering vast quantities of duck carnitas, ceviche and quesadillas. If you’re based in the Old Town, try its new branch located in Teviot Place.

Address

64 Thistle Street EH2 1EN

0131 226 7171 Go to website

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restaurant

The Buffalo Truck

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Winner of Scotland’s Street Food Awards, this food truck is one of the Fringe’s best bites. Pop by George Square to nab yourself a perfectly crispy buttermilk fried chicken burger, crowned with your choice of toppings including black-garlic mayo and fermented-chilli hot sauce. Add its fringe-famous truffle and parmesan fries to make your meal even more epic.

Address

George Square EH8 9XF

N/A

Go to website

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restaurant

Wings

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Found on Edinburgh’s historic Fishmarket Close (no points for guessing what originally stood there), Wings serves just what it says on the tin. Choose between more than 80 different flavours, seasonings and sauces, before throwing all conventional eating etiquettes out the window and getting elbow-deep in hot sauce.

Address

5-7 Old Fishmarket Close High Street EH1 1RW

0131 629 1234 Go to website