Cannonball
Greatest for: Particular events
Set in a transformed faculty, this three-floor venue has a primary location subsequent to Edinburgh Fort – however there’s extra to Cannonball than the fabulous views. Owned by Italian Scots and culinary heavyweights the Contini household, the top-floor restaurant is Scottish by way of and thru, from the tartan banquettes within the ethereal eating room to the menu centered round native produce with a contemporary twist. Haggis is reinvented with pickled turnip, whisky sauce and Seville marmalade, whereas the cullen skink options beneficiant chunks of smoky haddock and potato in a creamy soup, scattered with herbs from the kitchen backyard. End your meal with artisan Scottish cheeses and absorb the views. Mains from £26.
Contini
Greatest for: Informal eating
One other restaurant run by the Contini household. Right here, they return to their Italian roots, serving basic southern Italian meals made out of Scottish and Italian produce. It’s price visiting for the décor alone – housed in a former Georgian banking corridor, with a vaulted ceiling, sculpted pillars, chandeliers and a marble bar, Contini is without doubt one of the most lovely eating places within the metropolis. Ensure you order one of many home made pastas (made recent on daily basis) and for secondi, strive the Milanese rooster or slow-cooked rabbit stew. Pasta from £19; mains from £20.
Ondine
Greatest for: Particular events
No journey to Edinburgh is full with no go to to this seafood mecca, run by chef-proprietor Roy Brett, an alumnus of Rick Stein’s seafood restaurant. The cooking right here is straightforward but refined. Recent oysters are delivered day by day and the oyster bar has its personal blissful hour (5.30-6.30pm, Mon-Sat), throughout which era you’ll be able to slurp them down for simply £2.50 every. Different stand-outs embrace the Dunbar brown crab with crab mayonnaise and buttered crumpets, and the entire lemon sole with brown shrimps and capers. Mains from £20.
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The Fishmarket
Greatest for: Informal eating
This upmarket fish and chip store has a primary spot overlooking Newhaven Harbour and is nicely well worth the 15-minute drive from town centre. A three way partnership from Ondine chef-patron Roy Brett and Gary Welch, proprietor of Welch Fishmongers, The Fishmarket is mild, shiny and fashionable, with a wonderful view of the fishing boats and lighthouse. The menu focuses on sustainable, domestically caught fish; go basic with haddock and chips (£12), or strive the Atlantic prawn cocktail adopted by lobster grilled with garlic butter. Eat in or take away; mains from £9.
Timberyard
Greatest for: Particular events
Trendy but conventional, cool but unpretentious, Timberyard is about in a transformed warehouse. On the menu you’ll discover responsibly sourced seasonal elements similar to trout and lamb, mixed with extra uncommon objects like daikon radishes and woodruff. Whereas the larder is strictly Scottish, there’s a Scandinavian really feel to the decor and meals presentation, which – Nordic-style – additionally reaches deep into the pockets. A four-course dinner will set you again £75; the eight-course tasting menu is £95. The wine pairings add an extra £60 or £89, respectively, however will make an enchanting culinary journey unforgettable.
La Garrigue
Greatest for: Particular events, child-friendly
For 15 years, this French bistro has been a reliable stalwart. Chef and proprietor Jean-Michel Gauffre is evangelical concerning the comforting delicacies of his native Languedoc. Rustic elements are given a classy flourish in dishes similar to roasted rabbit leg with heritage carrots, salsify, sprouts and a walnut sauce. Mains from £18.50.
21212
Greatest for: Particular events
Don’t be fooled by the splendid decor all through Paul Kitching’s Michelin-starred 21212 – there’s nothing staid about the best way you are served right here. Dishes might embrace the ‘High Cat’ (a Mediterranean fish plate), a baseless pizza and a riz condé crumble. Kitching’s character sings by way of the menu, which adjustments weekly. Wednesday to Saturday a 3-course meal is £50 at 5:45pm, 6:00pm and 6:15pm, in any other case it’s £80 – however be sure to e book.
Restaurant Martin Wishart
Greatest for: Particular events
The perception which noticed Martin Wishart boldly unleash wonderful eating on Leith again in 1999 and garner Edinburgh’s first Michelin star continues to drives his restaurant. It’s a well-oiled machine, nonetheless able to shocking and delighting. The hushed, unflavoured decor ensures the meals takes centre stage – a marching band might parade previous your desk and also you’d nonetheless be misplaced in admiration of the assured and finessed fusion of French-style modernity with the very best of Scotland’s larder. Get pleasure from lunch for £48.50; the fireworks to find on the six-course tasting menu make its £125 price ticket appear economical.
Pickles
Greatest for: Informal eating
The genius of Pickles is its simplicity. This unassuming Broughton Avenue bolthole serves native pâtés, chutneys, and meat and cheese platters, which means this cosy cellar bar is commonly filled with locals sharing a casual chew and a bottle of wine. Seats are onerous to come back by at weekends. The extremely really useful sharing platters are available in at £18.
Gardener’s Cottage
Greatest for: Particular events, child-friendly
Wanting like a Wizard of Oz-style twister has deposited a quaint rural abode on the facet of busy London Highway, Gardener’s Cottage retains the magic going inside. Seasonality dictates the menu as elements from the backyard and native farmers are conjured into spectacular dishes similar to roe deer taco. Seating is at giant shared tables and reserving is important.
Leith Chop Home
Greatest for: Informal eating, low-cost eats
With its filament lightbulbs, naked brick and excessive beard depend, it’d seem like a hipster joint, however these guys take their meat very significantly. Fastidiously Scottish-sourced, it is butchered and dry aged in-house for a minimum of a month earlier than the already legendary steaks hit the open-flame charcoal grill. The dripping chips and bread with bone marrow butter are not any mere sideshows, both. Mains from £17, steaks from £21.
The Kitchin
Greatest for: Particular events
Tom Kitchin’s obsessive pursuit of perfection extends even to the bespoke crockery, which was specifically commissioned for his Michelin-starred restaurant. His meals is a celebration of Scottish produce – all the pieces from the pig’s head & langoustine starter to the shellfish rockpool fundamental is an excellent lesson in flavour. Follow faucet water and you’ll take pleasure in a three-course set lunch for £52.50 – extraordinary.
Scran & Scallie
Greatest for: Informal eating, low-cost eats, child-friendly
With the likes of oysters or hake & squid risotto on the menu and a few Michelin-star-winning know-how, Scran & Scallie is a gastropub with perspective. Whereas it’s on the expensive facet for pub grub – a fish pie is £18.25, a Highland wagyu burger with chips is £19.50 – that is Tom Kitchin and Dominic Jack pub grub, which means excellence is fitted as normal and elements are responsibly sourced from primarily Scottish producers. And in contrast to many Edinburgh pubs, this one’s child-, dog- and foodie-friendly.
Origano
Greatest for: Informal eating, low-cost eats
This bustling premises on Leith Stroll could be the very best pizzeria on the town, and is full with a wood-burning oven. Sit in or take away. Pizzas from £7.65.
Quantity One, The Balmoral
Greatest for: Particular events
Occupying the grandiose Balmoral Resort on the head of Princes Avenue, Michelin-starred Quantity One – resplendent with wealthy oak flooring, purple lacquered partitions and plush furnishing – exudes early Twentieth-century opulence and magnificence. However heat, educated employees assist create a relaxed environment that’s something however snooty, permitting you to focus on the likes of luxurious Blairgowrie beef or spectacular caramel soufflé. At £115 (with out drinks), the seven-course tasting menu is a winner for particular events.
Kanpai Sushi
Greatest for: Informal eating, low-cost eats
The minimalist decor and crisp, clear traces of Grindley Avenue’s Kanpai supply the primary trace of the immaculately introduced and exquisitely recent Japanese meals served right here. In addition to the superior sashimi and sushi dishes, the sunshine crab & prawn tempura shouldn’t be missed. 5-piece sashimi dishes from £6.20.
Baba
Greatest for: Informal eating, low-cost eats
The individuals behind Glasgow restaurant Ox and Finch have introduced their globetrotting culinary model to this Levantine-inspired brasserie, the place Scottish nose-to-tail eating meets Yemeni cooking. The menu contains vegetarian choices similar to charred broccoli with lentils, garlic tahini, pomegranate & egg, plus dishes like turkey, smoked bacon & apricot kofte. Mains from £8.50.
The Voyage of Buck
Greatest for: Informal eating
This stylishly transformed pub (named after royal journey companion William ‘Buck’ Clarence who lived on the tackle within the nineteenth century), serves the very best cocktails in Edinburgh. The signature yellow pepper bitter with tequila, camomile-infused sherry and yellow pepper syrup is consultant of barman Mike McGinty’s chef-like method to drink making. The fashionable British menu can be price looking for out. Mains from £8.
Aizle
Greatest for: Particular events
There’s no menu at this contemporary bistro within the vibrant Southside neighbourhood, only a blackboard of 20 month-to-month altering seasonal elements. Inform your waiter if there’s something you’ll be able to’t eat, then settle in for 5 programs of subtle meals. A lot of the produce is Scottish, however count on Asian influences too like katsuoboshi (dried tuna flakes) that appear to bounce across the accompanying sea bream as fish velouté is poured over. Eight programs for £105.
Greatest for: Informal eating, low-cost eats
This contemporary Vietnamese restaurant, near the college, is a sister of the hip Ting Thai Caravan and shares a stripped-back aesthetic. A bowl of addictively fragrant kuay tiaw tom yam soup noodles – full of roast and minced pork, prawns and fish balls – will fill you up, however don’t miss the terrific pork stomach. Noodle soups from £7.20, curries and stir-fries from £8.20.
Porto & Fi
Greatest for: Informal eating, low-cost eats, child-friendly
Versatility is the order of the day at Porto & Fi. The breakfast menu, which features a masterful eggs Benedict with salmon, usually means the good, shiny Newhaven bistro is jammed full within the morning. In a while, afternoon tea and truffles are the principle attraction. Nicely-crafted dishes such because the cullen skink risotto stay unwaveringly widespread. Mains from £10.30.
Palm Court docket, The Balmoral Resort
Greatest for: Particular events
For those who like a spot of unashamed luxurious together with your scones, look no additional than afternoon tea within the Palm Court docket, with its Corinthian columns, glass dome ceiling and actual palm timber. A spread of teas, grown in Scotland, are poured into wonderful bone china cups to the sound of stay harp music. Start with a white onion soup, adopted by a sport sausage roll, seasonal finger sandwiches and end with lovely truffles and pastries. Afternoon tea £55.
The Ivy on the Sq.
Greatest for: Informal eating, particular events
The Ivy could be a quickly rising nationwide chain of contemporary brasseries, however you’d by no means understand it from this glitzy addition. A riot of color with burnt orange and yellow leather-based banquettes and partitions filled with fashionable artwork, it even attracts a glamorous crowd at breakfast who come for wholesome choices like natural granola. Ask for a desk upstairs for views over the inexperienced at St Andrew’s Sq. or take a stool on the marble-topped bar to pattern a flight of wonderful Scotch whiskies. Mains from £15.95.
Salt Horse
Greatest for: Low-cost eats
Tucked away on a facet avenue off the Royal Mile, this informal bar appears unassuming sufficient but it surely’s a spot of pilgrimage for lovers of craft beer. There’s an ever-changing line-up of 12 keg beers and round 400 totally different canned and bottled beers from across the globe. Meals is supplied by a roster of kitchen residencies – at present it is burgers from the acclaimed Meat: Stack. Mains from £7.
Kalpna
Greatest for: Informal eating, low-cost eats
This Southside stalwart opened in 1975 and continues to be top-of-the-line locations within the UK to expertise genuine Punjabi, Gujarati and South Indian vegetarian (and vegan) cooking. First-timers ought to go for the good-value thalis, a choice of small dishes that features dhal, paneer butter masala, rice, bread and raita. The lunchtime £8.99 buffet is a steal and contains two salads, two chutneys, two starters, bread, three curries and two rice choices.
Cucina
Greatest for: Informal eating
A riot of color awaits you on this good fashionable Italian, from the colourful kinetic artwork on the partitions and pink columns to a golden yellow saffron dressing that accompanies a starter of seared scallops and pumpkin purée, cooked by chef Mattia Camorani from Bologna. Service is on the intense facet too, with attentive, smiley and educated employees making a meal right here a chilled-out deal with.
Toast
Greatest for: Informal eating
They take their wine very significantly at this shiny and classy café and bar overlooking Leith’s waterfront, with top-of-the-line lists within the metropolis. However the vibe right here is much from studious, and a chalkboard of employees picks will assist you discover your manner by way of picks from Slovenia, Croatia and Greece. Native beers on faucet, nice espresso and worth menu of sunshine bites make this a vacation spot for wine refusers too. Sharing platters from £14.
Soderberg
Greatest for: Low-cost eats
If you wish to bask in a spot of ‘fika’ (Swedish espresso and cake tradition), head for this trendy glass field overlooking town’s modernist Lister Sq.. The beautiful kanelbulle (cinnamon buns) are made within the upstairs bakery. Come again within the night to strive the wonderful pizzas made within the wood-fired oven that’s on present within the centre of the café.
El Cartel
Greatest for: Low-cost eats, informal eating
This tiny, hip restaurant, with black-painted partitions and Day of the Useless cranium motifs in all places you look, serves an genuine, vigorous tackle Mexican meals. Order baby-back pork ribs with a cumin, garlic and pineapple glaze, discover the rigorously chosen vary of mezcal (tequila’s lesser-known cousin) and also you’re in for an evening to recollect. Dishes from £6.
The Wee Restaurant
Greatest for: Informal eating, particular events
A city-centre counterpart to the unique Wee Restaurant, which opened a decade in the past on the north facet of the Forth Bridge in North Queensferry, this unpretentious bistro focuses on native and seasonal elements served merely, similar to Shetland mussels with bacon and Edinburgh gin-smoked salmon. Mains from £22.
4 foodie locations to strive
The Pitt Market
A day by day city-centre avenue meals market the place merchants embrace Barnacles & Bones who serve shellfish and lesser-known cuts of meat, all from Scotland.
Bakery Andante
This Morningside artisan bakery makes the very best sourdough within the metropolis.
An Edinburgh establishment, this chilli and spice store shares all the pieces it’s essential make an genuine Mexican meal, together with hard-to-find American and Spanish produce.
Stockbridge Market
The Sunday market within the stylish Stockbridge neighbourhood contains avenue meals and specialist stalls, similar to fruit and veg merchants Oxenfoord Organics.
The place to buy
Valvona & Crolla
The go-to place for continental cheeses, meats, pasta, wines and meals items.
Peter Ljungqvist and Jan Hedh’s Swedish-style bakery is legendary for its sourdough, crispbreads and candy treats.
Mary’s Milk Bar
This gelato parlour makes a number of the most sinful creations you’re ever prone to encounter.
This old-school cheesemonger is one in all Edinburgh’s favorite outlets.
Edinburgh Farmers’ Market
Each Saturday, Fort Terrace is stuffed with meals stalls. Lunch on sizzling pies or buffalo burgers.
Like this? Learn extra foodie journey guides…
Greatest locations to eat in Glasgow
Greatest locations to eat in Aberdeen
Greatest locations to eat in Cardiff
Greatest locations to eat in London
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Travellers are suggested to learn the FCO journey recommendation at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for the nation they’re travelling to.
