The best restaurants Edinburgh

Freshly landed on the culinary scene of the capital, this urban address is not in a caravan but in a small Teviot Place room. The brick, wood and metal decoration is quite typical of this young and modern style of establishment and the food is that of a successful Thai food street. Rice, noodles, soups and small dishes are the main elements of the menu.

Union of Genius is the story of a group of friends, in love with good products, who have set out to revolutionize soup by imagining original recipes! Out of more than 80 in their repertoire, six are offered every day with good bread. Three salads are usually also à la carte and the place is often stormed. Perfect for a short break between the university, the National Museum and Greyfriars Kirk.

A few meters from the Greyfriars Bobby statue, this small Japanese restaurant offers a cuisine that goes far beyond the usual sushi with dishes in sauce and even Japanese curries. Some dishes are served in Bento boxes. A wide variety of sake and even Japanese whisky are on the menu, for a taste that makes you travel. The decoration is zen, just like the service.

Kyloe is the headquarters of all carnivorous food lovers in Edinburgh. The star is Scottish beef in all its forms, but there are also pork, lamb and fish. The original and very appropriate decoration, with the cow in the spotlight, from the front to the seats. The selection of wines lends itself perfectly to the exercise, as well as the view of the castle.

La Garrigue is a little bit of Languedoc sunshine in the Edinburgh sky. Fish soups, cassoulets, bouillabaisses, Pézenas pies and rabbit quail are put on your plate here by Jean-Michel Gauffre, an adored chef who arrived in Scotland more than 20 years ago. Gordon Ramsay himself speaks of it as the best French chef in the country and it must be said that it is a success. The purple walls are decorated with works by a Scottish painter and the chairs and tables are the work of an English artist. The staff is entirely French (except for one Monegasque) and the view of Calton Hill is very pleasant. A beautiful establishment where it is better to book.

The wooded furniture and the vermeil tone of the decor create a warm and refined atmosphere. Lighted tables by candlelight, discreet and attentive service, everything is perfect for relaxing and enjoying innovative vegetarian dishes. Gleaning his ideas from all over the world, David Bann uses spices, coconut milk and lime as easily as wild mushrooms or English blue cheeses to flavour his ristottos, koftas, soufflés, puddings... A know-how that titillates the taste buds.

The Kitchin opened its doors in 2006 and has been winning awards ever since. Tom Kitchin, his starred chef, was a pupil of Alain Ducasse, and his French-inspired dishes are made with the best Scottish local produce. The philosophy of the house is "from nature to the plate", so it's not surprising that the attention paid to the raw material ensures a real culinary epic. The frame is very mineral and combines shades of grey, blue and brown. Menus change according to the seasons.

Charming bistrot bistro, which does not prevent plates from being well filled by a chef who plays his role with plume. Among other things, we offer baking oysters with leeks, smoked salmon, brioche or a melting of mushrooms to brandy.

It is hidden behind Princes Street, away from the tourist life. Original decorative elements (dating from 1862) have been preserved, in particular the mosaics recounting moments of life in the 19th century. Seafood has been enjoyed within these walls since Victorian times! Among other fish dishes and beautiful seafood dishes, the house's specialty remains oysters, served fresh on its bed of ice, with lemon. One of the most beautiful pubs in Edinburgh and in that respect, it deserves a break!

Vegetarian Indian Restaurant, offering specialities from southern India, Punjab and Gujarat mainly. The dishes are rather spicy and very close to what you can taste in India.

The Brasserie Prince is located within the walls of the superb Balmoral. Held by Alain Roux, a chef whose reputation is well established, he offers a marriage of French and English tradition. We recommend the exceptional haggis revisited here with a whiskey sauce and presented with the greatest care, for a culinary experience without equal. The less adventurous will also enjoy a selection that combines the traditions of both countries and highlights the richness of the Scottish soil.

This Royal Mile gastro pub no longer has its reputation for whisky thanks to an impressive menu! You can even taste them four by four, with 14 different formulas to get started or to assert yourself. The food is also greeted and sourced locally, thanks to a menu that features several Scottish classics and burgers. The decoration displays molded woodwork and bottle displays, providing a cosy setting, enhanced by a little background music. In the evening, groups perform live every day of the week, in front of a regular and tourist clientele.

The woodwork and candles give an undeniable charm to this bar-restaurant in Leith which comes alive on Tuesday and Thursday evenings with the presence of folk and jazz musicians. Chic without making a fuss, this is the address to go to for a good meal at a reasonable price in the area. You can enjoy beautiful meats and seafood - the establishment is renowned for its shellfish and fish - but some people just prefer to have a drink and enjoy the conviviality of the place. Book in the evening to make sure you have a table.

A few steps from the castle, a worrying crest announces the colour: The Witchery was the seat of Edinburgh's witchcraft in the 16th century. And whether you choose the main room or the Secret Garden, the esotericism oozes from the walls and the decoration hits the nail on the head. Today, magic works in the mouths and many people are curious and gourmet to hurry, especially in the evening, when dinner can be served until late. It is preferable to make a reservation. For a tighter budget or a sweet palate, think of the Afternoon teas and their share of delicacies!

In this very popular pub where visitors and local customers intersect, Scottish specialities are well prepared: beef in red wine accompanied by haggis, deer marinated to whisky. Enjoy beautiful thistles ceilings, a Scottish emblem, or an elegant, casual, ambience restaurant. The story of the protagonists of the pub is told during your journey with City Sightseeing bus!

The Mussel Inn is always a busy pedestrian street, and many tourists pass by the Mussel Inn. They're not wrong about coming here. Edinburgh locals also mingle, white-collar workers, couples or friends, in between shopping sessions... Faced with this incessant flow, the service, with its mussel and chips and seafood specialities, does not give up on its quality. We appreciate the great freshness and quality of the products, as well as the low prices and the quicky (lunchtime) and early (pre-theatre) menus. The atmosphere is always pleasant and relaxed.

Fresh, cooked products, typical British dishes and fish as specialty. Two large rooms, an impressive fireplace that is in the middle, a nice terrace for the beautiful days, a quick and smiling service and good beer to refresh the whole.

Leith's Michelin star list also includes Martin Wishart and his eponymous restaurant. Here, we seek subtlety and finesse to sublimate each flavour from the four corners of Scotland, all with the claimed inspiration of French gastronomy. The result is of course wonderful and the service is impeccable. White tablecloths and presentation are drawn with four pins, in a soft and simple decor.

Adorable deep green front, wallpaper adorned with roses, comfortable lounge and so british porcelain trinkets, there is here a cosy decor and full of humour in its way of revisiting the aesthetics of grannies. Brunch is the house speciality, but she also concocts typical Scottish dishes and gourmet desserts. The bar side is more classic and fills up in the evening. To be tested: the "cocktail pots" for cocktails in a "pot" (teapot). The site regularly hosts exhibitions of local artists and creative craftsmen.

Italian restaurant opened since 2001 in the New Town area of Edinburgh. A family business that takes you on a journey to Italy with fresh products and homemade dishes. You will find a varied menu with meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. The restaurant also offers a wine and beer list. If you are in the capital for the holidays, Sambuca offers festive menus to make you feel at home. Good value for money, it's the place for regulars. Simple and cosy restaurant.

This address is distinguished by its elegant, but not stilted, atmosphere. You can have a drink at the bar, which has an impressive wine list and a good selection of champagnes, with an assortment of cheeses or mussels, or lunch at the restaurant upstairs. On the menu, all the classics of French cuisine. Its small tables with designer cutlery and candle holders are a detail that completes the refinement of the whole. The food is resolutely Franco-Scottish and the lunch menu is very good value for money.

A sandwich shop with a menu designed by a starred chef, who employs 25% former homeless people, donates 100% of his profits to charity and is supported by George Clooney, it exists and it's called Social Bite. Here, we come to do a good deed, but also to eat well on the go. Sandwiches, salads and snacks are fresh and breakfast is also available in the morning. Soups are very popular there. Everything is cooked on the spot, using local products. You can eat in or take away.

" Anytime is pie time "is the slogan of this small address and it is difficult to give them wrong. Their lettering, kind of small dressed pies, are very good and cheap. You can count on a wide selection of options ranging from spinach-spinach to chicken-mushroom, and the famous apple pie. Those who are not convinced can also choose toasties, chopsticks, burgers and other cheese. There are few chairs to stay there.

The Black Fox is a warm and trendy pub on Leith Walk that has created the conditions for its success with excellent cheap food and a range of homemade beers to accompany it. Salads, pizzas, burgers and hot dogs will be served in a small room with white bricks and thick parquet flooring. The plates are really copious: enough to mop up the craft beers (consume in moderation!). The place fills up from 6pm and empties just before the last tram.

Di Giorgio is a lovely Italian coffee shop located at the end of Dundas Street, leaving New Town for Inverleith. Like his neighborhood, he is young, connected and relaxed. He has a dedicated clientele who have breakfast in the morning, lunch at noon, but also dinner in a more classy setting this weekend. Whatever your decision, you have the assurance of quality home cooking with an Italian touch: pasta, quiches, burgers, pumped, smoked salmon and good coffee, not far from the Water of Leith and botanical gardens.

If you are going to or leaving the Royal Botanic Garden, this bistro is a great stop for you. Its bright walls decorated with contemporary, colourful paintings create an informal atmosphere maintained by friendly hosts and family clientele. The menu changes every day - everything is homemade - and alternates between coq au vin, macaroni and cheese, mussels and chips or mackerel fillets, or traditional local dishes.

You will have to reserve for this pretty little address located in a charming cottage built in 1836. The menus change every day and can be consulted beforehand on the website or social networks. The experience is quite unexpected, very rural and family oriented, with the guarantee of fresh and seasonal ingredients. You feel like you are in our guests' dining room and the plates are mainly garnished with local meats, prepared in a creative way, and fish. The Gardener's Cottage has two sister establishments: The Lookout and Quay Commons.

The Amber Restaurant of the Scotch Whisky Experience is a true Scottish table that showcases national tradition and cooks excellent national dishes. Amber's specials are a good value for money and it's better to prefer hands to tapas for those who are hungry. The clientele consists of both visitors and locals and the bar area attracts whisky lovers from all over the world. The selection is one of the most comprehensive in Edinburgh at attractive prices. The servers are experts who will be able to advise you.

Right next to the university, it is here that students and teachers who wish to relax and chat in an arty and relaxed environment come. You can make the world over again, read or work, while enjoying an excellent coffee, homemade beers, a few cakes or simple snacks for lunch. It is also possible to have breakfast or brunch. The place is also a shop: you can buy coffee, but also something to brew your own beer. It also offers workshops to discover coffee or make perfect lattes.

A few steps from Her Majesty's Palace, Holyrood 9A is a gastro-pub that has made burgers its specialty. The menu offers 13 of them, with inventive and copious formulas around beef, chicken, or vegetarian alternatives. A nice choice of real ales allows you to accompany your meal with a pint, in a classic pub space with panelling and mouldings. We meet there mostly in the evening and on weekends, but we can also have breakfast there until noon. We enjoy it as a family, with children's menus at low prices.

The Timberyard was created by the Radford family in a completely renovated old warehouse, although elements of the past have been incorporated into the layout here and there. The result is eclectic and very convincing. We practice a "from farm to plate" strategy here, which means that we are sure of ultra fresh, local and quality! Evening menus are available in 4, 6 or 8 courses. Lunch is a 5-course or à la carte menu. Outside, the terrace provides the same surprising effect, with metal furniture and the bricks of the building at the back of the painting.

Built in 1775 by James Craig at the same time as the rest of New Town, the Dome is a true neo-classical palace. First a college for physicists, then a bank, it is now a restaurant with three rooms, including a bar and a tea room. Marble columns, mosaics, crystal chandeliers and bouquets of flowers, everything is made to seduce and travel through time. Scottish gastronomy is traditional and not excessive, despite the lush pageantry. Ideal, therefore, to treat yourself to a good classic meal in a rare setting or just to drop in for a beer.

The Three Birds team will be happy to welcome you to their warm and friendly little restaurant. Ideally located 15 minutes walk from the old town centre, it is the ideal place to enjoy the delicate cuisine prepared by the chef. The emphasis is on local products, fresh, sourced locally. The dishes are presented with refinement, the flavours are there and the happy discoveries are also there. This is a perfect opportunity to enjoy a good meal and to spend a pleasant moment with your partner or family.

It's on this coffee shop that J.K. Rowling wrote the first adventures of his Harry Potter hero! The atmosphere is a student and a décontractée and your wallet will not want to crack for a bagel or a salad.

This Michelin-starred gastronomic establishment delights discerning taste buds in the sumptuous setting of a listed Georgian building. Wide benches with elegant curves, moiré drapes, giant butterflies adorning the floor, chandeliers on the ceiling, one would almost forget to look at the map - and that would be a pity. Tom Kitchin's inventive cuisine is a must in the Scottish capital. The card changes every week and it's still fabulous. The good plan, for tighter budgets, is to dine early (before 6:30 pm) for a reduced price menu.

Sister address of The Kitchin and The Castle Terrace Restaurant, this Scottish gastro pub is a credit to Stockbridge and confirms the district's trendy culinary identity. Burgers, fish & chips, steak pie, fish pie, risotto: the choice is quite traditional and the recipes are carefully prepared. The plates, carefully presented, are served in a pleasant room mixing rustic and modern. There are several craft beers and cask ales that change regularly.

Aurora is a small bistro restaurant with an overflowing creativity, which has been hailed by critics as "Best Newcomer - Edinburgh Evening News Restaurant Awards 2018". Scottish flavours are brought to the fore here, in bold, generous and colourful marriages. All ingredients are sourced locally, so they are fresh and in season. The decor of the restaurant also contributes to the experience, in a Nordic, raw and modern spirit. For every desire, budget or time of day, there is a menu for every taste, with brunches or tasting menus.

The Lookout offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Edinburgh. Here you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, coffee or dinner, enjoying the view and the setting, as well as the fine, fresh and inspiring cuisine that blends local and international cuisine. The welcome is warm, and the staff is at your service to offer you a beautiful moment. A dinner at night can be a pleasant and romantic idea.

Ghillie Dhu is a traditional Scottish pub, housed in what used to be St. Thomas' Episcopal Church. It offers high quality, fresh local produce, premium beers and spirits, and live music every night. Its listed architectural setting makes it a place to visit: high ceilings, rich ornamentation, authentic parquet flooring... Each space - the bar, the auditorium, the beer garden, the snugs - offers an authentic, elegant and ultra-careful decor. Extra info: The pub brews its own Ghillie Ale.

Harmonium is a friendly vegan restaurant-bar. The decor is designed to echo the story of Leith. All dishes served here are vegan, i.e. prepared without animal products. On the menu: pizzas, burgers, seitan steaks and, to try, "no-fish & chips", a vegan alternative to the traditional British dish. This is a great opportunity for beginners to try new flavours! The drinks menu is in tune: seasonal cocktails, organic wines, locally roasted coffee, local craft beers.

Borough is a traditional family restaurant in the heart of Leith. You will enjoy a homemade, seasonal cuisine, prepared with fresh local produce, with simplicity, generosity, but also daring. The "4 course" menu (in the evening) varies regularly, depending on the chef's inspiration and the market. The restaurant also has an environmentally friendly approach, which includes a selection of quality ingredients produced by local eco-responsible suppliers. It commits itself through donations that are donated, according to the menu, to local associations.

The Café Hub is held in the headquarters of the Edinburgh International Festival, and, all the more sympathetic, in an old church. The decoration is pleasant, both for its historical aspect and for the modernity inspired by the decoration and layout. The menu is that of a tea room, with its variations of coffees, teas, hot chocolates (including a recipe with its whisky dram) and smoothies, pastries and its lunch menu declined around sandwiches, soup of the day and simple dishes. A children's menu and afternoon tea are also available

Milnes Bar is a pub and, like almost any pub, it also has a restaurant. It boasts the best fish & chips in Edinburgh.... Le Petit Futé lets you judge! The menu is classic, with its traditional pies, burgers, sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, haggis, roasted chicken, vegetarian dishes and side dishes of chips and peas. Simple and efficient!

Literary anecdote: Milnes Bar is nicknamed "the poets' ad" Indeed, in the 1950s and 1960s, it echoed the fiery debates of two famous national poets: Hugh MacDiarmid and Norman MacCaig. The lower room has been named The Little Kremlin in memory of these verbal games.