£££Modern British
Until 2017 this was the Royal Bank of Scotland, and the restaurant now occupies what was formerly the banking hall. All the grandeur is here, from the granite columns and the exquisite plasterwork to the magnificent cupola which allows natural light to flood in. The Scottish larder is the focus of the accessible menu, with the kitchen showing a keen eye for presentation.
£££Modern British
The Pompadour is one of the city’s most famous restaurant names and it sits within one of its best-known hotels, The Caledonian, a historic and eye-catchingly grand property standing proud at one end of Princes Street – if you’re lucky, you may get one of the tables that look up to the castle. The restaurant is run under the auspices of Chef Dean Banks, who has dropped the former tasting menu format for an à la carte focused on showcasing prime Scottish produce in dishes such as champagne-baked market fish.
££italian
With its bold salmon-pink exterior, it’s hard to miss this endearing Italian restaurant and bar on a prime New Town corner site. Inside, there’s a relaxed, on-trend feel with a supreme sense of style to both the décor and your fellow diners – who help to create such a good buzz. The handwritten menu comprises small plates and larger dishes to share, along with homemade pastas; everything is fresh and flavoursome, from the mackerel crostini to the caponata. The polite and caring service team have a charming confidence and will happily chat away if you sit up at the counter.
££asian
Follow the neon and you’ll soon find yourself in this buzzing little bistro serving a variety of Asian-inspired sharing plates. Grab a cocktail and take a seat in the window or perhaps up at the counter, then try hard not to order everything on the menu. From the fried chicken karaage to the signature ‘Dirty Rice’, this is unfussy food piled high with flavour. As difficult as it may be to stop ordering, try to save room for the playful apple pie gyozas to finish. The chatty and attentive service is the final piece of a very enjoyable picture.
££french
Stuart Ralston, one of Edinburgh’s most successful restaurateurs, has struck gold again with this take on a Parisian wine bar. The cooking is very much in the bistro mould, fusing French classics with Scottish produce and a few Mediterranean touches. The chicken roulade is a great example of what to expect, a simple yet well-crafted dish showcasing high-quality produce. Come at lunchtime for the best value, where the set menu includes wine. The atmosphere is cosy yet lively, while downstairs you’ll find Vivien, the team’s speakeasy-style cocktail bar.
££Modern British
A warm, genial atmosphere prevails as soon as you enter this smart dining pub, which is located within walking distance of Calton Hill and bustling Princes Street. You can just pop in for a pint if you wish, but you’d be a fool to miss the appealing, good value cooking. Flavoursome dishes like duck confit terrine and vanilla panna cotta hit the mark for elevated pub food, with a strong wine list on hand to accompany.
🕐 Mo-Su 11:30-23:00
£££seafood
In Edinburgh's bustling West End, this unpretentious spot offers an enticing combination of wine bar and seafood restaurant. Start in the ground-floor bar with a glass from the interesting international list, before heading upstairs to enjoy a celebration of Scottish fish and shellfish. The quality of the produce shines through, from Shetland mussels to Skye langoustines, sometimes enhanced by flavours from Jamaican jerk spice to harissa butter. Head to their sister branch in Leith to put your bib on and get stuck in to the 'seafood boil' experience featuring an array of shellfish.
🕐 Tu-We 17:00-24:00; Th-Sa 12:00-24:00
££££Modern Cuisine
Stockbridge has become a go-to neighbourhood for Edinburgh’s foodies in recent years – and Moss is certainly playing its part in the trend. Key to the ethos here is that the menu only uses Scottish produce and the drinks list is exclusively British; many of the ingredients even come from the owner’s family farm in Angus. These are crafted into pure, natural dishes that chime with the dining room’s pared-back aesthetic. It's the little touches that will put a smile on your face, like the complimentary Irn Bru candyfloss at the end of your meal.
£££Modern Cuisine
An affluent area of the city plays host to this cosy, atmospheric basement restaurant which comprises just 9 tables. The experienced chef-owner creates ambitious modern dishes which mix tried-and-tested flavours with contemporary techniques. Service is friendly and the set lunch menu is steal.
🕐 Tu-Su 12:00-14:00,18:00-23:30
£££Modern Cuisine
Dark, intimate and moody, Cardinal makes for an atmospheric place to dine in the smart suburb of Stockbridge, which has become a real destination for Edinburgh's foodies. The set menu takes a modern, sometimes creative approach to produce from both land and sea – be it Carlingford oysters or lamb rump wrapped in kelp – with preservation techniques often playing their part. An international wine list is on hand to accompany the cooking, with a leaning towards natural and low-intervention options.
🕐 We-Sa 17:00-20:30, Fr,Sa 12:00-13:30
££Modern British
Set on the ground floor of a classic Georgian house by the famous Leith Walk, this wine shop sells a wide selection of naturally produced, organic wines. You can enjoy them in-house alongside some delicious seasonal dishes, where you have the option to choose from the à la carte or go for the 5 course set menu. Owners Matt and Marzena are always on hand to offer advice, and also run a basement coffee shop and in-house bakery selling some delightful sourdough.
££££Modern British
There's a plush quality to this smart counter restaurant in the suburb of Stockbridge. Small "chef’s table" operations like this allow for a much greater intimacy to your dining experience and, indeed, there are just two people working here: Brian in the kitchen and Glen looking after service and wines. Following a warm welcome, you can enjoy a highly seasonal tasting menu that has a strong Scottish heart, from the Orkney beef to the fantastic Perthshire strawberries.
🕐 Tu-Sa 18:45-18:00+
££Vegetarian, Vegan
In 1962, Janet Henderson opened one of Scotland's most famous vegetarian restaurants; decades later her grandson Barrie is running the show in a busy premises by Bruntsfield Links. The appealing, skilfully cooked selection of meat-free dishes are mostly vegan, with options like salt-baked celeriac and their take on classic haggis, neeps and tatties. Friendly service creates a lovely neighbourhood feel, while unfussy plant-based puddings are on hand to satisfy the most sweet-toothed of diners.
🕐 Mo-Su 12:00-22:00
££italian
This buzzy wine bar and trattoria is set in the heart of bustling Stockbridge, where you can pop in just for a glass of wine with some olives and salumi around the communal, marble-topped island counter – or choose from the full à la carte of appealingly unfussy Italian dishes. Whether you opt for one of the pastas or the fish of the day, it’s all simple, fresh and wholly enjoyable. The top-notch wine list is almost exclusively Italian, with owner and sommelier James on hand to recommend something to suit.
🕐 We-Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 12:00-20:30
££Modern Cuisine
Situated on a prime corner site in Edinburgh's West End, this former bank is now filled with a different kind of gold. Culinary delights ranging from house-baked breads and pastries to a full menu of unfussy, European-influenced dishes will ensure you leave satisfied, whenever you decide to drop in. A beautiful conversion has left the interior with polished bistro tables and the feel of a smart dining pub, helped out by the local beers, impressive whisky selection and carefully curated wine list. Look out for the dishes to share, such as Borders venison, red wine and smoked bacon pie.
££Seafood, Scottish
Honest, intimate and sweet, this is a proper neighbourhood restaurant which focuses on the country's delicious seafood. Kick things off with a choice of fresh oysters or internationally influenced dishes such as squid 'puttanesca' or Thai coconut Shetland mussels. Comforting and flavoursome main dishes pair well with the homely surroundings, where you can relax with some super views of Bruntsfield Links and The Meadows. The concise wine list has a bias towards minimal intervention options.
££££Modern Cuisine
Inspired by the sticky clay used for making pottery, the naming of this hidden-away neighbourhood restaurant feels rather apt given the wonderful array of china, pottery and earthenware they use. It’s an intimate operation with modern, sometimes technically complex dishes that draw on global influences. Chef-owner Jack Montgomery serves many dishes himself, pouring passion and a personal touch into the experience.
🕐 We-Sa
££british
Situated a little outside the city centre, there is a pleasantly relaxed feel to this neighbourhood restaurant from the team behind The Little Chartroom. With its friendly service, bright monochrome décor and high-stool seating, it's the kind of place you could happily pop in for a light lunch or come for a proper evening out. The chefs take plenty of care in preparing a menu of fresh-tasting dishes, with desserts proving a highlight. Dietary requirements are well catered for, with properly thought out vegetarian and vegan menus available on request.
🕐 Mo-Su 12:00-16:30,17:30-23:00; Tu off; We off; Th off; Fr 16:00-23:00
£££Modern Cuisine
Located close to The Palace of Holyroodhouse, this 19th-century former inn has been converted into a wine bar and restaurant by the owners of Timberyard. Soft lighting and exposed stonework give the place a rustic, intimate feel, with diners spread across two floors. A seat at the ground-floor bar counter feels like a fitting place to enjoy a glass from the excellent wine list championing lesser-known regions, along with the boldly flavoured dishes that are designed for sharing, whether from the à la carte or the set menu.
🕐 Th 17:00-00:00; Fr-Su 12:00-00:00
£££Modern British
There’s an addictive buzz to this pared-back, Nordic-style restaurant on the outer fringes of Leith. The focus of the chic dining room is on a large open kitchen running across one side, where counter seats are available for those who like to be in on the action. Go for the full tasting menu to experience the breadth of the cooking, which ranges from subtle to bold flavours while always retaining a keen sense of balance. The ingredients are of great quality and frequently Scottish, like the plump, buttery scallops. The service comes with an endearing warmth.
🕐 Th-Fr 17:00-20:30; Sa 12:00-14:00,17:30-20:30;Su 12:00-14:00,18:00-20:30; Mo-We off
££££scottish
Blink and you could easily miss this diminutive restaurant in an unassuming parade of shops. Given what a lovely restaurant it is, we therefore recommend walking through Leith with your eyes wide open. Inside, it’s a cosy six-table operation where the enthusiastic chefs deliver a set menu of satisfyingly original dishes. Sit back and relax as the team proudly walk you through seasonally changing creations, such as their clever take on prawn toast. Go for the wine pairing, which offers an enlightening selection of lesser-known bottles.
£££fish
Yet another terrific eatery in the foodie haven of Leith, this instantly likeable restaurant unsurprisingly offers a fabulous feast of fish. From whole sole to the signature sea trout pastrami, the cooking is fuss-free and cleanly executed to show off the natural flavours of the ingredients. At lunch, share plates from the ‘Big Snacks’ selection, which at dinnertime become starters to be enjoyed before larger offerings such as a half lobster with smoked fish agnolotti. The team are one of the most welcoming around, so you’re sure to be well looked after.
£££Modern British
One of the newer restaurants in this Edinburgh enclave, Dogstar occupies a former pub that’s now a buzzy space run by an engaging team whose cheery service will enhance any experience. The seasonal menu can change weekly or even daily, but expect dishes suited to sharing that show off an array of prime produce (sometimes cooked over coals), including stand-outs like fresh, sweet local surf clams with sea laver, rosemary and fino sherry. The carefully curated wine list offers a good range without breaking the bank.
££££Modern Cuisine
French