Restaurants in Edinburgh
Restaurants in Edinburgh suit all tastes and pockets.
Traditional Scottish fare such as Haggis, salmon and Aberdeen Angus
beef is widely enjoyed, while international cuisine including
French, Italian, Oriental and Indian is also readily available in
Edinburgh.
When eating out in Edinburgh, the best local cuisine, including
good old fish and chips, can be found in and around the Royal Mile
or the historic port of Leith. For French, Italian and Indian
cuisine diners should try Castle Terrace, Ocean Drive (also in
Leith), George Street and Lothian Road.
Most Edinburgh restaurants are open daily and reservations are
recommended. A 10% tip is customarily given to the waiter.
The city is still abuzz with the opening of Abstract which
serves modern French meals with all the class and tradition one
expects from a top rated restaurant. Try to book the chef's table
to experience part of the cooking process and to try some wonderful
treats off the tasting menu. Others prefer to enjoy the well
decorated dining room and stay with enticing French influenced
entrees such as roast Guinea fowl terrine. Reservations are
advisable.
Address: 33-35 Castle Terrace
Telephone: (0)131 229 1222
| Britannia Spice |
$$$$$ | Indian |
Some of Edinburgh's top restaurants are to be found not in the
city, but by the sea. In the historic port of Leith just a short
bus ride from the city centre you will find Britannia Spice, three
time winner of the British Curry Awards and the 'Best Restaurant in
Scotland' accolade for the BIBA restaurant awards. Of the
waterfront restaurants pride of place goes to this stylish hotspot,
serving up traditional cuisine from India, Bangladesh, Thailand and
Nepal in its large, immaculate, nautical-themed dining salon. Open
Mondays to Saturdays for lunch and dinner and Sundays for
dinner.
Address: 150 Commercial Street, Ocean Drive
E-mail: info@britanniaspice.co.uk
Telephone: (0)131 555 2255
| Witchery by the Castle |
$$$$$ | Local |
Undoubtedly Edinburgh's most renowned restaurant, Witchery has been operating in a historic 16th-century building at the gates of Edinburgh Castle for so long that it has become part of the scenery. Numerous celebrities as well as local fans dine in Gothic splendour on a delicious menu featuring traditional Scots classics, including beef, lamb, game and seafood dishes. Some of the most popular items on the menu are hot smoked salmon with leeks, Angus beef fillet with smoked garlic broth and Scottish oysters. The atmospheric dining rooms and 'secret garden' can be savoured just as much as the food. Witchery offers lunch and dinner, with a à la carte menu. Even those on a budget can enjoy lunching at the Witchery, which offers a set two-course meal for £12.95. Visit
www.thewitchery.co.uk for more information.
Address: Castlehill, Royal Mile
Telephone: (0)131 225 5613
| La Bruschetta |
$$$$$ | Italian |
Small and intimate, it is wise to book at La Bruschetta because
it is Edinburgh's most popular authentic Italian restaurant,
particularly at lunch time when its bistro menu is available for
£7.50. The owner, Giovanni Cariello, is also the chef and is
a master of his craft. Specialties usually involve Scottish fish.
La Bruschetta is closed Mondays, but open every other day from 12pm
to 2pm and 6pm to 10.30pm.
Address: 13 Clifton Terrace, Haymarket
Telephone: (0)131 467 7464
| Clam Shell Fish and Chip Shop |
$$$$$ | Fish |
No visitor to the United Kingdom worth his or her salt can leave
the islands without indulging in a traditional fish and chip
supper, and in Edinburgh the Clam Shell on the Royal Mile is
reputedly the best 'chippy' in town, and perhaps the whole of
Scotland. A veritable emporium of tasty delights, the Clam Shell
doesn't stop at just battered fish and crispy fries: there is a
whole range of food including local specialties like haggis, black
pudding and a range of tasty sausages. The Clam Shell is open daily
from 12pm to midnight.
Address: 148 High Street
Telephone: (0)131 225 4338
| Susie’s Wholefood Diner |
$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic |
Amazing healthy food (make your selection from a wide range
displayed on the counter) and extremely reasonably prices make this
lively spot a popular place to chill out during a hectic day's
sightseeing, or just to come to soak up the 'alternative' bohemian
atmosphere. Read a newspaper, chat to fellow diners, or peruse the
amateur artworks on display while enjoying falafel and humus,
delicious soup or a tasty stir-fry, on one of the old wooden
tables. The salads are particularly recommended. On Friday and
Saturday evenings the atmosphere is livened up with live Cajun and
jazz music. Susie's opens from 9am to 9pm Monday to Saturday, and
from 1pm to 8pm on Sunday.
Address: 51/53 West Nicholson Street
Telephone: (0)131 667 9729
| Tower Restaurant and Terrace |
$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic |
A museum restaurant may not sound particularly inspiring for
gourmets, but in Edinburgh the National Museum of Scotland sports a
restaurant not inside, but on top, offering spectacular views of
the castle and cityscape along with some of the city's finest
cuisine. A high point for dining in more ways than one, the Tower
has a chic, glamorous interior, excellent service and a vast menu,
covering everything from oysters to melt-in-the mouth steaks.
Specialities are seafood, especially Scottish lobsters. The Tower
is also renowned for its huge award-winning wine list of about 150
varieties. The outside terrace, which seats 70 diners, is extremely
popular in summer and arguably offers the best view of the city to
be had anywhere. For lunch and pre-theatre suppers there is a set
two-course menu, or choose from à la carte. The Tower is
open daily from 12pm to 11pm.
Address: National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street
Telephone: (0)131 225 3003
The minimalist stainless-steel and glass interior may not quite
suit the medieval image of Edinburgh, but excellent service and
first-class food make up for the lack of atmosphere at Izzi, which
offers an extensive menu of Japanese and Chinese dishes, including
beautifully presented sushi. You may need the staff to help explain
the intimidating menu, but this they are happy to do. Enjoy dishes
like fried king prawns in honey lemon sauce, sprinkled with minced
dry fish, or indulge in Chinese kung po beef. The restaurant is
fronted entirely by glass, making it a good spot for
people-watching. Izzi is open daily from 12pm to 11.30pm.
Address: 119 Lothian Road
Telephone: (0)131 466 9888
Built into a former bank, this Italian café and
restaurant is much less formal than its building suggests. A breezy
café and bar style inside serves simple and light Italian
staples everyone knows and loves such as pizza and light pastas.
The front is great for light daytime snacks and a downstairs
accommodates intimate diners. Reservations are advisable except at
the café and bar.
Address: 103 George Street
Telephone: (0)131 225 1550
