Loading...
-
$$$ | New Town |
Run by Edinburgh restaurant grandee Martin Wishart, the Honours is a more relaxed (though almost as pricey) alternative to his eponymous flagship in Leith. Inside its gorgeous black-and-white, art deco interior, diners can enjoy a range of excellent Scottish seafood dishes; but those in the know order the meat, with extraordinary rare-breed sirloin and fillet beef steaks as well as delicious game like roe deer, guinea fowl, and rabbit. Desserts are rich and indulgent, and service is impeccable.
58a North Castle St., Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH2 3LU, Scotland
Known For
- Mouthwatering meat dishes
- Beautiful art deco decor
- Impeccable service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential
-
$$$$ | New Town |
Sophisticated surroundings, spectacular views, and sumptuous cuisine make this restaurant, originally opened in 1925, one of Edinburgh's best spots for fine dining. Head chef Dan Ashmore uses his expertise in great Scottish produce, from venison to sea trout, to serve up a stunning, "mystery" seven-course tasting menu (it comes in a sealed envelope; it's up to you when, or if, you want to take a peek). The paired wines compliment each course perfectly. For lesser appetites, there's also a £55 three-course menu available for dinner or a £35 three-course Sunday lunch.
Princes St., Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH1 2AB, Scotland
Known For
- Beautiful pastel-floral dining room
- Subtly sumptuous flavors
- Gorgeous presentation
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues., Reservations essential
-
$$$ | |
Set within the upmarket Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, Baba serves tasty Middle Eastern—specifically Levantine—fare in a colorful, shabby-chic setting. Dishes are designed for sharing so take your pick from the mezze and grills menu, where highlights include the baba ghanoush (with pomegranate seed and mint) and the beef and bone marrow kofte. It's tempting to fill up on warm pita bread, but try to save space for a cardamom panna cotta dessert. Individual dishes aren't extravagant, but it's surprisingly easy to rack up a sizeable bill.
130 George St., Edinburgh, EH2 4JZ, Scotland
Known For
- Costs that quickly add up
- Delicious hummus with a zhug (Yemeni hot sauce) kick
- Inventive takes on Middle Eastern staples
-
$$$ | |
Set within a grand former banking hall on George Street, this superb restaurant serves light but satisfying Italian favorites divided into primi, secondi, and dolci, all within an airy setting of grand Corinthian columns, an open marble-topped bar, intricate wall hangings, and soft gray banquettes. The food choices are strictly seasonal, but regularly appearing favorites include the Scotch beef carpaccio and the homemade ravioli with ricotta and spinach. Come for a light lunch or, with the help of the extensive wine list, a long and indulgent dinner.
103 George St., Edinburgh, EH2 3ES, Scotland
Known For
- Deliciously light Italian cuisine
- Grand but relaxed setting
- Tasty Scotch beef carpaccio
-
$ | |
The city's most inventive Indian restaurant, Dishoom serves up an all-sensory experience, from the smells that greet you (delicious whiffs of incense mixed with aromatic spices) to the sight and sounds of the interior (the decor is all distressed-wood panels and chandeliers, inspired by Bombay's 1920 Iranian cafés) to the taste of the food itself. A tapas-style menu of deliciously tender meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes welcomes you, along with delicious desserts. Wash down your meal with your pick from the extensive beer and cocktail menu, or come early for breakfast (the sausage and bacon naan rolls are to die for).
3a St. Andrew Sq., Edinburgh, EH2 2BD, Scotland
Known For
- Incredible lamb salli boti
- Great cocktail and mocktail menu
- Unique Indian breakfast rolls
-
Recommended Fodor’s Video
-
-
$$ | |
Tucked down narrow Thistle Street, Dusit doesn't register on most travelers' radars, but it has been a local favorite since 2002. An authentic, contemporary Thai restaurant run by Bangkok-born Pom, the menu here delights with deliciously creamy curries, spicy stir-fries, and fragrant seafood specialties, all of which use a mix of fresh local produce and imported Thai vegetables. If you're dining as a duo, opt for the banquet menu (£29.50 per person) to try a little of everything.
49A Thistle St., Edinburgh, EH2 1DY, Scotland
Known For
- Award-winning Thai food
- Local haunt
- Good value lunch menu
-
$$$$ | |
Owner and chef Scott Smith, who previously ran the award-winning Norn, serves seasonal, Scandinavian-inspired fare here with rare Scottish ingredients, from beremeal (an ancient form of barley) bread to sea buckthorn. Choose from seven to 10 courses for dinner (£65 to £90), with menus arriving sealed in envelopes; you're encouraged to trust the chef and leave them unopened until after dessert. There's no à la carte here, but the lunch option is a four-course menu—and something of a steal at £35 a head. The decor is similarly Scandi-minimalist (almost austere), with plenty of plain white walls and wood veneer.
36 Broughton St., Edinburgh, EH1 3SB, Scotland
Known For
- Modernist decor
- Old-school Scottish dishes with a Scandinavian flair
- Multicourse menu options chosen by the chef
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed.
-
$$$$ | |
Clublike but unstuffy, this outstanding basement restaurant, set within the Edwardian splendor of The Balmoral hotel, is made for intimate dining. The food is extraordinary, with a menu that highlights the best of Scottish seafood and meat in inventive fashion—from scallops and sturgeon to lamb and beef. However, the prices make this a place for serious special occasions; the seven-course menu is £110 per person, without wine. Service is impeccable and friendly, as you would expect for these prices.
1 Princes St., Edinburgh, EH2 2EQ, Scotland
Known For
- Wonderfully intimate setting
- Inventive dishes
- Very expensive
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed. No lunch, Reservations essential
-
$$$ | New Town |
Closed Permanently
This Parisian-style brasserie combines handsome surroundings with first-class cuisine from London brothers Chris and Jeff Galvin. Dapper waiters glide around the cavernous dining area with its central bar, while the menu marries classic French dishes alongside Scottish staples, so you should expect everything from steak tartare and duck terrine to smoked salmon and peppery haggis. On Sundays, enjoy traditional and hearty options like slow-roasted beef brisket with trimmings. The desserts are sublime, the wine list is extensive, and the staff knowledgeable. This is a very family-friendly restaurant, thanks to its varied children's menus. Kids under 10 have a free lunch on weekends.
Rutland St., Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH1 2AB, Scotland
Known For
- Delicious French-Scottish cuisine
- Superb service
- A family favorite
-
$$$$ | |
Closed Permanently
Paul Kitching is one of Britain's most innovative chefs, and the theatrical dining experience at 21212 delivers surprises galore. Set within a Georgian town house, the fine dining restaurant is sumptuously appointed while, behind a large glass screen, a small army of chefs is busy assembling the delicious and intricate dishes. The ever-changing five-course menu (£85) allows you to choose from two starters, two mains, and two desserts, with sublime soup and cheese courses sandwiched in between (21212, get it?). The belle époque decor and quirky crockery make this a perfect destination for couples (ask for a romantic alcove window table). If you want to make the experience last even longer, book a night in one of the four elegant bedrooms upstairs.
3 Royal Terr., Edinburgh, EH7 5AB, Scotland
Known For
- Contemporary Franco-Anglo-Scottish cuisine
- Atmospheric and romantic
- Choice between two starters, two mains, and two desserts (with soup and cheese in between, hence 21212)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues., Reservations essential
-
-
$$$$ | New Town |
Closed Permanently
Fine dining with a real sense of fun is what makes Restaurant Mark Greenaway stand out from the crowd. Inventive dishes and serving styles populate the menu at this cozy but high-end eatery, from an amuse bouche served in a cardboard egg box to a broth that's boiled in a beaker at your table. You can order à la carte, go for the affordable market menu (two courses for £21), or go all in on the eight-course tasting menu (£69.50). Ask the sommelier for a tour of the wine cellar, set within an old bank vault.
69 N. Castle St., Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH2 3LJ, Scotland
Known For
- Fun and inventive food
- Attentive service
- Occasional style over substance
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential