Looking for places to eat in Edinburgh? Then you are at the right place! We have bought you a list of the best restaurants in Edinburgh to satisfy each carving you have! From budget-friendly cafes to the finest restaurants in Edinburgh, we have compiled this list from the streets of this city!
Aizle
You should definitely visit this restaurant in Edinburgh as it was founded in 2014 by front-of-house guru Krystal Goff and chef Stuart Ralston to pursue "bistronomy": fresh local food and relaxed environs. Still, with the kind of tasting menu, you'd expect in a much swankier setting. The group has since relocated to The Kimpton Charlotte Square's Garden Room. However, their tried-and-true idea still holds, with a board listing the most recent items Ralston will utilise to whip up your six-course extravaganza.
Address: Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel
Fhior
Fhior, which is Gaelic meaning "truth" or "honest," is Scott Smith's most recent endeavour in Edinburgh, and it certainly lives up to its name. Each dish on their seven- or ten-course menu benefits from their ambitious use of locally sourced and foraged ingredients. Before you are served, you won't know what you're getting, but everything here is amazing. At the conclusion, you are given a menu in a strange envelope, so there is even something for you to take home.
Address: 36 Broughton St, Edinburgh EH1 3SB
Aurora
This restaurant in Edinburgh is located in one of the most happening area in Edinburgh. It began as a brunch-focused café but has now evolved into a sleek, modern bistro providing fresh, in-season, locally sourced food.
Address: 187 Great Jct St, Edinburgh EH6 5LQ
Timberyard
Expect interesting foods and intriguing combinations that range from cocktails to dessert at Timberyard, one of the finest restaurants in Edinburgh. Which also has a hipster ambience. This restaurant hits so many high marks for dining out. You are in extremely capable hands because this is a family-owned company controlled by the Radfords and their extended network of regional breeders, producers, growers, and foragers.
Address: 10 Lady Lawson St, Edinburgh EH3 9DS
Cafe st honore
Even though Café St Honoré has been in the list of restaurants in Edinburgh for a forever, it is still frequently mentioned as one of the best places in Edinburgh's city centre to have a classy bistro lunch. The French angle was long ago abandoned in favour of Scottish produce that was masterfully prepared, locally sourced, and steadfastly adhered to Slow Food principles.
Address: 34 Thistle St N W Ln, Edinburgh EH2 1EA
Leftfield
Picture windows and bench seating are carved out of a historic tenement's bottom floor to provide views of Bruntsfield Links, where people congregate to play a round of golf on warm summer nights in this restaurant in Edinburgh. There are only a few options per course on a small, frequently updated menu, all of which have been thoughtfully prepared using regional products. Service was also quite friendly.
Address: 12 Barclay Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 4HP
21212
On Royal Terrace, a prestigious, cobbled street of 19th-century townhouses on the side of Calton Hill, sits one of the finest restaurants in Edinburgh, Paul Kitching's 21212, which opened in 2009 and received a Michelin star in 2010. One of Scotland's top restaurants for dining. Dinner is divided into two starters, soup, two main meal options, a cheese course, and two dessert options.
Address: 3 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5AB
The table
This 2015-opened restaurant in Edinburgh seats a maximum of 10 people for a single evening sitting at its one table, a breakfast bar set up next to the open-plan kitchen. It's difficult to distinguish between fine dining and performance art because of the posh setting and the opportunity to engage with the cooks while they prepare the food.
Address: 3A Dundas St, Edinburgh EH3 6QG
Angels with Bagpipes
The wooden sculpture in St. Giles Cathedral across the street inspired the name of this restaurant in Edinburgh, Angels with Bagpipes. There is no place in Edinburgh more central to the city's tourist district than this. It is situated towards the top of the Royal Mile, around 100 yards from the terrace of Edinburgh Castle, on two storeys of an original 17th-century tenement in Edinburgh.
Address: 343 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1PW
Cairngorm Coffee
Not all dining experiences are "Dining" with a capital D. Sometimes, you only want to indulge in a snack or a quick meal in a handy location. Since going up and down its hills or nonstop partying during its festivals might be taxing, Edinburgh is fortunate to have many of these. When that occurs, all you want is a calm setting where you can curl up and gather your thoughts while enjoying a drink and something delectable. And for such days, you can always visit Cairngorm Coffee a restaurant in Edinburgh which fulfils your stomach needs as well as your aesthetic needs.
Address: 41A Frederick St, Edinburgh EH2 1EP
Wings
Wings is another restaurant in Edinburgh to get self-indulgent delicacies without any pretence. It is the first and, as far as we know, the only restaurant in Edinburgh specialising in chicken wings. After a night of bar hopping, whisky tasting, or festival-going, head to Old Fishmarket Close, a brilliant-sounding spot just off the Royal Mile and behind St. Giles Cathedral, to fill up and soak up a lot of alcohol.
Address: 5 - 7 Old Fishmarket Cl, High St, Edinburgh EH1 1RW
L’Escargot Bleu
L'Escargot Bleu has blended in well amid hip coffee shops, restaurants in Edinburgh, indie bookshops, and award-winning butchers since launching in a former clockmaker in 2008. The restaurant's cosy tables and floor-to-ceiling windows provide plenty of space for a private conversation. At the same time, the bustle of the open kitchen in the back further enhances the bohemian French atmosphere.
Address: 56 Broughton St, Edinburgh EH1 3SA
Valvona & Crolla
A landmark and one of the finest restaurants in Edinburgh is Valvona & Crolla. It is loaded with imported Italian goods, oils, cheeses, pasta, hams, and sausages. The Italian deli was established in 1934 with the arrival of the first wave of Italian immigrants to Edinburgh. Every day they import vegetables from Milan. They started a cafe in 1996 that opens for weekend lunches and early dinners.
Address: 19 Elm Row, Edinburgh EH7 4AA
La Favorita
Sometimes, if you're travelling with your family, you must accommodate their preferences to maintain mealtime harmony. Fortunately, very few people who are old enough to have teeth refuse pizza. And pizza lovers of all ages in Edinburgh give this establishment a comedy-sized thumbs up. And La Favorita is not only one of the tastiest restaurants in Edinburgh but also one of the best options to eat for all ages.
Address: 321-325 Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH6 8SA
Hemma
Hemma, which translates to "at home" in Swedish, refers to the comfortable ambience that this Swedish-owned cafe bar aims to create. This restaurant in Edinburgh is a gathering spot for families during the day. It's especially kid- and family-friendly. Small children can play safely in the "play zone" while their parents enjoy colourful, healthful salads, Swedish meatballs, burgers, sandwiches, and Hasselback potatoes. After 8 or 9 p.m., when there is a more festive environment (see their website for the convoluted arrangement of opening hours), it is adults-only.
Address: 75 Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh EH8 8AU
So, here was the list of the top 15 restaurants in Edinburgh. We hope that we added a few places to your bucket list that will be a treat to your taste buds. As we are aware, Edinburgh is not only famous for its architecture, but also it’s bars ,breakfast places and clubs. Not just that, if you are visiting Edinburgh, here is a list of Top 30 things to do in Edinburgh which will leave you in awe of this city’s beauty and if you are a student, then do check out our Student City Guide: Edinburgh 2023. Well, students shifting to this beautiful city can also check out some of the best student accommodation options in the city.